What's Good for the Goose...

I always get a kick out of these great moralists who would never take their own medicine. The latest is that Catholic, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Holy Land's top Roman Catholic clergyman, who said:

"If there's a state of one religion, other religions are naturally discriminated against."

Is he dismantling the Vatican? One thing for sure is that he blames Israel and the Jews for everything and re-writes history by claiming that Christianity and Islam have equal footing with Judaism in the Holy Land. "Minor" historical facts, such as chronology and that his Jesus was actually Jewish, are conveniently ignored.

Another of my favorites is US President George Bush, who keeps lecturing and threatening Israel about how to react to terrorism. Israeli civilians are under a constant barrage of Arab missiles and threats of destruction, but we're instructed to "turn the other cheek" and suffer, while Bush and his Condeleezza Rice keep shtupping the terrorists with more money.

The very existence of the United States has never been threatened, and as horrific as "9-11" was, proportionally it wasn't as dangerous to that country's stability and public safety as the Arab terrorism we've been suffering from.

If there was moral honesty in this world, 9-11 would have made America more sympathetic to the plight of Israelis. Instead the opposite happened. We've been chastised for defending ourselves while the Americans killed thousands and thousands of innocent civilians who lived thousands of miles away from the United States. America and its allies took over Iraq by force, killing  thousands of civilians in order to give Saddam Hussein a fair trial. I'm sure you can add further examples of moral hypocrisy.

Totally Different Expectations

Recently I went to a lecture by someone who was raised in one of the most extreme, restrictive, of the Chassidishe Courts.  He described a world so different from anything I could imagine.

Every small detail was regimented, and they were, and are to this day, never allowed to make choices, think for themselves.  All of their clothing, from their hats to their shoes had to be according to their rules.  But what shocked the audience the most, was the marriage customs.  When the marriage broker thought there was a possible match, and the parents agreed to it, the two young people were allowed to glance at each other a few minutes and then had to give their agreement.  They didn't meet again, nor communicate in any way, until the yichud room, where the couple goes after the ceremony for their first time alone.

He had no idea whom he was marrying, besides the fact that his Rebbe and parents and society approved.  If he had passed her on the street between the engagement and the wedding, he wouldn't have recognized her, but then again, he was trained to keep his eyes off of women.  He did what he was expected to do.  As they got used to the arrangement, the marriage was no worse than any in the "freer world."  It was probably even better, since their expectations were simpler and more pragmatic.  Their marriage only ended when he insisted on leaving their Chassidishe life, and she wasn't willing.

Now to something very different but similar.  I've never been able to relate to the concept of "trying out aliyah."  Once I decided that I was making aliyah, moving to Israel, that was it.  I never added conditions to it.  I had no idea what was awaiting me.

We got married, got on the boat, docked, made our way to Jerusalem and moved into the Maon Betar, in the Old City.  I washed our laundry in the bathtub and hung it out to dry on this balcony, until a roof was built over it.  Then my husband climbed up to the roof, with a pail of clean,wet laundry and got strange stares from the Arab women who were hanging out their clothes.  It wasn't considered "men's work."  At the end of the day, he'd bring the dry wash back in.  Not quite what we were used to from our New York life.

In those days you didn't have the expectations today's immigrants have.  In those days nobody lived the way ordinary Israelis live today.  In those days, not only weren't there internet and cellphones for quick communication with "the old country," but a "short wait" for a home phone line meant a year.

Just like we got married "for keeps," not to "try it out," we made aliyah for keeps, too.

Sometimes too many choices mean too much trouble.

Picture This... You ignore the upbeat?

I've noticed something very strange about the reactions to what I blog here.  Readers only respond to the negative. I find that rather sad.  Personally, I get a real spiritual lift from the sight of these men dovening on the job.

Shavua Tov U'Mevorach!!  And please doven for a Refuah Shleimah--Full and Speedy Recovery for P'nina bat Sofia Zlata

This soldier on guard was praying to true "shomer--lo yishan, shomer Yisrael"  the "guard who never sleeps."  It was a very comforting sight on my way to the Dead Sea.  It was certainly a very sweet day.

While our politicians worship evil, the People of Israel are good.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach!

PS I love pictures like these, so if you have any, please send them for me to post.  Thanks

Protecting Sderot

This month, according to official counts, the 6,311th rocket fell on the Israeli city of
Sderot.  Of course, they didn't just fall out of the sky, like rain or like the acorn in "Chicken Little."

Arab terrorists in Gush Katif and the Gaza Strip have been launching kassam rockets at Israel to murder Israelis and destroy their homes, schools, business, etc.

The government keeps changing its tune when it comes to how to protect the innocent Israeli residents.

Now,  Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter warned Sunday that "250,000 under Qassam threat if we don't act."  But at the same time, the State says it's not obligated to fortify Sderot homes against Kassams.  It's also not willing to got to war against them nor use any serious sanctions.

So, I think it's time for my plan on how to protect Sderot.  Do you have any better ideas?

This was first posted on Shiloh Musings, May 31, 2007, but unfortunately, it's still applicable.

How about... Rebuild Sderot Underground?

Sure; that makes sense.

The government was ordered by the court to reinforce the classrooms, but, the kids have to get to the classrooms, via the corridors and the streets from their homes, and all that must be made safe.

Now, considering that there's only a short warning--of seconds at best--before the kassams land, the government must think of the good of the people.

Well, there are a few options. Our brilliant military inventors can make special protectors for people. Bullet-proof vests aren't strong enough against kassams, and many of those killed and seriously injured by kassams had head injuries. The vests don't protect against head injuries. Yes, so the new law must be that everyone must wear special anti-kassam helmets and vests. The factories must rapidly produce them in all sizes, from, k'neine haraa, hefty adults to toddlers. Special baby-carriages, designed to protect infants, must be made from the same material as tanks.

I can see a very practical way of protecting small groups of people, especially good for large families and nursery school teachers. Have a large rocket-proof umbrella, mounted on wheels, so it can be pushed. It must be large enough so a number of people can be protected at once. I'm sure that our engineers can find a way to do it.

To make it even safer, these protective "clothing," carriages and "umbrellas" should be painted/coated with material that won't reflect the sun or be easily traced by radar. A design called "urban camouflage" would be just perfect.

Now, of course, this is only temporary. How long can people manage above ground, even with these protective devices? I'd take for granted that the community centers and fitness experts will provide muscle-training to prevent strains and sprains, an added risk when having to carry around such heavy things. It's a risk the residents of the south must be willing to take for the good of the country. We wouldn't want them all to desert their homes. What a horrid precedent that would be?

At the same time, a massive bunker, "Sderot Underground" must be constructed. It will be reinforced in all directions against all warfare. Of course, it will be a pleasant place to live with gardens, playgrounds, and the ceiling must be painted an attractive and calming, sky blue, with just wisps of clouds, so it won't be boring to look at. Actually, with today's technology, it should be possible to vary the colors and even reproduce the effects of sunrises and sunsets.

"Sderot Underground" should be so strong, secure and reliable, that the new "Sderot" will be the most desirable place to live in all of Eretz Yisrael, especially when Iran (G-d forbid) gets the bomb.

I have no doubt that Olmert and his fellow travellers will love this plan. Think of all the money they can make off of it!

Yes! We Can Change The World!

When I heard that the new Laura Bialis documentary, Refusenik, was to chronicle the 40-year struggle to free the Jews of Soviet Russia, all I could think of was that I had been one of the young Jewish protesters in New York over 40 years ago.  We were the Jewish activists who chose Jewish issues, rather than American "black civil rights."  We didn't think we were making history then, even when Glenn Richter told me that the minutes I was taking at a SSSJ meeting would be in some university archives.

In the mid 1960's, we believed that we could change the world.  Actually I still do.   

Sometimes younger people have asked me why I keep "banging my head against the wall,"  I look at them in disbelief.  "Do you actually think you can change the world?" they ask.  "Yes, of course," I answer.  I honestly wonder how people can go on living without the faith, the belief that they can change the world.  It's a mystery to me.

The people who were with us last night were all part of the struggle. Whether fired from their jobs, jailed or held hostage by the KGB in the Soviet Union, or out in the streets demonstrating in New York, London, LA or beyond, we took on the USSR.  It was an international super power.  At that time, it was considered as strong as the United States.  Natan Sharansky told us how the KGB agents harassing him had taunted him by asking if he really believed that some "students and housewives" would defeat them and free him.

And there we were last night, decades later.  I sat between two friends.  They were the housewives those KGB agents had mocked, and I had been just a high school student when I began publicizing the plight of Soviet Jews.

While we waited to enter the auditorium, two languages were mostly heard, Russian and English, as old friends rushed to greet each other.  After the movie, we heard and spoke more Hebrew.  That was the language that most of us had in common.  And talking about changing the world...  Think of it.  One man, Eliezer Ben Yehuda, single-handedly made that possible.  He changed the world; his efforts made Hebrew the language of modern Israel.  Yes, anything's possible if you are willing to work hard enough and take risks when necessary.

Chag Orim Sameach

Have a Happy and Enlightened Holiday!