“Never complain and never explain.” Benjamin Disraeli, who also said: “You will find as you grow older that courage is the rarest of all qualities to be found in public life.”
Israel uses the "body language" of a victim... That must change!

Israeli Military Says Its Actions in Gaza War Did Not Violate International Law

It's foolish and dangerous to justify the complaints and accusations in that way. The only way to respond to say: That's the price of war. If the Gazans don't like it, they shouldn't attack us.

They certainly shouldn't expect G-d to protect them the way He protects us. Yes, I know that sounds a bit flaky, but there's no other explanation for the very small amount of casualties we've had. Yes, "disproportionate," but just like some families have more "bad luck" and illnesses than others, and some have more boys or more girls or more talent and money, life isn't "fair." It's also not a simple mathematical equation.

After the 1967 Six Days War, there was a popular book, So Sorry We Won, by Efraim Kishon. That's the perfect title to sum things up. The world was ready to give the young State of Israel a glorious funeral, but G-d directed a very different outcome. Yes, G-d, because there was no Israeli battle plan to liberate the Sinai, Golan, the Jordan Valley and our ancient and Biblical Homeland to the Jordan River.

Benjamin Disraeli may not have been the perfect Jew, but that doesn't mean that we can't learn from him.

Recently, there have been all sorts of mailings and articles telling us to bombard US President Obama with urgings to cease his "two states" policy. That would be a total waste of time and energy. The object of such a campaign must be Israel, politicians and media. The problem is here, not abroad. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is correct when he says that the United States will follow Israel on the issue.

Some countries, like Great Britain, have always been anti-Israel. That's why we had to fight it to establish our state, and things haven't changed. They may be experts at "proper statements," but that doesn't change history. I'm a pragmatist; I don't fall for pretty and unbacked words.

Our battle for survival is really here in Israel. We must change public opinion, the media and the politicians. Actually, the most effective order would put the media first. They control both the politicians and public. The media also muzzles the public, in order to create an impression that the public agrees with the media.

Just like how people are instructed how to avoid being attacked by bullies and muggers, it's the same here. Israel uses the "body language" of a victim. We're easy targets. That must change!

We should reject all American aid and advice... I fear our "friends" more than our enemies.

"Arik Sharon and I are training men to cross the Suez 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.

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.

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.