Sometimes I wish I was a comedy writer. Our news would make good stand-up, if only it was just a joke.  Who predicted, way back when Olmert was an up and coming politician, that he would end up being to the Left of Abie Nathan and Uri Avneri?  I remember telling people that he'd be Prime Minister, but then I thought it would be good for the country. I admit that I hadn't a clue that he'd favor its destruction, by giving our precious Land to the terrorists.
I'm not going to ask G-d to give me strength, because I truly believe that the strength is in us

It's now the Eve of Rosh Hashannah, a two day holiday of joy and introspection.  The sounds of the shofar are supposed to vibrate in the deepest of our souls and ready us for the New Year.

I'm not going to ask G-d to give me strength, because I truly believe that the strength is in us, and it is up to us to uncover it and utilize it.

Yes, the situation is difficult, but if we work together, we can solve it.  Yes we can fix it.  And just like our prayers are in the plural, "we," so is the solution to the dangers which face us.

Let us start the new year united to follow G-d, like it was written in last week's Torah Portion:

Choose life!

For the past few years, ever since Barak's reign of terror, the politicians and security forces have forced us to travel to Kever Rachel in bullet-proof vehicles only.  That is until a few short weeks ago.  Now regular motorized vehicles, not bicycles, are allowed.
Women's Private Prayers and Psalms at Tel Shiloh will be before Yom Kippur, Tuesday, October 7, the 8th of Tishrei, at 9:45

Yesterday, my Shiloh friends and I took, what we hope will be our last bullet-proof busride to Kever Rachel.  It's not just that we're happy that the place is more accessible, it's also because our bus and lots of other buses was forced to wait, while private cars had easy access.

Our bus wasn't very full, and in the end we found rides in other vehicles, including an empty bus going in to bring out others. But there was a very full bus from the Shomron, which was forced to wait a long time.

When we finally got there we saw a couple of hundred people, mostly students, waiting for their buses to take them out.  It wasn't crowded inside, and although the gate was open, it used to be kept locked, the fortress smelled, and it was not pleasant.

They didn't open the back exit, which would have made it easier to breathe. There are restrictions, according to Jewish Law, about praying in a stinking place.  I don't know when I'll be back there, but the Women's Private Prayers and Psalms at Tel Shiloh will be before Yom Kippur, Tuesday, October 7, the 8th of Tishrei, at 9:45; meet at the Tabernacle Gallery Cafe.  For more information about touring Tel Shiloh, call 02-994-4019.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach

Who's there?

I wonder who writes the politicians' speeches. I'm still trying to find out who wrote Bush's Knesset speech. My guess is that Elie Wiesel was heavily involved.

Now, Peres just said something profound and truthful and so obvious. I've been saying it for a long time.

Peres: We Uprooted Communities, the Arabs Kept Bombing

Now, who in his/her right mind would have expected any other result? I guess the Foreign Ministry's preparation for the new UN Ambassador was rather faulty, too:

New Israeli UN Envoy Shocked by Welcome for Ahmadinejad

Knock! Knock!

Tzipi Livni is a classic case of Peter's Principle, but Ehud Barak is even worse.

Never forget the rampant Arab terrorism, which began during Ehud Barak's reign as Prime Minister.

I've lived in Israel since 1970, and never has there been a worse time, when innocent Israeli citizens were terrified to leave their homes. It took a couple of years after he was quickly, but not quickly enough, booted out of office for things to calm down.

We need new elections now!

The only problem is deciding whom to vote for!!!

One week left.  There's so much left to do, invite guests, plan meals...  but that's not the most important.

We;re really supposed to be preparing our souls, mulling over our deeds, doing תשובה tshuva, repent.  But I have a problem with the word, term, idiom.  What is it לחזור בתשובה lachzor b'tshuva, return to the return?  It doesn't make much sense to me either.

The word תשובה has another meaning,   Like in שאלה-תשובה question-answer.  Maybe we're supposed to return to the old answers and not think our generation is smarter than the previous ones.  We should never say:

"That may have been OK for my grandmother, but not for me."

Our Torah is timeless.

Shannah Tovah--Gmar Chatima Tovah