Musing Away #7 Olim

Olim Artza

I must admit that I really admire those making aliyah now. I'll be meeting a plane full on Nefesh B'Nefesh this week. Israel is not an easy place to live in this summer, and if the Disengagement really happens, G-d forbid, I hate to think of what may happen.

This Shabbat in a upscale suburban shul I overheard a woman discussing that her child was going to Israel for the year. "I warned him that he better be careful..." Guess how she ended the warning.

What do you think this proper American Jewish suburban mother is worried about? Is it taking the bus? Is it the strong sun? Is it terrorism? Or is it something else? I'll tell you. She reported that she warned her child to keep away from demonstrations so he wouldn't be arrested. Beware of the Israeli police!

Out here in "golus" it's easy to be totally unaware that anything unusual or dangerous is happening in Israel. Nothing's mentioned on the news. Most synagogues are mute. Even the UOJCA (Orthodox Union) has decided to "stay neutral." I was in two of their synagogues on my Shabbatot and even though the Torah Portions are so suitable as springboards to the topic, nothing was heard.

Actually my Shabbatot here were very enjoyable at friends and relatives. I met lots of intelligent, committed and caring Jews. I heard one tell why he was going to Israel with his family, yes, on a Nefesh B'Nefesh flight. They were returning to Israel after a number of years in the states. A reason the husband gave was that he missed how the country winds down before Shabbat. It's something you can't find anywhere else in the world.

This past Shabbat was particularly beautiful. In suburban Westchester, a mile from the local synagogue, a number of neighbors have a rotating Erev Shabbat Minyon. This week my relatives hosted it. I must tell you that it was one of the most beautiful experiences for me. The dovening from the livingroom was joyous and filled with kavanah. Our little Ezrat Nashim was in the dining room and on the deck.

I know that there's vibrant Jewish life in Golus, but it's still no excuse to stay there. It seems like everyone's kids go for a year or two to Israel after high school. Then they return "home" and go to college, and then... most return to Israel as tourists. I met one who did Israeli army service and then decided to look for money in America.

On Tuesday, G-d willing, I'll be meeting olim when I fly with them on Nefesh B'Nefesh. I'm looking forward to it. they are the heroes. It's one thing to make aliyah when life in Israel is looking up, like when my husband and I did. Today is a much greater challenge, and we really do need more Jews in Israel.

Shavua Tov,

I don't know if I'll have a chance to write again before my return.

Batya in Golus

July 31, 2005

24th of Tammuz

Please shout

IMHO, yes, in my very humble opinion, this is the time to shout. I know that we're not supposed to speak badly of the Land, our holy land, but we're not really talking about the Land. We have to shout about the cruel dictatorship, the totalitarian laws, about innocent people, men, women and children being beaten by the police.

Don't be shy, let the world know.

Up to date articles can be found on Arutz 7 and EFSI and other links on my blog.

Only by publicizing it, will we be able to bring freedom to our Land and People.

Shabbat Shalom

more on the pope

More from the Vatican about his leaving out Israel as a country suffering from terrorism. Apparently, he and his staff have trouble accepting our right to self-defense. He wants us to the the cristian thing and "turn the other cheek." Vatican Rejects Israeli Complaint The Vatican has rejected Israel's criticism that Pope Benedict XVI failed to condemn Palestinian militant attacks against Israel in recent remarks when he deplored the attacks in Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and Britain. Earlier this week, the Israeli foreign ministry criticized the pope for failing to mention a 12 July suicide bombing in Netanya that killed five Israelis, saying the pontiff's speech would be interpreted as "granting legitimacy to...terrorist attacks against Jews." A Vatican statement said: "It's not always possible to immediately follow every attack against Israel with a public statement of condemnation." It said this was mainly because "the attacks against Israel sometimes were followed by immediate Israeli reactions not always compatible with the rules of international law." (BBC News)

strange priorities

Many people have shown surprise at my theory that Arik Sharon just wants to be liked, and the praise he gets from the foreign powers and media for his seditious policies strokes his elderly parched ego. This press release his office sent out is so pathetic and peculiar.

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Following are Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's remarks at the start of hismeeting today (Wednesday), 27.7.05, with French president Jacques Chirac:

"My friends, I was pleased to accept the French President's invitation tovisit France. I have left Israel during a not easy period, one in whichPalestinian terrorism is continuing (http://tinyurl.com/dz8nu) and in whichthere is an internal struggle in Israel over the Disengagement Plan(http://tinyurl.com/43l87). Despite all the difficulties, I decided to comein order to enhance bilateral relations, relations to which we ascribe greatimportance. I came in order to express my appreciation to the President ofFrance, whom we view as one of the great leaders of the world. I would liketo thank the President for his determined struggle against anti-Semitism andfor his complete faith in the strengthening of bilateral relations. I wouldlike to thank the President for inviting me at this time. I am certain thatthe visit will both strengthen bilateral relations and promote peace in theMiddle East."Following are French President Jacques Chirac's remarks at the start of hismeeting today (Wednesday), 27.7.05, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon:"This is an opportunity for me to say once again that the friendship betweenIsrael and France must develop diplomatically, economically and culturally.I would like to say that I am determined to fight the plague of terrorismand anti-Semitism on the eve of disengagement. France is determined tostrengthen Israel and say that it is important that the process move forwardtowards full development and assure full security for the people of Israel.It is clear that the Roadmap must give Israel peace and security and give the Palestinians the possibility of establishing a government and anindependent state. My meeting today with the Prime Minister will also be anopportunity for us to discuss the situations in Lebanon and Iran. I wishthe Prime Minister a fruitful visit."

interesting reading

Enjoy the latest Hevel Hevalim. And also BOMS. Take a gander!

read arutz 7

Read Arutz 7, articles like this are the only way to know what's going on.

I'm not going to copy the articles, just get into the site as frequently as possible.

Unfortunately, this particular article confirms something I had suspected. Geula Cohen's son Tzachi Hanegbi doesn't have his mother's strong moral and ideological strength. My sympathies to her. G-d willing his four sons will do better.

brainwashing

READ THIS!!!

Israeli justice takes away liberal free choice from teenagers.

Musing Away #6 Coping With Terrorism

Coping With Terrorism

Terrorism is frightening. As the victim, lightly injured in an attack, I can't pretend that it's nothing. Though I must admit that I've learned to live without it dominating my life and every thought.

This morning and the past few days, the news in New York has been about the trauma that commuters and public transportation users must be prepared to open their bags for inspection. As an Israeli, it's a "so what, been there done that..."

Israelis are well experienced in finding our bags checked and x-rayed, opening jackets, exchanging words with "doormen/guards" who aren't asking to be polite. They're asking us how we are or where we're going to see if we tense up or have the wrong accent. I've even shown off my dental work, a very clever "strap bridge" and taken off my gold bracelet. Sometimes the guards even come across more intimate possessions and know a woman's menstrual cycle and birth control methods. All this is done in the most discreet and subtle ways. Only once did I blow it. I refused to take off my hat, when on inspection line to get into some event that Bibi Natenyahu was attending, during his reign as Prime Minister. A metal detecting wand had decided that something suspicious was under my hat. Finally, the female guard escorted me into the Ladies' Room, and she checked my hair clips. Yesseree, it sometimes gets that hairy. (Oops, please forgive the pun.)

The London bombings have the Americans running scared. Terrorism is just perfect for paranoids. Anyone can be the enemy, and in a very heterogeneous country like the United States, especially the big cities like New York, I can understand their fear.

We Israelis have a slightly easier time. The terrorists come from a specific section of the population, Arabs, yes, Arabs, and it's not racist to say so. We're all inspected, even those of us well into middle age, who look exactly what we are, simple middle-aged grandmothers.

In the states, profiling is considered racist, a big problem. It means that those who are more statistically likely to be terrorists won't be checked any more than harmless old ladies like myself.

And there has been another terror topic on the news. The pope made a speech in which he mentioned places that are suffering from terror attacks, wishing that it would end. He left out Israel. Right. His spokesman replied to Israeli criticism that Israel was in the "other places" category, no need to mention it specifically.

The pope doesn't consider the Arab terror in Israel to be important, significant enough to mention. His speech was written by his staff of diplomatic experts and advisors. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the Catholic Church isn't bothered by Arab terror against Israelis and Jews. They weren't bothered by the Nazi murder of six million.

We Jews shouldn't depend on anyone but ourselves. The pope has again reminded us that for him we're just Jews, the people who refuse to accept his religion. Don't forget the Crusades and all the anti-Jewish acts and policies of the church since its founding. Of course, there are individual Catholics and Christians who, without wanting to convert us, do respect us and want us to survive and thrive.

And back to the New Yorkers who now have to display their possessions to a bunch of strangers and get sniffed by dogs looking for explosives. It's really a small price and a good excuse to clean out your bags.

One more week!

Batya In Golus

a bissel news

There's more refusal in the army, Baruch Hashem, more and more soldiers are "just saying no." They are not willing to be like the Germans and blindly "follow orders." The situation in Israel is getting more complicated, sincethere is a process of
legalizing dictatorship mocking the democratic process. I firmly believe that we can defeat terrorism if we do what's necessary, but the government has incorrect priorities. Don't trust the american policies; they are endangering Israel. And lastly, and sadly, here's something about the latest victims of terrorism, Arabs murdering Jews, may they be the very last, G-d willing.

Parshat Shavua

This week's Portion of the Week is Pinchas. Is it "incitement" to comment on it? or teach it? Do you know what Pinchas did? When anti-G-d, immoral behavior was going on among the Jewish People Moshe was bringing to the Promised Land, a man from the preistly tribe took his sword and stabbed Zimri and the Midian whore he was publlicly --ing. Yes, he killed them! Yes he did and that act stopped the dying that had been going on. 24,000 had died, and it all stopped when Pinchas killed Zimri. That's in the Bible. I'm at my sister-in-law's and her husband was leading a discussion at the Shabbat table about the parsha. Where was Moshe, the leader, at such a crucial time? Shouldn't he have been the one to punish to sinner? That's what we thought. Then suddenly it hit me, he was probably reacting like Menachem Begin when the Altelena was shot by Yitzchak Rabin and his Palmach unit. Begin didn't do much; reports are that he was took upset and cried. Then he made a sad speech, but he didn't deal with the real problem. The real problem is that there are Jews willing to kill other Jews and just being nice won't help. That's why things are the way they are today. The Labor Zionists got away with accusing the Revisionists of murdering Alosoroff, which was a lie. And the Haganah and the Palmach and Labor Zionists got away with turning in other Jews, Lechi and Etzel to the British for hanging and imprisonment. And then they shot and sank the Altalena, killing Jews who had come to fight for the Jewish State, and they sank military supplies that had been brought to free Jerusalem. And they never had to apologize, do cheshbon nefesh. And I can't really write more about Pinchas, because....

Musing Away #5 Aliyah

Aliyah! Why Now? How Now?

I'm not a good liar, can't keep a straight face, so I have to tell you the truth. This is a tough time to make aliyah. Someone wrote in response to my last aliyah musing asking how at a time like this.

That's a reason I really admire those recent olim, like the ones I'll be meeting on the Nefesh B'Nefesh flight. Today's Israel isn't the innocent country I entered thirty-five years ago.

Last night I spoke at a ZOA gathering of young, and young at heart Jews. I asked them a question, and honestly, I had no idea what they're answer would be. I asked them:

"Do you believe that you can change the world?"

Personally, my answer is yes!

That's why I say that one must make aliyah, even now when time's a tough. We can't let difficulties stop us. We can't let the dictator get us down. We can't let the evil control us.

The Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish People. During our long history, of thousands of years, there have been many, many, too many mistakes and tragedies. I'm not sweeping the dirt under any rugs, and I"m not lying to you. Life in today's modern Israel sometimes resembles more nightmare than dream. But remember, even a nightmare isn't real, it's temporary, and one wakes up.

This is a test, a real test for all of us. One of the top Israeli films in the past year was "Ushpizin." It won many awards. It starred a famous Israeli actor, one who seemed to have given up his chance for cinematic fame, because he became religious. And he's not one of those religious guys with the same short haircuts as everyone else and a hardly noticeable kippah on the back of his head. He looks like he's all ready to play Tevye the Milkman in "Fiddler on the Roof." He hasn't compromised his religion, and he and his wife, in her haircovering became Israel's most famous acting couple. Their movie was about suffering and a "test."

These tests can't be studied for; though we can try to prepare ourselves spiritually and emotionally. These are the tests that G-d makes for everyone, like the education specialists demanding "accommodations" for various "learning disabilities." It's just that G-d assesses our abilities differently from the way we do. How many times have we asked ourselves and G-d how we can cope with the challenges we're facing?

Apparently our generation is capable of great things, and that's why the situation is so difficult.

Yes, this is the time for aliyah. Why? Because it's always the time. It's a mitzvah, commandment, that doesn't expire and is always ripe and waiting. And how can we, or you, make aliyah when the country is in such turmoil? We make aliyah, as always, with faith, faith and belief that we can change the world.

Yes, again, things must be changed, and it's up to all of us. If you wait on the sidelines, or far away you won't be able to contribute fully. Ok, yes partially, but not fully.

We in Israel need everyone.

Certainly, I can't promise you a "rose garden," or if there is one, there may be more thorns than fragrant flowers for a while. Life isn't always easy. Maybe I'm too "60's" to appreciate that some people want guarantees of material riches. When I breathe the clean air in Shiloh I feel richer than a millionaire.

Please, don't fear. Again I'll remind you.
Nachshon didn't drown, and Yitzchak wasn't sacrificed.

Batya in Golus
Erev Shabbat
July 22
15th of Tammuz

email woes

This computer, in GN, isn't givng me yahoo. I'll try the imac tomorrow. If yahoo doesn't work try reaching me (only until 1 August) at shilohmuse at aol dot com

the five minute warning says that I ought to save and log out

toodiloo

orange

orange

I hear that orange is banned again. My nails are painted orange. I was all oranged up for my tv and demo appearances.

I wore orange and mint sandals, which elicited a compliment when waiting on line to the LIRR loo. When I told the woman they were Israeli, she asked what company, Gazith, last year's style.

I bought special orange clothes in Jerusalem. A gorgeous "swirl" skirt, Doreen Frankfort, not cheap, and an orange knit top from Crazy Line, with sparkling neckline, and a cheap blouse from Agrippas street.

Well dressed from Jerusalem, with plastic bracelets and lots of ribbons.

And if it's forbidden to wear, display orange, let them pull out my fingernails, one by one...

musings away #4 ?

It has been so long since I've written. Now I"m in the GN library, and yahoo is blocked.

Broadway's Orange!

Yesterday a ribbon of orange was on Broadway. There was an anti-Disengagement rally from 30 something to 40 something streets. At the same time in Israel, tens of thousands of Jews were massed on the southern border trying to get to Gush Katif.

I was on Broadway, one of the speakers at the demonstration, cheered by the cheers as I talked of world terrorism that must be destroyed by destroying the terrorism in Israel, and especially cheered when I said that the politicians without the strength to fight must resign and let true patriots bring our courntry to true peace.

Especially I asked the soldiers and police not to be like the Germans. "Don't follow orders" I beseeched. And I reminded all that "Nachshon didn't drown and Yitzchak wasn't sacrificed!"

And all of us must do something anything. Our people, not just our country, are at a crucial, critical crossroad. We must do everything in our power to prevent disengagement.

My neighbor wrote that her husband and grandchildren are demonstrating together trying to get to Gush Katif. What a wonderful family. Many clans of three generations, maybe more, are standing together, fearless, knowing that we have ONE RULER, and his name is not Ariel Sharon. Our one ruler is G-d and G-d is the one the only one, and we must only obey G-d.

And I pray that the police and soldiers will remember who gives them life, and they should, they must obey G-d's will, and then...

...we will, B'ezrat Hashem, be saved!

Batya in Golus
July 20, 2005
the 13th of Tammuz

Bedlam

I don't have time to do one of my news digests, but if you haven't checked Arutz 7 recently, it's time that you do. http://israelnationalnews.com/

Bedlam in Israel. The government is after Jews, not terrorists. Everything's upside down.

More and more people are showing their moral fibre and opposing the unjust regime.

b'ezrat Hashem, but it's really up to us
Don't fear, do what's right!

Remember that Nachshon didn't drown and Yitzchak wasn't sacrificed!

Musing away #3

Making Aliyah, with a little help from...
Nefesh B'Nefesh

Of all the 613 G-d-Given Mitzvot, commandments, the most controversial is probably "aliyah l'aretz," moving to our Holy Land. It's a mitzvah for all of us, but even many rabbis refuse, with all sorts of excuses, to obey it. In addition they're expert at rationalizing to their congregates why they shouldn't obey it either.

As many of you already know, my husband and I made aliyah a two months after our wedding. Coming to Israel so young was very easy. We also came with an attitude of "that's it; we're here forever." It really wasn't complicated; we were young and accepting.

Some of our friends also made aliyah soon after getting married or as singles, and we all grew up and old, together in Israel. But others were always waiting until... Many of those still haven't finished all their pre-aliyah requirements, a list that keeps on growing and getting more and more complicated.

Since Nefesh B'Nefesh http://www.nbn.org.il/ came on the scene potential olim, immigrants, are having an easier time. Basically, NBN is doing what the Jewish Agency should have done all the decades it has been in existence.

Nefesh B'Nefesh provides pre-aliyah counseling to help the potential oleh, immigrant, make plans that will facilitate an "easy landing" and adjustment to living in a new country. Any move is traumatic, whether it's to the other side of town, another city, state and certain country and language. Each family member has his or her needs that must be taken into account.

North American aliyah is different from that of most other countries, because it's so easily reversible. In addition many North American Jews still feel grateful for the opportunities their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents or themselves were given by living there. Many Jewish families arrived in North America totally destitute and desperate. It makes it much more difficult to accept that Jews should be living someplace else.

Therefore the decision to make aliyah is a great one, and the immigrant needs support. This support is now gotten from Nefesh B'Nefesh.

In two weeks, I'm going to be one of the privileged few Israelis on a Nefesh B'Nefesh flight to Israel. I hope to get to speak to as many immigrants as possible.

Thirty-five years after sailing to Israel on aliyah, I'll be flying to Israel with a few hundred olim. Then I was a young bride; now I'm an old grandmother. But one thing has stayed the same. I firmly believe that there's a place for every Jew in Israel. Aliya excites me as much today as it did then. There are more opportunities today than thirty-five years ago. Today the standard of living is similar in both places. When we came to Israel you couldn't get "American conveniences" even if you had lots of money. Today, everything is available in Israel, and Israelis are in the forefront of technology.

In a sense aliyah is harder today than it used to be. The very same things that make living in Israel easy make it easier to return to chutz la'aretz. Years ago communication overseas was by mail, snail mail, and if we wanted the letter to arrive in "just a week or so" we had to get airmail stamps. They cost extra money. Overseas calls were very expensive and many people didn't have their own phone lines, so they had to go to the central post office to make calls. A ticket to New York-Israel and back ticket cost more than my New York monthly salary. You thought hard before coming and much harder to go back to the states. We didn't go on "pilot trips" to scout out the land. Many friends arrived in Israel the first time when they made aliyah. And we're still here.

Today's easy traveling makes Jews very comfortable as tourists, and they have major problems wondering how they could trade in their hotel suites for Israeli homes. For the past couple of decades, foreign student programs in Israel have been little "English speaking ghettos" rather than total immersion Hebrew-Israeli cultural experiences. This also makes it harder for North Americans to switch gears and look at Israel as a home.

For that reason I admire those making aliyah today. I'm sure that if my husband and I had listened to our families and stayed "just a few years to finish our educations and earn some more money" aliyah wouldn't have had been so easy. Maybe we would never had come. I hate to think of it.

Baruch Hashem we're here, and we've been here since 1970. I welcome all the newcomers and am glad that Nefesh B'Nefesh is part of the welcoming committee.

Batya Medad, Shiloh (temporarily NY)

anti-Disengagement demo in Jerusalem

Saba & Safta (and all others) against Disengagement
Monday, July 18, 2005...........

Wear Orange, bring signs and gather at the President Katzav's House from 10am to 12pm on Monday.

Forward this message to others and let's gather at least a thousand people for Monday. There are a lot of folks who want to do something to support Gush Katif but can't do the 3 day march. Let's get moving and let others know the PLAN!!!!!!!


Suggested sign: JEWS DON'T TRANSFER JEWS!!!!!!!!

Musings Away #2 Get Real

Motzei Shabbat
July 16, 2005
10th of Tammuz

Get Real!

There are many Israelis who love going abroad because it's an escape. Yes it's an escape from what's going on in Israel. They can pretend that everything's wonderful, since they don't hear anything to the contrary.

Of course the real world is different. We can't really run away, or if we do it doesn't make our delusions reality. There's a flipside to this.

Why do Israelis think everything's so peaceful when away from our precious courntry? It's because it's pretty difficult to get the news...

I've been in New York since Thursday, and I could be on the moon in terms of Israel. It's really hard to discover what's going on. I've spent hours searching the TV news and read the local papers here and spent Shabbat in a vibrant Jewish community and famous synagogue. And I've been amazed at how little is being said about what's happening in Israel and how it is affecting the world.

Now, Israelis including the government and media believe that America cares about it in a very special relationship. I hate to say this, but GET REAL, America just doesn't care. Not the American Government, nor your simple man in the street, nor the average Jew.

The American Government and American People have lots more on their minds than the State of Israel and its survival. Even when the middle-east is mentioned in the news, they're more concerned with how the Arabs are suffering from the periodic symbolic reactive bombings, or other defensive measures by Israeli forces. They don't care that Jews are being attacked, murdered, bombed by the Arabs. Just today I read the "NY Times" and the picture of the Arabs suffering from Israeli bombardments was double the size and ten times the drama of the picture of an Israeli girl mourning at her sister's funeral.

There was a call for synagogues to make this Shabbat "Orange Shabbat" to bring up the communities in Gush Katif and Northern Shomron which are slated for destrustuction according to Disengagement. The reaction was like the old Elvis song, "Return to Sender." In it he laments that all the letters he sent to his girlfriend have been returned, stamped "return to sender, address unknown, no such number, no such phone...I keep sending letters, but the letters keep coming back!" (I hope that I have the correct lyrics, but you get the message.)

With very few exceptions, the synagogues sent back the mail. There were very few synagogues willing to involve their members in helping preserve the state of Isarael. I dovened in a synagogue in which the rabbi gave the most peculiar sermon I had ever heard, and that was in an Orthodox shul.

The rabbi explained that he had been approached to dedicate this Shabbat to two different issues. One was some tragedy to non-Jews that I knew nothing about and it had no influence on world peace. The second was Gush Katif. The rabbi, very appropriately said that he decided to study the "parsha," Torah portion of the week, to decide what to do.

He told the congregation about Bilaam the non-Jewish prophet who had been trying to curse the Jewish people. He told us about how Bilaam was on his donkey, on a narrow mountain path. The donkey saw an angel, but Bilaam didn't. Bilaam kept trying to force the donkey a certain way, but the donkey wouldn't go because of the angel, and Bilaam kept hitting his donkey. The rabbi took this to mean that "we," or he doesn't know anything, just like Bilaam, so he won't take a stand about Gush Katif.

I couldln't beleive it. The rabbi had equated himself with a goyishe prophet! One thing I had to agaree with; he really doesn't know anything. For sure he's not much of a rabbi, and for sure he's not a leader, a person to give guidance to his congregants. I would have respected him more if he had given an opinion, even the wrong one. Then I woud have discussed it with him.

I spoke to people invloved in organizing the "Orange Shabbat" about the apathy. Someone else proudly told me how he had influenced many rabbis not to take a stand. This isn't pathetic; it's tragic.

It's tragic for many reasons. One is that people in Israel are counting on support, which doesn't exist. It's also tragic that American Jews are so disengaged from what's happening in Israel. And it's also tragic because Disengagement endangers the entire world.

Yes, there's a connection between the terrorists in Israel and the terrorists who attacked London and the terrorists who attacked America on September 11. When I was searching the dozens and dozens of tv channels for news of Israel, I found a show discussing the terror organization that had attacked London. The commentators admitted that they're connected with 9-11 but even though they all admit that they're Arab Moslems, but they refuse to see the source. All of these terrorists are connected with the ones in Israel.

So, "get real" applies to many: to Israel to remind us that neither America nor other Jews really care what happens to us. It also applies to those who fear terrorism and want it destroyed. See the connection between the terrorists in Israel and those threatening the rest of the world.

And yes, I know there are concerned Jews. I spent a wonderful Shabbat with some and met wonderful committed people who understand the big picture. They are the exceptions and must speak out more.

Remember Nachshon didn't drown and Yitzchak wasn't sacrificed.

Shavua Tov,
Batya Medad

Musing Away #1

I'm away from home for a few weeks and will return on a Nefesh B'Nefesh flight. I can be reached at shilohmuse@yahoo.com

"Ha'Asimon Nafal," or I Finally Got it!"

Before I left home for this visit to the states I wrote how I consider Israel to be governed like a dictatorship, a totalitarian one.

Then I spoke to someone about the atmosphere where he works. The boss is anti-YESHA, long before Disengagement was an issue. Some people there are active in Peace Now and the anti-YESHA refusal to serve in milu'im movement, and anyone on the other side of the political spectrum are forced to keep silent.

Yes, forced. It is clear that while the boss can insult visitors from YESHA, orange is forbidden. Even the silent, nonviolent symbol supporting Gush Katif is not allowed in that office. Recently MK Naomi Blumental's parliamentary aid was banned by the Keneset guards from going to work, because of his orange, Gush Katif ORANGE, hair. He took it to the labor court, which said that he must be allowed to enter the building.

If he had been working with my friend, he would have had been fired.

When I was told about this workplace I was horrified. It's one thing if there's an agreement that absolutely nobody can show or say any sort of political opinion, but the idea that the "boss" can say what he wants as can those who agree, but the other side must keep their silence or lose their jobs.

The person who told me about this place considers it normal. The boss is in power and can do and demand according to his will and whim. To me it's a nightmare, immoral, even sick.

The Israeli Government, run by Arik Sharon, is like that place of work, totally dependent on the boss's will and whim. There really are people who consider the boss to be a ruler who can do whatever he wants, however he wants.

That's why the Israeli public has been so silent, so passive.

It's really sad, but we must never give up, and we must never give in. We must do everything we can to get things to change.

This Shabbat has been declared Orange Shabbat, and many communities are having activities, talks, lectures and more to make people aware that if G-d forbid, there is Disengagement World Peace is in danger.

Shabbat Shalom

official closure announcement

July 13th, 2005
WWW.IDF.IL <http://www.idf.il/>
IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT
Following the publication of Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's order
(http://tinyurl.com/cdsv8) today (Wednesday),
13.7.05, on restricting entry
into the Gaza Strip, GOC Southern Command
Maj.-Gen. Dan Harel has declared a
full entry restriction order into the Gaza Strip.
The restriction on entry
does not apply to residents of the area, as per
the list valid as of
17.3.05. Additionally, the order does not apply
to security forces
personnel, firefighters, Magen David Adom
personnel and others whose entry
is permitted by the authorities.
Additionally, Maj.-Gen. Harel declared an order
restricting movement in the
area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, an area
delineated between the security
fence surrounding the Gaza Strip, Route #232,
Route #34 Route #3411. In
this area, disruption and limitation of travel
and movement are expected,
due to the necessity of the IDF and the Israel
Police to delay and prevent
radical elements from reaching the Gaza Strip
area.
The Restricted Entry Order was issued in order to
prevent attempts by
various elements to disrupt and thwart the
evacuation of communities in Gaza
within the framework of the Disengagement Plan
(http://tinyurl.com/43l87).
The issuing of the order, in coordination with
the Israel Police, was timed
as such in light of the uncontrolled entry of
extremist elements into the
area and in light of efforts to organize a
large-scale march into Gaza.
Following the declaration of the restriction of
entry into the Gaza Strip,
the IDF will operate a special Permit Office to
allow Israelis living in the
Gaza Strip to file requests for entry into the
Gaza Strip for a predefined
period of time, for their guests, relatives and
any additional persons whom
they wish to bring into the area. In addition,
the Permit Office will issue
permanent certificates to residents of the area
and temporary permits for
any additional persons who wish to enter the Gaza
Strip, and whose entry is
allowed by the Permit Office.
The Permit Office, which will be managed by the
Homefront Command, will
operate according to the responsibilities
delegated to it by Maj.-Gen.
Harel, and in keeping with Southern Command
policy as determined by periodic
security assessments. The Permit Office will
operate 24 hours a day; its
phone numbers will be published shortly.
In addition to the opening of the Permit Office,
the Homefront Command will
operate a National Information Office to provide
responses and instructions
via telephone or the internet, to every civilian
who is interested in
clarifying matters related to the restriction of
entry into the Gaza Strip,
the procedure for issuing permits and the
regulations of the restriction
policy as they are periodically determined by
Maj.-Gen. Harel. The
Information Office will operate 24 hours a day,
seven days a week; its
telephone number will be published shortly.
The IDF, in cooperation with the Israel Police,
will take all measures
necessary to minimize the disruption of the daily
lives of the Israeli
residents of the Gaza Strip. In addition to the
opening of the Permit
Office and the Information Office, the IDF and
Israel Police have reinforced
the personnel at the crossings into the Gaza
Strip in order to aid the
residents of the area and to minimize the
possibility of complications that
may arise regarding the entry of the residents or
their relatives and guests
into the Gaza Strip.
The IDF and Israel Police remain in close contact
with the leaders of the
Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip and are
updating them regularly on
developments.
The IDF will continue to periodically reassess
and re-evaluate the necessity
for restricted entry.

#131 Totalitarian Dictatorship

I will be in the NY area the second half of July and will be available to speak to groups and the media. Then, G-d willing, I’ll be accompanying the August 2nd Nefesh B'Nefesh flight home.

Musings #131
July 13, 2005
The 6th of Tammuz

Totalitarian Dictatorship

Israel has become a totalitarian dictatorship. Yes, the prime minister was put into office via democratic elections, and all sorts of decisions, fatal decisions were by democratic majorities, but the elected politicians are behaving as dictators.

Following are quotations from Answers.com
A political doctrine advocating the principle of absolute rule
The party leadership maintains monopoly control over the governmental system, which includes the police, military, communications, and economic and education systems. Dissent is systematically suppressed and people terrorized by a secret police. Autocracies through the ages have attempted to exercise control over the lives of their subjects, by whatever means were available to them, including the use of secret police and military force. However, only with modern technology have governments acquired the means to control society; therefore, totalitarianism is, historically, a recent phenomenon.
In addition, constitutional democracy and totalitarianism, as forms of the modern state, share many characteristics. In both, those in authority have a monopoly on the use of the nation's military power and on certain forms of mass communication; and the suppression of dissent, especially during times of crisis, often occurs in democracies as well.

Israel is a country under siege, and terrorism on the increase. While terrorists murder innocent civilians, our police and military are busy blocking access to Gush Katif. The people being prevented from entering are not possible terrorists. The government is too busy to concern itself with the safety of ordinary law-abiding residents. It is determined, by hook or by crook to destroy, demoralize and deport hard-working people from their homes and businesses.

Soldiers and police with consciences, morals are jailed and even government ministers have been fired. While the United States and Europe are doing what they can to destroy their local terrorists, Israel is making them a state and increasing their stature. And even worse, Israel is making it easier for terrorists to reach targets in Israel.

Take a good look at a map of Israel. The lovely city of Ashkelon will be bordering terrorist Gaza. Gush Katif has been protecting southern Israel. Get a map that shows where the so-called “Security Fence” is being built. Is such a country defensible?

In order to galvanize public opinion against the anti-Disengagement crowd, the Shabak faked a bomb scare in the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.

Sorry that this is short, and I won’t be by a computer for a few days.

May the Moshiach come quickly.

Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA

You can't fool all the people all the time.

Read this.

Reminder

TUESDAY, JULY 19 – “NATIONAL HAK’HEL”
The World Wide Rally (WWR)
Against Sharon's Disengagement Plan*

Plan to be part of this entire demonstration of solidarity with the threatened citizens of Israel. Contact your local AFSI representative to plan for a rally in your community. AFSI’s website will supply you with needed information*

CONTACT DAVID ROMANOFF davidromanoff@gmail.com , who is the main coordinator of the WWR, with a veritable command center in the US, and is eager to help you with any logistic problem of arranging a local rally, no matter where you live in the whole wide world

To learn more www.telavivrally.com

If you can't participate, you may send a generous contribution to:"Friends of Gush Katif", c/o Americans for a Safe Israel1623 Third Ave, Suite 206, New York, NY 10128 or donate online by visiting www.katifund.org

Give real meaning to the phrase "Never Again" and remember,
JEWS DON'T EXPEL JEWS!*

IN ISRAEL THE RALLY WILL TAKE PLACE IN TEL-AVIV, beginning 1 PM at Kikar Rabin
From: Women in Green wfit2@womeningreen.orgPOB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel, Tel 972-2-624.9887, Fax 972-2-624.5380 michael@womeningreen.org , http://www.womeningreen.org*

In New York, the rally will take place in front of the Israeli Consulate on Second Ave, between 42nd & 43rd Strs, from 12-2 PM*

In San Francisco - 2 PM, in front of Consulate General of Israel456 Montgomery Str (between Sacramento St & California St)*

In Philadelphia (From: Ken Heller kjhnha@aol.com)11 AM - 1 PM, at Israeli Consulate, 230 S 15 Str

Coincidence? and NY demonstration

Could it be a coincidence that the site of yesterday's terror attack is named "Sharon."

When will people realize that there is no peace with terrorists? Nothing we do will change them, and all that the government policies are doing is encouraging them.

I will be at the New York Anti-Disengagement Demonstration, 19-7, in Manhattan. Rain or shine. For more information.

Don't forget that this Shabbat is orange.

doing something

A rabbi from the Ma'arat Hamachpela Yeshiva has been fasting for over two months. I'm always saying that we all must do something, but I don't know if that's the thing.

#130 Sing Along With Me

I will be in the NY area the second half of July and will be available to speak to groups and the media. Then, G-d willing, I’ll be accompanying the August 2nd Nefesh B'Nefesh flight home.

Musings #130
July 8, 2005
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz

Sing Along With Me…

Yesterday Arab terrorists attacked London. British Prime Minister Blair had seemed to think his country immune from terror. Ironically, Israeli terror victims were touring London at the same time.

Just like US President Bush after 9-11, Blair used brave words to condemn the attacks. Strange isn’t it? When the terrorists attack their countries, they must be destroyed, but when terrorists attack innocent Jews in Israel, we must practice restraint. Peculiar? I’m just curious. Is any other country given such advice?

When terrorists attacked in Madrid nobody told the Spanish government and people to observe restraint. And everyone knows how the Americans reacted to 9-11. They went to war against anyone who could possibly be a terrorist according to some very broad guidelines. Even Israeli Jews born in Iraq find themselves under suspicion. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, since one of the excuses the Americans gave for refusing refuge to Jews attempting to escape the Nazis was that they were Germans and may have been spies.

Now, the British, always enamored with the exotic Arab—don’t forget Lawrence of Arabia—are attempting to literally pay off terrorists by giving the “Palestinians” money to keep them active here. We shouldn’t be surprised. When US President Bush’s father was in office, he declared war against Iraq, and Israel was bombed by Iraq even though Israel didn’t attack Iraq at all. In cooperation with America, Israel didn’t do anything to defend herself, and the local Arabs supported Iraq, cheering from the rooftops as they watched the rockets heading for Israeli population centers.

What was the result of Israel’s sitting idly by while missiles were launched against it, and bombs fell on its cities? The Oslo Accords came soon after. Arabs were given weapons, which, no great surprise, were used against innocent Jews, and Arab terror against Israelis increased drastically.

Yes, let’s backtrack a second. It doesn’t really make sense. Israel’s reward for its “restraint” during attack and the Arab punishment for supporting Iraq was to reward the Arabs and punish the Israelis.

Back to the present, no surprise that the international media tried to involve Israel by claiming that British Prime Minister Tony Blair blames us for the recent terrorist attacks in London. One mustn’t forget that the media has its agendas and isn’t objective. If the Jews, and Israel would just disappear, everything would be better in this world. That’s why in the 1930’s most of the world preached and practiced appeasement, figuring that since the main internal target of the Nazis was its Jewish population, they couldn’t be so bad.

This reminds me of a popular folk song from the 1960’s, written by Tom Lehrer, “National Brotherhood Week.”

Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Moslems,
And everybody hates the Jews.

And my message is to stop looking to the rest of the world especially “international leaders” for support and guidance. We must find the strength in ourselves and our G-d.

Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA

another Best of.....

Here's another great "blog magazine;" this time BOMS #85.

There's no need to spend money on paper magazines; these internet ones are so much better.

Take a gander.

Hevel Hevalim #28

The one and only Soccer Dad treats us to an unbeatable Hevel Hevalim.

For those who've never read one, they are like magazines; the articles are blog posts.

Take a gander!

more pictures

the mystery
http://shilohpics.blogspot.com/2005/07/what-is-it.html

mystery camp

incomplete, but take a look
http://shilohpics.blogspot.com/2005/07/what-is-it.html

the latest Gantzeh Megillah.

Read the latest edition. We're included.

ORANGE Shabbat

-----Original Message-----From: Gush Katif [mailto:gkatif@netvision.net.il] Sent: Friday, July 08, 2005 9:57 AM
To: Gush Katif
Subject: July 15-16 - A World Wide Orange Shabbat For Gush Katif


Dear Friends and supporters,

The organization Americans For a Safe Israel has set for next Shabbat ( July 15-16 ) to be an ‘orange Shabbat’ in synagogues and congregations all over the States in order to raise public awareness and ask for each one to pray and take action for the cancellation of the expulsion decree threatening the communities of Gush Katif and North of the Shomron.

We are calling upon the Rabbis, the heads of the congregations, and the people to hold prayers, and organize talks and information panels about Gush Katif.
On the seventeenth of Tamuz, we fast each year to remember the beginning of the siege on Jerusalem by the Babylonian army, destroyer of the Temple in Jerusalem. A few days before this date Israeli soldiers are about to set a siege on the residents of Gush Katif, in order to expulse them from their homes and turn them into Jewish refugees in the Land of Israel.

No one can imagine yet, the dramatic consequences of the so-called disengagement plan of Prime Minister Sharon, which is leading the country to a disaster in terms of security, national interests, for the economy and the society in Israel
This is the moment and the time to gather and stand to the right of the communities of Gush Katif and the Shomron,

Dror Vanunu
USA: Friends of Gush Katif
PO Box 1184
Teaneck, NJ 07666
www.katifund.org

1623 Third Avenue, Suite 205, New York, NY 10128
Tel: 212-828-2424; Fax: 212-828-1717; afsi@rcn.com; www.afsi.org
Contact: Helen Freedman, Executive Director; June 29, 2005

TO PARTICIPATING SYNAGOGUES IN ORANGE SHABBAT IN AMERICA’S SYNAGOGUES – AFSI WILL HELP YOU WITH NEEDED MATERIALS –

Synagogues across America will be participating in ORANGE SHABBAT in AMERICA’S SYNAGOGUES, Friday night, July 15 and Shabbat, July 16, organized by Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI.
ORANGE is the color of solidarity with Gush Katif and the N. Shomron, the communities slated for ethnic cleansing by the Sharon government. By wearing something ORANGE on that Shabbat, American synagogues will be filled with people displaying their unity with our embattled brothers and sisters in Israel.
At Kabbalat Shabbat services, on Friday night, July 15, special prayers should be said on behalf of Gush Katif/Gaza and N. Samaria. Wherever possible, congregants of all synagogues should be invited to participate in Friday night meals, at a nominal cost, where they will meet and greet each other in a unified effort to oppose the PM Sharon expulsion plan. Where speakers are available, they should be given an opportunity to explain the facts of Sharon’s plan to transfer approximately 10,000 Jews from their homes and lands in Gush Katif/Gaza and N. Samaria. Prayers will be said, songs will be sung, and awareness that appeasement of terror in Israel will spread to America, endangering our soldiers in Iraq, as well as civilians in America.
Shabbat morning, July 16, it is hoped that rabbis will devote their sermons to the crisis, and may invite guest speakers to speak at various times during the day, such as at Shalosh Seudot, and following Havdalah services. It is hoped that millions of prayers ascending to heaven at the same time will cause a cancellation of the immoral, illegal, cruel and destructive Sharon expulsion plan.
Please plan to be part of the ORANGE SHABBAT. Call AFSI, 212-828-2424 with questions. Consult our website, www.afsi.org for information that may be helpful to you. Let us know your plans for ORANGE SHABBAT. We will publicize them, thereby encouraging other synagogues to join in this nationwide effort.
Thank you for your anticipated response.
Helen Freedman, Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI

Nadia's right and more

Yes, I totally agree with Nadia Matar's opinion about the letter sent to residents in Gush Katif and Northern Shomron. Being forcefully evicted from one's home to be sent to ghettos and refugee camps is similar to what the Nazis did to the Jews. And even if her opinion can't be backed up, it's still her opinion, and she's entitled to express it. She's not beating, shooting, knifing, inciting etc. That's right it's not incitement.

It may be unpleasant for some to hear, but it's more unpleasant for a loyal, patriotic, law-abiding family to be forced out of their home for no reason at all. Sorry, there is a reason. The reson is simply because they are Jews. And that' immoral.

Israel is continuing with the "Cultural Revolution" done in the early Zionist days, when the Zionists cooperated with the British in choosing who would get certificates,and they gave them more easily to non-religious. Then when there was a state, they took religious kids especially from North African countries and sent them to non-religious schools, and they kidnapped the Yemenite children and gave them to Ashkenaz families.

And now they are trying to destroy the most patriotic segment of the population by taking away their homes, business, schools and communities, and giving our Holy Land to the terrorists.

What's DISENGAGEMENT? It's what has happened to a large portion of Israeli society, not the majority, but a majority of the media and politicians. They are DISENGAGED from their history, culture, religion, Land.

WE'RE NOT JOINING THEM!!!

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov, and I had better return to the kitchen!

Required Reading

If you haven't yet read this, I highly recommend that you do, and then post it on your blog and/or send it out to others.

Rally for Eretz Yisrael

Here's the link.

pictures

Finally, pictures from the demonstration .

#129 Thirty-Five Years

I will be in the NY area the second half of July and will be available to speak to groups and the media. Then, G-d willing, I’ll be accompanying the August 2nd Nefesh B'Nefesh flight home.

Musings #129
July 7, 2005
30th of Sivan, Rosh Chodesh Tammuz

Thirty-Five Years

Yes, it’s hard to believe, but thirty-five years ago we were packing our meager possessions to bring to Israel on aliyah. My husband and I had just gotten married, and we sublet an apartment from a young couple that was working in a Jewish camp.

Our life as a young American-Jewish couple was not only short, it had no real meaning. Literally we were just waiting for our boat to leave port. That was in 1970. It’s hard to realize how much Israel has changed since then. Yes, we sailed on a boat for almost two weeks, until we docked at Haifa Port, after Shabbat on the fifth of September 1970. We were among the four hundred American Jews making aliyah, the largest amount of American Jews to arrive at the same time until the first Nefesh B’Nefesh flight over thirty years later. Please correct me if I’m wrong. At least that’s what I’ve understood from the news accounts.

The Israel that received us was so different, far and removed from the New York we had just left. Materially and convenience-wise it was another generation, another world. For example there weren’t enough telephone lines, and a year’s wait was considered good and efficient. My cousin and her family who made aliyah four years after us had to wait over five years for a line.

Many families were still grateful for small electric refrigerators, the size I remembered from American motels. These were an improvement over the “ice boxes” still used in the post-independence 1950’s. A neighbor, my age, who grew up in Jerusalem, tells of having freshly “shechted,” slaughtered, chickens during three day holidays, because it there was no refrigeration. Her mother would salt and soak (according to Jewish Law) and then cook the freshly slaughtered chicken for the holiday meals. In 1970, it much was easier, though I had to be very organized cooking on my two “burner” hotplate. I saw many family kitchens with no more than that and an oven that looked more like a large toaster oven. Delicious cakes were baked in “sirei pele,” “wonder pots.” They are special baking pans for baking on top of the stove. Learning how to bake in them was one of the fun challenges for olim chadashim, new immigrants in my day. My friend, Sybil, is famous for her cookbook, “The Wonders of a Wonder Pot.”

Most travel was by bus; very few people had private cars. And those who did knew that their cars could be called up for military service. Yes, the army didn’t have enough vehicles; so cars did “milu’im,” reserve duty.

Plastic bags were almost unheard of. Going vegetable shopping in the shuk, or open market, was a very different experience. Paper napkins were rare and hardly worth the decorative effect. And I don’t even want to start describing the toilet paper. We bought yellow cheese by the weight, and only when the shopkeeper saw me did he cut it on clean white paper. When I wasn’t around he placed the cheese on newspaper, the cheapest and most plentiful wrapping paper available at that time.

Less than a year after our arrival, I learned about Israeli baby care. Newborns were swathed in diapers and receiving blankets of various sizes. Neither pins nor rubber pants were used on tiny babies. Luckily my mother brought a full layette from New York. Two years ago when my first grandchild was born, I told my mother that we’d shop here, where baby clothes are now better and reasonably priced.

Yes, things have changed. And we’ve changed, too. Materially things are better, but Israel has lost its innocence and confidence. That charismatic chutzpah is harder to find. Nowadays you can only find it in some yishuvim, and it’s strongest in those lofty hilltop communities, the ones that American President Bush and other busybodies feel threatened by. I guess that they don’t like the spark of Zionism, of pure Judaism, because they can’t control those under its spell.

I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn’t made aliyah thirty-five years ago. It was the most natural thing for us. We came without ever saying maybe, without ever thinking it an experiment, without any backup plans to return to America “if.” It’s our home. No regrets.

I sincerely hope that this season’s olim chadashim will be as satisfied and joyful with their lives as Israelis as we are.

Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA

Terror in London!!!

Unclear and mixed reports coming out of London about the well-coordinated explosions, yes in the plural.

Scotsman.com has two conflicting articles. One says that there was warning, and the other says that there wasn't.

An Arab-Moslem terrorist group has taken credit for it.

When will the world realize that the root of the terror is what they call "Palestinians," the terrorists they are coddling. World terror will just increase more and more unless the terrorists here in the Holy Land are destroyed. Instead they are supporting the destruction of Israel.

safe?

I thought that the American take-over of Iraq was supposed to make it a safer place. Maybe they should ask the Egyptian Ambassador, if they can find him. He was kidnapped. And that's not the only danger and violence there. Democratic elections aren't like the polio vaccine. It's more like having a nose job and then expecting your kids to have your new nose.

There's an inherent violence and cruelty in the Arab psyche. It may not be "pc" to say such a thing, but "uvdah" as they say in Hebrew, facts speak for themselves.

And things aren't so safe in London either. BOMBINGS! Yes, I'm glad I'm not there.

And Israel is self-mutilating. It must stop. The people patting Sharon on the back, telling him what a hero he is, are the same ones who are insisting that it's good that America and its allies conquered Iraq. They "pooh-pooh" the violence, because it doesn't fit their plans.

picture blog

I've been playing with pictures. Take a look.

Think about it..

A relative, who lives in a comfortable American suburb, told us about a family conversation about Disengagement.

One said: "It's like being told that since you're a Jew, you can't live in that building."

Then her grown daughter corrected it: "It's being told that since you're a Jew we're taking away your home."

Exactly.

Just like how the Nazis took people out of their homes and herded them into the crowded ghettos.

No difference.

Think about it!

mini-movie about Israel

This is a great little movie about Israel. Take a look and let her know what you think.

Police Brutatlity

There's someone who's job it is to "deal with" police brutality. His name is Avi Zelba, and his e-mail is: avizelba@gbrener.org.il. Contact him to report all incidents, ok attacks, by policemen/women on demonstrators. It is important to be able to prove the attacks with video or stills.

You can say something like:
I am contacting you to report the following police abuse, which I document with the enclosed testimony/attached video... or whatever.

It might be a good idea to request follow-up, a report on how the police will be handling this possible incident of abuse. And then keep track and contact him every few days on a regular basis, saying that you expect the report, progress, etc.

Don't be shy; be business-like and efficient.

Judith's speech

From: JUDITH NUSBAUM
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 10:35 AM
Subject: Fw: final speech for ACTS, July 3, 2005

Thank Roberta Hromas for inviting me

Welcome you to Israel, and thank you for participating in the final redemption of Eretz Yisrael.
You and I, Americans and Israelis, Christians and Jews, are united inthe battle against the Global Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorism. A war that isbeing experienced throughout the world and must be defeated.

Israel is but one part of the equation!The act of Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorism against the United States on 9/11was horrific. American will never be the same.

But, as you all know, we, in Israel experience the effects of Islamic Fundamentalist

Terrorism on a daily basis.

Your media report the "successful terror attacks,”

NOT of thehundreds that the IDF has prevented from occurring.

We are able to stop the terrorists from entering our cities, our schools, our buses, our cafes, ONLY because we are presently inside THEIR cities, and because the IDF mans the checkpoints.If we withdraw, if we close the checkpoints, the Terrorists will be able to enter our cities with ease.P.A. Chairman Abbas will not stop them. Not only is he a Holocaust denier, he is also the architect of the Maalot massacre of 1973 and the Munich Olympic murders in 1972.

Today, as Arafat's heir, he has not only demonstrated his unwillingness to stop Terrorism, but he has invited Terror groups including PLO leader Farouk Kaddoumi, leaders of Hamas and the Marxist Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine to move their headquarters to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuates the area. It is obvious that Gaza will become another Terrorist State.

PM Sharon's so called "disengagement" plan, it isn't really a disengagement plan, is a plan to "evacuate the Jews from the entire Gaza Strip.” To cleanse the area of Jews.We are not disengaging from the Arabs, since Israel will continue to welcome the Arabs into pre-67 Israel in mass, to work? Perhaps? To commit acts of terror? Probably. In addition, Israel has agreed to continue to provide the Arabs in Gaza with many of their utilities

This is not disengagement. This is withdrawal under fire, and it will only serve to exacerbate Arab violence.
According to Dr. Kallil Shikaki, Director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Research in Ramallah, the Arabs view "disengagement as a victory for the armed struggle.

The P.A. Minister of Civil Affairs in charge of the Israel Withdrawal Portfolio, Mohammed Dahlan, stated recently that the Palestinian side would deal with any Israeli withdrawal from any piece of land as a victory for the will of the Palestinians.Disengagement is contradicting the U.S. War on Terrorism. Disengagement is perceived, by the Middle East, as cut and run, appeasement and cave-in; in sharp contrast to the U.S. war on terrorism.

Financially, according to Min. of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu, Sharon's plan will cost Israel between 8 and 10 billion shekels; money that could be used for much needed social services. We will be retreating under fire and receive nothing in return. It will turn Gaza into a Terror State of Hamas.Disengagement is a setback to Peace. The only peace attainable in the Middle East is deterrence-driven peace. Disengagement undermines deterrence.General Ya'alon, Israel's previous chief of staff, cautioned that "Disengagement" would be a tailwind to Palestinian terrorism, bringing Kassam missiles and homicide bombing to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Kfar Saba and other major cities.And there is more. Already, missiles from the Gaza Strip have landed near the Ashkelon Electric Power plant putting 35% of Israel's electricity in jeopardy?

Already, the roofs of homes and building in Ashkelon are beingreinforced against missile attacks in preparation for the "disengagement."

Would an American population tolerate this?

The Disengagement Plan is splitting our country apart. Jews are fighting Jews. Our army's mandate is to defend and protect our citizens from our enemies and not to fight Jews, not to remove Jews from their homes, and not to destroy Jewish communities.

Nineteen-year-old Corporal Avi Bieber refused to participate, when he saw his commanders beating Jews. He said that he didn't enlist in the IDF in order to destroy Jewish communities or prepare the ground for the destruction of communities, or to remove Jews from their homes. "I enlisted in the IDF to defend the state, and what the IDF is doing now is not the role of the IDF."

He has been sentenced to 56 days in prison for his decision.I watched on TV the expulsion of 150 young people, mostly families with children, being dragged from their rooms in the Maoz Yam Hotel last week. My cousin Akiva and his family have lived there for several months. I had visited the hotel two weeks ago and met with the residents. They are not extremists. They are against the disengagement, as am I. They are not violent. They are law-abiding citizens. Akiva questioned: Why was it necessary to use such force? Why did the Security Forces have to storm the hotel 1000 strong? I don't know.

But I do know, that the proposed Disengagement Plan is only the first step. Judea and Samara will follow, then parts of Jerusalem, and so on.

We all are aware of what the Arab position is: "From the Jordan River to the Mediterranean, with NO Israel." One has only to look at a map printed by the PA in 2005 to see that Israel does not exist on their map. The word Palestine is imprinted over the area of Israel.This Land belongs to the Jewish People. We have the original deed from the Bible, and we have the legal deed from the League of Nations and the success of defensive wars. Eretz Yisrael belongs to Am Yisrael. We must repeat this every day and in every forum.I know that you do and I thank each and every one of you present today for your support, dedication and commitment to Israel.

If you want to make your voice heard, I urge you to contact your congressmen, senators, and Pres. George Bush. Explain to them why Sharon's plan is immoral and dangerous. Tell them they must not support disengagement, neither financially nor politically.

Thank you.

new blogger

Welcome Marcel to the neighborhood, the world of blogging. I've been nudging him to start a blog, especially after he sent me this Bush-Sharon phone conversation.

Best of....#84

BOMS, as it's known, is ready for your reading pleasure. It provides a wide variety of articles and post of all types, including one of ours. Take a gander...

orange

Of course this is written in orange. You can see orange all over Israel.

Decades ago orange was the Jaffa orange, Israel's great export crop. Funny, I don't think that I ate one at all last winter.

Today the color represents Gush Katif.

Now we're all decorated in orange, even if it's just a rubber bracelet, or an orange ribbon tied to a bag. Many stores have them tied to the window displays. Car owners have them tied on antennas and windows, along with orange Gush Katif flags. Orange ribbons fly along bicycle handlebars and baby carriages.

Orange clothes are all the rage. Shirts, skirts, hats and more.

Hats are trimmed with orange bands, ribbons and scarves.

Orange is a strong color combining red and yellow, heat and fire, flames.

May the orange bring us victory, or if we fail...G-d forbid.