Hamas/Gaza War Musings #63: Thankful That Avinatan Or and Other Hostages Free From Hamas Captivity

 All photos here were taken by me, Batya Medad, nobody else.

You can see Avinatan Or, the tall one, in the back on the right.

As my readers know, I consider the "deal" very problematic. Bibi can't negotiate; he's too weak, woke and agreeable. He allowed other countries to represent us. Of course, I'm overjoyed that our totally innocent hostages, those still alive, were released by the Gazan Hamas terrorists, but they certainly didn't do it out of the goodness of their hearts. My theory about their agreeing will have to be explained in a later post.

Residents of Shiloh, plus Jews all over the area beyond happy at Avinatan's release. Authorities estimated that most of the hostages would need about two weeks of medical observation, tests, rest etc before being released home, so we were overjoyed to hear that barely a week after arriving in Israel, Avinatan would be allowed home.

Joyful supporters lined the roads for miles and miles, most of the route between the hospital and Shiloh. There were many stops where people cheered and he waved to the celebrants, so the trip back to Shiloh took hours and hours. In Shiloh we waited...

There were massive celebrations once they turned at the Shiloh Junction into Shiloh. Those of us waiting by the central square, near the Mishkan Tabernacle Synagogue, had been told that he'd be very soon, but we waited even longer. The family changed vehicles, so they entered Shiloh in an open one, so he could see his friends, and we could see him.

We all pray that he will enjoy good health and a wonderful life with his family and friends. 

PS for those who are asking if his girlfriend Noa Argamani was there... I didn't see her.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #62: Israel Still in Danger; IDF Soldiers Still Need Tzitzit

Last night my friends and I had another Tzitzit Tying session. This was the third time in Shiloh, though just the second time for me. Special army-safe tzitzit are being tied all over Israel. 

Civilians, of all ages, men and women are finding ways to volunteer in the war effort. Israelis are amazing. Some people help families of the reservists, the wounded and the dead. They do everything from babysitting to bringing food and more. Others have "adopted" bereaved families and those of the wounded.

Trump may claim that he brokered a "peace deal," but the war hasn't ended. Hamas is still attacking Israel, and our precious IDF soldiers are still being killed.

Of course we're grateful and overjoyed that the living hostages have been released by Gazan Hamas terrorists. No doubt they had ulterior, though not humanitarian, reasons for that. Here in Shiloh we're awaiting the return home of Avinatan Or. Big celebrations are planned, Gd willing.

Gazans are killing each other, not that the international anti-Israel Left seems to care. If they can't blame Israel, it doesn't make their news.

No doubt my series Hamas/Gaza War Musings is not yet over. Stay tuned.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #61: VICTORY Prayer Haikus #4

I've been writing haikus for quite awhile, generally what I label #morningcoffeehaiku. They used to be rather banal about coffee, morning and sunrise, but as this awful war has been going on, dangerously  endlessly --yes, even after the release of living hostages-- sometimes my formerly innocent haikus have concentrated on the Hamas/Gaza War. Following are some recent ones. Feel free to share and comment.

Gd gave us Free Will

VICTORY's our reward for

fighting enemies

I'm too powerless

too really affect the world

but can't be quiet

lying to oneself won't protect from vicious war only VICTORY

we need bravery

for true total VICTORY

only Gd will help

Disaster awaits

I'm terrified of future

WE NEED TRUE LEADERS

war will follow "deal"

much worse than any other

very clear to me

Shabbat Blessings, please

some holy work still goes on

must still win the war...

Where's the victory?

Bibi gave up sovereignty...

I'm very worried

Succot Holiday

escape from reality

pray for VICTORY

historical time

not for good, I have no doubt

But what can I do?

There's more danger now

deal's suicidal for sure

won't bring Israel peace

As I went through my Morning Coffee Haikus, I was surprised to discover that all I had written about was the war and lack of VICTORY. Gd willing there will be a major change. Please pray and do whatever else you can, like sharing my thoughts... thanks.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #60: "Peace Plan"? You Must Be Joking!

 

Simply put: Prepare more cemeteries. Yes, I see things, political and security decisions in black and white. And I look at the big picture, too. 

Does this "deal" promote long term Israeli security? NO!

There's lots of wishful thinking, with a big popular distraction. I'm sure you can guess what the distraction is, sort of like coating poison with your favorite ice cream... That's the return of all the hostages live and dead. 

Of course the chances are that the dead ones won't be well-preserved bodies. There will be bones, body-parts of humans -hostages and Gazans- mixed with animals. It will take months at best to identify them. I'm not kidding. The scientific experts who had worked so hard on identifying those murdered on Simchat Torah, aka October 7th, two years ago, whose body parts were left in situ, are probably gathering their white coats and equipment to start all over again. I wouldn't be surprised if they find some "parts" of the victims they identified previously mixed in with the holy mess Hamas is preparing for us.

I hate to be a killjoy, but I'm a realist, a pragmatist. As much as I wish I could be hypnotized to discover what my maternal grandfather spoke to me about when I was a three year old, before he passed away, I doubt that hypnosis would work on me.

I see so many holes in this deal/plan that it's more like a window with a thin modernistic frame.

Israel/Bibi shouldn't have accepted it before Hamas, the Gazan terrorists had agreed to give up their arms. Bibi doesn't know how to negotiate; he's too concerned about being liked. And he doesn't understand that the smiles he's getting are mocking not admiring. Trump played him...

Gd willing the hostages will really be released and not held while the terrorists demand more Israeli concessions. 

I pray that somehow Bibi Netanyahu will be out of politics in all ways, along with his devoted followers. We need true, brave, sovereign Israeli leadership, a government that takes Israel's needs first as a country. Gd willing....

Honestly, until I see all of our hostages home, I can't be joyful, I can't believe it possible/probable.

But one thing for sure, this isn't the end of the war... Of course, you can and should pray that I'm mistaken...

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #59: Commemorate According to Jewish Calendar, Simchat Torah, Not October 7th

 

Jewish Calendar, this year, the one that just began on Rosh Hashannah 5786

I follow the Jewish Calendar*. We were brutally and viciously attacked on Simchat Torah, 5784 two years ago, which fell on the 7th of October, 2023.

We must respect and follow our calendar; it's an extremely important part of Judaism. It davka shows/proves our permanent and indisputable connection to the Land of Israel. It gets adjusted to coincide with the seasons of the Land by adding days and months.

That's the exact opposite of the nomadic Muslim calendar in which holidays wander among all the seasons, proving that they have no connection to land. The Muslim calendar is strictly lunar and always only twelve months. That doesn't jive with the solar calendar; it's short a few days, which adds up. It also means that their year number is inaccurate. Their year has fewer days, so every few years, they've added a year. Also if they count ages by their calendar, people are younger than they claim to be. Just think... you don't need to be a mathematician.

While I'm talking about calendars, did you notice that the Jewish one and the Christian one are up to different years? 5786 vs 2025... Yes, Judaism is a lot older than Christianity. And Islam only began in the 7th century, 610. Judaism is much older than both. Neither religion is a contemporary of Judaism, so Abraham, Isaac and Jacob weren't at all involved in those two religions. Those two religions adopted/stole Jewish History; call it identity theft... More food for thought.

*This link is really clear about how the Jewish Calendar gets adjusted to stay connected to seasons, the solar calendar and make sure certain holidays don't end up on certain days of the week.