Nice Zionist Patriotic Booster, Moskowitz Prize for Zionism 2017, 5777

The media is so negative when it comes to idealistic Zionism that we all need some good "booster shots" periodically, and attending the prize-giving ceremonies put together for the Moskowitz Zionism Prize are just perfect. For various reasons I hadn't been to one for a few years, and I'm glad to have come this year.

Yehoram Gaon was the MC, and he did a phenomenal job both singing and providing the necessary introductions and background. Apparently, he had been invited to perform for visiting US President Trump and entourage but respectfully declined because it was at the same time as the Moskowitz ceremony.

The Moskowitz Prize has evolved over the years. It used to be that three people got the main prizes, and the audience was full of their families, friends and admirers. The program stressed the accomplishments of these magnificent individuals and was interspersed with amazingly photogenic and kitschy performances with the backdrop of Ir David, City of David.

This year it was at the much more accessible Sultan's Pool, between Jaffa Gate/Mount Zion/Old City Walls and Yemin Moshe. And instead of a variety of awardees, there was just one, the incomparable Moshe Arens. Arens is one of the last of a generation of Israelis, originally from the states actually, who was involved in a totally amazing amount of Israeli History. Yes, he's definitely worth prize recipients, or more.

One of the highlights of the event was certainly Education Minister Naftali Bennett's speech. There was a double theme of the evening, which were that it's ten years since the prize began and the fifty years since the Liberation of Jerusalem and the Six Days War.

Bennett gave a personal aspect to this, by telling how the tension and Arab threats before the war, plus the miracles all of my generation and older remember so clearly affected his parents.  According to Bennett, pre-Six Days War, his parents were typical unaffiliated assimilated Jews living in America, but the extraordinarily miraculous Six Days War woke up their Jewish identity and changed their lives completely. That's how they ended up making aliyah and discovering Torah Judaism.

Bennett also voiced a plea to visiting American President Trump to make history and recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital City.

A large proportion of the audience were teenagers. Schools came to attend, and it wasn't for the Zionism booster shot. There were some popular entertainers, two generations younger than the veteran Israeli star Yehoram Gaon. I whispered to my husband:

"Am I the only one who has never heard of these singers?"

As soon as the "concert" part of the evening began, many of us old fogeys left and went home. We had enough fun...

In Living Loving Memory of Manny Winston, ZaTz"L

Last night at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center I attended a very special event in honor of the 2nd Yahrzeit of Emanuel Winston.  It was MC'd by his amazing wife Gail.  We also heard messages from his two sons.  And there was a panel led by the multi-talented former aeronautics engineer, MK, Minister, Ambassador et alii, Moshe Arens. Other members of the panel were Caroline Glick, Ruthie Blum, Jay Shapiro and my husband Yisrael Medad.

At the event, it was announced that a new internet site has been created that will promote and publicize Manny's views and articles, http://winstonisraelinsight.com/.  Gail told us that there are thousands of articles waiting to be typed up and uploaded to the site.

The main subject, which was discussed in much fascinating detail was the tragic cancellation of the Lavi, the Israeli fighter plane.  Both Arens and Shapiro were heavily involved in that project, so hearing them speak added personal, factual details that can't be found from any other sources.  Arens, among other professions, is a historian and political scientist. 

Here's what Arens wrote about the Lavi three years ago. It's a must-read:

Who would have believed it? Some years ago Israel was developing the world's most advanced fighter aircraft, the Lavi, while the Western world's aircraft manufacturers were beating their way to our door, eager to participate in the Lavi project, or trying to sell their competing plane to the Israel Air Force. And now Israel goes hat in hand pleading for a chance to be allowed to acquire the F-35 aircraft, at a price tag of $150 million each. But it's not only the astronomical price. Israel is told that the F-35 must be taken as is - no changes or modifications to suit Israel's specific needs, and absolutely no Israeli systems included. Take it or leave it. Just imagine Israel's position today had the Lavi project not been canceled. The IAF would be operating the world's most advanced fighter, upgraded over the years to incorporate operational experience and newer technology. Much of Israel's industry would have moved a great step ahead, Israel Aerospace Industries would have become a leading developer of fighter aircraft, and most importantly, a number of options would be open to the IAF in choosing its next fighter. (complete article)

The Manny Winston site has a very good article, actually more, about the Lavi project.  I highly recommend reading it:

Don’t build a better aircraft, or we will shoot it down
Israel was told to drop the Lavi after Caspar Weinberger observed the flight test data.  It was too good; the results were coming in too fast on the plus side.  So the “Tucker” had to be killed again.
Regretfully, the Lavi was just what the United States needed, particularly after the A-10 was shown as incapable of surviving a heavy concentration of Ground-to-Air missiles.  The U.S. desperately needed a dedicated “CAS” Close Air Support aircraft and now.  Mr. Dov Zakheim, spokesman for Mr. Weinberger came in swinging.  His job was not only to kill the Lavi but to sell a revised version of the F-16 to be called the “A” Agile Falcon 16.  This very worthy, totally dedicated air superiority aircraft was now to be modified and called the Close Air Support “CAS” the Air Force was supposed to be looking for. (complete article)

I recorded some of the talk, (until my camera's memory card got overloaded,) especially what Moshe Arens said.  As the recordings finish uploading on youtube-shilohmuse, I will post them here.  So keep checking up over the next few hours or tomorrow, too.

Herew's Gail Winston talking about what we in Israel really need, Sovereignty!



Moshe Arens speaking...