State of Israel Must Stop All The Sniveling and Begging!

I just don't understand why we Jews keep thinking that we can somehow, charm, rebrand, beg, convince etc. ad nauseum people, countries, diplomats, journalists, media and so on to accept and support us and the State of Israel.

Italian PM Matteo Renzi addresses
Knesset‏. photo credit:
KNESSET SPOKESMAN'S OFFICE

Every time someone comes up with a pro-Israel statement, we start cheering as if the Moshiach has arrived, or even louder. The truth is that I see our acceptance of the real Moshiach as more difficult for many Jews to fully accept and show enthusiasm for than the welcome we give to those like the Italian  Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

In a dramatic twist, Italy vows to oppose UNESCO’s Jerusalem resolutions
These resolutions are “incomprehensible, unacceptable and wrong,” Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told an Italian Radio station during a visit to Brussels.

Stephen Harper touches the Western Wall,
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images

I hope you haven't forgotten that barely a few months ago, my Canadian friends had been bragging that their country was so completely and loyally pro-Israel. Yes, that's when Stephen Harper was Prime Minister. And then, all of a sudden, Justin Trudeau defeated him, and instantly, Canada had a very different policy vis a vis Israel.

International support for Israel is at best fickle, and it's mostly fake. When foreign leaders and diplomats make speeches in Israel or for large/important Israeli or Jewish organizations/institutions, they pay good morning for speeches that will get them a lot of applause.

The recently deceased Elie Wiesel was one of the foremost speechwriters for such occasions. Yes, he certainly wrote lovely speeches which warmed the soul and gave the impression that the one at the microphone truly cared about Jews and Israel. But all the speeches, even the best and most professionally and convincingly performed (worthy of an Oscar) are totally meaningless.

Our salvation will not come from any of these "powerful" people. 

There is only one source for Salvation, and that is Gd Almighty! And Gd will only step in when we recognize that and pray to Gd and not to all these people and others.

We're about to celebrate the last holiday of the Tishrei, New Year Holidays, Simchat Torah, when we joyously celebrate the fact that Gd gave us the Torah the bylaws to live by. We must activate them in our lives. It's not enough to dance around with a Sefer Torah in our arms, we must make the mitzvot the mainstay of our lives. That is how we can get Gd to activate Salvation, Redemption Speedily in Our Days, Gd willing.

Chag Sameach to All!

this photo is from Independence Day
I just wanted something joyful in the synagogue for illustration

Canada's PM Harper is Better than Most, But...

Photo credit: Dudi Vaaknin

The State of Israel is acting like the least popular girl in school who is finally asked out.  The fuss being made over Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit is really getting on my nerves.  Even my favorite writer, pundit friend Ruthie Blum has joined the bandwagon and ignored the details.

As I've written whenever some visiting head of state comes to call and speaks in the Knesset, remember that they don't write their own speeches.  Whether it's a Bush, Obama, Harper or others, their staffs invest a lot of time and money getting the perfect speech crafted for the occasion. Those applause-filled speeches aren't policy.  The are written by professionals to get cheers and make their hosts feel loved.  They are no more real than James Bond and Spiderman.

Photo credit: AFP

Granted, that Harper has been consistently saying nice and sensible things about Israel, but he was also very generous to the PA bringing them lots more than flowers and chocolate.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a $66 million aid program for the Palestinian Authority on Monday.Harper made his announcement during a visit to Ramallah, where he met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Canadian government says the money would “help advance the peace process, promote security and deliver humanitarian assistance.”
Canada has provided more than $650m. in assistance to the Palestinians since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.

Harper may have said "...those who scorn modernity, who loathe the liberty of others, and who hold the differences of peoples and cultures in contempt. Those who often begin by hating the Jews, but, history shows us, end up hating anyone who is not them. Those forces, which have threatened the State of Israel every single day of its existence, and which, today, as 9/11 graphically showed us, threaten us all." but he also said "Canada is a strong supporter of the peace process. Our position is not an Israeli position or a Palestinian position. It is a Canadian position of principle supported by the overwhelming majority of Canadians."

As usual with fine talkers, he would never take his own words seriously or to their logical conclusion.  

But honestly, the more I read of Harper's speech the less I find it more pro-Israel than the American speech-writers compose.

“I raised the issue of settlements privately. I am not here to single out Israel for criticism. There are more than enough to do that, they don’t need me. I find it interesting that yesterday in the Palestinian Authority no one asked me to single out the PA for any criticism about governance or human rights, I’m only asked to single out Israel.”
Read more: Harper admits Canada concerned about settlements | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/harper-admits-canada-concerned-about-settlements/#ixzz2r3wfwwgX Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

The more I look at the big picture, the less enamoured I am, which does put me in a minority, a small one.  I don't mind standing alone on this. No doubt I'll be joined later on by others when the party's over...