The other day a neighbor mentioned that she had been at her daughter-in-law's university graduation. In Israel, it's by departments, so that all of the business/accounting etc. majors are together, but there's enough separation to know who majored specifically in what.
They were surprised to see that a good half of the Accounting majors were Arabs, and that the Jews and Arabs totally ignored each other. Even after three years studying together, they didn't know each other at all. The Jews, whether religious or not or right or left, got along well with each other.
We were all wondering what the attraction of Accounting was for the Arabs, since there wasn't the same percentage in the other majors. Then this morning I saw this article on YahooNews. Is it possible that the Arabs look at Accounting as a ticket out?
Monday, June 6, 2005
Sunday, June 5, 2005
news to make you smile
The kiddies are at it again. Just like how King David snuck into King Saul's tent, left proof he had been there, but didn't harm him.
Today, or more accurately last night, our kiddies in orange have been busy. First they managed to gum up the locks to all sorts of government offices.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83316
And then they painted a cultural ikon in Tel Aviv, http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83342
And in NY, there's the parade with lots of orange!
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83114
MK Tzvi Hendel of Ichud Leumi, National Union complains of the government's perverse value system
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83344
News of another major anti-Disengagement rally in Jerusalem
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83341
That's it for now.....
Today, or more accurately last night, our kiddies in orange have been busy. First they managed to gum up the locks to all sorts of government offices.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83316
And then they painted a cultural ikon in Tel Aviv, http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83342
And in NY, there's the parade with lots of orange!
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83114
MK Tzvi Hendel of Ichud Leumi, National Union complains of the government's perverse value system
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83344
News of another major anti-Disengagement rally in Jerusalem
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83341
That's it for now.....
#123 Just like Riding a Bicycle
Musings #123
June 5, 2005
27th of Iyyar, The Eve of Jerusalem Day
Just Like Riding A Bicycle
ItÂ’s said that bicycle riding is one of those skills that one never really forgets. I canÂ’t vouch for it, since I havenÂ’t been on a real mobile one (exercise ones donÂ’t count) for decadAdmittedlyedly, fear is the reason. If skating skills have a similarly permanent position in the brain, then it is true, because towards the end of my career as a gym (sports) teacher I skated, and I skated well.
The big difference for me was confidence. I felt very confident in the skates and impressed my peers and even those a decade younger with my rusty skills. Israelis raised in the 1950Â’s and 1960Â’s rarely had the opportunity to skate with a full pair. If there were skates in the family, they were to be shared among all the siblings, so they were used mainly as mini-scooters, one skate per person.
Yesterday, listening to our community rabbi, Rabbi Elchanan Ben Nun, talk about Rabbi Kook, Yom Yerushalayim and todayÂ’s problems with the politicians, We all found it very disturbing that our politicians are insisting that weÂ’re incapable of functioninindependentependent country. In the early years of the state, Israelis lived very frugadevelopeddevelped a modern and very technologically sophisticated country much faster than any expert would have predicted.
I suddenly pictured our nation and independence as someone riding a bicycle.
Bicycle riding is a complex skill, involving: strength, speed, balance and most important--confidence. Anyone who has observed people riding bicycles for the first time will tell you that, with very few exceptions, once the rider picks up speed and rides straight and well, outpaces the “trainer,” he then suddenly panics, slows down and looses balance.
That’s where the State of Israel is today. After a great first burst of speed when we settled Jewish refugees from all over the world, developed innovative agriculture and technology, were victorious in wars, suddenly the guy in the kova tembel looked around, saw the scenery speeding by and panicked! Right now, we’re wobbling, like a schizophrenic some of us are saying: “Great ride, keep it up, go faster.” And others are crying: “Whoa, watch out, you’re too young and inexperienced to go so quickly.” “We want someone to hold us steady.”
Anyone with any cycling experience knows that the faster you go, the better. And the more focused you are on your destination, the safer. HereÂ’s what the experts say:
“It is essential that you develop a smooth, straight form while riding. Cyclists who weave all over the road are dangerous to themselves and to others.” http://visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/techniques.html
“One of the most basic skills of cycling is the ability to ride straight, without wobbling from side to side. It is not possible for most cyclists to do this until they reach a certain minimum speed,”
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/starting.html
Oh, yes, we need to maintain a “minimum speed.” This is impossible if we’re always looking back, over our shoulder to check for approval and instructions. A bicycle rider needs to take responsibility for himself. If he keeps looking around, he’ll crash. If he’s attached by a leash to someone off of the bike, he’ll crash. This isn’t water-skiing, which at best lastskiera few seconds before the skiier falls into the water.
The same goes for a country. Those in charge must remain independent of other countries. A leaderÂ’s priority should be whatÂ’s best for oneÂ’s own country, not to please foreigners. Just like riding a tricycle is not the same as riding a bicycle, when a prime minister takes orders and instructions from foreign powers he is not a true leader. He endangers his country.
Not everyone can ride a bicycle. Some people have an innate fear, and they have to stick to a tricycle or keep those training wheels on, but if thatÂ’s the case, they have no chance to race Lance Armstrong. And if Israeli politicians keep looking for the approval of foreign powers, they must resign.
I donÂ’t now how many of you remember the month leading up to the 1967 Six Days War.
“The Six Day War broke out on June 5, 1967, following three weeks of tension which began on May 15, 1967 when it became known that Egypt had concentrated large-scale forces in the Sinai peninsula. Egypt's force buildup in the Sinai was accompanied by other serious steps: the United Nations Emergency Force stationed on the border between Egypt and Israel and Sharm el-Sheikh in 1957 and which had provided an actual separation between the countries was evacuated on May 19 upon the demands of the Egyptian president at the time, Gamal Abdel-Nasser;” http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=5&from=history&docid=18924&Pos=18&bScope=false
"The offensive that took shape in Arab minds and began to emerge in May 1967 was the climax-in-deed, the grand finale-of eighteen years of hostilities against Israel on every front except the direct confrontation of the military battlefield. During those eighteen years, the various hostile acts of the Arab states broke every relevant paragraph in the Armistice Agreements of 1949, which all the states had negotiated and signed and which theoretically governed their relations with Israel." http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~samuel/beforesixdaywar.html
In 1967, Israel defeated the Arab armies without any human help. No country sent soldiers to fight alongside Israel. The U.N. withdrew its peace-keeping forces. According to all the experts there was no way we should have survived, but we did. And thatÂ’s the proof that we donÂ’t need anybodyÂ’s approval or help. We donÂ’t need training wheels and we donÂ’t need a guiding hand on the back of the bike.
We can ride our bicycle all by ourselves. WeÂ’re a strong independent country.
HALLELUYA!!!
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
June 5, 2005
27th of Iyyar, The Eve of Jerusalem Day
Just Like Riding A Bicycle
ItÂ’s said that bicycle riding is one of those skills that one never really forgets. I canÂ’t vouch for it, since I havenÂ’t been on a real mobile one (exercise ones donÂ’t count) for decadAdmittedlyedly, fear is the reason. If skating skills have a similarly permanent position in the brain, then it is true, because towards the end of my career as a gym (sports) teacher I skated, and I skated well.
The big difference for me was confidence. I felt very confident in the skates and impressed my peers and even those a decade younger with my rusty skills. Israelis raised in the 1950Â’s and 1960Â’s rarely had the opportunity to skate with a full pair. If there were skates in the family, they were to be shared among all the siblings, so they were used mainly as mini-scooters, one skate per person.
Yesterday, listening to our community rabbi, Rabbi Elchanan Ben Nun, talk about Rabbi Kook, Yom Yerushalayim and todayÂ’s problems with the politicians, We all found it very disturbing that our politicians are insisting that weÂ’re incapable of functioninindependentependent country. In the early years of the state, Israelis lived very frugadevelopeddevelped a modern and very technologically sophisticated country much faster than any expert would have predicted.
I suddenly pictured our nation and independence as someone riding a bicycle.
Bicycle riding is a complex skill, involving: strength, speed, balance and most important--confidence. Anyone who has observed people riding bicycles for the first time will tell you that, with very few exceptions, once the rider picks up speed and rides straight and well, outpaces the “trainer,” he then suddenly panics, slows down and looses balance.
That’s where the State of Israel is today. After a great first burst of speed when we settled Jewish refugees from all over the world, developed innovative agriculture and technology, were victorious in wars, suddenly the guy in the kova tembel looked around, saw the scenery speeding by and panicked! Right now, we’re wobbling, like a schizophrenic some of us are saying: “Great ride, keep it up, go faster.” And others are crying: “Whoa, watch out, you’re too young and inexperienced to go so quickly.” “We want someone to hold us steady.”
Anyone with any cycling experience knows that the faster you go, the better. And the more focused you are on your destination, the safer. HereÂ’s what the experts say:
“It is essential that you develop a smooth, straight form while riding. Cyclists who weave all over the road are dangerous to themselves and to others.” http://visitmt.com/virtualvisitor/biking/techniques.html
“One of the most basic skills of cycling is the ability to ride straight, without wobbling from side to side. It is not possible for most cyclists to do this until they reach a certain minimum speed,”
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/starting.html
Oh, yes, we need to maintain a “minimum speed.” This is impossible if we’re always looking back, over our shoulder to check for approval and instructions. A bicycle rider needs to take responsibility for himself. If he keeps looking around, he’ll crash. If he’s attached by a leash to someone off of the bike, he’ll crash. This isn’t water-skiing, which at best lastskiera few seconds before the skiier falls into the water.
The same goes for a country. Those in charge must remain independent of other countries. A leaderÂ’s priority should be whatÂ’s best for oneÂ’s own country, not to please foreigners. Just like riding a tricycle is not the same as riding a bicycle, when a prime minister takes orders and instructions from foreign powers he is not a true leader. He endangers his country.
Not everyone can ride a bicycle. Some people have an innate fear, and they have to stick to a tricycle or keep those training wheels on, but if thatÂ’s the case, they have no chance to race Lance Armstrong. And if Israeli politicians keep looking for the approval of foreign powers, they must resign.
I donÂ’t now how many of you remember the month leading up to the 1967 Six Days War.
“The Six Day War broke out on June 5, 1967, following three weeks of tension which began on May 15, 1967 when it became known that Egypt had concentrated large-scale forces in the Sinai peninsula. Egypt's force buildup in the Sinai was accompanied by other serious steps: the United Nations Emergency Force stationed on the border between Egypt and Israel and Sharm el-Sheikh in 1957 and which had provided an actual separation between the countries was evacuated on May 19 upon the demands of the Egyptian president at the time, Gamal Abdel-Nasser;” http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=5&from=history&docid=18924&Pos=18&bScope=false
"The offensive that took shape in Arab minds and began to emerge in May 1967 was the climax-in-deed, the grand finale-of eighteen years of hostilities against Israel on every front except the direct confrontation of the military battlefield. During those eighteen years, the various hostile acts of the Arab states broke every relevant paragraph in the Armistice Agreements of 1949, which all the states had negotiated and signed and which theoretically governed their relations with Israel." http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~samuel/beforesixdaywar.html
In 1967, Israel defeated the Arab armies without any human help. No country sent soldiers to fight alongside Israel. The U.N. withdrew its peace-keeping forces. According to all the experts there was no way we should have survived, but we did. And thatÂ’s the proof that we donÂ’t need anybodyÂ’s approval or help. We donÂ’t need training wheels and we donÂ’t need a guiding hand on the back of the bike.
We can ride our bicycle all by ourselves. WeÂ’re a strong independent country.
HALLELUYA!!!
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 unnumbered musing
This is based on some posts to a Jewish email list we've been members of for years, Mail Jewish. Actually it predates our having email at home. My husband used to bring me printouts and I would write my replies; then he would send them off from his office.
Recently, there was lots of heated discussion about women saying the Kaddish prayer for the dead. A number of women wrote that they made great efforts to get to synagogues and minyon at least once a day. And some others wrote that it's not acceptable and contradicts the role of women in Judaism.
Just recently one of the anti sent a post saying that for proper modesty, women should be "home." Well, I couldn't resist it. I wrote asking if that's the case, why do the Chareidim (those who consider themselves most religious) send their wives out to work, while they stay in the safe haven of their yeshivot.
Yes, I do have a problem with the entire Chareidi life style. I don't consider it very Jewish. They've adopted the standards of monks and priests, just adding sex and kids. Even their black cloth kippot, skullcaps, are in order to hide their Jewishness. This is the opposite of the proud, colorful crocheted ones which they look down upon. And their preference for their wives in wigs, rather than scarves and hats.
And in Israel, they treat the rest of us as "cannon fodder," refusing to serve in the army, even though traditionally and according to Jewish Law, serving is a mitvah.
Recently, there was lots of heated discussion about women saying the Kaddish prayer for the dead. A number of women wrote that they made great efforts to get to synagogues and minyon at least once a day. And some others wrote that it's not acceptable and contradicts the role of women in Judaism.
Just recently one of the anti sent a post saying that for proper modesty, women should be "home." Well, I couldn't resist it. I wrote asking if that's the case, why do the Chareidim (those who consider themselves most religious) send their wives out to work, while they stay in the safe haven of their yeshivot.
Yes, I do have a problem with the entire Chareidi life style. I don't consider it very Jewish. They've adopted the standards of monks and priests, just adding sex and kids. Even their black cloth kippot, skullcaps, are in order to hide their Jewishness. This is the opposite of the proud, colorful crocheted ones which they look down upon. And their preference for their wives in wigs, rather than scarves and hats.
And in Israel, they treat the rest of us as "cannon fodder," refusing to serve in the army, even though traditionally and according to Jewish Law, serving is a mitvah.
from the NY Times
a variety of links, including amnesty and deep throat over a cup of coffee
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/2005/06/reading-ny-times.html
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/2005/06/reading-ny-times.html
Friday, June 3, 2005
Twilight Zone
I'm probably revealing my age, as if it's that great a secret, by saying that the legendary TV show, "Twilight Zone," was a favorite of mine. Of course I had no idea that I'd be living in a world so similar to the episodes I used to watch. "Today"'s series, "Law & Order" always claims no connection to anything or anyone, but I'd really like to see how the situation here in Israel would play as a plot on "Twilight Zone."
Today's news gives us two scenarios. One a bereaved father meets up with soldiers "casing" his neighborhood in preparation for dragging him and his remaining family from their home.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83238
The second discusses the relative punishments of terrorists and those trying to prevent more terrorism. Of course, those demonstrating against are jailed, and the terrorists are freed.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83193
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83126
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83113
In a ddition, officers who don't want to free the terrorists are threatened.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=83228 This was denied, but don't forget that government ministers have been fired by Sharon for voting their conscience. And the civil rights activists don't considers Jews "civil" or important.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83236
Ok, so where's the script?
Today's news gives us two scenarios. One a bereaved father meets up with soldiers "casing" his neighborhood in preparation for dragging him and his remaining family from their home.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83238
The second discusses the relative punishments of terrorists and those trying to prevent more terrorism. Of course, those demonstrating against are jailed, and the terrorists are freed.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83193
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83126
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83113
In a ddition, officers who don't want to free the terrorists are threatened.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=83228 This was denied, but don't forget that government ministers have been fired by Sharon for voting their conscience. And the civil rights activists don't considers Jews "civil" or important.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83236
Ok, so where's the script?
comment I sent
Here's the text of a comment I sent to http://outsidetheblogway.blogspot.com/2005/06/disengagement-not-that-simple.html#comments
Thanks, Esther,
Truthfully, not much money is invested in YESHA. We build and buy our homes, pay taxes, electricity, water, develpment, tuition etc. Our lives have never been subsidized like the kibbutzim and development towns.
One of my daughters did National Service in Kiryat Shmoneh for two years, at the same time that left-wing politicians like Yossi Sarid claimed that we were siphoning money from places like Kiryat Shmoneh. In Shiloh we parents subsidized the education to support "free" elementary schools and paid for school trips, and the kids brought their foood from home. But in KS the government gave it all for free.
We're hardworking middle and lower middle class families.
Thanks, Esther,
Truthfully, not much money is invested in YESHA. We build and buy our homes, pay taxes, electricity, water, develpment, tuition etc. Our lives have never been subsidized like the kibbutzim and development towns.
One of my daughters did National Service in Kiryat Shmoneh for two years, at the same time that left-wing politicians like Yossi Sarid claimed that we were siphoning money from places like Kiryat Shmoneh. In Shiloh we parents subsidized the education to support "free" elementary schools and paid for school trips, and the kids brought their foood from home. But in KS the government gave it all for free.
We're hardworking middle and lower middle class families.
Laugh! The Carnival of Comedy #6
You'll find lots of laughs at Carnival of Comedy #6 ! It includes a Baile Rochel saga along with lots of other great posts.
Take a gander!
Take a gander!
Thursday, June 2, 2005
Could this be their plan?
Do you think that the reason behind the madness is that some Israeli's want to do this?
Variety of things
The terrorists are celebrating. As Arlene Peck once wrote: "I want to gag." I told her that for certain things, the word "puke" may be used.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117678720078
Jewish blood's cheap http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117506029071
One never forgets, and the pain never goes away
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117678720084
There's a very good opinion piece on Arutz 7. It's about conspiracy theories. Just because it seems like a conspiracy one shouldn't belittle it. http://www.israelnn.com/article.php3?id=5165
There's lots more on Arutz 7.
How to visit Gush Katif http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83179
Now Bibi is joining the voices warning of terror. Big deal. We've known this for ages. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83197
Though I don't know if there was any accuracy in their report the other night about the Malcha Mall refuses entrance to people dressed in orange, at least the Gush Katif t-shirts and the orange bracelet. If anyone has an proof, please let me know. I publicized it but with a question mark. It's also possible that it was planned, but then there were protests by the shopkeepers who know who their customers are.
I'd really like the full story.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117678720078
Jewish blood's cheap http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117506029071
One never forgets, and the pain never goes away
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117678720084
There's a very good opinion piece on Arutz 7. It's about conspiracy theories. Just because it seems like a conspiracy one shouldn't belittle it. http://www.israelnn.com/article.php3?id=5165
There's lots more on Arutz 7.
How to visit Gush Katif http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83179
Now Bibi is joining the voices warning of terror. Big deal. We've known this for ages. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=83197
Though I don't know if there was any accuracy in their report the other night about the Malcha Mall refuses entrance to people dressed in orange, at least the Gush Katif t-shirts and the orange bracelet. If anyone has an proof, please let me know. I publicized it but with a question mark. It's also possible that it was planned, but then there were protests by the shopkeepers who know who their customers are.
I'd really like the full story.
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