Tuesday, August 9, 2005
#133 Group Dynamics
Musings #133
August 8, 2005
The 3rd of Av
Group Dynamics
Today I attended one of those “staff events.” I’m sure they have them all over the world. The “highlight” was an exercise in “Group Dynamics.” It was the type of game-like activity popular in youth movements and schools, especially in the beginning of the year when not everyone’s acquainted.
I teach in a high school which though has been in existence twenty years, has recently undergone administrative and structural changes. That’s besides the usual staff changes. On the whole I really do enjoy working there and haven’t taken up any alternative job offers.
The “activity” was planned and conducted by the two Guidance Counselors. They explained that this was to be an “active” survey to poll our opinions and feelings. During the past year both students and staff were asked to fill out questionnaires detailing our opinions about certain matters. This was to be a continuation, with a difference.
They placed the numbers one through five throughout a large foyer. Then they explained that “five” meant total agreement, and “one” total disagreement, with the others in proportion. We were told to go the number appropriate to our opinions for each “statement.” There were five statements ranging from “I agree with the aims and principles of the school,” and “I feel comfortable speaking to the management.” From the beginning I took this seriously and really thought about how I feel. In response to the first statement I walked to “number two.” Amazingly I was the only one there. Almost everyone else was crowded around “four” and “five.” Our “union representative” was at “one.” We were quite isolated; “three” was deserted. Only occasionally did anyone join us at the first three numbers.
The next stage of this three-part exercise was for the staff to break into five groups. Each group discussed one of the statements in depth and summarized the discussion. Then a representative of each group presented its conclusions to the entire staff. I was amazed. In the relative privacy in each of the small groups, there wasn’t any of the agreement we saw in that public polling. The results were the exact opposite.
I had just witnessed a very civilized example of “mob mentality,” also known as “the collective complex.” The individual weakens, losing not only his individuality, but also his moral values. It hit me! This is what has been happening in Israel, in the cabinet, Knesset, the army and even more so in the media. Most people, genetically, intrinsically have a need to fit in. That’s why in the Bible the Children of Israel, just a short time after witnessing and experiencing the miracles of the exodus from Egypt, formed the golden calf and worshipped it. And then the majority voted with the spies who were afraid to enter the Promised Land.
That’s why when volunteers went visiting tens of thousands of Israeli families and spoke to them as individuals over the importance of canceling the Disengagement, of keeping Gush Katif Israeli, the people agreed. But once they leave their homes they want the comfort of being parat of a group, of supporting the government.
The same police and soldiers who as individuals don’t want to remove Jews from their homes in Gush Katif and Northern Samaria, but as a group, with very few exceptions, can’t refuse.
It’s hard for people like myself who are comfortable with being an individual, even when I’m a very solitary one. My personal challenge is to find ways to strengthen others so that they, too, will have the strength to live according to their principles, rather than follow what they perceive as the majority.
As individuals the majority of Israelis, including soldiers and policemen don’t want Disengagement to take place. The majority, in their hearts, wants Jews to have the freedom to live in all of Eretz Yisrael. The majority knows, in their hearts and minds that Disengagement endangers the entire country and each of them individually, whether they live in Ma’ale Adumim or Ramat Gan or Ramat HaGolan or Beer Sheva.
Ordinary Israelis look at politicians like Tzachi Hanegbi and Limor Livnat who claim to oppose Disengagement but remain in the cabinet, unwilling to give up their cushy jobs, and they can understand their dilemmas. I look at these people as weak and pathetic hypocrites. I have no respect for them. Bibi Netanyahu’s late resignation from the cabinet is too late to buy my respect.
The countdown to Tisha B’Av, the Memorial Day for the destruction of the Holy Temples and the date the government chose for Disengagement, G-d forbid is getting shorter. Our sages say that when the Moshiach comes it will be a holiday a day of feasting and celebrations.
G-d willing, this year,
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://shilohpics.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
Monday, August 8, 2005
Bibi, boo boo, yes or no?
There's a subject that's pounding the keyboards and filling the mailboxes.
Is Bibi Natenyahu's resignation a sign of leadership or oportunism? Is he a hero or a joke?
Personally, I'm not impressed.
Is Bibi Natenyahu's resignation a sign of leadership or oportunism? Is he a hero or a joke?
Personally, I'm not impressed.
Sunday, August 7, 2005
out?
The three young girls who have been imprisioned for 40 days are being, or have been, let out of jail. This isn't the end of the story. They are being let out only due to world pressure. This pressure must be increased. There are many more in prison for just demonstrating.
This is not the time to think it's over. Baruch Hashem the girls won't be in a police prison, but will they really be free? And what aboutthe trauma to themselves, their families and friends? And I won't even go into the financial costs. There are medical and emotional ones, and their record isn't being erased, at least not yet.
Keep fighting. There are so many other prisoners who shouldn't be in jail!
This is not the time to think it's over. Baruch Hashem the girls won't be in a police prison, but will they really be free? And what aboutthe trauma to themselves, their families and friends? And I won't even go into the financial costs. There are medical and emotional ones, and their record isn't being erased, at least not yet.
Keep fighting. There are so many other prisoners who shouldn't be in jail!
#132 JAILED
Musings #132
August 7, 2005
The 2nd of Av
Jailed
I just got back from jail. Don’t panic; I wasn’t jailed, just visiting, no, not a prisoner. I joined the hundreds at the weekly Melaveh Malka (post Shabbat celebration) outside of the Massiyahu Prison where many of the anti-Disengagement prisoners are.
First of all, I must admit that I hadn’t the vaguest idea of what to expect. There was an announcement in our weekly Shiloh newsletter of a bus going there, which meant that I had round-trip transportation and didn’t have to try to find a ride with neighbors. After three weeks in New York, which was like being in an episode of Twilight Zone for me, I needed some strong doses of Israel’s reality. My return flight home with Nefesh B'Nefesh was wonderful, but I needed to catch up with Israeli reality. It’s much too easy to be oblivious to what’s happening in Israel and the danger the future of the entire country is in. Today’s situation makes it easier to understand how the Holocaust happened, how the world was silent. Yes, there are parallels, even though the government has threatened to arrest those of us who say so. If such reminders are considered “illegal” or “dangerous,” that proves that they’re disturbingly true.
On Shabbat, updates by my neighbors not only consisted of the news about the engagements, weddings and births I had missed, but they were primarily news about their children’s incarcerations. Yes, unfortunately, a number of local children are jailed. We’re not talking about juvenile delinquents in jail for drugs or gang violence, no rapists, murderers nor thieves, thank G-d. Our kids are in jail for demonstrating, yes, and not showing fear of the police and other “crimes.”
This past Shabbat’s Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week was Masei; it’s the last one in the book of “Numbers.” With my mind deeply into the terrible dangers of Disengagement I was so moved by the traditional end-of-book “chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek,” “be strong, be strong and we will be strengthened,” that I couldn’t focus on the words of “Birkat Ha Gomel,” the prayer I had gotten up to say, to thank G-d for bringing me safely home. Someone had to show me the words, even though I had rehearsed them from the very same siddur, just a few minutes earlier. It was more than jetlag. The Parsha summarizes the winding, almost aimless and endless path the Jewish People took through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. We are now on our way to Redemption, G-d willing. How long will it take? What detours still await us?
After Shabbat I took advantage of my jetlag and took the bus to jail. I was probably the oldest on the bus, for sure the oldest woman. Most of my fellow passengers were teens, friends, siblings and also a father of one of the prisoners. Honestly, I hadn’t the vaguest idea of where the jail is located and was totally surprised to be dropped off by a big shopping center and told that the bus would be returning at midnight, in an hour and twenty minutes. We walked across the road, ignoring and annoying traffic. There was the prison, surrounded by barbed wire and lights. At the far end of a large empty, sandy lot was a well-lit stage and a band was loudly performing a song which begged G-d to have mercy, “rachmu, rachmu,” on his children.
The rabbis decreed that even though music is forbidden during the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, there was a need to strengthen the prisoners who could hear it in their cells and those of us looking for more ways to beseech G-d. What we heard were serious prayers, not joyful dance music. There were also speeches and “Divrei Torah,” Words of Torah. The area kept filling with Jews of all ages and even entire families from tiny babies to those much older than myself. I was reassured that the prisoners knew we were there and could hear us.
Like Cinderella, we left before it was over. There were still people arriving when we began the trip home. And the kids are still in prison under the most severe conditions, while thieves and murderers are considered less dangerous.
In a sense I’m comforted by the fact that the government feels threatened, endangered by these youngsters, these good kids. It means that Sharon and his henchmen are very weak if these idealistic children have such power, such potential. They are Nachshon marching into the sea; they are Yitzchak calmly facing the knife. Let the soldiers and police learn from them, that obeying government orders will only bring destruction, G-d forbid.
“Chazak, Chazak, V’Nitchazek!”
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://shilohpics.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
August 7, 2005
The 2nd of Av
Jailed
I just got back from jail. Don’t panic; I wasn’t jailed, just visiting, no, not a prisoner. I joined the hundreds at the weekly Melaveh Malka (post Shabbat celebration) outside of the Massiyahu Prison where many of the anti-Disengagement prisoners are.
First of all, I must admit that I hadn’t the vaguest idea of what to expect. There was an announcement in our weekly Shiloh newsletter of a bus going there, which meant that I had round-trip transportation and didn’t have to try to find a ride with neighbors. After three weeks in New York, which was like being in an episode of Twilight Zone for me, I needed some strong doses of Israel’s reality. My return flight home with Nefesh B'Nefesh was wonderful, but I needed to catch up with Israeli reality. It’s much too easy to be oblivious to what’s happening in Israel and the danger the future of the entire country is in. Today’s situation makes it easier to understand how the Holocaust happened, how the world was silent. Yes, there are parallels, even though the government has threatened to arrest those of us who say so. If such reminders are considered “illegal” or “dangerous,” that proves that they’re disturbingly true.
On Shabbat, updates by my neighbors not only consisted of the news about the engagements, weddings and births I had missed, but they were primarily news about their children’s incarcerations. Yes, unfortunately, a number of local children are jailed. We’re not talking about juvenile delinquents in jail for drugs or gang violence, no rapists, murderers nor thieves, thank G-d. Our kids are in jail for demonstrating, yes, and not showing fear of the police and other “crimes.”
This past Shabbat’s Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week was Masei; it’s the last one in the book of “Numbers.” With my mind deeply into the terrible dangers of Disengagement I was so moved by the traditional end-of-book “chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek,” “be strong, be strong and we will be strengthened,” that I couldn’t focus on the words of “Birkat Ha Gomel,” the prayer I had gotten up to say, to thank G-d for bringing me safely home. Someone had to show me the words, even though I had rehearsed them from the very same siddur, just a few minutes earlier. It was more than jetlag. The Parsha summarizes the winding, almost aimless and endless path the Jewish People took through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. We are now on our way to Redemption, G-d willing. How long will it take? What detours still await us?
After Shabbat I took advantage of my jetlag and took the bus to jail. I was probably the oldest on the bus, for sure the oldest woman. Most of my fellow passengers were teens, friends, siblings and also a father of one of the prisoners. Honestly, I hadn’t the vaguest idea of where the jail is located and was totally surprised to be dropped off by a big shopping center and told that the bus would be returning at midnight, in an hour and twenty minutes. We walked across the road, ignoring and annoying traffic. There was the prison, surrounded by barbed wire and lights. At the far end of a large empty, sandy lot was a well-lit stage and a band was loudly performing a song which begged G-d to have mercy, “rachmu, rachmu,” on his children.
The rabbis decreed that even though music is forbidden during the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, there was a need to strengthen the prisoners who could hear it in their cells and those of us looking for more ways to beseech G-d. What we heard were serious prayers, not joyful dance music. There were also speeches and “Divrei Torah,” Words of Torah. The area kept filling with Jews of all ages and even entire families from tiny babies to those much older than myself. I was reassured that the prisoners knew we were there and could hear us.
Like Cinderella, we left before it was over. There were still people arriving when we began the trip home. And the kids are still in prison under the most severe conditions, while thieves and murderers are considered less dangerous.
In a sense I’m comforted by the fact that the government feels threatened, endangered by these youngsters, these good kids. It means that Sharon and his henchmen are very weak if these idealistic children have such power, such potential. They are Nachshon marching into the sea; they are Yitzchak calmly facing the knife. Let the soldiers and police learn from them, that obeying government orders will only bring destruction, G-d forbid.
“Chazak, Chazak, V’Nitchazek!”
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://shilohpics.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
Friday, August 5, 2005
Many Questions
What really happened last night?
There are many questions, and many people want to know. It's all too reminiscent of Rabin's death and Baruch Goldstein. Was a complete autopsy done on Natan-Zada to check if he had been drugged? Were all the bullets in the dead and wounded compared?
So convenient for the government to show the anti-Disengagement movement as violent, even though the showdown between tens of thousands of demonstrators and soldiers/police was peaceful.
Will we ever know the truth? Is it possible to have an impartial independent inquiry?
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Shabbat Shalom
There are many questions, and many people want to know. It's all too reminiscent of Rabin's death and Baruch Goldstein. Was a complete autopsy done on Natan-Zada to check if he had been drugged? Were all the bullets in the dead and wounded compared?
So convenient for the government to show the anti-Disengagement movement as violent, even though the showdown between tens of thousands of demonstrators and soldiers/police was peaceful.
Will we ever know the truth? Is it possible to have an impartial independent inquiry?
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Shabbat Shalom
Jerusalem, Tisha B'Av Blogburst
Kesher Talk is planning a blogburst on the topic of Jerusalem and Tisha B'Av. For more information, read this.
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Home Sweet Home Via Nefesh B'Nefesh
Soul Muse will be a series of “Musings” based on my experiences traveling back home with “Olim Chadashim,” New Immigrants to Israel on a Nefesh B'Nefesh flight. Some will be written for the exclusive use of various publications, and I’m still accepting commissions.
To contact Nefesh B’Nefesh:
Aliyah Services:
Applications and Aliyah Information
Toll Free: (866) 4-ALIYAH
(866) 425-4924
In Israel: (02) 659-5700
Soul Muse #1
August 3, 2005
The 27th of Tammuz
Home Sweet Home
Via Nefesh B'Nefesh
Baruch Hashem, we have arrived home! “We” includes all of the more than two hundred olim chadashim who were on the Nefesh B'Nefesh airplane with me. They ranged in age from two months to eighty-five years, and there were also cats, dogs and birds.
Yes, the airplane was full! It was full of joy, enthusiasm and energy. Even though the majority of immigrants seemed to be Torah observant, there were still a great variety of backgrounds, goals and personal stories.
Nothing seemed to be able to dampen the pleasant atmosphere. Miraculously, babies slept and children played happily in their seats or in the aisles. Even the cats in their carry-cages and the poodle sitting politely at his owners’ feet knew to be silent. Service with a smile on El Al was an added bonus. How could anyone resist the charm of the passengers who came from all over North America with the goal of making aliyah, ascending to Eretz Yisrael to live?
I managed to speak to many of the olim as they waited for the flight, or were on the plane or waiting again for luggage to arrive. I’d even been emailing some of them before the flight and look forward to continuing to keep in touch in order to discover how they cope with the reality of our very unique country.
There were many, many young families with school age children, babies and even those already expecting their first sabras in a few months. Since their housing had to be settled, ok, arranged, before boarding the plane, they had their children registered in schools. Many are just renting to give them more flexible housing options, since they want to live in a very specific type of neighborhood. Some have jobs, and some are hoping to find one soon. Army service is the plan for at least one very idealistic oleh chadash and choosing an “assisted living” home is on the top of the list for another.
I was encouraged by the fact that they weren’t oblivious to what is going on in Israel in the political and security spheres. Actually at least one new immigrant gave that as a reason why he feels that he mustn’t wait. He said that he, his wife and kids made aliyah today because the only way to help the country is to do it from here. The olim chadashim who flew with me are really fantastic people.
The news that greeted me here was not good. My neighbor’s fourteen-year-old daughter is jailed under conditions worse than what an Israeli murderer gets. And all she did was to bravely protest against Disengagement. Thousands are gathered to march into Gush Katif. The pathetic, perverse scenes on the news of well-armed soldiers, shoulder to shoulder, to block good Jews who treasure Eretz Yisrael are difficult to watch. The People’s Revolution is strongly against the immoral and dangerous policies of the Sharon Government.
Sixty years ago, there were similar scenes, but the soldiers were British who tried to keep Jews out of Eretz Yisrael. Now Israeli soldiers are obeying foreign dictates to restrict the settlement of our Land. Just a few minutes ago the television screen was filled with an unpleasant scene in which the armed forces are blocking demonstrators led by well-known rabbis who are attempting to march to Gush Katif. So far, there is no physical violence, just vicious battles in the psychological, emotional and spiritual war.
And davka today over two hundred Jews began their new lives in Israel. I wish these olim chadashim wonderful, fulfilling lives here in Israel. That, too, is a victory of Jews and Eretz Yisrael working together.
Thank G-d I’m home!
Batya Medad
shilohmuse@yahoo.com
Copyright©BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://shilohpics.blogspot.com/
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.
To contact Nefesh B’Nefesh:
Aliyah Services:
Applications and Aliyah Information
Toll Free: (866) 4-ALIYAH
(866) 425-4924
In Israel: (02) 659-5700
Soul Muse #1
August 3, 2005
The 27th of Tammuz
Home Sweet Home
Via Nefesh B'Nefesh
Baruch Hashem, we have arrived home! “We” includes all of the more than two hundred olim chadashim who were on the Nefesh B'Nefesh airplane with me. They ranged in age from two months to eighty-five years, and there were also cats, dogs and birds.
Yes, the airplane was full! It was full of joy, enthusiasm and energy. Even though the majority of immigrants seemed to be Torah observant, there were still a great variety of backgrounds, goals and personal stories.
Nothing seemed to be able to dampen the pleasant atmosphere. Miraculously, babies slept and children played happily in their seats or in the aisles. Even the cats in their carry-cages and the poodle sitting politely at his owners’ feet knew to be silent. Service with a smile on El Al was an added bonus. How could anyone resist the charm of the passengers who came from all over North America with the goal of making aliyah, ascending to Eretz Yisrael to live?
I managed to speak to many of the olim as they waited for the flight, or were on the plane or waiting again for luggage to arrive. I’d even been emailing some of them before the flight and look forward to continuing to keep in touch in order to discover how they cope with the reality of our very unique country.
There were many, many young families with school age children, babies and even those already expecting their first sabras in a few months. Since their housing had to be settled, ok, arranged, before boarding the plane, they had their children registered in schools. Many are just renting to give them more flexible housing options, since they want to live in a very specific type of neighborhood. Some have jobs, and some are hoping to find one soon. Army service is the plan for at least one very idealistic oleh chadash and choosing an “assisted living” home is on the top of the list for another.
I was encouraged by the fact that they weren’t oblivious to what is going on in Israel in the political and security spheres. Actually at least one new immigrant gave that as a reason why he feels that he mustn’t wait. He said that he, his wife and kids made aliyah today because the only way to help the country is to do it from here. The olim chadashim who flew with me are really fantastic people.
The news that greeted me here was not good. My neighbor’s fourteen-year-old daughter is jailed under conditions worse than what an Israeli murderer gets. And all she did was to bravely protest against Disengagement. Thousands are gathered to march into Gush Katif. The pathetic, perverse scenes on the news of well-armed soldiers, shoulder to shoulder, to block good Jews who treasure Eretz Yisrael are difficult to watch. The People’s Revolution is strongly against the immoral and dangerous policies of the Sharon Government.
Sixty years ago, there were similar scenes, but the soldiers were British who tried to keep Jews out of Eretz Yisrael. Now Israeli soldiers are obeying foreign dictates to restrict the settlement of our Land. Just a few minutes ago the television screen was filled with an unpleasant scene in which the armed forces are blocking demonstrators led by well-known rabbis who are attempting to march to Gush Katif. So far, there is no physical violence, just vicious battles in the psychological, emotional and spiritual war.
And davka today over two hundred Jews began their new lives in Israel. I wish these olim chadashim wonderful, fulfilling lives here in Israel. That, too, is a victory of Jews and Eretz Yisrael working together.
Thank G-d I’m home!
Batya Medad
shilohmuse@yahoo.com
Copyright©BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://shilohpics.blogspot.com/
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.
bi-lingual anti-disengagement blog
I hope that this is legible. My neighbors have a bi-lingual anti-Disengagement blog that has some important information. It's called Orange Humanist.
Home and HH
I'm home, Baruch Hashem, I'm home.
I'm just seriously jet-lagged after losing an entire night's sleep. I met wonderful people on the Nefesh B'Nefesh flight and am so glad that they invited me to cover it. They recognized blogging, in addition to other forms of publications, as "journalism" or a way to get a message to thousands.
Besides that, a reminder to read the latest Hevel Havelim. David of Soccer Dad did a great job as usual.
I'm just seriously jet-lagged after losing an entire night's sleep. I met wonderful people on the Nefesh B'Nefesh flight and am so glad that they invited me to cover it. They recognized blogging, in addition to other forms of publications, as "journalism" or a way to get a message to thousands.
Besides that, a reminder to read the latest Hevel Havelim. David of Soccer Dad did a great job as usual.
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