Sadly True

A couple of weeks ago, Frum Satire started a post with what seemed like a joke:

Two friends of mine spent Rosh Hashanah last year by this girls house in "Long Island. These guys aren’t really the shul going type, so they got up at 12 and went to shul for about an hour. About two weeks later, the girls parents got a bill in the mail for their attendance at shul without having bought tickets. Apparently the shul had some spies of some sort to rat out the cheaters. Thats Long Island for ya."

Then I spoke to a friend who lives in an upper-class US suburb:

"No, I didn't plan on having any guests for Yom Kippur. I can't afford to buy extra tickets. Then a university student called and begged me, since he has no family to go to, and there's nothing where he's studying. I finally got my synagogue to agree to give him a seat."

And I thought it was just one of Heshy's jokes.

Yes, I know that it cost a lot of money to maintain synagogues, and the dues-paying members should be expected to give their seats to those who can't be bothered paying, but there must be a way to allow everyone in.

A couple of years ago I was in New York for Tisha B'Av and the OU synagogues had programs about "kiruv," bringing Jews closer to Judaism. Nu, so why isn't there something, even a non-reserved row of folding chairs?

Yes, I understand that Hesh's story and mine concern young guests, singles, university students, not people from the neighborhood. But kiruv should start with those, making them feel welcome. In a few years they could be married and looking for a place to live, and if they have good experiences in those communities the communities will benefit.

Kiruv shouldn't be a series of isolated programs. It must the ongoing and a characteristic of the shul and community.

Chag Sameach

Why Wait?

In a sense, this brings me back to something I learned and internalized watching a Jewish TV show in New York, soon after the Anna Frank Diary was published.

A short skit, with possibly only two characters. Here's the dialogue as I remember:

"If I was living during a rule that forbade me to light the Chanuka Menorah, I'd risk my life to light it."
"Do you light the Chanukah Menorah all eight nights?"
"No."

Why, davka, when religious laws/customs are forbidden do they mean more to us than when nobody is stopping us?

Every since I've begun my pilgrimages to Tel Shiloh, I've been amazed that some neighbors who join me confide that it's their first time at the place where Chana prayed. That's why, even why only a few women show up, it's worth it. Yes, it's very special.


We live where one of the most important Biblical events took place. We walk where Chana, Eli and Samuel once walked.

We look at the same mountains and the same trails. We can see Derech Avot, The Patriarch's Road, as it passes Shiloh on it's way between Shechem, Beit El, Jerusalem, Beit Lechem, Hebron and Beersheva.

It's easy to imagine how Eli, the High Priest, sat watching the road, waiting for news of the battle.

Booths, for all sorts of activities, are being constructed for the expected visitors during Succot. For more information call: 02-997-5516.

And our next Women's Prayer at Tel Shiloh, will G-d willing be Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, Thursday, October 30, 9:45am.

Is It Going To Be One Of Those Years?

The weathermen are predicting a stormy Succot:

Stormy Sukkot Forecast

(IsraelNN.com) Rain, accompanied by thunder and hail, is expected in most of the country during the Sukkot holiday starting Monday night. The rain is supposed to start in the north on Shabbat, with the storm reaching its peak on the eve and first day of the week long holiday.
People are advised to make their sukkot booths especially sturdy. Hikers are advised to stay away from areas that are prone to flooding.

Are they right?

All last week, they kept saying that it was getting cooler, and I didn't feel cooler at all. I'd hear things like:

"Tomorrow, the temperature will continue going down."

To me, each day was just as hot, if not hotter, than the preceding one. It seemed to be just another way the media lies. OK, I admit that predictions are getting "more accurate," but they're far from 100%.

There are so many outdoor plans being organized here in Shiloh. Thousands of tourists are expected. Maybe by then the rain will be finished, if it rains.

I hope that our succah holds up. There was a year when the schach went flying. My sister/brother-in-law love to tell the story of the time trekker, then only a high school kid, built their succah, when they lived in Ramot. It was one of the only succot in the neighborhood to survive a storm.

Many years ago, when we lived in Jerusalem, we invited a friend and her visiting father for a meal in the succah, and it was so wet and wintry that I ended up serving a hot winter vegetable soup in the dining room.

Now, what do you think?

• Will it rain on Succot?
• If so, when?

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

Gaydamak--Not For My Jerusalem

I wasn't very surprised to read Jerusalem: Arab candidate joins Gaydamak . That's because the feature article about Gaydamak which appeared recently in In Jerusalem, described his vision of Jerusalem as an "international city."

"I see it as an international, open and undivided city. Of course it will continue to be a capital for the Jews, but also for all the people in the world."

Unfortunately, I don't have a vote in Jerusalem. I live in Shiloh. I don't think Gaydamak would be a good mayor for Jerusalem.

If you read the article, much too long to be copied here, you'd see more worrying things.

Jerusalem is a Jewish city, open to others, but JEWISH!

Creating Panic

I haven't yet figured out the reason, but the Israeli media is creating panic about the financial situation.

The United States has a serious problem/recession/depression, but the Israeli economy, amazingly, has been strong. But the Israeli media is trying to change it.

The other night on the TV news, I heard a report about the Israeli stock market dropping. You'd think they were cheering the Israeli National Soccer Team winning the way they talked about the drop. And then a night or two later, they investigated various "home safes," since they told the public that the banks wouldn't be reliable.

Well, if things do get worse, at least we can blame Olmert and Kadima...

Jerusalem Cemetery--Etzel Fighters

Jewish communities have burial societies. In Israel the cemeteries are sectioned off so that each burial society has its own area. Even though Harry Hurwitz was in South Africa during Israel's War for Independence, he was close enough to the Etzel veterans to be buried in their section of Har Hamenuchot Cemetery, Jerusalem.

At the funeral I noticed these graves. Some of the people I had known, and others I didn't.

Who Is The Most Powerful Person In Israel?

No, it's not Ehud Olmert.

It's not even "the media."

And it's not the Israeli Supreme Court, either.

I have no doubt that it's Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.

It's Mazuz who decides if a crime's a crime, and if a crook's a crook.

He plays G-d.

Today is the Eve of Yom HaKippurim. We will pray to the real G-d, HaKodesh Baruch Hu.

Gmar Chatimah Tovah

Not Everyone With A Mouth Should Get Up To The Mic

This isn't just some rubbish.

After my little "Prayer" at Tel Shiloh, I was interviewed by SVT, Swedish TV.

It has been a while since I handled an interview like that. Honestly, it felt good to be back in the saddle, trying to outwit a journalist, instead of teenage students.

Yes, "outwit." Journalists have agendas. There's no such thing as a totally objective journalist. They come with pre-conceived notions, a "penciled outline" how they want their program or article to go. They have to have some idea of what questions to ask to get the answers they want.

I threw her, yes it was a "her," for a loop. Not only did I refuse to answer certain types of questions, my number one piece of advice for interviewees, I told her, very politely of course, that one of her questions was immoral.

"Why do you insist on living in the West Bank?" sic

"Why shouldn't I?"

"But it's the West Bank."

"I consider your question totally immoral. Why shouldn't I have human rights? Why can't I live here? Can I live in any of the many Shiloh's in the USA or Sweden or New York? Why should a Jew be forbidden to live in our historical Homeland?"

Later on she tried to get me to admit to planning violence against the government. I kept countering with the long history of Leftist violence against the Israeli Right. So she kept rewording the question. Finally I said:

"I know the technique you're using. As an English teacher I tested students for the Oral Exam in a number of high schools. Sometimes I had to reword the questions. I know what answer you're trying to get from me, and it's not my answer."

Afterwards I mentioned the interview to a neighbor:

"Why do you bother doing it?"

"I do it, because I know that I do a good job."

Today especially, I'm glad that I had the chance. No, not for ego. No male would have been as tough as I was. The journalist and the photographer were both tall, nice-looking women. Men, no matter their ideology, would have tried to be "nice," or even flirt. I didn't have any of those agendas. I smiled and called myself, "just a grandmother," which I am.

Succot in Shiloh

On Wed. and Thurs., Oct. 15-16, from 10am-5pm, there will be all sorts of activities at Tel Shiloh. Of course, the Tel will also be open on Friday and Sunday and all other non-Holiday/Shabbat days.

This year the Od Avihu Chai Succot March, in memory of our neighbor Avihu Keinan, who was killed in a badly planned army action, will be different from previous years. This year, instead of marching from Shiloh to Jerusalem, we will march from Maale Levona, down the mountains where the Maccabeeim fought the Greeks, to Tel Shiloh. It will take place on the first day of Chol HaMoed, Wed. October 15, 10am. For more information, call 052-566-6687.

Common Sense From Jackie Mason

That is unless you're an Obama fan.


And, no, I'm still not going to vote in the American Elections. I didn't register and never registered. I made aliyah before my first opportunity to vote, in those days you had to be 21. I enjoy politics, and that's why I keep writing about the Obama-Palin McCain race. And honestly, it's hard to think of a politician who didn't disappoint once in office.

Hat tip, Jewlicious

ReBranding--We're Not Toothpaste!

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has hired an international pr firm to rebrand Israel. That's a euphemism for changing Israel's image. In principle it's a good idea, but like good intentions, the results may be the road to Hell.

When I was at the International Jewish Bloggers Conference, not very long ago, we heard Foreign Ministry official explain all about Israel's terrible world image.

Let's say, "agreed," we need an image change, but it should be done well. Israel isn't just toothpaste or cream rinse. The usual pr and advertising tactics won't make Israel a more popular place. It's not a matter of changing the packaging or color scheme.

First diagnose the problem. What are the symptoms? In the study described at the conference we discovered that ordinary Americans think of Israel as an unfriendly armed camp. They think we live in fear.

The cure has to counteract that. Bragging about our technological feats and strutting bikini-clad beauties won't do the trick.

Research should be done to discover when Israel was most popular. You can save your money. Israel was most popular just after the 1967 Six Days War. The world, Jewish and non-Jews, were in awe of the tiny state, who without a single ally, defeated three enemy armies in six days. Israel was proud and safe. Dangers came with each "peace" treaty.

I wish I could market myself as a public relations consultant. Think of all the money these pr experts are getting...