Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #3 With Friends Like These...

 

Report: Biden pressured Israel not to launch attack on Hezbollah

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES....

I'm not surprised at all. Sometimes I don't like being right, totally on target. I haven't trusted the United States for half a century already...

Biden's no friend of Israel He doesn't want Israel to really win. 

He wants to come in and "rescue" a desperate Israel making it a weak protectorate. 

I've always suspected that it had been Kissinger's dream in 1973. That's the only thing that makes sense. Way back when, in 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, I began being very suspicious of the USA and Kissinger. Later on, from two totally unrelated friends, meaning people who never knew each other, I discovered how the USA  had deceived Israel. Read Bruce Brill's Deceit of an Ally. Kissinger's guilt is my theory.

There are too many strings, conditions and demands to the American "aid." Read the fine print.

We have to fight to win, to destroy Hamas and demand unconditional defeat of the Gazan Hamas terrorists. Nothing else will end this hell/war. Bibi's previous attempts to "quiet things" in recent years were disasters. It was so obvious this sort of thing would happen, though even I never expected such depravity and cruelty.

Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #2 Off With the News

 

For a news junky like myself, such a decision can be called sacrilegious for sure. To be honest, I do check in periodically to get an idea of what's actually happening, but I don't think watching/listening to the "news" is a good idea. 

For one... I find myself yelling:

STUPID! 

THAT'S IDIOTIC

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS

WHY SHOULD YOU BELIVE THAT CLOWN etc.

Another thing is that I miss the more innocent time pre-cellphone and social media. During the rather devastating 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israeli television was in its infancy and we didn't have one. Many Israelis didn't even have telephones. Computers, tablets and cellphones were from the world of science fiction, definitely make-believe. That innocence kept us saner than today. 

We barely heard accurate news of casualties. There were quick burials and then after the war was over the dead soldiers were reinterred. Only during that difficult postwar time did we discover what really happened. The disadvantage was that instead of celebrating our victory, people mourned. 

Now we're burying, mourning and fighting all at once. In addition there are the stories of soldiers taken from the front to attend their own weddings. It's all rather insane and schizophrenic. I guess it suits the mentality and culture of the day, but it's hard for me.

I think that there's too much said in public, on the news and in private conversations. 

Lastly, too many tv and radio shows are like "backseat drivers." Everyone's so smart, smarter than the government and generals. I also am, but I don't think all this talk should be in the media. You know what they say about loose tongues.

May we listen to Gd and not the Americans! The last time they won a real war was seventy 70 years ago, and they've never even fought a war for their survival. We're the experts and Gd Almighty.

We need Gd's help for sure, and we must work hard to deserve it.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach

Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #1

 

Hamas attacked the innocent civilians in the south of Israel, murdering, mutilating, raping, burning, kidnapping and more just under two weeks ago. 

Israel was taken totally by surprise. The military experts had trusted the fences and technology. And many of the residents, yes, some of those murdered/tortured and more, considered themselves good friends of the Arabs on the other side of the fence. Yes, many of the communities and families hired those very same "friendly Arabs" for industry, housework and all things in between. Survivors recognized their "friends" rampaging in the security camera footage.

I've been writing a lot on facebook, and I've decided that I must blog it, too. 

On Facebook, I've touched on quite a few issues. I'll probably take some of those thoughts and elaborate more on them here.

I presume you're curious about me and what's happening in Shiloh. First of all I must say that Shiloh, bli eyin haraa, hasn't had even one siren. as long as local Arabs stay quiet, we're OK. Most of my kids are in the Jerusalem area, which hasn't been as peaceful.

The first week, many people panic-shopped, and stores were pretty empty. Also, stores which employ Arabs found themselves short-handed. Our two local supermarkets are all local Jewish labor, so they found themselves emptying the storerooms. For me and my husband, who don't need much-- besides the fact that I always have "extra"-- we had all we needed. Then by this week, the store seemed to be fully stocked, business as usual.

I'm very involved with the "senior crowd" here for social and cultural activities. My Tanach/Bible group has been meeting as usual on Google Meet almost daily. I just haven't left Shiloh. There's no need, though maybe next week. Matan began this week on zoom. I'm enjoying the treat of first two weeks for free. I listened to lots of classes. 

After a few days of war, I almost totally stopped listening to the news. Maybe I'll elaborate on that in my next update.

Please ask your questions in the comments.

Unpublished Letters to The Jerusalem Post Re: David Bar-Illan Z"L, Yaakov Katz and David Hazony

Sometimes it seems that everything I write gets into the paper, and then... there are times like this. Last week I wrote two letters to the editor, and neither got published. If you're wondering why I don't try for op-eds, the answer is simple. Way back when, I did try, but I was told that I wouldn't get paid, and I couldn't use the articles in any other format, like my blog. Also, it could take a couple of weeks until they'd decide. Once years before that it took them a couple of months until I discovered my op-ed published. Of course, by the time I'd realize that it was buried, it would be irrelevant, out-of-date. That's when I decided that I'm better of just blogging my thoughts and opinions.

I don't think these two are "irrelevant, out-of-date," so here goes...  What do you think? Please say in the comments and share if you like them, thanks.

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-759989

What a thrill it was for me to open up the Jerusalem Post Magazine and be greeted by the legendary David Bar-Illan and the familiar and long lamented EYE ON THE MEDIA, although by Gil Hoffman.

I'll never forget hysterically barging into David Bar-Illan's office in the week before Purim, 1996, a time when horrific Arab terror attacks -mostly suicidal bus explosions- were frequently daily, shouting:

"The police are lying!! It wasn't an accident! It was a terror attack!! Either send a reporter to interview me, or give me a computer, and I'll write it up myself."

David quickly ended his phone call, led me to the couch in his office and asked for the story. 

I had been waiting at the bus stop across from Givat Hamivtar, which is now under the lightrail train tracks, to get home to Shiloh, when an Arab terrorist made a sharp right onto the sidewalk, turning left on my foot knocking me down and then mowed down a number of other innocent civilians, murdering one and seriously injuring others. Soldiers suddenly appeared and ordered all who could to run far away, since they suspected that the terrorist's car would be exploding any second.

My foot wasn't yet seriously swollen, so I ran with a neighbor across the street and around the corner to Eshkol Blvd, where I caught a bus towards the Central Bus Station and Terem First Aid. On the bus I heard the radio report in which the police claimed that there had been an "accident" at our bus stop. After being x-rayed at Terem and told that nothing was broken, a friend picked me up and took me to the Jerusalem Post building, where I noticed that David Bar-Illan's office was right by the entrance.

Bar-Illan first made sure I was comfortable with my injured foot properly propped up and then sent a reporter to get my story, which appeared on the next day's front page. Within the next couple of days, I was asked to write it up myself as an op-ed, and he (according to the information Gil Hoffman gives in his article) wrote a full length editorial using the information I had given.

Before ending this reminiscence of David Bar-Illan, I must add that he had another profession and didn't need the stress and aggravation of top Israeli journalism. He was an accomplished concert pianist. That's how I had originally met him, at a salon performance in London.

Batya Medad, Shiloh

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-760063

Yaakov Katz

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-760000

David Hazony

I hope my mixing of two articles from different parts of the Friday newspaper isn't like mixing meat and milk in a kosher kitchen, but there are similarities in both Yaakov Katz's and David Hazony's articles. They both start out very well, bringing up good points, but then unfortunately both come to the wrong conclusions. 

I'll start with Katz who reminds or informs those who may be ignorant of the fact that even Menachem Begin during his three decades as head of the opposition never lambasted the Government of Israel when abroad, no matter how much he protested their policies while in Israel and no matter how badly he was treated, including during the pre-state period. Begin was well-known for his dignified and patriotic behavior. This was even after Begin's supporters had been attacked by the Palmach when the Altalena was approaching port with arms to be used for the defense of the nascent State of Israel. Begin reacted in tears; he didn't call for a reprisal attack. Such a total difference between Menachem Begin and Israel's opposition, which is calling for rebellion, for blood --I trust you've heard what Ehud Barak and others have been saying. There is no excuse for the outrageous anti-Israel/Netanyahu protests and media campaign even abroad. They are playing into the hands of our most dangerous enemies. I don't understand how Katz doesn't totally condemn them.

Now for David Hazony... He really starts off well, very well in describing his participation in anti-Oslo protests. Hazony mentions something which really caught my attention. 

I was active in opposing Oslo. I attended the infamous Zion Square rally in 1995 in which posters I never saw apparently depicted Rabin in an SS uniform. This became a big scandal after the fact, one that didn’t diminish when the posters were retroactively downgraded to leaflets. Nor was the rally a platform of incitement, the way it has been depicted in the official history. Did anyone call Rabin a “traitor”? Yes; a small group of hyperventilating youths shouted it out – and were then immediately told off by the speakers on the balcony, including Netanyahu. But if one should judge a protest by the stupidest words of its fringe, today’s movement is no better.

The notorious "Rabin poster" was neither central to the demonstrations nor noticeable. Just to remind people that Avishai Raviv, the Shabak agent who had been involved with Right wing youth during that time, may very well had been involved.

I relate to and agree with Hazony's article until he starts "If today’s protest movement turns tragic –"

For some inexplicable reason, he coats today's  anti-government protests with Teflon when they have crossed every single red line in a true democracy. The anti-government protests aren't simply anti-Judicial Reform. Don't be naive. Read the slogans. Listen to their leaders. It's not the young powerless "fringe"  calling for blood. It's the adult leaders, those you'd expect to be responsible for reigning in the extremists.

They want to undo/override the legal elections and veto democracy. Democracy is about numbers. If you can't pull together a coalition of more than half, minimally 61 Knesset Members, then you've lost the election. 

The leaders of this protest movement have lots of money to fund their protests, but they don't have the votes. Democracy is about votes. So the truth is that they are anti-democracy, contrary to their slogans. They've attempted to redefine democracy to make it a synonym of "progressive" political ideology.

Yaakov, David, you both disappoint me. Spit out the Kool Aid and look at the facts.

Batya Medad, Shiloh בתי'ה

Israeli Democracy? Justice? Are You Confused?

Let's start with the easy stuff.

What's Democracy?

I decided to "printscreen" what professor google says about democracy,
so you can trust that I didn't edit/distort the meaning

There's nothing about Right/Left or Conservative/Liberal. It's in the numbers.

Democracy is broadly understood to mean ‘rule by the people’. In practice, it is often defined as people choosing their leaders in free and fair elections. 

Our World in Data

Democracy means that the country's leadership isn't decided in the street.

There are elections.

A democratic government is not chosen by who makes the loudest, most annoying and dangerous demonstrations. Nor does it give priority to people shouting in the street over legal elections.

Now, back to what has been going on in Israel. In the past half a decade plus, we've had multiple elections that ended without a new ruling coalition, and we haven't had a coalition/government that lasted its full term. 

Political parties which had dominated and ruled during the first few decades of the country no longer receive enough votes to be in the Knesset or if they are in, they are anorexic shadows of what they once were. This has been difficult for their supporters to accept. They and their parents, and in some cases grandparents, never liked the Netanyahu family, and they like the Revisionist founders of Herut/Likud even less. This is what is behind the irrational hatred of Binyamin Netanyahu. Remember that the demonstrations had actually begun during Netanyahu's previous terms as Prime Minister. 

We can't ignore the trials against Netanyahu. Even though years and much too much money have been invested in trying to convict him, the chances are nil. That's because they're trumped up charges, to put it mildly. Please ignore the unintended pun. If Bibi was really guilty of corruption, then it wouldn't have been hard to convict him, since the judges don't like him. 

To sum it up, the "anyone but Bibi" movement, along with the anti-Judicial Reform has nothing to do with his competence or honesty. It's the fading Left's attempt to override democratic elections and rule by street mobs with the help of the Leftist Supreme Court Judges.

Yes, the truth is that the opposition are those who are antidemocracy!

About That Golda Movie and American Friendship sic

 

photo taken in Yad Veshem
בכל דור ודור
In every generation

I understand that many viewers think it's like a documentary. 

We had made aliyah three years before the war and were living in Bayit Vegan at the time. 

It didn't take me long to be very suspicious of the Americans, especially Kissinger. Time has only strengthened these feelings. 

Does the movie show Golda asking Kissinger why the Americans told Israel that there was nothing to worry about, when there had been unusual activity on the Egyptian front? She should have asked Kissinger, and she shouldn't have been so naïve as to trust him. 

Nixon sent him, knowing that Kissinger could easily con the Israelis. This is what I've suspected ever since the war was going on. 

Around thirty years ago, an old friend called from the states and told me that a friend of hers had been in the American Army in 1973. That August he was stationed in Germany and they were suddenly confined to base. Later on they were given desert equipment, still confined to base. Only after Israel miraculously and unexpectedly defeated the Arabs, their status changed. That really made me think that something stank.

Bruce Brill's book, Deceit of an Ally, only confirmed my suspicions. I highly recommend that you read Brill's book, his memoirs of the the Yom Kippur War while working for American National Security Agency (NSA.) 

Every time I hear an Israeli Government official or some commentator blithely state that America is Israel's closest ally, friend, etcetera, all I can think is with friends like that we don't need enemies.

I remember the 1967 Six Days War well and have studied Israel's earlier history. It's very clear that our greatest victories were without any human or diplomatic help. It was very obvious and clear to me in 1967 that The USA was happy to stay on the sidelines, dumb--meaning mute--not saying a word against the countries trying to destroy Israel. And in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, the USA was trying to create a military stalemate and get Israel to beg to become a protectorate. Kissinger was then slated to be the first "caretaker," military governor or whatever they or he had been planning to call the position. 

And about recent decades, please don't tell me that America gives Israel "aid." It gives Israel BUY IN AMERICA shopping coupons. which strengthen (subsidizes) American military industries and cripples/restricts Israel's. There are all sorts of "strings" connected to these gifts. The IDF Israel Defense Forces has become a sort of drug addict, addicted and dependent on these American products instead of producing and marketing our own. Even worse, our brilliant technology is used by the Americans which they use to control us.

Please think about it. Maybe I sound crazy, but as it's said:

Even paranoids can have enemies!

Rosh Chodesh Elul Soon... ראש חודש אלול מתקרב...

Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Tel Shiloh, the genuine location of Ancient Shiloh, where the Tabernacle stood for 369 years and Chana prayed for a child. The Jewish Laws for prayer are based on how Chana prayed. 

 

In addition to the prayers, visit Shiloh Hakeduma, which is a lovely archeological site. Contact information: 02-5789111 visit@telshilo.org.il.

There are lots of activities for visitors of all ages. It's also possible to travel by public transportation, as it's a five minute walk from Shiloh Junction 461, 462, 464, 466 and 467.

The Street vs Democracy-- FOLLOW THE MONEY

 

screenshot from Channel 14 News
Last night's antigovernment demonstration

It seems like the whole world has heard that the legally, democratically elected Israeli Government has passed a very necessary law to reform the judiciary, which has set itself up as the alternative government vetoing laws. The judiciary is very political. One law for the Left and another for the Right.

To be perfectly honest and accurate the demonstrations predate the present government's bill for judicial reform. 

For those trying to understand the basic issue here in Israel. Very simple. Judges have put themselves above the parliament and rule according to their opinions and ideologies, rather than laws. They have declared themselves above the law with rights to veto according to their personal feelings aka reasonableness. They can perpetuate their politics by choosing their successors. Basically this has disenfranchised the voters and made a farce out of elections. Yes, the judges and their supporters are the antidemocracy group.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy. We vote for political parties. After most elections, the leader of the party that has received the most votes manages to negotiate a coalition with other parties which has more than half of the 120 Members of Knesset. The Likud has gotten the most votes/seats in most recent elections including the November, 2022 elections, in which he and a few other political parties campaigned as a block promising to form a stable coalition. That's what happened, so therefore according to Israeli law and democracy Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu is the legal Prime Minister of the State of Israel. 

For the past few years, definitely predating those recent elections, there has been a well-funded movement to push Bibi out of his number one position in Likud and out the office of Prime Minister. It's called "ANYONE BUT BIBI." For years when he had previously been PM, including the COVID lockdown, there had been weekly demonstrations near the official prime minister's residence calling for Bibi's ouster. This was hell for the neighbors, since the courts/judges insisted that in their superior wisdom, the demonstrators' rights trumped theirs. And when during the COVID lockdown schools, synagogues and many places of work had been forced to be closed, the judges decided that demonstrations must continue...

There was quiet during the year that Naftali Bennett's government stood, which continued when it fell and Yair Lapid was interim Prime Minister. Since Netanyahu returned to office not only have the demonstrations returned bigger and better equipped than before, but their spokespeople/leaders have become louder and more outrageous. Led by two former disgraced Prime Ministers, Ehud Olmert* and Ehud Barak** we now hear unabashed calls for rebellion and refusal to serve in the IDF. This is treason, no less. They are basically calling on the Israeli public to destroy the country. But the courts are in their favor and find nothing wrong.

These antigovernment demonstrations are very expensive to run. Who's funding them? It's no secret that money is coming from abroad, and some of that money has been traced to the American Government. Administrations led by Democrat Party Presidents do not like working with Netanyahu. Obama couldn't find his famous smile when posing with Bibi.

It's clear that there's something very dirty going on. These demonstrations, riots etc. have nothing to do with wanting democracy for the State of Israel. The leaders are bamboozling their followers with slogans. The street isn't democracy. Let's find out who's really behind this.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

*Olmert had spent time in jail convicted on corruption charges. 

**Barak is known to have been a good friend of disgraced Jeffrey Epstein, besides other problematic relationships

History of Jordan and Palestine in a Nutshell

 

A little history...

East of these mountains I can see from my house is Jordan...

Here's the very short history of Jordan. It was invented by Britain when they were looking for someone to hold onto the eastern part of the Mandate. The entire Mandate was supposed to become a Jewish State. So the Brits imported a foreign sheik, Abdulla and made up the "Kingdom of Jordan."

Then they and their buddies in the newly formed UN decided that the Jews should share what was left with another Arab "nation", as if Abdulla wasn't Arab. They drew a map, which resembled blood splatter, and told the Jews, grandparents and parent of those rioting against Bibi, that they could have the splotches while the rest would go to the "palestinians." And that's how that "nation" was born.

Rosh Chodesh Av Women's Prayers Tel Shiloh

Ladies, join us for Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Holy Shiloh. Yes, the same Shiloh as mentioned in the Bible where Chana prayed for a son, where the Mishkan, Tabernacle stood for 369 years. Yes, it predated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Ancient Shiloh is the archeological site at the Tel. There are lots of things to see and do for all ages, a movie, museum, hologram and lots more. For more information 02-578-9111 or visit@telshilo.org.il.

Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path, A Book Review

As many of you may know, I've been studying Tanach/Bible for many years here in Shiloh, also Matan and more recently classes on the internet on Torah in Motion among other places. When an old friend, with whom I've recently reestablished contact decided I must read Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path, by Leila Gal Berner, I agreed. Soon after the book arrived in our local postal box.

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect, since she's a Reconstructionist rabbi, and that's not my Judaism.  But I didn't let that stop me from reading the book. Tanach study, theology and Torah observance aren't of the same Jewish genres. I figured that worse comes to worse I can always say that I disagree with her approach. And to be perfectly honest, if I couldn't say anything nice, I wouldn't say anything in public.

The truth is that I enjoyed Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path very much. Reading it was like studying with a friend, sharing words of Chazal, the Sages and personal opinions about the text with friends. I participate in learning groups, and some of the classes I attend are very participatory, so I felt very comfortable listening/reading Leila Gal Berner's interpretations and quotations from the sages. 

I think that Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path is a wonderful way to get to know Bereishit, Genesis, the first book of the Bible. I certainly learned a lot. I don't consider myself a Bible scholar even though I've been learning Bible for many years; it's an enormous collection of books of various genres. It's clear that Leila Gal Berner is very knowledgeable about the Bible including classical commentaries. 

One of the reasons I can recommend Leila Gal Berner's Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path is that in the early days of the Shiloh Elementary School children were taught the Bible according to a rarely used method. They were told to read the straight text and discuss it to understand it. They weren't taught any of the classical, standard commentaries. Too often people, even adults mistakenly quote midrash/commentary thinking that it's written in the Bible. This almost never happens with those who were first taught pshat, the straight text, and encouraged to find ways to make it comprehensible themselves, or in discussion with others. I must admit that people sometimes roll their eyes at my interpretations, which I'm never shy about voicing, but then again I'm not shy at telling people that the Biblical example they're voicing is just a midrash and not written in the Bible.

Genesis is just the first book of the Bible; there's so much for all of us to learn. If you're learning in a language other than Hebrew, try to get the most accurate Jewish translation, not anything modern or politically edited.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cascade Books (February 4, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1498205925
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1498205924