2 Philadelphias

Begin rant:

Just in over the news wire that quite a few soldiers were hurt today tracking down terrorists in Schem, including 2 officers severely wounded. Our boys are out there risking their lives to stop them and in the end the murderers are let out of jail because their terror organization demands it before they'll release an Israeli hostage. And we're fighting Fatah, while we prop up Abbas and feed the collaborators with Fatah terror in Gaza.

Something here is so wrong. How can the world not see it? Or actually, why even expect the world to see it when my own government is following such a policy. Let Egypt deal with the crisis in Gaza, maybe fill the trucks coming over the Philadelphi corridor with food instead of weapons. Why is that demand not made? Because we know that it bothers Israelis more- even righties like me-to see Arabs hurting, than it bothers other Arabs. Maybe the biggest dirty little secret of the Arab world, how little they care about each other.

Where are the humanitarian liberal lefties? Why are they not publicly skewering Hamas and the Pal civil war? Or do they only yell at Israel? That would mean that they are-gasp- say it ain't so, hypocrites. Shocking. Well, not really. To follow their behavior over the years is to realize that they only criticize Israel, because, after all, we won't kill them if they do, while their Arab friends don't take too kindly to that sort of thing.

Intimidated false liberalism. How sweet.

I met with a group a few days ago, university students from the States. 4 hours with me, 4 with Dror Etkes from Peace Now. I didn't- but maybe should have- told them that many Israelis consider him a traitor for going to European governments to fund their overflights over Judea and Samaria to track settlement expansion. (They don't track illegal Arab building, of course, although the vast majority of building out here is exactly that.) What I definitely should have mentioned is that the PN report that was released to great fanfare a few months ago turned out to be a major falsification of facts, although that correction was barely noted in the press, as usual.

Maybe at some point I subconsciously decided not to waste my breath. Most of these kids are so brainwashed by the Pal line, that they're the poor victims of Israeli aggression who have no choice but to explode everything around them. The 'cycle of violence' I heard ad naseum, the extremists on both sides. Like one Baruch Goldstein equals 500 terrorists. Seth Mandell spoke with them about the help he and his wife Sherri give to terror and violence victims as far afield as Philadelphia, Penn. Did they get that? That one can make a choice in their grief, to choose life or death. And that free choice is for the Jews one that seeks to improve the world and help others, while for the Arabs it's an excuse to deepen their death cult worship.

While assuring me that they believe there should be a sovereign Jewish state (thanks so awfully much guys) they espouse opinions that will lead to our demise or at best a war that will claim many victims.

Nice kids, all of them. Just typical examples of college campuses and the huge gap there is between the facts and the what they believe to be true. A vacuum that to my growing frustration the Israeli establishment is unwilling to deal with in the way it should be done.

Anyone out there want to fund an Al 'Jew'zeera? I will work my butt off for you if you do, and I'm not alone. (Yes, have a gym near the studio, that, would work, too.) But seriously, we're not just fighting the game badly. We're not even in the frickin' ring.

End rant. For now.

Sun Stroke

There is a heat wave in the country now, tomorrow is supposed to be 50 degrees Celsius (122 F) in the Jordan Valley.

I think our 'leadership' was outside without a collective hat on. The perfect opportunity presented itself last week to show the world what we have been dealing with vis a vis the brutality of the Pals. But no, they're running around asking for help for Fatah. The 'moderates'. Like Goebbels was a moderate compared to Stalin, or Pol Pot compared to Genghis Khan. This is insane.

I had an argument a few days ago with someone who thinks we should let them all rot. I disagreed, we should provide medical care to those who were shot, and let food through. I'm of 2 minds on the water and electricity that we supply. On the one hand it's the accepted way to get a civilian population to surrender, but we don't want them surrendering, we want them throwing off Hamas. But they voted in Hamas so why on Earth would they fight them? They're not happy with the brutality but, heck, Hitler was elected, too and brought on a mess for Germany. Sometimes you get what you asked for. So I'm holding off on that for now.

But risk Israeli lives to help any of them? Remove roadblocks to strengthen Fatah in Judea and Samaria? Have we completely lost it? Like they will only use the newfound mobility to track down Islamofascists and not target buses in Jerusalem or schools in Netanya. Give me a break.

Actually, give me a few days at the helm of the Information desk for the state of Israel. We might actually then broadcast something that makes sense for a change. If I do say so myself. Hey, this is my blog.

Shabbat Shalom. More after the peace of the Sabbath day has gone.

The Graduate

We're invited to my sister for lunch tomorrow so I actually have time to write some more now. I admit that it's also an excuse to avoid the laundry room, where it's like a squid has gotten loose in the washing machine. You see, when Dani requested that I wash his (very filthy and stinky) uniforms before he returns to base on Sunday he neglected to take a pen out of the pocket.....

I'll deal with the ink later. Maybe Peretz as his last act as Defense Minister will change the traditional khaki to blue? He's done stupider things, so one never knows.

Yesterday was a big day around here. It was Earl's and my 26th Hebrew anniversary. Yup, doesn't seem that long but it must be. After all, Elisheva is over 24 and as she mentioned once, we've been married longer than she's been alive. (Old fashioned, aren't we? She was blond then when she said that.) Anyhow, Sivan 28 it is. We went all out and celebrated by..... going to Amiad's high school graduation. (Guess we peaked at 25). That was after I came home early from a bar mitzva party in the Maon forest in the South Chevron Hills. That family is definitely not in Teaneck anymore and gets major points on originality.

I was 7 weeks pregnant with Amiad exactly 19 years ago when we made aliya from LA on June 14th, 1988. The morning sickness has thankfully passed, although I sobbed my way through a nice chunk of the ceremony. Earl didn't understand why. (Sigh. You'd think after all this time he would get it.) Fortunately, sitting on my other side was another Jewish mother (read: person who is sensitive, emotional, on-line with the Creator with regards to our children at all times) who completely understood, and she's the school counselor, not even a mom of grad. (She's also the wife of Rav Yaakov Meidan, Rosh Yeshiva of Har Etzion in Alon Shvut. Wonderful, warm, unpretentious, a delightful person. He's also great.)

I mean, how can you not cry? Thirty two 18 year old man/boys, all going to serve in the army within the next year or so depending on what programs they attend now. What are the odds of all of them getting to a wedding canopy unharmed? It's makes us, kids and parents, all really appreciate the good times, and delight in their joy at being done with school, and the strong bonds they have made and experiences they have shared. These boys hugged their rabbis and teachers with such affection. Whether out of relief to be finished or not, it was really special to witness the tremendous caring there.

In the hope and prayer that they will remain safe and strong in the faith and knowledge that they worked so hard to attain. And that their parents (me, for starters) will find the strength to help them through.

Kinda puts the morning sickness and sleepless nights of yore into perspective.

Gastronomic Ideology

Have to run out in a few minutes to get the Shabbat challot and cookies just in from the Sderot bakery (where the Kassams get shot to from Gaza so we're trying to give them some income); the cherries from Amona orchards (where 200 people got beaten up last year trying to prevent 9 houses from being destroyed); the blueberries we ordered from Kedumim (in the Shomron, thankfully quiet right now but happy for the encouragement in their new venture) not to mention the dates from the Jordan Valley that I picked up this week, too. We seem to do a lot of ideological eating, or what you can call committed consumerism. This is in addition to the usual purchases we make in our area to make an effort to support local businesses, and I still go out of my way to find Gush Katif lettuce and herbs as they build new hothouses and attempt to re-establish their markets.

The highest level of charity is actually to help someone earn an honest and respectful living, so this is win-win. It's just lucky that I live in the land of milk and honey, imagine if I was in England. Boiled beef would probably make a renegade leftist out of me.

While on the the subject of milk and honey: I was advised a few weeks ago by a naturopath to eat goat's milk products instead of cow, good for the blood and digestion. I happen to love dairy food (in general cows have nothing to fear from me, I'm not a big meat eater) so I figured I wouldn't cut out the moo-moo completely but add something of the Bill Broagin (sp?) variety to my day. I found a brand of yogurt- with lots of fruit- from G'vaot Olam, a ranch in the Northern Shomron (natch, see above) that I can stomach, but it's definitely an acquired taste. I had some for breakfast today about an hour before a 50 minute spinning class. Let's just say that I won't be following that time frame again, since I ended up, er, reacquiring the taste during class. Live and learn.

Concerning honey, wouldn't it be nice if Israeli scientists figured out why so many bees are going to their celestial hives. Seems that 10 billion (!) have died in the US alone recently and the ramifications for crops they pollinate- nothing important, just wheat, for starters- are potentially devastating. I know, I know, the biblical honey associated with the Land of Israel is actually from dates, but I already mentioned them in another context. Sheesh, some people are such pedants.

Hot in Judea on this erev Shabbat and beginning of new month of Tammuz. Hotter in Gaza, though. More on that another time, me thinks the subject is not flash in the pan. Speaking of which , off to put up the soup, will try to post again later.

The Guns of August

It's really hard to plan vacation around the possibility of war.

That sounds bizarre, but it's what many Israelis are going through now. The tour companies and bed and breakfast places are in a tizzy. Every August we head north -or occasionally to the coast- with a few other families, close friends all, to enjoy the Golan and Galilee as the summer wanes. Thousands of others do the same and the area is usually packed with kayakers, hikers, jeep riders and just plain lazing on the beach types. (We do all of the above. One of the group breaks a sweat popping open beers. Since I break a nail doing the same I hang with the more active side of the crowd. And anyhow, I dislike beer.)

But- what if the threatened war with Syria breaks out? If Hizbollah renews their attacks, as reports of their replenishing their bunkers with even longer range missiles are mentioned daily in the press. Gaza is always ready to explode, but the Western Negev desert is not a (vacation) hot spot, anyhow. How on earth are we supposed to do summer? And has anyone ever noticed how most of the wars are in the summer months? Does the Mid Eastern heat and haze give our enemies sunstroke or something?

So we plan and hope for the best. Last summer we hosted northerners in Judea in July and then went to a B & B in the Lower Galilee just after the war ended and the Katyushas stopped. The area was eerily empty. Burnt forests and fields, shattered buildings, bombed out tourist attractions and morose shopkeepers were part of the tour. We not only had a great time, though, (no lines anywhere!) but felt good about leaving our shekels where they were clearly needed.

This year a war will, sadly, not come as a surprise, since last year's one was not really concluded. With a son in the army it's a constant worry. We plan on going north, booked a lovely place on the Kinneret with our gang and even reserved a place for him in the hopes that he can get a few days off and join us for some R & R. Depending of course, on quiet.

But you can't live here always waiting for the worst. In 1991, during the First Gulf War, we planned a Purim party and set a side a room for everyone to leave their coats....and gas masks. That day everything ended and we joyfully yanked the plastic protective sheeting off the windows. So, too, we'll send in the deposit now, load up on sunscreen and check the rafts for leaks, and hope for the best.

I'm sure we'll get a full refund if if if. What, that's not a consideration?

In this land of miracles and madness, though, ya just never know. Boring it never is.

A Lot of Eilat

Earl and I were in Eilat for the weekend, a 4 hour drive each way for 48 hours in a 5 star hotel. It was worth it.

One of the health funds that Earl works with had their convention there so it was subsidized, a perk (just about the only one), for being a physician in the Holy Land. The food was amazing; I'm sure that I temporarily lost the battle to keep my weight and cholesterol lower than my IQ, so now I'm back on track, left with just memories and jiggles. Yum. And Aargh.

Eilat is the closest you come to leaving Israel without taking your passport. As you drive south on the long highway from the Dead Sea there's a palpable sense of getting away to some peace and quiet. The odd thing is that from the North Beach you can see 3 Arab countries, Egypt, Saudia Arabia, and Jordan. I know we have a peace treaty with 2 of them of them but at least concerning Egypt......nothing to rely on. The Saudis are responsible for the Wahhabi plague of global radical Islam so nothing to discuss on that front. I guess one day it could get noisy there and they did have a terror attack a couple months ago, but we all like our illusions and this one comes with a pool and air conditioning.

Every time we pass the huge Dead Sea Works factory I wonder at how it can be that a private company is allowed to mine a national treasure, nay, an international one, for profits in potash and magnesium. Just one more coin in the cache of corruption that has so hurt this place and that I hope one day will end, with leaders of a different caliber. I know every country is like this but I can't help but feel that we deserve better. Too many people sacrificed too much for this to be what it is now.

On Shabbat we struck up a conversation with a British young couple who want to move here within the next year. They are both newly religious and feel that this is the place to be. I agree (surprised you there, didn't I?) and we talked about how despite it all, there is no place like home. With apologies to Dorothy and Oz.

Tonight there are bridal showers all over Gush Etzion and other Jewish communities for the Gush Katif brides of this summer. It's a huge act of kindness/chessed, an example of what my friend Anita Tucker, of the destroyed community of Netzer Hazani, wrote to me is the only thing that will save us all. Everyone is bringing gifts to help them get started in their new lives. It's an honor to be a part of it. Now they certainly don't think hotels are fun after spending months living in them after their communities were wrecked.

It's all in your perspective. Hot and getting hotter in Judea.