TRUE? FALSE? A BUBBLE READY TO BURST?

  Today, the Jerusalem Post is almost completely devoted to the horrendous anniversary upon us, that of October 7, 2023, known as Oct7. Leading up to this bloody day's anniversary the media, print and online, have devoted more and more time to this upcoming day; to this living nightmare, which took place in the light of day on a bright Shabbat (Sabbath) morning, doubling as a holiday morning celebrating the gift of receiving the Torah (Old Testament), a gift which renews itself and us every year, every week, every day, every hour, every second, for all eternity.

It was supposed to be a day of celebration. It was supposed to be a day of family and friends, reunions, hugs and kisses. It was supposed to be a day of prayers and song and dance even as another dance festival, Nova, took place very close by. It was a day meant for happiness, resembling another beautiful day which turned into another day of horror - 9/11. Instead of that, we received an ugliness beyond understanding, a day where   family reunions ended in death and captivity, in a maelstrom of blood and brutality, of rape and murder, of inhumanity such as we have not seen or experienced since the awful years of the Shoah, (the Holocaust). 

Jews once again burned alive, babies discarded and treated as trash, women as objects of perverted thinking and behavior. Men and women were chased after as the fox by a pack of howling hounds, intent on spilling blood, the more the better. Be it car, van, truck, bus, police car or ambulance, even sedans to be torn apart, rammed with heavy duty machinery and bumper guards of heavy metal, dumpsters or a grove of skimpy trees, a shelter packed high with bodies upon bodies, running frantically, terrified, brought down with cascades of bullets, shredded by grenades, set afire in whatever place they were, dragged from cars. It mattered not. Blood and screams of agony, of disbelief, partners dragged apart, calling to each other, pleading to be let go, to not be killed. Thrust against hot pipes of motorcycles, dragged by hair and feet, roped, chained, displayed as prizes of war, as if captives of old. 

Even as these terrified beings ran, they carried along with them the wounded, even if they were strangers. But they were not anymore, were they, for they were all Jews, being chased and slaughtered for that alone. And for those non -Jews who bravely risked their lives to rescue the dancers, some even killed for that bravery, may they be among the blessed of Zion in their eternal rest and peace. 

Sons and daughters called home, crying for mothers and fathers, people pulled dead bodies of friends and strangers over their own so as to be thought dead. Voice after voice, calling out with tear-stained faces, desperate voices announcing their love for always, their apologies for dying. A voice of a daughter, calling out to her mother on the other side of that phone conversation. "Ima, Ani lo rotzeh lehiyote po!" Mommy, I don't want to be here!" The tear clogged voice of the mother, trying to reassure her that help will be there soon, our soldiers know their duty and will rescue you.

 But the young lady knew better, did she not? Brutalized, beaten, dead, and shown on display by Hamas and those "innocent civilians" who cheered and shot their rifles and reached to touch her as if counting coup as Native Americans did during their battles. No innocent civilians here. Not a one! The innocents were those who cried out the Shema as their last agonized breath left their bodies, as their souls floated up to the arms of welcoming angels who escorted them to Hashem, who greeted them as martyrs, as those who died al kiddush Hashem.

Now we are told there is a ceasefire imminent. With all hostages, live or dead to return home. When? How many? What conditions? What about the body of Goldin, kept as hostage since 2014? Will Hamas return all of their "bargaining" chips for future needs, as they call their captives, keep them for a "rainy day" and then ' surprise' us with a "forgotten" one or one they "found" recently? Will they actually release any on time, or wait and hesitate and linger in the return and give us back only a few, then breaking the deals made as they have done time and time again?

How do we not blow up a balloon only to have it burst again, and harsher, in our faces? How do we make sure they will not stop, no longer keep faith with the rules of the ceasefire, claim Israel broke faith, as the world will happily and eagerly believe, and will begin the battles and attacks again, replete with missiles and rockets, again with aid from their allies, and then we get a warning from the USA that we had better not shoot at their allies, leaving us bare armed and buck naked  against those who wish us dead and buried, the sooner, the better!

Is there a bubble or balloon we can trust, not to indeed harmfully in great manner blow up in our faces? Are we not also the "ally" of America? Will our enemies be allowed to shoot at us because   they are more powerful and wealthy as a group? Or they have more natural resources in short supply than we have? Or will the world simply stand by, silent, or even cheer, if, we go down the drain, this time forever, there being no place of sanctuary, no place defending us as their citizens, no country  opening her doors to us, no voices to join together with us and protest against it, and be at least somewhat successful in their attempts to combat this ever returning abomination and seemingly of eternal duration, even as our nation who does defend Jews of all origins, color, ethnicities, around the world, Israel, is itself under severe siege and attack.

What will be? With the world? With the Jewish nation? With humanity as a whole?

Will we ever be able to see each other as humans, the same under the skin, having the same dreams for ourselves and our kids?

When will we be able to look back at the yesterdays behind us, the todays so much improved, and the tomorrows blessed in opportunity, peace, and progress?  

When?

WHEN?!

 

  

   

,

  

  

 

YA' GOTTA' WONDER

One must indeed. How many times have we already arrived at a point where we were coming along, and all that is left to do is some blither and blather. And then we find out that it is quite a bit more than that and inevitably, Hamas must put this stick in the machinery, and it grinds to a halt, and then on and so on and so on and so on. Then we find out that still more negotiations on implementation of the very terms of this agreement are required before oral promises are cemented into place. 

Once again cruelly treated hostages held by Hamas and their families are hung up in gray fields of uncertainty, for inevitably Hamas never runs out of sticks, or entire bundles of them, to ram through the cogwheels. The process comes to a halt. Again. Suddenly a change, again, as our 20 maybe living and 27 dead, slaughtered, while within the brutal custody of Hamas, are to be held there until death of all, it seems.

Just as inevitably, the media hypes the fact that Hamas agreed to the agreement with just a few 'minor' issues. Those are played down as worthy of no protest; thus, when the agreement collapses under its own weight, blame is gleefully heaped upon the head and shoulders of Israel, with not a few, I told you so's being heard. And here we are, still wallowing in this same muck and mire that never seems to be able to be drained. 

In the meanwhile, the Jewish community waits on tenterhooks. We want our people back. We demand our people back. We see through your subterfuges.  your rather crude attempts to stall this return once again, ever again, stating that you will definitely return the civilian captives. However, you will not return the soldiers. Really, when you have made so many statements that all of your captives up to and including the age of 54 can be considered to be of fighting age and hence are to be considered as soldiers. Hence, they are not even within 50 miles of this agreement.

Furthermore, most of the 'soldiers' remaining are the little soldier boys taken during their first week of training or at Nova, civilians, high on Nature, good feelings, and trance music. So brave of you, as you then beat them, tortured them, starved them, raped them, and so dastardly more. 

How many more do you have plans to mutilate and torture even more, so as to cut down the living and add to the dead. Then add fuel to the fire and continue to refuse repatriation of the body of Lt. Goldin, murdered by you in 2014, and, body in pieces, taken back into those damned accursed tunnels, gateways to Hell, breaking the hearts of his parents. And once again, aren't you so proud, as you wage war against civilians, babies, infants in arms, wounded, the elderly, the sick, for two years already.

 Are you? Are you not yet tired of strangling babies, tossing them into ovens, burning whole families wired together? Using your own people as human shields? Do you not see the ravages you have inflicted upon these people and upon the land you claim as your own, Gaza?  Land where the economy was buzzing along, where an industry of fruit growing and selling, even internationally was thriving? Replete with greenhouses and infrastructure? 

Where laborers were able to access good paying jobs, send their kids to school, where women were able to attend higher education and have professional careers? Where health needs at times needful of care unable to be accessed within Gaza, were taken by Israeli citizens to hospitals in Israel, free of charge. YES!! The very ones you slaughtered on October 7. 

So proud you are, shamefully so. You were able to shanghai other Jews into supporting your campaigns as murderers, and to this day, have not admitted any wrongdoing, purveyed lies round the world, bringing to the top of the scummy foul pond the tropes of viral, vicious antisemitic chants of  JewHatred gone exponentially insane. As Jews joined with the protests, curtailing their own rights to be at universities, in businesses and the media, in the arts and sciences. Countries of Europe, still reeking of the blood of Jews slaughtered in an attempt to erase them from humanity, less than a century ago, reverted to their worst points, slimed their way back to barbarism, and gloat in it once more as Jews, Israelis, are isolated, increasingly so.

One certainly must wonder why this savage beastly streak in mankind refuses to die, why mankind persists in holding tight to it, saving it for whatever and whenever they deem it a rainy day?!

Erasing, or trying to, the blood and souls of Jewish people. Again. Smearing this blood on themselves as they boast of their prowess in this activity. Not noticing, until too late, the deterioration of the world, for the lack of Jews and their mammoth contributions to the history and advancement of humanity.

Wake up, people. No more wondering at the ugliness now pervading the world. That is being soaked up with every breath you take, into every alveolus, tainting every drop of your blood, draining your humanity. 

Know this: 

We will not sit by, but will rather return 

ONE THOUSANDFOLD 

for what you wish to inflict on us.

 We would far rather have the righteous among you speak out and up and turn aside, reject, the brutal and animalistic traits still remaining within.

It is time for humanity to rise to a level of dignity. To know we are all the same, with minor insignificant differences and stop playing this ugly hate game.  

We are all the same.

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. 

For all the days to come.

Or none at all if we persist on this path.

DEAR LORD,

  Dear Lord,

This is a letter from the heart from one of your most insignificant worshippers. Please give me a second of your time, whatever piece of it you can spare and hear the words, feel the heartbreak, and yes, feel the pain and the worry, the love and concern, the intense fear that we are once again to undergo another test, a brutal one, replete with the horrors of both the past and the present, evermore powerful in effect and harm. 

Or is it a time of payback, a reminder of how we have fallen down on the job, forgotten to acknowledge to whom we owe it all. It is especially frightening in that we are reading the section of the Torah called Haazinu, a most powerful and frightening reminder of what happens we veer too much from the required and most deserved services of gratitude to You and immerse ourselves in a mistaken vanity of success, pride in our own accomplishments, ignoring once again, blind to the truth that we owe it all to You.

Will we ever learn? I truly do not know the answer to that. I would hope yes, but history has shown me that we do not, until Your patience is exhausted. We ignore the warning signs of a growing disappointment in us, and tell ourselves it will be better, it can never be as it was; people know better, are better. But we are fooling only ourselves and not even that if one were to be honest.

At incremental speed, the crisis has been growing apace. From growing numbers of words spoken dripping with hate, to encouragement to test the bounds of acceptability of consequences of hate speech, to initial first steps of action, from 'protests' conveyed with speech to active protests, to purposeful discrimination and isolation of Jews from society, drawing the line tighter and tighter, and the world where Jews can walk freely, with no fear of violence grows smaller and smaller. More and more we are pressured into denying who we are, losing our souls, and we are confused.

How did we get here? Again. What happened? Where was the point of no return and how did we ever miss it? Where were our leaders to pull us back on to the right paths? How did we once agin fall for the "hevel havalim" of life, valuing that which truly means nothing and ignoring, even rejecting, the truth. We looked at our hands, admired the strength in them and their power to build successful lives for us and our families. We admired our faces in the mirror, but the reflection is dimmed and darker. Somewhere along the line we lost sight of who we actually are and how we got here. 

We forgot, ignored, purposely denied hearing the commandment we received many times from our leaders of old - to study, learn and live the Torah and its precepts. To recognize the true Power of this universe and understand our insignificant piece of it. We forgot that between the Heavens and the Earth, the witnesses to the covenant G- d gifted to us, we were always to serve the Lord, our Lord, to remain faithful to Him and in so doing bring this knowledge to the people of the world, to know the true G-d. We have failed abysmally.

We have lost our way, fallen upon tempting paths whose end is ugly with violence and despair, with grievous harm to us, our families, the entire nation. Now we are shocked at the virulence, the long lasting and well powered campaign of hate, yet another determination to destroy the People of the Book, the Nation which was delivered from slavery into a land of milk and honey. We let the images of life before fade from our minds from our consciences, and fell into the religion of success, of material wealth, of surface prayers rushed through and hypocritical statements which actually   highlighted the growing emptiness within our souls.

We had turned a blind eye to the truth of the world and suddenly, our eyes are cleared to see, our ears are cleaned to hear, our minds are reopened to full comprehension of cause and effect, of history. In forgetting or ignoring the purpose of or life on earth, we reopened the door to the horrors of the past. Now our hearts are broken, riven with fear for the future. Are we once again to undergo a reenactment of the past, of violent war waged upon us? Will its unimaginable terror of an entire world standing against us, maligning us, demonizing us, with no place to go, nowhere to turn, burned alive by a hate whose most intense and innermost goal and driving desire to is to extinguish us, erase us. 

Now is where I raise my puny voice, hoping that somehow You will be able to distinguish it from the shouts and cries of a world in desperate straits. Will you hear, allow the words of those who recognize truth to penetrate to your deepest soul, to respond to the appeal for mercy? We acknowledge that we indeed went wrong, strayed afar, but have returned and more will follow.  We have come to our senses   and plead for more time, to halt progress of evil and for the return of a true faith, a full and open confession of our sins, of our offenses against you.  

If not for ourselves, then for our children and their children and all the generations to follow, to worship you and not the false gods to be found along the paths of life. For You as well, for we are the ones who will serve you in the present and in the future, even though we have moments where we stray, for we are humans. 

So You created us and so we are always in a battle with ourselves, to use the Free Will we have, to empower the instinct for Good over the instinct and temptations of Evil within us.  Allow us yet another gift of time, an extension of time to earn forgiveness, to come to a comprehension again of the Eternal Truth of You, Our Lord. To display the Truth of You to the peoples of the world. 

No more this conversation.

Q. "But we are citizens! 

A. But you are Jews."

 No more to have governmental officials hide, suppress, information of the slaughter of Jews, killed by application of an insecticide to "kill vermin". Or to hide behind flimsy excuse as to inability to rescue Jews, allow them sanctuary. To be forced to acknowledge the stain of blood on the hands, of all who perpetrated this crime against humanity, from the Cabinet of the USA, to the British, to Vichy France, the police who gleefully and cruelly rounded up Jews for death, the drivers of the trains of death, the civilians who rushed to plunder that which the Jews left behind, to take over  homes and businesses, to people able to turn  off their humanity an become mass murderers, willing torturers. Complicit and implicit, to their elbows and over their heads. 

When the deed is done. When the words of "horror", the words of shame, come after, it is too little, too late, particularly when it is obvious these words and promises and exclamations of disbelief and disavowal are as real and long-lasting as is fairy dust. Especially when the very same words, only at faster pace, with earlier intent, a speedier turn into violence and a fast-growing worldwide acceptance of such sentiments and ultimate plans, are met with vocal and unvoiced approval and encouragement and mealy-mouthed statements of horror, disavowal, and confusion as to "how such a thing happened, how it must be avoided" and then go on, same old, same old, in voice, action and intent.  

Dear Lord, hear my voice, speaking for so many, speaking for my little ones, all of them, so bright and shiny, for what future are You planning for them even as you take revenge, as threatened, as promised as has materialized, again and again? 

Mercy, not revenge on Your People. 

Yet one more chance.

Show the nations of the world that You are with us still, prorect us, and save us from ourselves.

Anger is easy, mercy and restraint are more difficult. 

Show us the way, Lord.

Lead us.

Please.

The cries of yesterday, from the graves of the murdered, of today's wounded and killed, and the fears and concerns for and of the tomorrows -

Listen Hard.

Listen with open heart.

Hear me. Hear us.

Hear Me.

THE DAY

  Actually, the day is tomorrow but begins tonight with the arrival of evening. One of the most touching and heartfelt prayers, the Kol Nidre, is sung with great emotion for it is the last-ditch effort to convince G-d, the Eternal Scribe of the Book of Life and Death to decide. What is our fate for the coming year. If itis not a good one, then what must we undertake to change that possible outcome. 

It is well known that three things are able to deter fates boding no good for individuals - repentance, prayer, and charity. To the last moment in life, these are pathways to avoid the negative as well as to ensure a year of better fate and outlook for the year to come. Does it work? No one can speak to that with proof positive and sentient conclusion, but we can surmise and that is the inspiration for The Days of Repentance, culminating in a vow to do better, to be better. 

What it is important to pay attention to is to know one can ask for forgiveness only for the violations between Man and his G-d. For those between Man and Man, only the offended can do the forgiving. If there are true repentance and the offended refuses after three times to forgive, well, then he has just assumed a burden he could have avoided.

The idea is to encourage proper and positive relationships among all mankind, from individual to individual and groups large and small, to encourage interactions of good intent and outcome, to encourage peace and quiet, progress and all that is good in this world in all its unfulfilled gifts for Mankind. 

I wish it would be possible to achieve this goal. So very much, but I doubt it, particularly as we are currently overloaded with people of Evil intent and deed, who cannot let go of the ugly traits of evil, their urges to fulfill their most wrongful fantasies perpetrated on those so designated an enemy.  

The positive parts of mankind, their innate inclinations to do good by others, have been overcome by the negative, especially so of late. This is an ugly trend repeating once again the errors of people and delays the arrival of a world devoid of the hate, the jealousy, the bigotry, the constant return to wars which solve nothing and are only of service in the ramping up to yet another war, to follow the same useless terrible path. 

Would that we could forgive ourselves, forgive the offenses against us and convince the Scribe that this time we really mean it, in all spheres. Peace would then reign.

A dream of all our yesterdays.

A hope for the fruition of that dream in our todays.

And a huge hope that one day, our tomorrows, will be that in reality. 

Forever.

I will return on Friday.

Let us culminate the year with true repentance and forgiveness and a step forward on the road to peace and brotherhood.

TAD LATE

  Yes, a bit late in posting, even its composition, but well these are the holiday times for the Jewish people and nothing gets done on time other than to arrive in synagogue on time. After all, one cannot be late for the Big Guy upstairs, looking down at His creations and wondering what the heck! 

Are these rather annoying beings worthy of His time and drain of His patience? Are they worth all that has gone into them, all the rescues of them from perilous situations and the sheer ingratitude and forgetfulness of those 'adventurous' times? G-d lowers His achy head into His work marked hands and groans. What is He to do with these stubborn ingrates? Are there not enough among them to see the good outweighing the bad and go for yet another try? Yes or no?

Those are the choices facing our Lord. Are we worthy of yet another year, another chance to better ourselves, not in wealth but in character, to be better people. To keep others in mind even as we walk through life. To be unselfish with our time and wealth. To strive for the higher standards. To be closer to what we are meant to be. Not easy, but if we do not improve, well, you draw your conclusions and pictures and face up to the truth that is and have always been right before our very eyes. 

If one needs to remind themselves, please turn to the Tanach, the Bible and all the books following and read what awaits the unworthy. Chapter 32 in D'vorim, the last book of the Old Testament and in the book of Isaiah, where the warning to pay attention and make amends is even more severe, more frightening, hair raising and spine tingling than the first version. 

I wonder if we, the people of the stiff neck and stubborn behavior will ever hear all of what needs to be remedied, what will make their lives at least a bit better. More secure in the continued attention paid to us by our G-d, and less attention to us by those who wish us only harm and ill will. Will such a time ever come to be? Will the enemies of our people ever give it up, stop making up stories and egregious harmful lies and refuse to indulge their worst side and moot their malicious urges.

For all out there, Jew and non-Jew alike, for our friends and for those who need to hear the truth, I wish all a New Year of peace and quiet, of health and prosperity, of joy and love.

Perhaps if we all jump in headfirst to the aromatic waters of the best wishes from all to all, then perhaps we will dry up the fetid swamp of hate and ugliness flooding the world.  

Would it not be wonderful if we could negate all the negativity remaining from our yesterdays?

 Live in a world of todays, free of conflict and hate?

Look forward to many tomorrows of peace and progress?

Halevai. If only. Stated with a huge sigh.

SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE...

 So why do we not realize or acknowledge it, at least to some degree? Are we in purposeful ignorance or are we playing the game of see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil? In any case, that evil does come through so why we continue to play this time wasting and harmful game is beyond me. Certainly, there is nothing good to come out of this unless one considers denial of information a proper and beneficial path on which to continue.

 Perhaps even worst of all is when one assumes or pretends to believe that whatever the secret data is, it is out there up front and present. That simply presents a feeling of contempt for the intelligence of those awaiting timely knowledge disclosures or presents the denier in a most contemptible situation for either he knows and is not admitting to it and certainly not a trustworthy figure, or it is really unknown to that person and he/she appears to be an incompetent ignoramus and most definitely unfit  to serve in any responsible situation. 

The situation most violating the rights of the public to know, of people concerned to know the truth of the matter, trying to behave as if it would never have occurred to have informed oneself of that bit of knowledge and be able to convey it to those who have a need for it. Or simply wishing to be fully informed on any and everything affecting he and his. In acting as if he believed that no one would notice the omission, the denier, the one who refuses to disclose, displays a brutal and public contempt for the intelligence of the questioner. Particularly if the response is a stuttering "I don't know" or "I cannot remember" or shuffling through a whole pile of useless blank papers or perhaps repetitive lines of the Quick and lazy brown Fox jumped over the fence, or some such subterfuge.

I am sure we can all recall the attorney of Trump, one of many, eventually, who claimed ignorance or spoke with blatant forked tongue, in denying the guilt of Trump, or their ignorance of said violations, or in her case, wheeling in a cart loaded with papers - all blank - even as she waved them in the air, perhaps not knowing of their visible emptiness. This behavior continues into Trump's second term and is quite alive and unfortunately well, when a member of his administration is called before a Congressional Committee to testify or to present desired testimony and/or proof on an area of interest, there is open defiance to saying the truth, to presenting papers and documents. It is outrageous behavior, and condemning the public and its officials to ignorance, presenting them as contemptible creatures unworthy of getting answers, of hearing truths, yet it doesn't even last one whole cycle of news. Shame on the liars and shame as well on those who take this lying down, par for the course. This is egregiously wrong mannerisms and attitudes, and it is not excusable no matter who is the official and who is the POTUS.

Unfortunately, this type of behavior is seen around the world. In fact, I think one would be greatly challenged to find an honest man, a leader of character, even with intense effort. It brings to mind the Greek character, Diogenes, who held a lantern before him seeking, searching, for an honest person, diligently so and equally unsuccessful. 

When the person in charge of a country - by whatever name - President, Prime Minister, General, Colonel, lies in a consistent and obvious manner, prepared only to lay a small glaze over the information denied to the public, so dumb he thinks they are, the administration of that person will collapse in and under the weight of its own lies. It might take time. It might take years, but it does happen, and it will happen. There are many of these downfallen liars littering the face of this globe.

Yet even more baffling is that the public, the body politic, never seems to take this truth to heart. Either they fall prey to a smooth glib talker who promises the sun and the moon, promises full and open government and then proceeds to toss mud and filth over all that he promised, or they are blind to the violations of the best principles of government and actually support this person. Even as the situation of the nation and of their own personal situation deteriorates by the day. 

I think the most frightening of all is when the nation just doesn't care enough to look deep enough, open eyes and ears wide enough, to observe and to admit that there is something rotten in that state. Something very, very wrong. Hence, they did not take action for the taking of that action is unknown or unrecognized to them. Or there are those who know exactly what is happening, but they have signed on with that offender and push for his success, and to their benefit.

Finally, perhaps the saddest of all are those who see and know, whose eyes and ears see and hear the truth, whose shoulders bow under the weight of what they see before them, what awaits them in the very, very near future and for the time afterwards. At first, they might deny it for denial is so much easier, more prudent, but that denial cannot last long as more open actions canceling democracies, canceling constitutions, canceling righteous behavior, shredding the rights of people, encouraging bias and hatred in and of society, become ever more visible and harmful and denial does not fill the blanks in as well as it did before.

These people are then left to wage war against an ingrained violator of decency. They are accused of all sorts of disloyalty and of questions and actions inimical to the survival of their nation and their beloved, though very frightening, leader.

That war to wage is difficult and not very assured of finding success. Too bad.

In such a case, we have wasted the knowledge and courage of the yesterdays.

We have tainted and weakened the todays before us.

We have crushed the hope of our tomorrows.

Will we ever learn? 

TO HEAR, TO LISTEN; TO LISTEN, TO HEAR

  Every Sabbath of the year a new portion of the Hebrew Bible is read, this one entitled a command, to listen, to hear. This Bible is the history and the ethos of the Israelites, of Jews throughout the millennia, no matter where they lived, no matter how cut off they were from the world. No matter how strictly the rules regarding outside denial of the right to do so, none of it mattered, for within those words are contained the very gist, the center, the makeup of Judaism and the act of being a Jew in every which way - of terminology, of observance, of adherence - to the ancient people from whom modern day Jews have descended in a straight line, in an unbroken chain, no matter how hard the pressure was to shatter this chain, to break each and every link upon it, or of its composition. Every such effort failed. We were here. We are here. And here we will remain. No different than any other time of history. No matter how hard, bizarre and cruel the attempts to gainsay that survival.

Why was this so? Why did none of the many attempts to destroy us and in fact, some were extremely successful, never ever come to fulfill their original evil goal. Pogroms, accusations of blood libel, lynchings, burning at the stake, forced conversions, denial of rights, kidnappings of children and impressing of the sons into 25-year terms of service in the military, suppression of Jewish education and observances, expulsions, refusal of entry into havens of safety and survival. Even, in fact, times of great prosperity resulting in other forms of pressure to discard Judaic Heritage and become one of the many others, to follow their calendar and customs, to hide their identity from all, for many, many reasons. And to return in time for many other reasons, including a longing for a true belonging, a remembrance of times and traditions of childhood, forced return to their People as the haters of the world dug to "out" them, oppress them, and in fact, attempt to follow through on the evil ambitions of those who came before - and all to no avail.

And why is that? We are 2% of the population of the world, a true minority and yet we get none of the breaks accorded to minorities but do, in fact, have all the denials and the prejudice sent our way. With great vim and vigor and enthusiasm. Why is it that, despite our introduction to the world of the greatest book, our Bible, the presentation of the idea and the devotion, the belief, in one G-d, no matter the name given, the first codified code of justice, the rules of society demanding that those in need, those who are in worse condition, those who are strangers, and those who cannot necessarily understand all that society is and demands of them, those who are blind and of lesser understanding, who are deaf to words of instruction, the weakest among us and the demands upon the wealthy to give of their time and wealth to others, who introduced the fact that no god, no true G-d, would demand sacrifice of humans, of children, and in fact demanded that we treat each other better, be more caring and fair in our attitudes, and even addressed the question of war - when and why and how. In fact, it was always upon us to be of benefit to the world, to leave the world a better place for every one of us having been in the world, to devote themselves to charity and good deeds, to be successful in their efforts but always in proper manner, to be philanthropists and to make no distinction in this philanthropy as its benefits fell upon Jew and non-Jew alike.

Yet all this was ignored, and our attempts to strive to be successful in our endeavors, to contribute to the world, to research better ways, better medicines, to improve society, to entertain and educate, to be loyal citizens, even governmental advisers and diplomats of the nations in which we resided - and for all that, we received snide remarks generated by jealousy, by those envious of our success even as they refused to put in the hard work necessary, by those needing to use us as scapegoats and deflections from their own inadequacies, with accusations of being anything and everything which they opposed or resented: from communists to socialists to capitalists; to bankers and control of all industries: control of the press and all media: of subversion and disloyalty to the nations we served in their armies, in their civilian needs and their governmental needs and demands. We were portrayed as feeders upon society, as perverts and in both underground in covert manner and overt education, this was taught to the children of the world and reinforced among the adults as well.

Most irritating to the Jew haters and to the self-hating and self-denying Jews was that along with contributing to the world in general, of faithful service to the countries where we resided, there remained an internal integral part of Judaism, never denied or discarded. A longing to return to Zion, to our indigenous, G-d given and promised homeland. The land of our forefathers, to be ours, forever given to the children and descendants of Abraham, the forefather and all the forefathers and foremothers who followed, down to the least among us.

 There was no separation, no distinction, for this return to Zion, known in modern times as Zionism, is not new. Always has been front and center, prominent in our prayers and traditions. For 3000 years, be it within our homeland or in exile, we     prayed to remain or to be able to return. To be able to fill all the commandments of our Bible as dictated to us by God via the great among us, including Moses and Aaron, Joshua and David, Solomon and Hannah, the Maccabees, all the prophets who kept us on the straight and narrow, or warned us to return, lest misbehavior bring downfall upon us. Even within the poorest of Shtetls, of villages, in cities, in nations, one and all, in all eras and times of history, in all times of persecution and slaughter, even within the ghettos and the concentration camps and the harsh treatment rendered unto any remaining Jews among Arab and Muslim nations after the Declaration of the State of Israel in 1948 - Always these prayers remained the same, albeit in varying tunes. But the words, the yearning, the direction of prayer, the same. 

From Ethiopia to America, from India to England. From the Anusim, the hidden of Spain and New Mexico and Central and South America, always the remembrance, the longing to return. And they have, from Venezuela to Myanmar, from Iran and Iraq to France, from South Africa and Australia to the entire American nation. More so now than in a long time for the evil currents and winds of hate, of toxic and viral anti Semitism, of vicious JewHatred, have grown exponentially, have quickly morphed from words of hate towards words encouraging and urging of violence, to acts of violence, to murder, to overt avowal to destroy any and all Jews of the world, particularly the entity known as the State of Israel, the eternal Homeland of the original indigenous, the Israelites.

We have long known that the only eternal place of safety and defense for Jews no matter where they lived was a Homeland of their own. What better to serve that purpose than the already growing movement of return, to Jews already and for always residing there, never having ever left the land bereft of Jews over the 2,000 plus years of Exile of the majority, to those so in desperate need of haven - the modern nation, the State of Israel, Medinat Yisrael. 

For we all know, and have vowed, that never again will that land of ours be defeated again, ever. We will never be exiled again from the land of Avraham Avinu, Abraham, Our Forefather. To the last stone, to the last bit of falsehood and treachery of the nations of the world, we will listen and hear, hear and listen, and heed the words of our Bible, we will hear and listen to our history and we will defend the land, defend the people, and be true to our heritage and to the gift from G-d to us - the Land of Israel. From the oldest to the youngest, from the important to the least of us, from those who preceded us to those who will follow, from any ethnicity, color or origin after Exile - we know our eternal home, even as we continue to serve our current nation -as long as they remain true to us.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow, it matters not, as for always, for eternity, we will be here, strong in our beliefs and strong in our contributing to a better world. 

Would that the nations of the world finally realize and accept that, its reality, and then, perhaps peace will reign among us.

I so wish for that. 

I so hope for that.

Especially for the little ones we all cherish.

As do we all. 

As should we all.

A PLEA

   Today, as we prepare to join family and friends in celebrating the Jewish New Year and spend much time in prayer and contemplation as to where we are in this troubled and besieged world of ours, we all must stop and think. 

We must stop mouthing false words of regret or penitence and actually dig deep down within us, within ourselves. Question ourselves in sharp interrogation, press hard for answers. What are we doing here? What have we made of this earth of ours? And why have we insured that the future will bring only more of the same, or worse, unless we shake ourselves hard and long? Engage in deep meditation as to where and how and why we all went wrong. We must wonder at ourselves. Why do we insist on wallowing in fetid waters of hate and violence rife with the rank contamination that mankind has gathered unto itself over these millennia.    

As children sharing a bedroom, this is their space. They have to learn not to divide and conquer, not even to divide and share, but leave out the division and understand that if half the room is messy so too is the other half. If we rape the resources of half the world and demean and wage war against   populations of the world simply because we have a mean streak within that demands us, urges us to do so, does not mean we must indulge it. If we feel we must dominate some other beings in order to feel better about ourselves, perhaps we had better take a more introspective look and check our value systems. If we contaminate part of the world, we are contaminating all of this small orb in a vast universe, the one granted or lent to us by G-d, to celebrate His gifts to us and to walk in the path of the Righteous. At present we have maintained an abysmal record in that sphere.    

In doing research for another project, I returned somewhat to the days and years of school. I can remember the teachers talking to us, pointing out the time and time again we have been warned by hashem and those who spoke for Him on this earth, to shape up, to shake ourselves out and return to the path of the righteous. To at least attempt to improve and to remember that our job description for this planet, this life, is not only to take care of ourselves but to take care of others, to help others who cannot help themselves. Young, careless, almost carefree as we were, we didn't always pay attention. Now we must.

I am sure that at this point in time our Father in the heavens is shaking His head in despair. He wonders how many more times He must grant us time for repentance. How many more times must He say one more chance? How many more times must we be reminded of His power and His patience? When is it time to call a halt to His forbearance and act as a Father who must punish the child if order to prevent even worse?  When is enough, enough? When is it the proper time, more than past that time, to stop cease pleading with them to end this most harmful pathway through life they have chosen?   

But always, though, even in the midst of the most awful frightening to the marrow of one's bones warnings and predictions of what awaits, He holds out HIs hand to us, reminding all that there still is time remaining, albeit running short.  But still, waiting for His Children to listen and hear, to hear and listen. The order makes no difference bottom line, only the truly opening of the heart and soul matters. Not only our ears, but also to the depths of our conscience. 

Then, only then, might we have a chance to turn the world around. Over the next days during which we fully own up to all that we have done wrong, and meaningfully repent, and think, generate new, solid, productive paths for a way forward.

I wish all the world, not only me and mine and my people, but all the people of the world to think about where we are at present. Think what we have done with all yesterdays. Think about the responsibilities we have for all the todays we live in, so confused, so stressful. Then finally, think about the future, the tomorrows we have before us unless ......

 Shanah Tova Oohmetuka.

May we all be blessed with a sweet and good year.

Replete with health and wisdom, with peace and love - or at least a tolerance which allows for us to find, create that most difficult way forward, to a better world for all our tomorrows. 

May we see the return of all our  Chatufim, our kidnapped, languishing in the Hell of Hamas. To be returned to life once again, and for those deceased during captivity, slaughtered, may they be honored as martyrs, dying al Kiddush Hashem, in the name of the Most Holy joining the long ranks of those gone before them. May we see no more of such. 

Chag Sameach - will be back Friday, G-d willing.

Happy Ho;iday

 WILL BE AWAY FOR HOLIDAY UNTIL FRIDAY HJAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO ALL

SHAKESPEARE HAD IT RIGHT!

 Shakespeare said this long ago. "Lord, what fools these mortals be."

Apparently, we human beings persist over the centuries to act in direct contrast to that which is beneficial to us, which is the truth, and which adheres to some of the best and necessary attributes of Mankind. In fact, every time we thrust these traits aside, downplay their importance or build upon their treachery, we lose a piece of ourselves. Over time we lose so many pieces that we do not recognize that man in the mirror, staring back at us.

 We do not know anymore who we are, where we stand on anything in definite manner. Finally, we turn to the only pathway we have left open, and it is a manifestly ugly, selfish one, the accrual of wealth and power, as if that can replace the honesty, truth and allegiance we have discarded along the way.      Our sense of fair play and benefit for societal needs, to fulfill the obligations laid upon people to aid those in need, to be considerate of all others, to not merely favor justice but to pursue it. 

The relations between man and man are very specific and widespread, most obviously of concern to us and to those with whom we interface. It is only with a sense of trust in the other that we can move forward. But what happens when we break that bond, spoken or unspoken? What happens when our word cannot be trusted and worse, is meaningless. Worst of all, the ensuing friction and mistrust, particularly when it is present among and within one's own entourage, the outcome is assuredly to be one of negativity, always ramping up, building on that which came before. 

Such a situation now suffuses the globe. Basically, we have turned on our own tails and concentrated on chewing away at ourselves, denying the obvious damage resultant. We have become self-consuming cannibals refusing to admit that we are indeed dangerous. Even as blood stains our mind, body and soul. Even as we cannot recognize ourselves anymore for the ugliness of our insides, that which is claimed as replicating the features of G-d, has even now been overwhelmed and its face of ugliness, betrayal, and selfishness have overpowered the superficial outer face we present to the world at large. The hypocrisy is clear, our adherence to the worst of Mankind overcomes all with its rank odors of rot and disloyalty and well, here we are.

The history of the inhabitants of Earth is awash, overflowing with examples of traitors, those who sell out their own for some gain, generally a filthy one stinking of betrayal of their own, their religious beliefs, everything they once held as sacred, worthy of any sacrifice. These people have engaged in an ugly commerce, selling their eternal souls for temporary gain, committed to the Devil and in so doing have trashed their loved ones, their friends, all who trusted them and their supposed loyalty.

At present, my focus is not on traitors in general, but rather on those who have betrayed their own, a perpetually challenged and embattled people, outnumbered, outweighed, yet always punching way above those limitations. Why these people within choose to be traitors, to be cursed by their own for endless centuries, is indeed a puzzlement, but there it is. These betrayers come in all sizes, shapes and level of destruction as a result of their perfidy.

I simply do not understand how they can live with themselves. Is the resultant uproar, minor or major, which results from their announcement or obscene action all that important to them? Is it merely an innate trait within and we are proving the verity of Shakespeare's statement? Can these traitors claim a lack of control as a defense should their perfidy be uncovered and blame assigned where it belongs?

 What possesses these people? It boggles my mind! It sears my soul. Anger grows apace, along with shame, for these traitors are of the family of my people. They have violated the injunction to always remember that all of the Jewish nation is responsible for all the Jewish nation. When push comes to shove, it matters not whether one belongs to a different sect or wears certain clothing, or any apparent difference. That is why we go above and beyond to rescue or ransom captives, even if absolutely unknown to us. Or will have welcome mats out for travelers stranded and in need of food and shelter. Why do they turn their backs to all of this?

How could some have spied for Iran, the self-declared and avowed enemy of Israel, outspoken of their intent to destroy Israel? How? I do not get it! How could they shame their people so carelessly and expose them to such danger?  How? Why? Have those dangerous idiots who claim they speak for fellow Jews even as they sell them down the road so enamored of their less than fifteen minutes of fame, as a picture of them holding a derogatory poster and flaunting a keffiyeh, the latest fashion trend, endangering themselves and others, calling for their own demise - is it all worth it?  Never mind that wise statement - "To thine own self be true"? And don't they make their parents proud, oh, so proud. I cannot fathom how they can stand to get up in the morning and look at themselves in the mirror and at night, see what further damage they have etched upon their souls. 

By this behavior they think they can ensure their own safety should it all heat up to yet another boiling point - they are ever so wrong. Those perfidious actors and all those attached to the film industry who signed the letter condemning Israel for defending itself, for going way above and beyond all other western nations to minimize harm to civilians who are not even truly "innocent" civilians, will reap the consequences of that rank stupidity and betrayal. In the interim they will bear not praise but disgust, have made an emphatically bad buy.  When the clock comes round again, they will understand what they have brought down upon themselves and how well they deserve it. 

But I believe the worst is when politicians who prostitute themselves before voters, especially for the large Jewish vote, to get their votes and promise   the sun, the moon and the stars, lies all, with that motivation. Then, when in office, bare the truth to the world. The piece of filth now running for mayor of NYC is a prime example of this behavior. Open antisemitism. Praise for those who accuse Israel of anything they can think of and more. Well, he and his ilk will see the results of his lies and hate for the Jews. They who voted for him will now see that was an act of betrayal for themselves and the Jewish people and all those who know better. 

 And a final message to Bernie Sanders who is insane, so mentally challenged in his rabid condemnation of Israel, in his deranged rants and raves, his lies, his trivialization of the Holocaust, so crazed is he that words to describe him and his ugly shouts and self-hate are impossible to find. He   disgusts us all. May he reap what he sows.

Those dudes who have turned on their own have forgotten the lessons of yesterday, the ugliness, the pain, the blood. They forget the todays of not so long ago, and even now filled with mortal attacks upon Jews, more threats, more ugliness. They place our tomorrows in jeopardy. Grave jeopardy. May G-d turn His face away from them and towards the rest of His people who pray for His help and are loyal to the good of the world.

WHO ARE WE?

  Who are we? What are we? Are we valued for what we can weigh and measure by the minerals and chemicals, the weight of the bones, or are we something more than that which is inside the physical container? Are the innards more important than what we see as revealed to us on the outside or might we value the thoughts and creations of that which is actually impossible to hold up and say, "Here is the mind. Here is the soul". In fact, what do we really mean when we come across an evil person, one who seems to demonstrate barely anything related to the humanity of humans. When we call, deem, a person a soulless person, what do we actually mean by that? 

When he came together, getting all the scoops of whatever was contained on the pre-birth assembly line, was his life determined - A full scoop of brains, a scoop of goodness, and one capable of tainting all that was good within. How do we measure what a person is, what a person's possibilities come to mean to that person? Was this, in fact, one whose fate was already etched in stone, to be labeled a soulless person meant only to bring misery and sorrow to the planet? 

What do we have within us? If one is overly weighted with one trait or inclination over another, can a person generate enough willpower and take what could be considered negative and by virtue of hard work and overcharged turbine effort, morph it into something that is of great benefit to humankind rather than a further addition to the stockpile of all that which can harm rather than help, things that wake up faulty traits and thoughts? 

Can we, for example, take a driving sense of ambition and rather than give way to the possibly evil created and enabled by this intense need, this almost mad need, and direct it into a positive path? If the answer is a wary yes, a maybe, then the human race has a chance. However, if that possibility is not deeply ingrained within a human, considering the inborn innate flaws of a person, the errors made by the brain and even the soulless emptiness within some precluding any possibility of positivity of contribution, then what are the chances, the odds, of people to actually initiate a difficult reformation, a need to better themselves and the world we live in? 

I wonder, I really do, if somewhere along the line of continuing creation a misprint took place. This misprint spread over time and took over the need within a person to leave behind a legacy of goodness and generosity, an acceptance of all mankind as people, no one better, no one worse. All deserving common rights and the respect of others. Somehow, somewhere, we lost that invisible part of homo sapiens which actually distinguished it from   other models of Man, and we are the worse off for it. Furthermore, that misprint did not end, but found a warm welcoming home within, settled down and made a life for themselves, a life too often built on the backs of others.

That interchange had other facets as well, negative and positive paths crossed and recrossed, canceled each other out and while at times this proved to be of great advantage and service for the world, and it moved forward, at other times not so much. At those times Mankind moved backwards, allowed good within to sour and dark thoughts of hate grew apace, and took deep root within Mankind. 

Such a time is now. We have done so: very obviously, very raucously, with a heavy coating of hate and emphasis on differences between, rather than similarities among. We have recreated ourselves in so deep and intensive a manner, have redefined ourselves so grossly that we are losing sight or have actually lost sight already of who, what we are, where we belong and where others feel we belong as well and mighty clashes have grown up in response to those concerns.    

  For example, me. I now have a different me inside.  For most of my life I was sure of who I was. I was an American Of that I was sure and yes, of course, I was Jewish as well. But that had nothing to do with who I was, am(?) and the first word of that definition was American. Born, bred, made my life here. Again, why not? Why would I expect it to be any different?  No, no doubt about it. I proudly pledged, sang all the requisite patriotic songs-an American, always.   

And again, why not? I was born here. I expected to finish here as well.  Why would I think there would ever come a time when I would think differently, when that change was forced upon me, when it became quite clear, the evidence mounting, evidence that old ugliness truly does not wither away from disuse and neglect, from obviousness and clarity of vision.  That hate has a resilience beyond all reasonability that you will hate and/or be hated. It is toxic, long lasting and ever present and growing, infusing Hate with ever more power and popularity, more hate that one can ever imagine. 

Through the centuries it has evidenced itself many times over. Even in America. Nastiness of petty level. But we were wrong, as we ignored it, hoping it would go away. It did not and the perpetrators were emboldened and went further. Violence, attacks on the street, harassment, threats in real life and online, on social media. Serious vandalism, invasion and death. Yes- death. A somewhat   hidden virus renourished, empowered to do its worst. Like Topsy in Uncle Tom's Cabin, it just grew.  

Someone, many a someone, wants to kill me. 

Kill me because I was, am, a Jewish woman, a member of the Judaic faith, of a people of many faces and colors, ethnicities, but all Jewish, with the same prayers, the same dreams.

WE ARE TARGETS OF HATE.

ALL JEWS ARE TARGETS.

So why then do we see Jews prominently displayed, up front and center at demonstrations supporting the very ones who want to kill them. Who say it openly, that their aim is to kill ALL Jews, their enemy. And cheer for the brutal murderers of Hamas.

Why stand with those who have killed so many other Jews and would as easily step on you as they would an ant. You stand with those who have already murdered your soul and now would have your body as well.

Why do you wear the kaffiyeh, equivalent at this point to the wearing of a swastika pin in the early years of Nazi Germany, indicating support for those who would kill you and your friends.

So again, I ask -

Why are there Jews colluding in their own degradation, growing isolation, and prominent targets of deadly violence and hate leading up to their own rain of insults from supposed friends and professors who incite the very spasm of violence rampant on college campuses. Who violate their every oath and responsibility and duties of a true teacher.      

And no- appeasement does not work well. 

History has tragically taught us so. 

Folks, WHO ARE YOU?

WHERE ARE YOU IN THIS BATTLE, YES, BATTLE, FOR THE SOULS OF HUMANITY?

WHERE ARE YOU? BODY AND SOUL.

I know where my yesterdays were. They were with my ancestors in Europe, fighting to stay alive, defying all those who wished to see them dead and gone.

They did not get that wish nor will any of the haters of today.    

My tomorrows remain within a great cloud of uncertainty and peril. But apparently there is a whole lot more than that simple answer. Even though that should not be the case.

More tomorrow,

 Am I an American? Yes, I am.

But I am so much more than that.  

  

SOMETIMES

There are those times, the times we don't like very much, the ones we try to avoid and deny as much as possible and as much as reality allows. However, there does come a time when that mirror beckons, and it cannot be ignored nor bypassed. When we do take , or get, that narrowed eyes look, so indignant that we are forced to do so, the worst is yet to come. 

We all know that to blame a victim is wrong. It excuses the offender and makes the victim feel even more alone, more frightened and more demeaning and hateful of oneself. Very much moving in the wrong direction, and off balance, at a bad moment. Feeling alone and deserted, (and quite frequently correct in that feeling, unfortunately), it is at precisely such a moment in time when one needs a protective set of arms and time to digest that ugly disturbing vision, that awful knowledge that you are alone.  

People you know, who should know better, and indeed DO know better - and that includes you, for twisted, foolish, false reasoning, even perhaps a streak of  cowardice, of fear, a refusal to stand firm or better yet, acknowledge, assess and reassess, and then turn to that mirror nearby and see the truth, watch the  mirror lose its clouded, dark appearance, feel shoulders returning to where they belong. 

Then attend to the problem and do that which is necessary, and in timely manner.   

What is the issue at hand? Antisemitism, or JewHatred, so venomous, so widespread, so trendy and so threatening to life, limb, and property. It has become, boils down to, pure kernels of vicious homicidal hate which feeds upon itself and, on the pain, fright, and fear that its targets feel.

This ancient never dying trope is constant, ever is the  ready to be used in moments of nasty need: scapegoating; blame for a weak economy; for frightening weather; for wars raging round the world; for drugs; for crimes; for a dead-end job; a mean boss; as carriers of disease, the reason behind all epidemics and pandemics; a cause of death in exponential numbers, and for hopeless futures.   

People feel frightened and hopeless, search far and wide for a reason. It cannot be understood, defying the natural rules of the world; there must be a source. That reasoning is held tight and leaned upon at times of need; evidently now is such a time.  Hate speech encouraging violence, approvals of crossing red line boundaries, disregarding the rules of civilized society, and here are the Jews, an ancient nation, origin long ago in the midst of time. It has managed to survive any and all impediments, forever. 

In fact, it has outlived all those other nations, large  and small, ancient and modern, who have oppressed and defeated Jews, exiled them from their homeland, denied their right ever to that homeland, and chased them from pillar to post. round the world, nation after nation, Empires large and small.    How does this happen? How is it possible to be defeated - badly defeated, time and again. From frightfully close successes of total extermination. It cannot be normal. These people must be kin to the Devil, emcees from Hell. Therefore, one and all    are entitled, even encouraged and encouraging, in the growth of JewHatred, in its constant repetitive resurrection, to be wielded with great glee and greed. With malice aforethought.

 This nation of Jews has a staying power beyond all other nations. When they must, they hunker down and emerge, alive, and if not well, then determined to heal and time and again, do just that. They pull themselves up and rebuild, outliving the varied oppressors so desirous of their extinction. Not really possible, not natural, against the Laws of Man and Nature and therefore, we obviously must be correct and confident in belief of success, righteous in their connection to the Devil and all his henchmen, blessed in their goal and aim at work, for surely, these Jews are clearly, very definitely. worthy, of oppression and isolation, an anathema, a pariah, to all on this earth.

Yes, this life can be interesting and very, very difficult. Particularly, if one does not know how much longer this intolerable existence, this onerous hardship will continue - -and for Heavens's sake -why, why!!!  We were promised much by Our Lord, Our King, Our Father, the One Above.

We were to be His Children. To be loved, guided, and chided, but always as a loving Father, always with love for the Child, Obedient and Grateful Servants of a kind Master, who saw to our needs with kind heart and open hands. He was to be Our Eternal King, we His Forever, Eternal, Loyal, blessedly lucky Subjects, attuned to His every need and fair, unbiased rule of law in courts of equal laws, demands and responsibilities, 

Led by non-corruptible, knowledgeable judges, complemented with self-refilling 'mercy machines', these courts would be the talk of the world, role models for true justice, for all, and we Jews would be the progenitors of this system, along with much   else we have already contributed to the world and will continue to share, along with new advances.   

Just as we have always done, from introducing the first codified and clear system of justice and equally appropriate clearly delineated consequences of violation, to the advanced tech, medicines and techniques, procedures to repair that which could  not have been remedied before. All the provided mutually beneficial and satisfactory agreements, the creative arts, all fields of sciences, including the many awarded Nobel Prizes.  Certainly sounds like a good deal for all concerned., 

Once again, questions asked and developed and no   strong connection as to answers, or the relevance and relationships, no answers to the topic or the questions and concerns raised in the posting, nor in the title, for that matter.

Who has laid blame on whom? Why? Were the complaints and accusations correct and if so, why or why not? Equally of interest, at least to me, and in the clarification of my own thoughts, and for that alone, and for so much more, come back tomorrow and see where we get - or at least where I will attempt to go in my efforts to sort myself out,   clarify issues, define my borders, and help  some of my readers clarify their own thoughts, and/or expand those thoughts and understandings as we travel together along the same road. 

Travel is always better with company.

 Come along with me 

As we return to our yesterdays and take from them what we need for our travels  

of Today, the years of our lives as we strive to formulate a living, working plan of doable,  achievable, desirable and beneficial outline for the lives and possibilities awaiting us in our 

           Tomorrows.           

Never too late, never too old.

1492, SO FAR AWAY, YET SO CLOSE

 Columbus had a great year that year, but not all were so lucky. Not at all.  It was a most important and consequential year, but not a great one, certainly not one to wish, or to relive, or to gift to another. In that year in the temporary culmination, a climax of a sick, vile, toxic and  ongoing hatred in the world, following years of persecution and brutality in the Kingdom of Spain, in 1492, and a bare few months later, in Portugal as well, the Jews of both were exiled, even if there was merely a slight suspicion of one being of Judaic origin. 

They were needed by the others to be gone, banished, persecuted and killed, starved and tortured in dungeons, 'courtesy' of the Inquisition, burned alive in auto de feus, courtesy of the loving arms and hearts of the  Catholic Church, poisoned, strangled, as a 'gift'  of 'mercy' if they converted before they were set afire, children kidnapped, and forcibly converted - whatever worked. Whatever made them happy. A great success indeed, for they simultaneously stole the wealth of the persecuted, destroyed much of their own culture, even as they tried to destroy that of the Jews, lost the wisdom of their Jewish advisers, even their adventurous seamen (Columbus?) who 'discovered' the New World and enriched them unbelievably.  But as they were Jews, they were to be hated, killed, and do the best, the very best efforts, of highest hopes, that they do not reappear. 

This endemic, pandemic hatred of the Jewish nation continued, thrived for centuries, as they were denied rights and legitimacy, ramped up in murderous attacks. denied as well, the right to live, to breathe, to be Jews.  The Jews of Spain and Portugal in 1492 scattered - to Italy, the New World, Poland, England, France, Germany, and Russia, even joined their brethren who had remained within their ancient Homeland, once and for always, the State, the Nation, of Israel, the land of the Jews, promised to them by their G-d. There they remained in a minority, or in those countries of Galut, the Diaspora, the Exile, until the same filth arose, their stay became denied, ugly and finally fell victim to physical violence, vitriolic denial of right to live, to exist and then ascended once more to unacceptable and intolerable levels of most hostile manner.

This ugly, miserable, bloody and most blood thirsty phenomenon beyond all sufficient terminology to describe, has continued to this day and is, in fact, in a period of ugly growth once again. People are calling for the death of Jews. Yes, death, not 'merely, to remove them from Israel, or other nations of the world, but to again kill them. Whenever they exist, wherever in existence.  Subterfuge and euphemisms to try to hide that end goal fail, and  it is clear, as clear as a mirror, that after almost a century after the grossest, unable to be described nor believed nor understood massacre of the Holocaust, 6 million Jews slaughtered in most cruel and inhumane manner, never ever having been this critical and brutal before, 2/3 of them slaughtered, how did a repetition of a same ugliness, a same hatred, a same desire to kill, to disappear - reappear. 

From the nations of the West and East, the Moslem lands, of all continents, wherever found, forever, of all time, the goal was to succeed in erasing all Jews, all traces of Judaism and its existence, its glorious contributions to the world at large, in every field of endeavor whatsoever. 

To create a time when Jews could not believe that they would survive, not for a minute, not for a second, not another hour, let alone a year or two years, for 10 years, or to take another breath, enmired so were they in yet another unbelievable horror, a period of ugliness and bloodletting  again, unbelievably, but oh so real, an insane desire, an attempt to rid the world of a nation, a people, who have only done much to better it, to benefit it, to raise the world to a higher level. To once again burn Jews?  To seek them out again? To be killed, to again, fall prey to the most horrendous manners of death? To live a death of such evil, one that shakes an entire body, riddled through with a fear and horror incapable of existence and yet, there it is again,

October 7, 2023. 

Evidently, once again okay, approved of, the burning of babies in ovens, again, to kill little boys and girls, to emulate and even better the Nazis' attempts to disappear entire cities and villages, almost entire nations, with perhaps leaving a remnant 10% of its Jewish population remaining.  

We cannot and will not take this lying down, as a given, accepting it as a deserved and inevitable fate. We have never done that, never been accepting it as such. never have been totally defeated, nor left without hope. Temporarily defeated at times, yes, but we have always come back, defeated those who hoped to disappear us, to make us gone, forever.  We have never lost     our Faith and Trust in our Lord, nor lost Faith in His Promises to us. Throughout the centuries, we have fought for our rights, fought for our land, reminded all His Children of all that those Promises mean to us, to the children of our future, those promises and words and all that we have never forgotten - our land, this Promised Land. We have carried it down over 3000 years - in our history and our prayers, in our literature and our music and songs. Nor will we ever forget, nor ever cease to do so.

We will never forget who we are. We will never forget what the world has done to us. 

We will never forget our right to live, to be free, and that is precisely what we have done throughout the centuries, no matter how horrid the lives we led, no matter how false the promises of others. No matter how cruel the actions pressed against us.

Am Yisrael Chai.

The people of Israel live.

 So it has always been, 

So it will always be.

Lanetzach.

Forever.

We will walk upon the surface of this world, this earth, forever.

 We will endeavor to do our best for it, for ourselves and for our Lord. as we keep faith with each other. Forever.

To bring back, rebuild ourselves, return from the dreadful deeds suffered by the   victims of the terrors of the Inquisition, the unspeakable moments of pogroms, of the unspeakable blistering horrors and Hell of the Holocaust, to relieve its awfulness, and that of a terrible unimaginable October 7th, 2023, of its total unexpectedness, its paramount evil, its work of the Devil, the godawful attempt to make us relive the blistering Hell of the Holocaust,  its grief, its absolute unholiness,  as we once again, were, are, slaughtered, brutalized but still gave of ourselves to help. Picked ourselves up and rebuilt that which he had, have, lost, even as which continues to be lost, even as we continue to hold true to all that we are, all that we were and forever are instructed to be. Know always that if you, the haters, prefer the original 1492, desirous in your sick mind, to duplicate, and to be evil of heart and deed, to repeat them, by all means have at it, for you will be all the worse for it. That is a promise, one based on the Holy Words, Promises, Faith and Trust that we share with our Lord.

Forever and ever.

1492 REDUX?! THE FIRST ONE WAS INSUFFICENT?!

 Some people cannot tolerate blood on their hands or the thought that they might have contributed to blood being spilled and staining some other person's hands. Some actually feel the stain and weight of blood weigh heavily upon them. They are unable to bear the burden, the offense, the sin. They are unable to bear it and it's the pressure. In the aftermath, they swear a sacred oath to never again do anything which would lead to that result. They would never, ever, be responsible once again for such a horror. 

They would live the rest of their lives as good people, respectful of others and their right to live, decently and safely. They would seek peaceful solutions and avoid, shun, as much as possible Hatred, hate speech inciting awful, mortal violence, and insinuations that lead to the spelling of blood and desperate destruction. To wounds never healed, only remaining as wounds to body and soul, the violator and the violated, suffering from wounds festering with pus and infection, injuries never to heal. Never to be forgotten. Never to be forgiven.

History is rife with the blood of millions soaking the ground, ugly periods of time, lasting years, brother against brother, nation against nation, sections of the globe versus other sections of the globe. So intense so bitter, so deep were these differences that even attempts to grow scabs over them failed to remain intact. Too often the very causes and end results of one war led to the horrific presentation of the next war and the next and the next, even given characterization as "Hot" and "Cold". Men boasted of their prowess of killing, became heroes in the name of their expertise in slaughter, were admired by women, and idolized and hero worshipped by the young who wished to grow up to be them, and made careers out of these desires and actions.

And nothing has changed, has it?

 Nothing.

 Nothing at all. 

No, I am incorrect.

It has changed.

So much more for the worse. 

Ever more fatal, frightening, unchangeable except for the worse. More in numbers killed and wounded, property hopelessly destroyed, and consequences portending woe and a future unimaginable for humanity, as we knock ourselves back to prehistoric times, perhaps to the Big Bang, or see an unclothed man and woman walking in a garden with apple in hand. We are so suffused with such hostility that we leave ourselves no may out. 

No one to blame for this other than our own selves.  We refuse to hear, ears deafened, or see, eyes blinded, tears cascading but going undried.  Feelings are all hostile, as we live in wells of pessimism of any meaningful improvement within our lives or those of anyone else to come. Not now and most probably not for any future of mankind. Beneath it all, under the false fronts we wear, we live in fear and horror, almost totally hopelessly immersed in oceans of doubt, in black wells of pessimism of any meaningful improvement within our lives or those of anyone else. Not now and most probably not for a future of mankind. 

 After reading all of this, you are shaking your head in puzzlement. What does 1492 have to do with this posting? I have written words of our yesterdays, of our todays, and even of our problematic tomorrows. However, no 1492 other than in the title and once in the posting so far. 

 SO - 1492?

YES. Come back here tomorrow and all will be made clear. That is a promise. From me to you

    

    

WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID?!

This morning while quietly perusing the paper and enjoying my bowl of cereal, I nearly choked on said contents of said cereal bowl. I don't know why, as I should be accustomed and immured to what made me choke, but here it is. In the world of nations, beating down on each other: Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, ad infinitum ad nauseum and not to exclude those who are fighting within. Venezuela, Brazil, Hungary, the U. S, Israel. These lists can go on and on and on in most cases, even for centuries. It is just awful particularly in the poor nations, with those who have little waging war against those who have even less. Or nothing at all. Where it is a rite of a twisted manhood and culture to go out and rape some girls or kidnap them to be slaves Who'll take what little they have and then steal them away too, from their families and their own culture, their very lives.

So why then does an idiot woman, idiot being a generic term of reference to all politicians these days, why does this EU Commission chief aver oh so earnestly, in a State of the European Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, this such aggravating catering to the worst of the worst statement? 

 “What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world."

Say what? What is going on in Israel has not shaken the soul of the nation, of the world? So, I guess all those people having bombs and missiles rain down upon them, into the homes where they live, into the places where they work, into the underground schools of their children, rained down upon Ukraine by Russia.... Nah, that's okay too. It doesn't bother us. Nor pictures of the ongoing horror of Somalia and Sudan where people walk around like skeletons. Where women are subject to rape as a daily occurrence, as children are born and die almost in the same breath. Sure, nothing to bother the soul here.

And why is that? How has a terrible massacre of Jewish civilians, cadet soldiers of age 18 and 19, newly inducted, no weapons with them, women and children, infants in arms, the elderly, the foreign workers, Bedouin workers of long duration, victims all,  on a Saturday, a holiday of rejoicing, dancers,  devastated, savagely brutalized in an outrage, perpetrated upon them by terrorists on a quiet October morning. An attack, a planned massacre waged upon these civilians.

Entire families burned alive, shot, massacred, babes in ovens, women and girls raped so violently their very pelvic bones shattered. And so many of the above taken as hostages, as bargaining chips - the living, the barely living, and the dead. All fodder for the ugliness and brutality of Hamas and their adherents, all those oh so CLEARLY NOT innocent civilians, the ones shooting off guns, attempting to mutilat  the hostages and shrieking with joy: "Allahu Akhbar " for their 'victory'. Friends getting together. Entire families burned alive. Babes thrown in oven. Sister and brother roped together with wire and set afire. The mother raped and shot. Finally, the father killed.  

 This outrage was perpetrated not only on the living but also on the dead as well. The genitals of women were shot up and mutilated, as were the men's, even as women's pelvic bones were broken so savagely were they attacked. Men were beaten bloody for daring to try to defend a woman next to them. They might not even have known her. But these people did the right thing, carried their wounded with them, and for their troubles, and their caring, were shot, or burned in ambulances and dumpsters where they were incinerated. Hamas beasts were determined not to leave a soul behind, not the dead, not alive.

 They took with them many of the remaining living, wounded, terrified and even the dead from various places in the small communities of the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel and for what?  Not enough that they attack and kill civilians, but to be ghouls and vampires to take back dead bodies? But we know why, do we not? To serve as hostages, to hold these captives as bargaining tools. Tools of negotiation. You want 5 hostages back? Well, maybe we'll give you, maybe we won't. Maybe they'll be dead. Maybe they'll be alive. Maybe we'll stop in the middle and for each of those that we release, we want 1000 of your security prisoners. Yes, the ones who perpetrated violent bombings and terrorist attacks upon Israel. Within Israel, Be it a school or cafe or at corner kiosk. Or bus stop, all places open for our savagery. We want those heroes.  

But of course, anything I mentioned above has nothing whatsoever to do with something that   "touches the soul” of Europe. At least according to you and your cold hearted selves. Well, screw you, Europe. For we know what touches your soul. Nothing. Nothing at all, unless it can be turned around and used against people of the Jewish nation. With all the civilians being 'killed horribly and starved', our hostages in Gaza are starving to death, literally, presented to the public as walking skeletons, as Holocaust holdovers And basically, the world said, **** you all. It's just another Jew.  What difference does it make?

On the other hand, when it comes to Hamas and the terrorists within, and their inhumane policy of embedding themselves within civilians, be it in hospitals, in schools, be it under your baby's crib, it matters not to the 'soul'. Their civilians, not too many at that, so many buy into the Hamas poisoned litany, and in their bloody hands and cooperation they deserve their deaths. So why do you cry for them, for those used as shields, as targets, as tools of war, for propaganda to display falsely to the world, claiming they are innocent victims of Israel even as it was Hamas, their own, who placed them in dangerous loss of life situation. Hamas.

 As tunnels were dug under their homes, exits and entrances in their living rooms, arms depots beneath cribs and beds of their children. Patients in the hospitals died because they were used as Hamas bases and armories, places from which to ambush, requiring the IDF to take action, for one fights an enemy where the enemy is- their choice, their decision, their responsibility. The same with the schools and community centers.  Both on the surface and underneath.

Then they cried piteously re the slaughter, the very one they engineered. Fell to the knees and wailed to Allah to save them, for the Europeans to save them. From the very war they started so beastly and brutally, in manner and intent.

Too bad!! One gets what one began and deserves.

 But the world, as usual, bought every single lie, every single excuse and forgave them their misdeeds, blaming the results of those misdeeds, the deaths of civilians, and placed it upon those broad shoulders of Israel. Jews do come in handy do they not? Even as they dare to defend themselves, they are cursed for doing just that, are damned for doing anything and everything that any nation would do if and when attacked or awaiting definite attack upon it and indeed so has been done  throughout history. But no, it is only what the Jews do their "misdeeds”, "war crimes”; only the defensive actions of Jews strike the 'soul' of Europe. Europe. 

I hope this is not news to you, for if so, where have you been living - in a cave? Just make sure that the cave does not have any of Hamas or any 'innocent' Palestinian civilians within, kest you be fed into the maw of Hamas's war machine. Without a doubtful moment. Two days ago, there was a horrific terrorist attack in Jerusalem, at a time of commuting. Streets were packed with cars and people waiting on the corners to cross, people waiting to get onto a bus. Two animals driven by a third animal from East Jerusalem, got out of the car, climbed onto the bus and the rest ... Dead. Wounded. Those to die of wounds. This has been going on since the beginning of time and we will stand still no more, hoping you finally understand right from wrong. We have as much right to exist, as much legitimacy to be a nation, as proper a right to live in our own homeland as any and all do others.

 

A culture where a young man calls home in great glee from his victim's phone and says, "Be proud of me. I killed 10 Jews with my own hand. Yes, I'm coming home to show you the video." And his father stood on the other end of the phone and cried tears of joy and pride for that was his son, a Muslim hero, a hero of Hamas so bravely killing women and children. But it doesn't count for too much, for tsk, tsk, goes the world for at least an hour or two that day. After all it was only the Israelis, the Jews, barely touching the soul of the people of the world. 

But when Israel goes on defense and when Israel  goes on offense so as to prevent such another action, well there goes the soul of the world, in so manifestly wrong a manner. Forgotten they have all that we Jews, that we Israelis, have contributed to the world, in science, in chemsty, in medicine, in the arts, in architecture, to safety as we took on defense of the world attacking the nuclear reactors of Iran and Iraq, in defending Red Sea shipping lands from the Houthis. As we introduced the first set of codified laws of justice. To the Bible and the three major religious sects, Judaism and the two deriving from it - Christianity and Islam. And so much more. And all we ask is recognition, respect and peace.

And yet, with all this, with all the anger I feel, I also hear the words of an old favorite song written and sung by a star of Israel and by many others. It is called Yeheyeh Tov, the faith that it will come. someday, peace, and then, yehiyeh tov, it will be good. It is a song of longing for peace, the sentiment of so many Israeli folk songs. The longing for peace, the end to war, never ever to recur.  A plaintive voice, in  plaintive voice, trying to convince himself and the audience that it will be good It will be peaceful. It will be a good time to be alive.

 Despite all the bloodshed in Europe, that continent drowning in our blood, deafened by the cries of mothers and fathers as their children were slaughtered before their very eyes, or kidnapped, or consigned to the claws of Nazis and their collaborators, over six million dead, disappeared, two thirds and more of Europe's Jews gone, in spite of all they had undergone, their sentiment was "It will be good. We will go out there. We will find our husbands and wives, our children, our parents, our aunts, our uncles, our cousins, some distant relatives and rebuild We will rejoin in marriage. We will build anew, have children marriages and have new children, rebuild.  

Why? Because we have faith in our Lord. We have faith not only in our loyalty to Him, but in His loyalty to us. He promised us our land. This was made well known throughout the generations of   Earth, this promise made to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the Mothers and every single Jew down the line, down the millennia, down the ages. In fact, to anyone who has read the Bible.  

So really, members of the European nations, do you think we give a fig about your soul that you claim has been wounded?  You claim to cringe at the sight of so-called starving people. Well, take Evyatar from his dungeon Hell beneath Gaza and compare him to someone out there, of the Palestinians, choose randomly, as many as you wish, and you will not see anyone starving. Rather, you will see people walking with big bags of food slung over their shoulders, carried under their arms, wheeled along in carriages, bicycles and cars. And you will see Hamas stealing from their own and Israeli soldiers giving out food to the enemy. The same people who not only watched with joy when my people were slaughtered by the boatload and you think we're going to worry about what touches your soul? Sorry, folks. We will do what we have to do, what we are entitled to do, that must needs be done.

We, the Jewish people, know the time will come when there will be peace and no more war. We have sung of that for millennia, contributed that verse to the world. It will be realized. It will be activated, totally, completely, fully without having to constantly fight, without having to constantly look around to see where there are those who would kill us. We do not have to explain to people why we   have the right to live. Why we do not have to justify ourselves living in our homeland.

Am Yisroel Chai - Lanetzach.  

The nation, the people of Israel live - forever.  

 Through yesterday, 

into today, 

and for all the tomorrows to come.

Keep your hypocritical soul. 

It is worthless as it is now.