WHAT'S TO SAY?

 I was asked how I got into this blog business. The initial reason which sparked this whole thing is buried way, way back to the beginning. I took off after a man who I felt, still feel, was corrupt, inept, amoral and did not serve those he was responsible to in the best way, manner, at all. In fact, my place or residence when in the USA, and its population, are suffering today from the adverse consequences of his incompetence and arrogance.  Now, he is paying his dues somewhere in the next world and I have long been done and over with him

However, writing a blog allows one to vent without getting in anyone's face. There's nothing personal there. There's nothing addressed to anyone by name. It's a general let it all hang out with a protective moat around the castle keep. True, there have been some who sent along some nasty notes, but they have been ignored and clicked off, allowed to expire, basically a spit into the wind. Total effect on the contents of my blog? A great, big zero.

Frankly, writing some of these blog postings has forced me into a form of introspective analysis answering the questions as to exactly who am I? What do I think? How do I feel? How has it changed? It is sometimes a painful process, but I believe a good one, for a spring cleaning, be it in a house or a mind is a good idea. Those of you who questioned about the 'blog business', well, this is not a business for me. I take no money. I have refused any and all offers of ads. I don't do this to get any personal gain from it other than allowing me to ease some of the inner tension simply by writing about an idea or a thought. I want no compromise or control over what I think, other than my own self; hence, this is simply a blog, not a business.

So, what's to say every day? That's another question I was asked. How can I possibly think of an idea, a thought, which to develop and come up with readable, intelligent, cogent, and I confess, somewhat lengthy pieces about that idea or thought. Frankly, I don't know how that process works. All I know is that sometime during the day before the day of writing a blog, I get an idea perhaps picked up from something I read, or an event or saying which found a place within my head somewhere on a back burner. If it feels the time is ripe for it, I go with it.

    Whatever it is, it rings a bell somewhere inside of me and I begin to think, and then I begin to write. What I find interesting is how after I write, when I go back for grammatical errors, spelling, typos, phrasing, whatever I feel needs spoofing up, spiffing up, and often during the corrections I find myself veering off into another, related thought which then changes the entire blog and it emerges as something other than what I originally thought it would be. Generally, I approve of that new path.

It began as something I did for enjoyment, for personal reasons, an ability to vent, to develop my own thoughts via the vehicle of writing them out. No censorship on me other than what I impose on myself. Slowly over the years, and it's been quite a number of years already, it's become almost an obligation. I feel guilty if I don't get one up online and in time. However, I also do have to realize that as time goes by, age creeps up, the ability to get up so early in the morning to write and to think and write coherently at that time is a bit more challenging. Just maneuvering successfully to get out of bed is often challenging enough!! But I do try, I do try my best and when I cannot do it for one reason or another, either oversleeping or traveling or not feeling well, I do try to write the reason why.

So, at this point, what's to say? It is whatever I feel like saying along with an internal proofreader who will try to make sure that too many unpleasant words do not get engraved burning into my screen. At times I do try to be a bit more polite than I feel like being, but that is what the topic deserves. However, such is the world of writing, I guess.

 So. what's to say? Anything and everything, or nothing at all. It matters not. It's whatever I feel like doing, or whatever will keep my readers coming back as I like to make contact with people. However, I write to please myself, not to please others or to pander to them. If I perhaps at least a bit of the time can convince someone to my way of thinking, all the better, I guess, but that was not and is not my primary reason for writing.

It also pleases me to compare and evaluate what I have written compared to what others have said and who said it first? It shocks me when it takes others who are more informed on matters, and I would hope brighter than I am, for they are the policy makers, the pundits of this nation, to be so delayed in following the thread of ideas to the end and know the inevitable results. I often feel like an   eavesdropper in the nations' offices, only before the inhabitants speak publicly. It is most definitely an unsettling event or process, at least for me.

   Sometimes comments are sent in, sometimes people who know my email send some comments, pleasant or otherwise or read me on Facebook. I thoroughly enjoy the feedback and receive my own inner feedback when one writes of agreement or induced rethinking of their own thoughts after reading what I have written.  No harm, no foul even perhaps helping some people fine tune their own thoughts. Hence, it's a win - win all around. And, of course, I guess I provide a place for people who might find it pleasant to rant and rave at me! But to each his own, I guess, as long as it does not inflict violence, incite violence or encourage illegal activities.

I do believe in what I say. I do try to stay within reasonable bounds, in my own straight lane, but I must be open and honest and admit that there are some things for which I have little to no patience. No tolerance at all for those wedded to hate and violence, particularly directed at one specific group, and in particular, the people and state of the Jewish nation. Those are the times I might go over the top in my feelings about it. But there are also the good times when I get a letter, a note from a person whom I know agreeing with me, providing encouragement and good wishes And that is worth all the agita involved in writing this blog every day except for Saturday and holidays and days of travel.

What's to say? Lots and lots. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not. But for me, it is always interesting. Still do not think of it as work per se but things do change when you begin to feel a responsibility to others who are steady patrons of the blog and make sure that the blog is there for them to read fresh, most days anyway.

To my steady readers, I say, thank you. I know sometimes it's difficult to send through a comment, but I can't figure out what's wrong, so keep trying, or find me on Facebook. Or simply just keep on reading and feel comfortable to agree or disagree and verbalize your thoughts. I cannot hear them!

   I will see you all, G-d willing, on Sunday, providing Mamdani remaining somewhat sane, and Trump not busting the Treasury of this nation with his Emperor inspired complex of new structures in Washington, and his tasteless gold signs a la Las Vegas style, nor his gala parties reminiscent of those from Phantom!  

 I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful, calm no gut-wrenching weekend. We've had too many days like that these past few months and we need a break and even perhaps a return to sanity by the deranged. 

One can hope. 

Yesterday, today and G-d willing, tomorrow I will be back. Same place, same station.

AND SO IT BEGINS - OR IS THAT CONTINUES?

  Read the following bits and pieces of comments made by Mamdani, the newly elected mayor for New York City. Perhaps you notice the conflicts. between the sentences and the thoughts presented and the rotten and bitter foretaste it leaves in our mouths and minds. Once again, Jews are on the run, fleeing persecution and violence, championed by the administration.

“We will build a city hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism, where the more than 1 million Muslims know that they belong, not just in the five boroughs of this city, but in the halls of power,” he said.

The continuing statements reinforce the fear that was and remains utmost in people's minds prior to the election and certainly immediately at the close. The entitled hoodlums, be they of Moslem extraction or hoodlums from another troglodyte grouping, now feel free to chalk and paint swastikas on Yeshiva schools, or deface Jewish cemeteries. 

Echoes of Nazi Germany, of neighboring countries ever so eager to form a union in that area, or in the pogroms with a Middle Eastern flavor, where the government sanctioned and even orchestrated major pogrom activities against their Jewish residents. no sooner than the election gets on its way, gets close to completion then the signs appear. Islamophobia? No! Plain old, outright, blatant, good old-fashioned anti-Semitism running on crack.

“No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election.”

“This new age will be defined by a competence and the compassion that have too long been placed at odds with one another,”

Notice the emphasis on the seemingly 'new' question of Islamophobia in New York City. Like a good Boy Scout, Mamdani made his preparations and had a speech at the ready where the emphasis would be placed on a key assumption, a prime plank of his platform. The reins of power are to be immediately in Muslim control. No mention of the wide range of citizens within NYC, the ones he claims he will champion, setting up a free life for them. Only the one million Muslims who are already champing at the bit, jumping the gun.

 They await actually nothing - already. They began long ago, with apparently inside knowledge that an atrocity would be perpetrated on Oct7. Journalists here and in Gaza, primed and ready to spew their lies and the bloody scenes of their slaughter. Tents and paraphernalia, keffiyehs and posters at the ready. Practiced chants calling for the death of Israel, its disintegration and disappearance, ready at the fingertips. A plentiful supply of chanting heads with no comprehension of what they were chanting for.  

That day of the immediate attack on Israeli civilians, worthy warriors of 9 months, three years, eighty five  years, teens and parents protecting their children with their bodies, lit aflame,  the sick, and it continues to the 8th and on, even unto today, with violent plans afoot, attacks continuing, and nary a word of condemnation by the apparent leader of the 1million Moslems in NYC. Not a word. Not a whimper. Not a whisper. Zero.

 The only reaction was his ramped-up usage of "Islamophobia" and condemnation of response to protests so as to contain the violence, where physical violence and intimidation took place, by the 'protesters' against Jewish students and their supporters. He refused to condemn, to deny the phrase of globalize the Intifada, a clear, clarion call for the slaughter of all Jews, no matter where they live. He refused to condemn Hamas for their inhumane behavior with citizens in Gaza and their criminal cruelty inflicted upon their hapless hostages   kidnapped from life, condemned to a living Hell.  

Is this to be the program of his mayoral tenure as he encourages the "1 million” Muslims of the city to seize those reins of power, to do as they wish, to violate any and all laws of society and humanity, as they stride through the "halls of power”? Is this what they will do when they have the power? Is there to be a constant conjunction of vile, vicious JewHatred and the minimal cases of Islamophobia in New York City, barely there, unless instigated by their own behavior and provocations?       

 Is this to be the future of America with city after city taken over by whatever number of Muslims are there; to stride forth in the halls of power and crush all they hate beneath the heels of their shoes, emulating all the violence that we see too often in Muslim countries? Is all we can hope for is that the various sects of Islam wage war against each other as they have done many times before. Implode, and perhaps then there will be room for the rest of us.  All sane thinking people whatever the race, whatever the religion, belief, color or ethnicity, will be able to step in and bring some sanity back. To this city, to the nation, and in fact, to the world at large.  

But until that happens, if ever, if we do not put an end to this, if we do not come to our senses and persist in electing people who have only the worst things planned for us, I don't see the end of it. And when visual signs of toxic, viral JewHatred are not only allowed, but encouraged, and 'condemned' most apathetically, my spine nearly cracks under the force of the chills running up and down.

Once again moving before the violence they anticipate, the hateful acts perpetrated against them and their children, their parents, those who have the wherewithal and  the foresight, who were able to already set in place plans for moving, for new schools, are the lucky ones, but perhaps only for the moment, as this Hate spreads, without end. What will happen to the rest? I check my thoughts, for the pictures they conjure are too frightening to contemplate. Are we once again to be the chosen scapegoat of all on this planet?    

My head spins and my throat closes.  

How the hell did we get back to such a place? How the hell did we allow the horrors of the yesterdays past to infect the present, our todays and shred the positive possibilities of our tomorrows, shutting the door on a future.   Are we too, one day, going to look at some pictures we managed to salvage and say to ourselves we should have moved five years ago? Why did we not listen to our heads? Why did we hesitate?

But perhaps we are better now. Perhaps there are more of the better among us, Jews and Non-Jews alike and together will put an end to this travesty. If not, well, I send out the invitation to all my fellow Jews. 

Bo habaiyta. Come home to Israel. Your ancestral homeland. Here you are needed and wanted and welcomed.  

Yesterday and today and tomorrow. It just never ends does it.   

Nothing about this bodes well for this nation. 

For the people within its borders.   

The red alert signs and sirens are active.    

Waking up out of this nightmare is the only way to end it.

If it can.

THIS MORNING THERE WERE CLOUDS IN THE SKY

  For the first time in a long time as I looked out the window there were white clouds in the midst of a pale blue sky. As I looked at the clouds, they did what they had been doing since I was a child, morphing into shapes resembling something clearly imaginable in their puffs of white. It's a fun activity wherever and whenever traveling, however since we desperately need some rain, I was disappointed that these clouds were fluffy white rather than the grey ones foretelling of rain. However, as the saying goes, "into each life, some rain must fall" and as we look at the nation after yesterday's election day, we are deluged with dark clouds and maelstroms of hostility and concern.

At present I believe that anyone of Jewish extraction, in particular one whose general appearance, in clothing or jewelry or entering Jewish institutions, must check and recheck and recheck again. Not to hide, not to deny, but to make sure of one's security. Is it safe where I am going? Is there security where I am going? Is it a serious security or some 80 year old retired cop with bad feet and slow reactions? Are there signs in or around that business complex? Are there hate sayings regarding Israel or Jews? Is there talk of new laws being passed which will restrict the rights and freedom of Jews? Is there now more open anti Semitism viral and toxic post the election of Mamdani to the mayor's office in New York? A free to go, free to show, JewHatred, welcomed and open, praised, bold in its hate, within the city and its environs. Even beyond, for what is in New York City, invariably and inevitably spreads  out to the suburbs, to the exurbs and to other cities around the nation, let alone the world. Certainly, in areas where cities have a majority of a Muslim population one must think twice about where one is going, what time one is going, and the transportation options available.

Do I sound like a worry wart? Possibly, probably, but while I have often expressed some Pollyannish wishes, I have always had a dark streak of pessimism within. Looking at that glass, I forever   see the half empty, or more. I believe, unfortunately, that the more negativity that is allowed, the more people will buy into it and exhibit it. Out loud and proud. Negative manners, behavior, and words, always pushing the envelope, pushing out the resistance to its spread and toxicity. They will push the envelope to enable worse and fear no consequences. 

NYC's election results and the results in other areas, in the nation and even around the world warn us to be alert. To understand that labels are meaningless these days. They are often false or misleading in intent. Democrat or Republican does not carry the same weight as it used to. What matters is the truth of the person running for office, not the label. We need to learn to vote for a person, one with courage to resist ill meaning directives, and forge his/her own way through the morass of politics these days and come through intact, morals free of taint. We must be alert to the sudden shifts of opinions of a candidate for suddenly one can find oneself in enemy territory literally, as corruption works it evil ways. If we are lax, for even a moment, we can find ourselves down for the count, wondering what the hell has happened.

That is the question we have before us today in the United States and its neighboring countries. The nations around the world. What has happened? Wherefore, why, have we descended once again to this dark crevice, this ugly twist of nature, wherein the populace gleefully buys into the violence sanctioned, approved of and cheered for, a delight in buying into excused violence of hate and bigotry. Why do we so desperately seem to need someone against whom, to whom, we address modes of hate, to whom we can physically snub and dis and even hurt in public and garnering support for those misdeeds and perversions of behavior and thought.

 At the very least one would wish for a passersby  to  voice some opposition, but most would not,   lest they too get involved.  But there is a point, my friends, when we must get involved, for as I have long stated and long been supported by the evidence, Hate moves on when it has ingested all it can in one area. It moves quite deeply into another area and suddenly one finds oneself the target of hate, the same hate that he dished out to others is now dished out against him. The same laws, the same discrimination that applied to another is now being applied to him and his and approved of by the remaining untouched for the moment crowd.

But there's no such thing as remaining untouched, unsmeared by the filth that goes around. Inevitably a nation whose government is founded on hate will be consumed by hate, and there will be no one “safe”, not even members of the so-called ruling class. Paranoia grows, suspicion grows and security decreases. One is on top of the pile and tomorrow one is at the bottom, trampled over, stepped on and discarded as human trash. 

Carry to the end and the infection of hatred, the blight of it, will expand, and the exact target of the Hate almost does not matter, so far and so intense will the Hate,  the need for this Hatred of anything   inevitably widen its grasp and inject more venom   into society. Inevitably that society will crumble, its facade weakened with every act of Hate.   Nothing is safe. Nothing is secure. The only sure thing is the finality that is now consuming it and others, as they all go down for the count, the Hatred having no boundaries nor borders, all are targeted in time.

Over the top? I hope so, but I don't think so. There is no one, nothing, no body of government, no type of government that is immune from hatred. It successfully manages to ooze its way into every crack, every crevice and once it makes its way through to the other side, it grows exponentially and all within are tainted. We do not even realize how quickly society disintegrates and becomes less than what it was.  The so called sophisticated cultured society is no freer of risk of this than the crudest society one can find.  It has no limits. It has no powerful opponent to inhibit its growth.

In truth, I believe the only way to inhibit the growth of Hate, to weaken its roots to the point where they can be ripped out, dead for eternity, is via Education. But education can be a two-sided sword. If it is used to inculcate that hate instead of uprooting it, we have lost the battle before it began. We must be far more careful than we have been in the past and in our present, to the quality and the beliefs of those who will educate our children and ourselves as well. Make no mistake about it, adults are enmeshed in this equally as much as these false educators renege on their true responsibilities and ensnare children and adults in the ugliness of this venomous Hate and spit them out at the end as biased human beings willing to commit all sorts of havoc. How to vet the teachers, safely, securely, I do not have the answers, way above my paygrade, but there must be a way.  Hate memes and tropes have no place within the halls of education. That must be clearly understood.  

I wish I knew the answers. I wish I even knew where to begin, but what I do know is if I were a Jew in New York City I would get the hell out. If I were a Jew who works in the city I would think about finding a job outside New York City for Hatred grows mighty and strong, spreads widely. Unless Jews and righteous thinkers join together, disregard the differences among the groups, and combat Hate with a united front, well, I see no way through other than unity in this matter.  

 If I were a Jew anywhere in the world today, I would understand the power of Hate, especially if it grows unchallenged, unabating. To the point where   society and legitimate political office are broken. That is what we have done in New York City. That is what we have allowed in Dearborn. That is what we have allowed in nearly unpopulated states with extremists on the other side. And that is what we have allowed for - a future of growth of this horrid, toxic manifestation of the worst of mankind

I do not know why people must hate as much as they need to breathe. I don't know why people feel so empty unless they have others to trample, to defeat, to demean, to debase. I don't know why we constantly drift and then float, faster and faster, to these evil societies. But we do and history records that.

I look around and I see what my nation was once, the nation I was proud to be part of, as it turns against me, turns against others like me and begins to consume itself. Our elected and appointed officials are of far lesser quality, with large streaks of greed, of selfishness, of anger, of negativity, more so than at any other time before. So much so to the point where they are becoming the majority, rather than the minority. We have come to the point where we categorize and label people without understanding what those labels truly mean, what they indicate, for these are false labels. They mean nothing of any certainty, nothing to pin one's hopes on and the only way out of this mess is to be far more careful and selective in our choices of those whom we support.

It is time to take action, for evil never remains lesser. It inevitably grows, the waves of its ugliness spread, consume wider areas of the shore. It creeps into our homes and unknowingly we fall prey to it. This cannot continue. It must not continue, for if it does, we will soon find ourselves going down for the 3rd time. After that, well, go read some books on history and understand what is after that

As of today, we have allowed insanity, Hatred, the violent side of humanity to become victors and find welcoming homes inside our nation, just as others have done round the world. In fact, as far as I can see, every nation today has become bug-ridden with an infestation of Hate. It consumes with selfishness and has flourished to an extent once thought never to be, not after our past history. 

Unfortunately, both of my nations that I call home, have had the same miserable experience with their politicians, with too many out for themselves rather than for the nation they seemingly lead.  Idealism, true patriotism, sacrifice, particularly among those who have taken power, are serving great heaps of bad upon their nations. The people who make up these nations find themselves in confusing     circumstances and cannot find the pathways through which they can extricate themselves, reformat themselves, redeem these societies and finally return to what they were founded to be, to the basis of principles they espoused, all the way through to the promises and hopes they held out for the world at large.

Maybe, possibly, but I am not optimistic at this point in time, perhaps one day we will once again retrieve ourselves and regrow idealistic youth and adults meshed with reality and without a feeling or a necessity to crush one sector or faction of society so that another might rise and improve its situation at much cost to the others. 

Once I was such a person. Once many of us were. Then we aged, grew up, became hardened and disillusioned and sang and thought wistfully of those days gone by. We ask ourselves, how and why did we change? Why did we ignore or possibly cede to the reality before us, fall back before it? I don't know, and I cannot speak for others. What I do know is that somehow, somewhere, something must change, and soon, or we are doomed.

All that we learned in, from, our yesterdays.

All the improvements that we made in our todays.

All the hopes and dreams of the tomorrows before us.

All falling away, disintegrated before our very eyes.

No one is safe. No one is immune.

And as the song goes on, "when will we ever learn, when will we ever learn?"

Apparently, never.

HAVE WE YET? ANYTHING AT ALL?

  And the answer to that question would be a resounding nope! Evidently, we of this world have thick heads, stubborn minds, and extremely stiff necks when confronted with the task of collating something within one's mind or ignoring it, much to our detriment. It is a choice to either accept reality as it is, not as we wish it would rather be, or understanding the problematic schemes which arise when we deny the truth, substituting wishful thinking for actual understanding and acceptance as such. 

It is only when all that is in place that we can take a clear and incisive and insightful look and build a plan to reinforce that which we like, which we deem preferable, and deprive the negative of all sustaining breath. The main problem appears to be that too many of us turn the blind eye and the deaf ear, the cold heart and a battered soul to that reality which displeases us. We cast a fog over its distinctive outlines and claim there is nothing to be seen, anything demanding of emergency tackling, nothing foreboding in our present and future.

Why do we do this? Why do we persist in this stupidity, in this dangerous denial of reality and delayed response, to troubles already here and/or plainly visible on the horizon? If only we would look. If only we would open our eyes and see clearly. If only we would remember to put on our spectacles and see the truth. Understand that history can and will repeat itself but only if we allow it to.

Yes, there are many others who will have shameful percentages of responsibility for the return of evil. However, we must be candid and understand the part that we play in this when we refuse to exercise the mind and understand what is galloping down that road towards us full speed ahead. No brakes

It is good to be an optimist. It lends itself to a more pleasant life; however, denying the justified pessimism, denying the fact proven over and over again that people have an inclination to do evil, is a sucker's game. The advice to know your enemy is clever and lifesaving advice. If one does not know how, or one does not know why, to delve into and beneath the surfaces of ideas and behavior found inimical in one's eyes, or causes chills to run up and down the spine, or raising gooseflesh, then one is denying of reality, sees only what is wanted to be seen until it is too late to know the truth and one is already in the clutches of an ugly, very possibly  even mortal situation.  With exit from such not necessarily either easy or even possible.

Take a look around today to very obvious headlines. One predicts an exit, if not a good old-fashioned expulsion, of many, if not most, of the Jewish population from New York City. One headline says that if Mamdoni wins, the Apple will rot. Nations of the world are still refusing to acknowledge the fact that Israel is the offended, not the offender. 

Or when we read how people walked out of a commemoration of the shooting of Yitzhak Rabin 30 years ago because they did not like what the speaker says, and the truth of it all. How and when do we understand that if we refuse to even stay in the same room, talk to each other, how will we be able to hear the words and feel the grievances and somehow, via that, engender a compromise hurting and satisfying in equal manner, enable a time of even a shaky one of peace to exist, thus allowing for time, intelligence and understanding to forge a way through to a true, fair and lasting one? 

If we do not 'get' that truth, if we cannot assimilate that understanding, that 'must' into the very molecules of the opposing parties, how are we ever to truly listen long enough, sit still long enough to hear the words of truth beneath the rough and seemingly untamable surface? Is this the permanent reality that we wish to live with, to bequeath to our children and generations forthcoming if indeed there will be any? In fact, is there even a chance of a future if we refuse to solve the problems of the past and their complications of today and thus enable the future, one we all want, if we would just admit it to ourselves and to all the world!

However, if we stop up our ears, if we refuse to hear, if we refuse to admit there is a point of no return, unless we talk honestly, discard our extremes, those of impossible greed and possibility, and know, truly and deeply know we are the same, with families, hopes and dreams and fully understand that in this life no one, absolutely no one, gets all one wants and nothing for the other. In fact, that situation only leads to more disagreement, more violence and war again. Inevitably, for that has been the history of the world.

Are we not tired of fighting with each other? Why was Lapid wrong when he said that we must fight the extremes on both sides, unite in the center, and then we will have Israel, the nation, we need, want, aimed for, dreamed of, since its founding in modern times. I wonder, is the power of some appointed position or seat in Knesset worth violating one's principles, to retain that power, to make deals with the devil to keep that position? 

 For what!!! For what exactly? To see our nation collapse of its own weight, fighting with each other, giving the true foe encouragement and ability to cause us to widen that split even more, leaving them, endowing them with a wider entrance through which they can attack?  Giving the true foe encouragement and ability to enlarge the opening even more, and defeat us, the broken nation once again, meant for exile once again.  

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we insist that one faction of this nation deserves real power and control over another? This is a nation meant for all Jews, not meant to be a nation denying those who desire to be part of this nation. Are Jews, in fact, but cannot bring up the silliest minutia that is requested of them because of lost and/or destroyed records, because of impossibility to find those records. Because of impossibility to find the graves of their ancestors, because these graves have been destroyed, built over, or they have died anonymously, in a cattle car, of starvation in a ghetto, or in a pogrom? Why do we do this to each other, to ourselves?

For that matter, why do we insist that religion rule this nation? I myself, my family, consider ourselves to be observing Jews, but there are people who don't, because I don't follow their strictures in some form. But who are they to be judging me? And who are they to be forcing me to follow their commands their commands - to cover my hair if I walk into their neighborhood, even to purchase something; to wear what they consider modest clothing, or keep the hours of holidays according to their desire, their judgment and not my rabbi's decision? 

In fact, these outward criticisms leave out one important aspect. That is, that these rules and strictures pouring down from the various rabbis are simply there according to their decision and their followers. However, these rabbis who oftentimes disagree with each other, even wage a  kind of war against each other and their followers, are not of my belief, and more important, there is no conclusive convincing proof of their direct link to G-d nor that He approves it all.  Frankly, I don't believe that there is any one rabbi today capable of understanding it all and issuing instructions and explanations that all would accept, so why do we cater to those who insist upon this? It's wrong. And yet we fight about this.

Furthermore, why is the largest growing sector of our population automatically excluded from defending this nation, from defending their families, themselves, from the enemies who would have no truck with them? Who would kill them as soon as kill an absolutely nonobservant Jew and Israeli? For like it or not, living in this country, the Haredi faction is Israeli, and they must perforce pay their obligations. Due from any and every citizen here. And if they insist that all those thousands upon thousands of students in the myriad numbers of Yeshivas are worthy of that privilege, let them prove it so via a test of knowledge, of capability, of true worthiness drawn up by a wise, trusted person whose test will separate those indeed worthy of remaining and those not. Those not, must be treated as all other citizens of this nation. If we do not do this then we are telling our boys and girls, dati and lo dati, that they are not as worthy, that they must struggle even harder. To make a life here for themselves, for the families, to defend this nation over and over again. What are we doing here?  

No! This is wrong. On the one hand it must be understood that we are one, meant to be one. On the other hand, from the very beginning of time, the Israelites, the Jews, have been held within the sheltering arms of their Lord.  In a covenant with Hashem, who will always be their Savior, albeit not always as timely as we would have hoped for.    

But there it is. The truth of the world. Always. One cannot force another into observance for that is as fake as the observance of Catholicism by the Anusim of Spain and Portugal. It must come from the heart and the soul, from the mind, of true belief, of Emunah deep within. Certainly, there must not be a war between the factions, for that weakens us tremendously, opens us before our true foes who wish to destroy us.  Already we kind of have war between these two factions, even the sects within these two factions. 

Those nonobservant must understand the mindset of those who are observant and those who are observant must be mindful of those who are not. Or who are of differing observances without condemning one or the other or all else other than one's own self.

It is only with patience of and with each other and the deep understanding that we are all Jews together, and that only together can we remain strong enough to defeat our enemies always there, always besieging us. It is only when we are strong enough together. That is the only way.

 So, we have learned from history. Sinat Chinom  has wielded a terrible sort of death within our numbers. Must we constantly emulate it? Be it here in Israel or in the nations of the world, do we not see the spread, the growing enmity of the world   towards Jews, smirking and arrogant. Because they know that we ourselves are weak, split, divided amongst ourselves?

When will we learn? When will we learn that we are our worst enemies? When will we learn anything from our past?  

Have we not yet learned anything? Unfortunately, the answer is still no. A desperate no, an unfortunate no. It wipes the ground clear of all obstacles before our enemies, to be able to defeat us once again, to wreak harm and havoc upon us. Be it here, in any city in America, in any country of Europe or Asia. It matters not. Hate is contagious. Hate of each other is even more contagious. So it seems. It has power enough to make us violate principles, violate religious laws, laws of humanity.

What are we doing? 

Our yesterdays' years of blood spilled. 

Todays are lost to the ugliness of the past.

Our tomorrows are cringeworthy unless we change our ways. 

Unless we humble ourselves and fall at the feet of the Lord, to help His people, to hear them, to heed their needs, to enable them to find one another and to raise arms of welcome to each other. Rather than arms of steel in combat.

The burden is upon us.  The harm of its incessant foreverness is upon us as well. It is we who are enabling those who hate us to defeat us, to refuse to talk of wisdom and compromise.

It is we who are doing this to each other.

 Will there ever be an end?

UP TO US.

ALL OF US.

THE SOONER, THE BETTER.

Truly, which one of us can speak for G-d?

Who has that arrogance within?

HAVE WE WOKEN UP YET? DO WE SMELL THE COFFEE?

  When Biden was president and began to show his worn-out places of body and mind, there were scarcely an organization, a social media site, any commentator, who did not call him out for it. Heavy duty remarks re his “dementia” and his physical slowing down, his physical status examined through a microscope and his every step evaluated as to stride, height, pace; the poor dude didn't have a moment of peace. Not a chance in hell to get a break.

Most probably the pundits were correct in this concern, though why it became such a shock is curious, as there were several previous Presidents who were demonstrably, clearly, in the throes of various caused and cases of dementias. The political environment did not allow for looking aside and away. 

However, how was it then that the obvious deterioration of the other candidate, Donald Trump, went mostly unremarked, even as he spoke with word salads, tripped over nothing there, forgot much that he should have known, and spoke with great confusion, particularly when he segued off topic and became hopelessly lost within his fractured mind. One would have thought rightfully so that all this would have prevented his decision to run for a second term and certainly not for a third term, forbidden by the Constitution. 

Nothing seemed to be able to force him off this tragic road for America. His breakdowns became more apparent. He would look for people who aren't there. He would forget the names of his own cabinet members, whom he had appointed. He would fall into the trap of the violence often occurring in those suffering from dementia. 

He made crazed statements claiming he deserved of the Nobel Peace Prize as he was the Peacemaker of the globe, solving wars, or so he claimed, even as   the wars heated up again. Most recently, he laid claim to the work which earned the Nobel Physics Prize and he claimed his being awarded that  Physics Prize. I kid you not!

The man is immersed in a bubble of his own confusion and when called on it breaks out in a rage of clearly insane manner and tantrums worthy of a terrible two champion of tantrums. He has immersed this nation in the filthiest pool of corruption such that we have not seen for decades. He has suborned multimillion dollar 'donations' from major industry in all fields, even unto the point of blackmailing them, forcing them to contribute to his 'funds' if they wish to have access to him.

 Even more egregious in this greed, in his   selfishness and corruption, is what he has done with those donations and with additional funds and sources of revenues and money, mysteriously appearing, enabling him to continue his crooked paths, enrich himself, grow his personal fortune and those of his equally corrupt and selfish children, to unbelievable heights and ruinous to many. Furthermore, he has decided to threaten the world, antagonize our allies, and make love to our enemies. 

He has assumed the role of world dictator. He has become in more than name only. King of this once proud Democratic country. He has blatantly scorned the courts and their decisions unless they enable him to do further damage to this nation, to the world, to the future He has brazenly refused to obey the law. He has denied legitimate funds to the people of this nation to feed the hungry, to educate, for medical care.

He has taken on the role of supporter of Israel even as his support is waning. His support is reliant on complete obedience to any and all his statements wishes He has repeatedly said, openly, that Israel must do as he says. He made a treaty with the Houthis which allowed them to continue to shoot missiles and rockets at Israel, and its ships 

He has claimed total victory through his management of Israel in the Gaza War, even as today Hamas continues to boast, as it refuses to disarm, has recruited 20,000 more beasts to wage more massacres on the people of Israel, its success in recruiting new terrorists, and their desire to retake the land they lost in this war. This war is awful and horrible.  The atrocious   lies about the hostages. The ugly business of returning bits and pieces of our hostages or even none of our hostages, even as Israel returns every time they get a coffin, 30 more Palestinian terrorists.

Once the people of Israel had strong backup from the Democratic Party - no more is that the case. Once upon a time the GOP in seemingly conservative attitude took up the cudgels for Israel. It appeared to be the right of the GOP and the left of the Democratic Party who had opposing viewpoints in this matter. But now there is a bad change, for it is not just the left and/or the right of one party or the other. Israel is now getting attacked by the left and the right of both parties The Christians who had supported Israel as a place of Biblical history, a place blessed by G-d, are turning their backs and buying into the extreme white power crazed who buy into all the old memes and tropes of anti-Semitism

So where do we go from here? How do we make it clear that all of these politicians, corrupt, shouting, scheming all they want, we, the people of the Jewish nation, we, the State of Israel, are prepared, ready and able and willing to do what we must. We are our own independent legal state, the only nation of Jews, set off by the over two dozen Moslem states, where non-Muslims are indeed oppressed and denied, while in Israel we have Arab members of Knesset, Arabs in high armed forces positions, and doctors and lawyers and shopkeepers and border police who are of Arab origin. Yet the world continues to call us names, believe lies and generate new lies.

Trump and his ilk who follow him are not to be trusted. For that matter, I wouldn't trust any politician these days. There are no statesmen among them. There are only selfish, greedy people and cowards who go along with a man they know is demented and incapable of running this nation the way it should be run. This man and his henchmen have built a private army, all the better to wreak havoc and panic among so many. To bring problems of labor to our businesses and farms of the nation. 

This man is dismissive of America. He paved over the Rose Garden, that beautiful place from the time of Jacqueline Kennedy. A pathetic imitation of a patio in Mar a Lago is in its place, complete with loud sun umbrellas. He actually tore down the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom costing millions of dollars. All so that he might throw Gala Balls, a Halloween Party. He has taken over the Kennedy Center, wants to change its name, probably for himself or his wife and has drastically, shamefully, downgraded the quality of the performers and the performances causing a great decrease of attendance. 

This man is a boor. This man is demented. He knows not what needs to be said, what needs to be built, and what needs to be destroyed. This is a weak brained person who thinks Habeus Corpus is the name of a workman in the ballroom area. Dumb and dangerous, in so many ways. This man who never went to church, was certainly not an observer of religious law and prayers, now, suddenly, he's a champion of the Christians and then what will be when the Jews are dropped? Will they have earned his disfavor? Will he threaten to come down on them like a ton of bricks? Will he then create more of the ugliness of JewHatred, buy into it, hook, line, and sinker?

No, I don't believe that the world has woken up, certainly not on time, certainly late. Nor have they smelled the coffee. How many more times must we live in yesterdays of horror and falsehood. Or    carry on in todays that hark back to the nastiness of what was and still is. When can we expect to live in a bright, peaceful equitable humanistic world of tomorrows? A time of goodness. A time when leaders are truly the leaders we need and not the selfish bastards we now have.

 

TEARS, SO MANY, HOW COULD THERE BE MORE?

 

And yet the buckets are ever replenished. The waves of the ocean soak the sands of the shore. The eyes are overflowing, and the tracks of the tears are carved on the faces of those who cannot believe what they hear, what they see, what they feel; hence, how are they ever to end the weeping, the deep sobs ripped from their souls. The horror cannot be ameliorated nor denied. There seems to be no way to halt its contagion, the spread of its toxicity.

As we investigate this ugliness as its fetid waters spread throughout the globe, tainting and poisoning more and more, we are at our wits end. How is one to confront this evil phenomenon?  How to end It for once and for all?  These are questions I cannot even begin to address. It appears to be as we feel we are nearing a positive reality, the virus with no cure jumps at us, in our faces, and we are once again back into the Middle Ages, back into the modern ages with the additional hair raising worry -  Is it going to be back into the future as well?

We must raise the level of our awareness, be alert, knowledgeable, and understand what faces us. Of that which demands our demise at the end of it all. Of that which grows ever worse, day by day, until it seems as if there is no one left on this earth to have our back and be ready, already there, to stand with us. In fact, is that even a possibility, especially in long term manner? As we flip back the pages of history the answer would not be in our favor. Time and time again the level of JewHatred rises, hour by hour, day by day, year by year, century to century, millennia to millennia. If no antidote to this disease of the mind, the soul, the heart, even despite some strong efforts to do so, when all fails, where do we seek and find succor, a reassurance that we know that this is not the end. That it has been worse, and we have come back stronger, more vital than ever before.

Still and all, no matter how we try to reassure ourselves, to reassure our parents, our elderly, that history will not repeat itself, and they will not be cast in the shoes and footsteps of other elderly refugees wondering how and why this happened. We need to reassure our children, to dry their tears, to soften the harsh corners nearing them in threatening advance, as they fear what awaits them, exactly what has caused their parents such overwhelming change in manner.

Enough we say. Enough with the hate. Enough with the buckets of tears. But that enough is being shouted into a deep void; no one hears, and no one cares.

Yesterday in the afternoon I sat down in my chair to finish a novel, perhaps to take a nap, but that was not to be. Beside me on the armrest of that chair was a very large, very heavy tome entitled October 7 Bearing Witness. It contains the documentation in both pictorial and written manner, and I had bought it to join with the other books in that section of my home library discussing October 7 in all its ugly manifestations, causes and consequences. I meant to page through it. Perhaps a few pages at a time, for did I not know what happened? Am I not aware of the ramifications of its tragedy, its Niagara Falls of tears remaining from that day and the years that followed?  But again, this was not to be.

I put aside that novel which, incidentally, raises the question of where the place of G-d in all this horror and tragedy is. I turned to the opening essay written by the President of Israel. To my relief, all was written in both English and Hebrew. And so I read and I so wish I had not and yet I am glad that I did. Because the horrors reflected on these pages must be read, must be seen, and must be internalized by all in the world. For three hours I placed myself in a world which should be impossible.  But there it was. The destruction of homes, of fields, of infrastructure. But we have all seen pictures of destruction almost every night. But not so embedded, drowned in pieces of people, in blood smeared. Babys’ cribs soaked with blood, or a blood trail left by an elderly person dragged along the floor.  All taking place on a day meant for singing and dancing, a celebration of G-d’s Creations, a family day, a day to share with friends. To understand, if it can be understood, of what this meant to people to take place on a holiday morning turned into a day of blood and cries and ugliness. An ugliness so severe, so unthinkable, so real that all one can do is have the courage to turn the next page and see further  shredding  of one’s soul, yet another tissue to be plucked from the box.

For over three hours I turned those pages slowly, with trepidation, with the fear that I would not be able to pick it up again. But I had to. I must. I owe it to those 1200 slaughtered, for the 251 kidnapped and brutalized. To be murdered in those dark tunnels of the beasts. Still, today, we have our slaughtered remaining. In those tunnels, their bodies being refused to be returned to Israel, to their families, to be buried properly. Instead, Hamas plays this very cruel game of sending back bits and pieces of people whose pieces had been buried already. People who are not matching any of the DNA of those still missing. Even as the tears of their families pour endlessly down their faces and down ours.

Most heartbreaking, which totally broke me, were the letters written by young brides, couples who had barely begun life and family together. Their husband is stolen from them or the letters written by those young men, going out to defend their nation and its people, so brave, in the face of death. Letters of the bereaved parents were most awful of all, as these bereaved parents tried to understand what happened, struggled to understand where their child had gone. Why they had not been able to do the duty of a parent and rescue their child from harm, from the horrors they had undergone, the ignorance of what they had indeed suffered. Seeking answers for the whys of this terrible event. Trying to rehear their voices, to hug them again, to stroke them again. To scream at the heavens and hear an answer.

A complete and satisfactory answer - we received none.

The ending of the book was equally as heartbreaking as it was of encouragement and a knowing that we will, we must, dance again. Our enemies will not overcome us nor disappear from this world of ours. We are resilient, strong enough to overcome anyone and anything thrown at us. Everything.

The Jewish nation covers their unspeakable wounds, we begin once again to grow a shell, a scab over these wounds so deep, and bloody and unthinkable. As always. But we do know that there will be a day of celebration and glory when the world will know where the right is, and where the wrong.  They will know truth.

They will look at yesterday.

 They will look at today.

 They will look back in shame.

 But they can and will look to tomorrow.

 With intention to be better and to do better, to understand that Israel is resilient above all others, and the nation of Israel lives  forever and nothing will ever change that.

 .

A DAY OF SHAME

 That is what we call what happened yesterday in Jerusalem. An entire city was shut down due to the outrageous mass protest of Haredi men having the gall to protest against the draft. That is, the draft for them, but for all others, no problem. Interesting that while they state that they cannot afford to take time away from their studies, certainly not to defend the nation in which they live, oh for sure, but their hands are always open and extended so secure the benefits and grants which they reap from the government.

For some reason this particular group claims every one of their male progeny, from 16 to 26, all geniuses of course, hence are excused from serving in the army, of serving the nation. Even the thought of a year's national service, not in the army, is anathema to them. Apparently, the only thing excusable for them to get out of the study hall is to go to demonstrations with the lives of all in those areas rendered asunder. With their leaders shouting for riot and chaos, threatening to disrupt the coalition, even to leave the country. Well, that did not go over so well as there were hordes of people volunteering to pay for a ticket or two for them to indeed leave the country.

It is a known fact that every one of our honored scholars and rabbis all had jobs. All worked. What makes this generation think they are special and are entitled to take of and from the nation in which they live and contribute nothing, other than supposed intense hours of study, year after year, and for what? For whom? Certainly, not for their countrymen, their fellow Jews and citizens, Druze, Circassians, Bedouin who all serve this nation in which they live.  Worse. It's when we observe the slavish obedience to the rabbis of their seminaries, we delight our enemies. We have ceded independent thinking and pride of our history and survival.

More egregious than that is the fact that when they sit in the study hall presumably to study, why there are so many walking the streets in the middle of the day? Why is it OK for them to leave their wives to do the work, to bring in money, to take care of the numerous children they have? No, there is something very wrong with this system and unless this government in all honesty in full transparency puts this large segment of the population into the same categories of requirements and obligations into which all other citizens are called upon to fulfill, we will always be shamed in the eyes of the world, a nation who will refuse to defend itself.

The Torah makes it very clear which wars are wars of mitzvah, of must, of survival and which are wars meant more for perhaps selfish reasons. The Torah is very, very clear as to who can be drafted, who is deemed obligated to serve and who is not. If the Torah takes such time to detail this, then who are these modern-day Chassidim to unilaterally decide that they are exempt from these injunctions of the Torah? All according to their own thoughts and rules and regulations.

When we demonstrate like that, not to bring home the Hatufim, not to feed the poor, the widows and widowers, the parents, the orphaned children, but to save their own necks, as another has to be taken to serve yet another long stint of service, in their place, to put somebody else in their place, to die in their place - NO!! 

This is wrong. This is so wrong in so many ways. We will have gifted our enemies with the encouragement to continue to carry on, to perpetrate even worse atrocities upon us. Why are these Haredim massing in the streets of Jerusalem instead of hanging their heads in shame? When they read of a 37-year-old reservist, father of five, called in to serve yet another term in the Army, they should cringe and hide their faces, not riot and gloat how they do not serve, yet are in fact, enriched by government grants. To do the shopping, perhaps take a baby for a walk, is not considered service to the nation. 

A shame upon their nation is what they are and always will be unless and until the politicians stop catering to them in order to maintain their political power.  To serve this nation is an obligation, an honor, and a privilege, given the chance to perform yet another mitzvah, a chance to even partake in the commission of more mitzvot, as commanded in the Torah. The mitzvah to fight a war of survival, for righteous reasons, for defense, and that is what this   war is. And they spurn it, even as they roam and protest, burn dumpsters, throw stones at their own people, the very same ones who are on call, always, to protect them, to help them. 

In behaving in such a manner, they will have gifted our enemies with deeper wells of courage to perpetrate even worse atrocities upon us.  So many of our soldiers, boys and girls, men and women are killed, exhausted by their repetitive terms of service. Even as the young man we need to train to fight, to protect this nation, to relieve our soldiers, are amongst crowds of people impossible to distinguish one from the other, only to know that they mean no good for the nation of Israel, shirking their responsibility, saving another in to die or be wounded in their place. Somewhere along the line, we went astray. We had become too often a nation of argumentative sex who have forgotten the importance of the phrases Ameride, one nation leverad 1 heart. Hello While the young men we need to train to fight to protect this nation are amongst crowds of people impossible to distinguish one from the other, only to know they mean no good for the nation of Israel, shirking their responsibilities, sending another in to die or be wounded in their stead.

 Somewhere along the line we went astray. We have become too often a nation of argumentative sects who have forgotten the importance of the phrases - Am Echad, one nation,

Lev Echad, one heart,

Elokaynu Echad, one G-d,

Torah Achat, one Torah,

 One Etmol, one yesterday,

One Hayom, one today,

One Atid, one tomorrow.

Forget those phrases in our own peril and stupidity, and we are responsible for the awful to follow.

We have got to, MUST, do better than this.

ONCE AND ONCE AGAIN

  Once used to be a word that foretold of a new beginning. That was once, a word that said it was at a time ago, not now. There were certain philosophies and certain actions or certain beliefs active and flourishing, but now - no. Unfortunately, now, as opposed to that once upon a time designation, The application has changed. 

Once, at present conditions, was a good time. A time where you could draw a clear and even optimistic line between the once and the now, between the once and the will be. But that was once, most definitely not now. As for prediction of what will be, well, let's put it this way. This is not a good time to immerse oneself in that morass of ugliness and uncertainty, of hatred revised and updated, with oh so modern adaptations, but still and all, a once that has regenerated and recreated itself into a now of vicious replication of a once that was mostly gone or at least sublimated and tamed.

Once we thought that was so. Once we could naively, idealistically, ignorantly, sing and talk of a time of once that was the case, but not now. No, the now we lived was optimistic and hopeful. The ugliness was gone, and the situation would and could improve even more. One could state confidently that now was a great time to be alive, that the future held many wonderful scenarios of further progress. Once. 

But the once of ugliness and hate has resurfaced, with larger and more powerful sources encouraging its growth. Our now has become the once upon a time we had so wished and congratulated ourselves as being gone, no place for it in the optimistic world of now and what was to be. Surely, it was vaporized, to become a term in a course of history of the past, used only in drawing a comparison and contrast between the primitive once and the more sophisticated righteous thinking of now. 

That was once. 

Once has returned with a bang.

Once has made itself comfortable, even desirable, among the A-list of the divisions of society. Once has proven itself to be resilient and adaptable, thus creating a smooth unity, with the union of all segments of the world, natural enemies and natural friends, all buying into the once, shoving it into the now time zone, a trendy application of old viciousness rearmed, updated, and welcomed into the modern world of technology. All the better to make the once into a powerful engine of ugliness and toxicity for a future that will remain mired, willfully, in the ugly stinking fetidity of the once, we had foolishly thought to be extinct.

Once again is here. Once again Jews are being isolated in the various circles and levels of the worlds they have entered, been welcomed into, even sought after, leaving open a path to a better world, a bold and brave world, well prepared to enter even more optimistic times of the future, for no one could stop it, this wonderful world sans old once JewHatred manifestations.  

However, even then, beneath the surface, not too deep, was growing the stronger roots of that hate, to be revived, modernized, more capable not only of encouraging it, but also developing it, giving it disguises via nomenclature masquerading as modernity, enabling all to buy into it, to allow it to consume their thinking minds, inhaling this newly justified presentation of an ugly once as a new way of thinking , a method by which the world would improve, once, that is, once the perennial scapegoat has been eliminated or negated. Totally. All roads to that goal acceptable. 

Once was now once again. The stinking dripping remnant of the once past, alive again, in vivid color and burgeoning hate. Endowed with all the accouterments of advanced technology, all the better to make this primitive concept attractive and digestible to those who thought themselves so advanced and free of all taint of the past, of that which was once, thought discarded, out of date, but now, now so much. The modern overcoat of technology, the false science and twisted interpretations, the Big Lie reintroduced with explosive power, all appealed to the haters, now liberated to free these passions, and praised for it as well. A world united was a good thing, right?!  

Once Jews were discriminated against.

Once it was extremely difficult for Jews to find employment opportunities.  

Once it was not safe to walk in the street if clearly seen as a person of Jewish origin.

Once it was most difficult for Jews to buy in certain neighborhoods.

Once Jewish businesses were targeted and slimed, literally and figuratively.  

Once Jewish institutions, of secular or religious origin and goal, were safe. Now they are places to be vandalized and for blood to be spilled once again.

Once, time and time again, various nations and empires of the world conspired, or inspired by history to attempt to be the one which would destroy the concept of a Jewish nation for good.

Once could go on and on again and again, but once was supposed to be gone and now once is here again. Once Upon was a time to have faded into the past, below it, but has now resurfaced.  

The question before us at present is if and how will the righteous of the world unite and be able to    restore the truth of history. Will the exiled goodness and progress be restored and enable the optimistic more hopeful future for us all.

 Time for us to resist this regeneration of that which should have been long gone. It is up to us to take the positives of yesterday and discard the rest. We must return, find our way, back to a today of positivity and possibility. We must build for a better future, one where hate is truly not acceptable and exiled, abandoned, for all time.  

Which one is once, which is now, and which is to be that which is to be? 

YESTERDAY. TODAY. TOMORROW.

PAST. PRESENT. FUTURE.

TIME TO CHOOSE AND ACT.

THE POWER OF SLEEP

  I tender my deepest apologies to my readers and to myself as well as I had fully intended to write a posting relevant to the day. However, there were other plans in store for me. To wit: I fell asleep last night as we watched a streamed episode of an excellent TV series and remained asleep in that very comfy chair of mine until 3:45, sleepwalked to a proper bed and thereupon remained asleep until 10:45 AM. I actually feel refreshed and rested in a very rare moment.

In any case, I am refusing for today to do the standard and write a posting relevant to the day, and quite assuredly, there are many such concerns about which to write. Instead, I will hold off posting, steer away from the anger and the frustration and the despair. Instead, I will do things today that I have been putting off far too long. Painting, reading, taking a walk. All conversation held to be neutral, a nice change for a while

However, we will return to the same channel on the morrow, but today, that is not in my stars, only the pleasurable acts of indulgence - and that includes a nice big chunk of chocolate!  I picked up the paper and quickly put it down, refusing to spoil the mood.  Hence, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. See you, actually, on the one morrow. on Thursday.

Until then, today is my day to play hooky and a   good feeling it is indeed.

Now where did I stash all that paint and paraphernalia? .......    

AND YET AGAIN

   Dear Lord, 

This is not the first time I have written You a letter, nor do I expect it will be the last. Certainly, though, if You would answer this letter the way I would hope You would, maybe we wouldn't have to do this again. Maybe the response would bring forth a letter of gratitude, Thank You for hearing and responding positively not only to my prayer, but more important, to the prayers of so many around this world.

In the third section of the Old Testament in Genesis, known as Lech Lecha, Abraham is asked to put all of his faith in this invisible G-d and leave his land, where he was born, his father's home and go to a strange land that this mysterious, rather imperative sort, would lead him, show him, and then, well, we all know the rest.  

Through many volumes the growth of a nation descended from Abraham and Sarah was detailed. The promises made and the promises broken. The wrath of the Lord when His people strayed, their ingratitude, the return of a father's love when He extended His forgiveness for the umpteenth time. And then again, despite all the threats and the rewards hanging in the balance His people strayed yet again. Time and again the imperfections within the nation, perhaps a forgetfulness that all the good that had been gifted to them came not only from their hard work, but due to the blessings from the Lord, turned them in the wrong direction. 

The cycle was a repetitive one, with their G-d always giving them yet another chance and time and again they strayed and lost this wonderful gift, their homeland, this Promised Land, a land of milk and honey. The cycle completed itself with the ever returning of this nation to its ancestral soil, no matter where they had been taken or their lives had led them. Always they remembered and always there were those who remained in this land. 

Always present in their prayers, in their hearts and in their souls. Always longing to return no matter where they were while living in the lands of the Diaspora. Always the longing to return. Always the yearnings for that home as expressed in their prayers, in the direction in which they prayed. And   always with the promise to themselves - Next year in Jerusalem". 

Much was asked of them by their G-d, held to a stricter, higher standard than other nations. They were presented with the Torah, their guiding documents of their history, the rules and laws by which to govern their lives. Always to remember. that with that gift of the Torah came a responsibility to share the wisdom with others of this world, keep the directive, the imperative, laid upon them: Tikun Olam, to leave the world even a bit better for you having been there. 

This was a difficult task, for this nation was as all the rest of mankind. Imperfect, weak sometimes in their resistance to that which they should spurn. At times they forgot what is truly important. Not the wealth, not the comfort of oodles of 'stuff', but to live a life of goodness, to be an example to others. fulfill the laws given to them. To live the life that is the image of G-d.  In our straying, that which might have been excused to others, was not excused and thus the ever present cycle.  

However, over and above it all were those promises. At times, broken. At times not, but always eternal promises of the homeland, Eretz Yisroel, the land of Israel, our indigenous habitation. This nation once known as Israelites, now deemed the Jewish nation and Israeli of those living within the State of Israel, accepted the conditions, knew what they had to do and struggle they did to do so. The end result was our return to our homeland as an independent nation. 

However, this displeased many, for during the millennia, a vicious JewHatred had burgeoned exponentially, ever more vicious, ever more imbued with bloodlust. They decided to deny the land to its rightful people and cried out many and vicious falsehoods, denying the most prominent and permanent part of this nation - to return, to live in that land known as Zion, Tzion. We give our children that name. One cannot claim to be anti-Zionist yet not be known as anti-Semitic They are one and the same thing and to think otherwise is to seek to hide your shame in your polluted soul. It is the same as ripping the heart out of a person and then demanding he breathe. Impossible.  

Throughout the millennia as we went through cycle after cycle we knew of its appearances and retreats.  We knew what was upon us to do. Some did so   and some did not. We waited through the millennia with an ever-present, never dying hope that the good would outweigh the bad and neglected as weighed on Your scale. Our dream, our return, and a hope that finally, one day, eventually, we would have reached the end of the cycles, and the end would be positive. 

 What was most difficult and most cruel and unkind, Dear Lord, were the trials and torments, that you placed upon us. Was it not enough that we were not living in our native land? That we were dispersed throughout the world? That we had to struggle hard in every country, in every nation, to be safe.  We know we need to do our job given to us by You. Live the law, better the world. Do right and forever remember, "I am your G-d, eternal and only.

We accept. We know that You are our eternal G-d, our eternal father, our eternal king and master. So why not give us more of the softer side of You, the Father whose love for His children never dies, no matter how bad, how far His children have strayed. We have admitted our transgressions, prayed, fasted, so now, Lord, where and when will we see the fulfillment of Your part? When will see that?      

We remind You of Your trait as a G-d of Mercy - we need to feel that mercy, sense its warmth and love upon us. 

This letter comes not only from me, but from all of Your children. Hear us. Love us. Have patience with us. And remember this question asked of You, still awaiting an answer. Asked by Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah the Prophet.   

Would You punish the good because there is evil living amongst them? Why do the good suffer and the evil seem to live a better life? Lord, they. we, are only human. We can only stand so much. We are the way You made us, complete with flaws.  Remember You are Av Harachamim, the Father of Mercy. Look down upon Your people. We are tired, so tired, as hatred of us, denial of us, spreads throughout the entire world. Have we indeed done so much to anger you to that degree?  Throughout the centuries of crusades and pogroms waged against us, the expulsions, the Holocaust, the constant wars as our enemies besiege and beset us - is that not enough? Do you really need more, Dear Lord? Answer with what we need to hear, with the encouragement we crave, to be able to go on, to spread Your name, Your goodness, Your wisdom, Your laws, Your kindness and love. 

Now. 

Yesterday most of us knew this. 

In our todays most of us continue on that same road of belief. 

In our tomorrows, Elokaynu, our Lord and G-d, be there for us as we have been there for You.

Thank You, 

Ever Your People, ever Your Believers, ever   awaiting the glow of Your Forgiveness and Love  to shine upon us, in our eternal Homeland. 

BONE TIRED, SOUL TIRED

  There comes a point in time when the arms wielding the Battle ax of the day must be granted a rest, put down, at least for a while. The very atoms, the molecules that go into making a person demand that rest, that quietness of soul. However, much to our regret the weapons of war, the words of war, the tragedies of war, are too powerful at times, too overwhelming to enable us to think that, yes, soon very soon, maybe, hope fully, not likely now, or maybe there will be a cessation of hostilities in all places. When will the olive branches of peace reach more people, with an air of security and sincerity, when the words of all can be trusted as imbued with the truth.  

But that is not to be, certainly not now. Certainly not when dealing with a perfidious enemy refusing to obey the strictures of a cease fire. In fact, of any kind of agreement. Certainly not when the enemy is one who will gladly consume its own as long as along with that tasty tidbit it can ingest others, of their sworn enemies.  

We can no longer allow this. We must demand our day in the sun, our rights to be recognized as innately granted to us even as they are granted unto all human beings. Certainly not when we are constantly asked through the ages, through the Millennia of the world, to justify our existence, to prove, always, to others, that to impose upon us the impossible task of justifying one's own existence is malevolent and evil at heart and there is no way in which to ameliorate or soften the innate evil of such requests.  

Even at times as we delve deep into the morass of ugliness with which we are surrounded, almost desperate in our need to find something positive about all this bloody negativity, the hurt and the inherent fear remain, along with the knowing deep within, to our very core, that it is a nigh unto impossible  to, in reality, ever reach that point.  When sanity rules the day and peace of mind is   taken for granted.

The writers and thinkers and leaders of our times try to comfort us. They answer difficult questions with positive replies and scenarios. They tell us the truth, that yes, when asked if we Jews will dance again, wherever we are, we are answered with an, of course, we certainly will, and we already have. But those moments are accompanied with tear dimmed eyes and a stone of pure defiance within our hearts. We are reassured that we are a people who, throughout history, has learned defiantly to dance again, who celebrated Jewish holidays immediately upon being liberated from the horror of the concentration camps. We speak of faith reaching the imprisoned, granting them a light forbidden to them. So yes, we will dance again but always with the added memory of yet another moment of horror, another moment of attempted genocide. Another close call, too close.

It is not easy to dance, to celebrate, to look past the never dying nor fading scenes in our mind that shake us to our core. We wonder how much more can we withstand and still remember to dance again, to step out with a confidence that we can meet and overcome any obstacle on the dance floor. Will we always be able to say, be, in fact, in dark humor, that almost every Jewish holiday is composed of this. We were doing fine. We took missteps. We reaped the consequences as enemies tried to disappear us. We repented, recognized our errors and G-d heard our prayers and pleas and came to our rescue yet again. Yet again, we beat back those enemies so desirous of our demise. And now - let's eat!

Funny, yet not so funny. Bitter in its truth, but proud that we can still find the inner strength to dance again, to feast and rejoice and be thankful that we have passed through and survived yet another cauldron of fire meant to reduce us to smothered embers.

When we cried to the heavens, asking when we will be able to look around and see a friendly face, a nation reminding all that they indeed have our backs, that they are watching out, not only for us, but with us. In tandem, with shared goals and a mutual appreciation of each other. When, how quickly, can we anticipate a time when we will no longer have to dig within rubble to find our lost, to return them to their people, to their families. When, Lord, when will You deem it enough that Your people understood the lesson, understood the whys and the wherefores, though that indeed be a difficult asking.

The Jewish people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Sarah, Rifka, Rachel and Leah, are yes, a difficult argumentative people. It is the spirit that keeps the juices flowing within, despite all that has faced them throughout history. But note that internal dissension is wrapped around questions as to how to contribute to the betterment of this world, always part of their quest.

You, the Father who watches over us for all time, look down upon us with a generous heart. Deem it enough. Enough!! Let us meld once again into a single entity, the same, yet different and tolerant of all who struggle.  We, Your people, are tired, exhausted by all that has been asked of them. Stained by the filth thrown at them. Wounded by the rocks and stones heaved at us by the enemy.

Yes, Lord. We will dance again. We will always dance again.  A stubborn nation we are and we will remain so. Strong enough to pick ourselves up and really learn the steps to those dances. Strong enough, trusting enough, in their destiny, and with confidence and certainty can use shorthand in this forever true summary.

Indeed, we came. We saw. We conquered. And we ate.  As we will eat, always, and then dance always.

So it was in our turbulent yesterdays. Always.

So it remains in our troubled todays. Always. 

So it shall always and forever be in our blessed tomorrows. 

Amen, Selah.

NO MORE WILL IT,OR WON'T IT

 NO MORE Will IT, OR WON'T IT.

No, folks, the time is quickly arising when we will have lost our window of opportunity to save ourselves, to turn aside this catastrophe racing down to greet us with unbelievably hostile intent. Burning with a rabid desire to inflict as much as it can of their evil wishes upon the people of the Jewish nation, of the people of the land of Israel. We have been very slow, too slow, perhaps suicidally so, in reacting to their rather blatant threats and the drastic actions they wish to "gift us” today and in all of the todays to come and in all of the tomorrows resultant.

In fact, since the end of the Holocaust and its immediate aftermath. we have not faced such a threat, such a realistic, already here threat. Brutal wars have been waged against us. Threats and nasty actions rained upon us. We have lost so many in those wars. Suffered expulsions equally as brutal as those of medieval England and France and Germany and Spain and Portugal, and from Arab and Muslim lands, our wealth and history denied, stolen, even as modern day pogroms reeking of antique eternal hate and violence are giving new life to the deaths rained down upon too many others.

All those fears, all that past history, unfortunately, has returned to us and the land of the people of Israel is once more soaked in their blood. Thundered upon in threatening voices by all the nations of the world. Warred upon in brutal massacre intensively and purposely focused upon the unaware, unarmed, unprepared civilians, celebrating a holiday, all targeted, from infant to elderly, men, women, children, brutalized. If not slaughtered, taken, kidnapped, the living, the wounded, the dying, and even the dead, as hostages, to be used as bargaining chips by the beasts of Hamas. To force concessions from Isreal, to trade them at massively unbalanced numbers for each Israeli held as hostage, to regain their convicted murderers of hundreds and hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers, who even during peacetime. were kidnapped, tortured, held in awful conditions.

Worse, these beasts in human form, worked very hard, successfully so, to convince the unthinking, well-seasoned, preconditioned already innately anti-Semitic people of the world that Israel was either lying, faking the attack, killed their own, or deserved it all. This and more. Why? Because they were Jews. Because they were living in their nation, their ancestral homeland. Because that state, that nation of Israel was undeserved, certainly by the Jews, and belonged to them, the "Palestinians". In fact, Jews, be they those of Israel or those of the world, are so hateful, so toxic, so evil, they deserve to be eliminated, exterminated, to be disappeared from this planet, forever, down to the last infant, never to be resurrected.

And so the world bought into this convenient lie, all the lies, all the better to improve their own condition of life and rid themselves of these eternally ever reviving people who never gave up, who persisted against all odds, who had persisted in the knowledge, the statement, the belief, unshakeable -and so history has proven to be true, that their G-d was , and is, and always will be with them. Hence, they are, in fact, permanently unbeatable, even if in the short run it appears to be not so. But the world refuses to acknowledge that and continues on its not so merry way, persistent in its violence, in its god-awful bloodshed, in its ignorance in refusing to believe the proof of history, as the truth of the contributions of the Jews to the entire world, are to be shut out or denied.

There is hope. There are increasingly the more aware, who know the truth, those who step up and write with support and understanding of the actual condition. They are ready to face it all. They know the horrible truth of the reality today and the future reality should hate win overall, should Mamdani, G-d forbid, that pig of a JewHater gets elected. What will be the fate of the resident Jews of New York City? Honestly, truthfully, and quite quickly, the haters will institute and practice suppression, repression, denial of rights, forceful divestment of professions, businesses, homes, all to be handed over to those whom he claims he will benefit. It is dangerous socialistic remarks of unreality, for they have been tried and failed, over and over again, only increasing panic and unrest in their failure, and all classes are harmed, the opposite of benefit.

It is no great shakes to realize this truth as we can all see his recent pictures in which all those foolish, self-denying Jews who backed him up, thinking they were right, oh so progressive, and to reap the benefits to come of this change, of an open society, their efforts appreciated, JewHatred to evaporate in new air, well where are they now?

Out of the picture, replaced by all those traditional Muslim clothing wearing JewHating people who will gladly grasp these opportunities for themselves, as promised to them by their fellow nasty, Mamdani. The only question remaining is what will happen next? How bad can it get? Will it get? Inevitably so? Will it soon be the law of the land and together with all the Haters, of all the Jews of the world try to disappear them forever.

Do you think this is unthinkable? Impossible? It cannot happen here? It already has happened here to a degree and is happening more and more. We have people in this nation who have stepped forward to indeed do the repression and the suppression, and yes, look around and see them, already quite distinguishable in their eagerness to indeed wreak destruction on those they hate, quite front and center already. And they will eagerly attempt to do away with the Jews. Never. to return. Down to that last infant. To the last remnant of their memory.

"Amen to you, Esther: you are percent right if they put that man in the Jewish population is doomed right now he says what the media wants to hear but not when he gets in God bless all the Jewish people in New York"

Linda, thank you, and I wish there were so many more like you. Frighteningly it is not only New York City but just about every city in the world Even in cities where Israel has contributed much at times of crisis for them, anti-Israel sentiment is ginned up with lies, filthy lies and horrid predictions should they "continue to take over the world". How can catastrophic can this be? I don't think there is any room for optimism, and., in fact, we have already seen much of that catastrophe upon us already, increasing in number and intensity. Jews have been shot, killed, burned, attacked, demeaned and threatened. They are being denied their own country in the name of a group of people that never even existed. The term Palestinian as an ethnic group, a secular group, separate and apart for any other classification - those who lived in the area of land known as Palestine, did not come into existence until towards the beginning of the British Mandate after World War I when it came under British rule and remain that way until the declaration of the State of Israel ratified by the Un United Nations. See my post blog posting of today, which will begin with my comment to you today.

2h

Reply

Linda, thank you, and I wish there were so many more like you. Frighteningly it is not only New York City but just about every city in the world Even in cities where Israel has contributed much at times of crisis for them, anti-Israel sentiment is ginned up with lies, filthy lies and horrid predictions should they "continue to take over the world". How can catastrophic can this be? I don't think there is any room for optimism, and., in fact, we have already seen much of that catastrophe upon us already, increasing in number and intensity. Jews have been shot, killed, burned, attacked, demeaned and threatened. They are being denied their own country in the name of a group of people that never even existed. The term Palestinian as an ethnic group, a secular group, separate and apart for any other classification - those who lived in the area of land known as Palestine, did not come into existence until towards the beginning of the British Mandate after World War I when it came under British rule and remain that way until the declaration of the State of Israel ratified by the Un United Nations. See my blog posting of today, which will begin with my comment to you today.

2h

Reply

Linda, thank you, and I wish there were so many more like you. Frighteningly, it is not only New York City but just about every city in the world. Even in cities where Israel has contributed much at times of crisis for them, anti-Israel sentiment is ginned up with lies, filthy lies and horrid predictions should they "continue to take over the world". How catastrophic can this be? I don't think there is any room for optimism, and, in fact, we have already seen much of that catastrophe upon us, increasing in number and intensity. Jews have been shot, killed, burned, attacked, demeaned and threatened. They are being denied their own country in the name of a group of people that never even existed. The term Palestinian as an ethnic group, a secular group, separate and apart from any other classification - those who lived in the area of land known as Palestine, did not come into existence until towards the beginning of the British Mandate after World War I when it came under British rule and remained that way until the declaration of the State of Israel, ratified by the United Nations. My blog posting of today, continues and contains your as well.

May we all value people who know the truth and speak up for it.

Always.

As we did in our yesterdays.

As we do in our turbulent todays.

As we will always and forever, continue to do so, in the tomorrows to come.

This was my initial response and thank G-d we have people such as she in this world. We say thank you to all fo you. May G-d strengthen the hands of the righteous and the opponents of hate,