THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

  And that would be today. January 1st. 2026. We all do try, don't we, to find something good about the new year, despite the fact that we know, so deeply feel, that this New Year's Day does not necessarily signify a new, new year. In fact, if we don't term it, same old, same old, we will be forced to say same new, same old. In a most downcast tone or voice.

We have long read in the Psalms or sung along with the Byrds how for everything there is a time under the sun. And it would follow that not everything is allotted the same time for its particular activity. Hence, we must be patient. We must be hopeful. However, it does get to be a bit difficult when it seems that if one blinks for a second, whoosh! The good times have gone by and rushing fast into our faces are the bad times. The difficult ones that challenge us and push us to points even beyond our breaking point.

Take a look at last year. Compare it to what we have today. And what we expect to continue to have tomorrow and tomorrow, and for the rest of this year. It is, unfortunately, a rather bloody intimidating vista, which will be presented before us as a scene of ugliness. Dead trees. Broken, shouldered people. A scene right out of Dante's Inferno. Only this scene is literal, not figurative.

There is no possibility anytime soon of a dearth of pictures of hundreds of people desperate to get out. To bring their families to safety, to live. Crushing and cramming themselves into and onto boats clearly not made for such loads. They fall prey to the brutal winds of the ocean and the crashing waves of the Seas. They fall into swamps. Or tramp through snow. Poorly clothed, as they climb mountains into safety or flail their arms and call out for help as they flounder in bogs and keep an eye on their children at the same time.

Actually, I'm wondering, if during these ugly periods of time of constant warfare and millions upon millions of refugees fleeing for their lives, if we are not simply exchanging one boatload one Coyote led desperate group for another coming from the other direction. Then, as quickly as possible, at least here in the United States - much to our shame - we rush to jam them back as soon as possible. And in the meanwhile, into crammed, unhealthy punishment cells. Yes, there is collateral damage, but what's a few dead or injured amongst there being so many of them?! Certainly not on the same ranking of us on the human scale, are they?!

 Now let's turn to within the countries that sent forth so many refugees. Why is that so? While throughout the millennia there have always been people wandering, by accident, on purpose, out of a sense of adventure, it does not matter, for whatever reason. But never before has there been such a callous out spewing of people from within their native borne countries. 

And if they remain within those countries? They find themselves involved in civil wars. So vicious, so bloody that anything is better than that. And so, they leave. But left behind. are the civil wars. Wars which cause so much bloodshed so as to overwhelm the earth into which it sinks and turns the waterways red as well. So much agony, and pain and loss. Beyond the ability of words to fully express nor to comprehend the tragedies emerging and the consequences, long and short term to be forthcoming. No, mankind simply keeps on blindly slashing and crashing, determined to get its own way over any and all.

After the civil war is crushed and over, if ever, truly over, the bloodlust continues to rage. Nations turn on each other. Ironically, these constant back and forth bloody wars are more prevalent among the more poverty stricken and weaker nations. I have no idea why. Bottom line, they're simply exchanging refugees, precluding any chance of developing their resources. Pulling themselves out of their misery, much of it self-induced and self-generated - the poverty, starvation, illness, deaths of children, diseases running rampant. 

Would it not have been much better for them to work together as a regional group, to develop their resources and be stronger against those nations which take advantage of them. But it seems there is no talking to the leaders within these nations. Thus, instead of peace and prosperity, we have war. And death. And poverty.  And intensity of fervor to amass power, such as it is, in these challenged, bleeding nations.

We here in the supposedly more developed, more civilized, more advanced nations, we are no better. And in fact, should probably be considered worse. We should know better. We do know better. And we should be better. But we aren't. We engage in stupidity inimical to our survival. We retrieve from the dustpan of history diseases that we defeated. Using some flimsy fraudulent statement to justify that action which places so many in danger for their lives. Including, very much so, our children. We forfeit the functioning of our government in the name of economy. An economy which never is improved and in fact is worsened by this lack of efficiency and people to be there to do the job.

We were promised the sky and instead were handed barrels of mud. Instead of progressing along the road of equality, of resources shared, we have turned to the road of selfishness. Husbanded much to ourselves, thus raising the level of hatred and unfairness in this world beyond any kind of acceptability. We have pushed farther apart the top one percent from the rest of the nation. Why? Because.  Because we are so very wrong, and so very ignorant of what we are doing, what we are forcing upon this world. We increase and exacerbate enmity. Between nations. Between groups of people.

We bring the taint of poor thinking from yesterday. Heave it into today. And then gather our "Rosebuds while we may" and heave that ugly stinking bundle. into the future, into the tomorrows to come. Why? So that the obscenely rich can become even more fabulously, unconscionably rich? So that children can go to bed hungry? So that people go homeless? And children do not receive the education which would help them move forward? 

We most emphatically are going the wrong way. And the chief reason for that? Number one through a billion is the fact that we have false leaders. Deficient and faulty leaders. Dangerously compromised leaders. Amoral Leaders. Leaders who care not a whit for the people of the nation over which they preside. As these crooks, incapable, ignorant people assume their leadership roles which have empowered them, things go from bad to worse. 

That is the only way open to them. and we get what we deserve. Crooks and cheats. Selfish people who have an eye out only for themselves. People suffering from dementia. People who have an ego as large as the universe. People who cannot even speak their native language correctly. I just sat through a small conference of Trump and, oh, my God, my English teacher nerves stood on end. He desperately needs a proper English language class, heavily stressed with proper usage of tenses and words appropriately applied.

Folks, we have a long way to go before we get anywhere within binocular vision of the world we should have. But we are far, far, away.

So, what is there to be looking forward to in the new year? We bleed heavily already with. shouts of hate. Civil, National, International Crises.  A worldwide spread of vicious JewHatred such as we have neither seen nor experienced in multiple decades. And folks, I'm not seeing any clear path to get the hell out of here. To get out of Dodge and work our way back into whatever place of comfort and righteous life you seek - Eden Valhalla, or Heaven. At least to approach it closer than we are to it right now.

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

Folks, we gotta' get with the program.

There is no alternative. 

Not a one.  

ON BECOMING

  We are always in this state of “becoming”. We are always changing. Altering greatly or in small bites. Always dependent upon what is happening around us. With whom are we maintaining contact and how strong or weak are the ties between? Are they deep and strong or are they tenuous, not quite sure of its future or lack of one.

Last night I spent several hours watching Wicked for Good, the sequel to the first Wicked. Yes, I've been told that it is not as good as the first one, but it is a different presentation than the first one and while it is possible to compare acting and actors, the quality of the songs, the music, the aim, or goal, of this movie differs from that of the first. 

The first Wicked presented a society which on the surface, appeared to be one of the best one could imagine. An all powerful but benevolent Wizard ruled with a velvet fist and the inhabitants were    happy, skipping along. It is only as the movie progressed that one could find the cracks in the veneer and wonder how and why they were present in an otherwise seemingly perfect society. False values could be discerned, but still a society which allowed people to come together. To change their views and beliefs. Though it was sometimes difficult, the flexibility was there and apparently was enabling of change, albeit without huge changes in the paradigm of this society. Thus, an outsider was able to be accommodated within the folds of the society, but for how long and how secure was this acceptance?

Unfortunately, that is not the case in the sequel.  The meaning of the title Wicked for Good is only made clear as we approach the ending. Or is it an ending? Out of the "wicked" come some good. The evil beneath the surface is exposed. Huge cracks in the fabric of that society appear. Unimaginable steps are taken. New truths are forcibly presented to the people and though it seems they are accepted, one wonders how long and how true this new society can be if based on a founding lie. 

 "Evil" was defeated, burned, by water, and hence all will be good now. But how could such an anomaly take place and be true? We discover at the end of the movie that it was not "defeated" but rather goes on to live two new lives. One is the sudden twist that turns this rather tragic movie into a "happily ever after" version   even as we know the second version awaits a society still living in their own "bubble", waiting for it to be burst. 

Then there will be troubles, for sure. One cannot hide from the truth and when that truth is uncovered, bared to the air, inevitable wobbles in the foundation of that society occur, inducing great panic and a rougher, longer, harder road to the heights of a 'good' society. One where water does not burn, but is instead, a factor towards a good life in the best sense of the word. But also, a road which can lead to the salvation of that society.

 Among the tears and the hugs and the repentance, the sorrows of the ending of the sequel, we finally understand the title. Apparently, this society (and perhaps ours as well) need to find a scapegoat, or at the very least some presentation of that which is evil and wicked as opposed to the 'good' within the society, even if it is a rather flimsy technique and not necessarily a solid stable one in the long run. 

Good must come from within, honestly, with understanding of one's role in building a society based on the good without need for a contrast figure of Evil. Do we actually need that wicked for there to be good? Are we all so morally challenged that without that figure we cannot know nor act upon true recognition of 'good'? Our creature of 'evil' is so not evil that it boggles the mind how people can be so swayed as to believe the opposite of the truth and be willing to join in with the mob to cauterize their society, even as they are instead inflicting further wounds upon it.

Unfortunately, she has come to understand that some people need that wicked as contrast to what they believe is good within their lives. How so very 'good' they are. They assume, so wrongly, that their leaders are as good as they boast they are. Hence, they follow every suggestion made. Even as they, as we are today, cutting our own throats with our insistence upon following the clearly misleading leaders of our time. Many societies need, desire, crave, even, a leader and will follow the next one who promises them pie in the sky and an answer to every problem. For they are "good". They deserve to be followed. So goes the thinking. Even if there is an intent to be exactly that, it never ends that way, does it?

Power corrupts is a maxim of truth that we must remember, particularly in selecting and supporting the leaders of society. Too often we fall for the glitz and the promises. The empty promises Which die of neglect and we find ourselves back in the same old world. A stagnant society capable and desirous of accepting as truth the bare faced lies presented to them via the false leaders and the coterie of followers 

We go so far astray. Those who know the truth. Those who understand what society needs. What it does not. They reach the point of true understanding of what a strong and positive society based on Good needs but are so disheartened that they leave. They must walk away to save their sanity and take the chance to live a good life for themselves, even as the others reject their thinking.

The question arises then. What will be the future of this society? Will its present leader appearing to wear the cloak of Good remain true or is the society already cracked, based on a seemingly harmless lie? Can good be based on a primary founding lie?

According to the tears of the ending and then the smile, the chance fo success is up to us. Do we keep the Good but need the Evil in contrast rather than an innate sense of right and wrong? Are we weak if that is so?

What will we choose to make of our yesterdays? What will we change for the better in our todays? How will we ensure that our tomorrows have shorn themselves of the weaknesses of society and have built a better one for the future of mankind?

Or must the good be forced, as ever, to flee for their lives?

Up to us, folks. Up to us and to fall down on the job is to doom our future, the future tomorrows for our kids. UP TO US. We cannot fail.

What will be our "becoming"?

IS IT ME OR IS IT THE KOOL-AID

  I'm not quite sure these days whether it is I who have taken huge quaffs of forget it all juice or is it rather the others out there who have taken many, many gulps of the strange Kool-Aid remaining after the Rev. Jones and his poor deluded parishioners ingested their share and more of that toxic drink. The tragic deaths following their community wide drink session transmitted a message to tie rest of the world, the sane part of it anyway.  

Be ye one of the residents and followers of a warped person or a mere unfortunate visitor to that place, be careful of what you swallow, in drinks or beliefs. Of course, the larger question looms before our eyes, challenging our brains, and raises great gobs of doubt as to the level and strength of seemingly dubious levels of sanity.  

 Exactly why is it that we allow ourselves to drift or go purposelessly into situations clearly fraught with danger, imperiling our very existence. be it as individuals responsible for ourselves or worse, more consequential, affecting the wellbeing of others.  Even if we must do some force feeding or strong talk to induce a higher level within their challenged level of sanity and resistance to the smarmy words of those who wish them harm, in so many ways possible.  

Do we seek out the people and times in tragic manner, and if so, why, for Heaven's sake why? Is it a flaw inserted within humans at the time of their creation, in the first mold? Was it put there to test comprehension of their responsibilities to the world, not only to themselves? Even if so, in either case or for some unknown reason we have not yet discovered, is it not time enough, more than enough, that by now, in three millennia of existence, we should have learned and internalized the situation? Had better protected ourselves in the world in general, both for its inhabitants and its physical self?  How and why did we remain so oblivious to the truth and necessity of the above.

 While I would hope that by now most of us know not to take drinks from strangers, or from rather dubious friends, unfortunately, we still, on occasion, read of cults preparing to face the apocalypse. Heeding blindly the words of s rather lunatic leader, they take themselves out of the equation before it takes place. Or if it doesn't take place. They, literally and figuratively, have supped foolishly of the words and food, taken it deep into the fabric of their souls and hearts. I, personally, cannot fathom the reasons for these deeds. 

However. Think not that this refers only to 'Them or they'. It is not so. It refers to much of the world today. People who stand and shout in support of   those who would gladly do harm to them. More and more frequently, these demonstrations of proposed 'suicide', are violent in manner and dangerous to body and soul. Minor to major harm. Imprisonment. Torture. Disappear them. Even kill them. 

We create excuses in our heads and belittle and discount their evil so as to alleviate any doubt that we have. Their words permit us to let loose the dogs of war, to wreak havoc upon each other, on so deemed enemies of ours, claiming all the while that we are doing it not merely for our own benefit, but for the benefit of all else. We partake mightily of the tainted food, glom onto the one or two possibly positive action, even as their positivity fades into the ethernet.

This is what mankind has done throughout its existence on this planet. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. One can find frequent examples of such situations. But the question today is this. Surely, we are more educated, more aware, alert, and understanding of life decisions, political decisions, and their import to us. And to others. We surely can recognize the lies, the falsehoods, the dirty games played every day. The twisted social media that we now face.

And for sure, we should be able to recognize the signs of physical and mental deterioration. And in this particular case, ugly. nasty and crude in its presentation. Soaking in the sickness of a massive case of toxic narcissism and an overblown ego which demands that all revolve asround him, obey him as KING. 

His character - or lack thereof - was apparent from the beginning. From before the beginning. And it has taken too long for too many people who should have known better, who probably did know better, to speak up and out. To protest the machinations of this man. Only now is there a growing engagement of those who disapprove, have regained their courage and speak out of the wrong that he is trying to perpetrate upon us. Judges, some lawmakers, some people of influence and excellent reputation, are waking up. Opening their eyes, ears and minds.

 My only fear is that this is not soon enough. Not powerful enough. Not strong enough to stop his plans and goals to a dead, deprived of any power to move forward. To stop forthwith the campaign to shred our Constitution and destroy our democracy.   And finally, to rid this administration of all its incompetent, ignorant, malevolent enablers. 

Time to retire them all, put them out to pasture, along with their equally flawed and more, boss.  

Yesterday. Today.  Tomorrow.

What do we wish to leave behind in history, live in our todays, and leave for our kids in the tomorrows to come?

Again, the burden and responsibility is upon us.

NASTY IS AS NASTY DOES

  I obviously have not been present during the presidential administrations of the vast majority throughout the history of America. I also have not paid attention to some where I have been physically present but not necessarily paying close attention to the political Going Ons. Life does have a way of interfering, does it not. In any case, the past is the past and though there certainly is much blame to go around as to why Americans, including you and me, were not paying the same degree of attention that should have been the order of the day, we must move forward now and improve on the current situation - or at least give it a try. 

No administration within our nation or the vast majority of other nations of the world can point to themselves and boast of their purity and moral cleanliness, their own commitment to sincere presentation of humanity at its best. We humans are a selfish bunch of people, weak in our resistance to temptation. Too many of us take the easy way, the easy path and fail to pay attention to the consequences inherent within those choices. Then we appear to be shocked at the miserable results. We then look around as to where we can lay blame, find the scapegoat that enables the rest of us to go free and emerge with clean hands and purity of heart - false as that might be.

However, the moral filth polluting our nation these days, the stench of its corruption, is overwhelming. I believe that even in the worst days of the Nixon administration we had not fallen as low as we have today. There is a blatant misogynistic. misanthropic creature at the head of government within these United States of ours who has nary a good word to say about anyone or anything other than himself. 

His twisted motivations and beliefs, his Hitleresque demonization of all who differ, in his eyes anyway, are soul shattering. What boggles the mind further though, is how so many have bought solidly into his administration, allowed themselves to be bought by visions of power, influence and wealth, and wallowed in the filthy cesspool of his lies and hate.   overfilled with the ugliness, the worst, of mankind.  

 Even more shocking is the leeway he is given, as he stumbles and trips over his own feet, literally, figuratively and morally. He publicly demeans reporters who dared to ask him questions which he would prefer not to answer. He does not have any answer which would prove acceptable in the eyes of most standardly normal people. He makes monsters of immigrants, the people upon whom this nation was built, is built, and will be built. They are less than human in his eyes. They are literally of no importance other than the political benefit he derives from them. 

He portrays himself as a Superman standing there in a rather holey suit with arms akimbo and legs spread wide. As if he, only he, stands in the way, preventing this nation from being overrun by 'criminals, murderers, rapists'. Saving this nation from itself. He forgets that his grandfather was an immigrant. He forgets that Elon Musk, not a favorite of mine, is an immigrant as well. So are the founders of many of the Fortune 500 companies within this nation. As are the many doctors, nurses, store owners and shopkeepers, teachers and artisans sharing their gifts with us. As are your ancestors and mine. As they helped build this nation, moved it forward, helped it grow.

Furthermore, we all forget one critical point within our history. Even as we mostly stood in the right path, tried to do right by others, tried to spread democracy to oppressed nations, we committed many errors. Oftentimes, as a result of our actions or lack of action, nations became embroiled in civil wars which long continued to shred them. As an outgrowth of the damage done, the despair engendered, many of the citizens of these broken nations fled, for their lives, for their children, for a chance at building a new and better life. 

In fact, and in actuality, these are the same reasons for which our ancestors determined to come here. To make that perilous journey. To split families apart. To seek out that which we all seek. A life. Where we can live in peace. With peace. And build foundations to carry ourselves and our families well into the future. To keep this nation as pure at heart as possible. And to always seek a better way. A higher road. And to stand by the higher morals of humanity. 

At times it seems we have succeeded, while at other times we have failed. Often abysmally so. At times we made the situation worse than it was, but at least we tried, generally with good intentions in mind. These days, however, we appear to be willing to. vend our nation. Sell it to the highest bidder. Compromise our morals and ethics. Almost hourly. If not even quicker than that. 

We even go so far as to shred families. Rip them asunder. Create orphans and bereaved parents where there should be none. Instead of welcoming the work ethics, the bravery, the skills and talents, the contributions of these people, we tar them with the blackness within a few of the hearts among them, even as we have the many criminals among our own native born and thrive, they do.

Even as we have made welcomed the many criminals, the many morally deficient and ill-intentioned characters into our own governments at all levels. We disregard the family names indicative of the many foreign nations from whence our American population has developed. How proudly we hang those sepia portraits of our ancestors on the wall. How we praise them. And so why is this any different from the situation today? Other than that, we have allowed for the rules and regulations to be overwhelmed. Or disregarded. Ensuring that we would have a mess at the borders. Though not from the image drawn by Trump, et al of boundless. criminals knocking down our doors, wishing only to inflict harm upon us.

How gullible can we be? How blind can we be? How quickly will we allow a lack of foresight and forethought force this nation into the doldrums. Where there is no thinking out of the box. Where there is no new excitement. No fresh ideas. No exciting new viewpoints and culture. Unfortunately, we are well on the way of allowing that to actually become the reality.

The first step. The middle step and the last step. To own up to our failures. To strive to correct them. Always. To know and to act upon that knowledge - that we must police our own and keep the criminals and the morally lacking out of government, out of positions of authority. 

And say, hey, let's begin with the next election. Let us all take ourselves by the collar, shake ourselves, and look at ourselves in the mirror. And think and wonder and ask and answer with honesty - who are we? Are we that whom we want to be? If not, how do we get there and if yes, how do we maintain it?

For sure, don't go asking Trump these questions. We do not need any more damage for he has already inflicted much upon us. Much that will take a great deal of time, effort and energy to counteract and repair the damage done.

If we do not learn now, then when? When. will. we. learn? Who. will. teach. us?

Eternal questions of Yesterday. 

Remaining prominent in our Today. 

Always to remain so in our Tomorrow.

In the long-term future, what future will there be?

We ask, and I, you, all of us must provide the answers. 

Extension

 Due to holiday laziness will skip today Wishing everyone a great holiday and see you again on Sunday

PEACE AND GOODWILL?

Peace on Earth? Goodwill to men? Why not all men? Why not all humanity or humankind? How do we really define those terms? Is peace an absolute or a term of relativity? The same with goodwill. In fact, how do we even discern whether expressions of peace and goodwill are sincere rather than coated in the usual euphemisms for the sake of political expediency and social harmony.

I do not know the answers to those questions. It boggles the mind even to think of trying to find those answers, to define them to a specificity    clear enough to allow for no misunderstandings. In fact, I don't even believe that humanity is capable of such specificity. Nor interested in it either. It would require too much work, too much effort and too little certainty of a positive and productive outcome.

Let's take peace for the first defining moment of this posting. Is peace contained within the definition off no war. Or is one allowed to wage small wars, little wars, local wars considered not to be so serious. Not so many are dying. Not hundreds of thousands, barely 10s of thousands. Or is that peace allowed to contain within it wars that have been going on for years. Decades. Maybe even longer. So, it doesn't really count, does it? We're used to it already.

Does peace within the world have to arise from peace elsewhere? If we are at peace with ourselves, with each individual, with those with whom we are most in contact and of concern, is that enough to generate at least an impulse towards peace with strangers? And how can we be at peace with strangers? How can we find points of commonality strong enough to overcome the little wars, the little hostilities. The simmering negativity that 'only' bursts into mild explosions from time to time. Can we for sure call this Peace? Peace is at hand.? I don't think so. And when we try to fool ourselves, that peace is indeed at hand, we are merely denying the truth we would rather not see nor know within our hearts.    

Perhaps we need to start over with goodwill as the initiation point. If we look at others and see only negativity. If we think how we are better than they are, whomever 'they' are. If we wonder how we can get one over on them. Or prevent them from getting one over on us. Then what actually do the terms and sentences and vows of goodwill actually mean? Whilst the one hand is shaking a hand with vows of peace and goodwill, of friendship eternal and the other hand is behind the back, counting knives and bullets and for their use, then what is anything we say worth a sou? Or a plugged nickel if you prefer.

This is supposed to be the time of peace and goodwill for all. Between and for all. But take a look around. I believe Trump has claimed he has ended eight wars. Count again. For each and every one of those wars is actually a truce on shaky legs, if any legs remain at all. Or the entities involved. have returned to the past and brought it forward into the present and the future. Reinstated those "little” wars. Those wars between smaller nations. And so directly do not affect us. So, what the hey? Peace is at hand. Goodwill for our fellow Humans. What a crock.

Not only that, and I guess here I am a Grinch. These holidays often colliding into each other with their scheduling are supposed to be days of joy. Of shedding light upon the world. Of reaching out to one another. Of good times and good wishes. But just think. Look. See what is happening around the world. The Jews of Australia and Bondi Beach getting a massacre for all their troubles. Numerous sites related to Judaism and its institutions also have been likewise 'gifted'.  "Christians" of dubious Christianity are shouting to the rooftops, from the rooftops of their JewHatred, their 'justified' anti Semitism.

Christians and Muslims in hostilities with each other. Hindus and Buddhists, the epitome of   "peaceful” religious having at each other with a viciousness one could never have imagined. And within the separate religions, the individual sects   spew venom and contempt upon the others, even consort with the enemies to gain the upper hand. If we cannot even look at each other, how can we then look back to points supportive of indeed having true peace and goodwill. To mean for it to happen, to strive for it to happen? 

No, I don't think peace and goodwill are terms of relevancy to us. Perhaps, once in some unknown time, long ago there actually was a relevancy to it. But upon looking back, I see no time when there was neither war, nor conflict. No true peace. And as I peer into the horoscopes of our todays, I see nothing better.; in fact, I see, only worse coming straight at us. AI chat boxes. More sophisticated weapons. Shouts of triumph at achieving that next level.

 No, this is not the todays we want. These are not todays of peace and of quiet. No true progress has been made and certainly, the efforts, if any, have been weak and mewling. Finally, we look into the tomorrows. Those same days that we are so anxious to see as better times with better opportunities. Truly a time of peace and goodwill. Amongst all, for all, from all, to all. 

At present, though, all the lights of Hanukkah. All the lights of Kwanzaa. All the lights of Christmas. All the lights of all the other religions all lit up at the same time are in actuality lighting up nothing. For the light is cold. And dark.

Would that we would all take a look back and see the truth of our yesterdays, our todays, and our tomorrows as portended by a perusal of our   history.  Take a look!  And damn it! Work. To make that peace on earth and goodwill a reality to all. Practiced. Etched into our souls. 

Would that we would. 

We know we should.

We know we could.

But.

DAYMARES? NIGHTMARES? WHAT LIES BETWEEN?

  We have all had those moments when we suddenly stop, take a look around and wonder. Am I dreaming? Did I dream this before? Is this real? Will I wake up to find that I am reliving a dream? Or perhaps it is more a nightmare than a dream. Certainly not a daydream that one wishes to pursue.

 Perhaps the first daydream nightmare we had was upon the confirmation that Trump actually won that first election, not by popular vote but by electoral votes. These were the same voting numbers he rejected in his second run for office in favor of an armed and violent rebellion, for electorally, he was a gone goose. Thankfully, there were enough people awake in this nation who possessed the power in their hands to cancel Trump and his rebellion and put in place the rightfully elected President of the United States, though he really was not much to write home about at the end of it all, was he?

In any case, this grandiose man indulged in his grandiose dreams and in his second term in office, he began to live our daymares. Those nightmares we had of him walking down an aisle with a long purple cape around his shoulders and a gold crown upon his head, a gilt crown at that. These overstated dreams and plans of his, began to seem ever more real. Horrifyingly so.     

He began to exercise kingly, dictatorial powers. Which never existed. He claimed the rights to rule. basically, as a monarchial figure, with no entity in this nation, no political power, no constitutional amendment or precedents in law stood in his way. He was the boss! Just ask him. And then find yourself with a pink slip. That very day sometimes.  Even worse, as the man began to exercise his nonexistent powers, he convinced many of his right to do so. Or frightened them with his threats to place them on his hit list and then proceed to execute any and all who displeased him or disapproved of his grandiose plans.

And there we were. An entire nation, no, an entire world, walking on tip toes and eggshells around him and his mercurial changes in place and plans and attitude. In support or opposition? Instead of fighting back, resisting, they all gave in as the world's economy was tipped over. Boasts of prices falling, of plenty for all, of reduced taxes and more income, of blue fairy dust inundating the atmosphere all went by the wayside. There we were as well, embroiled in his nightmares made daymares. 

The world erupted in war. Violence and attempts to dominate nations and tribes around them. Even those faraway. We had not seen such turmoil and animosity in quite some time. But all that has come out of his misshapen twisted thoughtless world, is a world erupting, gone mad, overthrowing of all   attempts to try to maintain world order. 

Worse, this new fad of trend toward denial and violence, of one nation calling for rights over another's lands and minerals, to exercise dominance over them, led to the worst outbreak of hate not seen for some time. JewHatred among Muslim   nations, with the rest of the world's nations falling in line, both pursued and reinflamed a toxic hatred, a venomous Anti Semitism such as we have not seen since the Crusades, the pogroms and the demonic plans of Hitler. 

Eschewing all that had gone right in the world over the past few decades. All the steps taken in true progress, not the false ones that people are touting these days. A world gone mad. A tragic turn to the wrong, on both Left and Right. For Jews especially. For the nation of Israel. This has been a returning nightmare morphed rapidly and evilly into daymares which had haunted us through the millennia. A time we had thought, hoped, was gone forever. A shedding of the Hate and the Violence of yesteryears.

Sadly, tragically, not so.

Much of this lies at the feet of Trump. His grossness. His trend toward the crooked and the wrong. His intense disrespect for decency and for people in general. His overblown ego, gilded at that, and the ugly, skewed soul of his. All have combined in an evil synergy which has taken too long for people to acknowledge and attempt to ameliorate and finally, to cast him and his evil cohorts and backers, out, those equally inept creatures who wish only to walk lockstep with Trump, guide him and his misaligned steps and retain power, no matter the cost to the world and to America. 

The only good I can see is that he supported Israel.  But even in that semi positive area, he has gone astray. He has threatened Israel in his attempts to control her, thus, inadvertently or on purpose, aligning himself with the enemies of Israel who claim that it is not a legitimate state. He waxes hot and cold over all matters. Security. Planet destruction. Space force but no funding in adequate manner. Rehabilitation of a battered and bruised planet. Disarm Hamas. One day, yes, one day no, that will never be. But it doesn't matter because he will take North Gaza and reimagine it as a place of luxury, of course, entitled - Trump.

Furthermore, almost 10 years ago when he announced his running for office, when others laughed, I cried. I saw the insanity deep within him. I saw his lack of morals. His ineptitude. His innate nastiness. His just about total inability to do the right thing and maintain that path. His increasing dementia. Increasing physical deterioration. Growing lack of control over emotions. Clear before any eyes wishing to see the truth. But too many refused to admit their error and kept on backing him. Until we are really just about up that Creek without a paddle.

It remains to us, those who retain a degree of sanity, a modicum of intelligence and a sense of responsibility towards the world to refuse to remain complicit and implicit to and in the disaster he is fomenting and inflicting upon this earth. Nor is it only in dealing with people that he runs awry. He is blind, purposely so, to the crisis that we have placed upon this earth and its integrity. To remain solid, to remain as a place for positive inhabitance.

Thank the Lord there are those among the population of the world, among the Americans, who see the truth. Who are trying their best to counteract the damage his kingly edicts leave behind. We see the wreckage his dictates and decrees cause. All of which serve no purpose at all other than to destroy this nation. 

Kudos to the judges who knocked down his unconstitutional plans and actions. Best wishes to Americans, to people of all the nations of the world. 

To all those who yesterday knew the truth. 

To all those who have the courage and ability to fight for our todays.      

And to all those who have the faith to look into that dark tunnel and see the light of the tomorrows to come, looking deep into the future.   

We hope their visions are the ones to succeed rather than the mis-envisioned world of Trump et al.  

THERE ARE DAYS

  And today is one of those days. It takes forever just to get yourself to push back the blanket and maneuver oneself into position to begin that rather uninviting day.  Getting up and out from that inviting looking bed is just not looking to be worth the intense effort and strength necessary to complete the task. Doing what is scheduled for the day is not at all tempting; hence, why not just plop back down again, pull up the covers and plan to sleep at least until 10!  

Why is this the case?  I cannot give you any kind of scientific or psychiatric explanation which will   convince all. But suffice it to say that there are some damn good reasons and today looks like a day plentiful with excuses that would convince the most heard hearted soul to reach down and pull those covers back out, ready to roll once again up to your head, as you breathe a sigh of relief, close the eyes and aahhh, sleep, that luscious, state of being where one can regain strength, and then take on the day with vim and vigor. Oh, for such a day today.

But that will never happen, and I know that down to the deepest atom hideaway within my disrespected body. It craves sleep. It hates today's activities, so why not just plop down .... Nope, cannot go there again. Took too much time and energy just to gain a sitting position on the edge of the mattress. But oh, to pull myself out of bed, that ever so inviting, tempting bed which offers far more enjoyment for today than what is on the agenda.

 Tilting, tilting and ...damn! The hand won and here I am, sitting up and waiting for the energy to stand, to rise and get going. Waiting, waiting, waiti .... and there it goes, the last bit of futile resistance. Time again to be an adult and face the day, that miserable day filled with ugly characters and even uglier thoughts. Why must we all be so nasty to each other, to think that the way through to a good life is to steal that good life from another and walk away with the "prize".

There has to be a better way. I know there is one. But we seem to lose track of that every single day and have to begin this struggle all over again. That in itself is discouraging. It adds to the burden of leaving that warm comfortable just right bed and tackle the day. Again. And again tomorrow. And again, the day after that. And on and on. Until we lose sight of the end of the tunnel. Then we give a sigh, a resigned one at that, gather our energies from whence they have scattered and start all over again.

One days, though, I am going to ignore the voices telling me to get up! Stop being lazybones. Here comes the hand. Oh, for the strength to resist its pull.  And anyway, think on today's doings. 

OH, MY LORD - THE GREATS ARE DUE HERE TODAY!!!  

Whoosh!! Out of bed, in and out of a shower, grab the new bundle of toys and adorable clothes and yes!! There they are. How Could I have mistaken today for tomorrow's nasty day? Oh well, leave that for tomorrow. Now is fun time.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow - can be good days too. We just need to keep them close at hand.

GEORGE, MEET DONALD, DONALD, MEET GEORGE

 On the off chance that you do not know to whom I am referring or whom I am referring to whom, that would be George Washington and Donald Trump. Worlds apart. Donald, in case you don't recall, when offered the crown after the defeat of the British in the American Revolution, George turned it down. He said we had just gotten rid of one monarch and need no other. No more. 

Evidently, that message, that example, went plumb right over your head. In fact, it was not only that you did not turn any such offer down, but that you made the offer to yourself, by yourself and did not even wait for an answer from the American people. Worst of all is how quickly you glommed onto the self-made offer and crowned yourself. King Donald I The Fool. And Americans went from one true patriot who refused to partake of that offer, to a man of gimme, gimme, gimme mentality 250 years later.  

Worse, he was not even responding to an offer other than himself to himself. 

What a fall from grace!  

Even worse than that is how We, the People, who once proudly declared themselves the authors and owners of a Declaration of Independence and a Constitution, as well, the first among the land, enabled him to do so. This man's intentions were clear as glass from the get-go. He spoke about himself in third person quite often, a prerogative of royals. Once he laid his greedy hands on the power of the presidency he did not stop there. 

Instead, he moved steadily ever onward or would that better be phrased as backwards. Far past any other president in the history of this nation. By the time he reached his last year in office, he was already well ensconced on his seat of royalty and deep into the planning of how to steal the election and become King of this Nation. 

He encouraged rebellion and violence and then, as a King, denied it all and claimed his Seat of Royalty as a given. Over the next four years he waged a war of his own absurdities and convinced too many of the Righteousness and Inevitability. of His Cause. They bought into it - hook, line and sinker. Result - The first full term of King Donald I The Fool. To the great detriment of the nation, and ... 

EVERYTHING BECAME CAPITALIZED AS WE MOVED EVER DEEPER INTO THE EVER-DARKENING REIGN OF DONALD I THE FOOL. Now, too little and quite likely too late, we feel the throes of the body politic of America wrapped tighter and tighter, and we are not even halfway through. Look. Understand how bad the situation has become. Understand how many rights this man has stolen. How many powers he has usurped and reapplied. Misapplied. How intense has become the effort to cancel the democracy and impose the monarchy, now in its first full term, and completing the first year of King Donald I The Fool.

The only change is change for the worse, more egregious, bold, greedy and disrespectful as he transforms and reformates the ideas of Power to the People to Power to the Monarch. Hour by hour, day by day. Month by month. We are losing all that we had fought for. Over these 250 years. We have ceded control over our lives. To the man who would be king.

And have no doubt about it. He has grown so bold in his assumption of power and in the secondary assumption that he will never lose it, for he is too frightening, too mighty, even mightier and more frightening than is The Wizard of Oz. So assured is he of permanent seat on the throne, that he has openly assumed the behavior, the customs and the speech of royalty. 

He greets people as if he is a king. With flyovers and ranks of black horses. He deems it impossible to stop his expensive wasteful trips to Palace Mar a Lago and flits here and there on the public's many dollars to play golf at a sequence of many palaces. Mind you, those palaces have become overladen with his crass grossly undistinguished tons of gilt round the White Palace, all the while he continues to destroy its dignity. 

Perhaps the most insulting of his actions is how he has gathered his court around him and allowed them to run the nation. Glaringly up front and center he is deteriorated and deteriorating. Faster and faster. More and more obvious. He can neither see nor understand the incompetence of the appointed members of his administration and on they barrel through every single idea and thought that this nation stands for.

 His body is a hulking mess. He boasts of being able to identify animals, animals such as a 3-year-old would know. He trips over himself. Both feet and tongue. He has allowed his dementia, perhaps Alzheimer's, perhaps another form of dementia to rule his mind. He has turned off the brakes of mouth and tongue and out spews insults, inanities, inaccuracies, lies, whatever comes out of that mouth, no modulation at all. 

He embarrasses us before the eyes of the world and endangers the peoples of the world as well.

 And all the while we have allowed this.

We have allowed it in too many of our yesterdays.

We have allowed it to seep into our todays.

Nor do we seem anxious to stop its seepage, inevitable and harmful into our tomorrows.

The question now arises: Who is the more demented? He or the people he has trashed. For continuing to allow it to thrive and to flourish. 

TUNNELS AND TIMES

  In almost every facet of science fiction and fantasy, there is always a tunnel. A wormhole. A black hole. And always, trouble awaits.  Some of these are short lived while others are longer. Some head up and out into space. However, there are at least several shows that I can think of where the tunnel went deep into the ground. At times the voyages through these openings proved to be beneficial, while at other times not so much.

Unfortunately, these days we appear to be going through a time tunnel which is manifestly not proving to be beneficial. In fact, it is proving quite frightening to contemplate and to live with. Why it has become such a state of being is quite puzzling. If anything, based on the actual events it should have become otherwise, diametrically opposite of what happened. And yet it did not happen that way at all.

Perhaps in running through the events we can figure out exactly what happened. And what did not happen.? And why it did not? To begin. At 6:29 AM. on October 7th, 2023, thousands of Palestinians, Hamas terrorists, Islamic Jihad terrorists and thousands of others who claimed to be civilians, apparently hoping no one would see their knives and machetes and axes and guns, poured over the border. Into Israeli territory they came: on gliders. farm machinery, bulldozers, armored vehicles, on foot, reinforced trucks, whatever worked. They came in in screaming and shouting. Bloodlust pouring out of their eyes. Hatred emerging from their mouths. And violence in every step of the way.

 They sought out victims. Wherever they could be found. It mattered not where the victim or who it was. A three-month-old baby. Or an 84-year-old elder. Nothing mattered. All that counted was to kill as many as possible. In as vicious and violent manner as possible and inflict pain and cruelty in unfathomable degree. These beasts were the ones who invaded. These beasts were the ones who kidnapped and tortured and starved and mutilated others. Would it not make sense that they would be deemed anathema by the rest of the world? And yet, that is not what took place - and is continuing in ever rising waves of hate and destruction, of death and maiming.

Nor is this limited to one country or two or five. No. It has been deemed acceptable within the majority of the nations of the world. Whether there are Jews in that country or not. Nothing matters other than the spewing of hate. Nothing matters other than the violence perpetrated upon the people of the Jewish nation. Nothing. Only harm and hurt. Only hate on open spigots. Unable or unwilling to be shut. Be it in Britain or France. Or the Netherlands. Or the United States. Or Belgium. Always an excuse why something was not there to prevent it. Or why it took so long for aid to arrive.

They ignored warnings gathered by the intelligence service of Israel. That attacks were going to happen. Not only did they ignore, but they removed security personnel, making the situation more dire, allowing for open gateways for these beasts to rampage. And always and forever, even as they sometimes got around to condemning the attacks, they would always add on 'It must be taken in   context'. What context is there? There is no context. Israel did not invade; they were invaded. Israel then defended itself against an enemy that purposely put their armaments and their soldiers in civilian places so that civilians would be hurt. They stole the food from the mouths of the civilians so that Israel would be blamed. Context?!Things were taken in the wrong context. The true context is that from even before the official establishment of the State of Israel these beasts were opposed to it. And all they did to change during the years since then. is to increase the violence and the horror. And the terror.

It seemed as if all the tunnels were blasted wide open. And the past came through into the present. And the present began to intrude upon the tomorrows. In three millennia, nothing had changed. Oh, some terminology was changed. To make it appear as if it was something different but, please do not think that anybody was fooled. When you called Pogroms, intifadas, and attempted to whitewash that intifada as not calling for blood and murder and extermination - you fooled no one. All who joined in knew exactly what they were calling for and wholeheartedly they jumped into the pool of hate.

From the river to the sea.

Globalize the intifada.

Gas the Jews. 

Convince nations. Such as Australia. To prepare home and hearth. For Hamas. And their supporters.

Convince the world to buy once again into Jew Hatred. Call for the death of all Jews, all Israelis, all Israeli soldiers, anyone and anything that smacked of anything positive for Jews.

Allowed for the radicalization of the beasts of hate.

Weekly vicious nasty Hate protests were allowed. Jewish professors and professionals, artists, journalists were doxed. Called out. Jewish businesses and homes were vandalized. Fires were set and people were burned. Jews were cast as outliers, ostracized. Our children were threatened and beaten in the streets. Pressure was applied to academics to be quiet, to shut their mouths. 

These are the tunnels and their contents. That came to life again. Once more we were in Nazi Germany. Once more, we were subjected to forces and libels, blood libel ramped up immeasurably. These are the tunnels of hate. That never disappear. These are the tunnels of hate. Which are aimed specifically at the Jewish people. At the Jewish Nation. At the Jewish state.

But we will no longer tolerate this. We will no longer stand there and allow you to spew putrid words and sayings. We will no longer allow you to destroy our institutions. To attack our children. No more. We will do as we must. And as we most, we must, and we will.

Put that into your filthy heads. Into your twisted minds and skewed souls. Understand that any violence that arises is of your doing. Take many steps back through those tunnels. Find the proper path to be a human being. The sooner the better.

SOMEWHERE THERE IS ONE.

  The woman who made this statement came from a beleaguered and embattled county in a state with similar descriptive terms. It is an embarrassment before the world that this nation should have entire swaths of areas where children and families go hungry. Where one is not assured of having food. milk and clean water, any water, in fact available for them. These necessities for life are, for most of the rest of us, taken for granted. 

Money that has been promised to them, to help them get back up on their feet, has been denied to them - courtesy of this Trump administration. Evidently it is far more important to pave over gardens, shred public buildings and institutions, and build totally out of place ballrooms and pay for multi-flights to the monstrosity of his Mar a Lago monstrosity, where he can act as the Lord of the fiefdom and play golf at a course where somehow he always manages to beat his golf partners!

This woman, so tired in her endeavors, asked, stated, that "there must be a rainbow somewhere. I am not so sure about that. Even if there were to be a rainbow someplace in the sky. The odds tell us that this would be a rainbow. of broken colors and an empty pot at its end, for the gold will have long ago been stolen. It will have gone into private deep pockets rather than public funds, where if managed properly could better life for so many. We could teach how to fish rather than throw the fish at them. We could do so much if only we managed to recover our hearts. And souls. And set aside our selfishness. And the more, more and more philosophy which has engulfed us. Much to the detriment of all the peoples of this besieged world.

Instead, we engage in make believe. We spout empty, meaningless words and phrases, vocal renditions which are too often suffused with hate and encouragement and praise for violence. It has become almost a rite of passage these days, with the stock response is a hypocritical five minutes of sorrow by the powers that be. small meaningless words of "thoughts and prayers", promises to do better, and then the status quo remains or even worsens. There are no consequences which matter, so why the hell not? Feed your desires. Go ahead and kill someone, many someones. then promise that it will happen again.  

 Our values are skewed. We have tossed out much   of the benefits of mankind's progress through the centuries. Kept too much of that which leads to dark roads. Of enmity. Of hatred berserk. And of no limit, no borders. We have focused on, made our target out of those who differ from us. In any which way for it matters not. We simply pick up a thread, elongate and thicken it, creating an ugly false depiction of a reality that is not actually there. Over the centuries, even as we have gone off target for a time, we always remained true and loyal to the main road of hate. Always to return to it. With ever greater vigor and determination to take it to the next step. That is JewHatred. That acidic form of violence, hate that apparently has grown ever more powerful and toxic over the millennia.

 This morning, approximately seven men in two cars were headed to Bondi Beach for a replay. Over in Israel soldiers of elite unites are working with the civilians of the bloodied Kibutzim and Moshavim, so close to the border. Teaching them how to better be able to defend their families, their friends, themselves until the army reaches their location. How not to be taken by surprise. How to fight so that they might live. 

Australia and the US have envoys to the world to combat anti Semitism. What a pathetic joke that is. Even if words of advice were able to reach a level of possibility it never goes further than that. The world is too busy with their ugly games of life. Those games which mean limitations, repression and suppression of others. It leads to headlines of threats. Of curses aimed at a Muslim who stepped in to stop the slaughter of more Jews. It leads to calcification of the mind, of the channels in the brain, along with a consistent and insistent education of twisted propaganda. To be found in the texts of any and all of the nations of Muslim faith.

Left alone out there on the ledge, Israel and Jewish people around the world have come to understand, finally, that no one is coming to their rescue. We must be the defenders of ourselves. We must ignore all the tsk, tsk words emanating from the false mouths and tongues. We must learn to truly know. within every atom of our body, that we can depend on no one else but ourselves. Today we have this friend, but tomorrow we have that enemy. Even the "friends" are profuse with their threats and advice. all inimical to our survival.

Many articles have been written re these constant attacks, growing, ever more vicious, this warfare waged upon the Jewish nation. We have been told to ignore the awful pictures and videos of the hostages and discount the truth of their appearances and the manner in which they were held as victims.  Of the sight of them as they came out from those tunnels. But all we heard were falsehoods and whining re the prisoners, the captured terrorists held in Israel. Next time perhaps we can pursue equivalency and proof of that by the heretofore useless IRC?

We read in the papers many opinions and. essays which bring tears to the eyes of the reader. The emotion is deep. The emotion is intense. And the emotion never leaves us. All that is well and good. But it does not give us what we need. What we need is truth and honesty from the outside world. What we need is a decision and action to stop this JewHatred in its tracks, to take whatever steps necessary to do so. What we need is to be given fair treatment, allowed to defend ourselves wherever and whenever, and however and not be held to ridiculous "proportionate" statistics. That is not the ways are fought or won. 

However. That will never happen.

I don't know why this is so. I believe in trying to find explanation we are going in the wrong direction as it gives validity to this ugliness and the falsehoods engaged and manufactured so as to mesh with the falsehood of the "Palestinian" story. All so as to provide weight to their claims, false, as to their ties to this land. Manifestly false.     

When one holds their story up to the sun one can see the holes in their false provenance. The term Palestinians is a skewed version of Philistines, an ancient and extinct enemy of the Israelites, reintroduced by the British in their mandate over Israel.  Current day 'Palestinians' are simply Arabs. Who live in the nation of Israel. With all the same rights, all the same privileges, all the same responsibilities, all the same taxes. 

Those who now call themselves Palestinians are either those few descended from Arabs who lived in this area alongside Jews who remained on this land. or those from elsewhere in the region. Those who came and/or were sent here to better the fortunes of their masters.  What we do have today, are our Israeli Arabs who work in every field of the nation. At every level. Who can vote. And be elected and hold office, hold army positions.

What we have today is a bunch of lies which the world as usual has chosen as truth.  They have   glommed onto hate mongers and spoilers of all that is good, that is possible in this world. 

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. 

When will we be able to look back? And wonder at how stupid, how foolish we were. Would that not be a wonderful tomorrow?  

Where are our rainbows?

NOT TODAY. FAR MORE IMPORTANT TOPICS.

  Brett Stephens. Just about my favorite opinion writer from the New York Times. He hit it right on the head again and did not spare the words or emotion. Love it!! He deemed Trump the most loathsome hypocritical individual ever to occupy the White House. Uh-huh - and will all those in agreement raise your hands. Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum. Watch those hands go up. But I have had it with him right now. His faces. His snide remarks. His nasty attitude His selfishness. His filthy lies. 

So today. I'm leaving him alone. Except for the paragraph above, that is. Today is my day to write of that which is of utmost importance to me. An importance that will never diminish. Not ever. Always to remain in my heart. Never to be forgotten or stray far from my thoughts. It is about Chanukah but not in the way you are thinking. In fact, other than lighting the candles, I have banished this holiday from my home. And at an appropriate time, (ad meah ve'esrim), I will have my discussion with the Lord Above as to why he has ruined this Chag, this holiday of light, I so loved.

The attack in Bondi Beach. The attack on the subway train. The stabbing in the street. The raucous violent demonstrations. The calls for the death of Jews, among whom I number, are bad enough. Especially, as we can see no end to this. Certainly not anytime soon. These beasts of hate have no fear, no concern. Why should they? The heads of numerous governments speak hypocritical   words as another terrible act is perpetrated upon the Jewish people. Again, and again. Words mean nothing unless there is solidity within. And force and consequence behind. Apparently, the current Heads of Government are just a bunch of wimps. They count for naught for they are hot air and nothing else. Sometimes not even that.

The rest of this posting is about five special people who are greatly missed, where scabs have not yet formed over the most recent wounds let alone the ones more distant in time, but hurting just as much, leaving an ache in our hearts and throats. 

This holiday, usually in December, this year added yet another arrow to the heart. I lost my beautiful sister, my friend for life, with whom I never fought, with whom I shared a room for 15 years, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for tuning me on to the oldies, and a lifelong appreciation of them.

Six months ago, we lost her, after a hard and brave struggle against a nasty illness she did not deserve. All these months later I still reach for the phone to call and share whatever was on my mind. Several times a day, in fact. Her birthday is December 15, and what a day to try to think of her, to remember and keep her close, when horrific violence, a massacre again, was perpetrated upon our people.  

I love you, Tzip. And always will. You'll always be with me. And if I can't talk to you on the phone, I'll talk to you in my head. Keep Mommy and Daddy close. Take care of our Zaydies and be sure to hug our Yitzy several times a day. 

I love you, my big sister, forever.   

The deaths of my two Zaydies bookended Chanukah. I was a little girl when my first Zaydie passed. But I saw my father cry. I had never seen that before. And it helped me to understand that I was never going to see my Zaydie sitting in his rocking chair by the window. Asking me if I was a good girl. And taking out his little purse and giving me a few pennies or a nickel. My other Zaydie died when I was older. in high school. There is no connection stronger than the connection of grandparents to grandchildren, unless it's with great grandchildren! Now when we get together, we tell our children stories about grandparents. The traditions they set up. Funny things they did. And each and every one of us benefited from his paper hanging skills. I miss them both and wish I had known then all that I should have asked them, all the family lore and background. Stay close with all the members of our family who have preceded us. Be it in peacetime, or war. A natural death or by the scummy hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. Give Tzipi hugs. Make her feel at home and safe. Make sure Mommy doesn't go around 'justing', cleaning all the clouds up there, and that Daddy doesn't argue with G-d too much. And please, my Zaydies, take care of Yitzy, a little boy taken from us too soon.  

As for you, Pop. I can remember you on your last night of Chanuka, when you signaled to us somehow that you wished to be in a chair for the lighting of the candles. We did just that, as you wished. We lit and said the brachot, the blessings, and there you were, Pop. You always loved the tunes of the tefilot, the prayers, and with your eyes closed, no strength to even open them, you waved your hand to the rhythm of the brachot and the Maoz Tzur. We were smiling and crying at the same time. 

You were such a good man. A man who would not stray off the righteous and honest path. Not one bit. A man who gave so much charity to so many, mostly anonymously. I believe that people knew how good you were, Pop, because your funeral was standing room only. We certainly had a service for an audience that spanned the gamut of ethnicity and religions, colors and gender. You were beloved by all. Especially us, especially me. Everyone loved you. Everyone respected you. 

I miss our conversations, sharing of letters that we wrote. I remember how you worked with me so that I could hang with my friends, the group of boys and girls that we were from school, Mommy never knew, till much later!! Our own conspiracy!  

You were a good son and son in law. A great and awesome Pop and you took care of all the relatives. I know you will continue to do so and you will take the same care and love for Mommy up there, as you always did. Just as you will take Yitzy in hand and discuss the "New Shulchan Aruch" and whatever else the two of you get up to, both of you with the same vein of mischievous pranks.  Join together in love and friendship. 

My Pop. 20 years on and I still miss you. That hole in my heart when I want to ask your advice. 4th Day of Hanukkah - you were taken from us. And on the fifth night our little boy, who had fought so hard, who was so brave, who bore that pain like a hero - was gone from among us. He could be so mischievous and would make us laugh. I had to convince his mom that chocolate was not candy; hence, he could chow down on it and load his pockets up because it was not candy! 

Yitzy was the beloved pet of all within the family. He was that special. A super athlete. A serious boy who loved to learn. Who delved deep into nature. Who wrote an article about birds, and tried to scare his grandmother with his ugly lizard. Not an Angel. Just this special boy, everybody's best friend.  Just Yitzy.  

His family turned themselves inside out trying to ease his year of pain. His mother spoke "doctor talk" better than most doctors in her steep and devoted efforts to learn all she could and perhaps   find that magic cure that we all wished for. Both his parents were by his side every second and he took walks with his dad as he could into his beloved park behind their home. 

In his final months, he amazed all who knew him. Even the medical staff of the hospital, with words of wisdom far above a typical almost 13-year-old boy. Words of acceptance, his only concern that we remember him, and he would remember us. That we should not be angry at Hashem, for he wasn't. For obviously, he believed, he had been sent here for a purpose and his purpose was completed, and so G-d was taking him back home.  

 His last wish? To have a Torah written in his name?  So special was he that within three days we had more than enough for that Torah.  So special. that the new campus of the school was named for him. This year, his second-year gone from us, will be commemorated by special classes and prayers using the Torah written in his name.   

 So, tell me. How could I possibly be happy on this holiday?  No way. And I am so glad that you can't see me or hear me cry as I soaked the keyboard with my tears. 

Yesterday, today and tomorrow - for as long as I am able, I will love all of you. And miss all of you. And be grateful for having had the time that I have had with you. Would it had been more.

No, I am done with Chanukah.  

TODAY

 Today has become a term of uncertainty, of fear, and of wonder. In our todays, serious questions as to where to go, what to do, how to act. What if? And the what ifs have become questions existential in manner and reality. If I go there, what will happen? If that happens, what will I do? What if the worst happens? How am I supposed to act? Do I risk my life to save others? Or do I save my own? Or ones who are with me. Is there actually a protocol or pamphlet which discusses the question of “How to behave in a terrorist attack.?” Will that help me get a better rating on my insurance?

Sounds ridiculous, does it not? Yet several organizations to which I belong have had guest speakers come in to explain exactly that protocol of behavior. The speakers also warn those caught up in these unthinkable horrors not to be heroes. Run. Hide. Fight. This is what we have been told over and over again. 

However, that's not so easy. Particularly if you are with someone. Are you supposed to desert someone? Save yourself at the cost of others? Trample over them? Don't help them up? And if the last step is fight, what does that mean? That all hope is lost? That the only thing left is to take out at least one before you are taken out? People can spill out answers, they can fall glibly off the tongue, but there is no way of knowing what one will do unless one is cursed enough to actually find oneself in this situation. At that point, do not forget to pray!

 Most of us have read and heard the hostages brutally taken by Hamas and what happened to them over the term of their captivity. Their imprisonment. In cages. In mud. In holes. In horror. In uncertainty beyond that of most anyone we know. One wonders how they remained alive and   retained hope. Were they regretful of their heroism in aiding some to get out even as they were caught, sealed up inside the dark uncertainties of kidnapping and brutality. What were their 'todays'? How did they make it through each day after day?

When someone hears that a person lives in Israel, their mouths grow wide. As do their eyes. They ask, "But it is so dangerous there. Aren't you afraid? You could get killed at any moment!" Well, yes and no. I do not have that fear where I have a place in Israel. Last June, I too had to go into my security room. But one did not run screaming in horror. One just knew what we had to do, where we to go. Where there was a security room. And get there. And listen for all clear. The kids outside riding bikes or scooters simply took their bikes inside, clearing the play area and took them right back out at all clear. 

Generally, we rode, walked, hiked the land unafraid.  Alert and aware? Yes, even as one has to be anywhere in this world of ours. But no one hunkered down in a security room hour after hour, day after day. Yes. There were, are, some terror attacks and one does the best one could to avoid that. But they were the exception rather than the rule. 

The questions can be otherwise. What about other situations? What about other countries? Or someone could be riding in a car and suddenly is t-boned.  Or a car mounts the sidewalk. Or someone is attacked getting on a subway train. Or sitting in a classroom. Or dancing at a party. Ot walking down the street. There is no guaranteed safe place in this world. One never knows what could happen. What will happen. The only thing one can do is be prepared. Try to do the right thing. Whatever one deems that to be.

Unfortunately, we live in times when the todays. can be outrageously dangerous. In fact, I feel safer in Israel than I do here, in America. In Israel, security is enforced and taken seriously. The security personnel are not fat old men who perhaps have a gun and perhaps not. Perhaps know how to use it and perhaps not. Perhaps know security protocol, but most do not. We are aware of our surroundings and of the people nearby. 

Actually, we are safer in many ways than people in other countries where people are not used to terrorism and engage in the daydream wherein, they are immune to any such moments of horror. Being unprepared, being unaware, and being naive as to reality. is being the most dangerously foolish one can be. 

This is not a lesson easily learned. How could this be? Yes, in that country, that other country, they do these things. But not here, not in these Western civilized nations. But take a look around. Open eyes and mind. America. Multiple times. The same thing in Canada. Australia. England. France. Ireland. The Netherlands. Belgium. I could go on and on and on, yet people are deaf, dumb and blind. to the reality of life these days. They gasp. They wring their hands. They deny its growing frequency and its tolls on lives and refuse to prepare for it.

Unfortunately, there are times, terrible times, when we are let down by the people who are actually there to protect us. In Australia videos and witnesses are showing that the police froze. Even as civilians took that step up and out to wrestle guns from the terrorists. In New York police hesitated to separate violent protesters from those being protested, who were chased and threatened, and suffered actual violence. The administrations of these warped, “places of learning”, the professors.    even the cities did nothing to stop this. In many of these places, it was even praised, aided and abetted by those who actually were responsible to stop it. 

Why? All sorts of answers run through one's mind. None of them comforting thoughts. The todays for many are growing worse and worse. Particularly, if one is Jewish. Especially, as we now have a friend of the beasts, perhaps a beast himself, deeply immersed in, and championing of, toxic JewHatred, who will take the NYC mayor's seat in a matter of weeks. He refuses to condemn a chant calling for the death of Jews and the elimination of the State of Israel. Who has engaged in such activities himself.  

We can, must, all, ask what is next? Think about it. Seriously. We must understand that no longer do we have the Today that we had.  That would be here forever now, emulating the yesterdays we have come to expect. However, we are falling back, way back, into the days and yesterdays of hate and violence. Of deprival of rights. Of limitations. Of narrowing of possibilities. Of separation. Even unto death. These abominable yesterdays and todays are meshing into even more frightening, ever more horrifying tomorrows. 

This cannot be allowed. We must learn how to avoid. How to protect ourselves. How to bring about the todays and the tomorrows we need. Do not engage in the fantasy that this will end in and of itself. Do not think the worst cannot happen here. It can happen. And in fact, is happening. Round the world as well. It will continue to happen and worsen unless we all wake up and smell that proverbial coffee. Whatever brand.

YESTERDAY. TODAY. TOMORROW.

WHICH VERSION DO YOU WANT? 

DEJAVU

 Three hours in the doctor's office. See you on Wednesday

YES, BUT ...

  Yesterday. As most of us do every morning, as we stumble around or energetically prepare for the day to come, we listen to the news. In whichever way we desire. Yesterday morning, happening all too often these days, we heard shouts and excited voices. Automatically, we turned to raise the volume and to listen.

What we heard yesterday morning. was what we have been hearing far too often these days. It is something that for many, many years we hoped. was, if not gone, at least tamped down, to be at least semi rare, occasionally, but never to grow. Never to become once again a monster ready to consume the world? Ready to use the acid of its Hate to destroy, destroy and more.

What is one to say when with a backwards look, a current look, and a truly frightening look into the future, all appear to be the same. No change. Hate. From generations past. Horrific intentions of the fascist movement and communist movement as well. Just about one hundred years ago there was an almost successful attempt to totally exterminate all Jews round the world.   

Look back nearly 80 years ago to the recognition of the State of Israel. Though it was a dismembered State, millennia had gone by before even this minimal step took place and at least a partial truth was recognized as such. Nor was it to be considered as a gift as so many claim it to be these days and wish to cancel that "gift giving". Is the papal seat, the Vatican, in the midst of the city of Rome considered a gift go the Catholic religion? Are the several dozen Muslim states considered as a gift to the Islamic religion? Is Holland a gift to te Protestant religion? Is there a nation considered to be a gift to those who are atheists? Or agnostics?

 So why then should a Jewish state be considered a gift to the Jews? And nondemocratic due to its "gifthood". Even deemed, most illogically, a state which practices genocide! When the very people against whom genocide is claimed are prospering, doing well and are an integral part of the nation, from government to the people on the street. Why accuse a nation who has experienced the worst of genocide of committing a scientifically planned determined extermination on a group of people when it is so evidently not true, so criminal. A lie put forth by Haters who have never given up their Hate, merely ramped it up to the likes of Oct7.

Why is it when that nation is attacked, when the people whose state it is, are targeted there and throughout the world, why, why, are there people who join in with Glee. With words of Hate and incitement to violence itself, up to and including murder. Slaughter. Of men, women and children, babies, elderly. It matters not to these Haters. I ask again, why is it that the more volent the attack, the more frequent the attacks, WE get just that. More violence. More attacks. And on and on, a vicious cycle that never seems to have an end of an out.

And yet. despite the awful attack at Bondi Beach. in Sydney, Australia, considered to be among the Western nations, among the more. civilized and tolerant, there it was. Why were Jews in the USA attacked the same days, in a Jewish professor's class at Brown, and directed at a house of Jewish decoration in LA?? No answer forthcoming to explain this away other than ever ongoing Hate.

 The Jews around the world - what did they do? do? It was the first night of Hanukkah. The Holiday of Light. The light that chases away the darkness. The light that illuminates the darkest corners of humanity? And provides the light for humanity to move forward. To see into the dark. To make it disappear. And to rescue those who remain in the dark.

What did they do? They did exactly what we have been doing since the beginning of time. Since the first steps of Abraham into the world as a Jew. We have stood up against terror. We have stood up against those who are determined to exterminate us. We have done whatever we must. And we'll continue to do so. Those who claim they are stronger than us and will beat us down think again. We are people of courage and determination. We are the people of stiff neck snd stubbornness.    Reinforced with the open hands and arms and heart of the strongest protector in the world. The Lord Above. Who has been with us for lo these many millennia. Wo will not leave us.

So, what did we do? Almost every single Jewish organization that I can think of, other than the organizations of Jews who have turned against their fellow brothers and sisters, and supported those who wished to kill us and them as well. other than these suicidal Jews who do not realize that nor not accept the truth, what did we do? We sent out emails and calls. We announced proudly that the community lighting of the menorahs, those taking place in community celebrations in defiance of those who wish to crush us eill take place. And indeed, took place. And will always take place. Whatever the hell is the celebration, be it in community celebrations or in the homes.   T

They will all continue. Always and forever/

So, to the beasts, all members of the same monster tribe, be you born into it or join it in your sick evil. give it up. You have lost already. You will not defeat us. Rather, we will defeat you. Though we would rather live in peace and partnership. in unity, and brotherhood. Just as we admire that brave Muslim soul who stood up and ran and jumped on one of the animal's backs. wrestled the gun out of his hands. chasing him off.  

We ask why Australia did not pay attention to the warning of a planned attack on the Jewish community. How many more times must Israel uncover and reveal a planned attack only to be ignored? Only to see people die once again. Why?   

And as for all the hypocrites here in America. In Australia. In any country where these attacks have taken place. Or have been praised. You were all guilty. Stained and tainted. The same indelible ink of  JewHatred. Bottom line, all your words of sympathy mean nothing now. Nothing unless you act upon them. Don't tell me it's horrible, I already know that. Don't tell me it is awful and must not take place. Because you allow it to take place, you've encouraged it to take place by not imposing consequences. And by not out loud and strongly condemning those who perpetrated it upon us?  

You will never succeed. Read the following. Understand that we will never cease to light up the world. We will never cease to fight against the darkness. And those who oppose us will get their just consequences, all who veer off the path of righteousness. All.

Here is a letter written by a young Rabbi to his constituents. On the eve of Hanukah as to the public lighting of the menorah of the community. I have included no names. Simply the letter.

Dear Family,

I write to you with a heavy heart this morning.

Many of us woke up to the horrifying news of the antisemitic terror attack in Australia.

This attack again reminds us that antisemitism

is not a phenomenon of the past, or a distant memory, but a living threat.

As we know, Kol Yisrael avrevim zeh bazeh, we are one people and one nation, and an attack on any of us affects all of us.

We will be joining with other area synagogues for a Menorah lighting this evening, where we will both celebrate the holiday of Chanukah and mourn our fallen brothers and sisters. I encourage everyone to join us, and to add to their performance of mitzvot and engagement in prayer in response to these events.

As the Alter Rebbe of Lubavtich said “A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness.” Each action we take, each candle we light, pushes away the darkness of the world in this difficult time.

May Hashem avenge the blood of the innocent victims, bring comfort to their families, and protect the Jewish people wherever they may be around the world.

May we know no more sorrow.

With pain and hope,

Rabbi

YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMMOROW 

ENOUGH!