TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS,

  ...especially and always even in the daylight. These times it feels as if one has to be on guard not only for the usual creeps who make their living over your peril, loss and aggravation, but also regarding those who could care less re your items but actually covet your blood and body. The bloodier, the more painful, the more involved, the more they are satisfied with their evil thoughts, actions and results. Worst of all is that these creeps ae becoming more plentiful and have gained in support by the haters within humankind. 

Even more aggravating is that when these attacks occur, whether attack on body or infrastructure, on one or more than one, the report is always hedged with the word "suspected" in designating its origin and motivation. Here is one such headline, quite annoying and aggravating, to say the least.

"Jewish Man Beaten By Gang in Suspected Antisemitic Attack in Golders Green" - the area for a large Jewish population and a frequent hunting ground for two-legged animals who prey on humans. Why are these brutal attacks aways depicted as "suspected" when it is quite clear to all but the willfully blind, that there is no doubt nor suspicion as to the cause and desire of the attackers?

"It is a dark time in Europe, like in the Holocaust." So stated the victim of the attack and he is correct, only did not go far enough. It is getting to be almost as bad right here in America, in the land, the "goldeneh medina", the land which welcomed its immigrants, gave them room to grow and prosper, to contribute to their new homeland, even with the antisemitism which had come across the ocean with that filth and found ready place within evil hearts open for it.

While we have not yet ascended to the same height of hate we are witnessing in Europe, we are climbing that ragged splintered ladder at ever increasing pace. The same lust for bloodshed is increasing, and we have had Jews beaten and even killed, so we know through bitter experience that we are neither immune nor shielded from this wave of toxicity sweeping the lands of the planet.

What is definitely the rotting reeking cherry on top of this malformed cake is that official government proclamations and announcements are growing.  Even if one ventures so far as to express a sense of sympathy or upset, it is always diluted with the addition of 'excuses' for the attacker and suggestions for the Jews to change their ways, to walk away from Israel, or for Israel to cede its land, their history, their legacy, their legitimacy and right to exist in a safe environment. To be able to defend themselves without criticism when they appear to be winning.

Will this ever change for the better? Perhaps after some time along with a change of thought and understanding, of a return to tolerance of all within the body of the nation, any nation. However, when government leaders, political soothsayers of the nations turn to open condemnation of the Jewish people, make them #1 on the list, the favorite target of hate and violence, we are in a frightening time of return to the deepest darkest traits of humanity.

The whole matter is complicated, difficult to understand, difficult to extirpate the roots from the souls of nations and individuals. Some deny its dark growth in modern times. Some continue to deny that it could ever happen here. But this nation, any nation, is not immune to the selfish needs and desires, the evil plans drawn up by those who see benefit within, for themselves.

However, there are deniers, these dreamers immersed for their own sanity in a cloud of not understanding of the power of hate and its inevitable victories. It is very difficult to resist, particularly when resistance is dangerous to the resister. So history has taught us and so history has always shown us the cracks within society which enables rise of dictatorships, of fascism, communism, even a purported deranged democracy which provide enriched soil for the wrong side of humanity to flourish. 

There is that within humans which cleaves to ugliness, and resists true forward nations of true progressive nature, not the twisted version of today so prevalent within the governments and residents of the world. The struggle to return to sanity and true humanity is long and hard with many pitfalls in the way of this return, how long the struggle is to return to some modicum of sanity and grace.

Frankly, I am frightened. Not so much for me, but for the younger generations, those who will live in this ugly nasty bonfire of a world whose burns will be large and weeping, with deep resultant pain. Not unless we turn away and out the ugly and corrupt politicians who encourage the worst of humanity to rise to the surface. Not unless we turn our backs to them, remove them from positions of influence and control. At present, we are finding ourselves favoring them rather than expelling them.

Such a one within America is Mamdani, the outspoken mayor of NYC who categorially condemns Israel, opposes its survival and refuses to support, even openly denies the protection that Jews and their infrastructure need so blatantly in the city. There are caucuses in every level of government who spout the filth of Hate, of JewHatred, who have sold their souls, allowed them to blacken and  tar, in the name of votes, and retention of power and influence, and the amassing of dirty money. Morality, sanity, all the better aspects of humanity fall by the wayside and well, here we are, and there we are going.

It seems to never change throughout the history of mankind. 

Yesterday, today and possibly, even probably, tomorrow, unless we shake ourselves with a good hard shake and realize the truth of where we are and how we got here and how to get out of this murky swamp.

All on us. Always and forever on us.

AND BRING IT ON!

  Have you read the papers, the postings and other commentaries, and wondered why there is no one out there who sees the stupidities in which we engage, buy into, even as we know that the outcome will be highly toxic? That would be toxic to ourselves along with harm to the enemy? 

Harm to the enemy, defeating them, is part and parcel of combat, but there are limits, and when crossing the red lines, one has to understand how and why that occurred. Was it avoidable? Was it necessary? Was it the 'steel pole' necessary to catch the attention of the enemy leaders, to make them understand the consequences of their actions and perhaps enable some sane conversation re accepting defeat and a future changed behavior?

Inevitably, both sides will commit some violation, some acceptable, others not. People will object to these behavioral missteps and voices will be raised, again, some rationally and others not, too deeply enmeshed in their own side of the matter that they cannot hear the voices of others. Do soldiers of either side commit wrongful acts? Of course, for in the heat of battle, willful or not, these things happen. Those who sit on the outside looking in and passing judgement on those in the heat of battle, are useless. Unless you are actually doing the famous walk - in the shoes of the other and for a great distance, well, useless is as useless does. 

The question then arises: How, when, where, and why should we evaluate what others have done and possibly 'disremeber' the cause(s) and the initiators of the war. Has this war been seemingly ever ongoing warfare? Had one side been more antagonistic than the other? Are there separations within a side of the combat re the war, and who and why? Are these disagreements apparently unsolvable, impossible to be mediated? If so, someone clearly not with an advantage or disadvantage must get involved, and if necessary, exert enough pressure where it is needed to get the process moving and on into a better phase and better place and mood.

However, and unfortunately, it doesn't work out that way, according to plan. Contingencies must be allowed for in the planning and points of compromise must be in place, at the ready, and available to cool the heated air that goes along with intense anger and justification, right or wrong. There are some conflicts ongoing which grow to include other parties with their own packages, and the situation becomes even more difficult, truly a Gordian knot refusing to be untied.

Obviously, the war I am most concerned with is the war waged in the Middle East, including some not there at all. Each and everyone have a desire to gain an advantage, to end up in a higher status than before. It is selfish and it is absolutely the norm in the history of humankind. That is why so many conflicts begin, are waged for years, with or without interruption, and spark time and again. Terribly, the truth is that until one gets a true big bang on the head, is forced to see the truth of the matter, there being nowhere positive in sight to continue, then, only then can earnest talks proceed. 

Equally as awful is the fact that no one willingly accepts any part of the guilt for the fighting, hence, it is a long time till a pathway thorough this stubbornness is unveiled and accepted. And all the while the negotiations are ongoing, there is always a sect within, which refuses to see the futile aspect of these wars and refuses to support and stand as one and you had better believe that the other side is watching and planning, to take advantage of all signs or cracks within the opposition.

These cracks are apparent and vastly harmful. The outlier nations are willing to continue as they have no skin in the game, despite their loudly vocalized plaints. Groups within the oppositional sides weaken the sincerity and belief necessary for forward movement and each divisive step is hailed as a victory and the efforts to end the conflict go nowhere, other than backwards.

Personally, I could care less about the lives or needs in the nations warring against mine. It is the responsibility of the legitimate governments to indeed take responsibility, to control their inhabitants, not to allow them to wage their own war against a neighbor with whom they supposedly wish to make peace. The toleration of such actions and behavior, the words of violence they put forth on social media lead to actual real-time violence, and it is my people who suffer, through no fault of their own. 

Actually, according to the world they have two or more faults. First, they are Jewish. Second, they are living in their own land which the terrorists refuse to accept as fait accompli. Finally, they refuse to cede their land, refuse to quit. Neither they nor the rest of the Jewish people round the world will agree to do so. Not now, not ever.

It is the same with other nations, only now the situation has worsened, as so many have bought into the ugly world of antisemitism, shouting all daylong how the only fate for Jews is to die or remain once again as a homeless people. Until they relinquish such barbarity, call it quits in the arena of horror, there will be no peace.

But that does not mean that we rejoice in the deaths of civilians. The problem is thus: there is a purpose to their ugly method. Scatter the terrorists within civilian areas, above and below. When the terrorists are killed, so are the civilians. That is their way and they have chosen to use it and cultivate it, to garner pity and support from those who choose to mourn the dead of one side and ignore, even cheer, the  deaths of others. What can we do when the enemy kills their own and shifts the blame to Israel, sending it to gullible people seeking only what they can use to deepen and justify their hate for Israel. 

Israel itself must undergo an examination of their own soul. As is the same round the world, Israel has some politicians who should be drummed out of their positions, so hypocritical and corrupt are they. They have placed their own interests above those of the nation and in so doing have lengthened the negotiations and have continued to complicate matters far above where they should be. 

However, neither they nor any other here rejoices over the deaths of any and all. But we do not burn people. WE warn them that we are coming. Perhaps at times there might have been actions and combat results some might deem excess, but again, if one is not there, one has no right to criticize the war plans and actuations in realty.

Furthermore, as to charges that Israel covets the land of others, no, they do not. Yes, apparently there was much damage to infrastructure in Gaza. There is much ongoing infrastructure damage in Lebanon. However, one must go back to the previous sentences and paragraphs and check again. Why are the terrorists among them? In addition, these people are terrorists themselves, for a great percentage of them came running gleefully into the land of Israel to slaughter and massacre all those who were there - within their homes, dancing, working - living. 

We warn people we are coming in order for them to leave, so as to eliminate the civilian consequences. We warn them that if they continue to house and support the enemies of the people of Israel, we will continue to warn them that we are coming. But we will not stop this time. It is time the world understood that the gift, the great responsibility of the chore to be a light unto the nations can be crippling. In addition, Jews are held to double standards, demanded more of, given less of. Well, it is time for us to be granted the legitimacy and independence as is given to other nations of this world.

The vast majority of the people of the Jewish nation want peace. They wish to live peaceful, productive lives, to raise theor children, but so many refuse this idea as they nitpick. They wear blinders. They carry upon their bodies vats of reeking hate. When there is a disagreement within the government of Israel, the entire world thinks they can take from that and postulate ideas. They themselves are crazed as they indulge themselves in denial. There never was a Holocaust. There never were pogroms. And there certainly weren't 6 million Jews killed, slaughtered, butchered. In fact, there was no October 7. If there is a concession that there might have been an October 7, it certainly was not as bad, and it actually was done under Israeli auspices. They continue to blame it on the Jewish government, on those who lead the nation.

They might  bea bit of truth there for if the government, the leading figures, had been more alert, had listened to those brave young women soldiers who had warned them of strange doings, and had shed their arrogance, the outcome would have had different outcomes, with fewer dying and fewer circles of involvement where there need to have been none. But bottom-line, we did not start that war, only long to convince the enemy to choose another path, to halt th attacks. But until they do, we will fight as carefully and morally as possible, but not to the point of abdication.      

We did not want this war nor any other war.

Yesterday and today and tomorrow.

If the enemies of the Jewish people and the Jewish nation continue, they will receive more of the same - at their request. 

Hear that. See that. Know that.

AND SO IT GOES

Do you feel as if you were on a merry go round which never stops, never pauses to let one on or off and instead forces the rider to hold on tighter and try to remain in the saddle rather than off? Well, that might have been a good feeling when we were kids as we reached out to catch that brass ring and get a free ride. It does not feel very good now There are no brass rings being handed out, no free rides. In fact, the longer we stay on the horse the worse the consequences if and when we fall.

 So it was last night and two previous nights this just past week. Meant in its birth, post WWII, to be a clearly political act to join nations in shared culture, music, entertainment, and humanity, it has morphed its way into an ugly representation of hate on crack. It is now indeed suffused with great big gobs of ugly prejudice and persecution ongoing for all eternity. Or so it seems. 

  Instead of sharing or clapping for the songs, their varied presentations, the very joy of music, they allowed for the very opposite. There was one song no matter what the song presented before the audience which was inevitably to be met with  shouts of death and hate and at the very least rude behavior. They did this on Tuesday night. They did this on Saturday night. When did they do this? When Israel presented its song. At no other time for no other nation, merely expanding on the motif that Israel is to be seen as a pariah nation, to be forced into extreme outlier position, and to be debased and demeaned whenever and wherever it appears. 

Why and wherefore does this happen? It happens because people consumed by hate and bloodlust refuse to recognize right and reality. Instead, their intention and attention are focused only on attack and bloodshed, causing extreme troubles as they vent it all in the slaughter, the brutal murders and killing of those they have placed as their eternal enemies. Those they have been encouraged and urged to kill and hate before they could even walk. Pleasing parents who mourn not the death of their children, but for the loss of more years for them to continue his/her bloody path.

 Even worse, shamefully so, are the reactions of politicians, worried not about discerning and separating evil from good. For they worry only for their continued placement, election, to seats of power and influence, with many opportunities to amass great wealth. Money that is earned by acquiescing to blood, to the worst of mankind. Who true to expectations, allow their tongues to run away with their mouths, no operational brakes, and as foretold, as always, is the nose stuck in the business where it has no place, none to be found. That is, until they break in, by force and do their worst. The filthy mouths, minds, and filth encrusted souls are weaponized and entered into the fray.  

A politician of the worst kind, a liar, a thief of right, who promises but gives naught forth other than more diatribes of hate, ever increasing territorial expanse, along with his equally tainted wife, now presides over the second largest Jewish populated city in the world. Mamdani, whose name has been changed into a verb, one of ugliness. 

His earlier words have been excused away, giving him leeway to venture further into the reeking sands of hate and peril - not for him, but his Jewish constituents whom he is sworn to protect, and so clearly does not - and those other citizens who see and differentiate the right from wrong.  His prior words re Jews who gather in prayer, who gather in meetings, who pursue interests other than in New York City, and GASP! Israelis were bad enough and should never have been voiced.

 However, this past week he has gone further, and refused to condemn the absolutely barbaric attack at a Brooklyn synagogue and in other NYC locations. Just as he has refused to condemn, even praised and justified, as if, the massacre perpetrated upon Israel, upon its citizens, that did not end for years, and is, in fact, ongoing. The modern Huns broke through the gates of safety, (and I apologize to the Huns for this comparison), invaded Israel screaming and shouting, drooling. Maddened by their hunger for blood, they raped and burned. Tortured and beat, perpetrated sexual abuse upon all, no gender, or age or relationship free of that horror, family members included.

His words are encouraging of the worst, the lowest, behavior of those who claim to be human, but are clearly not of that genre. Mamdani has attempted to legitimize the lies of the enemies of the Jewish nation, the Jewish state, Israel, promised to the Israelites for all eternity. They deny the truth of the presence of the Jewish people within the boundaries of the kingdoms of Israel and Judea and purposely search for and trash all relics, and antiquities which clearly attests to their lies.

Their lies are incredible and incredulous. They claimed victimhood where they were the attackers and the slaughterers. They claimed perfection but that is only in their evil. They spin the wheel and jump onto that merry go round which by now has lies being shouted in hoarse voice via its amplifier. They demand and claim for themselves the city of Jerusalem, forever and always the capital of the nation of Israel. From its upper and lower depths. the city of David, the excavations alongside the Wall, stretching beyond the hills of proofs to be found within the piles of what they call trash, but are actually heaps containing treasures of history which bolsters the truths we speak. They claim that in 1948 we brutally conquered them inside that city. However, the truth is otherwise It was those who had remained in the Old City, unable or unwilling to get out, entitled to remain according to the contracts, declarations signed and were now to be exiled from their own capital, from their biblical capital, from their religion's capital. But no more. Nevermore. Never again

Yesterday and Today and Tomorrow and forever. We, the people of Israel, the state of Israel, are Jerusalem. We are an independent nation legitimate, independent, and of great contribution to the world, even to those who hate us and wish us dead. Whose delight would be to see the immolation of the country and return it to its once desolate state of being. Meanwhile its rightful inhabitants are chased from pillar to post and denied its rightful haven. 

 From under the whips and slavery imposed upon us by Egypt. To combating the various enemies of the Israelites, to defeating the Seven Nations, who would deny us our long-Promised Land.  Through to the kingdoms and empires of Greece and Rome and Assyria and Persia. Into the Arab Sheiks and Pashas of Turkey who coveted our land. Into the accursed lands and fires and pogroms of Spain and Portugal, of England and France, of Italy's first ghetto, of the pogroms and viciousness of Russia and the Pale of Settlement. All the way through to the Inquisition, finding its way into the New World continuing its bloody path, into a quieter anti Semitism with its own crippling and demeaning affects and effects. Into the jagged teeth of the Holocaust and the years beyond.

All the way through to the attempted denial of our rightful place. The state of Israel and the vile, crazed, always to be doomed attempts to take back a land which was never theirs to take. We have been eternally fighting for our land. We have been fighting before and after the 1929 slaughter in Hebron. We have been fighting the Arab nomads who wanted no villages built within their falsely claimed grazing lands. We developed our own defenses, our own armed forces and developed them as needed. Continually improving our capabilities to the point where none who raised hand against us has a certainty of a long life.  Those who survived the Holocaust, defeating, in fact the wicked intentions of the Nazis and their collaborators and there were many of them. Those who wish to see us fail  and those who wished us to succeed. Always a struggle. 

Always in a financial bind, Money for weapons. For development and for the rescue of those who had remained trapped stuck in Europe; to rescue those who had survived the Holocaust in so many countries. Money for weapons, for developing and to bring home those refugees from slaughter, consigned to Cyprus by the British.   Rebuilding this nation and surpassing many, many others though always in a struggle for survival, always in the financial bind. We expanded upon rescuing the Jews of Arab lands, where they were held captive, where they had Farhuds of great horror perpetrated upon them. We are bringing them all homes, still true to their faith, their dreams of returning to Zion, the land from which they were exiled. From Malaysia, from Ethiopia, from South America, from India and China, from England and France and Australia, from America. Welcoming back those who had strayed, who had been kidnapped, who had been lost, though who never knew it.

We are tired of those yesterdays and todays and we refuse to accept it for the tomorrows to come. Those who stand aside when evil takes place will   reap their proper 'reward'. Those who commit the acts, I cannot use the words I have in my head to describe their fate.

As for the tomorrows to come, we are determined not only to oppose those who would try to trample us, the nation of Israel, but also to make clear the nasty fates awaiting them. "Mene, Mene, Tikale ooh Pharsin". Wherever you go, wherever you are, your sins, your violations have been counted. Your fate has been decided and it has crossed over the closest horizon. 

Nazis chased and killed, deep into postwar years. The murderers from the first Munich Olympics - all received their just payment.  Just as have the planners and leaders of Oct7, Hezbollah and all their leaders and followers have either received or are awaiting a soon to be imposed final fate - Death.  Death, just as Sinwar and other terrorists received what was coming to them, so too will Izz al- Dal al-Haddad received his final bill, as the last remaining leader of the October 7th massacre, all the masses of people eagerly abetting and enabling will already have been sent or are awaiting those powerful missives and warnings to carryout punishment too long delayed.   

We say 

'Hashem Yinkom Damam

G-d will avenge their spilled blood. 

Know that we will be here for the continuation of todays for we have learned the lessons of yesterday and we are building a better tomorrow. A better life, a better planet to live and share with those who wish nothing homicidal on fellow inhabitants of our blessed world entrusted to us.  

CIRCLES

  There were and are always circles in life. Many times repetitive, many times good, and many times frustrating. Making the same mistake at the same stage and you gotta find a way out of that circle! Too often too easily said, impossible ever to change. There are other circles, those of life. Raising families. Building a career and hopefully it was all good, or at least the majority of it was.    

However, there are cycles and circles of viciousness which must be disappeared, vanquished to the nth degree or else approached in different manner if traditional tactics and approaches fail, in ever increasing pace and discouragement. At present there is such a current situation which is only getting worse, more intolerable, unmanageable, unable to be lived with, actually rising to clear and vocalized and acted upon threat to life - with people dying as a result. And yet, here we are. 

"Jews in London Subjected to Assaults at Two Sites Over Weekend"

"European Association Seeks Protected Minority Status for Jews in European Countries"

"Hezbollah Flag Unfurled in Flatbush at Synagogue" 

(As a note of information, it was down the block from the home where we raised our children - ice in my veins!)

"Combating Truth With Lies"

1936 1939 to 1945+1948 1956 1973 ......

Oct7,2023-

2025 and continued threat of war - 2026.

The abominable inexcusable actions of the New York Times allowing Kristof, may his name be a curse, to throw accusations against the Jewish people reeking of ugly echoes of past accusations and falsehoods.

The New York Times again when it accepted and it was even offered a Pulitzer Prize for the vicious, fact deficient, lying, exaggerated photos they posted adding to the return of blood libel raised against Jews by their enemies throughout the millennia. All vicious lies, purposely catered to by anti Semites whose ultimate goal is the expulsion and extermination of the Jewish nation.

We know. We have been there and done that time and time again.

"We Have Built Them Before We Must Build Them Again"

“Education”  antiSemites? Educate our children instead.

1786... 2026+ and no end in sight.

 From time immemorial, from the very first Jew, Abraham, until today, with ever more grandiose, more violent plans to continue, Jews have been the targets of choice for those who have failed in one or more aspects of life. Those who need to find someone on whom they can lay blame for all of their failures and then cast aspersions on the contributions of Jews to humanity.

Abraham prospered when he accepted his Lord G-d and in turn, his neighbors, even his nephew Lot, claimed to have problems with Abraham and his herds. Despite the offer of a parcel of land for free, Abraham knew what might be of that supposed gift and so he bought a plot, a place where his wife, he, and the other matriarchs and patriarchs would have as a final resting place.  Yet even now that land is claimed as disputed land, along with the rest of Israel, disregarding all the facts and history, denying the promises of the Lord, whom they claim to worship as well,  all the prophets and all the history, the 152 times  the word Zion, is mentioned in the Bible, even as they claim we never were there, unless as oppressors, as "colonizers" as the word of the day.

And that's history. Continued to be denied our home, always to be chased out. Even as we returned time and time again, never, ever leaving this place physically or mentally unless under duress. Even so there will always be Jews here and always Zion, our homeland was present in our prayers, in our holy books, in our memory. Over and over again, denied homes and permanent resident status, and denied equality of citizenship and rights in countries throughout the world. Even when the Jewish people had been asked to come. To help their country, to revive its economy, to help build its culture. 

When they had succeeded and they themselves had prospered as a result of their hard work the jealousy of their neighbors, the coveting of their possessions arose to fever pitch. All levels of society viciously and joyously participated in the horror. From the lowest peasant to the Kings and Queens and religious leaders, even unto the Pope himself.

 So, when we look around, what can we say has changed? Nothing. Nothing at all, as the baseless hate grows in intensity, approval and participation by withered souls and hardened hearts, failures of human beings, ever eager to ramp it up, to medieval and yes, modern times as well. The current pope has reverted quite forcefully and emphatically into the ranks of the antisemitic popes who encouraged all, from kidnapping of children, who sponsored all of the 'auto de faes' in Spain, the expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula. The massacres and pogroms that took place in their own countries, to the point of world persecution and attack.  

So again, what has changed? Nothing. Other than to get worse. When expulsion was not enough, when persecution was not enough, to satisfy the blood lust they did what they had to satisfy and assuage the inhuman itch within. So, they burned and tortured and incarcerated and kidnapped. Any manner by which to further the destruction and the disappearance of the Jewish nation. Lies, vicious lies, blood libel lies, which have come out full force again. And the investors have jumped in eagerly.

Even more topsy-turvy - Jews have been constantly asked well, what have you done wrong to make people want to attack you? We have prospered. We have helped others, not only Jewish people. We have contributed amazing inventions to the world, including all of the tech that we are now using. The computer, the phone, the mapping apps and so much more and more coming down the chute.      So, what have we done to make people hate us? Beats me, but they sure gin up excuses from within their brutal minds and hearts.

There is much more to write on this topic and related issues, so I will hopefully continue with these themes always with the hope that one day I can wake up, boot up the computer and find that magically all has changed -for the better.

 Pipe dreams, I guess.

Yesterdaytodaytomorrow. 

The children of G-d grow weary. 

Their voices cry out louder and longer calling to their Protector for aid once again even as they do their best to protect the people on the surface. 

But it is hard, Lord.

It is a vicious circle of life, which we could well do without.

Look down upon us. See the tests and the torments we are facing and have been subjected to. 

Once again. 

Ever again.

"From the depths, our voices rise to you, call out to you". 

Answer us.

Hold out Your mighty Hands, take us back into Your shelter. 

Welcome us back into Your loving heart - and soon.

We do grow weary, tired of the constant battle against a cycle, a circle, never ending.          

BUILDING A WORK BENCH

  For some time, this morning, I have been putting aside chores that need to be done but not very appetizing ones. Lots of bending. Lots of shifting. Lots of carrying. Not my favorite activities. So why did I not do them when I had the time to do them? I guess because I'm somewhat of a lazy being. I prefer not to do those things which I really do not like to do! What I did instead was the following: I made a mess with those things which I had to put in order, as if I was actually doing something constructive. Next, I did a little earnest work and then decided I had enough. I must say though that it was not a total loss as I did leave it all in a place where it had to get done by bedtime because the items are all over the bed and I really don't want to carry them out into another room, only to have to carry them back the next day. Too much work.

Next, I did something that I enjoy. I watched some videos having to do with thrifting, art and woodworking. Thrifting has been a trusted and tried pleasure experience. I've been away from it for some years but have returned in small doses, and I'm enjoying it very much. Even if I find nothing, it is the pleasure of the hunt. 

With art, I ventured, tentatively at first, to expose more for my eyes and soul to see and feel and began to paint on my own. My style has changed, (hopefully for the better), and I enjoy myself. I do not care if others like it or not - it is for me that I dabble with the paints and the styles. I like to see what people are capable of doing with paint and I always emerge from the session with enthusiasm, encouragement and the knowledge that try as I might, I will never reach that level. But I do enjoy it and that is key.

The final videos I watch have to do with woodworking. I got into this years ago probably just a bit after the painting and this allowed me to give people some beautiful, exotic wood creations such as trays and cutting boards. I have even ventured to the more complicated area of combining these passions. Some of the results are actually pretty good and others went back to the drawing board.

However, I did learn about being prepared and being equipped and being in the right state of mind for these are important components of these projects. I went along, of course. The importance of knowing that one had to clean up after one was done, this necessity for planning for order, for cleanup, oozed over the rest of my life. Now I find myself more receptive to and aware of the need and the order to know what one is doing and to be prepared for possibilities, unplanned, unexpected, but still there they are.

This is all leading into the outside world. Many of the videos I watched this time around had to do with taking pallet wood, usually not the best of the bunch, and salvaging from it pieces which were able to be turned into beautiful combinations with patterns clear and smooth, years of usage ahead. Desks and furniture of all types and sizes. Different styles of legs and sizes. Dining room tables.  Kitchen tables. Coffee tables. Chairs. Items for decor and storage. We even made a table and rolling cart along with smaller items, useful items and never, never, did I ever think that I would be able to do something like that.

It is all in the planning. The preplanning. It is all the desire to know that one wants to come out with a usable and beautiful piece of work, of utility and/or of beauty or expression. It is allowing for ideas to percolate in one's head. I have an idea and allow it to grow and then act upon the fulfillment of that idea. Always to remember that there will be snags some anticipated, some not. But it is a fact that there will be some snags, and one must be prepared to deal with them.

And that is where the negotiators of the world have failed. Two states of being are the current go to's. The first is a state of silence. They mimic the three monkeys. See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. Except that they forget that last one as they indulge in the speaking of evil regarding Israel, regarding Jews. With full speed ahead. The other state of being is when the mouths are opened wide, very wide, to continue speaking bad. Apparently disregarding all the contributions of Jews to the world as in their quite loud voices they roar out what they think, what they know. In fact, it is a crock! All the problems that bedevil this world of ours are laid at our feet. Unfortunately, what emerges, for the most part, is more self-interest blather as they try to get one up, or two up or three up over their opponents, even over their allies.  

The original planning here has no sign, even of a pre planning preparation for the Waterloo which will inevitably arise in some form. So certainly the planning sessions of these various nations, these various leaders of nations all come to nothing. The only thing that remains is to stand aside as an onlooker, powerless, awaiting what nasty words emerge from their mouths. Trusting them that is a never to be reached point and thus we have a nothing comes from nothing reality, actually more of a nightmare than anything else.

Failure in these critical sessions is a critical problem for the entire world. There is no such thing anymore as a local war. Even in these supposedly tiny wars it doesn't work. Too many people involved. For whatever reason, usually to gain influence, strong influence in that area of the world and nothing comes from nothing, except the something that we don't want to see.

Perhaps we can hire a few of these woodworkers, these artists even thrifters, for they all plan ahead for what they are going to look for. For what they are going to do. To make sure they have the proper mindset. The proper materials. They've done all they could to align with the possibility of a positive result. Something to sell. Something to admire. Something with a value that comes out of hard work, honest work and true international cooperation.

 Perhaps they can call in our woodworkers to build a workbench for them using their material and ideas. Then they will know what they had been missing in all, for all, of their futile meetings. Nothing happens except the nothing that always happens. 

It gives rise to the tension in wrapping up every day with no positive outcome, no progress, maybe even regression, until all participants in this matter are all riled up, accusing each other of bad faith. What I see in these people is no desire for truth and compromise. They all have bought useless faulty workbenches of their own, incompatible with the others. The end result is a nothing, a waste of wood, a waste of nails, wasted hopes and dreams of the little people. We who stand in harm's way. We do not have the bunkers. We have only the workbench on top of us protecting us from falling debris from the buildings in which we are in.

Nothing comes from disorder. Other than more disorder, or even worse, as it builds up a negative synergy until it is impossible to drain, to deflate and to begin again. However sometimes it is quite difficult to surmount the effects of what has gone before - the negativity, even the hate that has been allowed to build up into insane proportions when and when there should be none at all.

I have no ability to come up with the answers or map as to where we need to go and how to get there safely. All I can do is point out the cracks in the wood. The shaky legs, the unfinished appearance of those workbenches which entered the halls of discussion already set up for failure. One cannot build a sure and lasting peace until and unless all those negotiating can buy into this peace. If we intend to get much for the world we need to get at least a little for the nations involved. 

Each nation must feel that they have skin in the game and are respected by the other nations. They have a position of that need, and their itch must be scratched, their honor upheld. So far I see nothing happening that way and unfortunately nor do most people of the world and certainly those who are supposed to represent us to get us the best bang for the buck. They are not up to the task No one willing to put in the elbow grease necessary to, in fact, get up to the peace. Until that happens, if it ever happens, if there is a possibility of it happening, we all must sit and wait and these days there is a lot to worry about. Every day we hear that Iran might start again and threatens they will do their worst. Trump blows his winds. We, the people, are left wondering and worrying

What I can tell you, my own observations, is that Israel, this noisy nation of Jews along with other groups who make up the people and the government of this nation are quieter than ever. The children are not outside as often. Nor as long nor as noisy. The adults are tired, not giving up but tired of the stress, of the worry, of the uncertainty. Of their loved ones going back into the army again.

It is best that those who threaten, know that Israel is a nation that cannot and will not be beat. It knows where it has been. It knows where it is, and it knows where it must be tomorrow, for all the tomorrows to come. Nothing and no one will ever change that. No more, not ever. Not again.

 Yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

Why can we not come to a positive outcome? Why can we not build the workbench that the entire world needs?    

--------------------------------------------------------------

Please note that tonight is the semifinal contest. Where Israel has been taunted, threatened, teased, booed, protested, whatever the worst people can think of, that has been done. Member nations have made this into a political contest, rather than a simple one of song and voice and talent. Those of you have read my blog nowhere of I speak Follow the directions on the screen of the Eurovision presentation and vote for Israel. As many as 10 times, just as other nations are begging their citizens to do as well. But only Israel is called on the carpet.

VOTE FOR ISRAEL IN SEMI FINAL EUROVISION.

THANK YOU.

THEOPOLITICS - SAY WHAT?!

  G-d and politics. In the same word no less. Never mind in the same breath or sentence. Sounds blasphemous to me. When one thinks of what these words actually mean, in connotation and denotation, in understanding and mis or dis understanding, willful or not, one can see a huge vista opening before one's eyes. This Vista sends a clarion call out to the onlookers, demanding to be addressed, to be understood and perhaps to find within a clear set of directions and instructions for life as it should be lived. 

What is the meaning of the term G-d? Do we accept G-d as that one figure Alone in His kingdom and/or surrounded by His angels, or is that word G-d actually referring to many gods, a pantheon of them rather than the one soul supreme? Is G-d or the gods rule(d) by human emotions? Or does the Divine in any format merely use them in order to make the actions and the emotions of these entities, however many or single, more understandable to the human mind? In that case must not there be a clear pathway distinct and understandable directions as to how to ensure that we connect with that L(l)ord above in the best way possible? Is there, in fact, such a set of directions, but we have not yet managed to completely understand them or use them, as they remain mysterious to us, unseen and not comprehended? Lots of questions. Lots of answers to be found. Unfortunately, as stated yesterday, much violence arising from the nebulous clarity of this matter.

Furthermore, the question remains as to whether the term G-d demands a formal religion or is it in fact, a faith, uncluttered by the machinations of the human mind. But the minds of mankind need something tangible to which they can cling, to know that they are indeed approaching that goal of perfect worship and befitting actions. We clearly are far away from proper culmination of that search. Will we ever understand the total Truth or are we doomed to forever fail in our seeking, keeping violence always nearby?  

Personally, I believe that over the millennia humankind in its fallibilities has so cluttered and clogged the path to true and complete understanding, that they cannot now distinguish between the pure Faith, the Belief and the Truth, the unifying knowledge of it and all of the extraneous irritating and antagonizing extras which they have super glued onto the pillars of pure faith, until those pillars are totally obscured and what remains beneath fades away from the minds and memories of mankind. Through the millennia they have fought and killed over the extras, not understanding that if they would stop and think for a while, a good long while and a good long think, they would at least get a glimmer of truth peeking through. On that glimmer they can expand and build. Perhaps, when we understand that, the time of the Messiah, the Mashiach, will truly be enabled and deserved.

Now that we understand the pollution of true faith that has taken place, we can better understand why and how 'theo', having to do with G-d, can be tacked onto the ugliness of politics which most often gives rise to the vilest of traits and thoughts of mankind - Politics. In fact, it is a total antithesis, and we continue to eschew understanding and practice of faith as it should be, and remain so off far away from that knowledge, the internalization of that knowledge and understanding. Perhaps now we can better understand how indeed to distinguish between that which is and that which is not, that which we should indeed believe and know and feel and that which we should recognize as dross of the worst kind. Kick it aside and make room for the Truth.

But humanity is stubborn. It insists on clinging to that which is not right. Instead of discarding the trash, more camouflage of the worst kind is added to the problem, hindering possibility of ever understanding how to live and believe properly, peacefully, and truly enjoy the privilege of the gift of the Creator - this beautiful planet of ours which we are systematically destroying in our constant maniacal chase after that from which we should have fled. In reality we have done exactly the opposite and we demean and debase ourselves and our planet almost to the point of no return. Can we change? Will we ever? Or will we allow the stink and the disgrace of politics to pollute clarity of vision and constantly lower the boom of war down upon inhabitants of this planet?

Theopolitics is the mixing of two that should never be mixed. It bodes for inevitable failure in cataclysmic manner. It is when we seek replacement for the godly part of us, for the goodness of the world, and move further and further away from true faith and true recognition of what that means. We pollute the playing fields of Earth with new false gods and thicken the crust over the true tenets of Faith with the pollutants inherent in man-made and created religions. 

Who are these new gods, these substitutes that draw us further and further away from that which we should struggle to get ever closer to? These new gods are of flesh and bone. They and others have elevated them to the status of god and godliness. Never to be criticized. To be feared. To be obeyed. Without question. To follow behind, to double back on ourselves, for thus, the new gods have demanded of us.

 Along with these flesh and bone demigods of the universe we have godliness attached to ideas. These ideas consume the world with their flames of extremism, too far gone, lost and strayed far from the initial goodness of the kernel of the ideas to better the conditions of life for all living upon this planet. Communism. Socialism. Democracy. Monarchy. Nihilism. Libertarianism. All such terms which begin well but rapidly sour when fused with the egos of mankind proud of and then insisting upon their ideas to be recognized and acclaimed as the be all and end all, the final truth and answer to all questions. Ensconced upon manmade thrones and seats of power.

Theopolitics at its worst. Theopolitics, as it is consuming our world right now. Scan the list of leaders of nations who have claimed thrones said and placed themselves in ranks of the gods over the lowly inhabitants of their nations. Those who have glaringly gratingly used religion, not faith, to further constrict, to further restrict, to lessen and worsen the lives of all over which they rule. Placed in their high positions of power by themselves and the enabling of others - all on us once again.

Theopolitics. For those who think that it is only there and not here, elsewhere, and not where you live, think again. Are you comfortable with the new presentations of Trump in Jesus likeness? Are you comfortable with the leaders of this nation which has held proudly up to the world the goodness, the righteousness, the rightfulness, of the separation of church and state now boldly not only connecting the two but mixing it to the point where separation is nigh onto impossible, and the line of division is nowhere.

I, you, we, we all do not need to hear the pronunciations of faiths read by politicians who are clearly far away from godliness and righteousness. We do not need to hear 'religious' leaders who have given of themselves over to the devil and his representatives. They have lost their ability, their desire, to pursue the good over the bad and have given way to ambitions and desires which should be unknown to them. When passages from the Bibles of faith of the religions of the world are read aloud, mouthed by false people, their meaning is defiled, for these voices negate the words. They mouth the words but never the true faith that lies beneath.

The dirt, the pollution of theopolitics. We have enabled it. We have given it to ourselves. We have given of ourselves to it. There is nary a nation in this world that is not suffering from this. Even when one arises, man or idea, that appears to be able to resolve these awful conditions which afflict us, it inevitably turns sour. Those who have risen do not wish to fall to another level. Theopolitics is what happens when we think the more of ourselves and the less of others, even as we truly make less of ourselves by our very actions and thoughts.

 Theopolitics in a world which is crying out loud for a reboot. But how to reboot, not merely changes one bad for another. One twisted idea for another. I do not know how to get that proper reboot in place. What I do know for sure is the fear which should be in all of us, that one day the Lord G-d will look down and say to His angels thus:

 Humanity has failed again They are past the sins of Adam and Eve. They have gone way beyond the arrogance of those creating the Tower of Babel. They have forgotten the waters of the Flood. They have forgotten the history of mankind. They have twisted the freedom and the opportunities I have given them. It is time to reboot yet again.

YesterdayTodayTomorrow.

All appear to be merging into one ugly mass. No distinction between.

How? Why?

Look in the mirror. No escape from that truth.

NOPE! ONE CANNOT EVER TRULY SAY HE HAS HEARD AND/OR SEEN IT AL.L

    Nope, not in this crazy world of ours. Nor can one ever say one knows it all, for on some days simply scrolling idly through those oh so important reportings and videos, it is ever so amazing and 'enlightening'. What is happening round the world? Bet you did not know it all until, you clicked on that arrow, and oh, what enlightenment and edification you received. 

The vocabulary enrichment, the evidently unknown pieces of critical and world-shaking information presented to you on your own personal machine. Most unfortunately, having some of your worst fears and the worst echoes of the history of mankind up front and center for your very frightening moments of validation and verification, with huge dollops of fear and heartfelt hopes of no way! Unfortunately, it can and it is, at ever increasing pace and pressure.

 Worst of all is the deep knowing inside that there is just about no way possible, certainly not at present, to stop these ever-recurring moments of horror, of the worst of mankind. They seem to forever return, worse than ever, particularly so as we know that we have so 'wonderfully' enhanced our powers of hate, of inducing fear, of ramping up ugly deaths and fearsome methods of torture. All to gain our way. All to indulge in our own twisted dreams and create nightmares in living daylight and bloody color for the sane people of this world. For those who have become the eternal foci of irrational hatred and enmity, deemed most worthy and deserving of the worst that can happen. Nor do we ever run out of the chosen victims, nor do we ever get bored, for after all variety is the spice of life and we are so deserving of that, are we not!

One of the most frightening things in the world for people of sanity and for people whose religion, or level of observance, might not meet the standards and desires of the prevailing religion in that nation at that time. So often the violence within the world arises from these religious clashes and differing opinions, ironically, the very cataclysmic opposite of what the religion purportedly preaches in its words, though carryover into deeds is rare, if ever. 

For the entire history of mankind these turbulent times resulting from religious incompatibilities have ruled the atmosphere. They have drenched the thinking process and drowned out words of sanity, compromise and accommodation. Hence, it made sense that when the movements for democracy and freedom of the individual arose, most of them were unfriendly to the excess demands of religion.   Religion was downplayed and its importance, even its acceptance, within " advanced” society at times, too many times, even when religion originally played a positive role within these advancements, it often turned sour and became repressive, oppressive and exclusionary once again. So much so, that default 'religions' such as extreme communism, fascism even democracy became the new "religions” of the time and adopted the same characteristics and traits of the "old” religion.

These changes amounting to the same old, same old were and remain more prevalent during times of uncertainty and tension. When societies begin to unravel and the threads that wove between them linking them together become frayed and the strands broke, allowing for a growing sense of anomie and desperation. In turn, that gave rise to new formats and presentation of what was and remains as old as time. Religions of various types, secular and religious, adapted new gods, most of whom were manifestly false in their presentation, but provided for if only temporary, places of supposed reassurance of better times, of a god whom the leaders could be in contact with for the benefit of the people of the land or the belief, whatever worked for them, that this religion provided for a hope of positivity and a retreat from the agonies and uncertainties of the times.

It appears to be a cycle of a never-ending spiral of violence, with a bit of respite, even if oppressive, and then possibly a rebellion of hope. Mostly the rebellion merely changed clothing and names but beneath it all was the same old ugliness, awaiting it's time to devour the inhabitants of the land and create a time ripe for the ascension of a man or woman who claimed to be a messenger of Hope from the relevant god of that time. But inevitably, with differing amounts of time, each proved to be as patently false as were most of those who came before with the same false promises and tragic outcomes.  

And now take a look around. Wherever you are on this planet or above or below. Is it not the same thing happening? Are we not falling prey to the angst of the times, admittedly serious, but still, why have we not learned? Why have we not taken heed of lessons of the past? Why do we continue to place our faith in false prophets blaring false promises?

 Why do we continue to believe or force ourselves to believe that violence is the answer wreaked upon those who disagree with us? One way or another, be it a manner of dress or worship, of belief or disbelief, violence is wrongly proclaimed to be the answer to all the problems and woes which beset humanity of all times. Why do we persist in trusting to that which has always failed? Why do we buy heavily into its falsehoods only to see even worse arise, until the cycle restarts once again. 

This has been given a 'new' name but is actually well known. It is called theopolitics, a 'new' belief of that which is not new at all, for in fact it is the same old premise that only one belief, one god, one manner of belief and observance is correct, and all the rest are to be discarded, even if violently.  

And so here we are, once again, always again.

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

We had better break this destructive suicidal chain of repetition if we are to ever truly know a better, more permanent, condition of life for all humanity.

More on this tomorrow.

MR. SANDMAN

 Can we all remember or dredge up from the past Mr. Sandman, who came to us at night to lull us to sleep. Who sent us sweet dreams allowing us to wake up nice and refreshed and ready to take on the day? Well, Mr. Sandman has not been so generous in his visits of late, and it has proven very difficult to get to sleep, thus making the days to follow difficult as well. In any case, Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night of this week, I literally did not sleep. I may have closed my eyes just to rest them, but I literally did not sleep. And so, when we arrived at our destination at 3:30 in the morning, new country time, there was no time to sleep either. Finally, home again, home again, in my beloved place in the land of my faith, I have finally been able to sleep. Mr. Sandman has stayed with me and I have been making up for my sleep debt.

  That is one of the reasons why my blog has not been written these past few days. Actually, even putting that problem aside, it would have been delayed anyway, because we have made one of our several times a year moves to spend some time in Israel where the air is different. Where despite all the woes and ills that befall it, it is a place of joy, happiness and fulfillment. 

It is a place where I once again can feel at home, welcomed, not looked upon with sidelong glances or eyes of suspicion by one who is not Jewish or not understanding of the situation or simply neutral in a matter that cannot be neutral. Worse even, a fellow member of the tribe who refuses to see his/her own situation - standing on the edge of the rim of the cliff under a delusion that he will be immune through all that follows.  

What is to be said? The change in life here is immense. We flew over the Atlantic, overflew the countries of Europe where an ancient hate continues to reside. Where it is engaged in a new era of strengthening regrowth of this ancient trope of ugliness. Worse even, despite the many generations before me - those immigrating to the United States which gave them room to live, to dream again,, to raise families in peace, and despite the following generations well ensconced within their homes in this nation, the United States, there has been a definite growing feeling of ill will, of unwelcome within my native born nation.

Please note that I have felt more of this hate, this unreasonable insanity, from those who do not know me. Those people with whom I come into contact who are not of the Jewish faith have been warm, welcoming, encouraging and are now integral parts of my life here in America. In fact, they have been one of the most positive aspects of my life here as a Jewish American, but is that enough to keep me and mine safe, to cover us with an umbrella of sorts when the acidic drops of antisemitism and intense, deep JewHatred fall upon us? Are there enough people within this nation, within the world, to stand up to and against the revitalization of that which has been long dead and gone and is now alive and well once again? We unfortunately are finding that there are many more out there more than willing and capable of joining the barbarians or of standing by silently as the world gives rebirth to that which should never have been born in the first place.

In the meantime, I stand here on my beautiful porch overlooking a new development and I watch the children at play. I see the shelters that unfortunately, had to be built beside every playground so that children at play would have a place to run to quickly when the siren sounds. And please be under no delusions that the sirens have quit, for they have not. 

Northern Israel continues to be battered by missiles from the enemy. The enemies of Israel, the enemies of all Jews, wherever, in this world, continue to rearm, refuse to give up their arms, to admit defeat and shed tears of falseness whenever their violations lead to a retaliation, claiming innocence even as we bury yet another victim of terrorism, rebuild yet another building. Our homes and lives which the world conveniently ignores, as if never was, never is, never will be.

I love America, my homeland, my native-born home which gave me a good life, which enabled me to raise my children sure and confident, able to build lives and raise their families. But then... But then there was that damn ugly face again. That dragon that lives beside us, floating offshore, awaiting its opportunity to come ashore and wreak its havoc long building within its stone heart. I resented even more that it has enabled the growth of seeds of hate within me. The most uncomfortable and unwanted growth one could imagine, and I wish it to be gone, never to find welcome or fertile soil again, in me, or in anyone else.

Why? Because hate is destructive. It is degenerative. It is when the worst of humanity comes to the surface, reeking and stinking of ugliness, of blood, of greed, of insane desire to accumulate wealth and power beyond any rational level or rightful level at all. So far, the annals of history of mankind tell us that humanity been lucky, able to overcome its worst and regenerate new lives and new hopes, new dreams. But too often and far more often of late, we have given way before the tide of bitter acidic hate and inhumanity which bodes no good for any nor for all.

There is great concern and unrest within both countries of mine. Whither goes the government? From whence will come the wise leaders and statesmen and women that we so desperately need? Will humanity be able to wend its way back? Find some kind of positive growth area where we will be able to look at each other once again, as fellow citizens, more importantly, as fellow human beings and most important, most critical, is the when of it? There is no time to waste, for the pressure of time is against us. We need all to look deep within ourselves, examine our true feelings, admit them, at least to ourselves and seek ways within which we can work comfortably and positively towards   making this world a better place for all. No matter the religion, no matter the ethnicity, no matter any details which should actually count for naught at all, yet we have allowed to drown all else out, overwhelming positive instincts and drives.  

I am hoping that I will be able to return to a steady blog and I thank for your patience and for your loyalty.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow. All the same and all different. What we make of them is up to us. What becomes of us is also up to us.

WORDS OF THE HEART

  It's May. The lovely month of May, as Guinevere and Arthur sang, in memory of what was and is no longer. So many items and thoughts in those two categories and with them they carry the opposite of happiness - sadness, even as much of the glaringly missing happiness of the heart remains - in memories, in love, forever. One runs to embrace it, to keep it close, able to be felt, emotionally, yet at some times with such overwhelming emotion, there is almost a physical memory, vital, intact and felt. In body, mind, soul, and heart, there is at one and the same time a gladdening, a blossoming within oneself, andd a groaning, weeping, mammoth hole.

And we cry out to the Lord Above. Why? Why have you taken them? Why have you left us bereft? Why must we struggle through waters of grief, dodge boulders of anguish? An anguish bearing down upon our shoulders, heavy, weeping; why did you have to double it in so short of time, not allowing for the memory and grief of and for one to dissipate at least somewhat before the next rogue wave rolls upon us and drives us deeper into a quagmire of griefs? Waiting, as it does every year, from 2005, 21 years of longing, for answers to questions going begging, of advice not forthcoming.

But Daddy, Pops, we could have and indeed did wish for you to have had a longer life, to remain enmeshed, as one, as you were with Mommy, ever since you were 16. The joy you took in life as you watched your kids, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren, as they refused to allow you to not be a part of their lives and playtimes, your discussions with your older grandchildren. The respect and honor all kinds and types of people, from all walks of life, all ethnicities, all religions, all ages, even those who had differing opinions, all directed at you, for you. At your funeral they stood in the streets. So special a person you were. So special a friend. So special a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, uncle, brother and brother-in-law. A contributing member of the community. A lawyer. A judge known for his honesty.

Born on May 8, 1920. Died on the fourth candle of Chanukah, and one of the last things you did was to light a candle, say the brachot and sing Maozcc Tzur. Those of us in the room, including his wonderful aide, sang along, with tears running down our faces. And you left us, to go and argue with your G-d how to correct the world, to be understanding and merciful to His Creations. And you watched over your family, kept track of them, even as we felt your continued eyes and love upon us.

The joy you shared with us as we welcomed the   beautiful youngest great-grandson into the family. Little did we know at that time the special and unique boy he was to be. A boy like you, Pop, who won over all and any he met. Equally as modest and straight in his ways, other than for two things. When he wished to hide his extra early morning hours on the computer, a pro even at an amazingly early age, his sympathy for me when I consistency lost games to him and I was trying! The other was when he, (we) conspired (I was an active participant in these 'crimes') to raise the number of opportunities to eat chocolate, with me even agreeing with his declaration at three that chocolate was not 'cendy'. He shared that knowledge with his mother trying so very hard trying not to laugh at his chocolate smeared face. 

Yitzy was confused and bewildered, not understanding of the admiration and praise heaped upon him by children and adults alike, his amazing athletic abilities, especially in baseball, his sportsmanship, his high standing in  school in wisdom and enthusiasm, a brilliant mind, a great student, and one with whom all wanted to be best  friends, even as he made sure to befriend and welcome all outliers into his ever widening, ever warmer, ever growing circle in life. Most unusual, he was the favorite of all members of the family, not a whit of jealously; in fact, it was the opposite, with all showering him with love and attention, with together time. They even tolerated his love of nature, his enormous fund of knowledge re birds, and creatures of Nature, and accepted his crested lizard, Cresty, and a rather long snake he called Creamsicle. (Please note that this is the one point where we differed.  I do not particularly care for creatures other than the 2-legged ones called humans, and even then ...!)

Disaster! No way! Why him! Why not me? G-d, what are you doing? How could you do this? One of the best human beings, certainly of our time and most probably of all times. We were all frightened, heartbroken, and searched high and low for a cure, for an extension of time, for him to heal. 

At the very end I came across a trial for him, hope to heal, to be shed of his rare and aggressive cancer. I contacted the scientists, explained the situation, and that I was a grieving desperate heartbroken grandmother and they were wonderful. Alas, it was too late, for even with the amazingly rapid   communication and special approval for the drug - it was too late. 

His body was exhausted, riddled with cancer, his liver failed. He was ready and thus explained to his family, and they stayed at the hospital from then on, celebrating the Festival of Lights, Chanukah, even as his light was fading. He spent his last conscious hours singing the songs of the holiday, reciting the blessings, and singing along with the guitar his brother-in-law was playing, as the family   gathered, singing with tears and fear and tortured love. 

The nurses were there as well, those who had been by his side from the beginning, loving  him, admiring Yitzy and the amazing humor and spirit and courage he evidenced  as he underwent difficult and painful chemo and radiation, the crippling nausea, the pain, the disappointments so difficult to withstand, the grief of his loved ones as they remained  in his room, as they awaited the inevitable, the bravely fought, the loss  unbearable, yet there it was. 

Another Festival of Light bedimmed by grief, always to remain so, even as we continue to talk of Yitzy, of my father. Both born in the month of May, days apart, doubling the grief, the good and the bittersweet memories, the now not so merry month of May. And at another time of the year when our   lights are lit in the menorah they are lesser in light, dimmer in joy, for both were taken from us on Chanukah, a day apart. my Pop and our Yitzy.

Words of and from the heart.

Forever.

YES, I AM MOST CERTAINLY SO!

  Read the following article about the state of education in NYC. Now tell me you are not scared. NYC- the most populous Jewish city after Tel Aviv.

How can this be - yet it is.

The Trump administration is investigating the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for allegedly violating federal civil rights laws by failing to stop K-12 teachers from procuring students for membership in anti-Zionist study groups, an enterprise which the government says will flood public school classrooms with antisemitism.

The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said last week that reports regarding the activities of a group which calls itself “NYC Educators for Palestine” prompted its inquiry.

First publicized by the North American Values Institute (NAVI), they range from teaching extracurricular courses on “Palestinian resistance” to holding “Palestine teach-ins” on federal holidays.

NAVI has noted that public sector union leaders enrolled in the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) are some of the group’s most eager participants and endorsers.

The problem, according to critics, is that their affiliation implies the approval of a city government that the Trump administration says should be ending the practice.

NYC Educators for Palestine targets children as young as five, the US Education Department alleged in a press release announcing the action, describing long sessions in which teachers drill into them the notions that Israelis are “genocidal white supremacists” and that Hamas terrorists are “martyrs.”

The group also targets high school students preparing to transition to college and the workplace as well. In January, it held a “teach in” on the Martin Luther King holiday, casting a wide net for children “ages 6-18.”

The inexorable outcome of the group’s indoctrination is the radicalization of students who will point to disinformation confected by anti-Zionist activists as cause to abuse their Jewish classmates, the Education Department said.

“No child should be taught by his or her teachers to hate their peers. Neither should Jewish children be taught that being Jewish somehow makes them inherently guilty or proponents of hate and violence,” Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement.

“Discrimination has no place in our schools, and, unlike the previous administration, the Trump administration will not turn a blind eye to antisemitic harassment. [The Office for Civil Rights] will investigate these appalling allegations to ensure the equal treatment of all students.”

According to NAVI, the leading supplier of money and support for the NYC Educators for Palestine’s initiatives is a little-known nonprofit titled “Rethinking Schools,” which describes its mission as “strengthening public education through social justice teaching and education activism.”

Rethinking Schools in turn is a beneficiary of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the country, and the Lannan Foundation — a benefactor of Mohammed El-Kurd, an anti-Zionist activist who has trafficked in antisemitic tropes, demonized Zionism, and falsely accused Israelis of eating Palestinians’ organs.

The Schwab Charitable Fund, founded by investment banker Charles Schwab in 1999, has also donated some $78,000 to Rethinking Schools, according to NAVI.

In an exclusive interview with The Algemeiner, NAVI chief strategy officer Josh Weiner said that NYC Educators for Palestine’s activities clearly violate civil rights laws even as they transgress professional ethics.

“First off, they’re actively advertising and speaking at these events and sharing their status as New York City public school teachers to attract attendance, which is misleading for suggesting that they are sponsored by the Department of Education or New York City,” he explained, noting that the group will hold at least six more events before the end of the academic year.

“Essentially what they’re doing is training students to be hostile toward fellow students based on their identity as Jews as Israelis. That likely creates a hostile environment at school and limits their access to an equal education.”

The federal government’s intervention in the matter is “long overdue,” Yael Lerman, executive director of StandWithUs Saidoff Law, a legal advocacy group based in California, told The Algemeiner in a statement.

Jewish and Israeli students are afforded the same protections as every other child under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,” Lerman said.

“Schools are not free for all political activism — especially when that activism creates a hostile environment for students based on their identity. When educators blur the line between instruction and indoctrination, and when repeated warnings from parents and advocacy groups go unaddressed, federal intervention becomes necessary. This case matters not just for New York City but for school systems across the country.”

DO WE NEED SACKCLOTH AND ASHES?

  Is it truly that time or is it past the time when we need to or are forced to say goodbye to the world as we knew it. As we still know it in some ways. But as we in great magnitude cannot imagine in a world of the near future. What is ugly from the past has returned. Too often refreshed and reinvigorated by the nastiness of the world of today. To it is added new scrolls of hate put forth and unrolled by those who should know better, who in fact do know better. but could care less. Why? Because that is not where their heads and minds and hearts are. Their souls are already blackened to a point of no return. They revel in the muck and filth of their hate, and of their willingness to break a country which once stood at the head of the world.

Thus, it might indeed be the right time for those signs of mourning. For sure, there is very little to take joy in, to see positive signs. The past, the signs of the past and recent today, which had pointed to and led us in the right directions, which we mostly followed willingly, perhaps even eagerly at times, are now gone. They have been absorbed into the negative and nasty proliferating atmosphere of current times. Too few have caught on in sufficient time to make it easier to turn it around. We denied it. We refused to see it or to hear the words of ugliness spew forth from our misfit leaders.

And so, we watch and wait. Will there be any hero to ride in on a white horse to save us? I doubt it, though Bonnie Tyler's song of needing a hero is quite apt for the times. We need all of us, all the standard issue people of the world to decide on their own that they are the movers and shakers; they are the ones who are to determine the fates of all. There is no default move here, for absence merely adds to the weight and complexity of the problem. Perhaps we need to stream the movies of old, the TV series, which though not perfect, did underline the principles we upheld as positive, open and welcoming. Clear white hats and black hats. When and why did we think we had outgrown them, that we had become too sophisticated to live by and uphold them?

This nation worked so hard to rid itself of old-world faults and fallacies. We passed laws for equality and moved forward when they weren't enough. We pursued justice and made great efforts to share that justice. We fought against the corruption within governments. Where nepotism favoritism had no place. And here we are, 2026, and governments at all levels are rife with corruption, with favoritism. With the power of bribery. With whom you know. And not what you know, what you can contribute. 

We have politicians who have aged out. Do they see it only in others and not in themselves? We have leaders who have passed over the border into dementia, into physical and mental deterioration. But we refuse at will to acknowledge it. 

We have shattered the dreams of those such as Horatio Alger who went from rags to riches. For those who went from log cabin to White House. Or those who stood in front of the nation that they had led to independence and refuse the crown. He said, we had enough of monarchs. We were to be a democratic, independent nation. 

Why today do we have those who seek the Crown? Who have already crowned themselves in their own minds. Who have taken upon themselves the privileges of rank and royalty. Coining currency with their faces imprinted. Placing their name and face where it definitely does not belong, with no right to be there. Why have our laws been flouted by the very ones who should be upholding them? Standing firm for them. For this nation. For the people of this nation. To enable dreams to come true. To enable the have nots to make their way up, to better educate their children. To have better lives. Why do we now, rather than welcoming immigrants who enrich this nation turn upon them. Jack boots and awful warehouses of humans. 

I cannot answer these questions. I do not understand why these circumstances have made their way into our lives. All I know is that it is ugly. It is outlining a world where nobody looks after and out for the little guy.

We have a situation where freedom of speech, freedom of thought are in perilous stance. When the head of government meddles in the media of the nation, threatens them and forces them to do as he wishes, as he wills, we are not in a good place. When the appointees of this administration are absolutely incompetent. Have roles as Baa, Baa Black Sheep. We are not in a good place. When unqualified people are appointed to positions where they know not what to do and engage in that which harms the people, danger is blasting us loud and clear. When we have lost the courage and the righteousness to uphold that which should be upheld and turn aside from that which should not be - where do we go from here?

When we celebrate those who have brought AI online into our lives allowing, even encouraging nasty situations. When the evil residing within people is able to appear and grow quite ugly roots into the lives of people, even to the point of despair and suicide, the question is why? Why have we now reached a point where children commit suicide because they are being bullied online. Why have we reached the point where scientists are warning us that these ever-increasing AI programs are able to and wanting to and even perhaps wishing to send forth horrible facts and instructions. How to create nuclear bombs? How to take pathogens, insert them into genetic material and create epidemics with no cure. It is there. It is there for us to see. It is there for us to know. But we do not.

We have lost our way. We have lost our ethics. We have lost all that made us Americans. Citizens in, of, and to the world. Is it any wonder that curators of museums of art, of life, feel they are responding to the "sad state of the world. Full of darkness and strife. And recurring collective trauma".

This is the world we have bequeathed unto ourselves. 

Are we proud?

 

STILL HERE!

  Into each life some rain must fall. Or so the saying goes. And unexpectedly, I had a bit of a rainstorm. It made it impossible for me to write my standard or regular posting. And I think that I will have to do my writing in the afternoon rather than in the early morning hours. It also might or might not be a posting every day, but I will certainly do my best. Although I will tell you in advance that on Sunday there will be none as it is a travel day for us. So, thank you for your patience and your loyalty and checking back most days. I will endeavor to do my best not to disappoint you. 

Much has gone on over the days during which my site was quiet. In fact, it seems as if one logs on for online updates, there is always a plethora of events. heartwarming or spine chilling, even soul   depressing. Enough to write a book about. Well, too tired to write that book, so we'll have to be content with a regular post. But what to write about? 

The first thing I saw today upon opening the computer was yet another series of comments re Trump's rather odd times for posting. One after the other. Ranting on about his enemies who are “out to get him,” or his plans for retribution and revenge upon those who dare to oppose him, such as Comey. Or the next steps he will take, all emerging from his clear as glass ambition to rule the world, one way or another. It makes no difference as to what the world thinks. He will simply do what he thinks, or wants, for he knows what is best for Donald is what is best for the world.

Herein lies a big problem for myself. I have often written about the rending of this nation into separate parts. Unable to be meshed together. A jigsaw puzzle that has been miscut, edges and inner pieces misshapen, impossible to reunite so as to enable a clear scene to emerge from the energy expended. Frustration gives way to anger, to a sense of traveling upon the path one knows is wrong but cannot find an exit from.

That is how I feel these days, for many days, even weeks. I too am rendered into two pieces, more even, when I think of Trump, of the political situation within this nation. It makes me tired, body and soul. It makes me feel in a state of confusion as to where this nation has wended its way and how, if, we can retrace our footsteps and come upon the exit needed to enable a reordering of the soul of this nation. Personally, I wonder how I can possibly reorder reality and return to a situation which I can remake or at least reorder in some way so as to make sense, even partially, of the current mess.

To put it plainly, I am split in my support of policies of this nation, of various states, of people purporting to be spokesmen for the people of the nation, and I can see no way clear and possible to reconcile these differences. I despise Trump. I think he is definitely on a steep downslope in mentality, in sanity, deeply immersed in his own fog of confusion as to what being President means and entails, other than to increase his own profile as he reconstructs the nation in so many ugly ways.

 As did and do most dictators, authoritarian figures, they construct statues of themselves. Rename places for themselves. Strike coins as if they are the regal rulers of a nation. The laws which rule the nation have been openly flouted by him. Security and confidence in this administration is bleeding away. The musical chairs of the administration grow ever more frantic. I intensely dislike his brutal immigration policy and enforcement of such. Desirous of creating human warehouses. His social policies are cruel, uncaring. They enable the haves to have more even as have nots grow in number, grow in depths of struggle, with passages out of their stations more and more difficult.    

So where do I find that at least for me is a point of favor for Trump? It is in his policy towards Israel. He does, as most Americans have done, as most American presidents and administrations have done, certainly as Democrats have done, is to support Israel. As a primary ally. A loyal ally. But even within this positive attitude there is a fracturing of the surface veneer. There is a huge. deep well of uncertainty. Mistrust. Distrust. That he can be relied upon to continue that support. I am sure that even as he maintains his right to use his Presidency on what he thinks is right, there is also a political awareness within him. He does need to keep the support he has and regain that which he has lost. Hence who is next to be thrown under the bus?

Furthermore. I get very uneasy when I see the manner in which he has tackled the universities on their much abused and misused diversity policies.  In a mad rush to take advantage of these policies, when they came to a fork in the road, they inevitably chose the wrong fork. They allowed. long planned incursion of the ranks of professors with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic viewpoints. In their classes they stomped upon Jewish students, pro-Israel viewpoints, anything that has even a wisp of a flavor of pro Jewish feeling or support.  

Rightfully attacking that, Trump's administration, in their rather clumsy ham-handed attention to the matter, laid heavy emphasis on "combating antisemitism".  This rather backfired, for it opened a door for those with nefarious plans for the State of Israel, for Jews in general thus justifying in the crooked minds of many to join in the fun. Even one tiny seed of hate for Jews inevitably grows a giant overflowing crop. Certainly, when the administration asked for lists of Jews within the university, both students and all employees, it sent chills down my back. Lists of Jews given to a government bodes no good for Jews. We have learned that via bitter historical memory and trauma. No matter what reason is given for justifying it.

But it is more than that. When the party that most Jews followed and voted for, the Democratic Party. began to turn its back on Israel and sanctioned anti Semitism, hackles are raised. Self-preservation policies become part of one's daily thoughts. Even more terrifying is when Jews, particularly those in seats of power and influence, desirous of more, give in to the filth of antisemitism, turn upon their own selves in a false expectation, that they will be excused from any consequences of these policies. Calling oneself Jew-ish, is not a ticket out. To the world you are a Jew. And if we do not stick together, if we do not stand up, back-to-back, with and for each other, then yes, there is that awful possibility.

A return to times which we most definitely do not wish to return to. And so, we look to the Republican Party. But even there, present is an erosion of support for Israel in its continuous battle for survival. A war which did not begin in June. It began decades ago. Millennia ago. It continued in outbursts of blood and evil throughout the centuries. And once again burst into ugly thistle blooms on October 7, 2023, merely a continuation of that war. 

That understanding escapes the minds of politicos. Now we have from the left and from the right a growing horror. Call it by any name you want. Anti Zionism. Anti Semitism. Claims "justifying" this hatred. It matters not. It is all stemming from sheer ugly, bitter JewHatred.

Thus, here I am. No straight ticket voting for me. Perhaps not even casting a vote in some cases.   When both choices are anathema, perilous in meaning, in action, in intent. To my survival and the survival of my people.

This is not a world to which I ever believed we were to return to after the horror of the Holocaust. This is a world we should have by now cleansed itself of its ugliness. It is a world where once again Jews have one foot in and one foot out the door. It is a world once again when nation of our birth, nation of our faith, nation of our adoption are trying to adopt us out.

So, I am still here. So too are my two countries. And I hope and pray that never will there be a hostile crack creating an abyss between them. But all this hoping and praying for the good to triumph over evil, well, it is tiring to body and soul.

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

Why can we not improve upon all these times. 

In recognition. 

In understanding. 

And in anticipation.

Why?