PASSIONS

 Passion is an extremely strong emotion. It can drive people to heights or depths. To despair or elation. For many onlookers these strong passions are a puzzle, for one can feel it deep within the soul. An onlooker can stand alongside, can even understand or feel the righteousness of that passion, yet remain impervious to its depth and intensity. 

Passion at high speed and great intensity can even drive one to an insanity overwhelming, all else, particularly if the fulfillment of that passion is frustrated, not allowed to blossom or bloom as one might wish. The strength of that emotion elicits praise or condemnation, depending upon the viewpoint of the others standing outside that circle, looking in, shrugging shoulders in amazement and not feeling it, or smiling in agreement, or aghast at the thought of what that passion can cause.  

These passions can induce an oxymoronic mixture of love and hate. One might not desire to be caught by it but cannot help it. It bores itself within and can wage an internal war upon the resistance of the believer. 

But those with strong passions and beliefs have moved humankind through the millennia, both positive and negative in manner. Perhaps it is not even a choice that they can make, but at some time there must be a choice, for nothing happens, good or bad, unless someone makes a choice, moves on with that choice, driven, willingly or not to scratch the itch of that all-encompassing passion, at times blocking out the reality of others not so involved.

 Oftentimes, there arises a split, a breakoff, a new sect, giving rise to change and adjustment, welcomed by some and resisted by others. Variations of the original document or theory or set of rules and expectations, new passions, arise, welcomed by some but not all. Some might feel a glow, happy with the changes, but within others, it can begin to rot, inevitably leading to a split. The split can be peaceful, but it often is not as passions remain, though not on the same channel and focused on different realities. 

The cracks grow into chasms which cannot be bridged and combat arises. Discussion, compromise, understanding, tolerance and wisdom fall by the wayside, the passions now become bitter, and opposing words turn into opposing laws and blows. War raises its ugly head, drawing others into the fray and all new thought and change become criminalized. The passion has gone sour as the sects, the old and the new, wage civil war upon each other, criminalize differing views, imprisoning, even executing some.

That which was good, that which induced the passion, can fall on either side of the line. The impassioned ones can work for humanity with noble ideas. They can lead people to the creation of inventions, to brave schools of philosophy, pathways for humanity to move forward. However, it can change quickly, swerve or hang a Uey, and disillusioned or tired or even originally tainted, they can and will bring back the old status quo or even worse. 

Passions, like most emotions, can have two sides, one beneficial and the other not. What is a positive moment of history can quickly turn rancid. Too often, the societies affected stand silently by and even encourage the fruits of the good tree to wither on the vine, on the branches, to fall down and rot on the ground. It is up to those who know and understand to guard society against that which would harm it, which will harm it unless we all stand guard against it

As usual, it falls to us and only us. We can determine our own path, the path for the world. In fact, if we do so, champion the path which moves forward, not the one of selfishness and anger and Hate so high that one feels as if drowning in it, if we persevere and hold strong against those who wish us harm, take a look in your mind at what could be. Should be.

Take a look at your nation today. See where it is. Think where and what it should be. Think how we can improve it. Think how much better our reality could be. Think too of what could be if we stand aside and do nothing or even advocate for the bad, the selfish. Is that what we wish for us and far more important for our children?

It does not matter the time, be it yesterday, today or tomorrow. Responsibility is the same. The danger is the same. The blessings and the curses remain as well. It is our choices that will move humanity forward or backward. 

Which do you choose?

More tomorrow.

ONE MUST ALWAYS LOOK IN THE MIRROR

 Many people, in fact, probably most people in the world do not like to look into that mirror. Be it real or virtual and in one's head or on one's face when looking deep into that mirror within that mirror we see truths that are not necessarily appetizing to our own selves. Certainly, many of them incite nausea along with panic and fear. How was this most unpleasant point reached and moreover, how do we fix it, or at least deal with it in some productive manner, to lessen its import and prevent reoccurrence?  

This is the point where I am today. I am quite sure that there are many who have reached the same point and while we have been partially successful at avoiding it or walking willfully blind past it, the time has come to deal with the elephant in the room and all the little elephants which follow along. Until finally we reach the last elephant in line with the graduate cap over his head and the spectacles carrying wisdom and truth to all who would see it and know the truth.

The truth is that, in justified and justifiable thinking and recognition of reality there is much in the world that is ugly. It must be extirpated out, roots and all, to inches below to ensure we got it all, prevented its return, perhaps, possibly, in even more virulent manner. 

What is this truth? It should be clear to all who have read my blog over the years that there is a very real ugly, poisonous growth of JewHatred within our world. Not that somewhat more genteel antisemitism to be found in upper classes of society, spoken of sotto voce, in sly whispers with a snidely blinking eye. Hateful, with limiting and limited factors, it is wrong to the bone. But it can be managed and certainly with no activation of the fear hackles on one's neck being raised. 

No, this is the Anti Semitism that has morphed back again, once again, to a violent hatred which seems to encourage activation from the holder of that ugly sentiment, to turn words into action. The more frightening, the more out there, the better it seems. Though certainly the worse, approaching the worst, for the target and recipient of that malicious emotion and related action, is particularly more frightening to those of us who have mostly grown up in a world free of that sentiment. Of related violence to be seen only in outliers of society and spewers of hate with a few pathetic followers.

These times, in our today times, we have horrifyingly allowed much of society to turn back into the yesterdays, into its horror, into its bloodlust and into the mad desire to hurt as many as possible, particularly our children. To disappear our tomorrows before they have a chance to begin. This evil plan, these homicidal urges and activations are to be found in every persecutor of Jewry through the ages, back to the beginning. As bad as it sounds, it is within our genetic composiion, as we pass the trauma down through the generations to be alert, aware and at the ready to deal with it. Only these days we have the knowledge, the ability, the will, and the material necessary to face off with the evil troglodytes. Not so easily will Jewish blood be shed any longer. 

NO More. Not Ever Again.

That being said, there is an offshoot of this current heightened awareness, and it is that which we must have the courage to look into its eyes, its reflections in the mirror and understand what has happened. We might not like it, but we must acknowledge it and we must deal with it. Not a simple matter, along with so many related issues that go into the whole messy ball of yarn that now wraps around this issue. Some of it is a necessary evil, for things happen in battles, in war waged verbally and/or physically. But some, quite a bit, can be ameliorated and lessened albeit without harm to us.   We do not have to give it air and breath to live. We do not need to cede our souls as we defend the body. We can do what we must but must not become our enemy, for what then is the difference?

Along with the questioning of military plans and combat, readiness, expectations, and conscription     we have also, unfortunately, 'graced' ourselves the wrong way when it comes to the politics of this nation. It is a strange politic. Though, while Israel is an independent, legitimate stand on its own two feet state, it must incorporate within, the souls and bodies of Jews around the world. Take into account those Jews who have mistakenly thought they can shout to the world that they are Jewish even as they curse their own brethren and endanger them even more, even as these apostates deny their Jewishness.

It is a state which is constantly boiling with religious clashes, not so much Islam and Judaism, but clashes within the body of the state and the faith.  Every Jew around the world has his or her opinion of what the Jewish way is. How one should worship in the faith. Is the faith temporary with no change possible or can change be included? Our history itself speaks to this issue, but we are so embroiled in shouting and denying each other that we forget that a Jew is a Jew is a Jew. 

 No matter what he feels or thinks or observes religiously, if we forget that reality, believe me there are many out there who will gladly remind us. They, and we, by our stubbornness, dig at the cracks and crevices we have allowed to grow within us. We are falling into gaping chasms, and bottomless abysses. If we do not attend this, if we do not manage to repair them in a permanent fix, or a culture of acceptance of each other, then we are simply harming ourselves and empowering the enemy, the foes of Israel, harming ourselves with quick and deep cuts extremely difficult to heal.

 I hate to think of such a future.

We must not have such a future, for that is no future at all.

We must temper ourselves and not become our own worst enemies. 

Can we remember that?

Hopefully more on this in other postings.

HYPOCRISY IS AS HYPOCRISY DOES

  We all have a bit of the hypocrite inside of us. It is necessary to keep peace within a household or any situation where there is a cadre of people working together. Certainly, when we all say, to our children, "Maybe" or We'll see" there is the hypocrite within us, for we know darn well what will take place and what not. That hypocrisy is sanctioned, especially as the children wise up to us and our half promises of unscheduled events at some unknown time and the reality of their reality!

However, hypocrisy can reach up or down as the case might be when it involves huge numbers, millions, billions of people. There must be a condemnation of that hypocrisy, particularly as much of it is blatant, right out there in front of your face even as one huffs and puffs and rages. Too often little to next to nothing is done too much of the time. The result is often an unbelievable acceptance of the lies spewed forth by the hypocrites encouraging the hypocrisy to be ramped up at devilish speed into plans causing people to suffer. What results is a more intense hatred of that which should not be hated; that which there is no reason to hate. It is above the table in plain sight and below the table, hidden where so many people will feel and/or follow its evil winds even as it is not hidden at all, clearly visible in the emotions induced by its presence.

Most frightening most demoralizing is when heads to government, people in positions of influence, religious figures pontificate from their podia, buying into the falsehoods, the double talk and double standards inherent in the support and sanctification of lies as truth, of Hate as the topmost emotion, and the approval of negative misshapen consequences inevitably resulting from the misaligned loyalties of the deluded. 

Personally, I find it particularly outrageous and enraging when government leaders and heads of government stand out front and center and criticize another nation about whom false propaganda is dispensed round the world, heavily supported and echoed by other nations buying into the Hate. It takes place even as they know that their nations are the ones who have done the evil acts now laid upon the shoulders of those who have not, certainly not as an obscene policy supported by the political echelons and citizens of that nation.

Double standards is the name of the game, a game which these days have seen a revival of its blatant ugliness as nation after nation indulges in an age old hate and jump on the bandwagon to shout it out loud and clear. Putting forth lies and exaggerations and yes, mistakes and mishaps, as purposeful and ingrained perversions within the nation. 

Those who are gullible. Those who buy willfully into these hypocritical words and those who know nothing, ought other than what they read in prejudiced one-sided harangues about the "evil nation" will fall in line and do their best to be part of the crowd. One of the many, one of the "hip and the cool". Most people find it easier to join the crowd, to avoid standing out in opposition and take themselves out of the fray within. Thus, ensuring their own safety and possible ambitions at great cost to those within this circle of danger.

A flotilla of 'activists' otherwise known as supporters of terror, even terrorists themselves, set sail for the umpteenth time. Their goal is clear: to break through and render useless the lines of defense round its water boundaries, to defend its territorial integrity, its independence and most important protect the citizens on the other side of those boundaries. 

These are the very same citizens and small towns and villages, farms and ports, places of vibrant life who were so brutally massacred, tortured, burned alive in one of the most evil inhumane successful plans to emulate the horrors of the Holocaust, to perpetrate them on the soil of those who dared to survive, who had dared to be there and to come there, to build and rebuild, to develop, to live, to raise children, to grow bountiful produce from the sands of the desert and prosperity where before they had been poverty.

There is not a nation in the world that would allow for forces of the enemy with arms aboard, the questionable 'aid' to invade their shorelines, to cross into areas of population unopposed, and unsheathe their swords of war. Lay about them with deadly intent, craving lakes of bloodshed and victory against their 'enemy' who wanted only to live in peace, to be left alone. To improve the world. To do as their hearts and souls and faith told them to do.

Not another nation would meet with and given such unreasonable suicidal demands of other nations. Only of Israel is such demanded. Only of Israel do the nations of the world call upon to bare their throats to the knife and put aside their own weapons of defense in order to please those who continue to wallow in the fields of JewHatred. Those who blatantly declare in loud, ugly, braying, demented voices of their intention, their tenet of faith to destroy the nation of Israel. In fact, the same goal for the people of the Jewish nation round the world. In the case of others such demands would be deemed as intent of genocide, but in this case the target of that planned genocide is accused instead of that crime against humanity. The very people who had suffered the most of such genocidal ambitions and actions.

But hypocrisy wins the day yet again.

The nations of France, of Italy, of Spain, join in the fray, even leading it. Along with the other passengers who have jumped aboard this train of malevolent Hate, they merge into a cavalcade of blood crazed salivating hounds chasing the same prey of old times, of all time. The same forked tongues passed down through the generations spewing forth the same lines, perhaps dressed in new words and newly created claims of violations that never were. Always enthused and liberated by the hypocrites and the know nothings, so joyous, liberated from the bonds of civility and humanity as they enjoy their leap into the fetid waters of this ugliness.  And the number of passengers on that train of enthused Jew haters grows ever larger, whooping and cheering at their luck. More crowded, ever more vicious.

The spokesmen for the nations condemn the treatment of their citizens, their citizens who have the evil intent of illegally invading a nation, to set upon, have at, a people for whom they planned only death and loss and horror. Their being fed and whole, released into freedom, free to replay this scenario over and over again, repeat offenders, so to speak, with yes, some name calling, perhaps even a shouldn't be there shove, counts for naught. Even as the shove was roundly condemned by the vast majority of Israel. 

But where, where indeed were these oh so holy voices when their citizens were caught by the animals of Hamas, by those oh so definitely not innocent civilians. Held as tortured prisoners of old, in dark, dank, dismal dungeons, away from light, from air, from contact. Beaten, battered, raped, chained, starved, killed, butchered and held hostage. Starved. To death. Murdered. By fanged creatures of the night.  No, no one cried for their citizens then. For these citizens had been tainted by one fact. They were Jews, they were in Israel, thus these citizens of those nations were deemed as dross, tainted. Their rightful demand to be set free deemed as less concerning, even of no concern, than other beings on this earth. Not even a word of real protest, few and sparse, and any memorial put in place in those nations after the loss of their citizens meant nothing at all. Too late. But who cared other than the Jewish people and their few supporters. All the rest of the world bought into the oh so pitiful false story of the bruised, put upon Hamas and their evil cohorts. Condemned were those who needed help, left to death in an ugly brutal hopeless life.  

 In fact, they continued this perverse plan as they did not support the citizens of Jewish faith who lived within their own borders. Be these nations of the East, the West, the modern, the old, all have allowed Jews to become the targets of the day.

 Once again. Ever again.

Countries once seen as havens from the millennia of horror which chased Jews from pillar to post, which did not allow them to settle anywhere, not even in their own country, their G-d given and G-d Promised ancestral homeland.

And the hypocrisy continues till this day and most probably, unfortunately, into the foreseeable tomorrow.

From yesterday to today till tomorrow.

So many instances of eyes and hands and souls corrupt and blackened voting, practicing only Evil. Once more for Jews to be chased down in the streets. Once more, to be set afire in their gatherings. Once more to fear for the lives of their children.

And yet we continue. There is no hypocrisy there. The biggest, most powerful Defender in the universe, in whatever universe appears, has vowed to defend us. Yes, there are times when we wonder where is that Power? Where are those hands strong and warm and welcoming and rescuing? But we continue to have faith, and we have continued to see that the faith is right. Even as nations have disappeared. Great and powerful nations over the millennia have withered and died. We, the people of Israel, deemed the underdogs, weak and pitiful, have remained alive and for the most part well, particularly in more modern times. It is terrifying to see some of this erode. Yes. But we will be here.

Always. 

Forever.

Am Yisroel Chai. 

The nation of Israel is alive and well.

La'netzach.

Forever.

Amen. Selah.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON - OR DOES IT?

  Or are we so possibly used to it always there in the background, relentlessly, that we truly do not hear it anymore. Certainly not in any meaningful, productive manner, for in fact it is oppositional to positive outcomes. I have no clue how to stop this relentless beat that drives us, that drives the world, into ever higher speeds and approach to disaster, other than to find some brilliant community minded genius who can create a vaccine ready for mass instant inoculation of the inhabitants of this world.

Then there would be a thunderous silence. Only the sounds of trees and leaves rustling in a mild breeze. The whoosh of the calm waves of the ocean and the pleasurable sounds of birds warbling to each other. All the forces of nature wonder at this miracle. No more frightening booms. No more cries of the crazed champions of war. No more gathering up the parts of humans that other humans blew up. 

No more evil thoughts, nor evil looks, nor evil anywhere, as we all, together, enjoy that new silence that allows us to slow down the constant pounding on our brains. This will allow for one to look at another, a former foe on the incessant battlefields, and recognize the shared humanity of all. In turn, humanity will wonder how they were so dumb, as to which point and when they heard nothing, felt nothing other than a crazed wrath crying for revenge and insane plans to blow up the world. Rattling on how they would rule the world without an understanding that their actions had led to the point where there would be no more world left.

I sit here at the keyboard wondering how it is possible to type and throw up one's hands up into the air at the same time. Wondering all the time re the fathomless stupidity of mankind who take all the wonders of this universe of ours and turn it into dross. Ruins populate the territories of nations of the world, some from wars of recent occurrence with no time nor energy, no funds, nor willingness to repair, only to continue on, to further the backwards movement of the populations of the world. All the gifts of this world so amply and clearly there, and the talents that humankind contains within their minds and souls, all ignored for the good possibilities. Instead, they are used to amp and ramp up the taste and deep need for bloodshed, to heighten the Hate along with the growing deafness to all, other than that driving beat.

Yes, can I, we, look around and say there are just wars raging right now? Absolutely. For such is the way of the world. We hear nothing, see nothing, talk no words of peace and conciliation, of compromise and adjustment, of sharing and cooperation. We allow the anger, justified or not, to build up until we reach that red hot atmosphere that allows for nothing else other than the worst traits of humanity to be blown out of proportion and consume the world yet again. Only as time goes on the dangers of these wars, large or small, for they all intersect at some point, only increase in peril, known and yet to be displayed. 

The forces of nature, its rules and regulations, along with the laws and regulations of mankind, specific and general, are violated and in turn these violations reap their inevitable results and the safety and security of a sane and safe and prosperous and permanent habitation of the world as was meant and desired to be, flows rapidly, in torrents of raging rivers, into the sewers and there we are. Back to where we started and returned, over and over again. Doing the same thing with the same harmful and negative results, even as we wonder as to how that happened. The definition of insanity. And sheer stupidity.

Can we ever get ourselves up from the sewers, halting the rising rivers of hate and blood, and fix the world? This is a job not easy to plan, to put into action, and to carry into fruition, even if not entirely so. But for that to happen, that beat of war, that beat of vengeance, that beat of greed and fear and ugliness, of Hate of all that we deem other than 'we', must be silenced if we are to hear what lies behind and beneath that drumbeat of negativity and build upon it, the resources and strengths it give us. 

Until and unless we do that, if we continue to indulge in the worst motivations and traits of humanity, there will be no future. Certainly not a good one and most probably not for very long. There are those among the most stupid of all within humanity who push for the drilling into the core of the Earth for it is iron and nickel and the minerals are useful. But tell me, when the core of the Earth is gone what is there left to hold it together. This is the same if the core of humanity is beaten into uselessness and the absence of the decency of humanity, of its recognized needs and dreams, are glaring in their absence, if we do not have that core   then we can speak of naught helpful for our world. 

We have lost that privilege, weakened our core and certainly the raging hypocrisy which saturates this world is part of the core that is overgrown, a weed which has spread its ugly roots and infections into the remaining core. Hopefully, tomorrow I will address that thought and its extremely harmful role it plays in the ugliness that now consumes us.  

In the meanwhile, think of yesterday. Think of today. Think of tomorrow. How do we use the one to live in the other and to build for the last? In positive manner and outcome. Questions that our brightest minds must address. 

So where are they?

DOES ANYONE HAVE A CLUE?

  I have lost count. No more fingers and toes to use, as there are too many out there who are saying the same thing. More and more forcefully, commentators on all sides of the game give voice re their concern about the resemblance of our history to times past. Cosmic changes await us unless and until, and very soon, we make the proper turn in the road and leave the dangerous path behind. If we do not, we are warned that the cataclysmic changes which took place in and to great empires will be replicated in the modern world.

If this is too hard for one to figure out, peruse the pages in the plethora of tomes of history. Within those pages the names of crazed leaders who were so intent on occupying a seat and a name which would carry them through their times and way into the future. So much so that they indeed got what they wished for. But surrounding that name and their history was a great dark cloud, for in that search, in that crazed ambition, they got their name and their history though in manifestly negative manner.

I cannot speak for sure as to their thoughts, as to what their reactions would be, should they find a wormhole in space via which they could see exactly what they had left behind and put forth for the scholars of the future to dissect. Is that what they would have wished? Caligula. Nero. Henry VIII. Hitler. Mussolini. Stalin. Orban. Macron. Khoumani. Mamdani. Starmer. Trump. Netanyahu. Abbas. Extremists of all kinds. 

The list never stops for all these men and more, wanted and continue to chase fame and too often found infamy instead. Too often they indeed got what they had pursued so intently and in their undignified and even crazed behavior, their faults overcame the good they might have done or initiated. Their names have left and threaten to leave a bad taste in the annals of humankind. 

When the shakers and movers of the world are more likely and inclined to shout at and threaten other leaders rather than carry on a sane conversation, the world is in trouble. When the Great Empires and alliances of the Times begin to eat themselves from within, pieces of the agreements flaking off, then the world is in trouble. And when those who are supposed to guide us need guides themselves, the world is in trouble And when grandiose actions and threats are spewed out in an endless stream, the world is in trouble

The crazed and wild competition; who is the best, who is the richest, who has the best and most dangerous weapons? Who will come out on top?   And then the concern, the fear, as now, whether the rivalry and overblown egos will cause one to go off, irrevocably, and in the heat and fury press a button which will burn the world in flames which cannot be overcome and for sure, once we emerge from yet another dark period wherein mankind struggles to emerge from more caves, the names of the leaders will be known, with dirt and anger, with bloodstains that cannot be washed out and away.  

Today, there are no more 'little wars'. A conflict which might have begun between two tribes spreads to their allies. These allies have bigger allies, more powerful allies, and they join in, creating proxy wars and convenient places to test out in real terms all sorts of new inventions, much better at killing and destroying. New weapons     traditional or new, as in biologic and nothing stays small anymore. 

The leaders of the world blind themselves to the severe consequences of their hubris. Consequences worldwide and harsh. It is especially aggravating when all one has to do is look back in history, ancient and modern, and see that these wars answer no real questions, solve no matter in any permanent manner. More wars are fought over the same issues, wars which could have been prevented. With the right reactions and the right words at the right time. 

Unfortunately, we do not see our way through, and we are stuck time and time again in yet another eddy. It carries us nowhere other than into larger and larger circles of faster speeds and deeper waters where too many of us will find we cannot swim. Certainly not for long. And there we are again. Fighting wars which could have been avoided, competing where we should have been cooperating, and the Hate and Insanity continue apace and well, here we are again. 

Mankind, tasked with the responsibilities of tending to the world has failed abysmally. We refuse to allow wisdom into our actions and decisions. We allow emotions of the worst kind to invade our hearts and souls. The compassion and care and love which should be within have been cast out. We've become weaker and weaker, morality almost forgotten. False words fly through the air and negative results abound. And on we continue, choosing and worshipping false gods which gives us no hope, no goodness and, I fear, along with many others, that the nuclear threat has gone viral.

We who were meant to be the rulers of the world, the brightest, most comprehending of this duty, of the responsibilities to and for all inhabitants of the world have gone rogue. Our leaders and us, ourselves, have no one to blame other than ourselves. We have painted over the true reflection of the mirror and have used faulty versions which please our egos but destroy our souls.

Yesterday and today and Dear G-d, I hope not tomorrow.

The most dangerous self-inflicted wounds and aren't we proud.

Please note that there will be no new posting until Sunday due to a holiday.

See you then.

Be safe. Be careful. Be kind. 

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?    

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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.