NO POST Today

 

ASKED AND ANSWERED

  Yesterday's question of Ayeka has been answered. The answer we were hoping for, perhaps stupidly naive, was a resounding wake-up call of Hineni. I, we, are here, where we belong, and will recognize and act on that realization. I might as well have wished for a direct GPS or Waze route to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

 Instead, what I saw, read, internalized, yet again, is the fact that there are no righteous Hineni responses when it comes to the issues of vehement antisemitism, even as it is more and more co-opted by rabid haters. Antisemitism now is almost a rather benign, boys will be boys, sentiment in comparison to the vicious, visceral JewHatred emerging from the filthy scum of that ilk. Even as the inevitable deluded Jews seeking salvation play the game of "Roll over Doggie" and cooperate with the haters, desperately trying to increase the distance between them, the good doggies, and the claimed to be evil pack of the mongrels and curs, the bad doggies. All to no avail. Merely a slight delay and then, well, there ya' go.  

A non-hineni answer: Israel is at fault for not redeeming their hostages for, as Qatar states, time is running out for them. Well, that is a great big duh! Whose responsibility or guilt and shame is it, as in who began this bloody disaster in the first place? Who attacked whom in a rather savage, barbaric attack reminiscent of attacks of old, seen in epic movies, now brought to a cheering world in full living color. Then these beasts claim victimhood, whine re crises never truly realizing, and are given not only the key to a house but to many houses, to be paid for by the truly aggrieved, offended, attacked victims of this most inhumane criminal attack.  

 Then again, what else should we have expected? A right to defend ourselves, ensure no repetition of said brutality? History has told us time and time again that a Jew who resists, who fights back, with all focus and weapons available, is deemed a Jew not playing the game according to rules already in place. Not very sportsmanlike, those Jews as they discard the rules and play with their own set.  Outrageous!

As a consequence for their failings, for failing to die when expected to; for demanding 'equal pay'; for refusing to admit guilt where there is none; for demanding the right to their own state on well documented ancestral lands; and the right to protect their citizens and act on behalf of all world Jewry in places of danger and persecution; for demanding accountability from and of those who believe that Jews are an always available assailable prey; for all these offenses and more, we, the citizens  deem it open season on Jews, open season on developing viral antisemitism, open season to ramp up the violence and turn existential threat to reality. Always open season to demand recompense for the costs of a war we began. Always, the victory is to be ours.

You might ask where is justice, righteousness, truth? For that I refer you to the perennial answer - Bah! Humbug!  Hence no shyness at demanding that Israel sign a suicidal pact if there is agreement, acceptance, approval, from Hamas! The offenders asked to pluck victory from defeat. Get rewarded for inhumanity. Get the picture? 

Who remain alive? Who are the bodies, and have they been identified? Where is the location of all hostages and are the distressed conditions related to body and soul, for in that case, all hostages must be released. Pronto!! Where are the two kids never repatriated? Where the hell are the Bibas family members - mother father, two babies. WHERE???       WHERE ARE THEY?

There is no shortage of proof of the growing danger to Jews. No lack of proof to document the awful truth of our times.

 Ayeka, world. Ayeka/ 

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Yitzy, bad times for the world, massively bad for our people. We lift our eyes to the mountains but are seeing no help, at least none yet.     

 Always we will hold you close to our hearts, always living in our minds  and eyes. Love you, beyond the ability of words to explain or portray. 

Always and forever. Always and forever.

AYEKA - WHERE ARE YOU?

  So many times, one is asked to answer the question - Ayeka - where are you? Generally, not related to a physical location and how or where to move on towards destination. Rather it refers more to a moral question, a challenging question, of varying degrees of responsibility and morality. It often puts one on a spot definitely not comfortable. However, more and more of this type of question is being posed at a time of great divisions and intimidation, from sheer annoyance and acts and words of little consequence to existential level, when an answer is of acute, even immediate importance. It is a question which demands a moral accounting and a stand on issues of great concern. Where does one stand? Where do you stand? Where do your erstwhile friends stand?

 From work-based issues to social issues of great consequences, one must be prepared to respond to that question 'Ayeka' and defend said response for risks abound here, from social isolation and ridicule to words of ever stronger intensity, to raised voices, raised weapons, and great damage. Even the hater, the offender, is harmed for in falling prey to deviant thought and behavior his soul is endangered as he sheds its purity piece by piece. 

What is the first time that question was posed. It was in the Old Testament, the first book of the Five Books of Moses, Beresheet, or Genesis, in the beginning. It delineates how mankind failed in the first of many kettles of hot water, via a weakness allowing temptation to sneak through and be victorious. Consequences consequential until today and into the future. Apparently, we never learn.

In Genesis 3:9 G-d asks Adam "Ayeka?" Where   are you? Obviously, the Lord knew where Adam was, physically, the only man around, so the question actually asked Adam was to think re his behavior, falling to temptation, whatever the claim   of justification. It is a question of the ages. We are asked our location on the scale of morality, of goodness and honesty, of moral growth and understanding, of the sacrifices to be made, the decisions we must make correctly if we are to gain those gold stars. 

 Adam failed, trying to deflect the question, playing dumb, so to speak. The next person asked that question was Cain and his answer indicated he knew what the question actually was asking, and he answered accordingly, though continuing to evade culpability and responsibility. His response was a foretelling of the answers of humanity well into the future. A denial of responsibility for the very actions we did. Even as the hands were filthy with blood. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Yes, we are and how sad it is that we have failed so abysmally in that understanding and behavior required.

Very quickly we can compare that to the reaction and one word statement of Moses when he was told of his responsibility to shepherd a nation of slaves to freedom, to compel Pharaoh to comply with that mandate. "Hineni." I am here, ready to do G-d's bidding.  I. Am. Ready and Here. I. Am.

Running very quickly through the ages we come across another example where a person had to say, in so many words, finally, reluctantly, those words signifying understanding and compliance, of bravery. It was a time when, as usual, there was a jealous man in government, close to the King, a hater of Jews, who obtained permission for a day of attack and extermination of all Jews within the lands. 

   Unknown to him, there was a Jew where he did not expect one to be. The beloved Queen, Esther, was a Jew. Justifiably frightened at the request of her uncle, Mordecai, to approach the King and save her people, she was reminded that what happens to one Jew, happens to the nation of Jews. There is no hiding, no safety, in the face of virulent hatred, only to confront, oppose, and defeat. Understanding that, Esther did as she was asked, ready to serve and save her people, to fulfill her purpose on earth, to   be a role model for all time. Hineni was her answer to her Ayeka. 

Throughout the history of mankind, Jew and non-Jew alike, we have all been faced with that very conundrum. Are we ready to answer a difficult question, to be answered truthfully as to where we stand, ready, able. willing to stand tall, or will we fail. Are we Moses and Esther or are we Cain? 

Too frequently throughout history, blatantly today, in our ugly times there are leaders of hate rather than leaders of morality, true morality. Humanity has too often avoided the response, avoided the responsibility and courage of Hineni to the question of Ayeka.  

 Today, even as the brutal attack of Oct7 dragged Israel into a war they did not want, against a morally deficient group of terrorists, in extremely difficult circumstances, created on purpose to defame Israel, held as usual to unique standards not demanded of other nations at war, impossible  standards, the only hineni heard is the chorus of nations confirming their acquiescence to the destruction of the Jewish nation, of Israel, and of all advocates. The ayeka of truth, honesty, decency, responsibility and culpability, is too low to be distinguished among the noise of mankind.     

 Ayeka, world at large. Ayeka all the Jews who have tried to hide, to disappear into the crowd. It does not work. History has attested to that. Routes to combat and survive these malicious attacks are to work, respond strongly, with determination and never quit, for that hatred never quits - ever. Others will not fight our battles for us. We must fight our own. All must answer hineni, even before the sound of Ayeka is heard. The consequences of not doing so are immense. 

Too many Jews, especially the younger generation with its huge numbers of uninformed, disinformed and misinformed, via TikTok, Instagram and all sorts of nefarious cites. are discovering their friends are fair weather ones, and as the ugly storms continue to rage about us, they are nowhere to be found. Disembarked. Treasure the true friends. Bless the fact that you actually have some. I am lucky to have such good people. 

JewHatred is here. It is open. It is virulent, toxic, detrimental to sanity, to safety.

Be aware. Be strong. Be knowledgeable.       

Ayeka, people. Ayeka, fellow Jews, members of the Tribe. Ayeka, world.

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Some reading suggestions: Dara Horn interview on CNN. Must hear. Must think. Hear the insinuations of the host. Dara Horn answered quite well.

Netanyahu of Face the Nation and Sixty Minutes.

Both February 25th. Hear it carefully.

Keep track of the reports of shocking pro Palestinians attacks, violence and its condoning.

Keep a list of 'celebrities' who champion the hatred, the violence of the mobs they approve of and cheer on. Write to them, as perhaps if we hit them in their pockets they will feel it and at least tone it down. Perhaps boycotting their movies, shows, songs will affect them. 

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Yitzy, sweet boy who never hurt a soul, not a human nor a creature, how could you even begin understand the ugliness of the world today. To you it did not matter at all who was what or origin, for as you reminded us - all are creations of Hashem.

Wish we had an endless supply of Yitzy clones. Deeply wish so. At least we could hug you as if it was truly you.

Some comfort.

Always and forever. Always and forever.            

       

THE YELLOW SUBMARINE

  Saturday night we attended a fun show wherein the music of the Beatles and the 60's were featured. The band was personable and the audience responsive. Despite a few songs for which the range was not there, they should be invited back. It was truly sweet to see and hear an entire theater of gray heads singing full voice, the refrains of familiar songs of youth, The Yellow Submarine and Sweet Caroline, complete with fist pumps and loud voices, among them. While fun, it also was thought provoking, especially when 2 Vietnam songs were sung and Vietnam vets were asked to stand and receive the welcome and appreciation wrongfully, shamefully, denied them upon their return home. 

The contrast of the times, then, now, the topics which separated a nation - all echoing and reflecting each other, even as there were differences outstanding. I am sure that among the audience there were those who had protested, peacefully or otherwise, who perhaps had disrespected the returning soldiers, mere boys doing their duty when called to service. Yet that night, we were all one. Sharp, divisive issues, powerful emotions, yet unseen Saturday night. I, myself, looked upon these men and women standing up and wondered, marveled actually, that they had survived a horrid war, and built a life for themselves. I still can recall, even feel, breath returning to us, a powerful emotion of relief as the risk of draft was aged out. 

And I wondered. Were the divisions then as dangerous as they are today? As powerful as they were, as shocking as they were, as soldiers shot at fellow citizens, both sides so young, the battling at the 1968 Democratic Convention, the raw emotions, a nation confused, a disillusioned generation seemingly denying any connection to a standard path, turning on, drifting into drug hazes  and lifestyles not conducive to a future as once imagined. Despite all, we healed, and that anomic generation grew up and became us. Not too bad, but - we are also the generation which has turned into boosters of more division within this nation. This current division is far more toxic and corrosive, as difficult as that is to imagine. But we do not have to imagine, do we, as it is horrifyingly, frighteningly real.

There is a return to anomie, those wishing no government, no governing at all, unless it is by their rules. Many of the suggested, proffered set of rules emerge from radicalized individuals and groups originating from both sides of the spectrum, even as that spectrum grows ever longer in extremes.     Dissolution of the federal government. The nation. The concept of America, of American. All power to the states, the end of the UNITED States. Coalitions of states calling for secession and then what? Another Civil War eclipsing the first in blood spilled, in more brother against brother than ever, in chasms never able to be bridged. Ever. Intractable statements of the ilk of "You will see it my way, or to Hell with you!" Unthinkable, yet even so, I definitely feel, no, know, that it has already gone quite the distance along that awful path.

This has become a contagious disease throughout the world. To think that authoritarian pseudo leaders are rising once again. To think, to know, that we have an indicted criminal, a morally depraved demented creature running for President. The deluded and evil followers. The viciousness of his  i language and plans, cast out for all to see and hear -and yet, there he is.  

JewHatred has resurfaced, become quite the approved fashion, even more open with plans to eliminate the Jewish people from the face of this planet, never to return. Isolation, dehumanization, boycotts, violence, co-opting the unknowing, the uninformed and misinformed, presenting foolish dumb as the day is long Jews to the world as justification of their bloody cause. The heights of hate, of violence, a nasty persistence, refusal, to give up their campaigns on campus, in the business world, the athletic arena, to cast Jews out from wherever they are to be found, their advocates along with them. 

Even as they whine re islamophobia, actually not very much around, certainly not seen in the vast numbers of marchers wallowing in hate and rabid antisemitism. Certainly not to be seen in their ecstasy and joy upon hearing of an attack against Jews wherever and whenever, the worse the better, gleefully tossing candy to the children. Even as they vow more violence, always planning how they can wreak more evil upon this earth. Even as they rejoice in the animalistic attack of Oct7, the consequences, the hostages, the brutality, and try to   disappear it or lay it off on the Israelis, going so far as to accuse them of perpetrating of the very attack!!!  

So yes, the army returned the favor, did and will continue to do what they must to prevent any attempts to repeat, and yes, exact revenge, justice, for that is what must be done, for wherever and whatever it takes, the job will be completed. Evil cannot go unpunished. Justice will be meted out to all who played any role or part, complicit or implicit. And make known to the world the truth of the invasion, the civilian participation, and the planned building in and under civilian structures. 

  It is also time for the peoples of the world to understand what they have wrought with cooperation in creating, nurturing with poison spoon-fed via mis and dis information, swallowed whole. It is happening there and everywhere, including in our homes, our streets and backyards, NIMBY not effective at all. Battles we had long thought won decades ago, now fading, shredded, deteriorating, needing a return to the battlefields. Here and in the world in general, every country pulls away, reneges on its shame and false regret at their silence re the Holocaust and all else from time immemorial. Even as the blatant offenses of other countries, within their own country, are ignored, the world quite pleased to concentrate its venom on Israel and their own homegrown Jews. 

To hell with Sudan, Ethiopia, raids for slaves, butchery of ethnics, the Uighurs, Putin and his dreams of an imperial Russia, the threats of China, Iran, the Houthi, Islamic terrorism, Trump for who needs that when we can jolly well sate our lust for blood and cruelty on the convenient Jews. Jolly good! Tally Ho!

Criminal, incompetent, greedy, venial, amoral, immoral demented so-called leaders along with their demented or deluded followers, legislators who have lost sight of their roles and duties, greedy for money and power, corrupt systems of justice, even in the highest courts of the land, the reek of it growing stronger every day, with no end in sight.

No hope for rescue from moderates as they have resigned, taken their marbles and gone home, out of the war, leaving us alone on that battlefield. Are we capable of the energy, the will power, the resistance necessary if we are to gain a victory on that battlefield? It will be hard, bloody, challenging and frightening. But that determination, that good old American grit is necessary if we are to pull our democracy away from the crumbling ridge. That battle begins with denial of office to Trump and his cowardly politicians who cower before him. 

We will need to pull together, to scab over the wounds of today as we scabbed over the wounds of Vietnam. Can we look ahead fifty years and see a similar audience to that of Saturday night, see a nation together? I fear that vision will never be.  Perhaps our chasms are too wide, too deep, the bridges too rotten and no expert builders around. Not optimistic at all, and quite frankly, I will admit I am terrified of what is so nearby.

The time has come to take a stand, to make a choice. Lord help us if we make the wrong one.

Let us all choose to ride again in the Yellow Submarine as we shout full voice "so good, so good, so good.

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Yitzy, my sweet, golden, gentle boy, I do not know what to say to you, so embarrassed at the behavior of my peers, shamed by their attitudes and immersion in hate.  Perhaps it is you and the other young innocent souls who must take up the battle with us. Help the world make it through so they can do better. Help convince the One Above to stand with the righteous or those striving to get closer to that goal. 

You are so missed, so beloved.

Always and forever. Always and forever.

 

   

A GREAT BIG VOID

 Have you ever pondered the question as to why there exists such a huge void in the world of truth and honesty, why we, supposed members of the same species, persist in exhibiting the worst of us, competing in excess, in violence, in absurdity so harmful that it denies any connection at all with the concepts of humanity, of brothers and sisters are we all. How many years has mankind been around and how have they managed to hone a devolvement, a rearward progression to what should have long ago been discarded and despised, rejected without any lingering aftertastes.  Why do we persist in an ugliness which drains the "milk of human kindness"? 

Can we try to fill this void with truth, with humanity, with, if not a love, then perhaps a tolerance, an acceptance that we share this earth, this relatively tiny orb in the vast emptiness of space? Why are we so willfully engaging in self-destructive behavior, denying the obvious truth and benefits we would accrue if we were otherwise.

Examination time. Please read the following statements and/or questions and respond to each as ability and truth allow. Be honest. 

1.What is the proper historical designated name of the area known as the "west bank"? The historical name choices are" Judea and Samaria or using the indigenous language Yehudah and Shomron?

2. Was this land of contention ever given over or adopted by the newly created at that time, Kingdom of Jordan, Transjordan or was it to be held temporarily, governed responsibly, to live in peace alongside the State of Israel?  

3. Was the area known as the Old City (of Jerusalem) and contiguous territory to be governed as an international city, with free access to all, as were other holy sites, to wit - the Cave of the Patriarchs, the Tomb of Rachel, the burial site of Joseph, of Jewish holy figures, including Shimon Ha'tzadik and the Prophet Samuel, to be open to all, including access to the Wailing Wall (the Western Wall) and the Temple Mount? As were the synagogues within that area to be left unharmed and in operation.

4. What then, explains the egregious violation of those terms, as the city and all sites were denied to Jews, their ancient cemetery on the Mount of Olives destroyed, with tombstones used as urinals and walkways, with illegal Temple construction and the discarding of ancient relics, particularly those connected to the Jewish presence. 

5. Why was there no outcry re those facts, those transgressions, as compared to the howling of the world hypocrites when these sites came under Israeli supervision, when needed repairs were made to all sites of all religions, and Arab villages and cities thrived, as access to education and careers were opened to all, and Arab men and especially women were presented with new vistas of a better future. 

6. Why did the world condone the constant attacks and terrorism directed at Israel?  Why did it condone the blatant bias of the UN? Why was the very existence of Israel challenged by Arab and Moslem countries even as they swore to eliminate it? 

7. Why has the nation, the people of Israel, been held to a standard beyond all demands and standards asked of others? Why that double standard? 

8. Why has the world moved so quickly, obscenely so, to belittle the egregious violent bloody criminal bestial attack upon citizens, not even admitting to the reality of in-your-face truth of rapes, torture, mutilations, kidnapping of innocents, even infants!   And the nations of the world abandoned their own citizens caught in this Hell -after all, merely Jews, so what the hell! Better to focus on the other, more trendy side in a perverted world. Better to maintain power.  

9. Why is Israel pressured to sign an existentially   perilous agreement where they gain nothing save possibly a few hostages no real guarantee about that, Hamas has already reneged on a prior pact to return hostages or even to validate their existence, their names, their locations.

10. Why has there been a huge, ugly revival, an emergence from its dank cellars of hiding, a modernized vicious viral antisemitism morphing obscenely fast, well planned, well prepped, into a worldwide movement of blatant JewHatred. A hatred growing from words to deeds, from casting out and dehumanizing to elimination. Unto final death. Of all Jews. Within and without Israel, wherever to be found. Death. 

11. One final topic or question to be answered. Explain why I am now immersed in a debilitating   fog of existential threat and fear. To me, my family, my people, my country. Which country? Well, take your choice. 

America is on the precipice of self-destruction as it ballyhoos a criminal who should have long ago been imprisoned, rejected by decent society. Instead, he is celebrated, actually running yet again for the head of this country, a man devoted to its very destruction, already tried once, ongoing all this time, who boasts of his plans to do just so. Yet there he is. Ugly as the worst of life can be. Ugliness blatant, stinking, and there he is in the midst of a raucous crowd of equal ugliness and debauchery of soul. There he is along with the haters of the other end of the political spectrum.   Leaving me no room for hope, for optimism, for my very existence on firm ground.  Foretelling of an America lost in a dense overpowering inescapable forest, impossible to maneuver with any hope of success nor freedom from harm.    

In America I feel unwanted, of no value. No, I will not accept that quietly, but will shut and scream, talk and write. Will it help or am I spitting into the wind?  Who knows, but it does help me and hopefully aids the literally thousands who read this blog from round the world. Boggles my mind and I sincerely cherish and am grateful for these readers who take the time to do so.   

 The future is up in the air flying higher, almost out of our reach, or sinking deeper into the morass of blood and despair, taking us along with it, sans ladder or rope.  It has been said very often of late, that in fact, silence is no longer an option. No longer can one choose the neutral, but must make a choice, take a side. Sacrifice and deep effort will be necessary. Will we, can we, do that, invest in that effort? We had better.

As for me and my family, for Jews round the world, despite all the dangers in Israel, so many are flocking there, for our present countries are not too convincing at this time of their welcome for us, of us and our loyalty.  Yet again. The same damned cycle we once had a hope that it had disappeared, never to raise its ugly fanged face again. But things change and disappointments, negatives, have a way of reappearing. However, we Jew have an internal strength bar none. We say, even in the depth of sadness and woe, "this too is for the better, for the good". We might not understand, we might not know or recognize the 'good', but we believe it is there or will be. Meanwhile, we love, we survive, and we do the best we can. And we trust in G-d.

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Yitzy, at age 13 you had the internal strength to have that deep faith, that trust in G-d, as you told your parents. You were okay with His decision, that evidently you had fulfilled your purpose on this earth, and you were to go back to live with G-d.

You faced death with more courage, with more acceptance, more peace than most adults. We are left here, bereft of you, your grin, your sparkling blue eyes. We so hope you are okay, free of pain and wrapped in love and warmth.

 Our love for you, our longing for you, continues to be with you.

Always and forever. Always and forever.

              

A BIT NAUSEATING?

  Or is it actually a great deal of nausea inducing rhetoric? I think, no, I know, that any clearheaded thinker, an appreciator of facts and truth, will recognize it as such. Exactly what and/or who is the source of said trash? Of course, what is the trash? Where can we find said awesome "factoids"?

 So simple, so easily accessible. Simply take several easy steps, no challenge at all. Painless, harmless, that is other than to truth and justice, to a free flow of information and decisions based on the truth, the actual reality. Buy a paper and there ya' go. Read it. Boot up and check out any and all media posters, from print on-line papers and magazines, plus those which are strictly online based and presented. Check out those lovely shots of the agony of the Gazans as Israel carries out its plan of defense and offense. The agony, the ever-ongoing agony of Israel - say what?

 Defense against those who slaughtered and engaged in such bestiality, such savagery as has not been seen for one hell of a long time. And absolutely necessary and proper offense to see that this is a onetime only disaster. Enough with Hamas, the Arab nations, the Moslems who stand by or cheer on, partaking in the acts or in street demonstrations of joy re attacks against Israel or any of world Jewry. Even as the nations of the world look blindly on the truth lest it imperil their   supply lines or bottom lines.

Oh heck, politicians say, haven't we stood by enough times, for truly these are merely the Jews again, Israel again.  They have been there, done that before, so many times. OK, a tad more extreme, but far easier to turn a blind eye to our citizens in danger, to the war crimes committed here, and allow the usual play of events, with a temporary treaty again. Simply a matter of time, same old, same old.   

And hence the great publicity campaign of Hamas, the offenders, the beasts, as they turned the world on its broken unthinking head, already well tuned and receptive to the falsehoods of Hamas and supporters.  They became the offended, the victims and never mind the truth.  They are victims of their own choices, of their own volition. Israel pulled out totally in 2005 leaving behind a prosperous enclave, a profitable well-known market for fruits and vegetables as exports to Europe, along with magnificent green houses. What happened?

  Gazans rioted, destroyed everything. Elected Hamas as their rulers, joined wholeheartedly into the fun of murder and violence against Israel, and ceded their welfare funds, truly unnecessary if they had not destroyed everything, to flow into the coffers and needs of Hamas. And wasn't the most recent event such fun with the looting, the raping, the private captives to torment! Even taking home cars? Nor any concerns re presenting the details as reporters, paid by AP, were known to be enthusiastic Hamas members and supporters, embedded with Hamas in so many ways, joined the fun. Yes indeed, impartial reporting at its oh so very best.

However, Hamas underestimated the response, the unity of the nation, drawing together as Jews have   done for millennia when in existential danger. Instead of running away, Israelis flocked home, volunteers came by the thousands with missions of unity between world Jewry and the Jews of Israel.   Brothers and sisters, families, are we all.  And when in existential threat, we unite now, will argue later, again, as Jews have done for millennia.   

Hamas was finding it hard going. Israel was the wounded tiger, unable this time to ignore or play down. These hostages were the part of a nation that would not allow them to disappear, to be forgotten. Whatever it took - whatever. As the war took its toll on Hamas and its expected victory out came the stock pictures for whining. Wounded, buildings in rubble, children as victims, rumors of starvation predicted to take place within two days and now close to five months - a tad more than the original two days. A miracle! Or a great load of hooey! 

Next came those shots only there was something wrong with them. The same figure as rescuer, first responder, always neat and clean. always taking glances at the camera angles, and voila! He always lived for another day, another photo. And even a great skill in moving from areas blockaded and under fire - or perhaps the truth is: no rescuer, no true shot, all lies. Lies and lies, staged again and again. Using dolls as babies, presenting large children as infants, bodies moving beneath sheets - early revival?

 Starving dehydrated filthy people were claimed and bruited about, to prove the claims, only guess what! None around. No children listless, with the huge stomachs of malnutrition and starvation. No sunken cheeks and skeletal faces. Nope. Such is the case with most, if not all their complaints and grievances.  Yes, a huge death toll, though confirmation has not happened, and these figures emerge from Hamas, well known liars. Furthermore, much of the dead are Hamas and affiliates. All of their issues, all their realities, deriving from their criminal attacks on civilians, men, women, children, and then an inevitable defensive response from Israel, attempts to rescue the hostages in Hell, to be fought in heavily populated compromised areas of Gaza. Planned to be such. All the better to garner the sympathy of a world happy to indulge in 'legitimate' antisemitism and Jew Hatred. 

Accusations of genocide, rubbing salt in wounds slashed deep into the psyche of Israel and her citizens, in world Jewry, in the hearts and minds of Holocaust survivors. Once again, they saw the revival of vicious, deadly antisemitism ramped up daily, and their wounds began to bleed again as they relived what should never have been lived in the first place.  

The steps of hate were clear, proliferating at exponential rate. Isolation of Jews in all fields and professions. Attempts, many successful, to disallow Jews in competitions, to threaten and bully, to intimidate and frighten into silence, as the world prepared itself once again to fulfill a millennial long desire to deal a 'nonrefundable' blow to this people, these Jews, who have defied and overcome all attempts to remove them for good. Finally.

     Instead of shattering and demoralizing the Jews, the opposite took place. We remembered we were family, squabbling, arguing, but when push came to shove, we are all "members of the tribe". "Amcha", your people, my people, our people, a code word to identify friends from enemies during WWII.   

The words of a bright woman sum it up. What has happened, why, and suggests correctly, as I have long maintained, our educational system, its values are warped. In turn, they warp our children. a great worry for the future of all, for again, hate knows no ends, no boundaries, always ready for another dish to whet and sate its ugly appetite and eternal thirst for blood. Always. Especially when we allow twisted, biased teachers and professors to pervert the thinking of our young, even to the point of canceling their ability to find the truth for themselves, to question properly, to find answers of truth, information based, rather than on perversely twisted misinformation. 

Here are her words. Think on them.

"...So, there is an invidious strain of antisemitism that has never gone away — but we had hopes it had been, certainly, submerged — that has been poking its head up quite some time now,”

“They have no idea about the collapse of the peace process, the rise of an intifada. They have no idea about then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a man noted for his military experience, withdrawing from Gaza. They have no idea of Hamas’ takeover of Gaza. They have no idea that another Israeli prime minister back when I was secretary of state, namely [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, was willing at least to keep talking about some kind of two-state solution process,”

   Nor do they have any idea of the contributions of Jewish people to the world and its betterment, from the cellphones they use to coordinate attacks of hate to the medicines they use, to the arts they admire, to the philosophers they quote to the intellectual achievements they aspire to emulate. It is, indeed, and in deed, a sad world.

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Yitzy, perhaps up there, in close affiliation with the Big Guy, in near proximity, the reasons, the whys and wherefores of the miseries of the world persist, are somehow clearer. Why we are always returning, cyclically, to what is the worst of us, the lowest level we can find, to wallow in its filth and ugliness. Perhaps. Dare Him, challenge Him to repair His defective creations, endow them with wisdom which does not fail, and let us move on to a better, fairer, beautiful world.

Successful or not in this wished for quest, we always love you, hold you near and dear to us, always with us. 

Always and forever. Always and forever.                  

ITS GOTTA' BE

 It has to be. Its gotta' be. Paraphrasing Sherlock Holmes, when all else is eliminated, however strange the remainder, everything else eliminated, the answer sought is what remains, however strange it might be.

For a lomg time now, many years, I have sought hard to find an answer to the constant oppressive   antisemitism and its inevitable ramping up to murderous proportion and goes on from there. Seemingly sane people suddenly buy into absolute trash, old broken tropes of accusation and worse, they apologize abjectly, and go on to deny all former contradictory statements contradicting their 'new' look. And their popularity soars even as other weak apologetic souls climb onto the wagon of hate. And dangnabbit, there goes the devil's victory bell yet again.

It would be funny if not so sad and dangerous. Will people ever come to understand and see clearly, past the temptation of the lie, the wrong, the evil, and adhere to the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it makes them feel?? What is it that transforms them? Finally, the light bulb went on and I understood. The answer was found in an old movie re the Pod  People. So simple, so obvious, but only discerned as all else was eliminated. No matter how strange, the cheese standing alone is the answer, reminds us Sherlock Homes as Watson nods his head in solemn agreement.

No, folks, I have neither lost my mind nor chased it down the road as it ran away from me. It is simply a desperate attempt to comprehend the incomprehensible. How, why, is there forever, seemingly, an irresistible attraction to evil by humanity and its cyclical overwhelming fire sale of souls.  Even as the world boasts of its advances and tolerance. Eliminating all possible reasonable, if such a thing exists, explanation, what is left is the answer, correct? Thus we have been told, instructed by the venerable Holmes. Left with us is a choice - the Devil or the deep blue sea option:  the Pod People. Actually, I choose the Devil option though all the reverted souls deny that as the Pod People within speak through their mouths! 

  I know, you continue to think I have truly lost it.  In case you missed it, this has been written so far with a very sad tongue in cheek, one which cuts my mouth, painfully reminding me of the impossibility of solving this conundrum with any logical   explanation. Hate is illogical, dredged up from the sewers of the hearts and souls, ever persistent in its refusal to leave the hearts and souls it pollutes. You see, the Devil is us. Simple, yet true. We are to blame. We are the cause and can be the cure. We are the weak links, the hurdles in the road to true growth and humanity. Sad, so very sad and so very much unnecessary. 

Take a look at the impossibility of belief within various supposed statements of 'fact' and accusations and vicious tropes of barbarity revived once again, yet again and again and again. So tiring. So cruel in goal and road to fulfillment of said goal, even going beyond if possible. As the blood-soaked defective souls and hearts burp contentedly in their victory and temporary state of satiation of their lust for blood. Vampires perhaps instead of the Devil? Claiming that Israel actually planned and acted out the massacre. To claim it was all an anti Moslem plot. What a load of hooey, Worthy of the Pod People or the devil. Pay your money and make the choice. Hmmm...to do this, embattled  as they are in defeating the final nest of rats in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Now that would indeed take a miracle and still waiting on that.

To wit: Shiri Bibas and all others were set up by their own government in some fiendish plan.

A hospital in central Gaza suddenly claiming emergency evacuation lest Israel destroy them, Why the hell would Israel return here, been there, done that, and just a tad busy combating the rats    of Khan Yunis and Rafah, find the hostages, alive and dead, and go Home, Habayta. 

A note to that hospital and the others. Choose new people to portray rescuers, orderlies and patients. The repetition is tiring, 

 Does one actually believe Israel and the IDF have   forged bottles of medicine needed by the hostages so as to accuse the animals of noncompliance and war  crimes? Why bother when the truth is clear.

The rampant, raging hypocrisy  of  Hamas as they whine re lackof medicine, as huge stores are there, including those belonging to the hostages. 

As they whine re access from the UN, the home of UNRWA with blood on its hands, or the next compromised UN body, all without mentioning the glaring fact that the hostages have been totally incommunicado, untreated and brutalized, No IRC, no nothing!!!!!!! 

The total reversal of facts as to who caused the war, fought deliberately within civilian areas, such as they are, who refused to admit wrong and talk with any sensibility? Who demanded Israel to sign a suicide pact by releasing 5.000 murderers, the blood on their hands dripping, hungry for more, even as the hostages and remains are kept as collateral, to be used and threatened, never to be actually repatriated.  

As the world looks on, agrees with these demands and pressures Israel to agree to self-destruction.       And deems Israel and citizens as incorrigible obstructionists. But of course.

Even as the world begins, actually already begun, to erase Israel by redrawing maps, no Israel to be found, allowing, condoning calls for its destruction via the homicidal chant "from the river to the sea" and by refusing to list as a birthplace the name of Israel.

From the inane, the petty to the existential threat -where and when does it end, if ever. Is it the Pod People or the Devil or simply our ugly, morally deficient selves.  Not a great choice there, and remember, when all else is eliminated, what remains is the answer. 

So much more to write but my heart aches and is in need of a break, even as others are not allowed such.  Unfortunately, there is always tomorrow. 

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Yitzy, sweet, kind, caring child, how is it possilbe to explain to you, or do you now understand evil and its grip on humanity. Even if so, how to explain, justify, to other children? This eternal warfare and indulgence in hate is the shame of the adults of the world. Our bad.

In our hearts and souls you are forever a   role model, a standard to strive to meet. 

 We love you, Yitzy.

Always and forever. Always and forever.

NEVERTHELESS

  Despite everything, nevertheless, whatever the topic of discussion is, it will take place, be ongoing. Generally displaying a defiance of the forces opposing the issue or undertaking, it can be a nevertheless on both sides of the line separating good from bad. 

 Israel has taken on a 'nevertheless' response to a world writhing in ecstasy, once again, yawn - how unsurprising - in its wonderfully promising campaign to destroy Israel and put those pesky Jews in their place. For once and for all.  Whatever it takes, whatever the degree of hypocrisy and ugly truths lying just beneath their thin veils of disguise. Hence, forge forward, a united world, as the ongoing struggle to negate Jewry takes place, with a wonderful degree of success, I might add. 

Unfortunately for these creeps, world Jewry, for the most part, despite, or in spite of those Jews who refuse to recognize the existential threat to ALL Jews, is forging forward. It is doing all it must, despite the animosity and denial of inalienable rights and responsibilities of all nations, to defend itself and its citizens. In conjunction with this nevertheless defiant in your face response to the Oct7 massacre, Israel has undertaken another 'nevertheless' project.

This project is the name of a response of a worldwide surge of applications for "Aliyah", the act of returning home. Home, to Israel. Home to a   place where they are welcomed, invited in, to become part of a beautiful nation, contributing much to the world. Even as it fulfills the Biblical promise, the predictions of the prophets, that at the right time, all Jews would return home to Israel. Until such time they would be loyal citizens of the lands of residence. So they did and do, bringing prosperity, art, literature, research advances and on and on. And yet, and yet, the ugliness remained, the uncertainty remained and has grown into a giant threatening ogre of raging bloodthirst. 

Basically, the world has gone drunk on hate, severing all inner brakes, swallowing the poison only to spew it forth in ever increasing streams of ugly acidic invective, drawing in all who love the idea and the 'purge night' attitudes and allowances. Voices opposed too few, too quiet, or speaking out of two sides of their mouths at the same time. Oh, the movie industry brings forth many new movies or proposed ones re the Holocaust and past incidents or times of persecution, reinforcing the opinion that no, antisemitism was then, not now, of course not now.      Yet the shrieking mobs calling of blood and destruction grow apace, a people reveling in the freedom to hate and threaten, to act on their worst impulses. To throw off their inner brakes and justify their worst moments. Voices truly opposed are lacking or too quiet, co-opted or acquiescing with their silence. 

Nevertheless, despite it all, despite the wars, the threats, the world, nevertheless, Jews are returning. Will they all act on this wish, this yearning for safety, give up on their native born lands, their countries? Yes, theirs- but not so much feeling like theirs now.

Their native born lands have turned on them as well as their second homeland, causing a terrible feeling that they are wanted nowhere and their multi millennia traditional homeland counts for naught as far as they are concerned.  Or as one British woman said, well, yes, they are entitled to a land for their own but not Palestine. Others were there first. Actually, misinformed ignorant British woman, Israelites, Jews, were there prior to any immigration of people of a Palestinian ancestry. 

That designation appeared when that large area under the end of Turkish rule was designated Palestine - with no mention of Palestinians. There were none for that name came from a misspelled mispronounced name of an ancient long defunct kingdom of Philistines living in the present Gaza area. No Palestine. No Palestinians. 

As for prior residence, well, we can turn to the historical journey there and residence of Abraham and tribe, the first Jews, in the land known then as Caanan, and the purchase of land by Abraham for the purpose of burial of Sarah, his wife, for he wanted there to be no confusions as to whose land it was. Eventually the land was settled  by the Israelites 40 years after exodus from Egypt, eventually to become the kingdom of Israel and then kingdom of Judea. Recall, please, the names and historical verification of King David, King Solomon, and the very detailed history of the residents within and their returns after exile several times.

Always, their homeland. Always.  At no time over the ages was there a total lack of Jews within the boundaries of that land. At. No. Time. Ever. Then, at the time of British control and in any case, in the Balfour Declaration of 1917 the British promised to recognize and establish a Jewish Homeland in the Palestine area - note no Palestinians referred to as such - and said homeland was to be on both sides of the Jordan, as it always, historically was. Both. Both. As it always was. So, ignorant British woman who admitted that Jews were allowed their own land and statehood, but perhaps on some deserted unsettled land unwanted by any group on earth. Adamantly not Palestine. Thank you but no thank you. 

We are a people of tradition and that is the tradition we follow, the truth of it known and confirmed. At no time ever did Jews rescind ties and ownerships and forever prayed to return, even when awaiting immediate death or during the happiness of a holiday. This was the destination of Jews throughout the millennia who made holy journeys to that land, and this is the land where there was a continuous presence of a Jewish population. 

Now the tide has changed again, into killer waves washing on shore all over the world, carried along via rivers of fast flowing currents of hate, virulent, toxic, ever more so. It is a movement seen before, where Jews are pariahs, unnatural creatures, children of the devil, to be banished from society, to be held as outliers of society. No presence in the arts or sciences, in technology and invention, in the economy, not to be allowed to own land, to attend university, barred from most professions, their lives always at risk, too often coming true.

Thus, nevertheless, despite the opposition, we will survive. Nevertheless, we will remember where we are wanted, when our beloved countries reject us, and it is in the traditional homeland that we will live and thrive, flourish and raise families in peace. With all. Not live under a hypocritical regime wishing only to do us harm. Their favorite rite of Jew Hatred will be greatly trimmed. 

Nevertheless, we will return home, to Israel, not to Palestine, one forced upon us by the whims and wishes of our enemies. Or false friends.

We are here. We always were here and always will be.

Am Yisroel chai.

The people, the nation of Israel lives.  

La'netzach - forever.

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Just as you, Yitzy, will always live on in our hearts and in the hearts and souls of the many you amazingly inspired during your too short life here on earth. May you be as productive and beloved where you are now.

 Always and forever, sweet boy. 

Always and forever.

AND THE HEART STOPS

  While working on the computer yesterday, I needed a break. Between the back and the eyes along with the rebellious fingers, it was better to simply surf for pleasure and as usual these days for information, the latest with the crook Trump as well as the latest in Israel and the ugly wave of Jew Hatred rending asunder every Jewish community. Not really  expecting to find anything new on either subject, both in a kind of stasis and bloodletting, I was kind of surfing with one eye and half a mind when suddenly my eyes opened wide and my fingers froze.

As I waited for my heart to beat again, I wondered if I were strong enough to open the site. Would it be good new or bad? Would it shred our hearts anew or perhaps allow a small glimpse of good news, a possibility of life where we had thought there was little room for any reality of that hope. Even as we prayed so hard, hoped so hard, wept so much that our eyes were drained of tears, as they mysteriously renewed themselves.

The Bibas family has been taken to heart along with the other hostages, those freed or rescued, those remaining in captivity, and those dead either before or during captivity. As these beasts in human disguise wreaked havoc unleashed, brought us the horror of the videos of the brutalized captured and rendered asunder the world, at least for a second or two, it was not so for we Jews and right-thinking people. 

We saw scenes reminiscent of the Holocaust, a perpetration and preparation of future ones already promised and threatened by the perpetrators of this abomination, the terrorists of Hamas. Of course  they were aided by those oh so innocent civilians piling in to join in the bloody fun, along with UNRWA workers and plain old simple peace loving families wishing to have their own private captive, to torture as they pleased. Surely that is all so understandable and forgivable, right?  

However, the most heart wrenching photo was the one captured of a woman whose terrified, horrified face became the face of all Jewish mothers of a bloody history from time immemorial, with their children, aware there was no positive ending possible, no way out, no rescue, no  stopping the horrid wheel of fate, the one that would end their lives brutally, to join the ranks of those millions   already martyred, victims of vicious hatred  sanctioned by the people and nations of the world.   

The Bibas family, father separated, remaining in captivity, alive or dead unknown. Mother and children, two bubbot, red headed dolls of children   with delicate needs, ripped away, with a desperate mother their only hold to sanity and life. They have become the symbolic representation of all the captives and heartbroken Jews from all over have taken them to heart. What is their fate? WHERE ARE THEY?  WILL WE EVER SEE THEM AGAIN? 

Now back to the computer where there is an announcement by the IDF that a video sighting of the family has been found.  News of a video of this mother and two children, one beneath her completely covering sheet and the other behind her. Being sent off like a package, wrapped up, nice and tidy, forced into a car, to be transported to  an extreme terrorist group, the Kataib Mujahadin.  As if they knew she would be available to be this generous gift. And that was probably the reality of it all as these animals had reams of knowledge and had prepared goals, nefarious plans to take advantage of this knowledge.

Was the mother to be forced into marriage so as to keep her sons? Were these two Jewish boys to be raised as Moslem fanatics hating Israel, their own people? Who can fathom the depth of their depravity? Their bestiality topping the charts of cruelty. Who? Certainly not I, nor any normal person. To take babies and mothers as hostages, to slaughter without care, to play with people's lives and sanity? Beyond comprehension. Beyond believability. Yet here it is.

I, along with the rest of the sane world remain in the dark as to the fate of Shiri Bibas and Ariel and Kfir and father, alone, unknowing.  The heart began to beat again even as disappointment sent a sharp pain to my heart. We all will continue to remain with hope for a good ending for Shiri, her babies and all the captives. And the world stands silent again, as Jews are butchered again. Again. How many more 'agains' must we undergo?

====================================

Yitzy, the world is all the poorer for your absence. Who knows what good you might have wrought? Perhaps the Big Guy felt we were undeserving and brought you Home. His home, but not ours.

Miss you, Yitzy as do we all.

Always and forever. Always and forever. 

"SPLAIN THIS TO ME...

  ... in 25 words or less and quite frankly, I believe it could be done quite adequately in a brief sentence or two. First, the words of one of the bravest people I have read about, a man who upheld his principles, turning away sanctuary for a certainty of death.

"I don't want to give up either my country or my beliefs. I cannot betray either the first or the second. If your beliefs are worth something, you must be willing to stand up for them. And if necessary, make some sacrifices."  Aleksei A. Navalny

Ukraine                  Avdiivka        Putin

Sudan                     Darfur            Ethiopia 

Haiti                Nigeria        South Africa

Central America     South America   Trump

Progressives           Tlaib, Omar, Bush

Authoritarians    Growth of Neo Nazism   Iran

   FASCISM   ANTI-SEMITISM

            HATRED OF ISRAEL

             TOXIC JEW HATRED

Why? why? why? why? Because, just because,

 Where does it end, or does it never end?

Answers? Anyone??

Why is Israel the go to project for the world when all then above is ignored or downplayed?

So tiring. So debilitating.

We need more like Navalny - many more and soon.

Of course, not to omit the Houtis and other such creeps.

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Yitzy, tough times here, soul crushing, hope destroying, heavy weights to the heart.

Stay safe and warm, untouched by the ugly winds of  hate.

And with all that is happening, our missing you is unabating. Always and forever. Always and forever.

 Good morning, everyone. Hapy Sunday. No post today as this is a lovely early morning flight day.

Post will return tomorrow morning, Monday.  

ZIOTROL. HOLOHOAX. YUP - LANGUAGE MATTERS

  Communication these days can be a real pip! Quite a bit of the time one must check hearing, natural or aid assisted, and then double down on the insistence that conversation take place when a shared language is the language used to convey thoughts, feelings, whatever the conversation demands.  

These days it is a challenge indeed, oral or written. The social sites are rife with sets of capitalized letters with no connection to or appearance of language as we know it. Or knew it. Perhaps people feel empowered by these acronyms as they emulate the acronym habits of government. or perhaps the younger generations are trying to cut out the older generations, make them feel even more enfeebled   and useless as conversation is rendered impossible. What the heck, for who needs true communication, these days. Simply go out there and shout, use violence, ignore the law, provoke frustrated law enforcement personnel, and just go for it! YOLO! 

 Yes, most of us older folk probably know the more common ones, but till we did ..... IMHO, LOL, TTYL, PHCT. Now go figure and if you preen and puff your chest out because you are so with it, understanding these already, forget it. There are so many more of these sets of letters exiting the chute of language and no end in sight. Plethora aplenty.  On the bright side, it is good for our challenged enfeebled brains, thus feel the appropriate gratitude. Simple.     

Now the above is the fun part of language and life. Simple puzzles presented for all; no need to pay money for access. Free crosswords of a type. But what happens when the new words convey horrid meanings, connotations and denotations both awry, replete with hatred assisted by made up vitriolic words, with no positive values at all. The words of the title are two examples of this trash, conveying only the negative, an oral version of "knives out."

These alternate language words have no positive value. None at all. Demeaning, debasing, hurtful, cutting, divisive, invasive, destroying of any true communication and independent thought. How did "troll", meaning a very large or very small being who lived in caves, under bridges, somewhere unpleasant, a noun designation, morph into a verb of nastiness. Now it means to leave a nasty message on the internet, only for the oh so high-class purpose to insult, to hurt, and to provoke more of the same. This is the behavior of a troll engaging in the act of trolling, nasty and crude and cruel. 

And here we have the freshly coined 'ziotrol'. Zion + troll. Simply loverly, is it not? So handy a term.   Noun or verb, so useful, it can describe both one who supports or one who opposes 'zion' - Zionism, Israel, on both sides of antisemitism. Generally, it is far more frequently employed in the more acidic pejorative sense, spouting destruction and total erasure of Israel, of all Jews, down to the last itty bitty oh so dangerous baby -i.e. little Kfir and his brother Ariel.  

Accompanying that term, so filled with the milk of human kindness, with a hope for a lovely future, we have the word or term 'holohoax', meaning the very popular theme of the hoax of such an event as the Holocaust in all its bloody ugliness. Perhaps some Jews were sent to prison for being obstructive, for standing in the way of progress but for sure not that exaggeration the Jews try to pass off as truth to confused audiences. Certainly not to the degree Jews claim. Of course not. How could a sane being   believe that nonsense. Nope, never happened.

Just like the hoax of Oct7. Never was, and even if it was real, as seen in the videos, (obviously so certainly false) it was instigated, planned and desired by the Israeli government, to garner attention and sympathy. Yup. For sure. 

To make it clear, whatever one chooses, it was obviously well deserved, merely a pittance against their just punishment. As for the stories that Hamas began the war, placed the population in obvious unavoidable danger, the placement of war related materiel and people, including hostages, the tunnels built directly beneath hospitals, schools, etc., the complicity of UNRWA in the slaughter and prep plans -merely more lies of the Jews and the Zionists. Of course, for else why are those supposed hostages, barely mentioned by the world.   All false. No doubt about that.  

Well, screw all the oh so clever manipulations of language, all blood stained, supportive of cruelty. The truth is there, in perfectly adequate manner by the oft used terms of hate. Jew Hatred. Excessive over the top antisemitism. Denial of historic truths. Nastiness and bloodshed second to none.

Ever there, lurking in the shadows until empowered to emerge. Reeking of the stink of inhumanity. Polluting the very air we breathe.     

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Yitzy, perhaps you can see a better picture up there, far clearer than we see down here. Is there an end? A purpose? For how long must we wait? Perhaps it is better not to know. Maybe. Maybe not.

You stay safe, keep with the family gone before us, and give the Man Upstairs some prompts re His people waiting, waiting. Again, ever again.

Our love for you never dies.

Always and forever. Always and forever.     

WILL IT?

  One of the iconic songs of the American Songbook is "Tomorrow", sung by a ragamuffin orphan in clearly difficult circumstances, certainly not lending themselves to the expectation of things getting better. However, it is more than a little redheaded girl suffused with an unrealistic vision of 'tomorrow'. Rather it is part of America, what makes one stand out from others. America, Americans are supposed to have that overwhelming sense of optimism, a Bob the Builder attitude of "We can do it. Yes, we can." Well, at this point I, in good company, beg to differ. Vehemently.

At this point the weathermen/women of the nation, of the world, in fact, have great doubt as to whether indeed, "The sun will come out tomorrow". I am not sure that I, and most Jews here and round the world, will ever feel confident of the sun again, of its light shining on all, revealing the bad and inspiring the good, the hope. How is it that Holocaust survivors are agonizing over living through the horror again. Yes, not camps of torture and death yet, but the same atmosphere, the same snowball of hate, the same attitudes resurfacing and why would they believe it will be any different. 

Personally, I can state the fright consumes me at times, wondering what the hell is happening. Why are we Jews persona non grata in our own country. Why is 'islamophobia' conflated with antisemitism when the one barely surfaces and the other is accompanied by conspiracy to murder, to open genocide, to violence, happening right now, and in massive proportion. Yes, there are those angry with Islam, but tell me the first parade of masses against them, calling for their deaths as the whiners dredge up the rather few and far between incidents.  There should be none - but there is the reality. Why do they not choose to use their developing influence to pursue peace, a fair and open one, rather than their open idolization and glorification of violence and hatred.   

Where are the liberals? They gave it up for the trendier, the ever more fun of parade, chants, flags, kaffiyehs, destruction, violence approved and growing. Where are the women, the groups with   Jewish leaders, so many Jewish marchers and workers for the causes, who fought against   violence toward women, for choice, for control, for prevention of domestic violence? Where? They have ignored the godawful truth, the scenes of   violence, the rape, the battery, of the women of Israel, slaughtered and mutilated, raped and left for dead or dragged into Gaza for more of the same. All documented by their own videos and papers of instruction. Where are the women of America? Where are the women of Europe? Of the world?     

Certainly, they are glaring in their absence, as is the absence of the world as they refuse even to comment on the crimes against humanity, the war crimes of the monthslong captivity of the hostages ripped from their lives - the elderly, the men, the women, the young soldiers, barely more than boys and girls, just inducted, the sick, the wounded and untreated, the dying, the children, the babies and infants. 

Where is the world? Where is the International Red Cross? Nowhere to be found. Nowhere at all. Not for the Jews.

Why are we angry, so sure the sun has gone into hiding, behind the clouds of filth and hate ginned up by those so enthusiastic crowds of hate filled Moslems, of Jews who do not know whereof they do, their own intrinsic danger, replete with stupid kids who think that calling for death while immersed in an approving mass of others is just the thing to spite the parents, you know, those paying outrageous tuitions so their children can be turned against them. Those are the children of our failed education system which has not taught history, only opinions, particularly of biased individuals, not taught them to analyze and think before jumping. These children who fall prey to the skulking scheming terrorists advocating a 'justified hate and murder'. Our children whom we have failed.   

  Where are all the oppressed of the world for whom we advocated or to whom Israel sent aid, diggers and rescuers, dogs to seek and find, medical provisions? Where are those who benefitted?  Nowhere. Where are the American Black people for whom Jewish people risked lives and limbs, beatings and imprisonment, fighting to assure rights, to live decently, to vote, to be accepted as full and equal citizens of this country. And who continue to do so. And where are the Black people of South Africa for whom the Jewish residents there fought the dangerous system and were paid back via hate and incentive to leave their country. Where is the awareness that the very people they espouse are the ones who in private will call them 'abid' - Arabic for slave? 

Where indeed is the world? Not here. Not for Jews.

Where is the court in The Hague oh so quick to descend upon Israel for defending itself in extremely difficult circumstances, impossible to prevent some collateral deaths, when the enemy hides among, below, inside true civilians, as few as there are. "Innocent civilians" - the same ones who gleefully joined in that super fun romp of Oct7, to kill, to rape, to torture, to loot - simply such fun, how could one resist, not to mention the fun of the raucous frightening parade of these victims, forced through huge, threatening shouting crowds. Why does the world believe the lies of terrorist Hamas, the very same ones who began this war with full power against civilians, to murder and then do it again and again. A massively criminal gang of murderers and the world justifies and acquiesces.  Where is the world? Absent. As always.    

No, the sun will not shine tomorrow. Its fierce power, its light of hopes, its rays of optimism have already dimmed, powered down. Whether we can relight and reinvigorate these gifts of the sun, well, that is up for debate. It will depend on the very people now allowing, even encouraging or ignoring the situation. We hope that somehow, we can force that sun to shine tomorrow, to come out of hiding and rekindle the decency of humanity. We live with the hope that the clouds lessen, and the darkness begins to allow through the light of that sun we all so desperately need.  

 It will shine if we effect a change, build a powerful, friendly cadre of leaders who understand the needs of the world and its people, who will work together for a better world, with a full powered sun aglow above us. The horrors of the past, of consequences of lessons unlearned must be internalized and avoided. 

And we begin with the upcoming and ongoing elections. 

I wish I could persuade myself of a realistic possibility of such a new world, of people restored to sanity, of the acids of hatred negated.  Clearly not there yet, but willing to hope, to work for it, as much or as little as I can contribute. We need to be able to look at each other with kinder eyes, to hold out hands and say 'Shalom Aleichem' and receive in return, 'Aleikem Salaam'. 

Such a dream. If only, truly, if only. 

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Hey Yitzy, see the ugly world you have left behind? We are striving as best we can to go on, to hope, to remember and to know that one day we all will be together, in peace and love.

It is a love never dying or weakening. A love we hold deep within our very core. Never dying. 

 Always and forever. Always and forever. 

COME AGAIN?

  Have you felt confused of late? Have you wondered whether somehow, after the night, you arose in a new environment? Are you confused as to the relevancy of truth within millions of words?  Have you felt an overwhelming despair at the odds of resolving the causes of huge cracks in the firmament of life? Have you wondered if in fact, there is any refuge on the face of this earth, a place where hate, lies, cruelty are denied breathing room, where people feel safe, secure, trusting in a future undefined by catastrophic encroachments to existence? Have you felt commonality with the rather amusing, though not really so, mantra of    "stop the world, I want to get off"? Have you felt deep within your core that "want" to get off has been, more and more, replaced with "need"? To breathe. To feel safe. To regain trust and faith in people. To feel love rather than hate. 

Well, you are not alone, though it sure as heck feels that way. When one's shoulders are more often to be found in the vicinity of one's ears, what is the meaning or possibility of a capability to "relax" commands.  Not likely, is it? Certainly not when one perceives an existential threat as real, doing quite well one might add. When the scum of existence rise to the top, bloated with ingested blood of victims, drooling at the thought of evil enabling chaos to come, the myriad opportunities to indulge in one's worst urges. To feel as one with the Devil and his minions. 

Not to worry, not to feel alone. You are joined by many, and despite the prevailing unease, the rampant shouted slogans of "Death to Israel" and "Death to Jews", all the prevailing overwhelming hate and negativity, despite all, somehow, after yesterday's conversations with friends, some of whom much contact has been lost, or those of frequent contact, I felt the fluttering of that little bird of hope and a bit of growth of confidence and trust.

No, not as naive or as good, as Anne Frank, I do not buy into the sentiment that "most people are good at heart".  Equally, though, I do not believe that most people are bad at heart. Apparently, most people are too busy in their lives to actually focus on the outside world. They mean no harm, nor do they believe in the words of hate. What they do know is that their knowledge is lacking and are open to discussion, time permitting. And that is okay, for when push comes to shove, these are the ones who will stand against hate, stand with us, the shared values far more powerful and motivational than the values which are not values or of value. 

When people are informed, presented with truth, with real facts and knowledge, they tend to the just and proper. They do not stand with the brainwashed, the confused, those needy souls lacking in self-direction and confidence. We have found the truth of that via history though it takes too often too long to find others and coalesce into a functioning unit powerful enough to vanquish the negative - at least for a while. 

Perhaps, one day, soon, we pray, we will be on time to catch the early train of resistance rather than have to run, gallop, to catch the late one already easing out of the station. Perhaps. One day. But until that day we must continue to fight, imperative that we do so. Fight against inequities. Fight for justice. Uncover the veils of lies and misinformation. Choose far more wisely of the caliber of leaders. Present to the unsure, the unknowing, the truth, combat the lies, the cruelty espoused within those violent twisted beliefs.  

It will take a great deal of effort and fortitude, and patience by the gallons. Foremost, we must convince people to take an interest in what goes on outside their personal four walls, before those walls are breached, with malice aforethought. It is difficult to believe that we can find allies, ones who treasure truth, who have values true to the definition of that term. While it is depressing and demoralizing at present, we must retain hope and not give in to the debilitating belief of an inevitable triumph of evil. No chance of alleviation of the misery. I know the feeling; it has become too much a part of my life and thinking. However, my   conversations yesterday did shore me up-for a while at the very least and I hope for a longer time than that.   

Asked as to why we had begun a quest for an apartment in Israel, my answer was quick off the tongue, straight out of my inner core, prompt and truthful. 
"I do not believe my country wants me anymore."     

Pollyanna and Cassandra. Two opposite views and which will prevail? The coin is still spinning in the air, the landing uncertain. Personally, even as there is a huge despair present, there must also be some crumbs of hope and optimism. Every crumb   tossed out finds an end. Just maybe, one of my tiny crumbs will find a home in one who will fight the good fight -and win. Perhaps. Maybe. Possibly. Hopefully.  

 So yes, come again. Let us all try again, or try for the first time, the hundredth time, whatever it takes. Frankly, there is no other possibility. Not anymore. 

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Yitzy, the world is a challenge at present. The outcome is uncertain and nerve wracking.    Holocaust survivors are in despair and in fear, in disbelief of an awful unthinkable yet real deja vu.

See if you can knock on doors up there, on heads anywhere and help resolve this ugliness in a positive reassuring manner. 

We, I, so miss you. No more Times for Kids. No    articles re birds and snakes. I reach instinctively for the scissors to cut and send to you and slowy my hand is retracted.

Love you so.

Always and forever. Always and forever.

SILVER LININGS? REALLY?

 There exist many, many adages, maxims, warnings, words of wisdom deriving from life experiences. Too often these terse phrases arise from bitter experience and then one is betwixt and between. Do we pay attention to these statements, or do we allow life to unfold before us and decide for ourselves what is of value and what is so very cute, but also so very outdated or useless. Does life actually have any connection to these phrases, or should we discard them all, allow our own significantly different life experiences to inspire new, fresh off the press, pithy byte size words of wisdom?

You might think this is truly a useless discussion during these days so fraught with existential danger, plagued by ugly winds of hate, inundated with the reek and coppery taste of spilled blood, so much of it. Who cares or does it even matter if one denies their relevancy or adopts them, holding them close to heart and tongue. I think it matters a great deal.

While not an absolute, it does reveal much of a person's philosophy of life and the approach to it. Are the words of the past to be simply discarded, lumped together with tales of magic and fantasy? Is there indeed nothing there, even as we forcefully, with critical, discerning eyes sift through the chaff and set aside, to use again, the words of experience indeed carrying within wise words, bared as we toss aside the seemingly useless.     

I think we are too quick to use both extremes. We blithely tell ourselves it is a different world and old wisdom is outdated wisdom. Thus, we end up discarding, with contempt, possibly also with a thrill of second thought, the treasured with the garbage. On the other hand, it is claimed that the old way, all the old ways, all the supposed right ways of thinking and doing are IT! No other way allowed and to say otherwise is to reject all that is right. Period.

We have all wandered as a nation divided into two parts along with tiny sects within. No one agrees with anyone other than the man or woman in the mirror. Worst, we refuse, categorically, to listen, hear and evaluate. We refuse to accept even the possibility that we might be a tad off from perfect, and adjustments are not a bad thing at all.  

Compromise is not a four-letter word. The issue is clear to an observer with clear vision. Patriotism is a lost art, a defamed, abused and misinterpreted   value. It does not mean utter and complete loyalty to a fault, no criticism of the government and its policies allowed. Nor does it mean that we toss the idea and maintain loyalty, a patriotism perverted, and give it only to one's beliefs, to the exclusion of all else. No room for change, merely to give one's all, unthinking, undemanding self-effacement as an individual, and subsuming it within the cesspool of a generally demented narcissistic self-declared leader, reveling in the filth of his soul and adding in your defeated soul along the way.  Handing it over lock, stock and chain, to a demented, narcissistic leader. A minor tyrant in his 15 minutes of fame, though powerfully destructive in that time in the limelight.  

It is typical for every next generation to add up the deficiencies of the prior generation and swear to do better, know, they can do better, for who could   do worse. Forgotten are the good times, the wisdom, the love, the understanding, the rescues, the basic ideas of getting along with others, of loyalty to a country which has been overwhelmingly good for all, even and perhaps mainly, to those finding   themselves at the bottom of a tall, forbidding looking ladder. 

That was America. That is America. That is the country to whom the rest of the world turns to for advice, for leadership, for unity in common causes, to defend democracy, to heal the wounds of the world. Along with the wounds of itself. Does this country have faults and deficiencies? Of course, but it also stands above most in addressing its imperfections, even as we are falling into a slow mode at present. 

Still tall and proud though self-challenging, we continue to provide the protective umbrella over most of the world. We simply have forgotten, on purpose or by accident, that in so doing, we must not forget to protect ourselves, particularly from enemies within, those who seek our downfall and demise. Those who invent attractive conspiracy theories and explanations bought into by confused worried people. 

Somehow, we must convince our allies, now confused by threats from seekers of office, unqualified, immoral and amoral, demented and lacking in mental strength and health, who is allergic to truth, honor and honesty, a dictator at heart, and a clear and present danger to this nation. We must combat all those who wish to rip our country asunder. Those who wish us only harm and needful of training and reacquaintance with the truth. 

Those allies who are weak at the knees, along with our own politicians who lack backbone, and cave to threats from our enemies to the slightest hint of trouble, need shoring up, with new strong planks of truth which use and internalize the wisdom of the   past, the lessons of history, the wisdom of change, appropriate and timely. Suffused with the hope and optimism for the future, with the values of America intact and honored.

We have fallen short in meeting our duties to provide for a generation properly educated, healthy and clear of mind, able to discern truth from falsehood. We have not done so. We have failed and the proof is right out there in the screaming for blood mobs. It cannot continue. It must not continue. It must be challenged and repaired and soon, very soon.

I love America or at least I used to. Now that love and trust is challenged by the growth of rapid, vile, and violent antisemitism. I feel challenged in my inalienable rights as a citizen even as genetic trauma runs deep within my veins, penetrating the heart. Where is my America? Where?

Out there, screaming for my blood. 

Not acceptable.  

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Yitzy, sweet boy, golden boy, in a way, it is good that you are literally and figuratively away from and above this earth, away from the uncertainty, the grief, the seemingly insurmountable problems afflicting us all. Still, we all miss you, so long for you, the gap in our hearts appearing when we are most unprepared for it. Be safe up there and remember your people, your family. We certainly always and forever remember you.

Always and forever. Always and forever.