HOW CAN I MAKE IT UNDERSTOOD, FELT?

 Recently, a joke was made, a stupid one, thoughtless, about prejudice, particularly re antisemitism, replete with underlying approval and acceptance of justified reasons for it. I do not know if the person knew that I am Jewish, while it was obvious that my companion of the moment was Asian American. I must say though that I hate this emphasis on origin unless doing genealogical research for we are all, each and every one of us - American. Period. One is American, not a hyphenate. Uncomfortable, yet unwilling to create a seen, I replied, with obvious distaste and a bad taste in my mouth and head, replied, "Been there, done that, not willing go there again." My young companion said, "I hear you." After reading much of late of bias against Asian Americans, I saw the truth of it.

What can I say? Is it inborn, part of being human, that we hate others? Or is it the teachings we have internalized from those around us? Is it a combination of factors? Whatever the reason, there is no reason to keep up with the Joneses of this arena. We think of ourselves, our world, as advanced, civilized, and yet hatred of others is a primitive emotion, a false premise leading only to negativity and dire consequences. Whether the hater or the hated, the ultimate result is ugly and tragic in so many ways. It is irrational, contagious, and explosive. And at its most basic, is unwarranted, wasteful, and extremely detrimental to and for all. 

That being said, how can I generate an understanding of my intense fear of antisemitism, a fear that drowns other biases in its immense bloody ocean of ongoing, eternal tragedy. It is now 2600 years since being ripped from our Promised Land. For 2600 years we prayed for a return, and many did so over the centuries, refuting the false premise that we had abandoned any connection to it. Even as illogically, at one and the same time, we were accused of dual loyalty, traitors, even as we died in their armies. 

And yes, always there was and is an eternal longing for a land of our own; even in the horror of concentration camps, the words of the prayer to return to Zion were painted on the wall of a hidden synagogue, defying the promise of death when discovered. And why not, as we were dispossessed, denied citizenship in countries where we had lived for centuries, denied membership in the human race, good only for slavery, for death, for scapegoating, medical experiment, as playthings to be killed at a whim, our children smashed and brutalized beyond any concept of understanding, any scrap of decency, of humanity, led by what was called the "most civilized country of the times". 

The other countries? They played follow the leader with glee, with blood smeared up to their shoulders while a pitiful minority engaged in the dangerous life of resisters as they smuggled Jews to relative safety and refuge as best they could. To them, an eternal gratitude.  

Recently, studies have shown how trauma, particularly trauma of hateful directed trauma, can be, is, genetically passed on to the next generations. Is it then any wonder that Jews for centuries have had this necessity to always keep their eyes open - front, back and side? For the rather telling 'joke' that a smart Jew keeps his papers up to date, while a wise Jew keeps them in his pocket, always at the ready. Bitter, but this is the cumulative trauma of generations from times of antiquity to the present and what- the future? Personally, I think, as do many, many others, people far wiser than I, that the future is now, early arrival, or most true - never having left - as ugly as ever. We sit on tenterhooks, wondering if we should have left already. Are we hesitating too long, be caught in the net of death as were the Jews of Europe? Will there be no refuge even as it was denied during those years? Will America discard me? 

These are the truths of the inner Jew, the ones who acknowledge within and without or try to deny, hide their identity as Jews. It is with great difficulty that one lives with constant threat of possibility, even a probability. Truly, there is only one place to go. It is a land where violence can strike, where parents know that their children, grandchildren, will march off to an eternal war, as they did because apparently the world has decided thousands of years ago that there is no room at the inn for Jews on this earth. Denied a right for a place of their own, they must fight for what is taken for granted in other nations.

Many are now looking askance at Israel, at the debate raging. There is great fear that the nation will split once again, history repeating itself as Jews fight amongst themselves. Two Temples lost for hatred between brothers. Must we replay the whole damned scene? In front of the world?? Yet even or despite that fear, I and thousands of Jews are either buying homes in Israel, or seriously contemplating doing so. Why? Because it is home, the place which will always take you in. Acceptance. Refuge. Where dying as a Jew is a brave thought. 

True it is, that in all my years I have never seen this degree of civil dissatisfaction and blatant animosity of Jews towards Jews. As too many forget that we are all in the same rather leaky rowboat and all hands are needed to bail and row, together, in unity, else the boat will go down. 

However, there are several points of hope, of recognition of a shared identity. Here are two apocryphal anecdotes, true in differing manner.

  Two Jews in a ghost village build four synagogues. One each where they pray. One each where they pray when upset with their first synagogue. And one they share as the synagogue they will never, ever, enter. After their services, they meet at one house, shake hands, wish the other a greeting for the Sabbath or holiday, and break bread and share songs, a meal, as friends.

Another. Two Jews are on line, tortured, bare skeletons, death imminent yet they argue. Is Ani Ma'amin, a song of faith that things will be better, if not now then in the future, or is the Shema, a traditional last prayer of Jews before death. Which to recite. And the crowd of fellow religious Jews listen intently, for these are two well known rabbinical figures.  They argue vociferously as if the world depended on the outcome - perhaps it did. Suddenly they realize they are at the doorway of death, dying as have millions of Jews in sanctification of the Name, Jews. Suddenly they are quiet, and in the last moments before the gas pours out, they turn to each other, grasp hands and say, "Amcha". You are my people,". Hands are held as death came in gasping choking clouds of death. 

But-Amcha. 

Now we come to modern Israel. Generations of being prey. Generations of being chased from pillar to post and then denied even the post. Generations of trauma. And here we are. And here are the words of an iconic song of Israel, written by Ehud Manor, which clearly describes the people, their determination, their understanding of the reality of things, their determination to survive or go out trying. There is no other way. Why? Because -  

" Ayn Li Eretz Acheret." I Have No Other Land".  Bittersweet. Depressing. Defying. Inspiring. Truth.

While the Hebrew words are more powerful, the English will suffice for the purpose. Sung in plaintive tone, powerful indeed, in message.

I have no other country.

Even if my land is aflame.

Just a word in Hebrew pierces

My veins and my soul.

With a painful body, a hungry heart,

Here is my home.

I will not stay silent because my country

Changed her face.

I will not give up.

Reminding her,

and sing in her ears.

Until she will open her eyes

Until she will renew her glorious day  

Then repeat the chorus, of determination and resignation: there is NO other place. This is my first, last, and only thing to do- improve my country, see her and her citizens live in peace, even as I stand loyal, always, even unto death, through all that she is, should be and will be. Forever. For always. I have no other country, no other land. 

It is the determined knowing stand of an embattled, besieged people.

Enough. Enough!!

I have been privileged during my lifetime to have been befriended by so many, Jew and non-Jew alike. I have seen, lived through great accomplishments achieved via co-operation and acceptance of each other, of our shared peoplehood. I know the power of the prayers so many, Jew and non-Jew, have been making for Yitzy, my grandson who has had a tough week.

Together, we can change this world. Together we can put aside the hate, the violence, try our best to be the best.

Together. B'yachad.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

 AMEN. AMEN.

SO MANY WHYS

  Take a look around at the world and the title is understood. There are so many 'why' questions that apparently cannot or will not be answered for many reasons. Some of those reasons are quite unreasonable too! 

Of course, the first why is generally one that a little one will ask of a parent after the first unpleasant experience outside the protective shield of the home. That is: "Why can't everybody be nice?" Good question, don't ya' think? Out of the mouths of babes come the most innocent, obvious questions - for which I, and many others, have yet to find good, solid answers. 

These are usually questions we should be asking of ourselves and others. But we don't. Worse, we too often forget the question and answer and there is a detrimental change in our behavior. Our patience is an endangered species, so to speak. We forget all that we learned at our parents' knees and in kindergarten! We forget that decency is contagious as is nastiness, so why not take the former way rather than the latter? Why? Cannot figure it out. 

Why is the sky blue and similar questions are also asked, but they are ones we can answer. Or look up via our handy-dandy Apple watches strapped to our wrists. Informative, beneficial, with the only drawback being the possible, probable, inability of said adult to navigate the watch! So why was it bought? Why? Lots of mostly harmless reasons, no hurt involved other than to one's financial well-being. Good 'why' questions with fathomable answers.

My 'why' question is this: Why do we persist in maintaining that nasty part of us, the part that emerges at the wrong time, the one that reminds us of the worst personalities of Sybil. It gains us nothing in the long run - possibly even in the short run, for satisfaction is often soured by recognition of our wrongdoing and our shame at having done so, been that ugly person. It is a red ink manner of behavior for it actually costs something every time we stray off that 'nice' path. 

Our souls are our banks of humanity. Harm that bank and the damage accumulates. It eats away at it, compromises its integrity and purity, sours the proverbial heart, and actually, has a long-term effect on the physical realm as well. What we gain via misdeeds, by failing to respect others, is actually a loss. 

We harm ourselves, find our bottom lines of humanity and decency drowning in red ink, our soul bank diminishing. We forget that wrongdoing reverberates, echoes through time, landing right back where it began, even years later. There is that circle of life again. Not so Disneyesque, is it? Why? 

And why do we persist? Why can we not find the answer or the moral stamina to simply face up to the facts and change our ways. It is so much more of a pleasant life when one gets a smile rather than a muttered undertone of anger, hate, and a look that would kill if it could. Why can we not resist the temptations and feel better about ourselves and our accomplishments and rewards, achieved without stepping on the heads, toes, and dignity of others riding through life with us, long term or short matters not. Why? 

Way above my pay grade. All I, one, can do is look to oneself and keep our homes clean and bright. Keep the deposits to that soul bank coming and withdrawals at a minimum. Be the best human you can be and influence others to emulate you. In simple language - be nice. Does not cost much at all with great remunerative value.

Would it not make a significant difference to our world, our lives, if we were to behave with each other, approach all with a shared humanity and dignity. Avoid the negative and emphasize the positive. Always begin with a positive, a word of praise. It opens the door to better communication - just a 'nice' thing to do with awesome payback. To feel good about actions and attitudes is the best. To feel guilt, particularly long term, over the years, remembered from the past is the worst, cutting and bitter.  

 'Why' is a good question here. I have tried to answer it, at least to my satisfaction. Hopefully, it will keep me on my toes, in best mode, will try my best. No one is infallible other than G-d. But we are endowed with qualities and abilities to perfect ourselves as best and as long as we can.

Why do I write this now? In another two months it will be Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a time of great introspection, regret, asking forgiveness of those who suffered from our wrongdoing, meant or accidental, a time of deep introspection and a new accounting of our soul bank. 

Some songs sung by Sarit Hadad spurred me into this thinking, via a beautiful voice, a sincere faith expressed via the lyrics and a personal touching of my heart and soul. Life has handed me a few knocks over the years, particularly this year. I have also been blessed with a beautiful adorable great grandson who has a "squooshy" hold on my heart. Along with the huge number of those praying for Yitzy, and in his positive progress in fighting cancer. Always I have been blessed with great family, those here and those gone before us. My children and husband have gifted me with joy my entire life and may it long continue as well as the blessing of wonderful friends, far better than I deserve. Somewhere along the line I did manage to do something good or several somethings. I hope. 

All I or anyone can do is try to improve the financial outlook for my soul bank this coming year and for all the rest of the years G-d grants me on this Earth. Afterwards? Up or down? Why? That is for me to figure out and for G-d to be generous in His evaluation of my life and the state of my soul bank.

In the meanwhile,

Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

CHEKOV'S GUN

  The title refers to a literary/writing principle, with the underlying reason based on creating tighter writing, eliminating the unnecessary. It is felt that if, for example, a gun is on stage or in the first chapter, that gun must be used by the final act or chapter. In fact, not using it is a violation of writing principle and internal viability of the construction of plays. 

Presently it has morphed into a warning within the political world, the real word in which we live - always -not only during screen time or its equivalent. So many guns are brought to first chapter or first act that we have lost count, lost track of their fate and disposition, and surely, by end, some will have gone off, by accident or on purpose. The results are ugly, bloody, and claiming accident is claiming lack of responsibility. 

However, no matter the words, here is the surety: guns, their premise, promise and inevitability of violence, of continued violence without end will continue. Unless we take a step back and open our eyes and minds to the truth of our lives these days. Not only do we accept, even welcome the early presence of guns, but we add insult to injury when we pile on their numbers, and the inevitability of violence given the amount of gunpower in the room. It becomes the elephant in the room who will definitely insist on getting attention - any which way possible. Real guns or verbal guns, by end of story.  

And now for the extension into real life. We have so many guns and weapons out there, so many willing to use them or persuade others to use them, that the inevitability of violence in one's world grows exponentially. More and more we are presented with the shocked faces of people meeting violence face to face, numbly repeating the mantra - "I never thought it would happen to me". Glaring in its obviousness is not if, but when, will these numbers, these trends, overwhelm all, actors and audience, active and passive participants and bystanders. What then will be the reality of our lives? 

It cannot be emphasized enough that there is no escaping the consequences. Disney's circle of life is true not only for his characters but also for us. "What goes around, comes around. Live by the sword, die by the sword. The shot heard 'round the world. No man is an island. For whom does the bell toll? It tolls for thee." The warnings, the knelling of numerous bells, rife within the history of humanity, are consistently ignored until too late.

Chekov's gun, no, guns, are here, making their presence clear, their power increasing, as their explosions drown out the cries of the wounded, of the orphaned, of the deprived. The possibilities of so many are ruthlessly cut short. The rhetoric grows in intensity, jumping the shark, only this time the shark moves and we land in even more precarious, dangerous conditions and situations.

What are we doing? Why are we so blind, so uncaring as the world ramps up for what? For a war which will have the next war being fought with stones and sticks? Based on our track record we always manage to heighten the pitch, ramp up the   vehemence and finally, resort to open violence and bloody shortcuts which only lead to dead ends and very, very, icy roads, no thaws predicted. For the past two days I have been writing about the same theme, using my two countries as examples unfortunately par excellence as illustrative of the point. Why are we, have we, reduced ourselves to the point of crying for our countries rather than doing something to stop the tears, wipe the faces, blow noses and get on with adult talk, not childish bully tactics. "Oh, mine is bigger than yours. I can kill you 10 times over. So what!!!! Dead is dead! Ain't nobody coming back from what is growing ever larger in the windshields on that icy road. 

Within America we entertain and accept the open vicious insanity of too many legislators, loyal to Party rather than Country. We tolerate,  even like, the expressions of hate, be it from a Tommy Tuberville who praises white power and the rest of the GOP refusing to denounce him and the rest of their oh so flawed members. Cowards one and all. And not to think the Democrats immune from this and I can think of right away of those who spout hate and only hate. We had a dangerous demented President - and running again, an indicted criminal. We have corrupt judges chosen for partisanship rather than for proper conduct and judicial knowledge. We are further down the road to fascism than ever thought possible.

 We are a society riven with deep, basic, beliefs, long ago having left the ideas of unity, of "Americaness" behind, to smother and die. Indeed in deed and in words, the guns of the first chapter going off, have already gone off and more in the offing.

As for Israel, oh, do I despair. We have forgotten our roots. We have left our morals behind. We have  gotten caught up in vicious circles with demented leaders on both sides. We have become so crazed that at times, we mimic our enemies. Shame on the leaders of both sides in the war, yes, civil war, now raging in my Israel.

The Chareidi, pushing for more money, more power, for fewer demands, for the right to keep their men in ignorance, - where and why have you gone wrong, forsaken truth. Studying full time is a privilege and adds to the ethos and moral fiber of the nation, of world Jewry. That is true. However, it is a privilege that comes with costs. It demands a modest life divested of desires and games of personal powers and full bank accounts. It demands the eschewing of a fancy lifestyle. The rewards will be given in the Next World, The World To Come, The Eternal World. And yet, look at you now. Your selfishness has driven the spike deeper into the rift, the fault lines growing in pressure, on the brink of explosion.  

The guns of words have done the job, too well, and have deafened all, including opponents. Worse,  the government is becoming more corrupt, more desperate to remain in power, and the ugliness of Jews fighting Jews, using water cannons, dragging them off the streets, beating them about the head with batons! What has happened/!!!!!!!

Those protesting, good for you. Israel must remain democratic. It must be free to grow with freedom for all. It must be defended and improved. To be secular, that is your privilege - as is the privilege of those choosing to be more openly observant. However, for the two of you, a pox on both your heads. Between the viciousness and incompetence and veniality of the government, this state will fall again, as did others, caught in the hate of brother against brother. Family arguments can be vicious and consequences dire and long lasting. Been there, done that, have we not? Within your justified protest, do not lose sight of that. Do not destroy the nation. Do not bring about the end of another Judaic state. 

THINK!!!!

Well, I have spoken my piece. I cry for the truth of the world, certainly as we live it now. I detest the guns, the growth in numbers and the desire to use them. I hate the words of anger and filth, the threats to life and limb, the proliferation of hate on all sides and the frightening growth of violent antisemitism, the intransigence of all factors. Damn! Fix it. 

For now, as the tears roll down the face of humanity, I make my plea again. For all of us. For the world. For our safety. For the disappearance of the scars of the wounds we have inflicted on ourselves and the world. For Yitzy.

Defy Chekov's gun.

Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

JEAN VALJEAN?

 "Who am I? Jean Valjean." And apparently not good enough, no help therein to heal wounds of the soul, the painful memories and acknowledgements of who he indeed was, what he had done, what he had allowed. His implicit and complicit acquiescence to and contributions towards awful repressive, murderous state policies. Unable to tolerate this never-ending pain, he ended it via suicide. 

For Jews there was and never will be the 'out' of suicide. By doing so we acquiesce to our own extermination, free those blackened with the guilt and responsibility of our deaths. It would be to validate their dehumanization and legalization of policies of murder beyond any prior attempt. A plan to exterminate an entire people, their history, their contributions, their errors, their everything. Guilty of naught other than being born Jewish. A proud determined people who flipped the bird at history, to the Nazis, to the Iron Cross, to the Greeks and Romans, the white extremists who march with hate and flaming torches, chanting their hate.

We defy them all. We vow we are here; we never will be gone; we will outlive you as we have done so many times before. This inner drive, this defiance, kept people alive in beyond belief conditions, yet there they were. Some gave their last piece of minuscule fake bread so someone would survive and tell the world the truth, would see justice and even revenge. Two thirds of the European and North African Jewry gone. In smoke and ashes. Gone in burials as they lived, burned, tortured, shot, drowned, watched their babies smashed, their children murdered, their aged beaten, dying of starvation, thrown callously onto transports to an ugly death. The world? Silent. Total deadly silence.

 And survivors there were, a pitiful determined remnant and thus - Israel. No more desperate search for sanctuary. This time a land of our own, our historical homeland never having been forsaken, abandoned or forgotten. It was time.  A state of our own, of Jews, amid surrounding, hostile Moslem states, many Christian nations backed equally opposed to such a development. 

Tzion, Zion.  Medinat Yisroel. The State of Israel.

 Able to stand tall, proud, an equal among equals. Contributing to the world, and yes, committing errors, having misdirection at times- as all states. Yet Israel was held to, judged by a double standard demanding impossible perfection, of both state government and population. Lo and behold -impossible to achieve, set up for failure, Israel is again condemned, demonized, disrespected, delegitimized, threatened with death, destruction of both state and people. 

The world? The same silence, or a corrosive vocal support of the enemies of Israel. A complete disregard of a truth of a G-d given historical imperative. Our homeland, returned to its original people; not those who wandered in seeking work, escaping the poverty, hopelessness and class system of Arab lands. No, they were not indigenous. We were. Always will be

 And so Israel rebuilt, took in desperate refugees, had thrilling airlifts of embattled, forgotten Jewry.  They disagreed amongst themselves as do all nations. These disagreements are discussed, analyzed, as if with proprietary right by foreign nations. Yes, Israel, like other nations today, has a strong division in its population, extremely concerning, yet not state ending.  Been there, done that throughout history. Yet, here we are, against all odds and nefarious plans and faulty thinking.

 Here are some words you might find illuminating regarding Jewry and Israel. 

                             'I Wasn't One of the Six Million"

I wasn't one of the six million who died in the Shoah.

I wasn't even among the survivors.

I wasn't one of the six hundred thousand who went out of Egypt.

I came to the Promised Land by sea.

No. I was not in that number, though I still have the fire and the smoke within me, pillars of fire and pillars of smoke that guide me

by night and by day. I still have inside me the mad search

for emergency exits, for soft places, for the nakedness 

of the land, for the escape into weakness and hope. 

Yehuda Amichai

"To be a Jew is to be a link in the chain of generations, a character in a drama that began long before we were born and will continue long after our death." (It is about establishing a bedrock foundation of Jewish identity.)

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, as quoted in Unearthed by Meryl Frank ")

Today, I repeat my daily plea and tomorrow the same but also a joining of yesterday and today.

Please feel free to send comments. I think I fixed the issue.

Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRIES

 Alan Paton wrote his famous novel Cry the Beloved Country re South Africa many years ago. Today, many Patons could write similar books about their own countries. Cry All Our Beloved Countries might be, at present and for the foreseeable future, a more apt title. Run through the world's nations and for the most, one can see only violence, rampant, violent hate, with no optimism visible. Those struggling to bring peace to their lands are fighting a Sisyphean war, discouraging, disheartening, almost hopeless. Yet if we give up, cede control to the forces inimical to a just and fair society, then what remains for us, for the kids? Truly? Nothing good at all. Oh, there might be a kind of 'peace' achieved, but one gained at the cost of human rights, of justice, of equality and actual true peace of mind, heart, and country. 

It is a fake peace as the society, the nation, the nations, war within themselves, going on to engulf other countries until the poison spreads to more and more nations of the world, even those far away in physical distances. Causes and cures are forgotten in the haze of warfare. Answers are no longer possible if we forget the questions at the root of it all, drowned in the violent rhetoric which precludes any hope of reconciliation. 

We have that situation already in so many nations; it is ugly, even terrifying, so why do we seemingly only ask for more? It is a question with no sensible answer. All we get is vitriolic speech, encouragement for the young to fight, to fill the depleted ranks of those already dead in forgotten wars, in overlooked 'spats', and kidnappings of the young, particularly in African nations torn apart by decades of internal warfare, receive a tsk, tsk and are then buried under new repetitive swings to cover fresher incidents of bloody hell. More violence, more outbreaks, more helplessness, hopelessness. No end in sight as agreements, fragile in inception and concept collapse in the face of remaining hate and incentives to fight, fight, fight, apparently easier to do than the hard work necessary to build a viable peace.

For sure cry our beloved countries.

Our tears rival those of Niobe, of those crying on the shores of Babylon. Of those crying, starving. dying in the name of what? Fragile agreements to halt the violence collapse, wither away, are as dust driven by gale force winds of evil intent. As the worst of humanity prevails.

As for me, personally, I cry indeed for many countries. I cry for the dead in Ukraine, the war that should never have been. I cry for those in embattled nations, torn from within, with groups targeted, hunted, ugly echoes of the past - accusations of witchery, of devils, of dehumanization, of pure lies invented only to support, to invoke more violence and deflect the understanding of the truth behind and beneath it all. I cry for nations caught in an ugly, murderous eddy of gang violence and economies unable to support life, as the world ignores their plights. I cry for those under the heels of murderous dictators, be it in China proper, in Hong Kong, in North Korea, in Hungary or Belarus or Russia, or in sects curtaining their 'believers' behind curtains of ignorance and driven hate. 

But most of all, I cry for my two countries, equally besieged, equally torn and threatened by deep, almost bridgeless chasms within society and I wonder where is the future? What do we foretell, foresee, allow for our young? What world of hopelessness are we bequeathing them? And most important, why!!?? What the hell are we doing? Those questions, and the answers forthcoming- or not- are the instigators of my tears.

I read, watch videos, hear the shriek of rending fabric. I know this is not the America of my childhood, even much of my adulthood. Yes, I am not an idiot unrecognizing the faults and vices of the America that was and is. However, I also recognize the progress and the hope it extends to all-yes, all, even as the level of hate rises, the prejudice grows in intensity. 

As a Jew, I am genetically attuned to the trauma and constant presence of prejudice and hatred that never dies. My people have been subjected to quotas and denials, limited in university acceptance and job employment. But I also know the opportunities it presented for my grandparents and great grandparents who came here, fleeing a murderous Europe who only desired their death, ready to resoak the already swollen soil of Europe with their blood, the blood of their children, their unborn slain before having a chance to live. I am here because they found refuge, a haven, here in America. The rest, who never made it here, denied entry by the McCarren Act of 1924 died, brutally. 

Now, I am almost hopeless, drained, by the internecine fighting within our nation, the mass forgetting that we are all immigrants, even those termed indigenous, all part and parcel of the exciting, wonderful experiment of America.  And so I cry as I watch the unraveling of the fabric of the nation, the threads holding it together fraying at both ends and in between. A welcome sign I saw yesterday welcoming the class of 2027 sparked a cynical thought -will there even be a class of 2027?

And tomorrow, I will write re my other country, my ancestral, genetic, G-d given, Biblical, ancient land. A historical imperative, a modern version and the gifts it has bequeathed to the world, its victories, its defeats, the positives and the negatives. Why my tears and fears as I watch the people turn on each other. Tomorrow.

For now, I simply end with my daily plea.

Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

DO THEY HEAR IN OUTER SPACE?

 Of late, I have been seeing a similarity of issues raised in several books of differing genres.               It is an unsettling presentation of issues which afflict our nation, issues which have given rise to and grown from a sense of disconnectedness rife among the population of America. It is a loss of faith in ourselves, a lack of hope that we can realistically make a proper correction in our present trajectory. It is a lack of hope, a deep divide and a sense of resignation that nothing will ever get better. Even should the tide change, and roles exchanged, nothing will have changed for the better as the ugliness of revenge upon others, upon innocents, will raise its ugly head and all the "sound and fury" will, in reality, amount to "signifying nothing". 

It appears that not only has this souring of America affected the lay population, so to speak, but also the literary and creative worlds have given in or given up. Does it even matter? Personally, I have found it to be extremely disconcerting. The creative world has long been the impetus of change, of progress, pointing out the zits on the face of society throughout the history humankind. However, today, based on what I have come across, there is a great discarding of positive impetus. Rather, the sense and smell of defeat runs rampant in that creative community, the air acidic in its ceding of hope of any possibility to do better, be better. 

In a sorry turn of events this community has turned on itself, to the point of collusion with the forces of evil, joined the "Dark Side", overcoming hope and 'good' with nary a Jedi nor Baby Yoda in sight. This sourness, this growing loneliness as we divide ourselves into sects of hate and viciousness, only feeds the weak within us. We dehumanize the  'other' to make ourselves feel better, more powerful, of more consequence, but it does not. In so doing, we dehumanize ourselves.  

When the creative community turns, be it in pictorial, written, or oral presentation, it matters not a whit.  Instead, we get a plethora of "hail mary" attitude and "last ditch" efforts, all contaminated with a sense of doom. We are warned that no one in space will hear the screams of pain we inflict on each other, the cruelty of oppression of political or religious origin. That matters not as the outcome is the same. Terms such as "christofascists' scare the heck out of me, as we even condone suppression of those within our own religions should they differ in some manner or other. Or simply indulge our baser traits.

I need that creativity to remain positive, at least optimistic, hopeful, leading the way, demonstrating the way. We cannot have conversations such as two characters have.

"What's the solution?" 

"A practical one?... I don't know, but we'd better find one quick."

"Are we done then?"

"As a nation? We might be. But maybe not. We survived our first civil war. No law says we won't survive our second."

The answer, folks, is within us, our hearts, souls and a shared determination. One which concedes that hate does not work. That we are all one. That we are together on this planet, burning up with both the heat of Nature and the heat of hatred.

We must do better, together. There are too many waiting for us to repair our bleeding world. To ensure their future and indeed, the future of humanity.   Of this planet we share - together.

This can only be achieved one way. That is to put aside grievances that endanger our future and that of this planet we share - together.  

To acknowledge that there is shared right and wrong in every disagreement. To know deep down that there must be compromises from all sides, though never with evil.

This can only be possible if we totally understand the danger awaiting, imminent if we do not accept the necessity, the value, the importance of the concept of "together" of 'togetherness". It won't be easy, but nevertheless, the longer we wait to comprehend and internalize, the less likely our survival.

Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May he always remain on the road of faith, healing and strength.

May we all walk on that same road.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.

Together is the only way.

cmporsie,anda fue canbachevd.

tohrhristheonlywaybleft tosu.

DEAR NEW YORK TIMES,

  I believe this might be the second time I have reached out to this paper. Actually, a paper to which I have subscribed for many decades. I found it to be a paper which matched most closely my opinions and thoughts re domestic policies and even some foreign. For sure I agreed with the latest viewpoints of the disaster our political system has become and the dangerous actions of leading Presidential candidates. However, always there was that constant irritation, along with a resigned sigh, when it came to NYT position and attitude re Israel. 

With great consistency, coverage and attitude were negative, with barely a mention or indication of even a modicum of support, even a basic understanding or presentation of the motivations and causes behind, driving the State of Israel. This embattled country, surrounded by enemies denying it the right to exist, calling for its Jewish population to be exiles, once again and for always. Its establishment and continued existence in the face and reality of threats, wars, terrorism, and denial of historical imperatives has provoked the world.

Enabled by much of NYT, riding and driving the bandwagon, its coverage, Israel became a pariah among the nations of the world. A state where Jews were welcomed, invited, accepted, allowed free economic development, along with the many Arab citizens who are a major sector of a blossoming economy and the world of invention and creativity - NEVER! Anathema! Evidently, our success was a point of contention for so many, antisemites of vicious degree, intent, and actions, who jumped on the bandwagon of demonization and denial of Israel and any who supported her.

Evidently, the last time Israel was looked upon with any kind of sympathy, empty though it was, was when the world walked, or sailed away, in 1967, allowing the blockade of The Straits of Tiran and the port of Eilat to continue. Despite all previous promises. Again. As always. Left alone, Israel did what she must. Barely two decades after WWII and attempted extermination of Jewry, the world stood silent again, ever ready to present false, worthless empty words of sympathy but no action, other than desertion.  When Israel was successful, at great cost of lives, that was the last time there was any sympathy for Israel. 

She was renamed and categorized as an oppressor state, and why? Because she refused to lay back and die. Even an offer to return lands from which   attacks were launched, in return for a promise to recognize Israel, its right to exist, to cease hostilities was refused. With greatly empowered networks of terrorists, murderers, who continue to pursue their policy of judenrein from the river to the sea, how are things different? They are not. Period. 

Now enter the NYT adding fuel to the fire. Ever since 1967 Israel has forfeited its right to exist within the pens, editorials, and op-ed pieces of the NYT. A rare contribution pro-Israel was countered by an opposing vitriolic one. The mantra of 'poor Palestinians' was embraced by the Times. Worst of all were the reporters, with some Jewish ones in the beginning bending backwards to be neutral, now replaced by non Jews, oh so not neutral, along with the two Arabs or Palestinians who aways and forever have articles justifying and 'understanding' the motivations of the terrorists - oops - Militants - (obviously because of those evil Israeli Jews).

I think what eats away at me the most is the dehumanization of Israel and its population, unless one agrees with the Palestinian viewpoint and justifies all behavior of theirs. Israeli losses, even civilians, is downplayed, with nary a name or age given, merely an amorphous presentation of x number killed or wounded, and always and forever juxtaposed vis a vis the number of Palestinian terrorists lost or collateral civilians because their homegrown terrorists roost among them, using them as shields, shoot rockets from their backyards. Nor do they heed the warnings, the phone calls, to leave, avoiding death, before the building is a target. Self - defense, proactive defense when necessary and an unbelievable attempt to limit deaths of civilians, far beyond the efforts of any other nation. Ever. 

No, the deaths of Jews are always negligible in the eyes of the world. Please note, there are Israeli Arabs serving in the army also killed, wounded or caught in a terrorist attack. NYT, we have our young slaughtered. Our innocent children, not out slingshooting huge rocks. We have mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandparents, teachers, and yes, our baby soldiers, just turning18, not hardened monsters. We mourn our dead rather than celebrate their death. We cry over them, not shoot rifles. And if some do rampage, in grief and rage, yes, we wish they would not, but perhaps there is some inkling of an understanding why the anger, why the rioting, for every day they bury yet another innocent.

So, NYT, please understand my anger, sadness and grief. I mourn the losses on both sides. I feel for  families dealing with the losses. But I understand, along with the rest of Jewry, that we refuse this time around to accept our fate, to accept minimalization and dehumanization. Not again, never again. Not in Israel, not in America, not in France, not anywhere. Not in silent courage and belief.  

I ask you, the editors of the NYT. to rethink your policy. At least give some honor to the precept of neutral reporting, of presenting both sides, of verification of facts and the presenting of them.

Review your coverage and reporting, the supposed analysis pieces. Begin with yesterday's stories re Jenin, three of them, including an entire page  presenting the Arab viewpoint with a sop thrown in that oh, yeah, some Israelis were killed, with the constant insinuation and undertone of not enough as there were fewer than the other side. And time to replace tired Isabel, for she is indeed stale.

Shylock and Shakespeare said it first with the speech basically questioning, presenting truths, that we bleed the same, feel the same pain, are entitled to the same rights and feelings as any human being. Why are we still asking those questions, pleading for proper answers and rethinking? 

And why, NYT, are you colluding in this manifestly wrong, even evil, policy?

                    Signed, 

                               A worried reader

WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD

 I am beginning to wonder if we are looking for the new prophets in the wrong place. We look towards religious leaders or social progressives, or even saintlike people throughout the world. However, no one seems to fit the bill and prophet credibility is lost. Prophecies of a messiah being born on such and such a date, well, too many have been spoken of yet nary a one has made an appearance. So many have come to Jerusalem and fallen prey to the derangement of assuming prophet status. Needless to say, they are ignored or given a nice comfy stay till reattached to reality. I am not sure that we would recognize a messiah if he/she were to show up, white donkey and all. For sure there would be objectors galore and prophecy competitors would rule the roost on talk shows.

 So where do we humans go to find a credible prophet? Simple. Just take a look at Hollywood history, movie industry actually, and therein one will check out old movie channels and whoosh!! Reality has intruded, driven deep into the world of possibility, probability and uh-oh - already happened or is happening at this very moment. Find a prophet of sorts or a group of them. How many movies have we seen, epics and smaller scale ones and hello Prophets!! Here is the truth of the matter. Like it or not = all the tragedies, all the advances not so good for us, all the disasters - all seem to inspire deja vu, particularly among movie lovers.

Sharks attacking, primeval critters resurfacing, strange behavior of members of the animal world, let alone that of the human world and think not it is all fantasy. Sharks are swimming closer to shore, appearing where they were not seen before. Orcas have an organized system or battle plan, actually endangering shipping in a world lane. Led by a female orca! There ya' go, and ladies of the world unite! And do not forget MEG 2 coming out soon or the critters we uncover as we go deeper into the seas and farther out into deep space.

And do not overlook or discount all the weather disasters we have seen laid out before us and guess what? Here they are in real life. Boats are floating where there was only arid lands and desert areas have seen floods and once in a century blooming and blossoming. A lake refills, covering miles and miles, and the rivers of Europe actually ran close to dry, forcing river tours to bus their tourists and historians relishing the ancient artifacts uncovered by receding waters. Who knows what new/old revenge seeking critters will emerge from these ghostly sites? 

We huddle in fear of hurricanes and are meeting tornadoes up close and personal. Once upon a time tornadoes were the gist of fantasy =a la Wizard of Oz. Or cheesy disaster movies of tornadoes and tornado watchers and chasers gone astray. Today, tornadoes visit where they never came before. Tornado Alley has lost its exclusive right to tornado disasters as all over the country they arise and leave devastation and havoc behind.

The World Meteorological Organization has issued a dire warning re El Nino, coming to life now and the crazy extreme hot temperatures we will be having and actually, already here, along with rain and drought shifting places and who knows what else. Already we are seeing bugs moving to areas more suitable to them and animals and trees and vegetation shifting as well. Food production is endangered in myriad bread and rice baskets round the world, and DeSantis the moronic yet dangerous fascist has increased the loss of critically needed immigrant labor for the crops, for roofs, for small and thriving businesses by instituting a witch hunt for them and their employers! Plan ahead, count your pennies and figure out which foods will be in short supply. Get a bunch of tarps and lots of pails  to catch the drips.

So much of fiction is now being realized in the real world and adventure stories of dangerous rescues of allies left behind, of kidnapped individuals, of gangs and terrorists running countries - well, sorry folks, but fantasy no longer. We are right in the midst of it all and do not flinch at whatever new never thought to be possible thing happens. Welcome to the land of prophets = Hollywood, where prophecies are as common as day old bread and tired out producers and worn out actors. 

No, I have not flipped my lid nor taken some hallucinatory product. But truly, it is frightening if we realize how much has become real. Do these producers and writers have direct connection to a time machine which sends headlines of the future down and they build upon that? How have we ignored the weather and climate disasters to happen - already have and are increasing in occurrence.  How have we allowed greed, selfishness, weakness, and incompetence to create an environment where human habitation will be damned close to impossible.  Personally, all these predictions of  2100 are likely too moderate, too timid and the truth, well, seek it elsewhere other than in the forked tongues of politicians and nabobs of the energy industry.  Seek it better, truer, in Hollywood! Their fantasy is more real than the reality posed to us. Who is fooling whom?

And what is next - alien attacks from outer space? Already there are more sightings of UFOs.

And where are our prophets?

Our prophets will be those who are sensible and know the truth. They will be the ones who shut down the falsehoods of politicians from coal states or oil states. They will attack the electric companies, force them to upgrade, modernize and harden the national grid.  They will force countries to confess misdeeds and bring them to tables of peace. They will work together.

A pipe dream huh? I hope not. We must make it better. Together.

Only together. 

Working together, in growing acceptance of our shared humanity, in harmony, understanding, overcoming difficulties together, is the only way to go.

 Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May he always remain on the road of faith, healing and strength.

May we all walk on that same road.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.

OH, THE LANGUAGE - OR IS IT THE AIR?

 It appears to be a case of chicken or egg. What came first or what is now the worst or are they in a Mephistophelesian  draw? Rephrased- who is closer to the devil among these devil admirers and worshipers. Or is the truth to be found in another saying -"Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do?" Or, is the truth the exact opposite, as the truth proves inconvenient for these creeps and ignore it, deny it, in their wicked attempts to become the leader of a most twisted dystopian society right here in the good old USA? Whatever the answer, or abomination combination thereof, the consequence is frightening, beyond words.

Even more bitter for me and my family is the fact that all this ignorance and violence, all this newly invigorated antisemitism, the assumption of power by fascists, comes on a great patriotic day and a special one for us. See, all those fireworks of the Fourth? Not just for the country. Nope, they are for my mom's birthday, truly, born in the USA, born on The Fourth of July. 

And why not? This country should celebrate every citizen, native or naturalized. Adult or young. Legal or not. Yes, the last one is also true. Think how many of our ancestors with great determination and hardship got themselves to a boat, paid for steerage transport and presented themselves to officials, and were allowed in. Yes, there were cases where it was rough, demeaning, even, denied entry, but there was no mass internment or huge numbers deported back to the Europe which had denied them, spit them out. My grandparents on both sides were accepted, their children born here, but my great grandmother was rejected, old and growing blind, despite my grandfather there to swear support for her. So yes, not perfect, and her fate was to die a brutal death at the hands of the murderous Nazis. 

But then again, what is? This was the route for many into the dream of this nation. That is the most probable path of the progenitors of DeSantis even as he would deny the same for those determined and brave would be Americans who climbed mountains, waded through swamps, defied bandits, to achieve their goal of - America. The contributions of immigrants to this nation are enormous so why turn away more of it? It is stupid and counterproductive. Beyond words.

So, back to Mom. Raised by a deeply proud new American, a hero admirer of JFK - though she would certainly have rejected RFK Jr., traitor to all his parents and uncles stood for, the rejection of his grandfather's ideas. Thus, the patriotism of my parents, the pride in America, the ability to raise themselves from poverty, from the Depression to a good life. Not replete with wealth and privilege, but with goodness, with keen acknowledgement of their luck and the demands of being here, saved from the extermination hundreds of their families and millions of their extended families - six million plus of them. Never did my parents turn their back or re-call an extended hand to those new Americans. Nothing mattered other than their being good people, hardworking people, those who appreciated the opportunities granted them and their kids, even on a difficult path.

All teasing aside, my mother was pleased to have that special birthdate. We were simply pleased by every special day with her, no fireworks necessary. She would have been dismayed, not surprised, by the words of Holocaust denial by Roseanne Barr, a Jewish woman whose family was buried alive - literally - by the Nazis.  

Like all mothers, mine was not perfect. She had her eccentricities which enabled us to laugh together even as we sat shiva for her, already a gaping hole never to be filled. She was a real, loving and beloved figure there for us, always on our side, yet always demanding we do our best, for that is the task of good people on this earth. To be able to stand before G-d in the final judgment, proud and tall, knowing we had been raised by a wonderful person and indeed, had done our best and raised children the same way.

So, Mommy, we miss you, more than words and tears can say. We remember you always, tell the grandchildren stories about you even as the older ones remember you with their own memories of you, always with love and laughter, always and forever a part of our lives, always, my Nelly.

Happy Birthday and I promise to do my best before this nation turns 250 years old in 2026, to help return it to the right track and move forward gracefully, loving and beloved by her citizens and a role model -just as you were and always will be to us. I love this nation when it tries to be its best. 

I love you and know that together with us and all the good people who have joined us, we will keep Yitzy on his good and promising path to a future of goodness, contribution and love.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May he always remain on the road of faith, healing and strength.

May we all walk on that same road.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!

  There is something seriously wrong with this world and its interpretations of cause and effect. We find things wrong with our lives or the life of the nation and then cry off "not our/my fault". Apparently, nothing in this world is connected and we send that message loud and clear to the kids, to ourselves, to others. It begins with the first time we excuse misdeeds and reinforce that every time we do so again. Responsibility is negated, neglected to a harmful cumulative degree. 

The anomie of society worsens until it is basically a growing well-fed philosophy of too many. Consequentially, the egregiously antisocial behavior grows and grows. Until we do not recognize our surroundings any longer. We wring our hands and cry woe is us to the heavens but continue the harmful behavior, the pattern of violence grows exponentially and becomes imprinted on too many souls and hardened hearts.

And then we wonder and pontificate. We blame others, claiming neglect, conspiracy, prejudice, and the media incorporates this within their own mantra. They and others see no connection, no causality between these statements and avoidances of guilt, instead finding myriad others on whom to lay blame and the rising tide of violence and separation among people.

We cry out against gun violence, bearing the shame of being the nation most involved with mass shootings. No, we do not institute better laws, better education; instead, we say, better we arm everyone so the 'good' guy can shoot the 'bad' guy. Yeah, others will be caught up in the violence of this undisciplined gunfight, but you know, collateral damage - whatcha' gonna' do? Life.

The NRA shouts out persecution but refuses to engage in sane and necessary talks re reform plans. Better to let people die, of course, so much better than the alternative of sensible limitations on gun ownership and accessibility - and consequences. And on where the blame lands and must be addressed.

However, there must also be added a most unpopular addition re this gun violence. I could be crucified for saying this, but what must be said, must be acknowledged if we are to make any headway in this horrific area. When gun acquisition is made popular, expressed as proof of manhood, when illegal guns and sales of them proliferate, then cultures which enable these beliefs are at fault. 

The guy who is an outlier, be he a teen or disgruntled worker, but knows guns well, has access to them, perhaps even owns them and then proceeds to shoot up the community school, or supermarket or park or block parties, concerts, workplace, wherever there are people - well, blame the culture and those who espouse and enable.  Blame must be shared in proportion to their complicity. And it matters not whether the community is white, black, pink or purple. It is the philosophy of a deteriorating society in a wicked vicious cycle, colluding in its own destruction. 

There is another area on the globe besides us that is engulfed in almost constant violence. Whether that violence can ever be stopped, given the claims of the warring sides is not the issue here. Rather the issue is the enabling language openly slanted, growing its tilt ever faster, as antisemitism has become popular, a fashion of the oh so current avant garde members of the extreme ends of the political spectrum, insidiously infecting so called moderates, an endangered species of our times.

So, Palestinian dead are deemed martyrs, teens, innocents, as resisters, as the downtrodden in a fight for what - the West Bank, otherwise correctly known as Judea and Samarih, their Biblical names, while the Israeli army, going in to save its civilian population are deemed attackers, criminals, even as they expose many terrorist labs with tens of thousands of explosive devices, tunnels dug  into Israeli cities and villages. Targeted are innocents going about daily living, in 'recognized' Israel, never individuals, personalized, only lumped together, as unworthy of recognition as human beings - teens, the elderly, the children, the parents. discounted, devalued as humans unworthy of respect and human rights.

When violence is waved away, deemed selectively defensible, the rest of the world catches the same virus, and hear the go bell. Organized raids on stores, culminating with so many lockups of merchandise that shopping is almost ugly. Even the local drugstore now has to lockup all - from drugs to toothpaste to ice cream.  From poor to wealthy, teens and adults are finding themselves feeling out of mainstream, hence their thoughtless violence and robberies or swift eruptions at some disagreement, large or small, of major or minor consequence. 

Major societal breakdown, violence and anomie, feelings of being untethered to others - all this has or knows no boundaries, is destructive to the extreme.

Somehow, sometime, very soon, we must understand the necessity of being together, as a most powerful one. Time is short.

Only together. 

Working together, in growing acceptance of our shared humanity, in harmony, understanding, overcoming difficulties together, is the only way to go.

 Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May he always remain on the road of faith, healing and strength.

May we all walk on that same road.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.

IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME

  A funny expression, considering that it is usually referring to topics, phrases, which are not Greek! Take some terms floating round the news these days. I read, and read, and the conclusion is that some people have lost sight of the truth of responsibilities. Too many have failed to properly moor their ships, large and small, and while it is their boat gone astray, their errant boat is interfering with the navigation and safe voyages of the boats of others, including our own ship of state. The seas are roiling and boiling, mammoth waves are hitting broadside and talented captains and crew are as rare as hen's teeth!

So, back to Greek. "Stare decisis" "Expressive services" And the total ethos of courts and justice. The Supreme Court of this nation, charged with the duty of being the role model for lesser courts, to function based on law and prior case precedent - prior decisions - aha! Stare decisis has been tossed into the wind, seemingly gone forever, or at least till these Judges are themselves judged and removed, impeached - 'dejudged'

We now have a good old boys club functioning in that dignified Supreme Court Building. We have misinterpretations enabled by partisan judges who have forgotten or purposely set aside their true roles in the life of this nation. That is to safeguard the Constitution, to ensure that no one misinterprets it and uses it as a bludgeon on the nation's moral character. They have done exactly that. The very idea of the importance of precedents, discarded by them, will now be used to argue their cause - not case - but cause, for they have adopted these ultra conservative antidemocracy decisions as if written in an alternate Sinai!

Thomas, the bribe taker, the pervert, now has placed all on the table. All the precedents are now in shady, darkened areas. The right to interracial marriage, or marriage for two consenting adults. The right for people to know, KNOW, that they cannot be refused service because some holier than thou ignorant troglodyte decides that he has reassurance from some twisted version of a god that anyone gay, tall, short, female, Black, White, Jewish, Baptist- whatever floats his leaky boat to do just that. Particularly if speech or words are involved. Well, every transaction involves words so hence the 'right' to refuse service. So twisted.

The same twisted logic was applied to the cancellation of the right to choose, edging into the entire field of contraception and interference with the postal system. The nasty disregard for the lives of women, endangered by unwanted or dangerous pregnancies. The threats to anyone engaged with abortions including the doctor and the woman!

The nasty virus of lack of concern, lack of empathy for others runs rampant within the deranged GOP. Threats to Medicare, to reduce access to new meds, cures, diagnostic tools, even access to medically qualified personnel, or a well-equipped small rural facility. Nope, for they have their own golden system and the rest of us can bang our heads against the wall. 

People, do not think this is not up front and personal. It can happen to you. One bad diagnosis, a frighteningly expensive medicine crucial to treatment and there you are. I know - I am here, have been there, will be here and a very complicated fragile plan allows me access but as for the future - go know! I certainly do not.

Nor does this confusion and deterioration of a nation stand unnoticed by its allies -and its enemies. Uncertainty taints decisions, alarms our allies, placing us in a weakened position while enemies dare to do what they would not have done just a few years ago. Our dissension and vicious disunity within the USA is a global crisis.

We need to look deep within our souls and truly, honestly, ask ourselves some questions. Do we understand the dangerous direction we have taken over the past few years, the very dangerous future possibilities -even probabilities facing us? I am not the only one calling out warnings of fascism, of danger to democracy including a future with physical harm to opponents and imprisonment. It is happening right now around the world, in places never before in such danger or thought to have grown past that point. If we do not understand that, see its truth we are doomed. We are already at a tipping point beyond which there is no recovery. 

A cancer grown within, and we need to root it out, defeat it, fight it as vigilantly as Yitzy is fighting his battle with it. Look around and see the little ones, so bright and shiny, just beginning to explore the world. Do we want to ensure them a viable positive future?  Do we understand the necessity to elect people with true moral fiber, as opposed to the cynical, immoral ones? Decisions - and soon - and together.

We cannot go it alone. Not within the nation and not within the world. Not even within religions for look around and see the harm of great divides in the practice and viewpoints of sects within the same larger class of that religion.

Working together, in growing acceptance of our shared humanity, in harmony, understanding, overcoming difficulties together, is the only way to go.

 Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May he always remain on the road of faith, healing and strength.

May we all walk on that same road.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.

WELL, YOU DONE DID IT! HAPPY NOW?

   Hear ye! Hear ye! The troglodytes have done it. The backwards thinkers have actually conquered the forward thinkers and well, like it or not we are back, oh say, maybe 1870's or so. Could be worse, but we can leave it at that - bad enough. Actually, if I recall correctly, it was that pervert bribe taking Thomas of SCOTUS that said that anything passed after1854 was actually violating the Constitution. So, guess slavery is now legal, indenture is now legal or will be - just wait a second or two. Laborers are paid a pittance, no OSHA, no unions, no insurance. In fact, no social safety net at all. Medicare, Social Security - say what? You must have a fever. I'll get you one of those great elixirs from Dr. Quack, the one with laudanum, you'll feel better right soon enough!

As for the tender sex - oops, gender, females, oh whatever term is now to be allowed, and the offspring, oh such a change, enough to warm the cockles of those miserable misanthropists. Women are chattel. Plain and simple. Have inherited property - whoosh! Away with a wedding ring placed on the finger. Women working outside the home, be a professional, capable of making decisions on her own? As a matter of fact, how about that DeSantis, who among his many egregious faults has now decided on his newest target - alimony for women discarded by husbands who refuse to take financial responsibility for their wives who probably worked to support them through professional school, and their children whom they toss into the trash. Good job, dear Ron, as so usual! Did someone hit you on your head!? What are you thinking!

Oh, you mean the servants, the waitresses, etc. - that's for the lower classes. Genteel ladies do not work. As for the kids, those ragamuffins who sweep the streets and beg and pickpocket in crowds, well; nothing to do but gather them up, put them to work, picking apart old rope, feed them some gruel, or send them out West where they can be taken in by families needing cheap extra hands. 

Oh yeah, things were so much better then. A person could say anything he wanted, even do what he wanted. Prejudice? What was that? T'was only right thinking and nobody's business. Trying to interfere with our Constitution, are you? Are you even American? The rules and the laws are to benefit us, the builders of society here in America. As for those pesky dirty people coming in from Europe after the business there with war and the new rules of 1848, well, keep them in their place- restrict where they can live. As for the runaway slaves - well, Dred Scott decision - just catch them and away they go.

Okay, folks, we are now to live in a retrograde world by orders of Scotus, where three women fight a battle against 6 creeps, greatly afflicted. Some have poles incorporated into their anatomy, others are ignorant, or simply mean and any interesting combination of the above and more. Such a lovely fresh air attitude -let it all hang out. In addition, we are so grateful for their reminder that as judges they can have their cake and eat it too- always more around for them. No authority for anyone to investigate and reform - after all, they're judges and have so deemed. After all, they need posh vacations too. A small perk of the job. Recusal? LOL!!!!!

Folks, the latest decisions of our present Supreme Court are troubling, very much so. The decision to overturn RoeV.Wade, a constitutional right of women for fifty years, and the most recent one allowing a business owner to pick and choose with whom to do business. Based on individual twisted values and disgusting prejudices. And not to forget that for the most part they quote the Bible, Old and New, as justification for their exclusion.

There are long, very long threads trailing along with these decisions. Many consequences and for the cherry on top- an even more segmented society, an America splitting at the seams. That behavior, that 'free' speech is not that. It is in fact, hate speech, the equivalent of fire in the theater afire. In fact, these decisions have actually fed, overfed, the fire.

This process is called "legislating from the bench" - creating new laws as if they were a legislative body rather than a nonpartisan judicial entity. These 6 supposed judges have judged the environment and pronounced it time to contravene the Constitution and create a fascist state in our image. Time to violate our oaths we swore and engage in blatant partisan pronouncements. Let the women struggle as they might, write as many dissents as they wish, for with your majority, we, the people of this nation, are doomed.

Where does this end? Can it even ever end any more, so deep are the chasms, the gaps, so huge the knives we hold on each other, as we use them to rend asunder our once great country. The only way to fix this is to come to our senses. To find likeminded people who wish to return to our roots.  The healthy ones, formulated with proper thinking and allowing for improvement. Rules for all. Justice for all. With a recognition that to be a good society means to include and care for all. Where people ae not deemed non-people due to orientation or color or belief. 

Together folks, before we become part of history as the generations which lost the greatest experiment of humanity. 

 Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May he always remain on the road of faith, healing and strength.

May we all walk on that same road.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.