STOCHASTIC

  Aha!! Yet another new word to add to my growing lexicon of heretofore unknown vocabulary. I actually like to come across such new words as it challenges and gives hope. Challenge because new things are harder to absorb as one ages particularly when one is burdened with PD. Additionally, I have always liked to learn new things, to gain knowledge. Today, the opportunity. to feed that “like”, to gain knowledge, is always welcome. Challenging the mind and the body is always a good idea when one has PD.  

When diagnosed with PD it is often a blow that knocks you down, literally and figuratively and does not let you get back up so easily. Your world shatters. One thinks of all the negativity that's been associated with that disease. Merely knowing that it interferes with the working of the cells of your brain is frightening to a degree that one cannot understand unless one is G-d forbid in that situation. That initial reaction upon official diagnosis is actually strange because most people have already known they have been 'gifted' with PD   for many years.

That was the case with me. I have known for decades that I have had PD. However, approaching various doctors with symptoms, with questions, my concerns were brushed off, explained away. Those 'explanations', only added to the confusion and yes, angered me. Brushed off the way as if I did not know my own body. I was told not to diagnose myself, to listen to them because they knew best. Well, they didn't.

That misdiagnosis or non-diagnosis angered me. PD has no cure, but it does have paths to delay the symptoms, to prepare oneself, to be more careful to avoid falls, to 'PD proof' one's house. Most important, to understand what is coming and prepare for it. Arrogance and the ignorance of those who should have known better, and behaved better, delayed all that. Too often women have been pushed aside as apparently incapable of understanding the messages of their own bodies and they have suffered irreversible harm. Yes. there is an element of bitterness here, for in their conceit they violated the Hippocratic Oath wherein they swear to "do no harm" to one in their care.    Thankfully, we found doctors down here who listened, questioned, tested and diagnosed.   

Even as I moved forward to do what I had to do, that anger inside continued to rage. I can see the difference. I see what regular exercise can do. I see how I could have made my life safer. Less eventful. I, my family, my friends could have, would have, had more time to understand what was happening.  They have been wonderful and give me courage and reason to carry on, to keep up the fight. It is a most difficult never-ending fight, a series of battles inevitably leading to a lost war.  

Upon official diagnosis two important thoughts arose. One filled me with guilt. How much better could I have been as a daughter had I understood what was happening to my mother. I could have understood why she fell and how she felt. Her frustration, fears, confusion re her traitor body and understood what was going through her mind, all should and would have been better understood and addressed by me with my own understanding and experiences. With the proper diagnosis. I could have better addressed the issues. Done better. I would have known better. I should have known better. And the guilt lies heavy upon me. To this day and ever onward. I can cry. In fact, I do.

Utmost in my mind was to discover, if I could, whether this Parkinson was of danger to my children, genetic in cause. Or was it stochastic. " there will always be a proportion of people for whom, even with a full understanding, no cause is clear, ... ‘Sometimes it’s just stochastic – a random event that happened that’s bad luck but there’s no obvious cause.’    

In other words, one is **** out of luck. So, we tested. We joined studies. We're told it was not genetic. Then we were told that there were new genes, new testing, new specialists. We have done all that we could, but no definitive answers have been reached - as of yet. We will continue our search for answers. To be informed is a must. 

There are silver linings in this cloud. For one, I have had to reach back deep into my past, into my soul and call upon an inner strength. To reinforce discipline in my life. To institute a rigorous program of physical exercise of challenges and demands. To understand that my newfound hobbies or talents in painting or woodwork, or mixed modalities is not an indulgence nor an aberration, but rather a gift for my brain, from my brain.  

All that is well and good, but the cherry on top or the cherries, are the wonderful gifted caring people otherwise known as therapists.  PT. OT, Speech, whatever the need, they are there. Even simply. to talk with us, to hear our voices, our fears, our dreams, to smile with us as we show the pictures of our kids and grandkids. 

Without their devotion, their care and their patience, a never ending well of encouragement, we would not be where we are today. They read our minds and know when to pay attention to our whining and "I can't do it" attitude and when to push us. To celebrate with us when we do meet that challenge and if not, devise other means so as to avoid a sense of defeat and discouragement.   Always pushing, always encouraging, always there. When we arrive, we are greeted with smiles and we leave with smiles, knowing they will be here with their love, knowledge and encouragement so critical for those with PD.  PAM, my new clinic of less than a year, preceded by a wonderful clinic and staff which closed, has become my home away from home. Most important - they tolerate me so well! These wonderful people are a 'gift that never stops giving".

Bless you. Thank you.       

"WHAT, ME WORRY?"

 That iconic line from Mad Magazine continues to ring true so many years after the demise of the magazine. What many do not know or recall, is that most of the staff of writers of the magazine were Jewish; hence the subtle and not so subtle hues of "Jewishness" found within its pages. It was a rather wry, very dry, humor, not one to result in paroxysms of laughter, but rather the wry smile and small chuff of acknowledgement that is part and parcel of survival Jewish humor. And it was enough, especially for many of my generation.

  Jewish humor finds bits and pieces to laugh at or with or in spite of in the direst of situations. I can recall bits and pieces of one 'joke' which presented the reader with the image of a man entering a gas chamber turning to ask his Rebbe as to what bracha, what blessing, is to be recited now? Ironic, wry, very dry, and perfectly imaginable, for why not? If Jews awaiting slaughter could sing "I Believe", 'Ani Ma'amin", as they entered Hell, if they could dance and sing Am Yisroel Chai at times of determined efforts to erase them and their history, then humor can be found everywhere, inappropriately or not.

Humor is a survival tool placed in every Jewish person's go bag, acknowledged or not, for it is a fact that at least one time in a person's life, someone will be so gracious as to forcefully remind one that he/she is Jewish, like it or not, and no matter how many times the "accused" denied and denounced Judaism and any and all ties to Judaism. Nope. Doesn't work, so why bother? Better to adopt Mad Magazine's slogan of "What, me worry?"    Exactly. A small shrug of shoulders, a wry understated smile, and continue on with life, whatever that life is at that moment. Look to the better future always awaiting, always sure within the "pintele Yid" within all Jews - admit it or not. It is that small spark of one's Jewishness which is always lit and waiting within the hearts and souls of all Jews.

 So where do we go from here? Not a clue, really. As one looks around, there appears to be no place of sanctuary, no place of certainty, of refuge, of an ability to continue on with life as it should be. And as it was, once upon a time. I must admit, though, that that Once Upon a Time and Living Happily Ever After is a pretty damn scarce scenario in the realm of Jew versus World or Jew in World. What is in plentiful supply, perhaps even in surplus is the consistency of the will to carry on. To keep on going. To step out. To charge out or trudge, but always to carry on in the face of all the adversity.   

Humor, dry, even ugly in root cause, remains a mainstay of Jewish survival. I must admit though, that there are times when the “humor”, such as it is morphs from the realm of humor to the realm of survival, preparedness. Survivalists generally stock up on food, water, ammunition, hideaways, clothing, but not Jewish survivalists. They do something else. That black humor “joke” rises to the surface of the mind and pockets are checked. In fact, I can testify to the reality of Jews doing just that - checking the status of their papers, their passports, some even buying a place to live elsewhere.  

In times of unease and uncertainty, when the shoulders of Jews begin to rise once again around their ears, the dry joke becomes a dry reality. “The smart Jew is one who keeps his passport and papers in order. The wise Jew is one who keeps his passport in his pocket.” There is within each and every Jew a genetic trauma passed along from generation to generation to generation and on and on. Ad infinitum ad nauseum. Time and time again   the truth of that 'joke' has become truth and necessity and too often tragedy.  

How many times have we heard in one voice or another, in one language or another, these words:   "Paperien, bitte". I recall sitting with one Holocaust survivor who showed me the strength and truth of that not so funny humor. Opening her bag, she reached inside and pulled out her passport and her naturalization papers. She told me she never goes anywhere without them. She had already been there and did not want a repetition. She was the wise Jew. And many of us have done the same thing. If not carrying it around within our pocket, we have sent away for renewals, kept them up to date and close at hand.

The feeling creeps up on you. and you don't even notice, until this happens. While packing for a brief trip, Gerry held out his hands holding our passports. With shoulders and eyebrow raised, the unvoiced question was answered equally unvoiced, but with extended arm to take them and pack them and keep them at hand. Current and up to date.      

Alfred E Newman was bold in his "What, me worry?" iconic statement. However, the reality is yes, I worry. Me worry. We all worry, even those who deny that, for history tells us we must do so. That history gives rise to yet another example of   down in the trench time humor. One Jew sends a telegram to another. “Start worrying. Details to follow.” The recipient of that telegram wouldn't need the details, for unfortunately, the details are always the same. 

First, the snarkiness: the under the tone comments. The side eyes look. Then the voices become louder. Bolder. The supporters begin to gather together and promulgate reach out situations to the public, for they know, oh, they certainly do know that there are those who will gladly gleefully join them in hate. Vandalism, threats, harassment, actual attacks. Violence real in output and the fever of hate rises astronomically. The voices of the morally deficient and weak join in, one with the crowd. The scum of society rises to the surface from the depths of that fetid swamp.   

Censorship. Book banning. Book burning. Abridgment of Rights. Erasure of rights. Growing numbers of arrested and disappearing. Screaming louder voices of hate. The mantra of fascism is heard: Believe. Obey. Fight and all and only for the state. A blizzard of dis and mis information. And every time this happens, it proves once again that a society in turmoil needs a scapegoat, a convenient target to focalize the nation and well, most definitely and always "Not good for the Jews." It is merely another depiction of yet another time, different, yet the same.  

The very bastions, the guardians, of a positive society, Progressive in the true sense of the word turns on itself, consumes itself, and becomes something other than what it was meant to be. The Free Press. is gone. Freedom of speech, unbiased reporting, is. a joke and. only those who support the government are free to speak. In place of the libraries and universities rise prisons. Children are subjected to overwhelming waves of propaganda. And one morning we wake up and find we have no idea where we are or how we got here or where we are going. Suffice it to say, that we are going no place good. And once again the Jews will return to their beds, take out that special suitcase, gather their papers and be ready for whatever is heading their way. What exactly? Not necessary to know the details. Just follow that telegram's instructions. Start worrying.

And so I and many others have begun worrying. In fact, we have begun worrying many, many, many moons ago. It is an extremely precarious situation. Like balancing on the point of a newly sharpened picket fence. Nearly impossible. Certainly not probable. I wish that for once someone would appear, a coalition, who would lance these ugly fetid stinking bubbles of hate before their poison had been released. At this point in time, that wish is apparently not possible, certainly not probable.       

Actually. I heard the temperament of the world today neatly phrased by one who knows whereof he speaks. It can be summed up in some brief sentences. When someone leaves on a trip, we no longer say have a good time or enjoy. What we say instead is, "Be safe,". 

Be safe.  Think about those words and their import.        

"ROASTED AND TOASTED"

  The phrase of the title was said by Colbert in describing the end result of the debate with Harris.  For sure Trump received his comeuppance well deserved, but I believe the phrase was actually a bit more anticipatory than an absolute truth. The question is whether beneath that crisp outer layer was he just as roasted and toasted inside. In other words, did the debate do the job? Is there more roasting and toasting time before it can be just perfectly well-done with no more possibility of   obscene mind and body being rejuvenated? Is it truly over and done with? 

 Unfortunately, there are those who wish to revive that broken body so stiff, so boxy, along with the remnants of an already twisted mind. Their plan would be to control that broken piece of humanity, along with the already demented mind and play him as a robot controlled by his master or several masters, allowing them to impose their particular political, social, ethical, religious playbook upon the rest of the country and the world. Of his soul, there is no mention, as his was long ago atrophied and discarded. However, even in life it was extremely difficult to control his aberrant thoughts and behavior, so how much more in his after roasting and toasting experience?   

 In that wrecked old body and mind of his, is there yet more life to come? For sure.  That he received a well-deserved drubbing via the debate is all well and good, but there is life left in those ancient bones and psychotic mind. More is necessary. The playbook should definitely include those plays which will highlight his inadequacies, his dangerous excesses and minimums. Necessary as well are plans to prevent a return to Congress of the most egregiously extremist players within both parties, for they both have them aplenty. An atmosphere of Bipartisanship must be engendered, lest this country, this nation, render itself into several segments, forever to remain divided and weak. 

For me personally and as it seems to be for others, at this time my most foremost defining characteristic is that of my Jewish descent and all that it entails. The attitude of political parties across the spectrum towards this ugly growth of anti Semitism, vitriolic in both words and deeds, ramped up to JewHatred, leaves much to desired. It is to wonder how will the politicians, how will DC, approach the problem of wimped out university authorities? Who at first refuse to set out rules or claim they have rules but then do not listen to them or obey them? Or we can't crack down on free speech or is that only when referring to threats against Jews!!! 

The false flag operations of foreign bodies must be recognized and outed and dealt with promptly. Those professional activists, the network of them across this country, with threads into other countries, are professional as they coopt dumb students, who seek the latest trend. As for example, the red kaffiyah of today, rather than the black and white ones of last semester.

 Perhaps that prayer of forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do might be applicable here, but at times one must lead that horse to water and make that horse drink, like it or not, for their own sake and make them understand exactly what they are endorsing. It is death. It is true genocide.

 Proper boundaries must be set. No one should be free to call for the death of others. No one should be free to wield sticks and stones and bullets and bombs against those they have made “others”.  Period. Words and actions must be carefully titrated with appropriate consequences. No legitimizing "demands" which in essence dehumanize and creates a world of infinite possibilities of no good to nth degree. Universities must live up to their responsibility - to educate - not to enable evil to overwhelm the school and contaminate all.  Within a sane and righteous education, the truth will of necessity and desire emerge. Terrorism will be recognized as such, and its proponents and protectors and practitioners will be called out and on it.   

There is something seriously wrong with this world today. Very much so. The 'what' is wrong affects me and mine and make no mistake about it, it will affect you and yours, even if not now then pretty damn soon in the future. This kind of behavior knows no bounds, knows no restrictions and generally only grows worse as time goes by. The end generally is a brutal civil war within that. country and a permanent state of fighting along with resultant collapse of economic and social infrastructure. Disease. Hunger. Starvation. Danger beyond anything we have ever known.

We have a long way to go before we can declare ourselves and our world safe. We must not hold up a trophy of victory, nor a gold-plated medal nor even a sympathy pity trophy, for we have earned nothing at this point. Rather than grow up, we have. most unfortunately grown down. And along with our mis - development, we have dragged our children allowing them to once again believe in tropes of hate. We must do better. There is no other choice. We must.  

Not roasted or toasted enough. Not ready for the apple to be inserted. Nor for the final touches to be administered. We are on the way. But be that as it may there is more road before us and we must be very, very careful. Watch those who are traveling on this road because there remains that niggling itch within, a lack of total belief in their righteousness and sincerity. Will they adhere to the right rather than the convenient? Will power corrupt them? Will I, as a Jew, a woman, an American, a Zionist, a person, be safe?   I am worried. As you should be as well.     

LOWER THE BLINDS, SHUT THE DOOR, CLOSE THE LIGHTS

That is exactly what I did yesterday or at least tried to, with a great deal of success. Unexpectedly free from that was supposed to be, I indulged myself and gave tired me a vacation day.  No one knew I was here other than family. And so, I ran with that idea, shutting and shunting requirements and demands aside, other than the writing of my daily blog. I knew what was good for me, that I should do - but did not. The guilt was blessedly joyous. By the end of the day, I felt 100% refreshed and rejuvenated. Playing hooky can be beneficial. 

As anyone with PD will tell you, daily exercise is of crucial importance. Be that as it may, it is exhausting. One has to fight with a rather reluctant body growing ever more reluctant every single day, every hour by hour. It takes lots of hard work. Lots of concentration. Lots and lots of mind over matter to keep oneself going and to do all that the therapist asks you to do. Always present is the cold standing outside of oneself, examining, filleting the activities of the day. Analyze. Was there an improvement? Regression? Possibly a plateau reached. Did I do my best? Or did I wimp out at some point? It is a demand to be cold hearted in the evaluation of the bottom line of the day. Am I doing damage to myself by not engaging in the rigorous physical exercise and demands that I generally do each and every day, walk the stairs again?  

Truthfully speaking yesterday, I didn't care. I needed to put me first. Irresponsible? Possibly. Probably. But I really didn't care. I so needed a me day. A day where I could read the paper in peace. Do the crossword puzzle in both papers. Catch up on things that I had delayed, and then hobbies a tad neglected. Take up a book I have been wanting to read. Sitting in my chair and reading. The only interruption are calls from children and good friends.   

Bottom line - by the end of the day I was almost a new person. What is more I intend to do exactly the same today. Only this time I will have more time to maybe watch some program, wallow in the fun of Antique Roadshow, finish the book and start another, pick up brushes and paints, do some woodwork long postponed, or even take a blessed nap! And as I greet the end of the day, indulge myself. with a piece of chocolate and a scoop of ice cream. It doesn't get better than that. 

Actually, it could get better, and it did get better. We received one of our favorite gifts, a video of a great grandson meeting the world afresh. Open for new experiences and absolutely carefree and excited with every discovery. The latest adventure was the greeting he gave to a bug crawling along the sidewalk. Oh, the questions he asked of that bug or buggy. He informed the bug when it was time for it to leave, for he had to leave too, going goodbye. When that buggy did not listen, it received a bit of a tongue-lashing and then joy of joys as that little bug began to move. The excitement with that little boy. Now that is truly something that nothing can top.     That recalcitrant buggy finally began to actually walk and oh, the shouts of ecstasy and joy.    

The clear innocent joy of a little one is a dose of the most effective medicine we all need to have every single day. Maybe two times, three times a day. Those sweet smiles. That reborn enthusiasm every day.  That little boy, all the little children of the world, do not understand the precarious state of the world. It bothers them not. They know not. It's simply not a part of their world. Who is part of that world? Hopefully all of the loving adults that surround that child, siblings, toys to discover and use, and watch those tentative steps to the outside world, to watch them as they gravitate toward the other little person in the room rather than all the Giants, who usually surround that child.     

Into that day of escape, every once in a while, sidles in the creeping, crawling veins of aggravation, of concern, of grief and of guilt. How could I set aside a day like this when there are others suffering so. When I know both my countries are under siege from inner and outer pressure. As I try to look ahead, I see no signs of positive growth other than the negativity and danger in divisive tactics and words and violence. Can my guilt lead to anything good? I already am doing what I can, but it is never enough, is it? I need to understand that a day away will invigorate me to do more, try more, to go on into another day. Another battle. Another blog. Another discussion morphing into an argument with those who will not see the truth.   

In fact, I actually cannot blame those who refuse to see the truth for quite frankly, the truth is ugly and discouraging. Perhaps it is the chemicals we ingest. The pollutants we inhale. The contaminated water we drink. But it seems that humanity is not evolving in the way that it should. In fact, it often seems to be devolving. As much as we know or think we know we set that all aside and quickly revert to primitive, cruel actions and statements. Those actions cannot be undone. Those words cannot be unspoken. Efforts to remedy the harm   might help, but the wound remains. It scabs over. Scars over. Every so often it aches, reminding us of what was. And we simply do not let it go. We keep it within us. Let it churn away and bubble forth.

No. Nope, nope. I am putting all this away. Going to seek my book. See if the papers have been delivered and take another day off. Today the world is stopping for me and allowing me to get off. To tamp down on the guilt. To wallow in the guilty joy. And yes, the selfish joy of tuning the world out, dropping out for the day. Ah, the bliss as I count the hours till my chocolate.  

Have a good day. Take a chill pill. Take a chill hour. Take a chill day. Take a mental health day. Return much, much better after that day. The world needs such a day, week, year, decade. 

---------------------------------------------------------Yitzy, sweet boy, this is the first day in quite some time that I believe I can include you in my blog. Most of the ugliness of the world has been kept out today.  A good day to look at real pictures and scroll through others. From baby till time of loss and all that has happened in between.  Sweet boy, you are always with us. Our love will always encompass you and keep you warm and safe. 

Always and forever. Always and forever.  

 

WE THE PEOPLE

  'But we (referring to the insurrectionists) didn't do -- this group of people that have been treated so badly," Trump said.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, ..."

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,..."

Three statements concerning we - meaning a group of people. The first statement comes from the mouth of Trump during last night's debate. The second line is the opening from the Declaration of Independence and is an inclusive we rather than an exclusive one. The third statement is from the Constitution of the United States of America. Again, inclusive and rather bold in its statement. Peruse those statements carefully and understand what they imply, their bold statement and meaning and what they carry forward through the decades and centuries of the existence of this nation. Now, if you please, place them in order of sanity, importance and relevance. Which are people friendly and which not?  

Statement one is frightening. Right down to the marrow in one's bones. It is when Trump in yet another moment of madness included himself within the raging and ranting mobs on January 6th. These insurrectionists, rebels, rioters. revolutionaries, believed they had the right to violently and illegally overthrow this nation's government, so assured by the words of the president himself. A traitor. The we of his statement is a we that is inclusive of himself and the rioters and exclusive of all else, all those who do not agree with him, his tactics, his philosophy, nothing about him. Unbelievably running again for president, he has openly allied himself with the enemies of the state and denounced himself as a traitor. with a smirk of smugness.  Last night, he reiterated the same sentiments, that same policy, as he said statement number one. Certainly, there is nothing within his remarks last night that pertained to domestic tranquility or justice. Or indeed of anything positive.

Add to that statement the absolute insanity as he ranted re illegal immigrants who apparently are feasting nightly on our dogs and cats, and he predicted that possibly we would be next. How    moronic, how insane, how hate inspiring. Perhaps there is life on Mars, and he is an example of such. It is as good as any excuse or reasoning as to why this man is the way he is or why some people refuse to see the truth and understand that he has not a streak of violence, not a streak of hate, but is totally composed of those two elements. He is one of the most dangerous elements to the continued existence of the United States of America, at least as it is constituted today via the words of the statements two and three. Us, not him, nor his people. WE.

 Kamala Harris stood there with open eyes, wide with amazement. His statements were either outrageous or dangerous and how she did not lose control and shout out or laugh was amazing. It was truly mind over matter. Trump's characteristic squint of hate and intimidation had no effect upon Kamala Harris.  She stood her ground, took much of his, even as she did not always answer with specific details. Then again - her broad strokes were informative of direction and motivation, while more details will be forthcoming upon election.  

I am still concerned re her policy with Israel, but I do not believe she will walk away from it.  I do think that she understands that doing so would mean yet another 6 million gone. Details which have emerged, not surprisingly, from the ugly dark dank evil tunnels of Hamas clearly draw an ugly picture of their intent from the beginning. The fate of the hostages was clear. The exposed collaboration of Egypt and Qatar in preventing Hamas from displaying videos of child hostages was a clear indication of their implicit and complicit shared guilt in the horror of October 7, even as those two nations were the "negotiators" for a ceasefire deal. Perhaps that is why or one reason why almost every mention of the need for ceasefire always had one gap. No mention of the hostages.

 I believe Kamala Harris understands the implications of the various proposals re the war in Gaza. Yes, she does often mention 'humanitarian' issues and yes, there are many thousands dead. Among those dead are some who are actually “innocent civilians”, but I believe the majority are Hamas terrorists and their collaborators and enablers. On them I have no pity.

In any case it is incumbent upon us to remember and to remind the world of the facts. Who began this war. Who placed the relatively few 'innocent' civilians in danger. Who invaded whom? Who slaughtered and rampaged and behaved as beasts. Who starved their hostages until they were replicas of Holocaust victims? Who behaved as did the Nazis as they frantically killed their prisoners as   rescuers neared? 

It was not Israel who began this war. It is not Israel who placed these civilians in danger. It is not Israel who dug those tunnels with stolen money and funds and material. It is Israel who is defending its citizens. It is Israel fighting an existential war, a war arising out of an evil conspiracy, spearheaded by Iran. (And personally, I believe Russia too.)

Kamala Harris I believe represents the proper "We the people". I do not believe Trump even has any kind of a minimal understanding of that concept and imperative. To borrow a phrase, Trump was a dope last night. As usual. And he certainly was roped by Kamala. Kudos to her. Thumbs down to him.

  

WHAT'S IN A WORD?

 Quite a bit actually. In fact, so important are words today that people are scouring them, changing definitions. Be it with clear intent or accidental we are so confused that we actually do not know what we are saying. So confusing is the "newspeak" that the results might appear to be comical in their intensity, misplaced usage and questionable intent.   However, when one looks past that thin surface veneer of just go along with it, be woke, be unwoke, one then ventures into areas of smoke and fog, of clear danger.  

All things carried to an extreme carry a taint of unreasonableness, of resistance to truth. It means that meaningful discussion, and the ability or even mere desire to at least hear something from the viewpoints of others and engage in relevant practical discussion is glaring in its absence. Society now is rife with extremists and their words. The result is a rabid enmity, an inability to talk with each other rather than spit venom at each other. It is two sides standing and raging at each on the other side of a divide, using language of invective misinterpretations calibrated to hurt and sting. Stones. Bricks. Guns. Rampart violence and havoc reigns. 

And here we are on Tuesday. Yes. that Tuesday. Debate Tuesday. The Tuesday which can lead the way to a positive future or cause that ground to fall away beneath our feet. The choice, the most important decision is up to us. Do we know enough to discern and separate the chaff from the trash, the moronic from the truth. We had better, for inability to do so can prove to be catastrophic. WE must do all we can to turn aside from a path leading to tragedy and dissolution of a nation - ours. 

Nasty people of nasty intent and nefarious motives have always known the power of the word. They know how it can sway even reluctant people to do things which they never could have imagined they would. And yet they do, those nice police so helpful, so kind turning on a dime, morphing into Battalion 101, slaughtering Jews by the thousands. It will be your neighbor taking you off to your fate.

Make no error - it can happen here, is already happening and we are at a particularly fraught with danger period. When various arenas of expression are denied or canceled due to a person's belief of any sort - it is happening. Thís Tuesday, last Tuesday, every Tuesday to come unless we become more proactive and make wise possibly difficult choices and decisions. When laws must be promulgated and enacted and discussions take place re the protection of Jews, well. smell the smoke, folks. Do not engage in blind denial. Look back.   See the rapid intensification. When people buy into a statement that Haitian immigrants will eat your cat, why would there be any hesitation at believing accusations of blood libel against Jews.  b   or claims of genocide by Israel as it fights for its very life, its existence as a nation with its own integrity not to be violated or trashed or denied.     

How does this happen? It happens because we twist and turn and torture words until they mean all that is the total and complete opposite of what they wish to convey. It becomes or leads to a path of impassable conditions, impossible to repair or to serve as a place for transportation and positive movement. its disrepair is far too advanced. Unfortunately, unless we look deep within ourselves, our souls, within our individual and national persona, we will find ourselves well advanced into that road.  

Where do we go? When a UN organ wastes Time in discussing. the trauma inherent in using words such as Lumberjack or midwife or Brotherhood. Well, that activity speaks for itself, does it not? Why and wherefore do we waste precious time in efforts to actually confuse the entire picture even more than it already is. Why do we seek trouble where there is none?  Why do we insist on turning nonissues into issues, all the while neglecting those which are calling out with voices of great desperation to be addressed, to be remedied.  waste. Where do we go? Beats me and many others as well.     

We had better understand what to do in the immediacy of the danger we face. Because today is Tuesday. tonight. There will be no moments of grace, of respite, of strategic retreats and rewarding. returns. Truths must be clear, distinct, and transparent. Today, Tuesday, is the day when we must open our eyes and open our minds and open our ears to see and hear and know of the dense web of evil, of lies, of inhumanity already well developed around us. 

Much of the poison and negativity of this world emerges from the unfortunately, rather rich soil of Trump, pre poisoned before release to the consumers waiting at the door. It is a world of severe unbalanced distribution of wealth. It is a world where the middle class and the lower economic class will be forced to forage for the bare minimums to maintain life. No more ladders to climb to success for the lower rungs will have been permanently removed and burned.

 It is a situation of extremis for American democracy, and we must do as we must even if the alternative is not to our specific liking nor meeting all of our demands. We must do as we must and take the better choice. We determine that choice by examining the potential candidates. What does their past behavior tell us? What is their record? How do they speak of others? Where and how have their voice has been raised in the past? And where do they say they will raise them in the future? Can we trust them? Do we know that they indeed have an honesty streak well enmeshed within their soul? Do they act as as adults or remain stunted as children who have never grown up.     

Am I over exaggerating? Could be. Maybe. I don't think so. Open threats to bodily take off after opponents, to disappear them into prisons of no return, a man who fancies himself as a dictator, is guilty of narcissism and gross inhumanity - this is not a person who should be chosen come the Tuesday of Election Day.  

As a Jew, as a woman, as an American, as a Zionist I struggle with many different concerns, some at odds with others. Which choice does not threaten my freedom? Nor try to censor my thoughts or my choice of reading material. Which choice espouses Big Brotherhood? The choice becomes ever clearer. One side has possibilities of light and the other only a darkness impenetrable, ever intensifying.  Use this Tuesday to know, to learn, to understand, to point you in the absolute necessity of making a   clear choice.

“Tuesday child is full of Grace. It has elegance, poise. Kindness. We need to create that Tuesday's child. Hear the voice of a true Tuesday's child. I remember that child. We must return that child to prominence in our national makeup.

Last chance to get aboard the proper Tuesday train.  Wars of words of violence and hate must abate, if not disappear. Not so difficult if we actually try.    We might even like it. 

Tuesday. Words and their ultimate power. 

tUESDAY

Tuesday. An ordinary day, always sandwiched between Monday, the beginning of the work week and Wednesday, the hump of the work week. It also brings to mind Tuesday's child. In Jewish custom, it is a blessed day for celebrations for on that day's Creation G-d said twice "it was good". Double blessed. We sure could use more of that blessedness these days. For sure, any sane person, anyone with any hope of the survival of American democracy, of a better result for Israel needs to be worried about Tuesday and pay special attention to it. 

Why? Because Tuesday is the first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.  Comparison is there for the doing. The obvious concern is whether both of them will be able to set aside their obvious differences and focus on what should be shared goals? Policies which are of benefit to the United States as a whole rather than to an individual class or worse, individual people. The point should be made that we are a law-abiding sane nation, desperately in need of fine tuning re gun policy. both should desire and state that desire, that politicians with sense in their head should agree to ban AR-15 semi assault and assault rifles. Even in a society where guns are valued or felt to be needed, there is no need for a semi assault or assault rifle unless you are going hunting for man! Definitely so, and it is about time that we put a sudden end forever to the slaughter of our children in schools, where they should be safe, not targets and dead. Yes, parents have responsibility in denying access to these guns to their children but so do legislators who create the opportunities for this access. Perhaps we need to place them on trial as well for they have the power - and he duty - to   vote to ban these weapons along with stern and strict policies and hold to them.

We are enjoined in the Bible to not place an obstacle in the path of someone who is blind. That is all blindness. Obviously, one does not place a rock in the path of a blind person hoping to see him/her trip and fall. We also are not to place a temptation in front of those who will find it difficult, if not impossible, to resist, and so causing them to 'trip and fall'. Thus, we are not to allow easy access to guns and their awful potential for great harm, to be within reach of those who have concerning and relevant issues. Certainly not within reach for children who have no concept of the permanence of death, for themselves and for their victims.     

And so, this Tuesday, tomorrow night, here in the United States and around the world, we will be sitting with nervous stomachs, bad headaches, and jumpy legs. What is going to be the final result of the night's activity? The debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Mics muted so Trump cannot fall prey to his own stupidity. However, he can shout and gesture. and even violate her personal space in an attempt to physically intimidate her.    Will he take to heart the lessons and admonitions of those who prepped him and control himself? Is that even possible?  I don't know, but I know what I hope.  

On the other hand, we have a woman who has been personally attacked, her entire identity questioned by the man she is going to debate for the fate of the world. This is the burden that is upon her shoulders. No live audience but billions of eyes and ears and hopes and dreams will be the stake at hand. I hope Trump shoves both his feet in his mouth. But I don't know. I hope so.  Will Kamala Harris withstand the pressure and remain composed while striking hard. These are all things that I do not know. I hope so.  

Kamala Harris is not the perfect candidate but then again, is there ever such a one? No. Some are better than others But certainly we have had some losers as well. Some have been inspiring while others showed signs of dementia while in office.  Donald Trump entered this campaign with a demented demonic soul and personality and has no moral fiber and is a convicted felon. 

 There are many, many questions. What will be with American democracy? What will be the attitude of the president towards Israel and her continued existence. Will the government succumb to the growing anti Semitism ramping up and within the Democratic Party. Rabid haters. Front and center. Will treason be acknowledged?   Can there be a fix for this corrupt Supreme Court bench? Will the president do what must be done to fix the errors of the past? Will the legislative body finally look deep within and know and practice bipartisanship, working for the people rather than against them?  A pipe dream? Maybe. 

But there is more. What will be the case with Medicare and Social Security. I live in a community of 55 plus where the population divides by age and by resources. Many are totally reliant on these funds and without them, they will literally starve and/or be homeless. What is to be done? What will be done? Medicine has advanced. But what good is an advancement if one cannot afford to pay for that advancement? What are the policies re childcare and improvement of education? Will immigration be finally acknowledged as a necessary fresh blood and ideas that this nation needs and has depended upon?  Or will we continue in our denial. Most of the nation wants to feel welcome.  d parcel into both parts of this nation. We need to stop the shouting. The invective.    

America, the dream. America, the democracy for the world. America has fallen upon rough tough pitiful days. We only need to reach back and pull ourselves up by our collars and help our neighbors do the same thing. We need to remember that these are our neighbors. We need to remember that we share this earth, that we share this block in the city, that we share this small town and rural settings of America. We need to remember that there are people with differing views. But there is no reason why we cannot act civilly with them to each other. We need to be free to live as we do without harming others, without breaking society, without inducing larger, serious, deeper cracks within our foundation. 

Tuesday. Listen, think, acknowledge, and understand what is at stake. Not perfection, but the striving for the highest common denominator.      

 

PEPPER...AND SALT

The title is not in error. It is a name of a political cartoon in the Wall Street Journal, incisive re the   current situations of the world. A recent one featured a table with several seated people all staring at another with a bag over his head. The comment: "Wheatly here is a proponent of plausible deniability.” And ain't that the truth? Too many have become a Wheatley, willfully setting ourselves up to claim plausible deniability. We claim we don't understand what is happening. We claim 'this' can't be true. We claim that right and truth will make its way through. All of that is a crock, reeking of laziness, lack of dignity and responsibility and extremely challenged leaders.  The whole situation reeks of guilt, of evil, of denial and inevitable worse to come.

There are those who decry my fear that it can and very likely, more so than ever before, happen here. Yes, in America. NO, people say: America, England, France, the modern world. We know better. We defeated it long ago, last century. NO, we did not. It is a hate as old, older than time and once again has become trendy even as it spews Death to America at the same it calls for death to Jews and excision of Israel from the atlases of the world. And the Wheatleys with bags proliferate.

Is it that we are not thinking? Will we be accused as we accused those hesitant Jews? And I am angry - at the world, at the miscreants of bestiality, and myself. Knowing what the right thing is to do and yet here I sit. Is it that this time around Israel is in a situation of extremis as well, so why bother? Will it matter if we flee to the apartment there? Who the hell knows? I sure do not. And even as we procrastinate and make excuses to ourselves, for ourselves, the situation grows worse here and round the world.  

It is growing by leaps and bounds, well-nourished via the invective of the pro murderers calling itself Pro Palestinian, actually anti Palestinian for being supportive of Hamas, the entity using all as fodder for their plans, including fellow Gazans, and the brutality and savagery of their hostage taking and keeping -and killing.  

"many of the groups have gone from calling for demonstrations and encampments to condoning the use of violence and “the total eradication of Western civilization."

- even as they deny it.

“We’re not going to synagogues and yelling slurs and being mean to people. We are here having a peaceful protest on campus."

But they lie.

They are going to synagogues, to kosher delis and harassing the patrons inside. They support those who plan to "celebrate" the anniversary of October 7 by killing "as many Jews as possible”. They are rampaging through campuses once again and why not, as the universities fall over themselves in their anxiety and eagerness to pacify the proponents of violence who remain unscathed despite their own self-definition and mission statement.

"... a series of threats they issued to Zionist Jews over the summer were not “true” threats warranting forfeiture of First Amendment protections.... a coalition of groups led by one which calls itself UWM Popular University for Palestine proclaimed in July that “we will no longer normalize genocidal extremists walking on our campus” and that “any organization or entity that supports Israel is not welcome at UWM. This includes the local extremist groups such as Hillel, Jewish Federation, etc.” “We refuse to normalize extremists and extremist groups walking around our campus. Any organization that has not separated themselves from Israel will be treated accordingly as extremist criminals. Stay tuned.”

The UWM deemed that call to violence as free speech, evidently far more important than the lives of those Jews who have now been openly threatened. Those threats have become real in many places with Jewish students and professors actually afraid to walk the campuses, to enter and remain in classrooms, to work, to teach, to learn. Columbia hired a student leader of the violent protests as a professor to teach Western civilization. So why are Jews afraid? Why am I?  Please. Reread. What would be the situation with a few twerks, hypothetically, of course, if mobs of screaming, threatening, harassing characters would call for the death of another ethnic group? Think the response will be the same? Don't be foolish. JewHatred is condoned. Trendy and eternal. Unlike others.

There are many more Wheately situations.   Who is responsible for the plight of the 2 stranded astronauts months overstaying their planned stay with no answer in sight. No one is responsible No one has a clue. A movie in real life with no screenwriter available for a positive ending.    

More? The Wheatleys of America? Millions of them. Who see but do not see the utter insanity, the utter broken brain of Trump as he rants and raves. as he rambles in his speech, never responding to what he is being asked. He threatens all who oppose him. 

"WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again," he wrote.WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again," he wrote.

  Continue reading

He continued, “Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country,” Trump wrote."

And this is normal? A practically illiterate definitely psychotic and demented old and physically challenged person with a severe absence of any moral fiber, a sexual pervert, a convicted felon with more trials to come, a traitor to his nation -why are there Wheatleys, particularly when among those   are otherwise bright, intelligent, discerning people, Boggles the mind, indeed. 

Being a weekly has become an international phenomenon including within Israel, where they. protest in the hundreds of thousands, shouting, pleading for the release of the hostages Only they have the address incorrect. Hamas kills and Israel is blamed. Hamas changes the conditions on the proposed ceasefire and Israel is blamed. It makes no sense. It is absolutely not logical. It is contrary to revealed truth. And yet the Wheatleys, so deeply enmeshed in their search for plausible deniability.  thrive and function. Israel is chastised. Demands are made of her and Israel turns itself inside out in order to placate those who will not be placated.

 Hamas has convinced the world that right is on their side. They have brainwashed those who should know better. LGBTQ+ cry out against Israel for an enemy who would gladly hang them from a tree or a construction crane. Women stand there and rail at Israel and Jews even as women are demeaned defaced, threatened, challenged and erased by those whom they champion with their calls.  

The Wheatleys of the world. are winning. Those who yet have a remaining functioning brain must stand up to the lies and fight them. Shoot those lies down. Replace them with the truths that we know. No more denial No more plausible deniability. We must all play our role, do our share and more. There is no more time. If you continue to resist this truth, I refer you back to the top and reread. Along with the many articles and voices who are warning us.  

 

 

 

 

ALONE

 If at first, you don't succeed then try, try, try again. It is a rule of life without which one cannot really even hope to be the best, to do the best that one can. Today, not satisfied that I have conveyed the true feeling of loneliness and the growth of a siege mentality that is now present in most Jews, other than those who are self-deluding, I will try yet again. There were many of the above type in various countries of Europe pre-1933 and look how well that worked out for them! Today, we know better than to fall into a false sense of safety- other than those who wish not to see nor accept reality. 

Today, most of us are walking around with   shoulders up about our ears. Hackles are raised along with a raised level of paranoia. For indeed, there are those out to get us. Need proof? Simply walk by or run by a protest. Hear the rather frightening and intense invective. Read the placards. Check out the physical gestures and imperatives. Yes, paranoia is indeed justified today,

Today many Jews are concerned as to where their place is. Where can they be safe? Where is their home? Once I thought I had a home here, in America, fifth generation with three more after me. Today, Jews are concerned, rightfully so. Unable to state unequivocally anymore that here is their home, they look elsewhere and often choose Israel as their alternative, the cherished ancient homeland an integral part of Judaism.     

America today is a society of deep divide. The topic of the war in Gaza has become top of the fold material for papers and lead story for the media. But what do they know of the truth? And what do they put forward as the truth. The divide is great between the two sides and the question is how far apart are they? How deep is that rift? It's unclear.  

There are two sides with extremists on both sides of the divide and many, many voices in between. It is the voices of middle which are drowned out by the strident voices of the extremists, particularly those of the Anti-Israel contingent. Their minds and hearts are almost demonic in their intensity. They speak openly of the desire to excise Israel from existence and all Jews to follow suit. There is no problem with the plan to follow as Hitler laid it all out for them. And slavishly they follow. Isolate. Dehumanize. Expand the   'justification' for that Hate. Suggest "solutions" to the 'problem'. Demonize and ramp up the invective and the boundaries of methodology in incremental manner. It worked quite well, unfortunately and appears to be following suit in our time.

The voices of extremists on the other side are no less strident, though not as many nor quite as relevant to the audience they seek and need -the people in the middle. Instead, these voices in the middle call out in a plea that the people of the world pay attention, know the truth and accept the truth. To end this old as time hate.

 It is like spitting in the wind. Why? Well, while there are so many voices in the middle which would be supportive, the tragedy is that most of these same voices are unaware, unknowing, of the details. When questioned about their viewpoints, there is often a puzzled look and a need for more information. The burning issues for us are not   burning for them. When they hear the information, they are generally sympathetic. While that is most gratifying and reassuring, it is not enough to totally assuage the fear. And why is that? Because generally, most people who are not concerned, or so they think, will follow along with the attitude of "not my problem. I will stay out of it." They are tired of the protesters. But will not confront them. Who needs to invite trouble? There's enough to go around without that. But too many of the people here are the strident hateful voices, particularly of those Jews who know not what they do. The turnips who love their newfound fame, their chic trend. of 2024. They rile up university campuses Block traffic and the ignorant succumb to a fun 'trendy' activity and freedom to mask up and be someone other than one they have always been.  They shout with support for murderers, rapists, child killers, the scum of humanity. 

It is perhaps the fault of Israel or the Jewish organizations here and around the world. Their outreach is lacking. It goes to the members of the organizations, preaching to the converted, but the middle voices are the ones needing the information, the truth.    

There is a man far, far greater than I, who can explain the resultant feeling that I do. Bernard-Henri Levy has written a book entitled Israel Alone.  He hits the whole idea on the nose. as he uses Jew and Israel almost interchangeably. In that he is most correct for try as they might, try as a world might, one cannot separate Jew, Judaism, Israel, Zionism from each other. Anyone who says otherwise is merely trying to fool himself or others.       

We are alone. There are none who will keep by our side, take our position as correct - even as they know so, for it is simply not politically expedient. And so, try, try, try again. I hope this goes at least a bit of a way to giving you a sense of understanding. as to why I, and so many others feel alone. Isolated. In what was my native country. Is it today? Doubt rises. 

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

Yitzy, sweet boy, at least you are not alone and are welcome, cherished, and held dear within the arms of the family who have gone before. You are forevermore safe and warm. That is a bit of comfort to us even as we miss you so.      

Always and forever. Always and forever.  

SMIshing

 Lord in heaven, but here is yet another term introduced into the lexicon of daily life and here I am again, saying, "What? Talk English!" It definitely is proof to the pudding that life's   parameters and priorities have undergone a major change, a transition which is ongoing and contributing to the growing lack of shared understood language and priorities and the consequential improbability of making deals, pacts treaties, anything which requires a mutually shared understanding and interpretation. Each paragraph is interpreted differently according to the comprehension of the separate parties, and not to forget the inevitable kibitzers who have no purpose at any negotiations other than to complicate matters, and we have an ever-ongoing mess with no end in sight, no cure for the problem, only a plethora of more verbiage and hot air.   

What is SMIshing you ask? Here is a dictionary definition of it.

"the fraudulent practice of sending text messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers:"

The same old, same old, only this time it uses text messages rather than emails. They are carefully formulated to lure you into opening and responding and boom!! Your life goes to hell. 

So why write about this term in my blog particularly when I am not a fan of all this technological gobbledygook and its negative effect upon society, and the means to communicate with each other, not at each other. Why? Because the world has been involved, caught up in a massive smishing attack - of text messages, written, spoken, thought. The results? Just look around.

What is the meaning of victory or defeat? How do we assign the term victor? How do we ensure equity in response? How do we ensure that the negotiation will finalize with proper attribution and demands of responsibility, tasks, logic, and consequences of firm promise - or threat, if necessary?  Most negotiating takes place within and/or because of a fraught situation. So, how does one communicate with the parties involved if the parties do not show up at the negotiations. Most important, how does one deal with gross misunderstanding, with or without intent, and the utter crazed determination of the instigator to gain all objectives, as if he is the wronged one.  

Headline: "US has “sense of urgency” after killing of American."

Headline: "Hamas threats complicate negotiations."

Headline: "Pro Palestinian protesters returned to Columbia." (Read that as pro murderers.)

Headline: "Can campuses get a grip on anti 

semitism?"

Comment: "Biden said he doesn't think Netanyahu is doing enough to secure a truce."

Comment: "if Hamas is able to reconstitute there will be many more Israeli hostages and mass murders of Israeli civilians and we will be back to square one."

Comment: "Captives should not be ransomed at the cost of creating more of them." (Common sense, one would think.)

Comment: “There was some progress on last week but is difficult and requires Hamas to engage on it. Otherwise you just can’t move forward,” 

Comment:. release in the first phase of some 800 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, including some serving life sentences, the official said. They would be released for the remaining female, elderly and wounded or sick hostages, which was believed to be around 30.

Comment: From me. How does one go about finding a point of sensibility, of accommodation, of understanding in a world gone mad?

How, in fact, can the treaty be said to be 90% complete, and the only two sticking points remaining are the issues concerning the Philadelphia Corridor and all that it entails and the release of the hostages. From the approximately 155 kidnapped hostages left behind after the first release, which was not even completed as agreed to, all that is left for a first release  is " remaining female, elderly and wounded or sick hostages, which was believed to be around 30!!!!!" How exactly is the bargaining for these lives legitimate? 800 beasts with blood on their hands in exchange for 30 live captives. If there even remain such a number and with no provision for the supervision of the remaining hostages. Even the idea that there are remaining hostages is anathema. What is the world thinking? Or is it? not? Is it simply reacting like Pavlov's dog to the incentives and cues for more vicious and somehow entitled anti semitism ramped up on pure cocaine and crack.

Why are these most recent slain victims considered to be an impetus to a Johnny come lately response from the United States and other countries rather than to the continuous horror of victims being slaughtered. It went on before these victims were slain, and it will continue. In fact, it has become an openly stated policy that should there be rescuers approaching, the guards of these captives should kill them.     

As for the reaction of the United States because there was a dual citizen killed, heart shattering to the brave parents, there have been other dual American Israeli citizens killed, at least three others, if not more. Why the difference now? Because it is so open, so blatant? It's a little too late, America. Left behind, ignored, are the aforementioned dual American Israeli citizens as well as those from other countries - Argentina, England. Thailand. Germany. No visits from the IRC or embassy staffers.  Out of sight out of mind   and back to the old grind of what more can we give to Hamas? What can we give to satiate their insane demands? What can we give them to enable them to replay, yet another attack only this time even larger, more brutal and then yet more concessions from the world. It never changes.

It is confusing. I believe I still have a modicum of sense and intelligence and yet I cannot understand this entire mode of behavior. How does an invader of another country, demanding its excision, morph into the role of victim. The confessed killer of fellow Gazans. It all makes not a dent in the views of the "negotiators". The world ignores all the wrongs of the world, the bloody wars, Putin and Ukraine, etc. These stories get a paragraph or two, maybe even an article of some length. And then it's back to the same old emphasis. The intransigence of Israel as she refuses to collaborate in her own demise.  

This situation is tied up in a fantastically huge Gordian knot encompassing within itself more guardian knots. To get past these knots one must   slice open the huge knot with a sword. But that sword must be free to swing openly, smoothly and arrive at the point at which it is aimed. The sword of Israel has been handicapped unfairly and grossly hampered by the attempts and demands of outside nations to conduct the war brought to Israel. Not of its making. nor of any desire. How do we trust an entity who lies and makes no bones about it - the death of Israel and all Jews as its goal, openly stated, for all to see and hear. The sinner gets the rewards here, evidently his deal with the Devil has taken precedence this time around. Much to the shame of the world. 

Now? For now, the world needs eternal ignorance and demands that we treat our stolen citizens as trading cards, as things. X number of us for X number of beasts with blood dripping from their hands.   But then again, why not for we are merely Jews.   Where the hell are all of you out there? Nowhere, other than perhaps responding to the smishing attempts of Hamas.  

But of course, there are so many more important things to talk of. After all, there is an election, campaigns ongoing. It will determine the course of the world. Even with that level of importance the The news media concentrate on oh, so much more important topics. No meat on the bone, merely mostly, surface reporting.  

What do we hear of? Not of the madness, the insanity of Trump. We hear of the most important things within this campaign like the tempo of Kamala Harris's speech. wherein she dropped into the cadence of a black preacher. Sorry, but not seeing anything wrong in that as we all sometimes adapt and adopt new pronunciations to make our point. Or, of course, we have even the most important topic - the use of the word unburdened. So? It's a word A legitimate word. It means not having burdens placed upon us. It means getting rid of the burdens of the past which are preventing us from moving into a positive present and a wonderful future. 

We must unburden ourselves from the toxic emissions of JewHatred. We must unburden ourselves from the wrong prescription of eyeglasses which blind our eyes to truths so open, so clear.   Perhaps we need a component of AI with no emotion, only inputs of truths. Lies will be spit out, of no consequence. Perhaps we could then eliminate the. crooked paths and the low road approaches now grossly apparent in the behavior of the world and in the attitudes and dealings with Hamas. In their inability, or desired inability to tamp down the rampant dangerous anti semitism on campuses of universities.  

I really do not think that this is what God intended His creations to be. I truly don't. Do you?  

Smishing. Smashing. Always violence. Real and implied. So tiring. So depressing.

 

YES, I AM

And if you are not, then you are fooling yourselves, putting yourselves into danger such as you have not known. Such as we have not known here in America. My apologies, for actually we have known such danger. When Jews were shot, killed in their own synagogue, a house of prayer on the Sabbath, yes, we in America know the danger. We are not immune.

What is the danger? It is the life-threatening state or status of being a Jew. Once again to be Jewish is to be treated as a criminal, as a social outcast. As vermin to be exterminated or neutered. Neutralized. Of no consequence at all. In fact, this attitude and resultant action has been alive and well for many, many years, right here in the good old USA. 

Yes, be it from the small towns and villages, small cities and large, Farm Belt, Rust Belt, Bible Belt, whatever belt you wish to name, Antisemitism has been, is, a thriving growth industry. Yes. Here. In America. Even as we walked openly and safely, we thought, the situation was evolving. Antipathy was always there, barely beneath the surface. Even when we noticed, we brushed it off as an aberration. The exception that proves the rule. This was the New World. The Old World and its ancient tropes and deeds of hate, of JewHatred, had no place here. Not in the land where "G-d shed His grace". And so, we closed our eyes, shut down our minds and bought it, hook, line, and sinker.

We ignore the signs reading no Jews need apply. We were willfully blind to the covenants of refusal to sell to a Jew. We ignored the side looks, the knowing nods, as a Jew in 'disguise' was outed, uncovered, the Jew 'hiding' beneath modern clothing, bared to the world. When recognized as a Jew people's eyes wandered towards our heads, wondering where? Where were those horns? 

We ignored the quotas at work, at universities, in professional schools. We sent our kids abroad, back to Europe, ironically, for that education. The lynching of LeoFrank was an aberration of crude  ignorant people. So, we told ourselves. So, we made ourselves believe. The KKK is really only after people of color, not Jews and the burning cross on the lawn of the synagogue was an error. 

 Blocked by glass ceilings at work we shrugged shoulders and opened our own law firms, medical practices, accounting businesses, factories. And so we knew America was different, albeit not perfect, but then again, who is? 

 We made sure that in this new land, we will be recognized as Americans. We thrust aside head coverings or used a baseball cap. We hid the menorah. Or didn't bother lighting it at all. A mezuzah became a missing object. We insistently presented ourselves as "Americans", Jewish a peripheral insignificant part of our composition. Hey, some even had a Christmas tree or a Chanukah bush. Yup, Americans we were. Or so we thought.   So we knew. 

However, reality sets in and hatred never dies. It merely percolates patiently, awaiting its moment. Inevitably that moment, those moments. appear front and center. The voices of white power extremists grow louder, more brazen. At the same time the voices of the left begin their own version of Anti Semitism. While nations of Europe even had Jewish people at the head of government, this nation still has not elected a Jewish person to top office. Occasionally we get the Jewish governor or senator, yes, more than before, but still that glass ceiling remains.  

Today. Yesterday. Last week, last month, 10 months ago, 11 months ago, it all spewed forth. An ugly reeking, stinking. volume of hate. A nation attacked, its civilian slaughtered, debased and hauled away, from infant to elder. The invaded nation was given the cloak of guilt. It was a guilt    for being in existence. It was guilt they were to inhale knowing that there was no place for them. Once again. Ever again. The world, exhausted by its 30 seconds of sympathy and horror at the massacre returned to business as usual. Pressure on the Jewish people to cede victory, to turn it into defeat. The enemy who placed their own people in situations of danger, guaranteed to be killed, was exonerated and all guilt passed to Israel. Even as Israel went way, way above and beyond in efforts to protect these 'civilians'. 

The world indulged in old comforting tropes of hate. They enabled encampments wallowing in this hate to be placed on campuses from which spewed forth words of hate and violence. Challenging Israel's right to exist at all. Segueing right into Jew Hatred. Authorities? Zip and zero. Words of no consequence. Words with no steel in them. And so after their vacation, nicely rested up with solid plans for further mayhem, it has begun all over again. With more intense vitriolic language. It is now “by any means necessary" and that includes murder and violence.   It includes a horrifying vein of hatred. 

We Jews here in America had once thought this was impossible. Not in America. Not here. We wonder, are we the only ones to notice this horrific trend? Are we the only ones whose hackles are raised? Where are the eyes and the ears and the mouths? The minds? when they see thousands march in New York City. Vandalizing. Terrorizing. Carrying flags of known terrorist murderous gangs, of Hamas and Hezbollah. Trashing the American flag, calling for the death of America. Death to America, they shout and carry placards calling for that death. This is America, not Iran. Where the hell are true Americans? Or have we Jews been fooling ourselves all along? Is to be a true American to adopt the terror and terrorizing tactics of the not so American and surge forward in a wave shattering. any and all pretense of safety here in America? And we may as well include the nations of Europe where Jews once again are facing bombs and threats and vandalism, any and all of the negative action or activity you can conjure up within your own mind.

Yes, I am indeed. I am frightened. I am sad. I am terrified for the younger generations of my family and your family. As should you, as well. To have an opinion piece in a national newspaper writing of the need for the American government to protect its Jews!? Anathema. Are we now to be pet projects? To be fed or not fed upon the whims of the owner.   Are we to cede all dignity and concede to hate and the damage it does?

Apparently, many of us do not agree and many Jews have bought their own means of protection.  Jewish stars have emerged front and center. The dog tags calling for the return of hostages, the yellow ribbons calling for an end to the rape of women as a weapon of war are prominent on shirts as well. Rather than hiding we are outing ourselves.

Even as Biden. sits on Netanyahu telling him he must do more. More and more yet. Where is that pressure on Hamas? They slaughtered six human beings in cold blood, knowing that rescue was near. and the world is silent. The only noise we hear is a rather weak voice, very temporary voice. Because Hamas dared to slaughter, a dual citizen of America and Israel. His death was a horror as were the deaths of the thousands on October 7.

America has been a refuge, a place of safety for most of us. Holocaust survivors remade their lives here, raised families. We prospered, and our children did better, but always present was that tinge that remained. Fear, knowing that it is not if but when. Now? Hersh mattered. As did the seven other dual citizens of America, as did the dual citizens of other nations in the world, as did single citizens of Israel. IS it because most are Jews so can easily be written off? It is not right to accept the brazen attack on civilians. It is not right to put such pressure on Israel to concede all that she has   bravely achieved, all that she has sacrificed. The waves of protest in Israel have a solid foundation, but they are knocking at the wrong doors. Israel agreed twice already, in May and August for a cease fire deal even as Hamas changed their conditions and somehow managed to convince the world that it is all the fault of Israel. I guess maybe it is for daring to be, for daring to exist.

Yes, I am. I am afraid for the future. And I am definitely frightened. from the present.