UNDOUBTEDLY

  Oh, for sure. No confusion. Absolute truth and so not so. In fact, it is a bunch of blustery blowhards spouting forth with their lies, ignoring the truth. As they claim imminent victory even as defeat is stepping on their toes. Yet, strangely enough in the midst of all this hot air and egregious lies there are moments of truth, and we need to pay attention to those moments of truth, for they are the true gateways into the crazed minds of the speakers and their targets of choice.   

A prime example is Khomeini, that self-declared supreme leader of Iran, who states that " Yes, undoubtedly the source of corruption, war and conflict in this region is the Zionist regime... a cancerous tumor that must be uprooted; it will be uprooted.” This is a man engaged in obvious self-delusion, "undoubtedly" so. The cause of the conflict in the Middle East at this time and for many years prior, falls heavily onto their game square.  Without their weapons and their money supporting terrorists and murder, it would not disappear, but it would certainly be at a lower decibel.

 On the other hand, speaking of Trump and his yet another threat that it's an "or else" situation, either obey me or "something bad's going to happen.” - ho hum. How many more times are we going to hear these blustery threats emanating from that rather prissy mouth and hear nothing come forth other than a loss of oxygen to the atmosphere of the Earth? Khomeini says that his (Trump's) remarks aren't even worth responding to... "they are an embarrassment to the speaker and the American people.” Never did I ever think I would find myself agreeing with the words of the Ayatollah Khomeini. And yet out of the mouths of liars, sometimes comes truth. 

How many more times are we going to hear these idle threats? "All hell is going to break out." All this, all that and yet, for all his screaming, for all his strutting about, all that can be possibly tied to his words is the release of Edan Alexander, obviously    a good moment for the Jewish people, but it was also a bad moment, for left behind are approximately 20 if that, remaining alive and in extremely precarious condition. All the brutalized, disrespected bodies of the dead, those taken over dead into Gaza or killed within the borders of Gaza, by the animals of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and those oh so not innocent civilian Gazans. 

Then we have the words straight out of the ass's mouth, from that pompous strutting being known as Donald Trump. In condescending air, he says, no, he's not upset with Netanyahu He's not, "frustrated" with Netanyahu and so kindly offers an excuse for any possible appearance of disagreement or contention. He defines Bibi as "an angry man who has been hurt badly by the events of October 7." And in another condescending sop to him, says, "Netanyahu fought hard and bravely". This, from the stalwart nonexistent flat foot draft avoider. Yes, earlier in his life and not so far in the past, Netanyahu did what was best for his nation, not for himself.  Unfortunately, as too many politicians staying or overstaying their welcome, he has turned, and the bitter has overtaken the sweet. I cannot claim to understand what is going through his mind nor I do not ever, ever wish to reach such a level of responsibility. So, what goes through the mind of someone now on trial for a charge of bribery with the bribes being cigars and some liquor, it is all fathomless to me. Hard to accept for what would make a person do that, a hero of a nation, a patriot of so many years. And yet perhaps only G-d understands the mind of His creations, certainly beyond me.

But then again, how is one supposed to deal with rampant liars, not a scintilla of truth, of humanity, who only know threats and brutal murder, slaughter of children, the raping of women, the torturing of men. They dismantle the very group of people they claim to represent, yet even in their blatant crudeness they manage to win point after point in the war of public relations. How has that become the status quo? How does one convince so many others that the targets of the slaughter, of the bloodshed, are actually at fault, caused it or actually orchestrated it, or some other piece of garbage that they present as truth and people buy into it. Undoubtedly, they say, undoubtedly, this is the truth. Undoubtedly, we can keep Israel, "the Zionist, the Jews who control everything"   as the bad guy in this picture and not the constantly put upon warred against state, a nation constantly delegitimatized, debased and the target of many a plot from both individuals and groups, even from other nations

We must look elsewhere for some points of assurance. Presumably, according to what we have seen over the past two years, the hidden and not so hidden has resurfaced with a venom. People marching in the streets, chanting robotically. No thinking in evidence. On the other hand, we have politicians who are apparently now falling over their own feet as they each claim to be the champion of the Jewish people even as their unthought-out threads of actions only seem to arouse more virulent antisemitism.

And again, on the other hand, perhaps the 3rd hand, we have something as innocent as a song contest - the Eurovision. Meant to be a contest of songs by groups from around the world, though mainly from Europe, devoid of political taint, it has become a most political event. Pro - murderers strut that stuff in the streets. They wave their uniform signs and chant their rather uniform chants of hate. They threaten the Israeli singer, Yuval Raphael, run a finger across the throat. They attempt to boo over and out her voice, a voice speaking, singing, for her nation, for herself, as she herself is a survivor of the Nova massacre.  Miraculously, she survived and represented her nation in bold, emotional voice strong against the threats, strong in the knowledge of identity, of who she is and what she is now to the world. She has taken second place, despite the overwhelming popular votes, despite the off-acknowledged statements of the "professional juries" who deliberately tank their scores so as to overcome the majority of the populace scores that Israel and its singers have achieved

And yet, despite all that, despite all the intransigence of Hamas, despite the blood hatred and blood lust of Gazan terrorists, in spite of the money that Iran throws into the pot, all the better to enable terrorism to continue, despite all that, Yuval Raphael, the heart of the public and not only of Israelis. The world at large took her, her voice, her song, her emotions, her country, into their hearts They understood what the song was about. Mourning, a recognition of the loss, yet a determination to go ever forward. A resilience never ever more apparent. Never ever more needed and it is forthcoming.

This nation so roiled internally with the conflicting cries of finish the war, kill Hamas, concede all in the name of the release of hostages, take care of today for tomorrow will take care of itself. Or so we hope, so we pray for any such combination. Yet despite the dissension, despite the horrifying and horrified predictions, the sky is not falling nor will it.   The people of Israel know they are one, with the same fate for all, wherever Jews reside. Why? Because no matter how much they disagree, a genetic trait, there is always within those words an acknowledgement of brotherhood, a recognition that we are a family, albeit with many argumentative siblings, but still, a family pulling together when it needs to, criticizing when it needs to, conceding when it needs to.

All lema'an achai ve'rayaye.

All for my brothers and friends.

 Amcha.

Your people. The one-word code for Jewish partisans and refugees from Nazi horror to recognize each other in the forests of Europe.

Hinei mah tov ooh ma'na'im, shevet achim gam Yachad.  

How good and pleasant it is to sit together as family, as brothers and sisters.

Al acheinu, kol Beit Yisroel. 

For all the Jewish people. No matter their point of origin. No matter the pigmentation. No matter the facial features. No matter their accent. No matter level of observance. We are all together as one. We pray together as one. We pray together for one. Our brothers and sisters, those in danger, those on the battlefield.

And we know undoubtedly, to the very marrow of our bones that

Am Yisroel chai.  

The people, the nation, of Israel lives.

Lanetzach.

Forever.

We have been so promised, to protect us from the right and the left, to walk before and behind. to hear our spilled blood cry out to Him and He will heed the call.   

We aren't going anywhere. Undoubtedly to your despair, Mr. Ayatollah.

Undoubtedly.

Our  yesterdays flow into our todays and our todays deliver our tomorrows.

UNDOUBTEDLY.

IT'S STILL BURNING

 No, I am not referring to the unfortunate number of forest fires, though I am sure somewhere, there is yet another. The burning I am referring to is that of the many huge bonfires that Jewish kids made last night in commemoration of a holiday Lag B'Omer , a time of respite during a desperate situation - as usual. However, that commonality of desperation and rescue reminds all that Jewish people are here despite all that has been thrown at us. Despite all the attempts to wipe us out, we are here. Here we will stay. Here we will succeed. Here we belong. As do the bonfires. 

This morning most are still afire, lighting up the area around, lighting up the eyes of kids whose parents bring them there to see the success of the bonfires, their longevity. A symbolic presentation to the world that we, the Jewish nation, also have a record of longevity, no matter the attempts to defeat that historical truth. No matter the many attempts. and plans to burn us out figuratively and literally, here we are, alive and well, contributing to the world way above our punching weight. 

Here we are, united and in many cases, that growing unity is a result of hatred and ostracism, of brutality and violence directed against us. It reminds those who wish to forget their connection to Judaism, to the Jewish nation, of another burning, that of the constant spark within always reminding us that we belong to the Jewish nation whether we want to or not, whether we attempt to renounce it or not. For always, we are part of the people and always within that little bit of a spark is the presence of G-d and faith in the promise He made to us, a promise kept in 1275 BCE when we were given our land, to hold, keep and cherish and defend and always to return to for all eternity.          

There is a burning of another sort, a burning of a yearning recently awakened in hearts and minds of our young, particularly with our high school and college kids and young adults. It is well known that when things are bad for the Jews, when they are made to feel unwelcome and worse, it then becomes good for the Jews in the sense that we forget our disagreements, our clashes. We look upon each other and know we are all brothers and sisters together. Either we stand together, or we will hang separately. We have had to learn and relearn that message many, many times.  

Our young are thirsty for knowledge/ Our desires of finding neglected roots and rejuvenating them draw in older Jews who once had roots when they were kids but who also neglected them for far too long. It was a yearning to shield oneself from the heat of the fire of hate, of Anti Semitism, its persistence. Confirmed by researchers we begin to fulfill the prophecy that the children of Israel will return to the people of Israel.  Those seeking refreshed religion, see it with clearer eyes, eager to participate and live with it, within its rituals and yes, it's fun and reassurance as well. For millennia we have survived, and many times thrived. Why not again? Why not now?          

Kids on college campuses today are flocking, not only to Hillel Centers, but also Chabad Houses on or near college campuses. They are comfortable. They can reattach to their religion and obtain the knowledge they need. They will learn and appreciate its stability and benefit from it.  They find a haven within those homes, a relief from antagonistic protests and catcalls, the fear of violence, the tension of being a Jew among JewHaters. Here, politics is left at the door, for there are many other places for that.  Older Jews also are beginning to return, following their young and finding their roots refreshed, as are their lives, both inner and outer.

This is a time of great unease among American Jews. They are now feeling a separateness imposed upon them. They are advised by some to hide their Jewishness, but that is contrary to what they must do. That will simply reinforce their separateness. Far better to get out there, front and center. Wear your T shirts, wear hostage jewelry. Sing your songs and walk the streets proud and straight and tall and courageous, knowing that it is good to be a Jew.

 Nobody can take that away, no matter how hard they try. Jews over the millennia have known that and have resisted promises of safety for conversion, promises of safety, if they make themselves useful. Promises, empty promises and much danger and violence and death awaiting. Through the millennia, they have also kept the promise made to them. In 1275 BCE, approximately, we were given the land of Israel. In 2025 AD that truth continues, and we will defend it and assert it until the end of days.

It is incumbent upon us to walk head up and proud. 

For The Pride we have of our yesterdays. 

For the Faith that we can repair the woes of our todays. 

For the knowledge, the certainty that we can walk proud and know we can reinforce the optimism and positivity of our tomorrows.

There is no other way. There will never be another way. There will never be another time when we will be unprepared and unequipped and not ready to fight for our lives and our rights.

There is great meaning and an incentive to be had from that too oft trivialized phrase.   

Never again.

It is engraved in every molecule within our being, enshrined in our hearts and minds. It is with us even as we know the Lord is with us.  Those who oppose, deny that truth, have only the Devil, the hate and the false words which contaminate their souls. 

Ani Yehudi. 

I am a Jew.

That is a gift to be treasured.

SAY WHAT?

  Weird. Telling. Confusing. Truth. Does it matter? It used to be that one could turn the dial, press a button and more than likely find a modicum of truth within the verbiage forthcoming. Today, not so much. Today, unfortunately those who do most/much of the public statements do not, will not, (take a choice, take them both) adhere to the idea of truth in reporting, of transparency in transmitting news to the public or to any commitment whatsoever as to honesty, loyalty, stability. This most unsatisfactory reality leaves much of the nation and the world for that matter, totally confused as to what is happening, what just happened and what will happen.

In other words, as one columnist writes, we are living in an upside-down world where what is should not be and what should not be is ever more prevalent, front and center, within our minds, hearts and in our words we too often spew forth, assured within ourselves that we are talking truth. A prime example of this theory - or fact - is right before us, clearly, yet so skewed it cannot stand upright in presentation. How is it that those who celebrate murderers, butchers of children, annihilators of society are heralded as heroes, as purveyors of the morally right? 

Why is it that the truth is consistent in only one thing anymore - that it is totally off the dime. We can repeat the mantra “Say it ain't so, Joe" as often as we wish, but it does not change the reality of our lives. We are hard put indeed to   distinguish right from wrong, separate the wheat from the chaff - and, in fact, do we even desire to do so these days? Too often the answer to that question is a resounding no. 

The truth is oftentimes difficult to accept and so we do not. However, hiding one's head in the sand, digging ever deeper, is not the answer to the question. No matter how uncomfortable it is, it eventually wends its way out of the closet into which we have consigned it -and there we are and now what do we do with this most uncomfortable truth, unable, unwilling, to be ignored any longer. One such truth is upon us right now. 

Once upon a time it was stated with great surety of tone by not such 'experts' that Trump was and will continue to be the 'best friend' Israel has been longing for. Certainly, he mouthed the words full of pomp, bluster, and hot air but supportive consistent action was missing. No matter how hard we tried to close our eyes to the truth, to repeat the same few actions taken, that truth, unpleasant as it is, needed to be heard. In fact, with such friends who needs enemies. Such is the truth of the matter.

A once trusted friend does not make peace deals with enemies, particularly when one is left in the dark, kept in ignorance until it is slammed right down on our heads. Even more frightening is the fact that this traitor to his own nation, to his supposed friends, is possessed of a childish temperament attached to a sly cunning and a total lack of morality. He is a champion temper tantrum thrower, all of which allow him to continue on this terrible path. People who supported him out loud and proud are now asking in voices strong, “Is he indeed on our side?" When such a question is asked increasingly so, the answer is obvious.

May G-d spare us from such friends for even as they smile and put forth a hand, we feel those deep stabs in the back. With malice aforethought, concerned only with making deals, those which benefit him, certainly not of benefit to the nation he most unfortunately heads, this consummate deal maker, unhindered by any moral constraints, forges many a deal reeking of treachery and weakness. 

The decisive factor is based upon the algorithm of benefitting his pockets at the cost of world peace, a functioning world economy, and ramped up negativity and violence. Out of play is honesty with dishonesty and greed the chief seeded players.  Conflicts of interest, egregiously so, are ignored and the dignity of the Oval Office as it should be is traded down for bucks in his pocket and golf carts on the course. It is no longer a matter as to how to improve the state of the nation but rather how do I improve my financial standing? How many more wool hats can I pull over the eyes of the electorate? How many more times, and Dear Lord, how much more can we take? Is there no end in sight?

There is so much more to write of, but that is perhaps for another posting. Simply contemplating, evaluating, the damage this man has inflicted upon our nation, upon Israel, upon all true allies is frightening and off putting.

He has tainted the glories and achievements of our yesterdays.

He has slimed up and debased the possibilities of our todays.

He has dimmed the odds of many a glorious tomorrow.

Why folks? Why have we enabled this? Why do we sit here and do nothing to alleviate and correct the situation. It is within our power to do so forthwith, legally, with great determination.   

WHEN, WHERE, HOW

  Missing the why, but then again how could one explain the most illogical self-harming mode of thinking which seemingly is pervading the entire world. People are listening to bizarre speeches out of the mouths of bizarre looking and weird acting people (i.e. the   orange man). to words which will affect them drastically in the most negative manner. Yet on the cheering continues, with a belief in the very words signaling their own downfall, in a shockingly short period of time. 

Why? Beats me, beyond the ability of my own tired brain cells to figure out, so I make no attempt in that area. Only to know, to feel, to think, this is one of the most frustrating and dangerous trends of humanity, arising almost always at a time when they most certainly should and could do better, but do not, most unfortunately for the masses. Check history for proof of this most nasty tasting pudding.

 Thus, we move on to the when, the where, and the how. The when is a universal time of discord, of an overall sense of operating in an uncertainty of fear, even up to loss of one's life. There is a deep immersion into a state of depression and hopelessness as regards the future, particularly that future belonging to their children. It is a time which tramples on hope, a time when the leaders are so wrong, so misfit, so greedy and self-centered in their positions that there is no chance of right and responsibility to emerge victorious. 

Apparently, no one ever understands or acknowledges that they have bought into the Emperor's new clothes theory of government. The lies are accepted as words direct from the mouth of Heaven and representatives on Earth. These words of falsehood are most harmful, inimical to the creation of and living in a beneficial world. Worse, we are so accustomed to the misery that we cannot understand how to emerge from the growing grayness and darkness, how to either uncover or create anew a way out, an exit to a better life.    

Where does this happen? Perhaps the easiest question to answer. It syncs with the when. It matches the tempo of the world, for what affects one nation invariably and inevitably affects others, until the entire globe is wreathed in grayness.  This awful negativity and hopelessness begin with smaller nations, at first horrifying in the bloodshed and starvation, until emotions are blunted and move on to yet a new source of pseudo and hypocritical concern. These are usually small and insignificant, generally troubled nations, and as time moves on, so does the attention and concern of the world. That is, until the faraway worlds intrude into the lives of larger nations.  However, it does not stop there, merely and not so merrily rolling along until even the most powerful nations are fully engaged one way or another, and pop goes the weasel! World economy begins to falter badly, nations retreat into shells of their own making, thought or presented as protective, but in actuality and ever uglier reality, are destructive. 

Hence, where is all over, the gloom and doom pervade all, with nothing and no one left untouched. Damage grows exponentially. Hostile feelings and actions based on that hostility ramp up as sporadic wars breakout. Seemingly there is no uniting themes which could serve as a means to an end of war until one is found. 

Today and for too many times in the past, that common theme emerges as a vile and vicious hatred. Today, that hatred is barely papered over with claims that Anti Semitism and anti-Zionism, anti-legitimacy of Israel as a state of and for the Jewish people are different entities. No, they are not. JewHatred and its visibility, are clearer and more powerful, even as those in power speak feebly and falsely against it and enact rules with no weight behind them. All the while the violence builds up and the oral and physical attacks against Israel and Jews around the world find a welcome among the nations and people of the world. It gives them common cause, a talking point from which to eliminate differences as they focus on a common passion. That is the how. They use any and all means to faster this unity even as they speak mealy mouthed against it. As usual, hypocrisy rules over all, as all means of publicity are used to foster its growth, its intensity, and its normalization. From the tried and true of the past to the cutting edges of today's technology, the uniting theme is found and championed. Attacks against Israel and Jews multiply in number, intensity and consequence, but the world begins to feel an ease, a lessening of fear of a worldwide war. Emotions are relieved by an approved target as the worst of mankind is unleashed once again.

When, where, why and how, the why as befits your own feelings and beliefs. The end is the same no matter how it is reached, the efforts of the powerful as false as ever, and the world howls with bloodlust and generations of hatred unleashed, freed of all restrictions. The powerful of the world lean back, crisis averted, same old same old status in place.  Try feeding that crap to someone else. 

In any case, we now have the where, the when, the how, with the why up to individuals, their thinking and their beliefs.    

 The world hangs onto words of false encouragement, of excuses which carry no weight and no truth. These words are as wisps of pollen scattering in the winds, no power of their own to choose their path through life, for the nature of mankind has never changed, despite attempts to do so.   

  Yesterday, today, and tomorrow - is there any possibility of any kind of change to and for and of mankind? Wherein rejected is all the ugliness and the hatreds of the yesterdays in the name of a better understanding of the todays, for all the many tomorrows awaiting us. 

Once again. It is all up to us. We can oust the evil and morally defective from our ranks and replace them with true leaders. In order to do so, we must make use of every rule and law at hand, be strong in our determination. We must not be discouraged by setbacks and must constantly forge forward with the goal of a better, fairer, friendlier world before us.

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

Of our choice.

RED LETTERS

  To refresh your memory, the red letter refers to the  that which Hester Prynne was forced to wear for allegedly committing a dastardly deed, a sin against the moral makeup of the village, all the while blatantly ignoring the sins of the village. Meant to shame and ostracize, all others  deserving of their own red letters remained as respected members of the congregation. Hypocrisy at its best. A trait which remains well engrained in the American ethos as well as it remains in practice round the world, particularly among the twisted leaders of society, of religion, of politics, supposed influencers and moral pacesetters. 

We all wallow in the rather dubious pool of morality. Meant to be a clear reflective pool wherein we could look deeper into our own souls, where we could see those parts of ourselves needing repair and attention, it is now a rather murky pool. It reflects nothing but the smirks of those who think they have o'er topped all, beaten and negated all opposition and backlash  to their immoral behavior and incompetence. They, and too often, we, shrug our collective shoulder and move on, cynical and/or  resigned in exhaustion.  

So many, way too many, of us wink and move on, rewarded for their, and yes, our own, immorality, and cynicism,  for their failure to uphold their moral responsibility to those those they purport to protect and serve, to guide them along the right path. We pat ourselves on the back as we assign red letters of shame and blame even if they are to the wrong individuals. The true miscreants scamper away triumphant and ready, oh so eager to continue on, reveling in their  avoidance of censor. Too many times they even receive commendations as heroes of the moment.

Such a moment is now. We are all thankful for the release from hell of Eden Alexander. However, we have run out of or misplaced the letters and certainly there  should be far more assigned. Trump, that degenerate, walks around with his chest all puffed out, almost as puffy as the rest of his body. He is not the hero here. He applied pressure at this moment. It suited his needs. To secure the relief of one young man after 588 days of hell. What was wrong with the previous 587. Where are the remaining live hostages, dying hourly, daily. For that matter, what about the bodies of those killed in Gaza or taken to Gaza and disrespected, denied proper burial and return  to their families. Why now? Because it suited Trump. It suited his blown up opinion of himself  as he conspired with yet another corrupted soul, the Emir of Qatar.  The same Emir who gave monetary and political support to Hamas. The same Qatar that has been playing terrible games in the negotiations as anyone with a modicum of intelligence can see the huge conflict of interest and the absolute so mistaken inclusion into negotiations.

Even as Trump is not the hero here, neither   is Netanyahu. He is guilty of negligence, guilty of corruption, guilty of putting his own retention of political power above the welfare of his nation, above the welfare of those held in the tunnels of Gaza. He played barely any role here, discounted and ignored  by Trump. He has played no role here and neither has the official state of Israel.  Trump has ignored, debased and discounted them as well, this  nation he swore to support. 

Trump's actions in this time, in this moment of history, have contributed to the delegitimization of Israel. He has consigned them to the status of a nation whose basis of existence is not so sure, not so secure and not so correct, even as the intransigence, the misbehavior and misconduct by Netanyahu has contributed to the rise and the possibility of such a moment . He is ignored by Trump and the Arab and Moslem nations who share the Middle East with Israel. 

By this, Trump takes credit for any and all of achievements, as small and as temporary and meaningless  as they  might be. By doing so, in collusion with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the rest, he has wounded Israel. When the very obvious nation in the center of it all, the nation constantly existentially challenged, is ignored, Trump has now strengthened the voices of those calling for the ending of the state of Israel,  that there is no legitimate basis for such a nation. No right for such a nation. Certainly these three deserve red letters of shame. Netanyahu and Trump. Unfortunately, the  same tree has grown these two.

Apparently we have learned nothing from all the errors of our yesterdays.

Apparently we have continued on the paths so dangerous to the health of our todays. 

Apparently our days of tomorrow are equally as challenged. 

And yes, equally as bleak. 

Will we ever learn? Or we will continue to smirk and revel in our ignorance and our purposeful missing of the right path. 

My two nations, equally endangered by the severely wrong people in the upper echelons of the nation. My own hope, our only hope, is that somehow we, the people of both nations, wake up and understand that if we do not vote these people out of office, if we do not demand their impeachment or by whatever legal means we can use, there is far worse awaiting offstage. 

Avoidance and appeasement do not work. 

When, if ever, will we understand that?             

 

MUSINGS ON A MORNING

 Yesterday was a weird day. I couldn't seem to find a place for myself and so instead of being a planned for restful day, it was a restless day. The entire day conspired in the breeding of a weird day. It was eerily silent in the area, and even when the kids were home, there were very few in the playground or riding scooters or bikes. 

Perhaps it was because their dads or moms were rotating back into the Miluim, the reserves, and the uncertainty of life intensified, grayer was the atmosphere as solutions and plans once again lost definition. As the lines of life grew less distinct, not as broad, not as definite, not as sure, as uncertainty became part of the mix. Strangely enough, the quiet outside led to increased noisiness within, as emotions were stirred up, as the gray of life intruded once again.

In any case, the day ended way, way, past my usual bedtime and there I was, outside my window the darkness deep and intense, apartments darkened, yet I was up. Not wide awake, mind you, but up and determined to finish a book, to know the ending, even as I knew there was really no ending as this was the first book of a trilogy The Mistress of Auschwitz, based on a true story and different in a way from other books of this genre.    

So, not really an end, and isn't that the way of life. So often we walk through the gray of life hoping to balance between the bright, sunny day, the sun risen, powerful and strong in the sky or its opposite - the darkness of war, of uncertainty, of lack of control over one's own life. Today, this morning, as I continued to look out the window, I actually enjoyed the stillness, hoping it's slow and peaceful dissipation signaled the start of a new day, a good day. Good things would happen. It would be  a productive day at day's end. The choice to make it so was, for the most part, up to me. When the view outside was totally clear, beautiful and crisp in its calmness, reassuring, as children and adults went off to their day's roles, my spirits were lifted high and rife with plans for the day.   

But then I picked up today's paper and the day darkened. I saw the news about Eden Alexander and his possible rescue within the next 48 hours Here was a boy forced rudely, violently into a manhood he had never anticipated. All because of hate, a violent, vicious, bloodthirsty hate. He and all the other captives had lost their ability to make decisions for themselves save the only one left as to if and how they could and would battle long enough to defy the wishes of their kidnappers and hopefully at day's end of great length they would return to home, to life. Sadly, for too many it wasn't, is never, to be, but I was happy for Eden and his parents, his family. But what about the rest? 

Eden's parents are rightfully anticipating this return of a son, so long delayed, but does this release brighten the sky? Does it remove the gray from the lives of so many others? Why this boy and not the others equally as young, equally as shoved into the manhood, into adulthood? What about the rest of the kidnapped, tortured, dying, wishing only to see their loved ones again? What about them? Must we find other political games to ensure their release? Must we pay exorbitant prices in the release of thousands of terrorists to commit mayhem and murder once again? What is the price of their freedom but how can we abandon our people, no matter the cost? Allowing Hamas to remain and regain their power and prepare once again for another massacre? Is that the solution to be forced upon us? Whom do we trust to make these decisions?

The sky darkens as it does when times are tense and difficult decisions must be made which tear people apart.  It is a choice of between the devil and the blue sea, a choice between a rock and a hard place that are closing together. Do we trust liars consistent in their adoption of falsehood as part of their armory of weapons? Do we constantly sell our souls in the name of decreasing numbers of hostages released until finally Hamas calls it quits, and they hold tight to their living security? Do we wait multiples of 43 years to repatriate the bodies of heroes?  How do we face the bereaved families? In fact, how do we face ourselves and the nation? 

Conflicting emotions battle within, sadness and happiness at the same time all coated with an overlay of despair as we do not know an answer or are afraid of the answer. And so, we as individuals, we as a nation, cannot find a balance between the colors of daylight nor the colors of life. Even as we laugh even as we enjoy friends and family always, there is that tinge of gray no matter how much effort we put into not seeing it, nor hearing it.

Exacerbating the problem is the current rankness of leaders around the world. They rival in their corruption. They compete in greediness, and they race for power, not only over their nation, but over other nations. They are openly and widely open for bribery, to wit one luxury jet from Qatar offered to Trump, that champion of corruption and bribery.     These false leaders play nasty games and the people within these states pay the price.  The reign of these leaders are damaged and damaging, the gray deep, not only outside, but within the souls and hearts of people. Unfortunately, but truthfully, many of these leaders are empowered and raised into these seats of power and control by the inaction and incorrect reactions of the populace. 

Once again, we must understand that we allow these corrupted, filthy souls to climb the ladder using our shoulders and our hands to boost themselves up. We believe their lies. We battle for their lies, and we lose our souls and our freedom as a consequence. Most awful of all is that the high cost of this empowerment comes down upon the shoulders and the bodies and minds of the innocent. If this truth escapes you, merely turn your mind to Gaza and understand whom we have left behind and whom we must rescue and bring home. Of whom we have demanded too much, paid for in death and wounds and whom we have allowed to skate by and why. The answers are ugly indeed. 

Both my nations, America and Israel, have leaders who are not representative of the best of the nation. We have been better, much better, but we have strongly erred in our choices too often and the consequences pile up. I think we did as Israelites did too often so many millennia ago. We began to worship the wrong gods, those of material success, of prestige and recognition, blown way beyond where they should be. We forgot the capacity of humans and neglected the true goals at which we should aim.  Too much of the faulty new smothered the true values with powerful hues of gray and we got too comfortable. Too forgetful, too engaged in ignorance and purposeful ignoring of truth.  

We refused to remember, to remind ourselves, that when it is bad for the Jews, it is good for the Jews. When it is good for the Jews, it is bad for the Jews. We cannot seem to find the balance in remembering who we are and how others see us. Along with our material success and our contributions to society,  for whatever reason and many have tried to explain it, when we forget who we are at base and bottom and middle and at top, we lose  our coherence and unity. We fight amongst ourselves and present haters with an achievable and welcome target. And aim they do. We over value and trust an apparent welcome and we are so wrong. We lose much of the acceptance and then finally, we lose more than that. So history has taught us, even if we have not caught what was taught.   

Our yesterdays are of all colors, dark and gray and light.

Our todays must reflect that, be attuned to that.

Our tomorrows will exist only if we are aware and true to the truths of the above. 

As usual, it is up to us. It is up to us to not allow the situations of Eden and the remaining hostages, of those released and those who are dead.

It is a must to see the truth and accept it, as unpleasant as it might be. 

It is up to us to take the right path, to make the right choices.

Us. Nobody else.

  

AND WITH FRIENDS LIKE THAT ...

  ...our enemies need not bestir themselves. Not one bit. This is one instance I did not ever want to see come to actuality and yet, here it is. It is an I told you so of bitter taste and portent. It was believed to be, seemed to be a gift from heaven, a lifesaver we sorely needed. Well, the rope was frayed and did not last long, its attached hopes and dreams falling off into the deep blue sea and well, here we are - and where is here? The White House is not an uninvolved address. Its latest status:

 “If Israel doesn’t come to its senses, the price of missing out will be higher than ever before.”

Much more to come and we can only hold our collective breath awaiting further bad news. This is the third strike against us this week and three strikes and you're out is the name of the game. Most unfortunately, this is not a blown up child's game played by overpaid adults; this is a for real, life and death game where we are leaning heavily towards the wrong side, with two outs in the ninth inning.

Strike one: a one-sided deal with the Houthis wherein Israel is a valid target.  

Strike two: A deal with the Saudis, as usual, talking out of both sides of their mouth. The one  connected to the Abraham Accords and just exactly where is the Abraham part of this Abraham Accord? Left by the wayside, abandoned, of no account or share in it.

Strike three: A ceasefire mashed through due to Trump threats and ultimatums - with NO demand that Hamas disarm. Wow! Oh, the hostages, alive - if any - and the dead ...say what?

And here you go with strike four: recognition of a Palestinian state, from the Mad Hatter and we apparently are all late for the party.

The most frustrating thing about this is that it was all there, right before our eyes, if only we had opened our eyes. If only we had re-energized the optic nerve and the bullshit detector, but we didn't. For sure, even if on, we ignored it. We clothed his barefaced lies and schemes with the Emperor's new clothes, the very line of clothing favored by that would be dictator, Trump, the man who thinks he can rule the world and is making no attempt to hide that ambition. Not at all. Yet so many continue to rotate on their thumbs as they play monkey - see, hear and speak no evil -unless so directed by that demonic man himself. 

Time and again in increasingly ever smaller intervals the signs of his growing dementia are front and center, in living color. We see it in the cruelty that accompanies his dementia. We see his incompetence. We see it in his blatant memory loss as he stumbles and falls over content and response to questions asked of him. He cannot remember what he is signing and goes far afield when responding. We see it in his insane demands upon all the nations of the world and his insanely dangerous economic policy of tariffs, a theory proven so destructive in every reawakening of it. Our economy is shrinking, prices rising exponentially, and we are standing before a very real possibility of an intense, deep recession, verging into a perhaps a not unthinkable Great Depession.      

This is a man who now fumbles through every interview, who goes off track and begins to talk absolute nonsense, of no connection whatsoever to the purpose of the interview, yet his excuse makers are there to explain it all away. And he skates on. 

However, though the failing economy is worrying, foremost in my mind, emanating from that man, is the fact that he is dismantling this country piece by piece at an ever-increasing pace. He has been conducting an open war against our government, our constitution, defying the judiciary and now wishes to add a suspension of habeas corpus!!!!!!. 

He has trampled upon freedom of speech. He is desirous of religious education in the public schools, uses antisemitism as a hammer against education, even as he rampages through libraries and censors books which he neither appreciates, nor understands, nor, perhaps, can he even read! And all the while he does his routine job of throwing Israel under the wheels of his accursed bus! 

This is the same man who, on January 6th, 2020, attempted to incite a violent overthrow of this nation, refusing to hand over power in peaceful manner, calling for his fans to do their worst, and who in open warfare now has continued to fight that same war. Only this time unfortunately succeeding. The demise of democracy in this nation is proceeding at an inordinate speed.

 Those who disagree with his insanity, his brazen plans to destroy democracy, to discard all that is America, to cancel its dreams, are trashed, as are our departments, our care for our citizens, our role in the world as leader of the western nations, any and all which upset and displease this rather gross body and mind. Perhaps the very worst thing about his deeds are the ugly consequences arising from his nastiness and the myriad lies which people buy into. Antisemitism in word and deed has increased in direct proportion as his supposed campaign against it gains in vocalizations and accusations. Hmmm.  

The man is demonstrably insane, erratic to an extreme, harmful to this nation and there is no  'handling' him. No sanity, no working brakes among his equally distorted and incompetent advisors of the day - even as they are discarded almost hourly. No end to the cowardice of the legislative branch, the pathetic behavior of the opposition, and the corruption within the judiciary branch, reaching up to and including some members of the Supreme Court. Only a few brave threat defying federal judges are keeping this nation intact, under the rule of law and the structure of government as defined by our Constitution. 

That scares me, frightens me to the marrow of my bones. To discard habeas corpus?! What else? Where does it end? Only with his coronation? We are being steamrolled by expert liars, crazed minds, twisted souls, blackened hearts and of powerful resources. If we do not wake up, smell the coffee or whatever will do it for you, we will no longer be America. We will no longer be Americans. We will have ceded it all.

All that we have built in our yesterdays. 

All the positiveness that we have allowed to drain from our todays.

All the hopes and dreams of our tomorrows gone. 

Open eyes. 

Declutter minds.

Hear the cries of humanity.

No time to waste. 

HEY, POP!

  A hundred and five. That's what you would be today, Pop. I'm sitting here and thinking, what would you feel about this world today, so different from the world when you left us. You were the most important man in my life for so many, many years and I was and am, in fact, very lucky that my partner for life, molded himself in his roles as husband and father with you as the model, Both you and Mommy encouraged him to soar high and spread his wings and accomplish so much , and is continuing to do so. For that alone, we owe you both so much thanks and appreciation, and mostly, all the love we had to give, to share.

You were a dad to admire. You were a dad to love. You were the person who made me understand that action could affect so many others and not necessarily in the way one wanted to; thus, one had to think ahead and follow the threads of any decision, any action and judge and act wisely. I learned that the consequences must be taken into the decision, but to always be true to one's morality and core beliefs. 

These were strong incentives to learn and practice the art of wise decisions. In the years that you were with us I hope you were proud of me. I certainly hope that since 2005 you have looked down from above and approved of what I have done with my life. Did I do enough? Have my deeds and words aided others, comforted them?

I loved you so much, Pop and still do. However, you remain with me always. While I still miss you. you are never far from me. When it comes to any decision, any important decision I must make, I quietly seek inside my soul for your voice, giving me advice, leaving the decision up to me.  I so hope I have made you proud of me, were never disappointed by me, even as I made that decision when I was three. It remains etched in my heart and soul.  Your expectations were high, but always achievable and always you were there for me.   

I often remember how I would call you on the phone and read you a letter I had written, or an article I had written or to discuss some issue about which I knew you would have strong feelings. I remember how you would reciprocate, often calling me or keeping me on the phone when you had written a letter. I loved your enthusiasm. I loved the fact that you still felt so strongly about issues and did not push them aside. I loved how you defended your position, not afraid to speak up, not afraid to oppose what you saw as something wrong or foolish or unnecessarily causing hardship to others. I loved how you continued to learn in both the secular and the religious world, and how you earned the respect and yes, the love of so many, so much so that on that awful day when we had your funeral it was standing room only with people from so many different worlds

 You always made room for me.  When I was a little girl, Pop, you were always there for me. I could go into your office when I was a toddler and sit there beside your desk at my little table and open my drawer in your desk and do my work as you did yours. It was the same desk I 'fixed' for you when it was brand new. I was so proud when you asked me to help you with certain surveys and conclusions and records that you had to take care of. I remember the cheese boxes. I recall holding your hand on the way to shul Saturday morning and on the way back. I can still feel the warm words and the warm feeling they induced when you took the time to teach me something or help me make my way through some maze of an assignment. I remember and still value the ethics which you imparted to me and the courage to speak my mind and to keep that same mind open.

Pop, as we both got older a funny thing happened. Up to a certain point I could you tell you everything. No secrets, no holds barred but suddenly arose a difference. It was not that I did not value your advice or appreciate it, but I had become afraid for you. Your health began to fail and I wanted to be sure that I did nothing to increase your pain, only to keep you strong, to keep you with me, with us, for as long as we could. You did not shirk your work or your responsibilities, but I too had a responsibility towards you. I had hoped you would not notice that bit of difference, but you did. If I did not call you for a day trying to work out something without aggravating you, you would tell Roni, "Your mother is angry with me". 

No, not angry, just selfish I guess, trying to keep you whole and with us, even as you gradually became weaker, as you and Mommy would look at each other. As I came upon a moment when there was a difficult decision and you sat together, leaning into each other, foreheads touching and your hands tightly clutching each other's. How could I not do whatever I could to keep you.  

 Many came knocking at your door for advice.  Many looked upon you as a father figure, as a wise friend, an older brother, a man of honesty and sympathy and counsel. You gave much of yourself in time and money with monetary charity and aid given quietly, often anonymously.   

I wish I had the power to make your world one of goodness, happiness and respect, a world where people looked upon each other with empathy and sympathy rather than with hate. A world where nothing would disappoint you. A world of mutual respect and appreciation of each other.  A world of no bumps or irritation even as you grew weaker. I wanted to take away the worry that could be seen in your face when you gazed upon Mommy. I knew you were worrying -What would she be, what would she do without you? We all asked ourselves that question.

And so you left us too soon.  I had much left to learn from you, so much advice. So much we all needed from you. Perhaps we all needed and asked so much, too much. If so, I ask, I beg, forgiveness from and know that we only meant to surround you with love. To keep you within, to cocoon you. 

However, even as you are not with us physically you remain a huge part of our lives. It is not unusual for us to sit around, several generations among us, and talk for hours, exchanging stories and memories. You remained with us in so many various ways as our kids grew up, as your great grandchildren grew up and continue to incorporate you into their lives.

No one could have missed you as much as Mommy. From the day you left us to the day you came to take her home, even as she enjoyed being with the family, she was counting the moments. We all knew that. We all knew it was coming but I guess it was  easier when we were not there, to be ready to walk away with you and leave us doubly bereft. Her devoted caretakers, her friends, told us what they saw.

   Suddenly, she sat up, her eyes opened wide and bright. Her face lit up with a brilliant smile and she spoke clearly and audibly. "Natie, you're here."   Each of you, again, whole, together with the love of your lives. We know you are once again with Mommy. We know that together you watch over us. We love watching the pair of Cardinals, one larger,  who hang by Roni's house, who seem to find us wherever we go. We also see that little Red Robin who now hops along with you and know that together with you, held close, is Yitzy, taken so horribly soon from us. Keep him safe. Keep him close. Together with him and all of our loved ones there who greeted you, watch over the family. And as He sheds His light upon all of you, remind Our Lord Above that His People down here need him - now.   

Pop, I will always miss you, I will always love you. For all our yesterdays we shared.

 For all the todays of our lives.

For the tomorrows awaiting.

Always and forever.

Happy 105th, Pop.

THREE HAVE DIED

  “...three have died”

 "There were 24. Now there are 21."

  "There are 21 and a lot of dead bodies."

This is the latest statement of Trump re the conditions, or rather the number of those left alive among hostages ripped from the fabric of their lives, closing in quickly on 600 days of terror, horror, starvation, brutality. A number which began at 251 taken over into Gaza. After the slaughter of thousands killed in the name of nothing but barbarity at its worst depth of horror.  This was not war. This was your everyday common murderer with no humanity. Enabled by the deep waters of hate round the world. Any normal person who looks at all that has taken place is filled with horror. In growing confusion rises a question which apparently has no answer. Actually, this question is one of many parts, many questions. 

Can You find them? Answer them or not, as You wish, but know this: Your People need to hear Your voice. We need some reassurance in a terrible time of stress.

Dear Lord, He of whom we sing as a being of great mercy, of compassion, of love for Your children, where were You and where are You?  This awful spectacle and its seeds are unfortunately, alive and well in the worst way possible

Dear Lord, why have You created these creatures? These human beings with the capacity to outdo even those angels thrust out of Heaven. Who are supposed to now roam the earth ravaging it. Creating floods of blood and tears and who are now known as demon angels. Are they these creatures of horror now once again roaming the earth, sowing and reaping blood and tears from Your tormented Children? Dear Lord.

Dear Lord, why have You allowed this spectacle that should never have been, ever, to remain alive for so long? With death and grief, it's only products.

Finally, Dear Lord from one of Your Children, from many of Your Children, we ask You, we plead from You, of You - answer.   How much more can we take? How much longer? Will this go on and on?   How many more millennia will we be under the whip? The target of bullets and knives and words equally as sharp and murderous?

 Enough. Enough. ENOUGH!!!! 

In the words of Your Children hear the pain emanating directly from their souls. Reassure them, us, me, that there is an end. That this horror is finite in nature and duration. If You are angry with us, take as payment all the blood, all the tears, all the cries of agony that we have already sent You.  Surely there is enough and more to convince even You, despite our almost multitude sins that there must be an end to this. End it. Before there is an end. To Your People. Flesh and blood and souls can only absorb so much. So again, Dear Lord, how much more do You think we can take?

Hear the words of Your people. Internalize them. Think on them. Feel with them. Keep these words always in Your heart and find an answer that will help us. Relieve the fear of our frantically beating hearts. As we look upon our children, Your own Children, we think, what is out there for them? And again, we plead with You. We beg of You. We pray to You. Stop it. Just stop it.

"The painful but inevitable answer is we can take as much as we must. “Ein Breira,” there is no choice, is a long-understood statement in Israel. Disappearance, resignation and despair are not an option for us. We will be angry, grieving, pained and scared; we will reach out to one another and to those who wish us well; we will shake our fists at the sky and pray and work hard to make it better. But we are Jews. We don’t give up." (Rabbi David Wolpe)

There is more to it. Look at the courage and bravery, the loyalty of Your Children, who should be rewarded, and punished for whatever deserves it, but set it aside, at least for a respectable amount of time.

“I asked myself, ‘Where do I go from here’? instead of ‘Who did it to me?’” (Joseph Samuels, a Farhad survivor)

There is yet more, for Your People have infinite faith in You, despite all that has come their way even as You knew and watched. Why? Why!!!!

"Being Jewish means being part of a people, a tradition, a resilience that goes back thousands of years. So when the world tries to isolate us, we remember — we’re not alone. And we don’t shrink.

We rise."  (Mary Bauer, Birkenau survivor)

 "...no matter what Hashem sends to us, our response has been positivity and light, rather than hate and darkness." 

“We don’t know the future, but we have to have faith that whatever Hashem brings our way, we’re going to be okay.” With every challenge, large and small, what other choice do we have but to turn to Hashem? (Sarah Pachter, author and speaker)

Look upon their courage, their faith and think, feel, explain, for we demand, need so desperately, an answer of hope, of an end, of a knowing when this will end. (It will, please, Dear Lord?)

The answer is given by our representative, the author of the article from which I quoted these many heartrending, powerful and determined words of survivors of brutality, yet who remain strong in faith.

The conclusion? Not a happy one, nor optimistic in nature; merely one which links yet another piece of a long chain to another. As the link goes on. As the chain gets longer. As we continue onward, with   determination even as we ask another question. Perhaps it is not a question but is the beating of our hearts for with those words, with the rhythm of our faith, we get stronger. Even as our beats are powerful, steady, the word remains - When and When and When. 

Though we are tired, badly bruised we are strong and remain so. Our faith gives us that strength. We will persevere. We will defeat our enemies as we have done over the millennia. And we hope and pray that toxic hatred and savagery cease and desist. NOW. 

We have stumbled and fallen, erred in our ways, but have never forsaken you forever, have always returned to You, for You. Our faith in You remains strong, eternal. We have passed Your tests. We need a rest. 

Hear us, Dear Lord, hear us.

Now.'        

We have had a long run via all our yesterdays.

We have continued into the challenge of our todays.        

Our tomorrows must be better. 

Please.

AHEM, AHEM

  And yet again AHEM!! One can defeat that monster known as technology, can stand up to it and come out the victor. Even more so, technology can be forced to admit that it is both slow and catching up to what it deems its duties and can be forced to back down. Yes 

"our technology made a mistake"

Now that, my friends, is a sweet taste of victory. We old fuddyduddies fighting and losing battle with technology can rack up a win every once in a while, all the sweeter for its rarity. Ahhhh!

Perhaps there are some more signs of, if not total victory, coming at a fast pace over their horizons, are providing us with a foretaste of more. Oh, that sweet victory. At least the truth is coming to the fore more often and accepted as truth, though there remains a group refusing to accept the error of their ways, refuse to acknowledge the errors of the thought process and fight against it, for the truth will out.  But when? How? Peacefully, in the fullness of time, or more rapidly perhaps even following the motto of the sooner the better. 

Why would that motto be so? The sooner one confronts one's errors of thought and belief, the sooner one realizes that we have had the wool pulled over our eyes and fell for every line reeking of scheme these people put forth. Then the quicker we are able to readjust and revert more and more to the truth, free from constrictions, room space enlarged, the sooner those nefarious plots and ploys will terminate, of free will or not, it is a never you mind at that. 

Truth, the feeling it engenders, is a far more attractive proposition to the masses rather than are the large, sticky, leaking, obnoxious, remnants discarded, polluting the environment. Truth, honesty, both with oneself and with others, inevitably leads to a better life. One does not have to try to remember the lies told to this one or that. One does not have to fight against the instinctive knowledge of when one is being besieged by lies and the world would be, will be a better place for it.

 Here are several examples of curtains being pulled back, pulled down, and what is revealed is the truth, the lies, which have shlepped us down the wrong path for far too long. One clearly visible is the almost insane stress  placed upon technology and the presumed advances it provides for us or far more accurate, made via the sweat of our brows and minds while the top-level benefits go to the ones who claim all credit, all the cash, all the fame and the glory. Life.   

What is more unfortunate but too often so true is stress on technology will, in inverse proportion will decrease understanding of the necessity of other topics and successes if a society is to be a well-rounded one, a salute to the present and the future, along with a deep recognition of the importance of the past as we build those todays and the tomorrows. Nor is it 'wasteful” of time as the realities that science creates many times arise from the dreams and pictures of poetry, literature, music. They inspire. They soften the harsh intrusive sharp corners of society and without that softening we have what follows - a repressive and suppressive society of no creativity, no joy, no happiness. No hope for a future. We remain on land with no possibility of soaring high and free.

That brighter more open society will lure back all the prodigal sons and daughters who had left. When one can look back and appreciate what has been before and then look around today and see where there is room for more advancement, more knowledge, more truth, finally, the last turn will be eagerly taken.  A look into the future, into the tomorrows awaiting mankind in the world of tomorrow. 

Not only will there be the flying machines and visits to Granny on Mars. There will also be Junior weaving music into hearts and love into the hardest souls reading and writing books containing within the most beautiful lines of prose and poetry. Food for the soul, equally as important as food for the body. 

Is it possible for humankind at this point in time to, if not halt than move along at a slower pace? Understand all the needs of humanity and provide for those needs? Can we build those beautiful roads which take us around yesterdays which enabled us to the todays providing us with much thought, hope and despair? And finally, today's future, where Granny awaits, ready to share our last seeds of love, humanity, of poetry and technology in such manner as to be beneficial in all spheres of life.

Might we indeed be capable and desirous of building such a system of roads, incorporate it into the lives, the hopes and dreams of all? And more importantly, the pathway to fulfillment of those dreams and hopes. Where might we find those leaders capable of taking us on that journey of getting us ready to understand it, to accept it and to grow with it? Lordy, but I sure as hell hope we can for the alternative is not a pretty one.

As I think, as I sit here and type, cursing that demon gremlin in my keyboard, I truly wonder about us and our tomorrows in general. We need to know more, to understand ourselves much better before we can understand others. We must trust the leaders of our government before we can trust the leaders of other nations. We must be true and use the power of truth to teach and to improve. We need to seek and create new beauty and love and hope for an advancement within all, including ourselves. 

 I will save some issues for tomorrow. Today, the beauty of what we could have if we take care of what we should and combine strengths of yesterday and knowledge of the realities and possibilities of today and the glories of the future that could be ours not for the taking, but for the building. What a dream, a fantasy made real.   

Yesterday gave us a foundation. 

Today we build upon that foundation. 

Tomorrow, we strive and build an even better tomorrow. 

Technology and humanity synced.

For us. For all.     

OMG!!!!! NO WAY!!! BUT YES, WAY!!!

    Holy* * * * *. I better not say or write the word in actuality, because what happened to me, yes, little old me, might recur, particularly as I know not what the causative factor in the first place was! While I have been told that this has happened to many people, but hey, this is the first time it's happened to me. A little bit exciting. Perhaps a lot of a bit of frightening, and yes, a great deal of wonder. So, what am I talking about?

It is the middle of the night here, or early in the morning here in Israel. As usual, I could not sleep and pursued my usual routine of going online, checking if the world was in one piece, reading mail, canceling spam, checking out new books, and finally writing the blog posting of the day, checking over for errors of spelling or punctuation or for random mysterious acts of the typing gremlin who apparently resides in my keyboard, and then getting around at some point to posting it on Facebook. 

Then I scroll through notifications to see if I have missed anything and apologies to those who have gone unanswered - I tend to lose some along the way. Apparently, I am the bane of my kids' and grandkids' lives as per my knowledge, or lack thereof, of ease with computers. Still a bit ahead of my great grandkids. Oops, but sorry. Age does have some perks to it. For that matter, why has my automatic spell check not doing its job? Not serious, but rather annoying. I wonder if it has come down with a sudden virus and thanks to RFK Junior, one of those ignorant, misinformed Trump appointees, there is no applicable vaccine. 

In any case. I decided to scroll down the page on Facebook and lo and behold what I saw, which is now gone,  a note from Facebook that they removed that posting as it was possible to garner secret sensitive information from it. Huh!!!!????.  I double checked my eyes and saw the same thing and went to check on that posting, but could not find it, not even on my own private record of Facebook postings. Anybody smell something rotten in the state of the United States? I have been censored. Get outta' town! 

Clicking open the notice, buried within later notifications, I was told it was due to possible garnering of sensitive information from within its content. Huh! What the hell? I checked the computer - It was mine. I checked the mirror - I was still me. I looked out the window and saw the same. I even called my kids for confirmation that I was the parent they know and love so well. No Rod Serling around No dramatic music. So, what the **** was this about?

The day will live long in my memory, certainly better than my memory of that posting. I can no longer refresh my memory as to its content as it has been stolen from within my own computer! With no idea, no clue as to what I wrote in that blog, as I do not commit them to my memory, challenged enough as it is, so only via checking my blog's history can I retrieve content. Lo and behold, there was a gap between May 2nd and May 4th, a Saturday night piece written while it was Sunday here and still Saturday there. 

Now correct me if I'm wrong but does not the United States of America, the champion of freedom of speech and expression, allow and defend for that right, unless it be hate speech with incitement to violence and/or treachery (hmmm, Jan6....) Well, I certainly did not write that. I have written of the stupidity, the treachery, the rot eating away at our foundation. And yes, I encourage attention, determination and action via legal route to cancel and prevent further deplorable measures and behavior and deeds and words emanating or caused by our so unfit, misfit, President, so unworthy of that role. And that would include his pet civilian Musk and the MuskRats.

 Did I write along those lines? Possibly, but having no hard copy of the May 3rd posting - cancelled, censored, disappeared - from Facebook and stolen from within my own private computer, I cannot check on that. Did I write that Trump is demented, dangerously so, inimical to the best future for the nation? Possibly, even probably, but again, while these terms might be sensitive to him, the man who unfortunately too often visits his Mar a Lago Castle, the refuge for the wealthy, arrogant, pompous and power hungry, though he visits too often for my taste, there is nothing "sensitive” there. People of higher position, of more intelligence and influence have been there done that before me and in a whole lot more public manner. Thus, again, what's the deal here? Where's the beef? Where's the sensitive information?

His poll numbers are dropping like a lead sinker, becoming one of the most unpopular presidents of seven decades. One might agree or disagree with that but the United States of America, that champion of freedom of speech, of the rights of all to speak their piece unless they speak words of hate and citing of violence. When did all this change? When did we decide to abdicate our role in history, our obligation to the world to lead it. To conduct it. To reach home safe and sound. 

So, the facts, just the facts? Here are the facts. I am 77 years old, closer to 78, on the shady side of life. I live in two backwater areas, one in Israel and one in CVWPB and have yet to be consulted for my opinion be it political, of life itself and foreign policy, of the economy which Trump is stifling via crazed tariff policy, in just any area of life. Is it a deep dark secret hidden from the nations of the world that the man is demented and dangerously mercurial in behavior and words, insanely committed to a policy of wreaking revenge on all opponents, real or imaginary? I think not. In fact, I know not. I would like to know the basis of this censorship and removal of the posting, to have this possible 'sensitive information with catastrophic results' to be clearly delineated.    

Possibilities of heretofore unknown sources of security information, oh so causative of garnering information?  

The president lives much of the time in Mar a Lago. Nope.

The president is a confused demented sly creature who is running this nation as a private fiefdom for his own enhancement of wealth and power.  Nope.

The man is a convicted felon on 34 counts for which he has yet to spend one day in jail, or a dollar in fines, not to omit his 'misbehavior' re women.  Nah!

Avoids consequences for his offenses. Nope.

Using devious manner and influence the man is openly questioning as to why he should not ignore the constitution, defy it and those who abide by it? No.

 The man has tantrums worthy of an expert 5 year old tantrum thrower. No.

Let's see - no, running out of any ideas and I'll be danged if I can see anything secret or sensitive or unknown, so do me a favor Facebook, and do the right thing for once. Keep on censoring those who spew hate and urge violence but not people who uphold the laws of this country or abide by them cherish them. And wish to see them remain in place and then take notice of your views. 

Yesterday, today and tomorrow, it makes no difference. A lie is a lie and the same with Falsehood and honesty. Stop discounting the wrong people. Stop the censorship of those who speak as Americans. Pay attention to the others. Who wish to divide us further. Falsehoods are outed and people discounted. Stop censoring those who speak as Americans Go pay attention to those who spew filthy words of hate and violence deep, harmful antagonism and actualization of the words they speak. Go bother someone else and here are some suggestions. Perhaps you are at a loss for names. I will give you some. Putin, Erdogan, the leaders of Iran. Here are some more Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis. That should keep your little gremlins happy and busy for quite some time

Leave me alone. Go bother with someone else Or better yet do your job. Don't take advances where you do not belong

Not yesterday, not today, nor tomorrow

This is and remain so as long as there is a United States of America and I am a citizen of that nation there is nothing on that blog or any of my blogs which contravenes any security issues you might gin up. Criticism of our political leaders has been a favorite activity of Americans before they were Americans.

As my great grandson likes to say to any bug he sees "GO Away go outside!" I think that is pretty good advice.

"WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON,"

  ... What's going on?" So questions a Jewish rapper as he interviews people in the street near a protest. trying to elicit answers with some knowledge and forethought, and, typically, received none. None! But oh, so sure in their dangerous ignorance. Apparently, a great deal of misinformation is floating around out there. Israeli hostages were not raped. Thirty-eight children were not slaughtered on October 7. Forty children hostages were not returned with great trauma and two never were horrifyingly manually strangled. In actuality, the truth is that it was all real and bloodily so. Scores of children lost both parents. And even more lost one. But that's a no, never mind, for the truth of the matter, is that Israel is the entity which rapes its female hostages! Sure as the day is long, these ignoramuses continue to spew pure unadulterated garbage untainted by any resemblance to truth. In fact, it appeared to be a great reveal that Hamas is actually a terrorist organization. Wow! Shocking!  

Who'd a thunk! Or is that the problem? Is that why both my lands so close to my heart are at war within and without? Is the lack of thought of willing or unwilling instigation I don't know, for if I can answer that with any sense contained within, how can this be in this day and age? When even fake news gives one some intimation of what is going on? How can one remain so perverted, so attuned to the wrong, so deaf to the right. As the King of Siam said, “Is a puzzlement!”

Where do we go from here? There? In fact, anywhere?  Is there, in fact, anywhere to go? I think not. As of this morning without much change other than to the negative, from all the yesterdays of recent times, the only change is the amping up of hate, the overflowing lakes and streams of lies and animosity beyond the pale, the weaponization of virulent toxic verbal Hatred, serving only to live immersed in Hatred, and encourage the action resultant -  the lies, the encouragements to kill, to shoot, to harm, to maim, to burn, to denounce, to demean. 

So, what's going on? Nothing good. See and think for yourself based on the witness of your own eyes and ears, the thought process allowed to operate properly. Arm yourself with knowledge able to refute the attack of words meant to convince you that what is not is actually. Refuse to accept these words of violence and hate and negativity as commands from on high for in truth, the only height they reach is the lowest, deepest depth to which humanity has fallen.

One theory turns to the divine. To find some causation within they speak of ghosts and demonic angels thrust out of Heaven, meant to do damage to the human population. Hence, we are blameless for how could one resist their power and the fear they induce in weaker creatures. Or their anger for they too have been driven from their original home This view is validated by art and literature even by the words found in holy books.

"I seemed to move among a world of ghosts

And feel myself the shadow of a dream."

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "The Princess"

" When the Angels descend, they put on the garment of the world. If they did not put on a garment befitting this world, they could not endure in this world. And the world could not endure them."    The Zohar

I disagree. I think this is a cowardly way out. Nothing will happen unless we accept the truth that every mishap, every misstep, every misdeed which has taken place within and by humans is upon humans. We are given free choice and if we submit to the more powerful inclination to do wrong, to let loose, to be free of restriction, then we are at blame. We are at fault That is the truth. Ugly. Disconcerting. Nevertheless, the truth.

 Both a root and a result of poor thinking is clearly seen in our poor choice of leaders. Nations fallen prey willingly or not to the dictate of authoritarian figures whose intent is to break the nation's will and follow his dictates to the exclusion of all else, reinforce this rather tenuous condition by going along, or, finding it impossible to mount a recovery. dooms the affected nation. The nation becomes immersed in violence imbued with hate and in the rare moments of waking up are discouraged and yearn for somewhere else, someone else, some decency and welcome. This, too, is difficult, increasingly so, as nations defect from unity, and rather than fighting mutual problems of survival, they go it alone, pulling their heads inside artificial shells and then proceed in darkness so intense there is no way to foresee and plan and they stumble and fall. Some never to rise again. 

In the USA how is one to deal with a blatantly insane, demented filled with rage poor imitation of a leader? He's so impressed by his own self imaginings and valuations that it is not enough for him to have the desire of being a Life Dictator of the United States. His ego needs constant feeding. He Photoshops himself wearing the hat of the pope, as if the conclave would select him as the next pope. This is the man to protect and serve this nation and the people within? He continues his attempts to dismantle America, as he weakens its foundations and shreds it piecemeal, completing the job his army of rebels did not in their violent attempt to overthrow the government. He is a traitor who has declared war on the Constitution and the judiciary, having already emasculated the   legislative and executive branches of government.  

This is a man who cannot understand reality as is, and reality as he would it. One cannot live in a fake world and expect things to go one's particular fashion or way. It is not real, and all things built upon it are gossamer thin and fall victim to any strong wind which comes its way. Such is this man, dangerously incompetent, insufficient, deranged. Lost in a world of his own, for in this real world, he cannot trust a soul. Thus, the constant disconcerting game of musical chairs. There is no balance, no solidity in this administration. Only paranoia and egotism.

 Where does one go with that?  Jealous of his position and power, insecure and horrified as to possible loss, he compensates in grandiosely wacky manner. In wishing to impress others with his own importance he engages in craziness which further delineates and highlights his ever-growing dementia and his superbly clearly unfitness for his role as president. The further he demeans himself the more people will see him for what he is - nothing good and certainly not of worth or of trustworthiness. Even as he prepares to sell Israel down the river or throw it under the bus as he contemplates the okaying of civilian atomic energy for the civilian population, this even as we know the deeds of Iran and its plans to be and use nuclear power to rain death upon many enemies and damage to humans and infrastructure be damned as far as he is concerned.

 He is so needy in his constant thirst for flattery, for reassurance, for praise, that he takes upon himself the rather booed idea of replicating an iconic picture of a beloved President, JFK, at his desk, and his adorable son, John Junior, emerging from the kneehole. To photoshop that shamefully perverted photo and publicize it is anathema for anyone who lived through JFK's presidency and what it meant to America, to the world. In fact, this man is so the opposite of all of that. Feh!!! 

Tomorrow, more in this rather challenged and challenging vein as they, along with the arteries of America and the world, are highly, dangerously impacted. 

Can we indeed ever fully comprehend and understand the question and the answer to "what's going on"?

Perhaps before many yesterdays, we could have possibly answered with some confidence.

Today does not look that promising.

As for all the morrows to come, only "tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" will inform us.

    What the hell is truly going on?

TRYING, REALLY, BUT SO DIFFUCULT, PERHAPS IMPOSSIBLE?

  Perhaps the last part of the title is the actual truth, the actual answer. It would explain so much and perhaps I would stop cudgeling my brain for an answer that is not there. The entire situation is unfathomable, unexplainable and yet, here we are with it, butting right up to us and in too many instances penetrating the heart and soul of us all, at least the sane and thinking ones, the ones who never fell for the lies of that empty braggadocio, or have been able to shake off its smothering blanket of lies and see through to the truth. The more the better. 

How can we mesh well the past with the present and then the future, the yesterdays, the todays, and the tomorrows, so as to enable a better present and make possible a much more optimistic future - at least to the best of our abilities? Is that in fact a Quixotical task, an impossible dream or can we dare to try, to understand, to weed out the problematic and the negative and insert better visons and dreams? 

We will never know unless we try, so try we must. The journey will be difficult, seemingly impossible, but we must, for there is no viable alternative. Not if we wish to live freely as members of the Jewish nation and as Americans living in a democracy, sure and secure on its foundation, and a leader once again for the world. For that matter it should be all citizens of the world living securely in a nation which is truly a democracy by deed and reality, not merely deemed so by name. 

Unfortunately, that is the name of the game around the world these days. Even democratic nations are leaning towards, some on purpose, some by accident, onto the wrong path. Nations which fought hard to rid themselves of dictatorial governments are now slowly, and not so slowly returning to it. One leader one party seems to dominate, and the dominating parties and leaders tend to do so in similar and wrong manner. 

As does Trump, they issue orders and make it a practice of bypassing the legislative branch, demeaning the judiciary, even defying or simply ignoring it. These mistitled leaders of a nation make demands. They threaten and intimidate. They throw tantrums worthy of a 5-year-old expert. It becomes standard policy and by the time people notice and acknowledge that it needs addressing, it is often too little, too late. By that time the legislative branch has become an automatic stamp of yes men approval. The judiciary has been belittled and grossly inimical to any judge who insists on proper interpretation and application of law.

 The people. What about the people? They look around and either are amazed, shocked or in despair. Those who had already taken notice and spoken up in recognition of the path the nation had taken had often been damaged as a result of that bravery, that true patriotic inclination. Those who woke up too late are confused and generally go in one of two ways. One is apathetic and accepting. The other is a determination to fix, to mend in bits and pieces and then give up, often frustrated in their efforts. The path to true and lasting reform is difficult, the enthusiasm dies, and they revert to the other path of apathy and acceptance of reality as it is, rather than as it should be. 

Unfortunately, there is another path, perhaps the worst of all. It is an abdication of at least some loyalty to the nation which heretofore had provided a home, a future, a life. Then, driven by circumstances within the original nation, the person decides to leave that nation, the original home, in search of a better life elsewhere. Some succeed. Others do not. Some succeed but feel uncomfortable and some engage in a perpetual search for that lawn where the grass is greener and remains that way. 

The saddest of all, is when the person loves the native land but feels hopeless, is driven away by a hostile environment, one of threatening level, and thus seeks elsewhere for a more secure and safe situation. Perhaps. Often that person who changes homes has a connection, be it deep or shallow, to that chosen second home. Thus engendered is a two-way stretch - a sadness at having to leave the original land of birth, and a happiness, a glorious one, for it is a return to a native, indigenous, G-d given land which has, in one way or another, always has been a land of origin, always a feeling of returning home. For multiple millennia this has been so, deny it as some do. 

The best situation is the ability to be a dual citizen of both countries, loyalties intact, interest attached and always a desire to bring both nations to their best, to where they should and could be rather than in the damaged state they now occupy. In truth, they are foundering greatly, dangerously and unfortunately, and both tug at my heartstrings and both bring me to moments of despair.

 The ills and woes of both lands strike at the core, so basic are the attachments and the hopes and dreams.   So difficult to acknowledge and open the eyes of others. Understanding that one's beloved country needs first aid is not disloyalty, but rather an intense and difficult one, for it of necessity involves, requires deep involvement in both, not a shedding of one for the other. 

As an aside, one of the most difficult things to do is to maintain a close knowledge of the ongoings of each nation, for the news is not generally covering the same issues and/or with the same depth. So, seek we must, at times successful and at others not so much.  Complicating it all is the ugly modern presentation of grossly misinterpreted or outright bias and lies as the truth from the pen of a dedicated journalist. "Just the facts, Ma'am" is no longer an option it sems and that is a truly harmful and deplorable situation. Much of it unfortunately driven by the evil and selfish needs and motivations of the so not a leader at the head of state.

 Unfortunately as well, is the fact of reality that both of my nations, both of my homes, are sharing some of the same issues and the populace in both countries are either incapable of, or not desirous of, fixing the cracks within the foundation of both nations. Both are wonderful but both have refused to see for too long a time how astray they have gone, how much they have ceded to people who should never have been in place to accept that in the first place. Both situations are inducive of a great fear of and in both the present and the future. We engage in misinterpretation of the past or are simply forgetting it and discounting it all, or simply apply it as we wish, not as it should be, not as truth would have it, with all choices not good. 

  Where and when and how are we to find the means, enthusiasm, and ability to turn things around, to rebuild and reinforce all that we once championed. When will we recognize that there is much we need to discard, make room for that we discarded before, the truth of our nations, their reasons for existence and the recipe for success of   positive outcome. Will this ever take place?  Do we have the wherewithal, the motivational energy necessary? Your guess is as good - or bad - as mine.  

I am trying to understand how I got where I am, what it means to me personally, as I call two nations my homes, my people. Both countries are mine. What pushes me away in both countries, the disappointments and what attracts me to both? There is glory and joy of being a citizen of both, an ability and responsibility to add in my two cents and perhaps contribute in positive and meaningful manner. 

Both nations have paved over and in wrongful manner too many of the streets which should have been left as such. Consequently, we will have to dig deep and long if we are to recover and retrieve the values they represented. The roots of each nation at its best and the damage done to them must be analyzed and repaired as needed in positive beneficial manner and go forward on the right path with proper energy and enthusiasm and with great hope for the future. We must understand the causes of the deterioration of the roots if we are to remain strong and provide leadership to and for the nations of the world.

Yesterdays are there to be understood and used properly - a practice we so neglected.    

Todays are to be repaired and returned to days of hope and optimism and inspiration. 

All our tomorrows need to be imbued with enthusiasm and incentive, to build them sure and safe and strong.

Can we understand this? Can I understand it? Can I, you, we, all, reach an understanding of where our nations are, where they need to be, how to achieve that goal, and remain there or better yet, advance?  Where do we fit in?

So hard, so very hard.