Chanukkah

Channukah is here :)

After the division of hellenistic empire after Alexander the Great Judea together with Jerusalem found itself in Ptolemaic kingdom based in Egypt. Yet as a result of wars by the end of III century BC it was taken by Seleucid kingdom based in Syria.
At the time of Antiochus Epiphanes the severe rules against Judaism were proclaimed. Possessing of Torah was forbidden under capital punishment. Likewise circumcision (death penalty was for both a mother and a baby). Shabbat was forbidden and in the Temple the sacrifices from ritually unclean animals were done for the Greek gods.

Not surprisingly uprising has started! The small and ill equipped army of so called Maccabees (from the family name) surprisingly won with well equipped and professional army of Seleucid'   monarch but by the time they regained the Temple there was enough kosher olive to last only for one day.
The discussion followed if the olive should be set on fire to signalize recapture of the Temple by Jews (even though it won't last for enough time to make the Temple kosher) or if lighting of the fire should be postponed until enough kosher olive may be supplied.
The first option won and the olive was alighted. Miraculously the one-day-supply lasted for 8 days enabling koshering the Temple and preparing new supply.
And that is why Chanukkah is celebrated!
For 8 days the candles in special candelabra (with 9 candles) will lit. You are not allowed to use this light to work or read or warm - it is just the symbol of holiday! And each day children will receive small gifts and enjoy themselves. It's a very joyful occasion.
HAPPY CHANUKKAH!!!!!!  

Craving for blood

warning about renewal of suicide bombings

Here is the short film sent by Hamas as a message. It is so self-explaining that for any reasonable human being my commentary is just redundant. But I will write anyway.

The aim of missiles from Gaza, of suicide attacks in the past, of attacks like on a Fogel family and so on is TO KILL AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. Simply.
Hamas couldn't care less if their fire will reach right-wing Israelis, ultra-ortodox from Natrei Karta not recognising Israel (as it shold only be created after Messiah comes), Israeli-leftists proclaiming 2-state solution, Israeli Arabs or common do-gooders from any country. They crave for blood on Israeli territory. Period.
While IDF is taking all precautions and pains to kill as little civilian population as possible in Gaza and avoid killing or hurting anybody but the targeted terrorists Hamas does the opposite.

Their decision makers simply want to kill every Jew (as states their Charter), they have only contempt and dislike (sometimes hate) for anything not-jihadist (specially for Westerners including working with NGOs) and they couldn't care less about their own people. They use them as living shields, make armories purposefully near schools and hospitals, love to show the world their casualties but as they live from foreign aid (Israeli included) and other tax-payers money they just have no interest for their 'subjects' (as certainly not citizens). Neither for their well being (Golda Meir said that the peace will come when they will care for their children more than they hate Israeli ones) nor for their lives.

Writing about joy of killing people on buses, in cafes, in cinemas tells it all.

And I am deeply concerned and sorry for both - Israelis and all Palestinians who would like to lead normal lives and accept neighbors peacefully. They are simply Hamas's hostages.
And any real pro-Palestinian organization should help THEM get rid of terrorists!!!
And all supporting Hamas should be honest enough to admit they support terror and killings and hatred. No freedom fighters! Murderers!!!!!!

Short history of terror from Gaza

living under threat

 In 2005 Israel unilaterally left Gaza Strip leaving it all to Palestinians. At the same time she never ceased delivering electricity (though Gaza authorities collecting money from recipients don't pay for it Israeli company), water or urgent and specialised medical care.

Leaving Strip Israelis left vegetable cultivation plants that were operating there. They were ruined in a short time. Gaza authorities never build a hospital and all schools were foreign financed. By the contrast authorities in Gaza built app. 400 mosques and have enough financial posssibilities to have shot more than 12,000 rockets, some very advanced, during last 7 years. They fire indiscriminately hoping to take as many lives as possible.
Here are some stories:
missile from Gaza hits school bus
rocket falls on kindergarden  (miracoulously that day it was closed for renovation, thus no victims)
rocket hits yeshiva - 10 injured

Most of those stories as well as horror of one million Israelis having to spend a lot of time in shelters you won't be able to find in mainstream media. It is not a story for them. The story begins when Israel hits back.

Due to post-stress disorder thousands of Israeli kids suffer neuro-somatic diseasies and take years longer to be potty trained.
But these children are no topic for European press.... :( :( :(

Imagine a tiny country with more than 13% of her population living under fire. Wouldn't you expect your government to protect you and your children?

My heart goes for innocent Israeli and innocent Palestinian children. The first are hated and targeted by Hamas the other are used as shields by Hamas's terrorists.
It is war!
But wars (always tragic) are defensive or offensive. Japanese in II WW, Germans in the II WW, Koreans in Korean war all had children, innocent as only children can be. Yet nobody proposed that they may go on killing, targeting others, raping (story of Nankin) and so on and nothing can be done as they are not all bad guys. They were countries, true, but Gaza is as close to a country as they can get -the terrorist country! And while I strongly believe there are peace-wanting Palestinians (not only children) who just don't dare to risk their lives questioning Hamas's internal terror (they not only export it, they live by it) I also know Hamas was elected, it is supported, as were Nazis by Germans (majority!) or Japanese imperial policy by most Japanese!

War is always tragic, true, but defensive war is sometimes necessary - against monsters of history, against criminal regimes, against those who say they want to kill us and live by it!
For Israel responding to Gaza launched rockets is DEFENSIVE and NECESSARY war. Just imagine that for some reason Portugal for 7 years hits Spain with missiles, or Northern Ireland the Republic, or Slovenia Austria, or Utah Arizona and so on. Response???? Sure! And they are ALL bigger and less populated territories than Israel.
Gaza had a chance, they could start trying to build economy, be independent, open borders in perspective (with both Israel and Egypt), try to build a future for their children.
Instead they have chosen to kill, to use their children as suicide bombers, or living shields or victims to show the world. They teach them reliance on others while hating those others at the same time.
It is horrible! They take future from their children while wanting to take lives from Israeli children?
Is war awful? SURE!
Was it necessary? Unfortunately sure again!

Border fences

The border between US and Mexico is a long one. Not surprisingly - these are two very large countries. Yet - with, as I can imagine, great effort - there is a barrier on this border. It is combination of fences, short barriers, short walls - nevertheless it is actual border fence. It was built to stop illegal border crossing having most to do with illegal work (although also with drugs and people trafficking). Mexico and the USA were at war for the last time in XIX century and you may call it a relatively local war for both countries. The ties between countries are pretty tight and relations good.
Between 1998 and 2004, 1,954 persons are officially reported to have died along the US-Mexico border. Since 2004, the bodies of 1086 migrants have been recovered in the southern Arizona desert.
The total of approximately 5,000 deaths are related to border crossing during last 13 years.

The border between Greece and Turkey is far shorter. It was rarely very peaceful and friendly in history (and if you look at it in the long run it was changing considerably including occupation of Greece by Ottoman Empire) yet it is fairly peaceful during last few decades. And as both countries are NATO members with Turkey aspiring to join EU and Greece being its member one can hardly anticipate real hostilities there. Turks were known to cross to Greece in search of illegal work (I presume the procedure has ceased lately due to Greek economy problems). To prevent illegal immigration mostly crossing on a narrow, 12-mile long border part, Greeks declared in 2011 they will build  the razor-wire-topped fence. Neither EU nor European media nor human rights activists protested. Possibly Greeks will go on with the construction (divided and partially occupied by Turkey Cyprus is parted by barrier for years and years, few people care, no media coverage is present however thousands visit Cyprus each year).

Tiny Israel after intifada which cost lives of hundreds of her citizens (both Jews and Arabs) created fence along so called "green line". The number of suicide attacks and their victims - buses blown, cafes or restaurants targeted, children killed - considerably fell. 

In all those 3 examples only the Israeli barrier is discussed internationally, called "evil", singled out for attacks by so called human-rights activists, and called "the international crime". It is also the only one protecting human lives and not job-market.

I will leave you conclusions..... 

Warning from history

George Orwell, in my opinion one of absolutely the best writers and philosophers of XX century, has once written review of Hitler's infamous "Mein Kampf" and among others he has commented that: "human beings don't only want comfort, safety, short working-hours, hygiene, birth control and, in general, common sense; they also, at least intermittently, want struggle and self-sacrifice, not to mention drums, flags, and loyalty parades." It is part of his diagnosis about how it happened that Nazism attracted so many...

We are not only rational but also - maybe even more so - emotional. How much emotion was in your choice of vacation destination/ buying car or house or last voting? Much mor than we willingly admit and in many cases it is a good thing - people are not (and shouldn't be) robots after all. Yet there are situations when the emotional, mythical part in us gets so upper hand that it suppresses completly rational part and that is potentially very dangerous situation.

Nazis are warning from history (as are communists except they are still very present). Those people didn't come from nowhere. Yes, their core was cynical and emotional at the same time but the rest? In 1928 elections they only scored 2.6% in elections (and they existed for good many years at the time), 2 years later - surprising popularity which led to parliamentary presence, than suppressing weak democracy, than.... we all know.

So, why do I write it now? The thing that triggered their first success was crisis of 1929 leading to people's desperation. Now we have similar (in some ways) situation. Europe is (and for at least 5 years will be) in crisis, possibly a very deep one. People's expectations have been elevated and now they have to be corrected. Just as Germans did not understand why they lost I WW now many don't understand why they have to give up current living style (and Germany lost I WW exactly as the massive debts in future generations culminated now). It is very fragile situation. We already hear in Europe (so far only from some extremists but the number of people talking this way is growing) about "betrial", "them" and so on.
Another example is many islamic countries with growing fanaticism. It sometimes comes from desperation but it doesn't diminish danger it brings.

Where do I aim? We are creatures of emotion and in hard times emotions take control much often and stronger. It is good for us to have them and sometimes they lead us to wonderful things. But they have dark side - hatred, vengance, blaming, believing in conspiracy, rascism. In times of trouble we are more vulnerable to this dark side. Understandable. But I want to ask you to be careful when you hear preachers of boycott, hatred, accusations, conspiracy theories etc. (many pointed against Israel, many having nothing to do with it but the former were the seed of this reflection) to be careful. It is ok to act on our emotions but let's try and not let some abuse them and mislead us as Hitler and his likes abused in this early time of Nazism emotions of so many in Germany.

It is a warning from history!

Finally an optimistic piece - here is a story of a man whose emotions were hijacked and abused during his upbringing and who freed himself and is now acting on his own emotions and rationale - it is always better to be one own's master (emotions, believes, feelings included). Here is
his story

Contemporary anti-semitism

Please watch it!

Here Dr Martin Luther King Jr. shows the "antizionism" for what it is - modern antisemitism, of which one may speak without shame in Europe, in the USA, in other democratic countries....
But is it really without shame? It shouldn't be!

Many bad deeds (occasionally crimes) have been committed by authorities of democratic and developed countries. I think many more than by Israeli authorities who are certainly no saints (no authorities are). It is enough to read Israeli newspapers to find really strong criticism of Israeli authorities on whatever grounds you wish (choosing right newspaper). In contrast to all the other countries in region there is absolute freedom of speech in Israel!

Going back to antizionism - look at UK with its policy towards Ireland in 60s and war with Argentine over Falkland Islands; look at Ireland and her president being former member of terrorist organization; look at France with war in Algeria (with tortures on captives), starting war in Rwanda that finished in genocide with president Mitterand's son arrested on new years eve in West-African country for selling illegal weapons on massive scale; look at Italy with its link to Gaddafi and Libya for years; look at Russia sending girls to gulag for performance and so on and so on. I could put more examples (ALL after II WW and end of colonialism), but that serves nothing.

Still has ANYONE been calling on one of these countries to cease existing? sending all their citizens "to oven" like the lady on the movie? (exceptionally cruel thing to say considering circumstances) calling for killing all of them (like Hamas or Hezbollah or Ahmadinajed or ALL Palestinian authorities) or tolerating it conscienceless like EU? Calling for boycotting all their goods (impossible as more than half medical and IT technology would have to be banned in Europe but showing the case - even in REALLY rouge South African regime boycott was called ONLY towards firms and products of the regime and not towards artists/ scientists/ private entrepreneurs?

What antizionism is really about is treating Jews according double standards refusing them right to their country, right to self-governance, often right to live! Accusing them of plots on international scale, repeating lies of Nazis and pre-Vatican II catholic church!

So, if you are antizionist you stand for those who took people's (not only Jewish, but theirs always, they were accompanied by other victims on each and every stand and turn of history) dignity and humanity politically and than committed murder as "they were not murdering people" (Chinese in Nankin, or Philippines were not human for Japanese during II WW, Jews and Poles were not human for Nazi Germany, Indians were not human for Americans and British before up to late XIX century I would say, blacks, Jews and women were not human for many throughout history).

It is THIS mentality behind  antizionism - nothing new, still awful as can be. Don't make mistake: people behind boycott-everybody movement, calling for requiring Israeli scientist to condemn their government to enter Ireland (chairman of Irish trade union), showing Israel as the first target while officially being catholic charity (Trocaire - never caring for Christians in Egypt, Syria, Nigeria, never caring for people living in regimes like Cuban or Korean or Chinese but calling for boycott of Israel where it's good to be Christian) and ANTISEMITES!!!!!

Whom would YOU like to help?

Gaza
Syria

Gaza is on the 6th position (according to WHO) when it comes to endangerment with men obesity! It also receives the highest in the world help per capita, the financial help, electricity from Israel (yes, the same Israel they are sending rockets into). It has border with Israel AND Egypt, its residents receive medical help in Israeli hospitals (one of the best in the world) when necessary. No humanitarian crisis whatsoever exists there (accoring to NGOs and UN that are not known for their sympathy towards Israel).

Yes, it is hell to live in - because there is no democracy, no freedom of speech, no gender rights, no freedom of religion, homosexuality is forbidden under capital punishment and totalitarian government is quick to apply capital punishment or long imprisonment for anything it doesn't like. It is no place to be if one can avoid it. Same goes for any regime in the world! But it is no fault of other countries.

It is a place from where over 10,000 rockets where sent to Israel aiming at civilian population. It is a place where Gilad Shalit was been held hostage for over 5 years, it is a place where women are forced to merry at the age of 11 (often), and for befriending Israeli citizen capital punishment is not rarity (under the accusation of "spying").

It is a place where Hamas - oficially terrorist organisation - rules and in its charter it has calling for destroying Israel and murdering Jews.

Syria is in desperate humanitarian state. With ongoing civil war and slaughter of over 150,000 civilians it is quickly becoming one of the worst places on Earth one may find oneself in. Yet it is rarely covered by media and no humanitarian help on larger scale is offered. Partly because it is too dangerous to deliver it partly because nobody cares.

Yesterday a ship was intercepted by Israeli forces. Ship sailing to Gaza in intention of breaking LEGAL blocade. It was the 3rd attempt and in previous cases there were quite few instances where no aid at all was on the ships - just anti-Israeli activists (no, no pro-Palestinian, as they don't care why Hamas murders Palestinians, they just hate Israel). Moreover the help that WAS on those ships could be and usually was transfered peacefully to Gaza. The blocade is to prevent weapon entering Gaza and not aid (with 10,000 rockets falling on Israel since establishing authonomy and numerous attempts at suicide bombings no wonder it is so).

Now, whom would YOU like to help?

When UN was preparing report....

I wanted to share with you a piece of memoirs by a Jewish girl, 6-years-oldat the time in 1947 when UN commission was working in British mandate to establish facts. She was living in the Old City (as her family for last 5-6 generations) and this is how she recoils the atmosphere when shopping with her mother on Arab market (as for years):

" We left the vegetable market and turned into a dark, narrow alleyway. Everywhere we saw black eyes glittering with hatred. As we passed the vendors fell silent and little Arab boys stopped to point at us and run their fingers across their throats. The meaning was clear: Just you wait... soon we will slaughter you!
We walked a few more steps, and I held on to Imma (mother) so tightly that I couldn't even tremble. If only we were home! Imma walked faster, dragging me along. Why, why did we ever go to the shuk? From inside the shops and from both sides of the street all eyes were turned on us... fiery eyes, burning with hatred. Finally we were out of their sight.
(...)
"I was so scared" I said, my relief now evident. "Do you know who I felt like?"
"Who my darling?"
"Like Little Red Riding Hood when the wolf was about to swallow her. Did you see their eyes? They were staring at us from every corner. Not just the eyes of one wolf, like in the story. Many, many wolves were lying in wait for us, waiting for their pray."

Puah made her mum promise never to go to shuk again. For me - mother myself - it doesn't take a lot to imagine how concentrated hatred it had to be to be so perceived by 6-years-old and recalled after long years.
Today some people talk how the peaceful state was possible in 1947. They relay on legends  by some pro-Arab activists. The reality was hatred as described (even before voting) and attack on new-born Israel by 7 Arab armies a day after its proclamation.

Certainly there were fanatics and peace-sicker on both sides, there always are, but as Jews were concentrated on the task of building their country and overjoyed to have it (even small), Arabs were concentrated not on developing their part of former British mandate - had it been so maybe 2-state solution would have been something we would know and never asked if possible - but on estroying Jewish part.

Just think - how much hatred does it take for a child to feel it, remember it and recall it after 30 years as described above.....

Equal and more equal countries?

Yesterday Turkey has been hit by a mortar shoot from Syria's territory.

Leaving apart all speculations as to who did it and was it purposeful it happened and people got killed! That is always a tragedy, specially as the victim was mother with 4 children!

Turkey's PM stated that Turkey won't allow such aggression towards its citizens and responded with fire aimed at Syria. NATO was called hurriedly to gather as Turkey is a member, UN was notified, EU took stance, media described.

And everybody reported it as invasion of Turkey's space, killing its citizens and Turkey's response to this violence. Quite properly.

I can't help but think with rage and sadness that when Israeli children were hit by suicide bombers the world was silent! When 1,000 rockets a year (!) is shoot into Israel from Gaza it is not even reported but every Israeli response is pictured as aggression without mentioning the attack. When few days ago terrorists killed IDF soldiers who stopped them while heavily armored they were heading towards Israel media only reported killing two of the terrorists in response without mentioning  Israeli victims. When million Israelis spend 3 days in emergency hiding because of rocket fire it is not even news. And Israel is - likewise Turkey - a member of UN (though it seems this UN helps only Israeli enemies) and NATO. Has stronger economic links with EU than Turkey does. And yet....

When the fire from the same Syrian conflict caused evacuation of tourists from Mt. Hermon in Israel nobody cared.

So, are there equal and more equal states? Isn't it purely Orwellian how Israel gets blame for attack on her while everybody understands response on aggression while another country does it?

About media coverage and facts

victims and aggressors

Heavily armed terrorists opened fire on Israeli soldiers at the border with Sinai. 20-year-old corporal, Netanel Yahalomi, was slain by a bullet to the head and that another trooper was wounded. no mention about it appeared in media in Europe. Neither was it said that the Israelis were set upon by a group intent on a large-scale homicidal spree. Its members carried explosives, suicide belts, an RPD machine gun, rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades, Kalashnikovs and ammunition. These men, though in civilian garb, weren’t out on a leisurely stroll.

Yet, when  in reciprocal attack 3 of those terrorists were killed the titles everywhere went saying in capital letters: Three Palestinians shoot in Sinai.
The average person, not knowing much about ME - as most people are (we can't all be educated about everything, some knowledge we just have from everyday papers and we don't try to verify it) probably has the picture of IDF chasing some stone -throwing Arab boys and feel outraged (well, stone throwing is not nice but hardly a reason to shot somebody). They have no idea about the murderous spree, Israeli victims, the ongoing battle to save lives.

BTW these are not only Jewish lives (as if it mattered; humans are humans), but also those of Israeli Arabs, tourists from around the world or African illegal immigrants whom those soldiers were trying to save - yes they were illegals but that didn't mean they should perish of thist somewhere on the desert.
Now - compare it with shooting by Egyptian/ Libyan or Sudanese soldiers to such immigrants or simply with over 1,000 those who have drowned at Mediterranean Sea this year only trying to get to Europe (some sent SOS signals which were ignored by European ships).

And now let me ask you a question (nearly as the one addressed to jury in "A time to kill" movie:)) : if the territory of the country of your residency where you live with your family was constantly attacked by terrorists, rockets and by such suicidal terrorists trying to get inside and just kill as many as possible wouldn't you want your border patrols to prevent it? Wouldn't you think that maybe tey saved the life of your child?
Would you regret so much those with bombs, suicide belts and kalashnikovs or rather their potential victims?

Now, why is it that European papers consider those who go to murder so "heroic" and worthy and those who just try to live their lives without harming anybody not important?

And if you feel it as ridicule and evil as I do (I admit it) share this information with whoever you can.

Who is the victim who is the terrorist - the case study of Gilat Schalit

Gilad Shalit was a 19 years old Israeli boy when it has started. He still has all appearances of a boy although he is older and has been through ordeal taht - thankfully - will never be the fate of most of us.

On 25 June 2006 when Gilad was still a 19 years old boy serving in the army (as is mandatory for most Israelis) he was captured by Hamas terrorists. It happened not in Gaza but in Israel, during regular patrol, not any kind of military action and was done by terrorists who crossed illegally through underground tunnel into Israel in exactly this purpose - to kill and capture Israelis.
During this raid 2 Israeli soldiers were killed and 3 other (apart from Schalit) wounded. Gilad, wounded himself, was captured.

For over 5 years he was kept in undisclosed location in Gaza, Hamas turned down all requests form International Red Cross to visit him or pass him letters. He had no contact with outside world. Just for the proof he is still alive Israel, in 2009,had to release many women terrorists.

For over 5 years there was no contact and - in opinion of many - no hope for Shalit's life.
Yet the family, the Israeli authorities and many people of good will in the whole world didn't give up on him. Negotiations were tried, broken by Hams were resurrected, new, sounding absurdly conditions have been met...

In June 2011, at the 5th anniversary of his capture by terrorists in Dublin - where regularly huge crowds support Palestinians and from where 2 flotilla boats have started (notably, none was carrying any help for Gaza, just "making the point" as organisers stated, yet they have refused to even mention Gilad Shalit to Hamas - he was not worth their attention apparently) tiny demonstration was organised in support of Gilad Shalit and to show his inhuman ordeal at the hands of Hamas. I was privilaged to take part in it.

After over 5 years for the price of over 1,000 terrorists collectively responsible for death of 569 Israelis, some of them children, Gilad Shalit returned to Israel. He is a free man again!
One of the things I always admired about Israel was never leaving their people behind. I very much doubt if the government of my country would go to 3% of the effort Israeli authorities put into freeing Shalit!

As you can imagine he returned in bad shape and it took time and effort to bring him back to normal life.
Recognising his agony in long captivity and his ordeal as the victim of terrorists Spanish soccer club
has awarded him a medal.

And now the same people who captured Gilad after crossing to Israel, held him in captivity against all international rules, threatened death on him and exchanged him for over 1,000 murderers have the stamine to call for boycott of Spanish soccer, and to tell them how they feel offended by their act.
Tell me: who is the terrorist and who is the victim?
Does the world care? No! It does not pay attention that terrorist feel offended by calling their victim - a victim. The same would be true for you, or me or your neighbour. Nobody would care! Some would say it makes a great point (like Gaardner in his book for children where he approves taking child from parents to make political point and gives fictiuous facts).

But I believe there are still people willing to call a spade a spade.
So - who is the victim? And who is terrorist? And whom does Barcelona soccer players support?

BTW I would really like to thank them very much!

Yom Kippur

The Yom Kippur is approaching.
The most holy day in Judaism!

At Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashana - that I was writing about it is believed that people are to be inscribed into books of life for the following year (or not), but the verdict is sealed 10 days later on the Day of Atonment - Yom Kippur.

We have these 10 days to apologies, regret, seek forgiveness and grant forgiveness to those who are seeking it from us.

Yom Kippur is the holiday kept often even by otherwise totally secular Jews. It is the day when many go to synagogues even if it is the only occasion for them during the year when they do so.
Also all observant Jews (and quite a number of secular ones) fast on this day abstaining from work, food, drinks (water included) and sex.

In Israel on Yom Kippur one of the popular activities is hiking the highways as no traffic is present on this day. You may enjoy long walks on routes beaming with traffic on any other day and  it is definitely a unique possibility to experience them on foot :).

On the eve of Yom Kippur the special prayer - very well know for its melody - is intoned: Kol Nidre.

It is to free praying form all vows undertaken and not fulfilled during the previous year.
This was used by anti-Semites throughout centuries to point a finger at Jews as not trustworthy as they will free from obligations on the eve of Yom Kippur. But this accusation only shows lack of understanding of what Kol Nidre is. It has nothing to do with obligations between people which of course must b kept. It is to atone and apologies and free from vows to God specially taken at times of fear or despair or under a pressure (like forced conversion at the time of inquisition). So it "only" deals with relation between human and God and is specially focused on human weakness that makes one make vows frivolously or under threat and than not keep them.

There is one more - historic - occasion we should remember. The Yom Kippur war of 1973 when on the dawn of this highest holiday when most of soldiers were on a leave at homes joined armies of Syria and Egypt attacked Israel without provocation. For months Egypt and Syria were preparing this strike helped by USSR exporting large quantities of weapons into these countries. The war during the first 3 days brought Israel on a verge of destruction (and of course this is what Egypt and Syria were after) and only during subsequent weeks things changed but with heavy casualties on both sides.
And we owe it to honesty, ourselves and our critical senses to remember this treacherous attack so often forgot today...

May you all find yourselves in the books of life!

National Parks and nature reserves

Israel is a very small country. Smaller than Belgium and approximately 1/4 size of Ireland - countries not known for being huge :)
And she has 8 million citizens! (just hit the mark) It is the same population as Ireland had at the verge of Great Famine and which was considered to be horrible overpopulation.

Yet is this small, densly populated and in 60% consisting of desert country there is still space for protected areas - 67 of them! Some are archeological parks, others are nature reserves. Wildlife is blooming in many places and is carefully and lovingly protected!

As most migratory birds are unable to fly on long distances over the sea in their yearly journeys to/ from Europe and they tend to choose the way over Turkey and Dardanele rather than straight through the Mediterranean Sea and only than turn towards Africa; Israel is on the road of their travels. Millions of birds come here every year (in fact twice a year) and are able to find their deserved rest.

In the first half of XX century Israel was still malarial country with marshes helping sustain great mosquito populations. Most have been drained and malaria, cured sistematically, disappeared. But some of the marshes were left specially to serve for the wellbeing of migratory birds.
During the time of fighting malarial marshes one of the Jewish immigrants from Australia remembered eucalyptus trees that can suck lots of water from the ground (or so it was believed). The trees were introduced. They didn't help with drying marshes as their roots went deep under to reach the reservoirs of fresh, clean water, but their presence in the country helped years later to introduce carefully coala bears. There are approximately 30-40 pairs of them (gift from Australian authorities) living free in Israel!

Israelis not only create and maintain the protected areas, they also love to visit them. And Rosh Hashana is the holiday when it is especially popular to visit natural reserves.

Let me show you some of my pictures taken in Israeli National Parks and nature reserves.
Today I just want to share the beauty of this amazing country :).

Anniversaries....

73 years ago, on September 17th USSR attacked Poland joining its ally, Nazi Germany. Had it not been for the situation in Manchuria maybe Stalin wouldn't decide on it fearing too much engagement on the west. But situation in Manchuria resolved according to Soviet wishes and by the beginning of October Nazi and Soviet armies were holding joint parade. The consequences of the war we all know...

 34 years ago, on September 17th in Camp David, USA the accords were signed that brought peace treaty in 1979 between Israel and Egypt.
After first enthusiasm this soon became what was known as "cold peace" and maybe today, specially looking at situation on Sinai, we tend to diminish importance of this accord yet it has to be remembered that this accord was agreed upon only 11 years after 6 days war when former Egyptian president, Nasser, was calling for destruction of Israel and only 5 years (not even!) after Yom Kippur war. 
President Anwar Sadat came to Jerusalem, visited Yad Vashem and for quite few years the situation was normal and for many subsequent years it was bearable (and let's hope it will be so). Sadat was assassinated for entering into peace agreement with Israel, yet peace was kept for years and still has a chance even in changed circumstances.

The same date, different years, very different outcome.

Just my reflections on history...

Dialogue not violence, but how to achieve it?

And this time it will remotely touch the Israel's subject dealing more with the situation in the region.
Tonight two American embassies - in Benghazi, Libya and in Cairo, Egypt were attacked by mob of angry Islamists. One American was killed, one seriously wounded and buildings were burned and looted.

Here are links to the story
Attacks on American embassies
Attacks - another link

The movie which, supposedly, triggered attacks seems pretty harsh on Islam from the description (however I don't know the film) and in a bad taste. Yet attacking in Cairo the embassy of the country which gives 1.3 billion $ help to Egypt yearly over the film that has nothing to do with the authorities of this country shows the mentality of attackers. And it is horrifying and scary to much greater extend that any bad movie could be.
Yes, it should be unacceptable to try to shame people's religion, political views, ethnic background or whatever else. But it was done more than once to ALL (Christianity, Judaism, all races, all political views, probably most nations). Moreover it is on daily basis done in the very same Arab countries that were the scene of attacks - they depict Judaism, Jews, Christianity and Western values as well as - notoriously - Israel and the USA as well as many other countries in the worst possible light, using deliberate lies and staging the non-existent facts.
Yet they consider the reverse not a case of bad taste but a crime for which all are responsible. There is no concept of free speech in those countries so any press article, picture, movie or photo they don't like may put in danger (and does) embassies, tourists from Western countries, workers from Western countries and so on. They might not even heard about this movie/ picture/ article. Or the may not agree with it. They may get killed for it anyway.

And this is something as horrible as can be!

Why am I writing about it in blog about Israel? Well, recently I read a letter to publisher of one of the big magazines in response to article about Israel. There were few responses, but one was accusing Israel for not developing good neighborhood links with countries in the region. The author of the letter was Danish.
I read and thought: how on Earth are you supposed to develop "good neighborly relationships" with countries who day after your country came into being send armies (7 in total) to attack you as they don't like you? Countries who (Nasser and his allies before 6-day-war) declare they are after wiping you of the map and murdering all your citizens? Countries who tolerate (even if not collaborate with) terrorist organizations that send suicide bombers to attack your civil population randomly? Who take water and electricity from you and claim you treat them as Nazis did Jews (half of 6 million Jews in Europe died due to conditions in ghettos and shooting, only the other half died in gas chambers -in 5 years; Palestinian population has quadrupled but it is in their eyes "extermination)? How do you do it?

How can you have good,  safe relationship with a country that accepts your huge financial help and shoots your citizens and burns your embassy over a movie (however tasteless) that a private person in your country did?
Would they help financially/ in humanitarian way the USA or Israel or UK or Germany if they needed it? I don't think so.... They receive help and threat to kill if they don't like whatever little thing that happens in the benefactor's country. WOW!

PS Only after writing this have I learned that in the incident (to put it mildly) in Benghazi US ambassador and 3 other diplomats were murdered

Rosh Hashana

The High Holidays are approaching. In Jewish calender the first two days of Tishrei is when Rosh Hashanah is observed. This year it will start on the 16th of September at sunset.

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the new year. It is celebrating the world's birthday - time when God decide to create universe. It also symbolises the beginning of change, of new life for us.
According to tradition it is between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (10 days later) that people may be inscribed (or not) into the books of life. It is decided who will live for the next year and who will perish. Therefore we should prepare ourselves for meeting with our Creator. Improve ourselves, make peace between us and our neighbours and us and God. And that is the most important, significant part of this holiday.
The accent is on our repentance, our sincere evaluation of our own approaches, deeds, sins. We should make peace with people whom we did wrong. We should correct our misdeeds and think how can we become better people. Rosh HaShanah is all about making peace in the community and striving to be a better person.

And I love this approach. Because evry way we plan to travel, every betterment we should start with ourselves. It is human to miss the point, to fall into misdeeds and misbehaviour, to sin. But it is also human to be able to correct it, to improve, to struggle to be a better person, to apologise.... And this examining our soul, our approach, our good will should walk with us througout the life.
It often does not.
So it is very important that at least once a year we truly try to remember to make peace with others, apology for our lacks and wrongdoings, to try to improve.

And Rosh Hashanah is a very, very joyfull holiday. It is not about fear of incoming judgement, this holiday is about joy that we still have time and opportunity to improve, to understand our sins, to offer appologies....
There is one more chance for us to become better people. Better for our neighbours. Better in loving God's eyes.

I wish all of you this Rosh Hashanah's joy in your lives. We can do better. Our Creator eqipped us to be able to better the world!!!!!

Canadian bravery!

Canada expels Iran's diplomats

I praise the move of Canadian government. That is because I totally agree that Iran is now the biggest threat to world's peace and all should cooperate in stopping this threat.

It is not "just" about Israel (as if destroying country, repeating Holocaust and starting nuclear war, and that is what Iran declares could approach any "just"); Iran' s gaining, let alone using nuclear weapon would herald the beginning of IIIWW. And many countries (including most European ones) behave like France and UK in Munich in 1938! As if it was about somebody else.
It is NOT! And let us not repeat the sad and recurrent refrain of human history: "to soon, to soon .....   sorry, to late!

Canada, you are brave!

Denying Jewishness of Jerusalem

Abbas denies Jerusalem links to Judaism

Jerusalem, the city conquered by David 3,000 years ago was for over 1,000 capital of Jewish state, place of the temple, place where Shechina was present.
First temple built by Solomon was destroyed by Babylonians and repleced by the second one, from which there still remain remnants.

After conquering the city during Jewish revolt of 66 by Romans and destroying the temple (it was built so solidly that fire was not enough, they really had to put lots of effort to dispose of it; but after 4 years of revolt requiring 3 legions to deal with the Romans wanted to dispose of any sign of Jerusalem, not only the city was destroyed, it was renamed Aelia Capitolina) Jews were temporary banned from it. But as soon as there was any possibility they started visiting Jerusalem and settling in her.

For 2 millenia in Sedar prayer there was expressed the hope that "next year we will meet in Jerusalem".
Despite hostility from Christians and later Muslims Jews were living in Jerusalem and arriving there because it was the unique place for them in the whole world. Nothing has changed.

During Jordanian occupation all Jews were expelled and banned from entering the part of Jerusalem belonging to Jordan. Yet in 1950 the western part of Jerusalem became the capital of the state of Israel, and government and Knesset were placed there. It remains for me a kind of puzzle why so many countries still refuse to recognise it as the illusion of international status of Jerusalem (originally planned by UN in resolution from 1947) never came into being: firstly: resolution was rejected by Arabs (so it's not binding and never was), secondly, the peace was broken by 7 Arab armies trying to destroy Israel and that means the new arrangments were due, thirdly before 6 days war Jordan was occupying part of Jerusalem even checking baptismal certificates to make sure no Jews would enter the city (which was absolutely in breach of international law) yet no country questioned it.

Jerusalem, long before 6 days war and well over 60 years is now the capital of Israel.

Israeli authorities never denied the meaning of Jerusalem for Christians and Muslims. All are allowed to practice their religion freely and the Temple Mount remains under Muslim authority guaranteed by Dayan right after the end of 6 days war.

What a startling contrast with what Palestinian (and some other Arab) authorities imply!!!
How is it possible in view of what Bible says, what archeological findings show, what we witness and have witnessed for millenia day after day after day to try to deny Jerusalem Jewishness??? It does not mean it bears importance for Jews alone. However we have to remember that Jesus was Jewish rabbi (and that is why he preached in Jerusalem, was crucified there, and that is why it is so important a place for Christians) and early Muslims wanted Jerusalem as they took it from Jewish Bible that it will be the place where the end of the world will come. As all new religions early Islam was heavily focused on the end of days and that was why they felt they need Jerusalem! All the paths lead back to Jerusalem's meaning for Jews!

Centuries passed and nobody in their right mind today denies that it is very important place for Christians or Muslims. Yet nobody should forget how it came about and that it was (and is) Jewish capital, Jewish place of worship incorporating 3 millenia of Jewish history!

Love YOUR enemies

I would like to share with you some reflections that have been occupying me for some time.

These reflections, though supported by many lectures, are mine alone and I take full responsibility for them (don't put the blame if you disagree anywhere else) but this is something I have been thinking of for quite a long time and I guess I am ready to share with you at least part of it.

One of the most famous Biblical quotations can be found in Matthew 5:44: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (New King James). It is directly lined to Leviticus 19:18: "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." (New King James).

Around those verses lots of wonderful theological teaching has evolved - both in Judaism and Christianity and also in completly secular but deeply rooted in Judeo-Christian values ethical systems.
But somehow lately I have an impression that this sentence in quoted and reminded (most often in perfectly secular situations) to forgive or demand forgivness for somebody else's enemies.

People wko rarely if ever remember these Biblical verses when somebody cuts them on highway, cheats when they do shopping, speaks to them vulgarly or is irritating at work openly demand forgivness for perpetrators of serious moral and sometimes legal misdeeds (crimes included) but... committed against somebody not known (and preferably distant).

A good example may be discussion after killing of Osama ben Laden by American comandoes. No matter what you think about capital punishment, the role of the USA in creating Ben Laden or decision about his execution the voices spilling tears over "poor, murdered man" (there were many of such) and calling upon forgiving him after those years (when questioning the sense of killing him 10 years after 9/11) were - from my point of view - voice of contempt for his victims (all of them, not only those connected to 9/11).
And it is not that I don't believe in forgivness - even of the awful deeds - but the only one entitled to granting forgivness is the victim (victims are also near and dear of those murdered). Only the victim - out of his/ her free will - has a privilege to forgive. Nobody can do it instead or demand from victim (often as tactless as possible) that he/ she forgives and forgets so it can be nice and cosy again. And it is not about vengance but about ingering into delicate and individual psychological and emotional process of the victim.

It is so easy to forgive sins against somebody else!


Another example is Dutroux who before raping and murdering by starving to death two 8-years-old in  Belgium was in prison for raping children and was let go - forgiven by system that considers inhumane to keep such as him for life. In many cases in contemporary Europe it is DEMANDED that we forgive lawbreakers - they suffered hardships as children, they were ill-treated (presumabely), it is society that is guilty (including, I understand, the victims in society - had there not been 8 years old Dutroux wouldn't be tempted). The system is so full of compassion... for sinners against someone else.
For me it is sad proof of contempt for victims - of crimes, mistreat, totalitarianism... They are not fun to be around and we want to forget, and we want them to forgive and forget. Let's get together and feel all right!

This unique social terror to forgive (to be able to forget about evil living among us) reminds me essays by Ditrich Bonhoeffer, the leading German theologist, opposing Nazizm and murdered in Dachau. He was writing about cheap and dear (expensive? - sorry, I have never read his work in English) grace.
If Christians proclaim "do whatever our sins have been paid for" theology, if we consider ourselves redeemed as Christ has died it is cheap grace, in fact sinfull. 
But to live according to God's will and expectations, to let him lead our choices, to try and live according to Bible it is the dear grace, the true one.
Of course the above is very shortened but I hope you know what I mean.

Forgiving sins against somebody is like cheap grace. Being with victims through their healing process, through their pain and struggle and process of forgiving (sometimes everlasting) is the real. dear grace.

But God has asked us to forgive OUR enemies, not God's enemies (like the most notorious enemies of humankind) and not somebody else's!

Who doesn't want normality?

For years and years Palestinian Authorities - both from West Bank and Gaza - complained about restrictions of travel for Palestinians.
This year, during Ramadan, Israeli authorities allowed Palestinians from West Bank, in great numbers, to enter Jerusalem. Subsequently things went one more step along the road. Here is a report by French independent Gatestone Institute about allowing Palestinians to enter Israel
Crowds enter beaches and malls, visit Israel

It looks great - after all isn't that what we would like to see - people interacting, getting to know each other, not acting violently?

Apparently Israeli society and authorities as well as lots of common West Bank Arabs would - they seem to welcome the move and opportunities. But Palestinian authorities - both Fatah and Hamas - are furious. The picture of devil as they paint Israel to they subjects (as the concept of citizens is foreign to them) is crumbling. People see not the kind of regime they have at home, intent of murdering them for being Arabs (as Hamas murders for being Jew) or trying to control their thoughts. They see normal life and may take part in it - even if for a while. It may cause them to realise their hardship is brought upon them solely by their own "masters" (as no choice is really available to them).

It is classic confrontation of democratic society based on freedom with totalitarian one. Somehow Western governments didn't have (40 years ago, 30 years ago) to keep their citizens passports on police stations or in all other ways (shooting at Berlin wall for example) prevent them to enter communist paradise while the opposite was true. It is not about just communism - any totalitarian power trying to control people, have them think and do what is "the only just thing", design the new brave world and the new human being has to invent diabolical enemy and keep people from finding out and from freedom.
It is what Hamas and Fatah have been and are doing. It is the reason why opening Israel for Palestinians, even for a while, angered them so much.

Now - who wants peace and who doesn't? Read and decide for yourselves.....

Jewish Culture Festival

Tomorrow in Warsaw starts IX edition of Jewish Culture Festival. It is not as known and as big as the Krakow one (which is the biggest in Europe) yet for 9 days there will be lots to do!

Before the IIWW 1/3 of Warsaw consisted of Polish Jews. This wonderful, creative, distinctive world was completely destroyed by 1943 where uprising in ghetto consumed the rest of people with the whole district.
One year later the whole city was leveled. But the memory survived together with few people, many stories, some art artifacts....

Today the thriving, blooming festival is witness to revived connection with this past. The past sometimes painful but beautiful and missed by many.

Here is the program of the festival for those of you who may make it or are just interested.
program of Singer Festival 2012

Body harm? Really?

circumcision in Germany

Does male circumcision is really body harm for a child? Well, if so the majority of the boys in the USA have been "harmed" as around 70% of male population in this country have been circumcised for non-medical reasons. Certainly by professionals and in medical fascilities. Nobody seems to think that THEIR human rights have been (are being) affected. Neither do I.

World Health Organisation based on medical research advertises male circumcision as one of the factors diminishing risk of contracting HIV virus (it has been proven that it is harder to infect circumcised man). So it is widely performed in African countries for medical reasons.

Contrary to barbaric female circumcision (aimed at depraving women from sexual pleasures so that they will be faithful to husbands forced upon them) it has no negative effect on sexual life, some health benefits, and it is minor, cosmetic procedure. Yet few European countries (notably Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden) are discussing or trying to introduce ban on male circumcision in children. As in Europe it was never as widespread as in the USA obviously it mostly affected Jewish and Muslim members of society. For them it is unacceptable to have such ban introduced. It created one of those very few occasions on which Jews and Muslims united in trying to achieve the same goal - preventing or abolishing the ban.

The "body harm" could be compared to having body pierced (specially ears as is done to little girls in many European countries). Shell we call ear-rings body harm? No? Than let's face it - it is not about body harm when it comes to circumcision, it is about prejudice.

Judges, activists and politicians acting in favour of such ban seem not to understand that really depriving parents of such possibility may bring along either rejection of the child (in few cases in ultra-ortodox communities) or simply the whole path of breaking law (taking child abroad, doing it by practitioners away from medical facilities, practising it by people who have no adequate knowledge and practice etc.). Such practices may really be dangerous for a child. We know how such things work when we look at European countries where abortion or contraceptives (some of them) are illegal- there is the whole black market for such procedures except when one wants to convince others it should be allowed in some circumstances - than we get the cases like Irish 14 years old girl, raped, pregnant and not allowed to go on with abortion in Ireland. Is that what we want? In Europe, where there is lots of problems with some medical procedures making point of this one seems to be exactly aimed at Jewish and Muslim minorities and presumably that was the case.
It is easier to avoid such law for Muslims as there is no exact day on which it has to be performed, it will be much harder for Jewish families as it has to be done on the 8th day after delivery (even if it is shabbat). It would probably mean giving birth away from the country of residence, making circumcision away from medical fascilities (though by professionals) or just moving away.

Is that why it is forced?

Do you pay for electricity?

I presume you pay your home electricity bills. Be it rented or owned; house or appartment; shared or occupied on your own. Simple, isn't it? Not for everybody...

 Here you can read
How Palestinians receive their electricity for free

Which means generally that Israeli tax-payers support inhibitants of Authonomy. Inwoluntarily. People from territory where authorities constantly declare enmity towards Israel; where it is consider heroic to commit suicide killing as many Israelis as possible (the names of streets, squares and schools indicate it); territory which had to be separated by wall to deminish terrorist attacks coming from it.
And of course I am aware that many Palestinians would like to live side by side in peace with Israel, but they may suffer punishment for this attitude from their own authorities.
Yet they receive electricity and - as it happens - for free - from the same Israel. How many of you, living in EU would expect your neighbouring country to supply you with electricity without payment (and this is friendly, established organisation)? Well....

The other side of the story is this: PA receives the highest (for a single man) help from abroad in the whole world. Forget Greece which is on first pages of EU newspapers. Forget really poor countries - South Sudan, Congo, Angola, Haiti, Western Sahara etc. It is Palestine Authonomy where population is at the 8th place of WHO list when it comes to obesity risk.

Where does this help go? Well, guess, definitely NOT to build schools, power plants, fight unemployment, build hospitals. In one of the previous posts I was writing about medical help given by Israel, schools are supported by UNRWA (it is the only territory in the world having its own UN agency), electricity is given by Israel just like water supply (and in this parched, hot region it is valuable and scarce resource). But the weapons, luxury villas and hotels are there.

Palestinian Authority wants to become state (or so they say, hardly anything is being done towards it; they rejected every opportunity so far). What kind of state relies on neighbour against which enmity is preached for water and electricity supply? What kind of stste does not even try to become independent from international help? What kind of state makes policy out of enmity towards neighbour from which it expects medical help for citizens?

Just remember, when in few weeks or months we will hear about "criminal Israel denying basic needs like fridges for Palestinians" check if you have paid your electricity bills. And think how long would you have to not pay them to have the electricity supply cut off. Months? Years? I don't think so... Yet "criminal" Israel with its "ethnic cleansing" (according to anti-Israeli rethoric) still supplies people in territory whose authorities openly declare they want to get rid of her and don't want "any Jew in new Palestine".

EU as super-Yalta conference?

EU decides that 80,000 city between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv is NOT in Israel

EU considers itself competent to decide which territory is or is not within given country's borders. If a country is attacked and wins defensive war usually it leads to changes in borders (with the exception of Israel that should always give away any gains from defensive wars). Ridiculous specially as even EU admits it was no Arab land and Modiin is between Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem.

Let us just remind that in 1948, a day after its Independance Declaration Israel has been attacked by 7 Arab armies with the intention - widely advertised - of driving her to the sea. Miracoulously and with great casualties she won but nowadays she is treated as if she were aggressor (in the middle of this war, when Arabs were declaring that no Jew will be left Israel offered full citizenship and rights to all remaining Arab population - they have never been treated any different than Jewish citizens under the law; seems obvious but when one thinks it was in the middle of cruel war it changes perspectives, just think that by the end of IIWW there were plans to permanently dismantle Germany).

Anyway, if EU is such an expert in somebody else's borders changed in war maybe it could try with her own members borders for starters?
Let me remind you that during Tehran conference in 1943 Churchill offered Stalin 90% influence in Romania and Bulgaria and 50% in Yugoslavia in exchange for 90% Western influence in Greece - and it all on paper. I don't need to say that nobody from Romanian, Bulgarian, Yugoslavian or Greek authorities was present.
Same went for few other countries - division completed.

The fate of Polish borders (one of the main allies with government in exile stationed in London and army involved in fighting Nazizm bigger than De Gaulle's French one) was also decided on this conference without notifying anybody from Polish authorities. Its eastern border was to be on so called "Curzon line" (cutting quite a lot of territory).
In itself it was anything but a friendly act by supposedly ally forces (nobody believed ever Soviets to be close to allies, British were believed but without any reason as was proved). But there remains one small fact - Curzon line written down in Tehran and never changed in Yalta or Potsdam includes in Polish territory Eastern Prussia with the city of Kaliningrad (before war: Krolewiec). Stalin wanted it and has taken it - till this day it is a small piece of Russia between Polish and Lithuanian borders. Maybe EU, so concerned about borders decided in 40s by somebody else than parties involved would start with returning this piece of Poland (according to Churchill-Stalin agreement) to Poland? VAT from the region would go to EU, EU territory would gain, treaties from 40s would have been executed?
Don't you think it is better way to start than taking Modiin from Israel?

All facts above are correct. All my comments are deeply sarcastic in case you'd have doubts :)

Why leftists hate Israel?

Obviously for a long time Israel is scapegoat to vent hatred and frustration of (nearly) all European left. Here you may find some very frightening facts and the list is far from complete.
how hatred is preached and introduced

Yet I was always a bit intrigued why Israel and how did it start. I remember cold war time and hatred preached by communist in communist regimes against the USA and against capitalism; I know the rethoric of speech against "zionism" in former USSR; against USSR and freedom (strangely enough to combine these two) in China during Mao Zedong "cultural revolution" and against anybody thinking, educated (even remotely) or just wearing glasses by Pol Pot murderous regime (still pyramids of skulls can be seen in many places in Cambodia). Rarely anybody in the Western left cared but they also rarely engaged in such "happenings". This time - as said in above article - it reminds Germany under Nazi regime (BTW Nazi regime was very leftist - it was national socialist party and however it was fighting communists but rather as competitors (which was later proved in 2-year-long cooperation with USSR during war years including shared plans, coordinated attacks and join parades).

But why Israel now? How did it start? Where did it come from? When you look at the map Israel is but tiny spot surrendered by large enemy states, it is smaller than Belgium, 1/4 size of Ireland. Hardly - at the first look - a state all leftists would bother with. And yet....

And now I have just finished a brilliant book by professor Frank Furedi called "Where have all the intellectuals gone. Confronting 21st century philistinism". It is not about Israel at all. It is about leftism. But it contains (to some, but in my opinion significant level) the answer to my above question.

The book shows how leftist inteligensia and activists in many Western countries (notably Western Europe) despise the Enlightment values and have contempt for people. And it happens in mainstream. The book deals with policy (now official in e.g. UK) of "inclusion" (no matter what it is to be participated in, participation is value in its own), of deminishing standards of education, knowledge and culture so everybody can participate, and without effort, in everything. How the existence of Truth was questioned (everybody have their own, there is no such thing as truth for leftist educationers; just incidentally by the virtue of this statement of theirs it is also but a statement and not truth), how the high culture, university standards and good science are accused of being "eliticitist", how debates are avoided as they are "not nice").

Let me give few examples of what he writes about - he describes the highly financed by UK tax payers theatre play "Who is afraid of William Shakespeare?" in which actors make breaks to explain plot (!) and answer questions from viewers. A government report condemning public libreries for having too many books and not enough music fascilities, cafes, meeting rooms etc. (meaning - the libraries are ok but the books aren't; they require effort and can't be consumed without some time and effort and intelectual work spared and people surely are not capable of it - that they were until now skips the record). The official directions for education of children where it is said that "the story taking part in the mountains is unfair towards children from lowlands" and "we should not require children to read and understand stories taking part in different places that they know from personal experience" (on this basis the story of blind climber climbing the summit of Mt McKinley was banned as hurting for children not knowing mountains!!!!). Dorothy Rabinowitz in her report about Harvard law school writes that it is "hard for the 1st grade students to avoid realising official condemnation around everything close to conflict or debate" (for people who are supposed in future to live from participating in conflicts).

The leftists are trying to create the same as communism tried (and Orwell described in famous "1984") - a new breed of men made into one pattern, believing in The State, not asking questions, being infantile and concentrated exclusively on every day personal problems. It is also contempt for people (everybody who has children knows they are curious, wanting to learn, very capable of understanding concepts and imagening different places and circumstances, the only ones officially NOT knowing it are official educators. Children are also easy pray to ideology - thus if school denies them intelectual challenges different fanatics will use it, unfortunately - just look at the story of Hitler Jugend).

The book is brilliant but what has it got to do with Israel? Let me tell you!

Israel is still democracy where people have different opinions and express them, and debate them and fight (vocally) over them. And by far not only when it comes to the conflict between Jews and Arabs. It is when it comes to taxes, and education, and secularity versus religion, and IDF draft and prices of real estates in connection with state policy. Whatever you can think of is highly debated, humans are respected (like in the USA constitution based on Enlightment ideals), believed to be capable of understanding, making their own decisions, taking their citizenship responsibilities.
Israel is also the state which - despite being so small - has wonderful science. It is hard to find modern piece of knowledge, technology, medicine or agriculture in developing which Israel would NOT participate.
Children are generally treated as future of the society and their capabilities are not questioned and individual decisions regarding the kind of education for them (e.g. more religious or more secular; more scientific or more humanist)  are left with the caretakers. And in spite of the lack of policy of inclusion for the sake of inclusion education has high standards (something hated by the leftists) and is valued (at the time when brilliant but demanding art like classical music is more and more ridiculed in Europe).

Is it strange that of all places in the world Israel is hated by leftists? It is the antithesis of what they try to do and how to design and create "brave new world".
Maybe because Israel has real problems and chellanges it is not susceptible to this modern nonsense of inclusion against will and for the pure sake of inclusion, design education for everybody (hello, we are different) and diminishing scientific standards so nobody feels excluded (even if they are not interested in science and not knowing they should feel excluded at all).
What Israel does (and doesn't do) and what it achieves is showing what the leftists try to do for what it is.
What Islamic regimes in some Arab countries do is not dangerous at all from this point of view - no standards, no science, unificated education (for those receiving it) in Islamic spirit... Welcome to the brave new world....

And the above (in my opinion) shows why leftists hate Israel, but also what kind of society they want for us and our children. It already was tried. 100,000,000 people paid with lives for the experiment of communism. I am personally afraid it has not all died yet and communism or national-socialism or fascism (the very term "totalitarianism" as proud description of what state should be comes from Mussolini) didn't say the last word.

Another reason to stand for Israel!!!!!!

Medical treatment in Israel

medical transport for Palestinians in need

Short video about one form of medical help for Arabs from West Bank and Gaza. Started by a brother of Hamas terror victim.

treating heart disease in Israel

Here is some information about treating in Israeli hospitals children from conflict zones, Gaza included. Finally here is a story about

Hamas's leadership seeking medical help from Israelis


Israel, a country with definitely one of the best medical services in the world, engages in many opportunities to treat people from outside of Israel if they are in need and can't get a treatment where they come from. In all developed countries a number of foundations, private funds, state-sponsored programs and volunteer organisations try to help those whose countries/ territories of origin are not able or willing to provide needed medical treatment.
Israel is not different. What is different are the scale of help given (considering size and population of Israel there are significantly more cases when medical help is given on humanitarian ground) and the variety of recipients including many of countries and territories hostile towards Israel. Of course the biggest such recipient is Palestinian Authonomy. Specially the last story shows that even next of kin of people who are self-declared enemies of Israel seek such help. And receive it.

In 2011 over 115,000 Palestinians received medical help in Israel. Is this the way to commit "ethnic cleansing" that anti-Israeli activists in Europe and elswhere (mistakingly called pro-Palestinian ones) accuse Israel of? Rethoric question. But it definitely is a way to build bridges. Even on youtube if you are willing to look for them there is a number of stories when such medical help in emergency started some kind of links between common people on both sides. Or at least helped to ease enmity or lack of understanding, or confronted presumptions. Families of children treated in Israel go back to West Bank or Gaza knowing (even when - for various reasons including personal safety - not admitting) that what they heard from their authorities about Israel and Israelis is just not true. And the lasting peace can be build upon interactions between common people (which is probably one of the reasons why Israel engages on such a scale in this activity).
Yet, if not an average person but brother-in-law of someone in authority, living very comfortably (to say as little as possible) from foreign help paid for with our taxes seeks medical help in country that this authority declares to "wipe of the map" yet denies (as seems to be the case) this treatment to his subjects (as not citizens, the Gazans are never treated as citizens by Hamas) fearing they will discover that there is no devil they constantly hear about but neighbour; common people with the same problems, joys, fears and lives to live; it is an equivalent of, say, Fidel Castro from old USSR time sending his relative for free medical treatment in the US.

There are many people in Israel keen on building some kind of relations, understanding, neighbourly feelings with Palestinians on basis of humanitarian medical help. It is also state's policy. I believe there are many Palestinians who appreciate it and who are aware that better, less hostile relations on ground (no matter what big politics is) are available and long for them. Yet the barrier is constantly being reinforced by Palestinian authorities (both Fatah and Hamas, but Hamas especially). Even when it means abusing sick people and abusing humanitarian aid. Sad!

Pictures from Negev

I realised that putting the description of Negev, that I have fallen in love with, I didn't give you a taste of it looks through some of my pictures - so I share them now and please, let me know if you like them :)

Mountain hero from Israel

detailed description of the conditions and action
another link with the story

I used to climb, many years ago, nothing so extreme as Himalayas,but it was passion for few years and I knew lots of Himalaists at the time. The passion for mountains, respect for them and apprecietion of true human values high above the earth stayed with me for all consecutive years.

Thus I really read with passion and understanding the story of young Israeli climber. It happened in May this year. He is just 24 and had a chance to become the youngest Israeli to climb Mt. Everest but 300 meters below summit, with all chances of making it, he encountered Turkish climber, unconscious, lying in the snow without some parts of the gear and without oxygen supply. He hesitated not! He abandoned his climbing attempt and risking his life helped this man to get out of the "death zone" (above 8.000 meters above sea level) to the camp. It took him some 9 hours of hardship but he never gave up. On his way he had an occasion - not lost - to help one more climber in trouble.

It should be natural for people in extreme conditions to help each other, but for a long time it is not (was it ever?). Climbing Mt. Everest takes months of preparation, years of previous climbing, lots of money and days of torture in extreme conditions. When the summit is reachable most climbers dream about nothing but "making it and going home". Yes, there are those who always come back, who love it and depend on it but even they (and I used to know a few of them) talk about suffering. People put their lives in danger, the wellbeing of their near and dear to satisfy this "fever of summit". It is hard to resign (even when one should do so for one own's sake, let alone for somebody else's).

A famous, long gone (and perished in mountain rescue action) Polish climber once said: "you don't leave a friend in the mountains even if he is just a frozen burden". He lived up to it but most climbers nowadays don't.
Many of you have probably read "Into thin air" and remember that even saving lives of the members of the same team was sometimes not undertaken (even when there was NO risk - like leaving dying man, who to everybody's surprise made it, alone in the tent as nobody wanted to share it with him, keep giving him fluids, steroids and take care that he stays covered). South African (though led by British hoax) team refused allowing use of their radio batteries for rescue purposes, a month after 1996 tragedy 2 Japanese climbers just passed on their way up 2 dying men from Indian team - they had altitud sickness but no water, no help was given, no questions asked, the men perished.

So in my view everybody trying to rescue somebody (specially unknown) up there is a hero. In the death zone some claim the rescue attempts are just gestures endangering rescuers and not changing the outcome, but that is not true. There were many ocasions when rescue was succesful and human live saved but it was always done with extreme danger to the rescuers. Just let me remind the attempt to climb K@ by Americans in 1953 and efforts (unsuccesful but heroic) to save Arthur Gilkey; a rescue of Polish climber on Mt Everest after 5 perished in avalanche carried by his tem members or a help given in 1996 Everest tragedy by IMAX team).

The young Israeli was alone (and rascue action is so much easier and sensible when there are more rescuers), it was not a member of his team, attempting rescue he had absolutely no guarantee of success and guarantee of abandoning summit and risking his own life. Yet he did not hesitate!

He is a hero!!!!!

Tour through Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem

Jerusalem is approximately 4,000 years old and during 3,000 years of her history as the most sacred city in Judaism there were few times when Jews were banned from her. Notably:

• after Bar-Kochaba's insurection against Romans in 135 when genocide against Jews was full blown, Jerusalem (or her remains after 66 insurection) leveled and city rebuild as Aelia Capitolina with Jews banned from entering her,
• during Byzantine era when Christianity became state's religion and anti-Semitism was official policy Jews were sometimes banned totally and sometimes allowed to enter the city only once a year for Tisha b'Av (day of mourning for destroyed temple; strangly enough both first and second temples were destroyed on the exactly the same day according to Jewish calender, the 9th day of the month of Av). There was a break in this ban during reign of Julius Apostate who was not Christian and wanted to resurrect paganism but he also allowed Jews back to Jerusalem and allowed them to rebuild the temple, before it could have been accomplished his short reign was over.
• maybe right after the first crucade when city was completly destroyed and Jews and Muslims either slained or thrown away by crusaders (but we have no adequate statistics to be sure),
• during Jordanian occupation between 1948-1967 (but that goes for the Eastern Part and Old City only as from 1950 West Jerusalem that was in Israel is capital of Israel; the Old City against international treaties and ceasefire agreement was off-limits to Jews to the extent of checking baptismal certificates of the foreigners applying for visa. 

Until very late XIX century all inhibitants were living behind walls created in XVI century by Suleiman Magnificent. Only in late XIX century overcrowded city became expansion and one of the first districts for Jews was build by sir Moses Montefiore (today it is Artist Colony, beautiful as can be). War, siege and division wounded the city. When it was united in 1967 the Jewish Quarter was in ruins, synagogues blown up, stones from ancient Jewish cementary used for pavement in army's latrines (tell the true in the place of the old Muslim cementary in Western Jerusalem 5 stars hotel was build but at least the graves and stones themselves were not defaced). It was rebuild using exactly the same stone and plans and - as was for centuries before - The Old City is divided into four quarters: Jewish, Armenian, Christian and Muslim with very distinctive character each.

There are lots of memoirs, books, documents, scetches of the Old City from different times. One of my favourites is "Forever My Jerusalem" by Puah Shteiner, but today I would like to tale you for the tour of the Jewish Quarter with me and show you my pictures with my favourite places. Will you join me?

The above is mosaic at the entrace to the Jewish Quarter from the direction of David street.

The above lot is from 4 sefardi synagogues united into one complex.

These 3 pictures are from Old Yishuv Court Museum, in Ottoman Era there were living quarters but also a small synagogue and as it was illegal when police was approaching Tora scrolls were hidden and people pretended they were playing cards.

The last two show board game from the time of II WW from Jerusalem and I have no doubts you have no problems recognising the two characters meeting their fate....

Hope you have liked it :)