In Beer Sheva we met with Avital Sandler Loeff, director of Israel Unlimited, the JDC Israel's division for disabilities and rehabilitation. We learned that for the past 3 months, Avital and the team at the Beer Sheva Center for Independent Living, had been planning for a possible emergency situation/s and how to help the disabled community. I was in awe of the work that they do. First of all, as someone without a disability and who does not have someone in my immediate family with a disability, I never would have thought about what those who are disabled would need during a rocket crisis. We had already heard from so many that when they tzeva adom alert came out, depending on where they were, they had anywhere from 5 seconds to a minute to get to a safe space, yet if one is wheel chair bound and the alert comes during the night when one is in bed, it takes more than a minute to get out of bed, into a wheel chair, and then to a safe space. This is what Avital and her team dealt with. Many spent their time in their ma'amad, their safe room, or some even had to sleep in their hallways. Avital was able to send some people up north to some of the other Centers for Independant Living in Israel. Her team, while taking care of themselves and their families, also regularly checked in with those from the center. They took groceries, needed medications, and spent time on the phone helping to keep people calm. They also regularly checked in with the Bedouin communities near them, whose buildings are not secure like the everyone elses.
We heard from a young Bedouin man who is wheelchair bound. He was driving one day when the sirens went off (In Beer Sheva they have sirens instead of the tzeva adom). When this happens, one is supposed to pull over, get out of the car, and lie on the ground with your hands over your head. He could not do this, because he would not be able to get in and out of the car to lie on the ground. So he stopped the car and mentioned the feeling of seeing the rockets through his front window headed toward him. He then saw them blow up in the air. I couldn't even imagine.
One of the beautiful things about this center in Beer Sheva, is that it serves the whole of the Israeli population, Jews, Muslims, Bedouins, Arabs, etc. . . Avital mentioned that they have figured out peace where they are, as often they come together as a community to celebrate holidays, each other's events, etc. . . They come together in community to run a restaurant on the premises, to do art projects, and they recently put together a cook book which they are now selling.
This center and the JCD with Avital's expertise are doing incredible work!
Next we went back to Sderot to see the work of the Israel Trauma Coalition Resilience Center and heard from Talia Levanon, Director of the Israel Trauma Coalition and Esther Marcus, a social worker and ITC recipient.
The Israel Trauma Coaltion brings together numerous agencies doing incredible work. Instead of each agency working on their own, the coalition brings everyone together to figure out how best to work together and help everyone. They are no only helping those who receive a direct hit from rockets, but they are there to help everyone. This is where groups came together to help with respite days to get kids away from the rockets, this is where support is given to families whose homes are hit. They have social workers and psychologists who can meet with kids at school to talk about what it going on, etc. . . This group, the ITC, even does work outside of Israel. I was amazed to hear that they sent a small group to New York to see how they could help with Hurricane Sandy recovery. In the midst of their own crisis, they reached out to help the American community, and to them it was no big deal, as the American Jewish community helps them so why would they not do the same?
Esther Marcus, lives on one the kibbutzim on the border of Gaza. They have been there for 12 years, and her youngest has only known rockets falling and the tzeva adom. She mentioned that after Operation Cast Lead, many of the kids quit wearing red, would refuse to use the color red in school, and association red with the rockets and the tzeva adom. She shared with us a beautiful book that she wrote about all the colors gathering for a yearly gathering to share their stories and crown the color of the year. Each color shared their story and what they have done and when it came time for red to share, she just cried. She mentioned making kids cry and that kids are afraid of her. She talked about how they are afraid her because they associate her with rockets when she is only trying to help keep them safe. The other colors tell her how wonderful she is and that her color, red, has helped to save so many lives. So, red is crowned the color of the year. This book has been used to help kids understand that they tzeva adom is not meant to be a bad thing, yes it is scary when it goes off, but it is a good thing because it helps to save their lives.
From Sderot we headed back to Tel Aviv to meet with Ambassador Dan Shapiro. To say that I was shocked when he walked in would be an understatement. The Ambassador walked in and I thought he was another aide. I asked someone who he was because everyone got excited and shook his hand and was told he was the ambassador. Why was I shocked? He is my age! I said to my husband later, now I know how people feel when they learn that I am the rabbi at UH.
I was expecting an older man, not someone my age, so I was quite surprised. We had a wonderful visit with him and talked about America's support for Israel. We also talked about how he and other diplomats in Tel Aviv experienced the rockets first hand. They had to go into safe rooms and wait until the alert was over. The one rocket that hit the water was not so far from the embassy. We learned that he had just visited the south and saw some of the destruction and met with people to hear their stories. I learned from others that many in Israel really appreciate Ambassador Shapiro. He speaks Hebrew and will often give briefings and speak to the media in Hebrew. His family is in Israel with him, and they too experienced the tzeva adom, but they understood and are doing well.
Finally, we ended our evening hearing from Yarden Vatikay, Director of the National Information Directorate in the Prime Minister's office and then from Brig. General (res) Asaf Agmon, CEO The Fischer Brothers Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.
Yarden talked about the communications office that he oversees. His office was a part of the conversations that were had, along with the military, as they prepared for and went into Operation Pillar of Defense. Israel is working on how they communicate better what is going on.
Brig General Asaf Agmon spoke about the operation and also spoke a little about Iron Dome. He talked about how it worked and how successful it was. I asked him if they were worried that people would become complacent because of its success. I mentioned how in St. Louis we have tornado sirens and many of us ignore the sirens and don't go to our basements and then asked if this might become a problem with Iron Dome. Would people ignore the tzeva adom because of an assumption that Iron Dome works and would keep them safe? He agreed that this could become a problem. We also learned that people were relying at times too much on them. For instance, the sytem is moveable and gets moved around because you don't want those who are shooting rockets at you to know where it is. However, during this Operation one mayor publicly threw a fit that the iron dome was moved away from his city. Sadly, he did not realize that Hamas would be listening to Israeli news and of course the rockets were then shot directly at that city. So, Israel now has to teach their citizens to think strategically about Iron Dome and not rely solely on it. They also cannot talk about it publicly, lest they give away where it is and open up other places to rocket attacks.
Overall, this was an amazing trip. I visited places in Israel that I had never been to before, specifically this area so close to Gaza. I had been to Beer Sheva but never to Sderot or Netivot.
As always, I was and am amazed by the resiliency of Israelis. The cease fire had already been in effect for a week, and they had already moved on with their lives. They were thankful for the respite and holding out that the cease fire would continue but certainly ready should the rockets start falling again.
I was also amazed at the work being done to help. I have always understood that Federation dollars were allocated to Israel but I guess I never fully realized how they were being utilized. It was great to see where they money is going. But I think more important than the money and allocations, I was simply in awe of the amazing work being done by the Federation, the Jewish Agency, the JDC, ORT, and so many others. Most of all, I am so proud of how they have all come together. Each of these organizations does amazing work on their own, but working together, they are doing incredible work.
In thinking of Chanukah, one light is bright, but many lights together not only brings a greater light but also warmth. What I saw gives me hope. I am hopeful that here in St. Louis we can think about what they are accomplishing as individual agencies but also what they are accomplishing when they work together!!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Mission in a Nutshell Part 2
On Thursday we began another full day. The day began with a presentation by Aluf Benn, editor in chief of Ha'aretz newspaper. He spoke with us on a lot of different topics but the focus was mainly on the election. Overall it seems as if not much will change with regard to the prime minister's office unless there is a strange upset. There has been some party movement, but overall there isn't really anyone new or any up and coming folks for which to watch. He also addressed some of the tension between Netanyahu and Obama of which there was not much new to report. E1 was mentioned but again, as perhaps leverage or posturing and not about immediate building. Overall, he was very interesting, but being as tired as I was/am this would have been a great session to record. Oh well.
Next we visited Moshav Timorim, which is about 20 miles from Gaza. There we met with Mali, a woman whose hoe suffered a direct hit from a rocket. She and her family were home when it happened. She said that her children had taken to sleeping in the ma'amad and when the tzeva adom came across she and her husband joined them. They heard 4 or 5 loud booms and then it was quiet and the alert over. They opened the door to the ma'amad and saw that half of their house was destroyed. The rocket hit the upstairs, landed on her bed, where she and her husband had just been, and then ripped through the downstairs. Because the rockets are packed with bullets and other shrapnel, you could see puncture wounds and holes in different parts of the house. Mali and her husband had just finished paying off the mortgage of their home, which the two of then built from the ground up. Their three kids - 13, 11, and 9 are a wreck. Sadly, not too long after or before (I don't recall) Mali's 13 yr old was at a friend's home during a tzeva adom. When they came out, the house next door had been hit. Being close to the rockets twice, one can only imagine what she is feeling.
Mali and her family have moved into a different home on the moshav for the time being. Almost immediately following the incident, a representative frothy Jewish Agency showed up at her home to deliver a check for $1, 000 from the fund for victims of terror. Our federation dollar's go to help that fund. All Israeli citizens, Jews, Bedouins, Arabs Christian and Muslim, who are victims of terror, can get help from this fund. It is important to note that the Israeli government does pay to help these families rebuild,but as with most places, it is not without its red tape.
Mali also told us about her dog. The dog was in the house but not in the ma'amad. Shortly after the family left, she went back looking for the dog. Initially she didn't see him and only found his bed, still intact but everything around it destroyed. Since she did not see any blood near the be, she was convinced the dog was still alive. Sure enough they found him hiding in the debris. The think that he hid under the stairs right before the rocket hit. It was interesting to hear her story about her dog, as the day before I saw a dog in sderot, and I thought it was awfully calm. I wondered, has this poor dog been traumatized by the tzeva adom and the booms?
After visiting with Mali, we went to Beer Sheva to meet with Avital Sandler Loeff, who is director of Israel Unlimited, the JDC Israel's division for disabilities and rehabilitation. We learned that for the past 3 months, Avital and the team at the Beer Sheva Center for Independent Living, had been planning for a possible emergency situation/s and how to help the disabled community.
I am going to pause here to post. I will post the rest after Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom!!!
Next we visited Moshav Timorim, which is about 20 miles from Gaza. There we met with Mali, a woman whose hoe suffered a direct hit from a rocket. She and her family were home when it happened. She said that her children had taken to sleeping in the ma'amad and when the tzeva adom came across she and her husband joined them. They heard 4 or 5 loud booms and then it was quiet and the alert over. They opened the door to the ma'amad and saw that half of their house was destroyed. The rocket hit the upstairs, landed on her bed, where she and her husband had just been, and then ripped through the downstairs. Because the rockets are packed with bullets and other shrapnel, you could see puncture wounds and holes in different parts of the house. Mali and her husband had just finished paying off the mortgage of their home, which the two of then built from the ground up. Their three kids - 13, 11, and 9 are a wreck. Sadly, not too long after or before (I don't recall) Mali's 13 yr old was at a friend's home during a tzeva adom. When they came out, the house next door had been hit. Being close to the rockets twice, one can only imagine what she is feeling.
Mali and her family have moved into a different home on the moshav for the time being. Almost immediately following the incident, a representative frothy Jewish Agency showed up at her home to deliver a check for $1, 000 from the fund for victims of terror. Our federation dollar's go to help that fund. All Israeli citizens, Jews, Bedouins, Arabs Christian and Muslim, who are victims of terror, can get help from this fund. It is important to note that the Israeli government does pay to help these families rebuild,but as with most places, it is not without its red tape.
Mali also told us about her dog. The dog was in the house but not in the ma'amad. Shortly after the family left, she went back looking for the dog. Initially she didn't see him and only found his bed, still intact but everything around it destroyed. Since she did not see any blood near the be, she was convinced the dog was still alive. Sure enough they found him hiding in the debris. The think that he hid under the stairs right before the rocket hit. It was interesting to hear her story about her dog, as the day before I saw a dog in sderot, and I thought it was awfully calm. I wondered, has this poor dog been traumatized by the tzeva adom and the booms?
After visiting with Mali, we went to Beer Sheva to meet with Avital Sandler Loeff, who is director of Israel Unlimited, the JDC Israel's division for disabilities and rehabilitation. We learned that for the past 3 months, Avital and the team at the Beer Sheva Center for Independent Living, had been planning for a possible emergency situation/s and how to help the disabled community.
I am going to pause here to post. I will post the rest after Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom!!!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Mission In A Nutshell part 1
I'm not sure what day it is anymore. I guess this is what happens when you make such a quick trip overseas. There is no time to be jet lag, as we have been going non stop. What have we done?
We began Tuesday evening with dinner at Lilyot and hearing Professor Uzi Rabi from Tel Aviv university talk about the politics of the changing Middle East.
Wednesday began with hearing from Itamar Marcus the director of Palestinian Media Watch. We also heard from Lee Perlman, managing director, program and planning JFNA global operations: israel and overseas. He spoke about JFNAs emergency preparedness and the coalitions that have been built with Jewish organizations during and in the aftermath of the Gaza operation. Then we headed south. We first visited a JAFI absorption center at Ibid. They are currently housing a nd working with new slim/immigrants from Ethiopia. Many of these new slim arrived just before the rockets began falling and some arrived during. We learned that JAFI officials actually go to Gondar to help prepare them before they arrive. So, they knew about the tzeva adom and what to do when they hear it. We heard from some of the olim, although it was through double translation - amharic to Hebrew to English. We also visited a gan, a preschool classroom and played with some of the kids. Following t7he visit to Ibim, we toured Sha'ar HaNegev, a regional world ORT high school. This school is just a few miles from the Gaza border. These students live on the kibbutzI'm and moshavim around the region. For those in St Louis, this high school is similar to that of Megiddo high school, although it is much newer. What is interesting is that though they are a secular school, they chose to build a Beit Knesset in the center of campus, showing that Judaism is central to their identity. We met with students and it was here that we hear Yael's story. Yael was born in Gaza and her family lived there until the disengagement when they moved into Israel to a southern kibbutz. She has lived her life with the tzeva adom and rockets falling but said that this time it was so much worse for her. Her family went north but constantly worried about her friends.
We toured the campus, which is amazingly secure. The buildings are built to serve as safe spaces so that kids don't have to go into bomb shelters or a safe room, ma'amad.
Following our visit to the school, we visited Netivot. Netivot is a small town in the south. It is predominantly a religious community with a large number of Moroccan Jews. There we divided into two groups and had lunch in the homes of families in the community. The women in these homes are part of the Jewish Agency's ethnic cooks program, which helps women turn their cooking skills into a business. The food we had was amazing. I also had homemade Arak, which her husband had made. Arak is an anise flavored liquor which is incredibly strong. This one was also made with cherries.
During lunch we heard about Youth Futures, a program of the Jewish agency that helps at risk kids. During the Gaza operation they also took kids out of the south for respite days. We heard from to young boys, 10 and 11, about their experiences during the operation.
we then visited Tatzpit Kobi, a look out point in Sderot from which we could see Gaza. We had a security briefing from a Sderot security officer about the operation and Sderot. We could see how chose Gaza is. We also saw that there is an electrical station nearby in Ashford/ashkelon and Hamas likes to fire rockets at it. The problem is that the electrical station powers the region, including Gaza. Sadly, when they hit the station the power has to be shut off while things are fixed and Hamas blames Israel for cutting power. We learned that kids don't get to play outside or do regular outdoor things kids would do because they can't be too far from a bomb shelter.
We ended our day with dinner at Prime Grille in Tel Aviv. We heard from participants in Otzma and Otzma's decision to not send them south in the midst of the operation. We also heard from Rabbi Meir Azari of Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv, part of the IMPJ and Emily Levi-Shochat, of the Masorti movement in Israel.
We began Tuesday evening with dinner at Lilyot and hearing Professor Uzi Rabi from Tel Aviv university talk about the politics of the changing Middle East.
Wednesday began with hearing from Itamar Marcus the director of Palestinian Media Watch. We also heard from Lee Perlman, managing director, program and planning JFNA global operations: israel and overseas. He spoke about JFNAs emergency preparedness and the coalitions that have been built with Jewish organizations during and in the aftermath of the Gaza operation. Then we headed south. We first visited a JAFI absorption center at Ibid. They are currently housing a nd working with new slim/immigrants from Ethiopia. Many of these new slim arrived just before the rockets began falling and some arrived during. We learned that JAFI officials actually go to Gondar to help prepare them before they arrive. So, they knew about the tzeva adom and what to do when they hear it. We heard from some of the olim, although it was through double translation - amharic to Hebrew to English. We also visited a gan, a preschool classroom and played with some of the kids. Following t7he visit to Ibim, we toured Sha'ar HaNegev, a regional world ORT high school. This school is just a few miles from the Gaza border. These students live on the kibbutzI'm and moshavim around the region. For those in St Louis, this high school is similar to that of Megiddo high school, although it is much newer. What is interesting is that though they are a secular school, they chose to build a Beit Knesset in the center of campus, showing that Judaism is central to their identity. We met with students and it was here that we hear Yael's story. Yael was born in Gaza and her family lived there until the disengagement when they moved into Israel to a southern kibbutz. She has lived her life with the tzeva adom and rockets falling but said that this time it was so much worse for her. Her family went north but constantly worried about her friends.
We toured the campus, which is amazingly secure. The buildings are built to serve as safe spaces so that kids don't have to go into bomb shelters or a safe room, ma'amad.
Following our visit to the school, we visited Netivot. Netivot is a small town in the south. It is predominantly a religious community with a large number of Moroccan Jews. There we divided into two groups and had lunch in the homes of families in the community. The women in these homes are part of the Jewish Agency's ethnic cooks program, which helps women turn their cooking skills into a business. The food we had was amazing. I also had homemade Arak, which her husband had made. Arak is an anise flavored liquor which is incredibly strong. This one was also made with cherries.
During lunch we heard about Youth Futures, a program of the Jewish agency that helps at risk kids. During the Gaza operation they also took kids out of the south for respite days. We heard from to young boys, 10 and 11, about their experiences during the operation.
we then visited Tatzpit Kobi, a look out point in Sderot from which we could see Gaza. We had a security briefing from a Sderot security officer about the operation and Sderot. We could see how chose Gaza is. We also saw that there is an electrical station nearby in Ashford/ashkelon and Hamas likes to fire rockets at it. The problem is that the electrical station powers the region, including Gaza. Sadly, when they hit the station the power has to be shut off while things are fixed and Hamas blames Israel for cutting power. We learned that kids don't get to play outside or do regular outdoor things kids would do because they can't be too far from a bomb shelter.
We ended our day with dinner at Prime Grille in Tel Aviv. We heard from participants in Otzma and Otzma's decision to not send them south in the midst of the operation. We also heard from Rabbi Meir Azari of Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv, part of the IMPJ and Emily Levi-Shochat, of the Masorti movement in Israel.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tzevah Adom
Tzevah Adom - red alert is what one hears over a loud speaker once a missile has been picked up on radar and fired. In some places it is not a voice shouting "tzevah adom," but rather an air raid siren. Apparently, people have 15 seconds to make it to a bomb shelter or safe room, however, the time is even less for those that live fewer than 1 kilometers from Gaza.
Can you imagine having to act in 15 seconds?
I am not sure that any of us can truly grasp the nature of hearing that siren. All I can even think to compare it to are the tornado and storm sirens that we hear throughout the spring, but how many of us really stop to head the warning?
I can't even imagine hearing a tzevah adom call at 3 am and have to react and get all 3 kids, myself, Lee, and the dog into a safe room in a matter of 15 seconds. Besides panicking yourself, you may have a crying child, frightened kids, etc... then you have to sit and wait.
Sadly, this is what those living in southern Israel have had to deal with for 12 years. It is crazy to me that Israel disengaged from Gaza, uprooted whole communities and cities, and left their settlements intact for Gazans, but those were soon destroyed and the rockets soon started flying.
Imagine if your child couldn't play outside, couldn't ride their bike around the block, play soccer in an open space - why? Because you need to make sure that child is always within 15 seconds of a bomb shelter or safety room.
Sadly, there is a generation in Israel's south in places like Sderot or Netivot who never get to play outside. These same kids suffer from post traumatic stress and are always tense and nervous.
While visiting Southern Israel, I heard from a 16 year old girl who told her family they needed to go north during "pillar of defense," because she could not handle staying. On their way north the sirens were blaring as they approached Ashdod and Ashkelon. I heard from 10 and 11 year olds who spent hours in the safe room or in shelters with crying siblings and nervous parents. They did not go to school during the operation because it was too dangerous to be on the road.
For now, the rockets have stopped. But, these kids and their families always live with the fear that the rockets will come back. They live with the aftermath of friends homes that were hit or find small shrapnel left from rockets that did not hit targets.
Amazingly, Israelis are resilient. They look out for one another and make sure others are safe. And they are thankful, thankful for the support and solidarity that comes from the North American Jewish community. It doesn't feel like enough to just be here, but I hope that my presence and the presence of my community speaks volumes. I hope that the bubbles I blew today with the Ethiopian preschoolers brought some comfort and fun to them.
At dinner tonight, one of the Otzma fellows shared that the people he works with in Netivot appreciate the visits and feel that those who are showing support take away just a little over their burden. Perhaps this is like the Talmudic teaching, when you visit someone who is sick, you take away 1/60th of their illness. Perhaps I was able to take away 1/60th of their burden and fear.
Can you imagine having to act in 15 seconds?
I am not sure that any of us can truly grasp the nature of hearing that siren. All I can even think to compare it to are the tornado and storm sirens that we hear throughout the spring, but how many of us really stop to head the warning?
I can't even imagine hearing a tzevah adom call at 3 am and have to react and get all 3 kids, myself, Lee, and the dog into a safe room in a matter of 15 seconds. Besides panicking yourself, you may have a crying child, frightened kids, etc... then you have to sit and wait.
Sadly, this is what those living in southern Israel have had to deal with for 12 years. It is crazy to me that Israel disengaged from Gaza, uprooted whole communities and cities, and left their settlements intact for Gazans, but those were soon destroyed and the rockets soon started flying.
Imagine if your child couldn't play outside, couldn't ride their bike around the block, play soccer in an open space - why? Because you need to make sure that child is always within 15 seconds of a bomb shelter or safety room.
Sadly, there is a generation in Israel's south in places like Sderot or Netivot who never get to play outside. These same kids suffer from post traumatic stress and are always tense and nervous.
While visiting Southern Israel, I heard from a 16 year old girl who told her family they needed to go north during "pillar of defense," because she could not handle staying. On their way north the sirens were blaring as they approached Ashdod and Ashkelon. I heard from 10 and 11 year olds who spent hours in the safe room or in shelters with crying siblings and nervous parents. They did not go to school during the operation because it was too dangerous to be on the road.
For now, the rockets have stopped. But, these kids and their families always live with the fear that the rockets will come back. They live with the aftermath of friends homes that were hit or find small shrapnel left from rockets that did not hit targets.
Amazingly, Israelis are resilient. They look out for one another and make sure others are safe. And they are thankful, thankful for the support and solidarity that comes from the North American Jewish community. It doesn't feel like enough to just be here, but I hope that my presence and the presence of my community speaks volumes. I hope that the bubbles I blew today with the Ethiopian preschoolers brought some comfort and fun to them.
At dinner tonight, one of the Otzma fellows shared that the people he works with in Netivot appreciate the visits and feel that those who are showing support take away just a little over their burden. Perhaps this is like the Talmudic teaching, when you visit someone who is sick, you take away 1/60th of their illness. Perhaps I was able to take away 1/60th of their burden and fear.
Palestinian media watch
Have you ever wondered if in the Arab world, more specifically the Palestinian world, they are saying the same thing in "public"as they are in "private?"
We heard from Itamar Marcus of Palestinian Media Watch, an organization founded in 1996 around Oslo accords. It was founded to answer the question of whether Palestinian speak was the same in the English world as in the Arabic world. The answer, no.
It is not simply that there are articles with different language, rather it is the portrayal or lack of portrayal of Israel on official Palestinian television and radio.
Sports matches/tournaments are named for martyrs, suicide bombers who have murdered lots of people. One such tournament was named for the mastermind of the massacre of the Israeli athletes at the Munich games.
Their children's programming has kids singing about the downfall of the Jewish state and the Jews.
Maps do not show Israel, instead the entire piece of land we know of as Israel is called Palestine and there is no acknowledgment of the Jewish state.
There are popular songs that refer to Haifa, Jaffa, Ashdod, and other Israeli cities as Palestinian cities.
Sadly, what the Palestinians are reporting at home is so different from what the rest of us see. To see the kids shows, the puppet shows, the songs, etc... it is no wonder that hate continues to be spread and sadly in the name of Islam.
I wonder how different the American media reporting would be if they understood this phenomenon?
Palestinian Media Watch has a new book coming out, discussing these issues - our government knows of their work, perhaps we should enlighten the networks.
It is not simply that there are articles with different language, rather it is the portrayal or lack of portrayal of Israel on official Palestinian television and radio.
Sports matches/tournaments are named for martyrs, suicide bombers who have murdered lots of people. One such tournament was named for the mastermind of the massacre of the Israeli athletes at the Munich games.
Their children's programming has kids singing about the downfall of the Jewish state and the Jews.
Maps do not show Israel, instead the entire piece of land we know of as Israel is called Palestine and there is no acknowledgment of the Jewish state.
There are popular songs that refer to Haifa, Jaffa, Ashdod, and other Israeli cities as Palestinian cities.
Sadly, what the Palestinians are reporting at home is so different from what the rest of us see. To see the kids shows, the puppet shows, the songs, etc... it is no wonder that hate continues to be spread and sadly in the name of Islam.
I wonder how different the American media reporting would be if they understood this phenomenon?
Palestinian Media Watch has a new book coming out, discussing these issues - our government knows of their work, perhaps we should enlighten the networks.
The major players
Last night we heard from Prof. Uzi Rabi of Tel Aviv university. He spoke with us to give a background and perspective on what is going on in the Middle East and who the major players are. He focused on the Arab Spring and what has been going on in the various countries. We talked about the change from dictatorship to democracy, which is incredibly difficult. I can't help but think about the fall of the Soviet Union and how the transition from communism was incredibly difficult, because how do you easily move from the only thing you know to something new? But beyond dictators and democracy what drives the turmoil in the middle east isn't solely the Israel/Palestinian issue but more so the issues between Sunni and Shiite and the other various groups wanting autonomy and power like the Alawites and Kurds. He mentioned that the power lies within those countries that have long, long histories and who were regional powers like Egypt, Iran, and Turkey. Newer countries, those who were formed by drawing on a map, like Syria and Lebanon may not have staying power.
There is tension in Gaza between Shiite and Sunni, and this is seen when Iran and Egypt get involved. Islamic jihad is supported by Iran and receiving rockets from Iran while Hamas is supported by Egypt, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood.
Then there is the PA. Abbas made his power play at the UN and will likely continue to leverage that. We discussed that the PA has more ability or capacity to engage in nation building than hamas but will they step up? The other question seems to be whether Netanyahu will give them the opportunity? It was suggested that he ought to listen to Olmert and give Palestinians the chance to "put their money where their mouth is," so to speak. By going to the UN they say they want peace and a two state solution but what they say and do are often different so they need to be pushed to prove it to the world.
There is tension in Gaza between Shiite and Sunni, and this is seen when Iran and Egypt get involved. Islamic jihad is supported by Iran and receiving rockets from Iran while Hamas is supported by Egypt, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood.
Then there is the PA. Abbas made his power play at the UN and will likely continue to leverage that. We discussed that the PA has more ability or capacity to engage in nation building than hamas but will they step up? The other question seems to be whether Netanyahu will give them the opportunity? It was suggested that he ought to listen to Olmert and give Palestinians the chance to "put their money where their mouth is," so to speak. By going to the UN they say they want peace and a two state solution but what they say and do are often different so they need to be pushed to prove it to the world.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
special mitzvah delivery
musings from the plane
Sitting at the "secured" gate in Newark, I couldn't help but think about the crazy dichotomy that is Israel. On the one hand, it is the Jewish homeland - a sacred, spiritual, holy, and "safe" place for Jews around the world. Yet on the other hand, it is a modern country at the forefront of technology, a place for international business, and certainly a tourist destination. So, you can imagine the different people traveling to this most interesting place.
Often when I travel, I wonder about other people and why they are going where they are going. So, too, with Israel. Are there others like me, going on a mission to show their support and solidarity? Are some just headed home from a visit to the states returning to visit family who live in Israel? And what of those who aren't Jewish and/or Israeli? What brings them to Israel?
On my flight one could hear many different languages and there was at least one priest on our flight. Two men who boarded in front of me had Mexican passports and luggage tags with addresses in south Texas. I wonder, what brings them to Israel? There were the two guys I sat near on the plane, one from Houston and the other a small town in Louisiana just outside of Beaumont. (Yes, we talked a bit.) They were coming to Israel to work on one of the new oil rigs just off the coast. I learned quite a bit about life on an oil rig; it is not completely like it was portrayed in the movie Armageddon - yes, I did ask specifically about the movie. One of the men was nervous about his trip to Israel but very clear that he was not scared. He told me he felt even better once he learned how far he would be from Gaza. He asked about my trip and why I was coming to Israel and we talked about whether or not I am scared to travel south.
I didn't get to ask, but I wonder what they thought of the minyan davening mincha before we boarded the plane or the individual men in tefillin and tallitot praying in the aisles this morning?
So much of Israel is the old and the new, the religious and the not so religious, the modern and the "traditional" - somehow it all comes together here to create this wonderful, special place. I look forward to seeing familiar places and to exploring new places.
Often when I travel, I wonder about other people and why they are going where they are going. So, too, with Israel. Are there others like me, going on a mission to show their support and solidarity? Are some just headed home from a visit to the states returning to visit family who live in Israel? And what of those who aren't Jewish and/or Israeli? What brings them to Israel?
On my flight one could hear many different languages and there was at least one priest on our flight. Two men who boarded in front of me had Mexican passports and luggage tags with addresses in south Texas. I wonder, what brings them to Israel? There were the two guys I sat near on the plane, one from Houston and the other a small town in Louisiana just outside of Beaumont. (Yes, we talked a bit.) They were coming to Israel to work on one of the new oil rigs just off the coast. I learned quite a bit about life on an oil rig; it is not completely like it was portrayed in the movie Armageddon - yes, I did ask specifically about the movie. One of the men was nervous about his trip to Israel but very clear that he was not scared. He told me he felt even better once he learned how far he would be from Gaza. He asked about my trip and why I was coming to Israel and we talked about whether or not I am scared to travel south.
I didn't get to ask, but I wonder what they thought of the minyan davening mincha before we boarded the plane or the individual men in tefillin and tallitot praying in the aisles this morning?
So much of Israel is the old and the new, the religious and the not so religious, the modern and the "traditional" - somehow it all comes together here to create this wonderful, special place. I look forward to seeing familiar places and to exploring new places.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Why I'm starting to blog
I guess I am finally joining many of my friends and fellow rabbinic colleagues who blog. Why now? The impetus is a solidarity mission to Israel, which I am taking this upcoming Monday through Friday, about which I will be blogging while I am there.
Why Israel and why now? During Operation Pillar of Defense and now during the cease fire, I have wanted to do something, to be in Israel, and this opportunity arose. With the blessing and help of our St. Louis Jewish Federation, I am honored to be representing myself, my congregation, and the St. Louis Jewish community as I go on this mission with JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America) to let our brothers and sisters in Israel know that the St. Louis Jewish community stands with them and with all of Israel.
During this very brief time in Israel, it is my understanding that we will be meeting with the leadership and residents of the most affected areas, hearing from senior military and political figures, seeing the response of JFNA partners on the ground, and most importantly we will likely be participating in a hands-on project.
It is funny that as I have let people know that I am going to Israel there have been two different reactions. The first is a look of surprise that I am going so quickly and for such a short time and the second is the question of whether or not I am scared to go. I am not scared to go. Would I feel differently if we weren't in the midst of a cease fire? I don't know. But I do know that when the rockets were airborne I still felt the pull to Israel and the desire to be there. Having lived in Israel and having visited just two years ago with my family, I have always felt safe when I am there, no matter what has been going. Is it crazy that I am going for such a short amount of time and only decided days ago to go on this mission? Perhaps, but I am looking forward to the trip and looking forward to coming back and sharing with everyone who will listen how things truly are, because sadly most of our news media doesn't seem to report the full story.
So, over the course of the next week I will be blogging about my trip, and my hope is that beyond the trip I will continue blogging and sharing my thoughts on whatever comes to mind (yes, this could be dangerous!).
Last night, my oldest daughter asked, "Mom, will rockets be falling where you are going in Israel." My answer, "I hope not; there is a cease fire, so they shouldn't be." Then she said, "I hope the cease fire lasts 200 years," and I replied, "So do I. From your mouth to G-d's ears, we all hope it lasts."
Why Israel and why now? During Operation Pillar of Defense and now during the cease fire, I have wanted to do something, to be in Israel, and this opportunity arose. With the blessing and help of our St. Louis Jewish Federation, I am honored to be representing myself, my congregation, and the St. Louis Jewish community as I go on this mission with JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America) to let our brothers and sisters in Israel know that the St. Louis Jewish community stands with them and with all of Israel.
During this very brief time in Israel, it is my understanding that we will be meeting with the leadership and residents of the most affected areas, hearing from senior military and political figures, seeing the response of JFNA partners on the ground, and most importantly we will likely be participating in a hands-on project.
It is funny that as I have let people know that I am going to Israel there have been two different reactions. The first is a look of surprise that I am going so quickly and for such a short time and the second is the question of whether or not I am scared to go. I am not scared to go. Would I feel differently if we weren't in the midst of a cease fire? I don't know. But I do know that when the rockets were airborne I still felt the pull to Israel and the desire to be there. Having lived in Israel and having visited just two years ago with my family, I have always felt safe when I am there, no matter what has been going. Is it crazy that I am going for such a short amount of time and only decided days ago to go on this mission? Perhaps, but I am looking forward to the trip and looking forward to coming back and sharing with everyone who will listen how things truly are, because sadly most of our news media doesn't seem to report the full story.
So, over the course of the next week I will be blogging about my trip, and my hope is that beyond the trip I will continue blogging and sharing my thoughts on whatever comes to mind (yes, this could be dangerous!).
Last night, my oldest daughter asked, "Mom, will rockets be falling where you are going in Israel." My answer, "I hope not; there is a cease fire, so they shouldn't be." Then she said, "I hope the cease fire lasts 200 years," and I replied, "So do I. From your mouth to G-d's ears, we all hope it lasts."
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