Opportunity

I had the opportunity to speak this afternoon to a group of American students who have just graduated high school. What is unique about their school in the US is that it is described as “pluralistic”. It was enjoyable and motivating, as their minds were open and thirsty, it was upsetting as I saw how they were being deceived and misinformed.

The discussion was not political, it was simply a discussion about opinions, possibilities and thought. These students are supposedly being taught about Israel and our “situation”, they came to Israel to connect to their history and learn, yet they are not allowed to see other sides for themselves, more specifically, the "Right" side. The excuse given is that insurance prices are too high to allow them to visit Judea and Samaria…how convenient.

When we discussed where would the Jews from Judea and Samaria move if, Gd forbid transferred due to an Israeli surrender, their response was… “Trailer parks could be set up, just like the ones they live in now”. The last time I checked, Shilo, Bet El, and Efrat were not trailer parks, neither were the majority of our communities. This is what they are being told, thetruth is being hidden from them…on purpose. How can we expect proper opinions to be formed when our children, our future, are being deceived and misinformed?

After my talk they went to hear a “spokesman” of the PA in Notre Dam in Jerusalem, he refused to come to Beit Shmuel, the center for Reform Judaism in Jerusalem (located on the old border), this they weren’t told at first. The ruse plays on!

As I was leaving, I was surrounded by many of them thanking me for the talk. They expressed such gratitude for hearing a “pro-Israel” speech. I was especially troubled when many of them stated they felt like outsiders in the group for having strong Zionist feelings and feeling connected to our heartland.

This is unfortunately not rare, but common practice among many Israel High School, Birth Right and other educational programs in Israel. It seems that the only students and programs run by “Religious” organizations come out to Judea and Samaria. Why is our history and heritage not being shared with all of our people? Why are the secular organizations keeping our children in the dark? Why are they being subjugated to a limited or mostly one-sided view rather than the full picture?

Seems like someone has some nefarious motives up their sleeves….

It is time to confront the leaders of Conservative and Reform Judaism, and any others who are keeping our people away from their birthright and heritage and ask why are they limiting and keeping our children from their right to choose and see their own heritage and history for themselves. I grew up in the bastion of the Conservative Jewish world, Camp Ramah, USY, the whole 9 yards, I was never taught to be afraid, nor was I taught that all of Israel wasn't a part of me, on the contrary, we were taught the opposite.

Judea and Samaria is the story of all the Jewish people, of all the Jewish people.

The Road to Chaos - Part 2

Most elected leaders are simply moments in time, they come, and they go. One common denominator that they share is that most have the ability and opportunity to either better a situation or run it into the ground.

I am amazed at the reactions of surprise to Obama’s speech. Did he really state anything new that we did not realize already? He is following the same path he started down since his election and speech in Cairo, with the same distain towards Israel that he has always had, nothing new here.

An air of panic is being thrown about as the current US President Obama has truly sided against Israel. Yes, truly sided against Israel in that he knows very well what he is demanding. He is even planning a “marketing” and advertising trip to Europe to build more support for his plan. Many like to say, “he doesn’t understand”, “his advisors are at fault”, give the guy some credit, he does and can think for himself, he knows exactly what he is doing.

I will not use this article to express the dangers of the “Obama Speech”, many have already done that far better than I.

If we pretend that there are patriotic motives behind the Prez’s thoughts, then we can safely assume that President Obama simply feels that it is better to have the Arabs as an ally rather than Israel. That is his right to think that way… after all he is entitled to his own opinion. The fact that he lied to his Jewish voters is not his fault either… after all he is still a politician. Take away the fact that pretty much all of the Arab leaders have lost respect for him and no longer trust him after he fooled them also, and you may come around to his way of thinking, maybe. The US may be on it’s way to a major facial change, much like Europe, or Eurabia as known today, and he is simply preparing and positioning the US better for a new possibility. That is, if we pretend that there are patriotic motives.

Obama is trying to become the champion of the latest buzz…the “Arab Spring”. Of course he is choosing who may live and who may die. Libyans count, Syrians don’t, Egyptians count, Bahraini’s, Iranians don’t, and so on and so on. He has misread the Arab world.

I once wrote an article titled “Lawrence of Palestine” referring to Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, as he built up the new Arab army within Israel, perhaps the US admin became jealous of the title, perhaps they are looking to be the reincarnation of Salah al Din in this day and age.

Basically President Obama has nothing to lose, he has proved himself a disappointment to pretty much all who voted for him, besides Oprah, some Hollywood folk and the Muslim population of the US, so why not go for it? Chance of a lifetime, create a new Middle East and go down in history.

On the other side of the world, Bibi wants to get reelected and realizes that Israel is in dire need of a leader with a spine, he also knows that Obama will be out soon enough, so why not say “no”. This is Bibi’s chance to actually prove his sincerity regarding Israel’s security. Of course the fact that Obama’s wishes would endanger Israel and its entire populace, besides throwing the Middle East into chaos are present also…somewhere.

There is more at work here than caring for the rights or ambitions of a so-called “Palestinian Arab” people. Convenient isn’t it how Jordan is ignored, after all Jordan is 73% “Palestinian. The only difference is that the “ruler” over that country and land is a Muslim and not Jew.

Another interesting fact often overlooked is that there are over 500,000 Jews living over the pre June 1967 cease fire lines, Obama seems to be pro “Jew Free” Arab state, that’s not very liberal of him. Cleansing todays Jews from such an area is not as easy as it sounds, and BTW, the 1949 – 1967 “border” was a cease-fire line, not a border… the border was the Jordan River as proclaimed by the “world” back in 1922. The “West Bank” is from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. So when the Arabs ask for the “West Bank” of the Jordan, you can be sure they know what they are saying and demanding.

Israel and the Jewish people as a whole have come to a crossroads in time and history, the façade of the “Peace Process” has duped many if not most. What is being discussed is Israel’s future, something that the diaspora players in the game are all aware of. What they are not aware of is the danger they are putting Israel and the Jewish people in.

Most are even too afraid to even visit the region discussed and live in ignorance regarding Israel. They will bear responsibility to the consequences, and so will their children and their children’s children.

Any supposed solution to this situation will not happen over night, over months or over years. By that time leaders will have changed, concepts, consequences and realities will appear different than they are today. Nothing stays the same, nor does the “Status Quo”. Maybe more people will open their eyes and hearts by then.

No leader is being naïve, no leader is being ignorant, motives are quite clear and the target is in sight.

The stage is being set for the next round…we decide on which show we will see.

A Day in May

The dirt on the graves of those recently murdered for being Jews has yet to dry as we head into another Memorial Day in Israel. Far from the sales at Best Buy, this day in Israel is one of the most solemn. There is almost no one who is not touched by this day, who has not lost, known or heard of someone who has given his life, be it physically or spiritually.

We gather at memorial ceremonies from the past, both near and far, and we have no choice but to think about the future. After all, didn’t we fall for the sake of the future?

“Yom Ha’Zikaron” is not the day to speak of the wonderful achievements of Israel, how we achieved in 63 years what other countries would never and have never achieved in a lifetime – or ever. It is not the day to speak of how Israel has changed the world for the better, how so many owe their lives to Israel, how most people in the world benefit from Israel’s existence daily.

The day is very personal to us as individuals, as communities, as a country and as a people. We the Jewish people all share the reasons that our people have sacrificed their lives for…that of our country, our history, and our heritage, Israel.

I would prefer to say the near future is rosy, but as the many politicians gamble with our lives, making feeble attempts to bring peace while ignoring reality, I view the near future as possibly extracting a heavy cost. Not the cost of prestige that the politicians, the “Rights Activists” fight for, but the cost of future memorial ceremonies on this hallowed terrible day.

Past and Recent graves cannot be ignored or forgotten, nor visited only one day a year. We must constantly remind ourselves, our families, our friends, and those that claim to be our leaders, that these people paid a price that we all share.

It is our responsibility never to forget that no matter where we live, or whichever side of the ocean.

We of course follow “Yom Ha’Zikaron” with the day where we are able to see, feel, enjoy and be grateful, “Yom Ha’Atzmaut”, Independence Day. Because we know that the direction taken, that of having a country for our nation, a haven for the tribe, the only one around, where membership has its dues, while maybe not being the smoothest, dare I say an extremely rocky road, is the right one, but the return is wonderful.

This year, let us try to remember our heroes, our family, our friends, our people, one people with renewed strength and dedication, to move forward, to accomplish that which we have prayed for, to live in our land, all of our land, and to continue to grow and be a light.

After all that’s what Israel does best.