A very sad day for Jews everywhere.
The saddest day in the Jewish calendar is the 9th day of Av. This day has so many tragedies connected with it that there is really no serious hardship for a Jew to fast. Thinking about all the suffering that is connected to this day makes one lose his appetite.
Some of the events that happened around this time. Both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. A massive public burning of Jewish texts happened in Paris circa 1292 and the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. There are so many more events that did not specifically happen around this time but still are commentated on this all encompassing day of sadness.
What practicing Jews do on such a day is refrain from any food or water for about 25 hours, No washing is allowed and even wearing of leather shoes is not permitted. That is an additional hardship that is to remind someone of the sadness of the day. They sit for hours reading Lamentations on how bad it was from the ancient tragedies to the modern ones and everything in between. This sad dirge like reading recalls specific events that speak volumes on why Jews and Judaism still exist today. One Story that seams to define Jewish Martyrdom is the story of Rabbi Akivah. This fervent Jewish nationalist symbolized for all Jews who came after him what martyrdom meant. His complete faith and piety even in the throngs of excruciating torture inspired all those after him. He was executed proclaiming his faith in Judiasm buy uttering the Shema prayer that is to be on the lips of every Dying Jew.
Many Jews before and after R’Akivah vexed their tormentors with this faith clinging to their Judaism no matter what the cost.
For those who want to understand the resilience of the Jews this day speaks volumes.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The Peace Process
Obama says no and Bibi says yes, now what?
In the latest spat between Presiden Obama and the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Jerusalem has become the point of contention. Netanyahu says that building and buying houses in Jerusalem will continue as Jerusalem is under the jurisdiction of the Jewish state and will continue to be so. Obama thinks differently and looks at east Jerusalem as he looks at west bank settlements. Obama wants the building to stop and Bibi refuses. Now what?
Even before negotiations have started on a permanent status solution there is a cardinal disagreement on a core issue. That is Jerusalem. Neither side is willing to budge one inch on this issue. How then can there be negotiation on something no one wants to negotiate on? No one is sure but all sides want to continue the peace process. That process is at a dead end and has been for some time. This reality doesn’t seem to bother the parties involved as they continue to talk meet and haggle.
The stark truth is that there is no real solution to this problem and there never really was. The Jews are not wanted in their historical homeland and that’s it. Everything else is meaningless time wasting hogwash.
Well at least there is a peace process.
In the latest spat between Presiden Obama and the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Jerusalem has become the point of contention. Netanyahu says that building and buying houses in Jerusalem will continue as Jerusalem is under the jurisdiction of the Jewish state and will continue to be so. Obama thinks differently and looks at east Jerusalem as he looks at west bank settlements. Obama wants the building to stop and Bibi refuses. Now what?
Even before negotiations have started on a permanent status solution there is a cardinal disagreement on a core issue. That is Jerusalem. Neither side is willing to budge one inch on this issue. How then can there be negotiation on something no one wants to negotiate on? No one is sure but all sides want to continue the peace process. That process is at a dead end and has been for some time. This reality doesn’t seem to bother the parties involved as they continue to talk meet and haggle.
The stark truth is that there is no real solution to this problem and there never really was. The Jews are not wanted in their historical homeland and that’s it. Everything else is meaningless time wasting hogwash.
Well at least there is a peace process.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Amnesty international helping Hamas
Amnesty international accuses Israel and Hamas of War crimes.
In the newest report of Amnesty Israel is accused of deliberately targeting civilians and causing the death of nearly four hundred noncombatants. Hamas is accused of firing rockets into Israel that cause wide spread havoc this was also labeled a war crime.
Hamas strategy has been for a long time to use the very dense population centers of the Gaza strip as human shields for its members. This strategy was designed to hamper or completely eliminate Israel’s ability to target its members. Amnesty has become another weapon in the arsenal of hamass psychological warfare. Israel will still need to target terrorists who are hiding behind civilians as these terrorists put in danger its soldiers and civilians. The concern for the Israeli military establishment is the hesitation that may be over emphasized when seeing civilians near terrorist targets. This hesitation may ultimately cost Israeli lives. It is mostly incorrect to say that these reports have no effect on the Israeli military, Their effect is the slow erosion of the ability of the IDF to properly target its enemies. The Hamas has once again scored points by sacrificing its own women and children in a virtual public opinion battle with Israel. In the next conflict which will surly come sooner or later the Hamas will once again resort to tactics that seem to win it points in the eyes of the world. They will shoot from schools and hospitals from homes and places of worship. The Israeli army will react as any responsible army would and by doing so noncombatants will be killed. Then Amnesty will come out with another mostly anti-Israel report.
In one main area the Hamas has it wrong. The ultimate resolve for Israel may be undermined somewhat but there will be enough left to continue to defend itself.
Israel won’t just go away.
In the newest report of Amnesty Israel is accused of deliberately targeting civilians and causing the death of nearly four hundred noncombatants. Hamas is accused of firing rockets into Israel that cause wide spread havoc this was also labeled a war crime.
Hamas strategy has been for a long time to use the very dense population centers of the Gaza strip as human shields for its members. This strategy was designed to hamper or completely eliminate Israel’s ability to target its members. Amnesty has become another weapon in the arsenal of hamass psychological warfare. Israel will still need to target terrorists who are hiding behind civilians as these terrorists put in danger its soldiers and civilians. The concern for the Israeli military establishment is the hesitation that may be over emphasized when seeing civilians near terrorist targets. This hesitation may ultimately cost Israeli lives. It is mostly incorrect to say that these reports have no effect on the Israeli military, Their effect is the slow erosion of the ability of the IDF to properly target its enemies. The Hamas has once again scored points by sacrificing its own women and children in a virtual public opinion battle with Israel. In the next conflict which will surly come sooner or later the Hamas will once again resort to tactics that seem to win it points in the eyes of the world. They will shoot from schools and hospitals from homes and places of worship. The Israeli army will react as any responsible army would and by doing so noncombatants will be killed. Then Amnesty will come out with another mostly anti-Israel report.
In one main area the Hamas has it wrong. The ultimate resolve for Israel may be undermined somewhat but there will be enough left to continue to defend itself.
Israel won’t just go away.
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