Spending my second Shabbat here in Argentina will be another very interesting experience. The mixture of Sephardic Jews and Lubavitz out reach Chaseedeem in this rather bustling non- stop Beunos Aires is amazing. The Sephardic Jews mainly of Jewish Syrian descent have numerous shuls in Argentina and seem to be the dominant Jewish group here. The Lubavitcher Chaseedeem sent by their leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Scneerson are here for outreach to Jews. It seems every shul is either lubavitch or Sefaradi and they seem packed.
Most outsiders do not really want to live in Argentina, that seems abundantly clear. Its fragile economy and history of political upheaval makes life rather unpredictable. The two extreme terrorist attacks on the Israeli embssy and Jewish community building gives a backdrop to the all Jewish happenings in Beunos Aires. The Jews were and seem to be a soft target and Police can be seen at most Jewish sites especially Lubavitz Chassidic sites in the Once.
My Grandparents are buried here and I accompanied my mother to see those graves for a last time. It was a very moving experience.
Its an experience that I will not forget.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Beunos Aires, Argentina
My whirlwind trip to South America is winding down as I am going home in a few days. The noisy hustle and bustle of this enormous city is incredible as it is unnerving. Will be glad to say goodbye to this place.
A few days ago we visted the Igazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil in an amazing incredible show of beauty.
The main purpose of coming here was to visit my grandparents graves and make sure both my uncles were buried like Jews. The first was accomplished, the second remains to be seen. The Amia Building after it was destroyed is a small fortress amd looks nothing like it did before its destruction.
Thai place is ok for a few days, two weeks is a bit much though.
A few days ago we visted the Igazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil in an amazing incredible show of beauty.
The main purpose of coming here was to visit my grandparents graves and make sure both my uncles were buried like Jews. The first was accomplished, the second remains to be seen. The Amia Building after it was destroyed is a small fortress amd looks nothing like it did before its destruction.
Thai place is ok for a few days, two weeks is a bit much though.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
It’s been a year
It’s been a year
No one really can know how it will feel when you need to say goodbye to someone who is irreplaceable. It’s a searing aching longing pain that goes to the bottom of your soul and seems to rise and fall depending on what you do and where you are.
A particular difficult day is the YORTZIET or yearly comeration day. That is today as I write thse words. In many ways those very difficult moments of parting which happened a year ago come back again with all that entails.
There are those that say that no one is ever really ready for a passing of a parent, no matter how old or sick. I feel how true this saying is today.
I remember very well my own father lighting his Yartziet light for his parents twice a year and going to shul to say Kaddish on their souls. He was after all the only surviving son of those parents as the others were murdered by the Nazis. I would accompany him on occasion to these shul visits and remember always reusing the Yartziet lights as glasses to drink out of later.
The stark reality that time has transformed us from children to adults is somehow difficult to grasp and comprehend. We will always be our parents children and saying goodbye may be natural by very painful.
A year has gone by and the tears have been flowing.
I was taught by my Father never to give up, no matter what.
He continues to live through his children and his grandchildren.
Our love for him will not stop but get greater as time goes on.
His memory should be a blessing for all who knew him.
His loving Son
David
No one really can know how it will feel when you need to say goodbye to someone who is irreplaceable. It’s a searing aching longing pain that goes to the bottom of your soul and seems to rise and fall depending on what you do and where you are.
A particular difficult day is the YORTZIET or yearly comeration day. That is today as I write thse words. In many ways those very difficult moments of parting which happened a year ago come back again with all that entails.
There are those that say that no one is ever really ready for a passing of a parent, no matter how old or sick. I feel how true this saying is today.
I remember very well my own father lighting his Yartziet light for his parents twice a year and going to shul to say Kaddish on their souls. He was after all the only surviving son of those parents as the others were murdered by the Nazis. I would accompany him on occasion to these shul visits and remember always reusing the Yartziet lights as glasses to drink out of later.
The stark reality that time has transformed us from children to adults is somehow difficult to grasp and comprehend. We will always be our parents children and saying goodbye may be natural by very painful.
A year has gone by and the tears have been flowing.
I was taught by my Father never to give up, no matter what.
He continues to live through his children and his grandchildren.
Our love for him will not stop but get greater as time goes on.
His memory should be a blessing for all who knew him.
His loving Son
David
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Stalled peace talks
What a surprise.
Negotiations between the Israelis and the PLO have been halted and are looking worse all the time. The new idea being banded about is that the Arab side will ask the United Nations and other world bodies for recognition of their state on the borders of the pre 1967 six-day war. No one is completely sure what that means as there is no real precedent to declare statehood and sovereignty on land being governed by another country. That is to stay there are approximately 500,000 people who are living in the area the PLO claims.
The likely scenario if the PLO does go in this direction is the end of the discussion of a two state solution. If the US does not veto this in the UN then Israel is likely to annex certain parts of Judea and Samaria and give the option for citizenship to local Arabs. In these areas there will be a massive building frenzy as there will be little reason not to build ( aside from international condemnation ). Then the one state solution will be the new show in town. With demographics being the star player .
With Israels incredible population explosion many are sure that the partial annexation will not alter the population ratio of Arabs and Jews. Well something else may happen.
War.
The Hamas Jihad and all other Arab groups will likely try to start another Intifada. This will likely be combined with a war in the north. That means theHizbullah Syria and Iran in the North and the Hamas /Jihad in the south. The PLO will take up the fight in the center of the country. If Israel is lucky Egypt will not join in this.
It won’t be pretty.
Negotiations between the Israelis and the PLO have been halted and are looking worse all the time. The new idea being banded about is that the Arab side will ask the United Nations and other world bodies for recognition of their state on the borders of the pre 1967 six-day war. No one is completely sure what that means as there is no real precedent to declare statehood and sovereignty on land being governed by another country. That is to stay there are approximately 500,000 people who are living in the area the PLO claims.
The likely scenario if the PLO does go in this direction is the end of the discussion of a two state solution. If the US does not veto this in the UN then Israel is likely to annex certain parts of Judea and Samaria and give the option for citizenship to local Arabs. In these areas there will be a massive building frenzy as there will be little reason not to build ( aside from international condemnation ). Then the one state solution will be the new show in town. With demographics being the star player .
With Israels incredible population explosion many are sure that the partial annexation will not alter the population ratio of Arabs and Jews. Well something else may happen.
War.
The Hamas Jihad and all other Arab groups will likely try to start another Intifada. This will likely be combined with a war in the north. That means theHizbullah Syria and Iran in the North and the Hamas /Jihad in the south. The PLO will take up the fight in the center of the country. If Israel is lucky Egypt will not join in this.
It won’t be pretty.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The German Pope and the chosen people
The Vatican came out with a statement that seemed strange and troublesome at the same time. It said that the Jewish people were not the chosen people and that verses from scripture could not justify occupying someone else’s land .
Well that’s terrific .
Basic Catholic belief took a hit when Israel came into existence as this could not be happening according to Christianity. But it did and it has and continues to be. This Christian aberration continues to clash with whatever principle doctrines that are left in the church. Now we can understand the background to the latest statement coming from the Vatican.
It is also interesting to note that of all institutions in the world one might expect the Vatican to lend credence to verses in the old testament. The ever evolving church apparently lends credence to very little other than some vague rules on celibacy homosexuality and some church rites.
The fact is that many more devout do lend credence to those verses that proclaim the holy land belongs to the descendents of Abraham and that in fact the Jews belong in the land of Israel. The growing irrelevancy of statements from the Vatican should worry the church more than Israel.
Well that’s terrific .
Basic Catholic belief took a hit when Israel came into existence as this could not be happening according to Christianity. But it did and it has and continues to be. This Christian aberration continues to clash with whatever principle doctrines that are left in the church. Now we can understand the background to the latest statement coming from the Vatican.
It is also interesting to note that of all institutions in the world one might expect the Vatican to lend credence to verses in the old testament. The ever evolving church apparently lends credence to very little other than some vague rules on celibacy homosexuality and some church rites.
The fact is that many more devout do lend credence to those verses that proclaim the holy land belongs to the descendents of Abraham and that in fact the Jews belong in the land of Israel. The growing irrelevancy of statements from the Vatican should worry the church more than Israel.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
I told you so
Everybody hates it when you say to them I told you so.
But... I told you so. This can never work.
I wonder what odds Jimmy the Greek would give for the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians to succeed. 100 to 1, 1000 to 1. The house would win on this one. There is no chance that anything good will come out of these talks, only frustration and violence. The Arabs is being asked for very little right now just some symbolic statements that they find difficult to implement. When I say difficult I mean impossible. Israel’s Prime Minister wants a simple statement from a weak leader of part of the national Palestinian movement that recognizes Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
He cannot bring himself to make this statement.
This is before discussions on the other seemingly insurmountable issues that the Arab side does not seem to budge on even one millimeter.
Benjamin Netanyahu who was elected by a constituency that is against overtures to the Arab side is being pushed to extend a building freeze that none of his voters want. Even if he does extend somewhat this freeze it won’t make any real difference in the success of the negotiations.
They will fail.
Not complicated.
Get ready for war.
But... I told you so. This can never work.
I wonder what odds Jimmy the Greek would give for the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians to succeed. 100 to 1, 1000 to 1. The house would win on this one. There is no chance that anything good will come out of these talks, only frustration and violence. The Arabs is being asked for very little right now just some symbolic statements that they find difficult to implement. When I say difficult I mean impossible. Israel’s Prime Minister wants a simple statement from a weak leader of part of the national Palestinian movement that recognizes Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
He cannot bring himself to make this statement.
This is before discussions on the other seemingly insurmountable issues that the Arab side does not seem to budge on even one millimeter.
Benjamin Netanyahu who was elected by a constituency that is against overtures to the Arab side is being pushed to extend a building freeze that none of his voters want. Even if he does extend somewhat this freeze it won’t make any real difference in the success of the negotiations.
They will fail.
Not complicated.
Get ready for war.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Here we go again.
Theater of the absurd
Here we go again.
Peace talks are underway again between Israel and Arabs of Israel ( they call themselves Palestinians )
This has been talked about for the last 25 years and will probably be talked about in another 25 years. Is it cynical to say that there is no chance for this to happen? It might be but does that change the reality? It does not. They are talking peace or so they say. Benjiman Netanyahu is demanding a recognition of Israel as the nation State of the Jewish people. They have steadfastly refused to do this or even compromise on one inch of territory that they claim. Why will he change now? The answer is that he won’t change. The most extreme concessions thinkable by any Israeli is far less than the minimal concessions the Arab side is ready to accept.
Some simple examples.
The Demand a complete withdrawal of Israel form all territories captured in 1967 including east Jerusalem. Israel is ready to withdraw from some areas in the west bank and will not even talk about east Jerusalem. There are another 4 similar insurmountable issues that just do not have a solution. No matter how you slice it.
As these talks crumble as they most certainly will things will get worse before they get better.
It won’t be pretty.
Here we go again.
Peace talks are underway again between Israel and Arabs of Israel ( they call themselves Palestinians )
This has been talked about for the last 25 years and will probably be talked about in another 25 years. Is it cynical to say that there is no chance for this to happen? It might be but does that change the reality? It does not. They are talking peace or so they say. Benjiman Netanyahu is demanding a recognition of Israel as the nation State of the Jewish people. They have steadfastly refused to do this or even compromise on one inch of territory that they claim. Why will he change now? The answer is that he won’t change. The most extreme concessions thinkable by any Israeli is far less than the minimal concessions the Arab side is ready to accept.
Some simple examples.
The Demand a complete withdrawal of Israel form all territories captured in 1967 including east Jerusalem. Israel is ready to withdraw from some areas in the west bank and will not even talk about east Jerusalem. There are another 4 similar insurmountable issues that just do not have a solution. No matter how you slice it.
As these talks crumble as they most certainly will things will get worse before they get better.
It won’t be pretty.
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