Jewish, Israeli and proud of it!

Israel's peculiar position. Written nearly 40 years ago!

2010-10-28T15:08:00.002+02:00

Who was Eric Hoffer? He was a longshoreman turned philosopher. He wrote columns for newspapers and some books. He was a non-Jewish American social philosopher. He was born in 1902 and died in 1983, after writing nine books and winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His first book, 'The True Believer', published in 1951, was widely recognized as a classic.

Here is one of his columns from 1968. This article was written over 40 years ago!!! Some things never change….........

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ISRAEL'S PECULIAR POSITION... by Eric Hoffer
Los Angeles Times 26 May 1968
The Jews are a peculiar people: things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews.
Other nations drive out thousands, even millions of people and there is no refugee problem. Russia did it, Poland and Czechoslovakia did it.
Turkey threw out a million Greeks and Algeria a million Frenchman.
Indonesia threw out heaven knows how many Chinese and no one says a word about refugees.
But in the case of Israel , the displaced Arabs have become eternal refugees.
Everyone insists that Israel must take back every single one.
Arnold Toynbee calls the displacement of the Arabs an atrocity greater than any committed by the Nazis.
Other nations when victorious on the battlefield dictate peace terms.
But when Israel is victorious, it must sue for peace.
Everyone expects the Jews to be the only real Christians in this world.
Other nations, when they are defeated, survive and recover but should Israel be defeated it would be destroyed.
Had Nasser triumphed last June [1967], he would have wiped Israel off the map, and no one would have lifted a finger to save the Jews.
No commitment to the Jews by any government, including our own, is worth the paper it is written on.
There is a cry of outrage all over the world when people die in Vietnam or when two Blacks are executed in Rhodesia .
But, when Hitler slaughtered Jews no one demonstrated against him.
The Swedes, who were ready to break off diplomatic relations with America because of what we did in Vietnam , did not let out a peep when Hitler was slaughtering Jews.
They sent Hitler choice iron ore, and ball bearings, and serviced his troops in Norway .
The Jews are alone in the world.
If Israel survives, it will be solely because of Jewish efforts. And Jewish resources.
Yet at this moment, Israel is our only reliable and unconditional ally.
We can rely more on Israel than Israel can rely on us.
And one has only to imagine what would have happened last summer [1967] had the Arabs and their Russian backers won the war, to realize how vital the survival of Israel is to America and the West in general.
I have a premonition that will not leave me; as it goes with Israel so will it go with all of us.
Should Israel perish, the Holocaust will be upon us all.

The privilege of hearing the Shofar

2010-09-09T20:51:00.003+03:00

When you hear the shofar this year take a moment to reflect what it was like to live at a time when such a simple Jewish action could not be taken for granted.

And if you think I am talking about way-back-when somewhere "Beyond the Pale" let me remind you that blowing the shofar in our own homeland, the Land of Israel, was for many years forbidden.

Next time you think that Israel should be prepared to "make painful concessions for peace" just remember what it was like when those "partners for peace" were in charge! From 1948 to 1967 the holiest place for Jews did not reverberate to the sound of the shofar at the culmination of Yom Kippur.

Shana Tova Metukah
Gmar Hatima Tova!

Watch this and be glad that there are always Jews who stand up to be counted!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIfLbkx4ZIM&feature=player_embedded

"Echoes of a Shofar" is the premiere episode in the "Eyewitness 1948" short film series produced by Toldot Yisrael and the History Channel.

Under a British law in Palestine passed in 1930, Jews were forbidden to blow the shofar at the Kotel, pray loudly there, or bring Torah scrolls, so as not to offend the Arab population.

Despite this restriction, for the next seventeen years, the shofar was sounded at the Kotel every Yom Kippur. Shofars were smuggled in to the Kotel where brave teenagers defiantly blew them at the conclusion of the fast. Some managed to get away - others were captured and sent to jail for up to six months.

Six of these men are still alive.

A few weeks ago, these six men returned to the scene of their "crime".

Armed with shofars, they recounted their individual stories and blewshofar again at the Kotel.

This is their powerful and inspiring story

Gaza: No answers, only questions.

2010-06-27T10:28:00.004+03:00

Blockades; easing blockades. Ships coming; ships not coming. Gotta get the aid in. Gotta keep the supplies coming.

I just wish I could understand one thing. Why is all this outside help needed in the first place? Why are the Palestinians treated like some kind of tragic cause when so little is done for people who are actually starving all over the world through no fault of their own? Millions of them in Asia and Africa, millions also contending with the horrors of AIDS. Refugees from horrendous massacres, true genocides. Largely ignored by the world.

May I remind you that the Palestinians of Gaza lived under Egyptian rule from 1948 (when the State of Israel formally began) to 1967, without sorting themselves out? Why was it the Egyptians never helped them? Why did the Palestinians themselves never organise any kind of social welfare, housing, schools, hospitals, even a proper government with all that foreign aid pouring in year after year?

And why did their Muslim brethren with their billions in oil revenues cry crocodile tears but send no actual aid?

Then came the 6 Day War and nine Arab countries sent troops to destroy tiny little Israel but suffered an amazing defeat. Israel found itself in charge of Gaza and tried to help the “refugees”.

So why did their Muslim brethren continue to cry crocodile tears but send no actual aid? Worse. Why did they incite the citizens of Gaza and tell them to reject help from the Israeli “aggressors”?

And more importantly, why did the Palestinians listen?

What happened to all the money that poured in from Europe and America? What were UNICEF and UNRWA and all those other UNs actually doing there?

Why when the Palestinians elected their own leaders in 1996 and took on responsibility for their own destinies did nothing happen to improve their lot? Why when the Palestinian Authority had full autonomy did the Palestinians not rebuild the state they claim to have had before those awful Israelis got in the way?

Why did the Palestinians then hold new elections and elect Hamas, known terrorists and persecutors of their own people?

If the Palestinians truly had a land taken from them, now that they have it back, why aren’t they restoring it to the wonderful place they claim it was? Gaza has the best beaches in the region. Why aren’t they building hotels, restaurants, places of entertainment? Inviting in the tourists? Working and making money instead of sitting and taking hand-outs?

Why when Israel pulled out in 2005, removing the very people (the Jews) who had actually created 4,000 jobs for the Palestinians in Gaza, did the Palestinians not take over the State of the Art hothouses that were left them as a gift from the Jews - and enjoy their multi-million dollar revenues?

Could somebody please explain to me what the thinking was when the Palestinians destroyed all these hot-houses in two hate-filled nights?

And can someone explain to me why ordinary hard-working people’s pounds, euros and dollars continue to be poured into Gaza, even though the pound, the dollar and the euro continue to plunge and these people need all the help they can get at home?

And why do the Palestinians’ Muslim brethren with their billions in oil revenues continue to cry crocodile tears but send no actual aid?

And why are there still almost no hospitals, no welfare; and schools are places to teach hatred, and for terrorists to hide behind children and send missiles into Israel from?

And if the people of Gaza are truly so destitute – then where is all that aid going? Four tons per person per year.

And who has been sponsoring the suicide bombers and paying for the 11,000 missiles, grads and rockets rained on Israel in the last 10 years?

And how can they afford to build all those elaborate tunnels to smuggle more weapons of destruction in across the border with Egypt? And why can’t they afford food to feed their children – why has the food to be shipped in from benefactors abroad?

Which brings me to my final questions. Gaza has a land border with Egypt; home to fellow Muslims. True friends of the Palestinians, they say.

Why is it that this isn’t an open border where goods can flow freely? Why does no-one question Egypt’s right to seal this border tightly?

Aren’t THEY blockading Gaza? And if so, how is it that they are allowed to?

As I said, no answers, only questions.

Mohammed Al Dura - an addendum

2007-10-31T18:48:00.000+02:00

WE SAID IT HERE ... The footage they tried to supress proves that the whole affair was staged.

Anyone who wanted to see, saw that long ago. But those who didn't are still blind to the truth.

The anti-Zionist (how carefully they deny that it is anti-Semitism by another name) lobby goes from strength to strength.

A few lone voices are speaking up but I doubt that they will be heard. So I will leave my blog report as it stands. (see the last story at the foot of the page)

More sensible thoughts about the infamous boycott

2007-06-04T08:59:00.001+03:00

Sally Hunt, General Secretary
Paul Mackney, Joint General Secretary
UCU Head Office
UCU Joint Presidents
Heads of Higher & Further Education

Dear Ms. Hunt, Mr. Mackney, and Presidents and Heads:

I am writing to request the names of the 158 members of the British University and College Union who voted to adopt a policy supporting a boycott of Israeli academic institutions, as well as calling for a moratorium on EU funding for Israeli research. I am also requesting that you provide all information you have about each member's university affiliations, grant providers, publishers, journal affiliations, and any related information.

I need this information to start an international boycott of these members. I hope to encourage a cessation of research conducted with them, grants to them, publication of their articles, speaking engagements, etc. I believe a boycott is appropriate and that the Union should provide this information for the following reasons.

1. The action of the 158 members is anti-Semitic and immoral. Israel is a democratic state that respects minorities and has a free press and an independent judiciary. While not perfect, it does its best to protect human rights while defending its citizens. Despite this, the 158 members voted to boycott Israel. They have not chosen to use that tactic against oppressive, racist, sexist, dictatorial regimes such as Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, and the like. I can think of no other reason why they would employ the boycott, which was one of the first tools used by Nazi Germany against the Jews, when it comes to the only Jewish-majority country on earth other than because they are Jew-haters. Moreover, even if Israel deserved to be boycotted, which it does not, they have chosen to use the weapon against all of Israeli academia, most of which is Jewish, regardless of their position on Israeli policies and regardless of whether they have any role in Israel's decision-making. Thus, they are holding Jews collectively guilty and imposing collective punishment, just as the Nazis did. This is immoral.

2. The members who voted for boycotting their academic colleagues are violating every tenant of academia, which puts an emphasis on open and free exchange of ideas and information. Consistent with the transparency that characterizes academia, the 158 should have no problem with the Union providing their names and affiliations.

3. The members who took this outrageous step should be quite willing to be held accountable for their action. They should be willing to be judged by the public and to live with any consequences. Obviously, if they believe the boycott is a useful tool to be used against those who are citizens of a country with which they disagree, they should have no problem with people who find their actions disagreeable using it against them. I should point out that, unlike the 158 members who voted for the policy, I only want to boycott those who specifically demonstrated their position, not everyone that may be associated with them. However, if for some reason the Union does not provide the names and related information, I will be forced to advocate a boycott of the entire Union membership. I do not think the 158 members would have an objection to a boycott hurting those who did not vote for the action because they apparently have no problem with associated guilt and collective punishment. Likewise, if you do not provide the names of the 158 so they can be specifically boycotted, I will assume you have no problem with holding all Union membership responsible.

I look forward to receiving this information from you very soon. I am anxious to get started on my boycott of the 158 members. I know that there are many others who share my desire to use the 158 members' endorsed tactic to express their opposition to a boycott of Israeli academics. I hope to get this information out to them as soon as possible.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Alan Edelstein Sacramento, California

Sderot - an ordinary town with extraordinary people

2007-05-23T12:26:00.000+03:00

A Man who lost his wife, and 3 children in attack goes south to help

Boaz Shabo, a Magen David Adom volunteer from the Dan Region who lost his wife and three children in a terror attack on their home in Itamar five years ago, has gone to help out in Sderot.
Shabo, who has four other children - two of them married - and one grandchild, asked them if they agreed to his going to the town, which is being bombarded by Kassam rockets from Gaza.
"Go help people, just as we were helped," they said.

Although he was asked to bolster the MDA staff in Ashkelon, Shabo said he prefers to volunteer in the "eye of the storm," in Sderot itself. In the past few days, he has already treated a number of people wounded in rocket attacks.

"After what I went through I can help people, because I understand what they're going through," he said. "I can speak to them eye to eye, not like a psychologist or a social worker who speaks in theory. I'm happy that I've been there for several days and helped people. And I hope I can go back and help as long as I'm needed."

Shabo's wife, Rahel, and three of their children were murdered in 2002 when a terrorist entered their home in Itamar.

"I was on my way home from work," he says, recalling the terrible night. "I spoke to my wife about preparations for Shabbat, and at the checkpoint I heard that a terrorist had locked himself up in a home in Itamar. I had a gut feeling it was my house, and when I got home, I saw I was right."

Shabo's two older children, Atara and Yariv, managed to get out the front door when the terrorist broke open the back one and opened fire. After security forces killed the terrorist, his son Asael, then nine, who had been seriously wounded and later had his leg amputated, was brought out, along with Aviya, then 14, who was also seriously hurt. Then, four bodies were removed - Rahel, his wife, and sons Neriya (15), Zvi (12) and Avishai (five).

After the funerals, Shabo was determined to be both father and mother to his surviving children. He also decided to volunteer with MDA.

"Giving so as not to receive is my therapy and helps me go on," he says.

Shabo also volunteered on an ambulance during a terror attack on Rehov Allenby in Tel Aviv and in the North during the Second Lebanon War.

"I have shown the terrorist that with all the pain and unbearable loss, he did not destroy my entire family," he says, smiling he presents a photo of his new granddaughter on his cellular phone.

Written by JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

Three cheers for genuine sportsmanship!

2007-05-18T18:12:00.000+03:00

The magic of Israel ... The dreaded English football hooligan turned into a happy holiday-maker!

2007-05-18T13:22:00.001+03:00

When England met Israel at the May 11th game everyone expected violence, but England football fans were bowled over and disarmed by the warmth of the welcome from the Israelis.

Even when England failed to achieve the win they needed, everything stayed calm and we in Israel are delighted to say that we didn’t meet a single soccer hooligan!

Just shows what can be done when people of good-will get together!

And now look at the repercussions!

Israel flights may take off : A DIRECT air link between Manchester and Tel Aviv moved a step closer this week.

… on Wednesday, Israel tourism boss Uzi Gafni disclosed: "We are on the verge of signing an agreement with Thomson." …. "All of a sudden there is a lot of interest," Mr Gafni went on.

"It is something which has been in the pipeline," he said. "Nothing has been confirmed as yet."

Mr Gafni said that the highlight of his career had been to accompany Sir Bobby Charlton to the recent Israel-England football match in Tel Aviv.

Since the return of the 5,000 English fans, he has received many letters from them saying that they had not realised what a great holiday destination Israel was, and how they would like to become the Jewish state's "ambassadors of goodwill".

English soccer fans in Tel Aviv said they felt more welcome in Israel than in any country they have travelled to so far when following their national team.

One group of fans sitting and drinking into the late hours on the Tel Aviv beachfront said that in their short time in the country, they had developed a very positive view of Israel.

"I came over yesterday, and I can't get over how relaxed it feels," said Tony from Swindon. "The Israeli people I met were all really friendly and welcoming. This is a lovely, lovely country. It's got great beaches too," he added.

"If you go to France, everyone pretends they don't speak in English, but here in Israel, everyone speaks English to you," Tim from Derby said. "I'm astonished by how quickly we got through the airport," he added.

"I would never think to come to Israel, but now that I've experienced it, I am thinking differently. I would like to return here with my family," Tim said. "I've told my wife on the phone that we should come back here together."

Another fan drinking one of many beers at the Mike's Place bar, said: "I've only met people here with good intentions. This is a fantastic country."

Thanks Lads. That's what we keep telling you! .... Karine Aleph

If You're Going to Boycott Israel, Do It Right! by Barry Shaw

2007-05-18T10:34:00.000+03:00

Daily Sport December 28, 2006.

O.K. So I understand that you are ticked off at Israel, and in love with the Palestinians.
That's fine with me, as long as you have truly weighed up all the facts.

So, you want to boycott Israel? I'll be sorry to miss you, but if you are doing it - do it properly. Let me help you.

Make sure that you do not have tablets, drops, lotions, etc., made by Abic or Teva.
It may mean that you will suffer from colds and flu this winter but, hey, that's a small price for you to pay in your campaign against Israel, isn't it?
While we are on the subject of your Israeli boycott, and the medical contributions to the world made by Israeli doctors and scientists, how about telling your pals to boycott the following....
An Israeli company has developed a simple blood test that distinguishes between mild and more severe cases of Multiple Sclerosis.
So, if you know anyone suffering from MS, tell them to ignore the Israeli patent that may, more accurately, diagnose their symptoms.
An Israeli-made device helps restore the use of paralysed hands. This device electrically stimulates the hand muscles, providing hope to millions of stroke sufferers and victims of spinal injuries.
If you wish to remove this hope of a better quality of life to these people, go ahead and boycott Israel.
Young children with breathing problems will soon be sleeping more soundly, thanks to a new Israeli device called the Child Hood.
This innovation replaces the inhalation mask with an improved drug delivery system that provides relief for child and parent.
Please tell anxious mothers that they shouldn't use this device because of your passionate cause.
These are just a few examples of how people have benefitted medically from the Israeli know-how you wish to block.
Boycotts often affect research.
A new research center in Israel hopes to throw light on brain disorders such as depression and Alzheimer's disease.
The Joseph Sangol Neuroscience Center in the Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer Hospital aims to bring thousands of scientists and doctors to focus on brain research.
A researcher at Israel's Ben Gurion University has succeeded in creating human monoclonal antibodies which can neutralise the highly contageous smallpox virus without inducing the dangerous side effects of the exisiting vaccine.
Two Israelis received the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Doctors Ciechanover and Hershko's research and discovery of one of the human cells most important cyclical processes will lead the way to DNA repair, control of newly produced proteins, and immune defense systems.
The Movement Disorder Surgery program at Israel's Hadassah Medical Center has successfully eliminated the physical manifestations of Parkinson's disease in a select group of patients with a deep brain stimulation technique.
For women who undergo hysterectomies each year for the treatment of uterine fibroids, the development in Israel of the ExAblate 2000 System is a welcome breakthrough, offering a non-invasive alternative to surgery.
Israel is developing a nose drop that will provide a five year flu vaccine.
These are just a few of the projects that you can help stop with your Israeli boycott.
But let's not get too obsessed with medical research, there are other ways you can make a personal sacrifice with your anti-Israel boycott.

Most of Windows operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel.
So, set a personal example. Throw away your computer!

The Pentium NMX Chip technology was designed at Intel in Israel.
Both the Pentium 4 microprocessor and the Centrium processor were entirely designed, developed, and produced in Israel.
Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 in Israel by four young Israeli whiz kids.
Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R.& D facilities outside the US in Israel.
So, due to your complete boycott of anything Israeli, you now have poor health and no computer.

But your bad news does not end there. Get rid of your cellular phone!

Cell phone technology was also developed in Israel by Motorola, which has its biggest development center in Israel.
Most of the latest technology in your mobile phone was developed by Israeli scientists.

Feeling unsettled? You should be. Part of your personal security rests with Israeli inventiveness, borne out of our urgent neccesity to protect and defend our lives from the terrorists you support.

A phone can remotely activate a bomb, or be used for tactical communications by terrorists, bank robbers, or hostage-takers.
It is vital that official security and law enforcement authorities have access to celluar jamming and detection solutions.
Enter Israel's Netline Communications Technologies with their security expertise to help the fight against terror.
A joint, non-profit, venture between Israel and Maryland will result in a 5 day Business Development and Planning Conference next March.
Selected Israeli companies will partner with Maryland firms to provide innovation to the US need for homeland security.
I also want you to know that Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
Israel produces more scientific papers per capita - 109 per 10,000 - than any other nation.
Israel has the highest number of start-up companies per rata. In absolute terms, the highest number, except the US.
Israel has the highest ratio of patents filed. Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies outside of Silicon Valley.
Israel is ranked 2 in the world for venture capital funds, behind the USA.
Israel has more museums per capita.
Israel has the second highest publication of new books per capita.
Relative to population, Israel is the largest immigrant absorbing nation on earth.
These immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom or expression, economic opportunity, and quality of life.
Believe it or not, Israel is the only country in the world which had a net gain in the number of trees last year.
So, you can vilify and demonize the State of Israel. You can continue your silly boycott, if you wish. But I wish you would consider the consequences, and the truth.
Think of the massive contribution that Israel is giving to the world, including the Palestinians - and to you - in science, medicine, communications, security.
Pro rata for population we are making a greater contribution than any other
nation on earth.
________ BARRY SHAW __________
But hey! you don't need us ... so go ahead. Boycott us! ... Karine Aleph

The Muhammed Al-Dura affair

2007-05-17T17:19:00.000+03:00

The cameraman

He went looking for a scoop
He went down to where Palestinians and Israelis were locked in deadly fire
He put himself in a place where he would be safe

He watched and filmed
Like a spider spinning a web
He silently and stealthily recorded the scene

He watched and filmed
Like a spider waiting for his prey to be caught in the net
He did not try to stop the tragedy that was unfolding before his eyes

He watched and filmed
Like a spider watching his prey struggle to be free
He did not try to alert anyone to the boy’s predicament

He watched and filmed
Like a spider savouring the moment when his prey would weaken
He did not use his mobile phone

He watched and filmed
Like a spider enjoying the dying throes of his prey
He did not weep or protest or make any sound

He watched and filmed
Like a spider feasting on his prey
He rejoiced as he got his “scoop”

The father

He decided to take his son with him “to buy a car”
He went down to where Palestinians and Israelis were locked in deadly fire
He did not worry about his son’s safety

He crouched in front of a wall with his son behind him
He did not cradle his son
He did not protect his son from the Palestinian fire behind him

He crouched in front of a wall with his son behind him
He left his son exposed to the Palestinian fire behind him
He made no gestures of protest

He crouched in the shelter of a wall with his son behind him
He did not use his own body to protect his son from the Palestinian fire
He used his son’s body to protect his own back

He crouched close to the wall with his son behind him
He did not pull his son around to be under him away from the Palestinian fire
He only huddled down further beneath his son

He crouched in front of a wall with his son behind him
He did not cradle his son from the Palestinian fire
He made feeble motions that were seen only by the cameraman who continued to film

He crouched in front of a wall with his son behind him
He did not leap to his feet to save his son from the Palestinian fire
He slumped down when his son was hit by Palestinian bullets and the cameraman continued to film

The Palestinian freedom fighter

He fired at the Israeli enemy
He did not hold his fire because a little boy and his father were caught in his crossfire
He just made sure that he himself was in a place where he would be safe

He fired at the Israeli enemy
He did not alert anyone to the boy’s plight
He kept on shooting when he knew the boy could be hit

He fired at the Israeli enemy
He did not tell those who were shooting alongside him about the boy
He did not care who died as long as it was not himself

He fired at the Israeli enemy
He shot the little boy and felt no remorse
He only rejoiced that now he had something to blame on his enemy

The Israeli soldier

He fired at his Palestinian enemy
He could see his target through a haze of smoke
He prayed that he and his team would get out alive

He fired at the Palestinian enemy
He did not know that a little boy and his father were crouching by a wall
He had no view of where they were

He fired at the Palestinian enemy
He did not know that a little boy and his father were exposed to Palestinian fire
He was not alerted by the cameraman to stop shooting to let them leave

He fired at the Palestinian enemy
He did not know that a little boy was dying
He had no idea yet how he would be blamed for something he knew nothing about

The Press

They revelled in the juicy story, made a hero of the boy, a martyr of the father and a monster of the Israeli soldier. They did not investigate the logistics. They did not check the facts.

And even now, years after when commission after commission has revealed the truth that THE BOY WAS NOT KILLED BY ISRAELI FIRE they do not change their story.

They do not admit their mistake. They continue to perpetuate the lie. Continue to fan the fires of hatred against Israel.

The cameraman has not been brought to justice. He of all people, he who could have stopped this tragedy, benefited most.

His work is shown around the world. His precious footage, for which he laid aside all human decency, is shown and exalted. Thanks to him new generations learn hatred and fear.

He sold his soul and won fame for eternity.

What a sad reflection on the moral values of today.

http://jeffweintraub.blogspot.com/2003/05/who-shot-mohammed-al-dura-james.html
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/011781.php
http://www.seconddraft.org/movies.php