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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Portland Hadassah Board Installation Dinner









The Portland, Oregon Hadassash installation of new officers took place at a dinner at Neveh Shalom in the Atrium tonight. Afterwards, the group played a bingo game that tested their knowledge about Israel. One of the main goals of Hadassah is to help Israel. There is a Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem that it helps to support . 350,000 women throughout the United States belong to Hadassah. You don't have to be Jewish to belong. Today, men are joining, too.





Sunday, June 22, 2008

Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon's Brunch/Steven Morse, Speaker




A brunch was today's last meeting of the season with our Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon. We had Stephen Morse as the speaker. He is one of the world's most outstanding computer geniuses who has done so much to help genealogists in their searches using the computer. His website is http://stevemorse.org/. If you go to it you will find all kinds of assistance.




One of his interests are calendars. He explained the Jewish calendar, which is based on lunar and solar movements. On his website you can find the Jewish date by inserting the date used today. He also explained the Julian, Gregorian and other calendars. We learned that on the Jewish calendar, one month is defined to be 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 3 and 1/3 seconds. On the Jewish calendar, the day starts at sundown, but the mathematicians say the day starts at 6pm and then count the hours. Of course, to know if shabbat is over, we look for 3 stars in the sky as most all do in Israel as the sky is so black and the stars are so big and shiny. Here, we just look on our calendars.



What I enjoyed was when he used the names of famous people and found them on the Ellis Island website and showed how to find people when there are many with the same names. As it turns out, Mayor La Guardia of New York had a Jewish orthodox mother who lived in Italy.



His website uses all sorts of other websites for searches such as:

zabasearch.com, birthdatabase.com, PrivateEye.com. Now I will just go to his website to do searches. Up to now I've used ancestry.com and haven't searched further. I sure will now.



If you need to know other languages and alphabets, go to his website. He even will show the Russian alphabet in the printed and cursive forms.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

GRAD ROCKETS HIT ASHKELON BEFORE PLANNED LULL

With a lull in the shooting planned for Thursday, June 19th, the Hamas terrorists are shooting grad rockets into Ashkelon, Portland's sister city. One person was wounded. Later more were fired, hitting outside of Sderot and near Kfar Aza. Evidently they plan on continued shooting till the 6 am stopping time, if they will adhere to their own agreement.

Mayor Roni Mahatzri said that rockets keep on exploding in Ashkelon and the terrorists continue warring on Israel. We're at war.

One month ago two Grad Katyusha missiles fired by Hamas terrorists hit southern Ashkelon hitting a children's medical clinic inside a shopping center. Part of the building collapsed and trapped four people. Almost 100 people were injured.

Ashkelon is Israel's 13th largest city with 110,000 residents and home of one of the largest power plants. Terrorists have been shooting at it since 2005. Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin signed the Oslo agreement and didn't believe this would ever be a result.

Sderot has 20,000 rewidents. There are surrounding kibbutzim and moshavim. They've been under attack for seven years. Last October terrorists in Gaza have fired rockets in Netivot with a population of 26,000.

Reference: Arutz Sheva, by Hillel Fendell: Hamas talks calm, fires Katyushas

Monday, June 16, 2008

NOT OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Nadene Goldfoot
By continually calling the West Bank and the Gaza Strip "occupied", the Palestinians have convinced the world that they are, but legally they are not. Palestinians then continue with "resisting occupation"

Before 1967, Jordan had occupied the West Bank and Egypt had occupied the Gaza Strip because they had illegally invaded in 1948. Jordan then annexed the West Bank in 1950. This was only recognized by Great Britain and Pakistan, and rejected by most others, including the Arab states.

Then Jordan insisted on the 1949 Armistice Line that was the Israeli-Jordanian boundary until 1967, and this again was not a recognized border but only a line separating armies. With the West Bank and Gaza, there were no internationally recognized sovereign control previously existing, but the stigma of Israel being occupiers is being used.


Stephen Schwebel headed the International Court of Justice in Hague. He wrote in 1970 about Israel. He said, "Where the prior holder of territory had seized that territory unlawfully, the state which subsequently takes that territory in the lawful exercise of self-defense has, against that prior holder, better title.

On July 5, 1967, Israel entered the West Bank after much Jordanian artillery fire and ground movements across previous armistice lines. Jordan attacked Israel at 10am. Israel warned Jordan at 11am. Jordan continued to attack. Then Israel retaliated at 12:45pm. Also Iraq crossed Jordan and were ready to enter the West Bank. The boundaries of 1949 were then null and void. That's how Israel came into the West Bank. It was a defensive war.

This term has never been used with other countries and has been only applied to Israel.
Kashmir is referred to as a disputed area.
Azerbaijan's small patch calimed as an independent republic by Armenian separatistss is the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Morroco is not occupying Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony.
Zubarah, the Persian Gulf island claimed by both Qatar and Bahrain is disputed territory.
Northern Cyprus, Kurile Island, Abu Musa in the Persian Gulf are not occupied territories.

Only we in the whole world are called "occupiers" whereas there have been similar situations in other lands. This language" has allowed Palestinian spokesmen to obfuscate this history." This is how they change the causes of the conflicts for Westerners. People now think that fighting over the West Bank and even Jerusalem is the result of Israel occupying these areas and covers the truth that the Arab states invaded Israel in 1967 and Israel won by defending itself.

Even describing the territories as "Palestinian" mars the truth. It has prejudged the outcome of future negotiations. Saying that they are "resisting occupation" is a ploy to cover their terrorist activities.

Ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright had it right when she said in 1994, "We simply do not support the description of the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 War as occupied Palestinian territory."

Reference: http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp470.htm Dore Gold's aricle: FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORIES TO DISPUTED TERRITORIES

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

David Guterson, Author in Cedar Hills

David Guterson, author of "Snow Falling On Cedars" was reading from his new book, "The Other" on Monday night, June 8th in Cedar Hills at Powell's Book Store. He is the cousin of my cousin's wife once removed, so Lorraine and I drove all the way from Gresham to Cedar Hills to hear him and buy his book. Two other cousins showed up, and we were pleased to find most all the seats were filled with people who enjoy his books.

David's mother was from South Portland and lived very close to my grandmother near the Neighborhood House. David was brought up in Washington, but does get to Portland now and then. His new book is situated here and at Reed College, making it most interesting to me.

David made his name with the Japanese story taking place during the WWII in Washington winning a Peneaulkner Award with the book. I hope his new one does well. He used some words in his talk that I was unfamiliar with; what a vocabulary he has.

The two main characters in "The Other"graduated high school in 1974. They go in different directions.

Before he started writing he was a high school English teacher. I wonder if his students realized how gifted he is.

You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Last night my son and I went to see the new movie, You Don't Mess With the Zohan with Adam Sandler. My son is an adult. It's full of sex, so children shouldn't see it. It was so stupid that it was hilarious. What caught my ear were the Hebrew words and Israeli music that flowed through this absurd slapstick movie.

Adam plays the part of a superhero type Israeli terrorist fighter in the IDF. He can do things that even Superman can't do. But the poor soul doesn't like fighting. He really wants to cut hair, causing his parents to laugh and call him a faigalah.

Somehow he gets to the states where he pursues his desire to be a hair stylist and the hysterical antics continue. There is a lot of gross sex, mistreatment of animals, and fantasy fighting that takes the movie out of the reality realm. You laugh despite yourself. He is ridiculous. I can't decide who is funnier, this Zohan or Borat. They're both the same genre. Then again this has a message of peace. It shows how Palestinians and Israelis could actually get along.

None of us "normal" folks could ever think up a scenario like this movie presents. It truly has some shocking scenes. Some of the film was shot in Israel, so I got to see a glimpse of some beach resorts there. I enjoyed it very much. I needed a laugh.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Obama's Key Advisor is Anti Israel

David Edward Bonior, former Congressman, a Representative from Detroit, Michigan is Obama's right hand man. He was the campaign manager for John Edwards but quickly went over to Obama, even before Edwards did. Bonior is very much against Israel. Does graduating from Notre Dame High do that to you?

The AIPAC speech of Obama is still ringing in my ears. He turned so quickly after making such a persuasive speech. Such a speech was remarkable considering his background and friends, but there is always hope. I think that hope has just died.

Bonior is known for his strong opposition to pro-Israel policies, called by some as the biggest supporter of the anti-Israel Arab lobby in Congress. Obama just got rid of several of his men that were also Israel bashers, probably to gain votes, and now has the worst of all on his team. This man was one of 15 signing a letter in 1997 asking Clinton to pressure Israelis into making concessions to the Palestinians. In 2002 he was one of 21 opposing a bill 392 which affirmed support of Israel's right to self-defense and called for the dismantling of the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure. In 1990 he was one of 34 to vote against naming Jerusalem as the capital. In 1989 he was one of 6 to vote against preventing US funds from going to the UN entities that granted PLO membership. He has always opposed US aid to Israel and supported arms sales to Arab states opposed to Israel's existence.

What can we expect when we know that Obama has been hanging out with Arab groups who are against Israel. This is the outcome that Democrats have been unwilling to face.

Reference: http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/12883.htm

Differences For Israel

Out of the rains in Portland come some of my thoughts concerning Israel, my other homeland. Sixty years of striving for peace while still being productive is a true miracle, but hard on its citizens.

Israel has it a lot rougher than other countries have had it. I note that other countries have a war and then make up and become best of friends. Look at the relationship the USA has had. We’ve had wars with Mexico, Germany and Japan. Now we are friends with all three. Going back even farther, we were at war with England, and they are now our best friend. England and Ireland are finally at peace. Germany was fighting all of Europe and now is a major player with them all. Japan and China fought each other. They’re not now.

However, Jews started fighting with Arabs in the days of Abraham. That was in the days of underpopulation, when it was important to have many children. The custom allowed for taking more than one wife in order to accomplish this goal. That spelled out trouble. Sarah, Abe’s first wife, decided that her handmaiden Hagar’s son was a rascal and was a bad influence on her newly born son, so insisted that Abraham send them both away, proabably back to Egypt. That caused Hagar and her son to almost be killed and resentment was the outcome that was never softened. Much later in the 6th century when Mohammed began his crusades, Jews wouldn’t convert, being happy with their own religion. Many suffered from the sword or avoided the death penalty by converting. Jews finally were allowed to live in Arab countries but as 2nd class citizens. A few managed to do well, but again; many didn’t. The original jealousy has been hanging over our heads ever since.

America is a Christian country. Jews are only 1% of the population. Muslims are probably a little less than that. Other religions may be here but are of very small percentages. In Israel, Muslims make up 20% of the population which was established to be the one Jewish state in the world. The Democatic country has managed to accomodate them, but already has three Muslim political parties attending the Knesset meetings. Any growth in this area and Israel will be in danger of losing its original purpose. Many Arabs are trying to push for a one state situation and allow all the descendants of Palestinians who fled the area in 1948 to return. It is a grand plan to drown Israel. Yet, a two state solution means annexing land from Israel to become Palestine. Here I am comparing Israel to the USA, and Israel is about as big as Rhode Island, or about 1/3 the size of Oregon. Neither solution is good, as far as I can see.

I am sunk into depression thinking of the huge piece of land next door called Jordan. They are so much bigger, already Muslim, and could hold the Palestinians so much easier than we could. Our land is so small compared to other places, yet our government with Rice in the lead wants to chop off part of it in order to appease the Palestinians.

Jordan became Jordan because a sheik knew enough to yell loudly that he wanted some of the action, and he was given the land about at the same time that Israel was created again. Why one shiek had so much influence on Britain is amazing to me, when Israel had to jump through hoops to get the decision through the UN that they were declared a state. Perhaps they thought of big oil reserves there.

Israel has no oil. We wanted the land worth nothing. Nobody had done anything with it. It was either an arid desert or a slimy swamp. It shouldn’t have had to have been fought over. Now that Israelis have worked it, and it is a garden of Eden again, Arabs want it.

Meeting in Jerusalem on June 15th

Important decisions on Jerusalem may be decided on June 15th in Jerusalem at a meeting with Condoleeza Rice, Israel's Tzipi Livni, and the Palestinian's Ahmed Qurie.

Things that are keeping negotiations are the violence from Gaza by Hamas who are shooting rockets into Israel which are killing civilians and the "settlement expansion" by the Israelis.

It seems to me that the question of our being able to work on adding onto settlements is moot. The fact is that the Palestinian Hamas has not recognized Israel and is shooting at us from Gaza daily. Nothing can be accomplished if they wish to destroy us and that is their primary goal in life. As long as they feel this way and act accordingly, we might as well go ahead and work on some construction project. We aim to stay right there. They want us out of the area completely. That's why they are against our building.

Anything we are doing that they can complain about is due to having to respond to their attacks. If they would accept and recognize us in the first place, the whole area would be peaceful. Condoleeza, that has to be addressed first. It's hard to be friendly when your neighbors are trying to kill you and your family and keep telling you that you're not wanted in the neighborhood. Can't you relate a little to that?


Reuters News

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Why I Worry About Obama

Obama belonged to a church for 20 years where his Minister Wright spoke against Israel and was friends with Louis Farrakhan, a known anti-Semite. He did nothing that we know of to talk to his minister and change his thinking. He did nothing to improve Jewish-African American relations in those 20 years.

Obama picked as his advisors several anti-Israel thinking people. They are Zbigniew Brzezinksi, Robert Malley, Samantha Power and General McPeak. The general happens to live in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Now that he is the presidential pick for the Democrats, I hear he has dropped Brzezinksi. In fact, I read that he has now dropped all of them.

Obama attended most all Palestinian gatherings, and though he is a known Christian, had many occasions to be with people who supported the Palestinians in their terror against Israel.

Now Obama has spoken to AIPAC gloriously about supporting Israel, only to reneg an hour later about keeping Jerusalem in Israel's hands since the Arabs have made it known that they want Jerusalem as their capitol. After such a strong speech, why did he cave in so quickly? Hadn't he studied the problem previously? After speaking with his friends, didn't he know anything about the history and feelings on both sides? What kind of determination does this show? I would love it if Obama were pro-Israel and felt he had good reasons for feeling that way. I hate it if he is just saying it to gain votes from our 1% of the nation.

In order to gain the nomination, I see that he has cast his friends aside who cause eyebrows to be raised. I'm glad that he did this, but am concerned about why it took him so long to do so and what he has done and would do to keep his position. I think he has closed the barn door after the cows got out.

Reference: http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/news/article.php?id=2796
Many of my blog articles: http://israel-nadene.blogspot.com/
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 6, 2008

Obama's Promise to AIPAC Renegged

Obama spoke to AIPAC and declared his complete, unqualified support for a Jewish Jerusalem. The Holy City, he said, "will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."

Within hours the Palestinian leader Abbas complained and Obama renegged. He caved in and altered his decision by saying that it will be on the table. The Palestinians plan on having Jerusalem for their capital. This was first reported on the radio Thursday night, June 5th. Now it has finally come out on internet news.

Everyone knows that Jerusalem is paramount in Jewish history and in its religion. We have a saying that if we forget Jerusalem, may we lose our right hand. The United States has not helped in the past. They have their consolate in Tel Aviv, afraid to anger the Muslims.

This is the major sticky point in any peace talks with the Palestinians. Jerusalem was in major ruin when we rescued it in 1967. Arabs were using cemeteries as latrines, destroying many important places. Now that it has been in Israeli hands, all major religions enjoy their place in Jerusalem. That wasn't the case before. Jerusalem is not a major city in the Muslim religion. It's only high point is that Muhammed rose and went to heaven there. What Israel has, the Palestinians want. It's that simple.

So much for a strong speaker and promises to AIPAC.
Resource: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0608/obama_aipac3.php3

Monday, June 2, 2008

Iran is Dangerous

Most of today's letters in the Oregonian about Iran show little knowledge about what's happening there. Some letters were questioning our right to expect other countries like Iran to not have nuclear weapons when we have so much of it.

Iran has the main training camp near Isfahan for terrorists from Iraq, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The training staff are teaching how to sabatage strategic targets like routes, bridges and military installations, and in activating roadside bombs (EFPs which had deadly effects on American troops in Iraq. They also have munitions factories that send missiles and bombs to these places.

Just today Ahmadinejad said "Israel would soon disappear off the map and that the "satanic power" of the United States faced destruction" when speaking to foreign guests marking the week's 19th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.

One letter believed the 2003 report that Iran had ended its nuclear weapons program already and is not doing anything illegal and is not threatening anyone with it. They believe it's a misquote that Iran threatened to wipe Israel off the map!

Two days ago their defense minister Gen. Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar warned us: "Iran's Armed forces are fully prepared to counter any military attack with any intensity..they will make the enemy regret initiating any such incursions."

Iran is very close to having atomic weapons. That's the worry.They have made threats repeatedly and could carry them out. I've read that they are only about three months away from having their weapons.

Resource:
Oregonian Letters to the Editor 6/2/08
Ynetnews.com
gerardrobins@sbcglobal.net: Limited US attack on Iranian Revolutionary Guards bases in sight