Today's letter to the editor titled, "A switch to Obama" gives me the shivers. Stephen Salisbury of Newport stated that, "We need to balance our trade, inform the Israelis that we will no longer come to their aid when they decide to poke someone in the eye,....."
That's about the gist of what people understand, I'm afraid. They just see us as two states squabbling over something, and that Israel must be the aggressor. I have a feeling that sound bites are the only sources of information for most of our Oregonians, or anyone, for that matter, unless they're one of the two principles involved.
What the many don't realize is that Israel is important to the United States. We're the only democracy in the Middle East, for one thing. Out of Israel has come thousands of inventions in the medical field that are benefiting the world, and that in an environment of war. What could be accomplished in a time of peace would be fantastic! Israelis are helping Americans in their fight against terrorists, for they have learned the hard way and have had lots of practice in this area.
The aid America has given Israel has been financial, but not any more than other countries have received. They have also been there to help negotiate in the peace process with terrorists, and then sometimes the help isn't so helpful. I think they are learning on the job, or OJT. We haven't had any American soldiers coming to help our fight with the terrorists. We haven't asked for any. If Mr. Salisbury thinks that Condoleeza Rice shouldn't go over to Israel to advise, I'd have to agree. She wants the barriers Israel has set up removed so that Palestinians can move around easier. That's what Israel is afraid of. They don't want terrorism to come into their land. That's why the barriers are there. I feel that's the kind of aid we can do without, thank you very much.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Portland-Ashkelon Sister City Association Event for Israel's Birthday
Today we celebrated Israel's birthday, Yom Hatzmaut, by having a table at Neveh Shalom in the Bazaar when Sunday School was over. Diane, an architect, created a huppa that was behind us with represented waves of the sea at Ashkelon hanging from above. We were visited by a young man who had been an IDF soldier and had lived in Ashkelon. His son was born there. They had a birthing problem, and found out that Barzelai Hospital was as good as any in Israel, which relieved him greatly. Tamar had several power point presentations going on about Ashkelon on her computer. The best part was the catered food which was a fallafel plate with pita, humous and salads. Hmmm, it was delicious. It made me feel like I was back in Israel. Great Israeli music played throughout the room. That and good friends that stopped by to chat and read about Ashkelon made the day.
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Mess Gaza Is In
It's a war between Hamas and Israel, but it's being fought in a peculiar way. Hamas has told the world outright that they intend to destroy Israel. Israel has accepted the other half of the PLO, the Fatah terrorists, as being serious about establishing a state of Palestine in their territory and being fairly peaceful about it, except for a few bouts of terror like the slaughter of the Yeshiva boys at school.
Hamas has done everything possible to foul things up in Gaza. They have targeted the electric supply in Israel that gives Gazans some of their electricity, and then they complain about not having any electricity. They use all their money from the donations of other Arab states for weaponry and rockets instead of improving Gaza.
Israel pulled out a year ago and all they have done is attack Israel and call them "occupiers." Their normal business activity hasn't been able to resume because of roadblocks Israel has had to put up to defend themselves from terrorists who try to kill Israelis, then they complain because of the roadblocks.
The Gazans have been dumping their sewage into the sea, which is much easier for them than using any of their money to convert or clean the sewage as Israel does. Israel has actually tried to help them. They bite the hand that helps them, however. This sewage problem is causing problems for all the people in the area.
Instead of getting at the root of the cause to change the effect, Condoleeza Rice has asked Israel to get rid of roadblocks. Never mind that that is exactly what the terrorists want in order to kill more civilians. Rockets shot into Israel isn't enough for them.
The U.N. has had to stop providing emergency food aid to 13+% of the 750,000 Palestinians that they feed in Gaza because of rising prices and funding shortages.
The U.N. expects Israel to dismantle all the settlements on the West Bank and all outposts built since March 2001. I wonder if they realize that Palestinians who come to work in Israel probably did the building. That gave them jobs. It's on the land belonging to Israel. It isn't Palestine, yet, and may not be for the next 100 years if they keep trying to drive Israel into the sea. For as long as the Palestinians declare that they won't recognize Israel, why should we recognize that parts of Israel should be given to them after 60 years of offers and war?
Even the Arab states must be wondering if they are throwing good money away by giving it to the Palestinians. They have not made good their commitments promised at a Paris conference in December. They know what it will be spent on. It's like giving money to drug pushers. The United Nations, the United States, Rusia and the European Union are putting pressure on them to give Hamas money, knowing full well that it's not going to bring much relief to the people of Gaza. What makes them think that terrorists who hide behind civilian adults and children would bother to feed the hungry? They'll use the money for their own interests of making weapons.
What should have happened in my opinion was for Egypt to step in and take control of Gaza again when we pulled out, but they couldn't because the Gazans voted for Hamas to rule them. This is what they got. Food shortages, electric brown-outs, and lack of jobs and a lot of bombing and killing. They should have voted for Abbas. Because they goofed again and voted illogically, they are suffering. Hamas is not worried, however. Israel is getting all the blame.
Reference: AFP
"Deliver me not to the wishes of my tormentors, for there have arisen against me false witnesses who breathe out violence."
Hamas has done everything possible to foul things up in Gaza. They have targeted the electric supply in Israel that gives Gazans some of their electricity, and then they complain about not having any electricity. They use all their money from the donations of other Arab states for weaponry and rockets instead of improving Gaza.
Israel pulled out a year ago and all they have done is attack Israel and call them "occupiers." Their normal business activity hasn't been able to resume because of roadblocks Israel has had to put up to defend themselves from terrorists who try to kill Israelis, then they complain because of the roadblocks.
The Gazans have been dumping their sewage into the sea, which is much easier for them than using any of their money to convert or clean the sewage as Israel does. Israel has actually tried to help them. They bite the hand that helps them, however. This sewage problem is causing problems for all the people in the area.
Instead of getting at the root of the cause to change the effect, Condoleeza Rice has asked Israel to get rid of roadblocks. Never mind that that is exactly what the terrorists want in order to kill more civilians. Rockets shot into Israel isn't enough for them.
The U.N. has had to stop providing emergency food aid to 13+% of the 750,000 Palestinians that they feed in Gaza because of rising prices and funding shortages.
The U.N. expects Israel to dismantle all the settlements on the West Bank and all outposts built since March 2001. I wonder if they realize that Palestinians who come to work in Israel probably did the building. That gave them jobs. It's on the land belonging to Israel. It isn't Palestine, yet, and may not be for the next 100 years if they keep trying to drive Israel into the sea. For as long as the Palestinians declare that they won't recognize Israel, why should we recognize that parts of Israel should be given to them after 60 years of offers and war?
Even the Arab states must be wondering if they are throwing good money away by giving it to the Palestinians. They have not made good their commitments promised at a Paris conference in December. They know what it will be spent on. It's like giving money to drug pushers. The United Nations, the United States, Rusia and the European Union are putting pressure on them to give Hamas money, knowing full well that it's not going to bring much relief to the people of Gaza. What makes them think that terrorists who hide behind civilian adults and children would bother to feed the hungry? They'll use the money for their own interests of making weapons.
What should have happened in my opinion was for Egypt to step in and take control of Gaza again when we pulled out, but they couldn't because the Gazans voted for Hamas to rule them. This is what they got. Food shortages, electric brown-outs, and lack of jobs and a lot of bombing and killing. They should have voted for Abbas. Because they goofed again and voted illogically, they are suffering. Hamas is not worried, however. Israel is getting all the blame.
Reference: AFP
"Deliver me not to the wishes of my tormentors, for there have arisen against me false witnesses who breathe out violence."
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Holocaust Day Today
We remember the 6 million people who died in the Holocaust every year. This remembrance is called Yom HaShoah, or, the day of the Holocaust. It's a sad day. One way 12,000 Jews, Poles and World War II survivors remembered was to have a March of the Living at Auschwitz-Birkenau honoring the 12 million's memory. This is in Poland and is the 17th year of having such a march.
Here, 1.1 millions Jews, Poles and Gypsies "Roma", and probably homosexuals died. Auschwitz was liberated by the Russians in January 1945.
We have a happy holiday called Purim. It commemorates the survival of the Jews of Persia "Iran" when a despot, an advisor of king Ahashueros named Hamen, plotted to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, which was extensive. Queen Esther pleaded with her husband and saved the Jews by exposing the plot, and this resulted in Hamen's execution along with his seven sons.
It is said that history repeats itself. That's twice that we have survived two plans of being exterminated off the face of this earth. Do you wonder that we have taken the new threat from Iran very seriously? Again, they are planning on our total destruction, this time with an atomic weapon.
Iran says, in the land of the sun where solar energy should be reigning, that they need atomic energy for fuel. We have a sneaking suspicion that they want it for weaponry. There is a Uranium Conversion Factory just outside the city of Isfahan, 410 kilometers south of Teheran. It is suspected that a plant to make weapons is underground and would be scattered in many buildings to avoid detection. Scientists suspect that they will have this nuke technology by next year, instead of by 2010. We're already into May of 2008. Iran is also backing the terrorists in their endeavors to destroy Israel. Many of the weapons found bear Iran's stamp.
The Israeli army is facing it's greatest challenge to protect the existence of Israel. Yes, I remember this day. I pray for Israel and its IDF to have the greatest courage and fortitude and wisdom that they can possibly have. They have vowed that never again will a holocaust happen to us.
Reference: Jerusalem Post
"For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain and to be exterminated. "
Here, 1.1 millions Jews, Poles and Gypsies "Roma", and probably homosexuals died. Auschwitz was liberated by the Russians in January 1945.
We have a happy holiday called Purim. It commemorates the survival of the Jews of Persia "Iran" when a despot, an advisor of king Ahashueros named Hamen, plotted to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, which was extensive. Queen Esther pleaded with her husband and saved the Jews by exposing the plot, and this resulted in Hamen's execution along with his seven sons.
It is said that history repeats itself. That's twice that we have survived two plans of being exterminated off the face of this earth. Do you wonder that we have taken the new threat from Iran very seriously? Again, they are planning on our total destruction, this time with an atomic weapon.
Iran says, in the land of the sun where solar energy should be reigning, that they need atomic energy for fuel. We have a sneaking suspicion that they want it for weaponry. There is a Uranium Conversion Factory just outside the city of Isfahan, 410 kilometers south of Teheran. It is suspected that a plant to make weapons is underground and would be scattered in many buildings to avoid detection. Scientists suspect that they will have this nuke technology by next year, instead of by 2010. We're already into May of 2008. Iran is also backing the terrorists in their endeavors to destroy Israel. Many of the weapons found bear Iran's stamp.
The Israeli army is facing it's greatest challenge to protect the existence of Israel. Yes, I remember this day. I pray for Israel and its IDF to have the greatest courage and fortitude and wisdom that they can possibly have. They have vowed that never again will a holocaust happen to us.
Reference: Jerusalem Post
"For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain and to be exterminated. "
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Love These Blogs
I've run across some blogs that I think are terrific. I was sent a clever piece about the fact that there has never been a state or country called Palestine, and that it was merely the name of an area. It was written by Yashiko Sagamori whose blog covers a lot of factual information about Israel. It's found at http://www.middleeastfacts.com/. The writer is fantastic and tells it like it is.
Another one is UCI which sends me information every day. They are at http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/. I just ran off five handouts with maps, etc. that they sent .
A reader of my blog turned out to have her own and is a student of Jewish studies. Illana's blog is about grandmothers, of which I am one. It's at http://www.grandmothersmillions.com/.
My friend, Victor Sharpe, writes for the Israel Hasbara Committe and is one of Portland's finest writers and historians of Israel. That is found at http://www.infoisrael.net/. He's also the author of several books.
Also, I have another blog about Israel at http://israel-nadene.blogspot.com. Sometimes I can't decide which one to put information in that I want to write.
Another one is UCI which sends me information every day. They are at http://www.israelunitycoalition.org/. I just ran off five handouts with maps, etc. that they sent .
A reader of my blog turned out to have her own and is a student of Jewish studies. Illana's blog is about grandmothers, of which I am one. It's at http://www.grandmothersmillions.com/.
My friend, Victor Sharpe, writes for the Israel Hasbara Committe and is one of Portland's finest writers and historians of Israel. That is found at http://www.infoisrael.net/. He's also the author of several books.
Also, I have another blog about Israel at http://israel-nadene.blogspot.com. Sometimes I can't decide which one to put information in that I want to write.
Defending a 1 to 10 Mile Width Called Israel?
Nadene Goldfoot
If Palestine is ever to be created, and I doubt that it will happen in my lifetime, it would divide the present day Israel in half, taking over Samaria and Judea plus Gaza. This would leave Israel being 9 miles wide in some areas. How could it defend itself against Arab terrorists? This area already contains 70% of Israel's population. 100,000 Israelis now live in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). On September 12, 2005, Israeli soldiers had to remove some Jewish people by force from Gaza, but did for the sake of peace, which never came.
If Palestine is ever to be created, and I doubt that it will happen in my lifetime, it would divide the present day Israel in half, taking over Samaria and Judea plus Gaza. This would leave Israel being 9 miles wide in some areas. How could it defend itself against Arab terrorists? This area already contains 70% of Israel's population. 100,000 Israelis now live in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). On September 12, 2005, Israeli soldiers had to remove some Jewish people by force from Gaza, but did for the sake of peace, which never came.
Bush is planning on accelerating the Road to Peace by visiting Israel shortly after its 60th birthday which falls on May 7th, 2008 this year. One can see that this is a useless idea as the situation with Abbas is lukewarm and Hamas is dead set against the continuance of Israel. Hamas is determined to wipe Israel off the map. Bush seems to want something positive to add to his resume for a change. The thought is great but the land and people are not up for it.
After Israel is destroyed, the U.S. will be the main target of Islam's attacks. The world will just have to step up to the plate and make sure that Israel will not be destroyed. Perhaps we just can't have a Palestine in the already tiny portion of land of Israel. Jordan or some other neighbor like Egypt would do nicely, I think.
Reference: Israel Unity Coalition
"I shall increase your offspring like the stars of heaven, and this entire land of which I spoke, I shall give to your offspring and it shall be their heritage forever."
Sunday, April 27, 2008
OPPOSING VALUES: TERRORISTS AND ISRAELIS
Last month the people in Gaza danced in the streets, gave out candies and celebrated the murder of eight yeshiva students in Jerusalem by one of their people. A trusted Arab driver turned terrorist that the school had trusted. The students were young boys studying as they were murdered. The act of celebrating this slaughter is contrary to Israeli belief and causes utter abhorrence to the Israelis.
Kahil Shikake, Palestinian pollster tells us that 85% of the Palestinians approved of this slaughter, and even he was shocked at the high number. A people has become approving of barbarism!
This wasn't the first incident. Several years ago two Israeli soldiers accidently drove into the city of Ramallah, populated by Palestinians. The soldiers were lynched, dragged through the streets and torn to pieces. The murders marched through the streets showing their blood-covered hands and the people cheered. How terrible can you get? I'm not even sure that the old Romans were that bad.
The highest medal of honor was just given to two terrorists who were murderers in the Sbarro Pizza Store massacre. President Abbas was speaking of peace with Israel but had okayed the medal. How schizophrenic can one get?
A few years ago a Palestinian mob mutilated the body parts of six Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza and this was shown on TV. Again, the mob behavior is beyond cruelty of anything seen from WWII, and of all things, turning out to be popular viewing.
It reminds me of the video I saw while living in Israel. We could get Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and even Syrian TV programs when we lived in the Northern Galilee of Safed. I witnessed a Syrian program showing their soldiers biting puppies and snakes that were alive, and killing them in that fashion to show the public how strong they were. I vomited. I was in shock. I could not believe that people could be so gross and so horrid. That occurred sometime between 1981 and 1985.
On the other side of the coin, Colonel Eyal Eisenberg, Commander of the Givati Brigade of Israel , tells about seeing eleven of his soldiers blown to bits. In the midst of the attack, the soldiers had aided a Palestinian lady's baby being born and evacuated them. They also evacuated an elderly Palestinian woman who was injured by getting their Mogan David ambulance for her. She was probably taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, Portland's sister city. While the ambulance was moving, terrorists ran and fired at the very soldiers who helped her from behind it.
The actions of terrorists has been mostly to attack women and children. I remember seeing a graveyard in Safed, where I lived, made up of children from the school where terrorists broke into and slaughtered the children. Bombs are placed in buses, stores, restaurants and places where people congregate and they kill civilians. This is not a war of soldier against soldiers. These terrorists usually hide behind their own children, causing them death.
Arab children are taught to become suicide bombers, as well as unhappy women or slow thinking citizens who can be taken advantage of. Their lives are unimportant to their parents or people in the way we think of lives being important.
It is no wonder that Israel decided to build a wall to separate them from us. Not only does it help to protect Israel from terrorists and thus prevents more bloodshed, but keeps people of such values apart from Israelis. Golda Meier once said that the horror of war is that our soldiers learn the hard way of practices that are revolting to us. Even the Torah teaches us that we are not to emulate the abominable practices of the Egyptians, thus now meaning the terrorists.
We are taught that the experience of being slaves in Egypt for 430 years was to teach us ethical sensitivity to the suffering of others. So we learned in the Exodus not to cheer when the Egyptians were drowned in the sea when they chased after us after promising to let us go.
So today we don't cheer when the enemy falls. We get no satisfaction from the suffering of others.
We may have a history of being "cousins", being joined at the hip to Abraham, but dna is not showing much of a connection, except with the Kurds, who are not Arabs and are being treated horribly in Iraq. We both believe in one G-d instead of more than one, but that G-d is certainly giving out different lesson plans to our two groups.
We leave vengeance to G-d. It is not for us to do. Judaism sees salvation as being open to all good people, not just Jews. We pray for the salvation of others, not for their downfall. Our values are very different from our proposed neighbors, and they are values that we can be proud of.
Reference: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/: Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg's article, "How Judaism is different".
My recollections.
Kahil Shikake, Palestinian pollster tells us that 85% of the Palestinians approved of this slaughter, and even he was shocked at the high number. A people has become approving of barbarism!
This wasn't the first incident. Several years ago two Israeli soldiers accidently drove into the city of Ramallah, populated by Palestinians. The soldiers were lynched, dragged through the streets and torn to pieces. The murders marched through the streets showing their blood-covered hands and the people cheered. How terrible can you get? I'm not even sure that the old Romans were that bad.
The highest medal of honor was just given to two terrorists who were murderers in the Sbarro Pizza Store massacre. President Abbas was speaking of peace with Israel but had okayed the medal. How schizophrenic can one get?
A few years ago a Palestinian mob mutilated the body parts of six Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza and this was shown on TV. Again, the mob behavior is beyond cruelty of anything seen from WWII, and of all things, turning out to be popular viewing.
It reminds me of the video I saw while living in Israel. We could get Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and even Syrian TV programs when we lived in the Northern Galilee of Safed. I witnessed a Syrian program showing their soldiers biting puppies and snakes that were alive, and killing them in that fashion to show the public how strong they were. I vomited. I was in shock. I could not believe that people could be so gross and so horrid. That occurred sometime between 1981 and 1985.
On the other side of the coin, Colonel Eyal Eisenberg, Commander of the Givati Brigade of Israel , tells about seeing eleven of his soldiers blown to bits. In the midst of the attack, the soldiers had aided a Palestinian lady's baby being born and evacuated them. They also evacuated an elderly Palestinian woman who was injured by getting their Mogan David ambulance for her. She was probably taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, Portland's sister city. While the ambulance was moving, terrorists ran and fired at the very soldiers who helped her from behind it.
The actions of terrorists has been mostly to attack women and children. I remember seeing a graveyard in Safed, where I lived, made up of children from the school where terrorists broke into and slaughtered the children. Bombs are placed in buses, stores, restaurants and places where people congregate and they kill civilians. This is not a war of soldier against soldiers. These terrorists usually hide behind their own children, causing them death.
Arab children are taught to become suicide bombers, as well as unhappy women or slow thinking citizens who can be taken advantage of. Their lives are unimportant to their parents or people in the way we think of lives being important.
It is no wonder that Israel decided to build a wall to separate them from us. Not only does it help to protect Israel from terrorists and thus prevents more bloodshed, but keeps people of such values apart from Israelis. Golda Meier once said that the horror of war is that our soldiers learn the hard way of practices that are revolting to us. Even the Torah teaches us that we are not to emulate the abominable practices of the Egyptians, thus now meaning the terrorists.
We are taught that the experience of being slaves in Egypt for 430 years was to teach us ethical sensitivity to the suffering of others. So we learned in the Exodus not to cheer when the Egyptians were drowned in the sea when they chased after us after promising to let us go.
So today we don't cheer when the enemy falls. We get no satisfaction from the suffering of others.
We may have a history of being "cousins", being joined at the hip to Abraham, but dna is not showing much of a connection, except with the Kurds, who are not Arabs and are being treated horribly in Iraq. We both believe in one G-d instead of more than one, but that G-d is certainly giving out different lesson plans to our two groups.
We leave vengeance to G-d. It is not for us to do. Judaism sees salvation as being open to all good people, not just Jews. We pray for the salvation of others, not for their downfall. Our values are very different from our proposed neighbors, and they are values that we can be proud of.
Reference: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/: Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg's article, "How Judaism is different".
My recollections.
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