tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27126385261583114042024-03-05T13:50:13.128-08:00From 90210 to SderotBenjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-25951494130990335432023-11-12T05:39:00.000-08:002023-11-23T01:20:49.221-08:00Visiting Sites of the October 7th Massacre: A Personal Reflection<div><p class="MsoNormal">I've participated in and staffed dozens of trips and missions to Israel. This last one -- a Birthright Israel Solidarity Mission that I staffed as part of my work as Israel Liaison for Birthright Israel Foundation -- was the most meaningful of them all, by far.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcEev_QYBqmfyplYiLVWZdjXH6D97_ifIKsjji2ESaUN5XkjrGqrERaCqZpLQgbawJnGTbIW9SYDQ1zeO0-mof4ohjuth-53sDNHYFS0xlvU4uvUNgeDtML_IDQfMxbKqqOxi-gAxAvCVh9j737KmkAyR_1qjjAbLLeZYEbafrdFmQwjmNhcT2452iL0/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-12%20at%2015.09.06%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcEev_QYBqmfyplYiLVWZdjXH6D97_ifIKsjji2ESaUN5XkjrGqrERaCqZpLQgbawJnGTbIW9SYDQ1zeO0-mof4ohjuth-53sDNHYFS0xlvU4uvUNgeDtML_IDQfMxbKqqOxi-gAxAvCVh9j737KmkAyR_1qjjAbLLeZYEbafrdFmQwjmNhcT2452iL0/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-12%20at%2015.09.06%20(1).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture of the American participants on the solidarity mission, outside the Sderot municipality building. </span></div><p class="MsoNormal">We visited the South of Israel last week on the Gaza Border Region which is today a closed military zone. We went to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Kibbutz Alumim, Netivot and Sderot, where I lived for a bit in 2007/2008 to volunteer and write about life under rocket fire on this blog, <i>From 90210 to Sderot. </i>It just made sense to post my reflections here, as I used to back in the day when I was living down there. </p><p class="MsoNormal">So many of us have been on tours of Sderot and been there in the police station. And now it’s gone. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwEtH-AID3nAJOfdgwbknYL2Mir0VeYj9DLO1FgiaVQTKzxgLHqU6T9bkGbM1EZHFFxGyoxFcj-b6monrg4iRDTQ3plmQklboXTDjstb9Mr_DbZ3dgPT3pZgMsH1MK0o0P6c9P5m8MKTcBfGAvyefugyLO9VEXEDBNzCacH0us9HEHslZTTY64SNYqxE/s320/sderot%202007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwEtH-AID3nAJOfdgwbknYL2Mir0VeYj9DLO1FgiaVQTKzxgLHqU6T9bkGbM1EZHFFxGyoxFcj-b6monrg4iRDTQ3plmQklboXTDjstb9Mr_DbZ3dgPT3pZgMsH1MK0o0P6c9P5m8MKTcBfGAvyefugyLO9VEXEDBNzCacH0us9HEHslZTTY64SNYqxE/w261-h196/sderot%202007.jpg" width="261" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4Z8DvHE5pVRcNKtg7nm5XeIe4Ius2kUorxtxeJbmnFrM5JfsjL6RP7NF5XZncndsdcFUGWoVUEAfeEhQR8S9mghu0qdoiTcX6qHDFWLE3jtOVHI5L1x1svATPNFMEzWoNmnwxU-kJzIHh9Iy13eAGia3xlP5_hZFts0hmjqbfKrxS85psxUpFqpsLfk/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-12%20at%2015.08.17.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4Z8DvHE5pVRcNKtg7nm5XeIe4Ius2kUorxtxeJbmnFrM5JfsjL6RP7NF5XZncndsdcFUGWoVUEAfeEhQR8S9mghu0qdoiTcX6qHDFWLE3jtOVHI5L1x1svATPNFMEzWoNmnwxU-kJzIHh9Iy13eAGia3xlP5_hZFts0hmjqbfKrxS85psxUpFqpsLfk/w264-h198/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-12%20at%2015.08.17.jpeg" width="264" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">A picture of me in 2007 with a rocket that had landed near me while giving out </span><i style="text-align: left;">Sufganiyot </i><span style="text-align: left;">on Chanukah in December 2007, and now what's left of the police station post October 7th. You can find the story of what happened </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sderot" style="text-align: left;">here</a></span><span style="text-align: left;">. </span></div></div><p class="MsoNormal">Seeing what happened on the Gaza Border impacts your Jewish <i>Neshama </i>(soul) more than anything I’ve experienced, even more than what when I went to Poland and Israel with Camp Ramah at 16. Don’t take
this as me comparing the two events historically, but rather from a personal
impact/educational experience, that unlike my Poland/Israel trip, and thank God
for this, what we saw and experienced won’t be there forever. It’s
not just the ghost towns and communities, as well as the sites of the massacres
that are temporary, but meeting and seeing people
discuss their experiences and the emotions (or lack there of) on their faces
when speaking, and “on location”, is so unique to this moment. I’ve never
experienced anything like on Tuesday where we were at Kfar Aza and then the
next day go to a hospital to meet a wounded officer who was a
first responder there at Kfar Aza describing literally word for word what we
had just seen; the impact is beyond words.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkvlZxTCRysXzc3zyP-BpUbhAvcQvOFWqEAoZ9kcK2Ri0DAmd6uixbLkzW0J0c_Rc5PmpwnhzSr5UsDuXbMyJ88-70PRH5fpAmqxnAB_Yh2L6pGNZUDpLdnTtiZlM_xWkUpJVBU7t7pXYFUgiSTY4icQ0_YJC15rI_Gb-iZ2g8X26xQx-XtYgoPwVxbA/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-09%20at%2019.34.07.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkvlZxTCRysXzc3zyP-BpUbhAvcQvOFWqEAoZ9kcK2Ri0DAmd6uixbLkzW0J0c_Rc5PmpwnhzSr5UsDuXbMyJ88-70PRH5fpAmqxnAB_Yh2L6pGNZUDpLdnTtiZlM_xWkUpJVBU7t7pXYFUgiSTY4icQ0_YJC15rI_Gb-iZ2g8X26xQx-XtYgoPwVxbA/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-09%20at%2019.34.07.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A Sukkah still stands on Kfar Aza. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This family never got to take it down.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">There's that saying that history is written by the victor. But it’s also the stories of tragedies and triumphs of individuals and families that make up a collective. Going to Kfar Aza with a survivor of the atrocities there and then going to Kibbutz Alumim with the head of the </span><i style="text-align: left;">Kitat Konenut </i><span style="text-align: left;">(local security team) who described how they fought off the terrorists from entering the Kibbutz, while also describing the destruction of some of the industry, their efforts right now to save their dairy farm, and the tragic murder of the foreign workers there, you see how tragedy and triumph was the theme throughout. History has taught us that no matter what, we the Jewish people, will be triumphant, no matter the tragedy. But it's because of all the individuals and families that make up our collective that decided, no matter their personal tragedies, to dedicate themselves to the triumph of their people. What a </span><i style="text-align: left;">zchut, </i><span style="text-align: left;">an honor, to be part of this amazing </span><i style="text-align: left;">Am </i><span style="text-align: left;">(nation/people). </span></div></div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLlN-HQMp38tgxJRr64BDAYePtCZpIjx08vEcG_SoY3-hGShx-evmvjGrLIjfFMO0Sj-eIcFP3ucSZeT0imm2ooQTv-dNTexJzFhHu-35FirJv-ACnSDENO5hqtmhUzhFAgBPz7nHJz-6Pdg0nUUJsEvQED3g8w-JVqTyXt7CRfxK8jwK1SSq6DKXRr8/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLlN-HQMp38tgxJRr64BDAYePtCZpIjx08vEcG_SoY3-hGShx-evmvjGrLIjfFMO0Sj-eIcFP3ucSZeT0imm2ooQTv-dNTexJzFhHu-35FirJv-ACnSDENO5hqtmhUzhFAgBPz7nHJz-6Pdg0nUUJsEvQED3g8w-JVqTyXt7CRfxK8jwK1SSq6DKXRr8/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(2).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Outside a destroyed home on Kfar Aza, the Magen David still hangs. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I've taught many groups since October 7th started, mostly on Zoom, and I've talked about the paradigm shifts that will forever change Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. You can talk about these changes all you want based on what you read or what you experience during this conflict, no matter where you live, be it Jerusalem (like me) or in Jewish communities outside of Israel dealing with increasing antisemitism. But smelling, hearing, seeing what unfolded on October 7th and meeting the people who experienced this tragedy and fought back, emphasizes for you how much everything will change, and how much this historical moment is a live event, and we are part of this paradigm change in Jewish history no matter what we do or whether we even want it. It's a once in a life time moment that will determine the future of the Jewish people for generations. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVebkFsTVVgxL3MoatnOt03u-E-sli3TeAFhSREdz7h42iCKrSHCkZ9DSZPzKKyFk-VtUrLPYmrUJMGQS5w9GO_tP-VlT59j3NxYnyaMM-bgYHgBjuE2lysKOGJpXvVVUxroBFWQqeqSsXvGj5UXQPoyk5JpmKzZJNbHYFrMrdmH0vWPJEuTTZqL0472c/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(6).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVebkFsTVVgxL3MoatnOt03u-E-sli3TeAFhSREdz7h42iCKrSHCkZ9DSZPzKKyFk-VtUrLPYmrUJMGQS5w9GO_tP-VlT59j3NxYnyaMM-bgYHgBjuE2lysKOGJpXvVVUxroBFWQqeqSsXvGj5UXQPoyk5JpmKzZJNbHYFrMrdmH0vWPJEuTTZqL0472c/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(6).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznK5laxqGE__39bpwRXyk6ED5VDyoFHXIJfxnXezXHcFFlk6JnR_bEIVGCTSFq7PHEXNssBeP9plyleg_XVeDGzZkTQAodDByvPz4o-F4cNUCSCxxHzTuApxSzBBlXoeiDa2cghWSCZqr7sgI4JeT3XmYJeYuY3KQLOZizGdgT-Z-OgpjK6fI-YMgOUs/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(5).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznK5laxqGE__39bpwRXyk6ED5VDyoFHXIJfxnXezXHcFFlk6JnR_bEIVGCTSFq7PHEXNssBeP9plyleg_XVeDGzZkTQAodDByvPz4o-F4cNUCSCxxHzTuApxSzBBlXoeiDa2cghWSCZqr7sgI4JeT3XmYJeYuY3KQLOZizGdgT-Z-OgpjK6fI-YMgOUs/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(5).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">On the top, a crib at Kfar Aza. One of those mobile cribs so classic on Kibbutzim. You can see bullet shell casings in it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">On the bottom, an art installation outside the Tel Aviv Art Museum.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>This change is happening now as we speak. The site of these massacres from October 7th and how Israeli society all over the country is reacting, including the mass mobilization for the war of all sectors, is something one can only really grasp with all your physical senses. Reading online or watching media clips does not do it justice to know and feel Israel at this moment. My CTA (call to action) for those outside of Israel is whenever you feel it is personally safe for you to do so, come visit, even if just for a few days. It's hard to describe the impact it will have on you, whether it's just to come to Tel Aviv and/or Jerusalem, or whenever you have the opportunity to visit the ground zero of October 7th, and to feel, hear, and see with all your senses why it's all changing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4aSzM6R-8GNpt0czwvRN0bvSCFLsGqgVrGaYqisDDFSxkTHLAX-NYNJrrZwGRpmcJ8VDM5lg-9DHzhyphenhyphenQ_pdXB22iyTIalSFYq6u93LpfRC0aAe2wZQqH7_NpaPyRrZjUPFjWWZ1l-OXkg5P3WkKhXexFwWKLGr_sATaZWUH-8xvkEPyClSXdMl-jlnk/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4aSzM6R-8GNpt0czwvRN0bvSCFLsGqgVrGaYqisDDFSxkTHLAX-NYNJrrZwGRpmcJ8VDM5lg-9DHzhyphenhyphenQ_pdXB22iyTIalSFYq6u93LpfRC0aAe2wZQqH7_NpaPyRrZjUPFjWWZ1l-OXkg5P3WkKhXexFwWKLGr_sATaZWUH-8xvkEPyClSXdMl-jlnk/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the entrance to the home of a murdered young couple. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Writing on the right is from the IDF, on October 11th they wrote, there's still terrorists inside.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">On the left is from the Zaka organization, after the IDF neutralized the terrorists, that says, "there's human remains on the couch". </span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br style="text-align: center;" /></span><div><br /></div><div>Although even as I write this I am conflicted about visiting the areas hardest hit by the terrorists on October 7th. What's different about this ground zero it was the homes of friends and family of so many of friends and colleagues. I lived across the street from Kfar Aza on my gap year on Kibbutz Sa'ad. I still have good friends there, and in our drive to Kfar Aza we drove through "the kibbutz" (what we endearingly call it, us <i>Bogrei Nativ, </i>alumni of my gap year), and I snapped pictures for my friends who were evacuated to show them pictures of the home I hope they can return to soon and will feel safe to return to soon. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99nxNGvnIAi8FI-IxB7HbT0-3NwtohVio_Cin8b75cLS6SWFesftmSs2md4eam3ZjoQYtVw1SZRGaFH9RdPkp5k1Y2tm0YffKQubM7PQGML8Spivlxm0rPu3CjNSv_TdxHzmLt4DvnTaKyyXGVByxPx-T3jEwtlDQdqQS2vtt663hQ_mltecJq0VK-W0/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-07%20at%2011.22.23.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99nxNGvnIAi8FI-IxB7HbT0-3NwtohVio_Cin8b75cLS6SWFesftmSs2md4eam3ZjoQYtVw1SZRGaFH9RdPkp5k1Y2tm0YffKQubM7PQGML8Spivlxm0rPu3CjNSv_TdxHzmLt4DvnTaKyyXGVByxPx-T3jEwtlDQdqQS2vtt663hQ_mltecJq0VK-W0/w133-h236/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-07%20at%2011.22.23.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture I took of sign of my old Kibbutz, Kibbutz Sa'ad that I sent to my friends evacuated from there. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>This ground zero isn't a public space, so to speak. The pictures I took, and am sharing, I'm not sure I feel it's right that I'm sharing. And maybe that's the American in me that is respectful of personal space. But it was pointed out to me by one of the members of the solidarity mission I was on, she said it so eloquently right at that moment that I'll paraphrase, "these are people's homes it feels like we're invading something so sacred". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Many have compared the tragedy of October 7th to the Holocaust. I'm not in a state to make cognitive comparisons. Emotionally though, having gone there, I understand why one would say that. However what's sacred in the sites in Poland is it being the site of Jewish death. While Kfar Aza and so many communities in the South are also the sites of Jewish death, their sacred character lies in that they were all about Jewish life, and unlike the Nazi death and concentration camps, will be sites once again of Jewish life in the Jewish homeland. I'm sure something of the massacre sites will be preserved, but the Zionist ethic and ideal calls for rebuilding. And while it will be an arduous process, both the technical and logistical aspects of the rebuilding, as well as what it will take psychologically for people willing to live with their children on the border of whatever Gaza will be in the future, visiting the area, seeing everything down there compels one to see how it's not a remembrance site of a massacre, but an area that was full of life that must be full of life once again. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZsYCvFSfQt2CfQ4vF5iHi8Jx6-05ZDV2tCcWaOnTQbn1ZFs9_SRXjhf-vv03A4hcpw4z5oh6WeJMzxI6ChdlDycXV0O4LY1_XxpPMbBkrfLf2jtkIg7JqUWgJ-scu4yb5vUqCmaoX8WTMAxPhX92lPUGH28O0fu654D_cXKXJizEU3rZSkcvMhwZy6E/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZsYCvFSfQt2CfQ4vF5iHi8Jx6-05ZDV2tCcWaOnTQbn1ZFs9_SRXjhf-vv03A4hcpw4z5oh6WeJMzxI6ChdlDycXV0O4LY1_XxpPMbBkrfLf2jtkIg7JqUWgJ-scu4yb5vUqCmaoX8WTMAxPhX92lPUGH28O0fu654D_cXKXJizEU3rZSkcvMhwZy6E/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%2016.42.38%20(1).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A destroyed home at Kfar Aza. </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I believe Zionism has never been more redeemed. Just like the original Zionist leaders, we Jews today need to take history into own hands and believe in our collective identity. I know that when this war ends our security and safety and ensuring Jews can be Jews can happen best in places that puts our concerns first as a collective while always respecting and having empathy for the other. I'm confident that's Israel now and into the future. But I still believe it can also be Jewish communities outside of Israel, and that will be by leaning into the Zionist idea of taking fate into your own hands. Be whoever you want to be, just know that you will have the best opportunity to be whoever you want from within the confines of your own people, while also always being connected and deeply tied to your homeland. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhdLQgp7Ha_gSEPfZuIBmNKaqU_LJ9zy9Rde4BEW2TP0dhoddbAwTNZxTRceQ7OF1z1JDK3NHVhfHQOhfSvybpkeH9l505Bo5r-Xa7KXjfAZ7HTVul6ZkV2kjZ-U2NfnaNAiq_PyX2nd78HI-1wKIR28vr_xkt_dNbyv41EJo1JnDayVP8hrGeOwgIgY/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-13%20at%2006.34.17.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhdLQgp7Ha_gSEPfZuIBmNKaqU_LJ9zy9Rde4BEW2TP0dhoddbAwTNZxTRceQ7OF1z1JDK3NHVhfHQOhfSvybpkeH9l505Bo5r-Xa7KXjfAZ7HTVul6ZkV2kjZ-U2NfnaNAiq_PyX2nd78HI-1wKIR28vr_xkt_dNbyv41EJo1JnDayVP8hrGeOwgIgY/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-13%20at%2006.34.17.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">At the entrance to Kibbutz Alumim's dairy farm, it states, Am Yisrael Chai, the people of Israel lives.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">While the community is evacuated, five members of their security team come to the Kibbutz to operate the dairy farm. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><div>My work in Israel education is to help provide meaning and purpose for all those knocking on my door with curiosity. Before I always thought my work was guiding people exploring the buffet of identity options they have, and that Jewish, Judaism, Israel, are simply one of the many options they have to explore a meaningful life. Now it may be because there's no choice. All Jews, whether they find being Jewish something worthwhile to explore or not, may be forced to explore it because of these events. It's now on us, Jewish professionals, educators, and lay leaders to help them find that meaning and purpose. My colleague Zohar Raviv has a great line - and I paraphrase -- let's be less about the "oy" and more about the "joy" in Jewish education. </div><div><br /></div><div>This oy we're experiencing right now is going to force so many to find the joy in their Jewishness. We got a long way to go, but it's on us to empower all Jews seeking it to find it. What other option do we have? </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeVwJ_9x_Q8c8qQz4EFsEVrjeR_EfqKO2fNdEDRfgeBS-thqhCeCPj3NeVR6XBjKKqZ70356QxxTrLJBmCP4KrmvMvtOA-wSjTWYkaouVtPCSMFfdruG66PumRX38oe6e2kpkA6AnfJYgRHMRnc4fYhrMmrwcTAPsfGbnZO-Mb4Q0pqxS6dNH9zxQ8uA/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-09%20at%2019.47.04.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeVwJ_9x_Q8c8qQz4EFsEVrjeR_EfqKO2fNdEDRfgeBS-thqhCeCPj3NeVR6XBjKKqZ70356QxxTrLJBmCP4KrmvMvtOA-wSjTWYkaouVtPCSMFfdruG66PumRX38oe6e2kpkA6AnfJYgRHMRnc4fYhrMmrwcTAPsfGbnZO-Mb4Q0pqxS6dNH9zxQ8uA/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-09%20at%2019.47.04.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>This Israeli flag on Kfar Aza, even with a hole, still stands. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>עם ישראל חי</b></div><br /><div><br /></div>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-17404490617061481102009-02-06T09:35:00.000-08:002009-02-06T10:26:06.999-08:00They listened to me!Check out this article - <a href="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304705842&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull">UNRWA supsends Gaza aid after Hamas steals supplies</a>. <div><br /></div><div>And this is being covered by international news agencies as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>CNN - <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/06/gaza.un.aid/index.html">UN suspends Gaza aid shipments </a></div><div><br /></div><div>BBC - <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7875171.stm">UN Halts Gaza aid over 'thefts'</a></div><div><br /></div><div>So here's the story. </div><div><br /></div><div>As soon as the UN aid - over 200 tons of grain, flour, etc - made its way through the Kerem Shalom Crossing from Israel into Gaza on Thursday, it was seized by trucks contracted by the Hamas Ministry of Social Affairs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Are we seeing the emergence of the ruthless, Islamist, terrorist version of Robin Hood?</div><div><br /></div><div>Hamas claims that the UN was distributing aid to their "enemies", and was being political in their actions, and therefore they needed to change the situation on the ground. </div><div><br />This incident, which is the second time Hamas has jacked UN this week, is not a new trend. They love to take, take, take.</div><br />Nuaf Atar, a Fatah operative captured during last month's war in Gaza, told the Israeli Shin Bet (Security Agency) that the Hamas govenrment confiscated humanitarian aid Israel allowed into the strip during Operation Cast Lead, and sold it, when it was intended for all of Gaza at no price. <a href="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304705842&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull">(Jerusalem Post article)</a><br /><br />Israel, which took a 3 hour ceasefire during the war each day in order to allow aid into the strip, the place where terrorists launched rockets in the direction of one million innocent Israeli Muslims and Jews, has been blamed for the humanitarian issues in Gaza, when in fact, Hamas had been preventing the aid from getting to innocent Palestinians the whole time.<br /><br />Ummm, so who is at fault for Gaza's woes? <div><br /></div><div>According to the Jerusalem Post, "Officials in Jerusalem said the announcement by UNRWA constituted a UN approval and confirmation of Israel's position, that Hamas is using the Palestinian population in gaza "cruelly and cynically" and is solely responsible for hardship there."<br /><br />Finally, the U.N gets it! </div><div><br /></div><div>Their actions say something, but now lets put it into words. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's see the security council come out with a resolution against Hamas brutality in the Gaza Strip, and blame who is really responsibly for the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza. </div><div><br /></div><div>Furthermore, I'd like to see the "moderate" leaders of the Arab World and their friends in Europe condemn Hamas for the hardship in Gaza.<br /><br />So in short, those in the world - especially Turksih Prime Minister Edrogan (ucch this Guy needs to chill, but that's a whole different story) - condemning Israel for causing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza need to shut it! </div><div><br /></div><div>If I screamed from the rooftops and people listened, this is what I would say, "Can someone important with a lot of power and world influence communicate to his or her important powerful friends that Hamas steals from their own people, makes money off of their crimes, and then they get away with it because everyone is wrongfully blaming Israel's "blockade" and "occupation". <br /></div><div><br />If only my mom were not the only person who thinks I'm an important, powerful person with a lot of influence...</div>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-41850943751771566002009-02-02T14:23:00.000-08:002009-02-04T10:43:52.720-08:00UNRWA - the problem, not the solution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55vCadiVdubBYdpqv5fEvGn004DWtcvXVucc88u8lS2nu2dz6YOK45uCNrQMtUfee8w7S-RBf-sR4XDkFUxbm0uwGIOTv6YXXWkIwI66VgzSe7cow8IeWi_4bR8q6nW0l-yFctEySNEw/s1600-h/int-unrwa.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55vCadiVdubBYdpqv5fEvGn004DWtcvXVucc88u8lS2nu2dz6YOK45uCNrQMtUfee8w7S-RBf-sR4XDkFUxbm0uwGIOTv6YXXWkIwI66VgzSe7cow8IeWi_4bR8q6nW0l-yFctEySNEw/s200/int-unrwa.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298357836117769538" /></a><br /><div>In the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) came to our attention when the IDF struck an UN school after Hamas terrorists hiding amongst the civilians seeking shelter in the school fired mortars at Israeli forces. </div><div><br /></div><div>According a report I read, the Hamas dudes had been holding the women and children in the school hostage - what a surprise, terrorists using human shields against Israel!</div><div><br /></div><div>There is precedent for Hamas doing this. Look at this video from October 2007 of terrorists launching mortars from a UN school. </div><div><br /></div><div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zmXXUOs27lI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zmXXUOs27lI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, UNWRA's man in charge in Gaza declared that there is no evidence of Hamas using his school to hide, or do any other of the shady/scandalous/terroristy things that they do. </div><div><br /></div><div>If that's what Mr. UNWRA has to say, then it's obviously true. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, Israel was not attacked by terrorists from the school because how could bad guys be hiding in an UN area - the UN is not biased and does not overwhelmingly support one side in this conflict right? And as the video you see above, they've never done it before...</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, well, what exactly is UNRWA? </div><div><br /></div><div>Established by the United Nations in December 1949, their aim is "to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees." Furthermore, "In the absence of a solution to the Palestine refugee problem, the General Assembly has repeatedly renewed UNRWA's mandate, most recently extending it until 30 June 2011" (http://www.un.org/unrwa/overview/index.html).</div><div><br /></div><div>The description on the founding of the group reads (http://www.un.org/unrwa/overview/index.html):</div><div><br /></div><div>"UNRWA is unique in terms of its long-standing commitment to one group of refugees and its contributions to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine refugees."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Four generations of Palestinian refugees...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Are you kidding me?!?! Over sixty years later, and children being born today in Gaza are still classified as refugees? Their families have been living there for four generations! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Why shouldn't they be classified as refugees? Well, let's take a look at how other UN agencies classify refugees. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Unlike the U.N. High Commission for Refugees, which deals with the rest of the world's refugees and aims to settle them in their respective host countries, UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian problem by classifying as refugees not only those who originally fled their homes, but all of their descendents as well," says Gunnar Heinsohn in his recent Wall Street Journal op-ed piece on UNRWA's perpetuation of the Palestinian refugee problem (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123171179743471961.html?mod=rss_opinion_main).<br /><br />Check out the U.N High Commission for Refugees definition of refugee status - http://www.unhcr.org/protect/PROTECTION/3b66c2aa10.pdf<br /><br /></div><div>UNRWA has never tried to encourage the development of the Palestinian economy or civil society. How do I know this? Look at these simple facts posted on the UNWRA website.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">- 750,000 Gazans rely on UNRWA Food Aid</span></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">- 200,000 children attend 221 UNRWA schools throughout Gaza. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>Half of Gaza relies on the U.N. Yikes! What if the U.N actually tried to help Gaza develop its economy and society? I got an idea of how they can do that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why doesn't UNRWA say that by the end of the year, it will begin to slowly end its aid for those newborns in the Gaza Strip, and stop classifying the fourth generation as refugees. This would eventually ween the Palestinian population from relying on aid. They could even coordinate with the Gazan government to encourage civil society and economic development. Maybe they could even pressure those in charge a little bit to invest in infrastructure, the economy, you know, jobs for their people, instead of rockets, booby trapping their neighborhoods, and building tunnels to smuggle really bad stuff from really bad people in Iran. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh wait, who's in charge? Right, a terrorist organization. Crud! UNRWA sees it fit to make the problem worse in Gaza. Let's see how they do this.</div><div><br /></div><div>As Heinsohn explains, "Gazan teenagers have no future other than war. One rocket master killed is immediately replaced by three young men for whom a martyr's death is no less honorable than victory. Some 230,000 Gazan males, aged 15 to 29, who are available for the battlefield now, will be succeeded by 360,000 boys under 15 (45% of all Gazan males) who could be taking up arms within the coming 15 years...The reason for Gaza's endless youth bulge is that a large majority of its population does not have to provide for its offspring. Most babies are fed, clothed, vaccinated and educated by UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East."</div><div><br />And what are these youth doing? They fight. If they're not launching rockets at Israel, they're killing each other. Remember, it was only two years ago when Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in a bloody coup against their "pragmatic" Fatah rivals, 300 Palestinian dead and 1,000 wounded later.<br /><br />In short, because these men have no reason to get a job because they're given everything by the UN, they have nothing else to do, so what's better than guns, rockets, more guns, and well...more rockets. </div><div><br /></div><div>I guess in Gaza they have a different reason why there are no jobs. </div><div><br /></div><div>In America and the rest of the world, this thing called the financial crisis has been kind of messing things up. </div><div><br /></div><div>But in Gaza, well they got the United Nations making sure young men are jobless, rely on "food stamps" and turn to terrorism as a means to salvation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Good going guys, keep up the good work!</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep ruining hopes for peace for many generations to come! </div>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-41264812805834234972009-01-19T15:02:00.001-08:002009-01-25T05:44:41.765-08:00<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">I just returned from a two week visit to Israel. I spent my last weekend in Sderot and the Western Negev. One year out from volunteering in Sderot, I have written this piece on the international media's lack of context in covering the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Get the Story Right!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Hundreds of journalists from all over the world just left Sderot and the surrounding areas covering the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. Where were they one year ago? Where were they four years ago, eight years ago? I spent six weeks volunteering in Sderot exactly one year ago, and I can tell you, the journalists were no where to be found. </span></span></div><div><div><span style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjXtXeY3LGiWj83K15Yy09IGX_9sGTZBvWX4Qh0kAQxgeyZQVMctj9rUZ44mJqmGnQvUgYrt0INuCe2FBiOkO7gAj9Dr5sSzG18L9wYhqN4v2g7LYEMrBWR7MVUb8jOM269FXTjbRO6Y/s320/DSCN3752.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293144594355875186" />(Look at the little </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">village they had overlooking Gaza)</span></div><div><span style=""><br />Unfortunately for Israel, it took eight years for the international community to understand that innocent civilians in a western democracy live daily under the current threat of rocket fire. During this time, the range of the threat expanded from a tens of thousands to over one million innocent Jewish and Muslim Israeli citizens.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHL6YslfnsvbgzoFULVmUSdRO4CzxqNdJH5Qbt2IoTXXYQkQMD9qxedZiHppZmaWhXl73hdMkOK_F2lBmV4ha-lTBlBwT9qkYNFRcux4EdohM0yDqxrJNqKau3X3IfRlDXawXPJUFkB0/s1600-h/DSCN3784.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHL6YslfnsvbgzoFULVmUSdRO4CzxqNdJH5Qbt2IoTXXYQkQMD9qxedZiHppZmaWhXl73hdMkOK_F2lBmV4ha-lTBlBwT9qkYNFRcux4EdohM0yDqxrJNqKau3X3IfRlDXawXPJUFkB0/s200/DSCN3784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293145338686783138" /></a><br /></span></div><div><span style="">In these eight years, has the UN Security Council ever condemned nearly a decade of rocket fire on innocent civilians of one of its member</span></div><div><span style="">states, Hamas’ use of human shields, and its use of schools, hospitals, and Mosques to store and launch rockets at Israel?</span></div><div><span style=""><br />Are you laughing at me for even thinking to ask such a question? Well you should be, because </span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UePruUvGLoWzWHBS0CU7K4LqH7ZUCjD1r8Nf3_kU1k3b6EMMvvE4noYwtAg63EL_kSXUDL07ivv0rou7CSXVfRjNjKzzdnUdjCrXderJBHU3fbGEFqjmyG0rDxMcitwVWYNI9LQEnBU/s200/knin242l.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293148358861597682" /><div><span style="">why would anyone assume the international community to be, um, sensible?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="">Maybe they could be just a little rational? Nah, that’s just too silly!<br /><br />Furthermore, has any news organization mentioned the fact Israel is the only western democracy in the entire world that has a significant – let alone any – part of its population</span></div><div><span style="">living under the threat of daily</span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUfuOZcDc7PopEaFnq5kQL8Nw_kzcIoIfdx4ZtUrTNHkOlRcy0yzPEAZ2mI9khY1TpBXBk2fSGdHf8DT1e8UAbZxupPxl-Fpl1CkYw08i9MXgisQNi4APgh_hbhTliwa30A58ioJplC4/s200/BBC+Cartoon+BBC+language+Terrorist.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293148791072695218" /><div><span style="">rocket fire?</span></div><div><span style=""><br /></span></div><div><span style="">“Oh it’s just Israel, who cares right?” “They can take it?” Or rather, “Maybe they deserve it, right?” </span></div><div><br /></div><div>Well you know what I have to say that...<br /></div></div><div><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42R7DdAgrMQFBcKMpb7RzEOKjrsYOupOIaiaMj6Vss-ppnsUQ1GhD7ArfSjmVw-iDtZWagR-zxJilS9hpM0dpWKAGo8SU44VYX6Uz6bv0_7R0Z0vYGqJnuaEW0kIHSeiss5dWltMH2jI/s200/kid-middle-finger.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293149854380747922" /><div><span style=""><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>INTERNATIONAL MEDIA!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I’d also like to thank the international media for providing ZERO context for the humanitarian issues of the Palestinian people.<br /><br />Let me describe to you a little bit of Israel’s commitment to helping the Palestinians suffering from the wrath of their authoritarian, fanatical terrorist rulers, Hamas.<br /><br />From the beginning of Operation Cast Lead, December 27, 2008, until January 12, 2009:<br /><br />- 926 truckloads (22,046 tons) of humanitarian aid were delivered to Gaza<br /><br />- 449 dual nationals were evacuated from Gaza<br /><br />- 3000 units of blood were donated by Jordan and transferred into Gaza<br /><br />- 5 ambulances were donated by Turkey and transferred into Gaza<br /><br />- 5 ambulances were transferred from the West Bank to Gaza on behalf of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society<br /><br />- 34 people were evacuated to Israel for medical needs<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />On Jan. 7, 2009, the IDF decided it would ceasefire for three hours each day in order to let humanitarian aid reach civilians in the Gaza Strip.</span><br /><br />I love when this gets mentioned, and they say three hours is simply not enough. So, Israel should stop defending its civilians all together, fully commit itself to giving aid to the other side, and allow terrorists to fire rockets at it and threaten one million of its population?<br /><br />Do you find it a tad bit odd that Israel is forced not only to defend its own citizens, but those of its enemies as well? Well I don’t…I mean, isn’t every western democracy supposed to do that during wars? Duh!<br /><br />I got a question for you Mr. and Mrs. International Media.<br /><br />Israel is the bad guy? Are you kidding me!<br /><br />What does Hamas do for Israeli civilians? Oh yeah, they’ve been terrorizing them with rockets for the last eight years!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFmc-5yv1C9lPAsJe_a1lEktoYoN89oXbqX8Zt-r5ZxsdAShqQPS9F20yEm9_7UEFGURvfhQsmjUk9LFackPIy1glM7jtRXcjXE5nyIaUGYmHSV_YLj6lKeNyqN2molzaePqnn0zeHrU/s1600-h/qassam-launch.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFmc-5yv1C9lPAsJe_a1lEktoYoN89oXbqX8Zt-r5ZxsdAShqQPS9F20yEm9_7UEFGURvfhQsmjUk9LFackPIy1glM7jtRXcjXE5nyIaUGYmHSV_YLj6lKeNyqN2molzaePqnn0zeHrU/s200/qassam-launch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293153618399228834" /></a><br /><br />What other country, when immersed in a full scale war, commits itself to providing humanitarian aid to their enemy? Oh yeah, Russia!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94X3H-ivVHi8sdeUxTmTARw4SzQ1vu_EuR8LlOJ_g0wcVW2KN91wN0tvGJbI3W9PFnAux7j5Mso3gKqqIBrlYVVTSHZbpgOIYbtEtvTtd8sp1I4_vOKYBEcIfJPMa8BgZqUrtQXjZafQ/s1600-h/cartoon1_26091t.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94X3H-ivVHi8sdeUxTmTARw4SzQ1vu_EuR8LlOJ_g0wcVW2KN91wN0tvGJbI3W9PFnAux7j5Mso3gKqqIBrlYVVTSHZbpgOIYbtEtvTtd8sp1I4_vOKYBEcIfJPMa8BgZqUrtQXjZafQ/s200/cartoon1_26091t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295226073403658594" /></a><br />Did you know Hamas is also really nice to their innocent women and children? Yes you did, because that’s what you would assume from watching the news over the last few weeks. <br /><br />However, a Palestinian child from Gaza describes how Hamas use children for combat support missions:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">We the children, in small groups and in civilian clothes, are fulfilling missions of support for the [Hamas] Resistance fighters, by transmitting messages about the movements of the enemy forces, or by bringing them ammunition and food. We ourselves are not aware of the movements of the Resistance fighters. We see them in one place, they suddenly disappear, and then reappear somewhere else. They are like ghosts, it is very hard to find them (Palestinian Media Watch Communique, Jan. 13, 2009).</span><br /></div><br />So Hamas terrorists hide behind children. Hmm, headline story anyone?<br /><br />I got an even better quote for you – this coming from a high up British dude in the U.K Military.<br /><br />Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, on the current situation in Gaza.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Despite Israel’s extraordinary measures a tragically high number of innocent civilians have been killed and wounded. That is the inevitability of Hamas’ way of fighting. Avoiding civilian casualties when fighting among the people is always difficult. When combating an enemy that uses human shields it is impossible (BICOM briefing: "Gaza Situation Update," Jan. 10, 2009).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>Thank you Colonel. Only if the BBC would listen to their fellow compatriot…<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNm5Gb1Iqogos1dXcE9kBzHMdKi6OVQgYIVbRWyv8ROm5YXKiJeX8z61cYBPJmkOt9unGF3riE6-rHRPLZd0FWr5fPn8DIyIisV1IMa-OnYQp-oMpx7vHCmeeHpytLqBKFA2eCQz6Kak/s1600-h/uk_flag.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNm5Gb1Iqogos1dXcE9kBzHMdKi6OVQgYIVbRWyv8ROm5YXKiJeX8z61cYBPJmkOt9unGF3riE6-rHRPLZd0FWr5fPn8DIyIisV1IMa-OnYQp-oMpx7vHCmeeHpytLqBKFA2eCQz6Kak/s200/uk_flag.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293154200703056578" /></a>If they only understood that Hamas attacks Israeli civilians with lethal - not home made - rockets (with a range of over 25 KM) shipped from Iran. If they only reported that Hamas fighters hide behind children and women, and use schools and mosques as launching points to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians. If they provided the proper analysis, they would explain that when Israel does not respond to Hamas rocket fire, the terrorists succeed in making it nearly impossible for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">one million Muslims and Jewish Israeli civilians,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">or nearly 1/7 of Israel’s population, to live with any sense of normalcy. They would also point out that if Israel responds than Hamas also wins because it launches rockets from civilian areas, and its fighters wear civilian clothing and place themselves within towns and villages, thus putting at risk thousands of innocent Palestinians, of which Israel is blamed for any harm done to them, and the international community therefore condemns Israel and pressures her to stop its defense of its own innocent population. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />As a result, whether Israel responds or does not respond to terrorist rocket fire, it is a win-win situation for Hamas.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4Z_Kslj74iBziCQgQlmPzw4cpECERABYYbGd9fPU4Hi_MsGq_01TJrf5Ey8Q-fuAx-F3bdDAWPPWhIAZhV4CG8zashHm9DfkU9rJtDV5tHAHqDBQfhk31757Tcg5edeaUenShWv3ekM/s1600-h/alan-dershowitz-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 169px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4Z_Kslj74iBziCQgQlmPzw4cpECERABYYbGd9fPU4Hi_MsGq_01TJrf5Ey8Q-fuAx-F3bdDAWPPWhIAZhV4CG8zashHm9DfkU9rJtDV5tHAHqDBQfhk31757Tcg5edeaUenShWv3ekM/s200/alan-dershowitz-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293152574573514178" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Unfortunately, as Alan Dershowitz succinctly puts it,</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">"Until the world recognizes that Hamas is committing three war crimes - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">targeting Israeli civilians, using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and seeking the destruction of a member-state of the UN </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">- and that Israel is acting in self-defense and out of military necessity, the conflict will continue" </span>(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Alan Dershowitz, "An Honorouble Warrior," </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The Australian, <a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24866318-7583,00.html">http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24866318-7583,00.html</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24866318-7583,00.html">).</a> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>Do you think the International Community or Media will ever understand the true roots of the conflict between Israel and Hamas?Do you think they will ever get the fact that its Hamas' use of human shields, their targeting of Israeli, and even their own civilians, and their commitment to destroying Israel that is the main impediment to peace in Gaza today? Well, as Borat would so articulately proclaim... <br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qsmNd3ZbvgUeUPpFqm1ciQN3erZiXFvghcVDPj3q-Ls8ZzjbnzfN4L0c4-JiX_vZ6SHmvkuuC1Q8psLa55shYWT6gy5N8piVfME1BV3c_GFTcVOsly8qzB_xprvcmf-VDPTC3j3NNC0/s1600-h/borat-high-five.jpg"><img style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 200px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qsmNd3ZbvgUeUPpFqm1ciQN3erZiXFvghcVDPj3q-Ls8ZzjbnzfN4L0c4-JiX_vZ6SHmvkuuC1Q8psLa55shYWT6gy5N8piVfME1BV3c_GFTcVOsly8qzB_xprvcmf-VDPTC3j3NNC0/s200/borat-high-five.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293882005552395538" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">"NOT SO MUCH!!"</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In short, my return to Sderot this past week proved to me that people still don’t get it. For some reason Israel is the bad guy, and the dudes firing rockets and endangering the lives of one million innocent Muslims and Jewish Israeli civilians are the victims.<br /></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Go figure…<br /></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-60084750159632348842008-01-08T07:04:00.000-08:002008-01-08T07:12:08.163-08:00Bye SderotMy flight to England (where I'm going to study this upcoming semester) boards in 10 minutes. I've officially left Sderot for now (much to my parent's happiness), but there's no doubt in my mind, I will be back. <br /><br />I dreamt last night of Qassams; thought I heard a boom as I woke up. The alerts in the airport as you wait for security sound like the alert before the "Tzevah Adom" sounds. I wonder how long it will take for me to forget the daily booms and alerts that were apart of my life for the last month. I wonder, will I ever?<br /><br />Sderot will always be with me in my heart, and it should be for you too. My plight to help the people down there has only begun, for now I'm ready to engage the world, to spread the word of the constant horror and terror of life in Sderot.<br /><br />In the coming week, I'm starting a blog with a Palestinian student at George Mason University (20 minutes from GW, my university in the states) workings as a freelance journalist in Nablus and Tehran for the next six months. We will discuss our opinions regarding our opinions of current events in the Middle East. Should be feisty, should be interesting, wouldn't you say.<br /><br />I'll update you when the time comes.<br /><br />That's all for now. Got to get to my flight.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-51892685878654336442008-01-03T01:22:00.001-08:002008-01-03T01:24:04.940-08:00Diary of Canadian Grandmother Living in SderotCheck this out - good stuff.<br /><br /><BlogItemURL><a href=http://tzevahadom.blogspot.com>Click Here</a></BlogItemURL>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-64544169551524313702008-01-02T08:46:00.000-08:002008-01-02T14:24:10.301-08:00Hip-Hop SuperstarToday I went to the hip-hop dance class for 10-12 year olds in Sderot. Not only was I the only high school graduate in the class (besides the teacher), I was the only boy.<br /><br />As many of my good friends at home - including my wonderful 18 year-old sister, Gaby - are hip-hop stars, I was pretty familiar with the dance moves. See below – I’m rocking out (focus on the last 15 seconds, really see the extent of my skills). <br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uo50fMzc_GY"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uo50fMzc_GY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br />The dance studio looks like it could be from L.A. Mirrors, rails on the side of the room (for ballet?), hardwood floors, a sweet stereo – it’s got it all. I could see Britney in the 90’s using this facitily to practice her moves before the Oopps I Did it Again music video.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNrHA8jWm396ax502Q5qMhki59SBcpw4iC7lhlJ61vL3_ki-g-JKIhbcZLqJWeNGJ1VX3bKgfxdV5HhR8vFGIpamlX3LCr_sWarvdH7SuHpmreVF5o2CoxS0l3j6dh5hfCmLbaT0x_rI/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNrHA8jWm396ax502Q5qMhki59SBcpw4iC7lhlJ61vL3_ki-g-JKIhbcZLqJWeNGJ1VX3bKgfxdV5HhR8vFGIpamlX3LCr_sWarvdH7SuHpmreVF5o2CoxS0l3j6dh5hfCmLbaT0x_rI/s200/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151006761622228114" /></a><br /><br />In the studio, an alarm goes off when “Tzevah Adom” occurs, and the class runs to the shelter near by. That withstanding, dance class seems to be the greatest escape from the constant sound of “Tzevah Adom” and the daily landing of Qassam rockets into the city. You’re completely isolated from the terrifying reality that is daily life in Sderot. <br /><br />The teacher, Maytal Siani, studies hip-hop in a major studio in Tel Aviv. She, however, lives with her family in Sderot, where she grew up to love dance, and is currently giving back to the current generation of kids growing up who don’t know life without Qassams. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbkB-Zb-R13gkvJCBOnId7XRzAVmODrOP02WDtqeqA1i-9fNG9Ow2i2g2DXFfrnJyt81-9oqiOMgA6zkFS_w8-9K14B5x2LqUBbsZyt6dfNTEc55axla5s_pnO27LCGBwWV2voTNH0Os/s1600-h/Kassams+that+hit+Sderot-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbkB-Zb-R13gkvJCBOnId7XRzAVmODrOP02WDtqeqA1i-9fNG9Ow2i2g2DXFfrnJyt81-9oqiOMgA6zkFS_w8-9K14B5x2LqUBbsZyt6dfNTEc55axla5s_pnO27LCGBwWV2voTNH0Os/s320/Kassams+that+hit+Sderot-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151007332852878498" /></a><br />For one hour a day, twice a week, these girls come to learn the basics of hip-hop dance. In Sderot, young girls are learning to dance to the sound of Beyonce, Justin, 50 Cent and all the other greatest musical artists of our time.<br /><br />I wonder if Hamas permits hip-hop classes to dance to American hip-hop…actually, I don’t think hip-hop’s made it to Gaza yet – now that’s a humanitarian crisis if you ask me. But what do I know? I was just on CNN (laugh with me).Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-92161654897471028852008-01-01T13:22:00.000-08:002008-01-01T14:19:19.472-08:00Regards from Gaza!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSb-jwa-ph1cJf5pDSDv26WYmBKsbDb1cIvMuBoIg7TTHLuBVTyEuoWh0rFg23_meRAvPAkzEDep4i27Od949DV2DpELzUzSETmGGm10Cp_dfsREcCetjhmRJeHtNA1ELWKtcaIF6Mrw/s1600-h/31804.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSb-jwa-ph1cJf5pDSDv26WYmBKsbDb1cIvMuBoIg7TTHLuBVTyEuoWh0rFg23_meRAvPAkzEDep4i27Od949DV2DpELzUzSETmGGm10Cp_dfsREcCetjhmRJeHtNA1ELWKtcaIF6Mrw/s200/31804.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150633589093747826" /></a><br />Today I met Nicol Alchazov, a Russian immigrant to Sderot over 13 years ago. She was in the firefighters unit in the army, and upon her withdrawal, was admitted to be tested to be the first firewoman in Israel (that year Israel decided women could be firefighters). According to Nicol, two of the four women had what they call in Israel - "protexia" (connections) - so she didn't get the job.<br /><br />A few years after the army, she became a manager in a textiles factory in Sderot. One of the owners of the factory is Palestinian and the other is Jewish. Before the disengagement, seven of the workers there were Palestinian. Nicol made friends with the Palestinian workers and still keeps in touch with one today.<br /><br />Here's what's really interesting:<br /><br />The Palestinian owner's brother - who lives in Gaza - calls Nicol to see how she's doing on days when lots of Qassams land in Sderot.<br /><br />How crazy is that? Someone from Gaza calls a friend in Sderot to see how she's doing from the rockets fired a few villages from him...insane!<br /><br />I asked Nicol to call her friend in Gaza to see if it's okay with him if I give him a call to see what's up. Wouldn't that be cool - talk to someone in Gaza. No, I haven't become a crazy lefty. I just think it would be pretty sweet to make a friend in Gaza, wouldn't you?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-On6sCPAdqGqlyAeXj9iVTmPcw6ySk48qJ9XBMeJX7IPTCeFWYx5RKrrGT1X8SA3jxN5LZjNBCjOQ5Jn2d7X0yrA78IcS4RlPoN7dKH0864Y_zF3xKH5TwSqQLzkX8-eIgiOftdHRUfM/s1600-h/CastOfFriends2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-On6sCPAdqGqlyAeXj9iVTmPcw6ySk48qJ9XBMeJX7IPTCeFWYx5RKrrGT1X8SA3jxN5LZjNBCjOQ5Jn2d7X0yrA78IcS4RlPoN7dKH0864Y_zF3xKH5TwSqQLzkX8-eIgiOftdHRUfM/s200/CastOfFriends2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150635062267530370" /></a>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-39038532977075614532007-12-31T10:02:00.000-08:002007-12-31T12:37:54.610-08:00The Kassam Hair StyleShimon Bouskila, also known as Shupan, grew up in Sderot and has been a hairstylist for twenty-three years. Five years ago, a Kassam rocket landed right in front of his barbershop, breaking the glass windows and causing damage to his shop. He was the first person to see the Kassam and as soon as he laid eyes on the rocket, the idea came to him –<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgqhNc7be724vJPsQXv5aJGclYSRVvDi82aiHXOfiKDsdms1qcAuyg7nKs7VHZoaJRtQDNH2W3kpfa1rUHxxQbDacY_XIF6oaF9Ud1Q4MOu3Dcy-a3UpibvSc9zMjtb-ZfpekuCllqA4/s1600-h/IMG_1287.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgqhNc7be724vJPsQXv5aJGclYSRVvDi82aiHXOfiKDsdms1qcAuyg7nKs7VHZoaJRtQDNH2W3kpfa1rUHxxQbDacY_XIF6oaF9Ud1Q4MOu3Dcy-a3UpibvSc9zMjtb-ZfpekuCllqA4/s320/IMG_1287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150218209921649698" /></a>the “Kassam hair-due”. <br /><br />Free of charge, anyone can get Shupan’s specialty. He said besides the time he did the hair-due for a local model, one person asked him to give him “the Kassam” for a costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday Purim (customary to dress up for this holiday). <br /><br />Shupan doesn’t stop with the Kassams. He can also fashion your hair into a Menorah and a Shofar, the trumpet-like biblical instrument made form a ram’s horn.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KbFNNx9eUHsmS-qT2zfi0BObkR0yGEK__PAmE0QNr980-czZr2DtZw45jNl8jcq0pF9Raj1sCaI08OkRZysnMkEBOjiUUjjwQhZEb28gpzjy1Rxx4tYsxCTnhDMmU6Jp0V6Mf6Y9sg/s1600-h/IMG_1288.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4KbFNNx9eUHsmS-qT2zfi0BObkR0yGEK__PAmE0QNr980-czZr2DtZw45jNl8jcq0pF9Raj1sCaI08OkRZysnMkEBOjiUUjjwQhZEb28gpzjy1Rxx4tYsxCTnhDMmU6Jp0V6Mf6Y9sg/s200/IMG_1288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150220211376409650" /></a> Shupan also did a promotional hair-due for the German based hair product company, Wella.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UJxQECycaMzOl7cBKyji8Q4Rh1P-hfl0F7d4mz5XxDjFQGhfpfm_Znex2ett6pE5X7_-6zAB5862qu8O2t6BwLlcuQFBcSNP4BfqrqBEIn-Vw_OWqh7CDbjldogSeUIZSuw3K8Hj7cU/s1600-h/IMG_1292.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UJxQECycaMzOl7cBKyji8Q4Rh1P-hfl0F7d4mz5XxDjFQGhfpfm_Znex2ett6pE5X7_-6zAB5862qu8O2t6BwLlcuQFBcSNP4BfqrqBEIn-Vw_OWqh7CDbjldogSeUIZSuw3K8Hj7cU/s200/IMG_1292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150234827150117954" /></a> The Sderot hairstylist uses Israeli supermodels to show off his specialties, with Miri Boadana pictured with the Menorah. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEfyWamPmR816anawLaN4mSnnOAAr_-GIxuktcRSigI5RonoK0-4khI0cIoFMrcfMTsrvA1Vyo8Z7IDbj7BqgGo7KF5WYa9MJNrm_SAtIfa8XbYQhqpqF-dDPOx-qFQAoSPhhYQ8MTYY/s1600-h/IMG_1291.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEfyWamPmR816anawLaN4mSnnOAAr_-GIxuktcRSigI5RonoK0-4khI0cIoFMrcfMTsrvA1Vyo8Z7IDbj7BqgGo7KF5WYa9MJNrm_SAtIfa8XbYQhqpqF-dDPOx-qFQAoSPhhYQ8MTYY/s200/IMG_1291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150236128525208658" /></a><br /><br />Shupan is also the personal barber of former Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Every three to four weeks, Shupan gives Mr. Peretz a hair cut at the Knesset member’s home. Amir Peretz’s daughter is also featured in a picture of nine girls with hair shaped like candles, standing in a formation forming a Menorah. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjkyt-fMmTJPQVkQ2CjB4CEQi-mQifNLyY3r0pZo932zHtdo4pt29xnivRHx9eKDd0sE4eQeH1StiRcpi7PV1qB4rk6IZLpxx7eR-sHCuVlcI6l8e1Riuyw-dGVkWrIAyzKRa9oLb5Sw/s1600-h/amir_peretz_.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjkyt-fMmTJPQVkQ2CjB4CEQi-mQifNLyY3r0pZo932zHtdo4pt29xnivRHx9eKDd0sE4eQeH1StiRcpi7PV1qB4rk6IZLpxx7eR-sHCuVlcI6l8e1Riuyw-dGVkWrIAyzKRa9oLb5Sw/s200/amir_peretz_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150237876576898146" /></a><br /><br /><br />In 1995, Shupan won an international hairstylist tournament in Europe, the last year of such a competition. Shupan is the father of two teenage daughters and one son, who works in New York as a hairstylist and aspires to open a barbershop just like his father.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-62207540105135810712007-12-30T09:34:00.000-08:002007-12-30T10:27:45.245-08:00David Beckham in SderotAfter the presentation with the WUJS (talked about it in prior entry), I saw some kids outside the cinema playing soccer (futbol). I've never really enjoyed the sport, you know, it's for Europeans. That withstanding, I still joined on in and played a little. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ60iVMzbj5Q-eXLQqeM4mBUXCwDOo2RznOG9NK_V_F6aSvGMXsVUPLDv9ptUyFHBTdfrGxvJsL5QHlsBbJEh-qxAlSK_vfmWEkhnT_552c_tyB90-mZwi6pZnbXjXF7SrMaVk1Tnaw18/s1600-h/IMG_1269.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ60iVMzbj5Q-eXLQqeM4mBUXCwDOo2RznOG9NK_V_F6aSvGMXsVUPLDv9ptUyFHBTdfrGxvJsL5QHlsBbJEh-qxAlSK_vfmWEkhnT_552c_tyB90-mZwi6pZnbXjXF7SrMaVk1Tnaw18/s200/IMG_1269.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149824902586485778" /></a><br /><br />I got in the action, starting kicking the ball around. Then I proposed an idea to the kids. Let's play a game. And of course the 11 year olds were like, hell ya we want to play a game. <br /><br />This was the game. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tBQKG2tzp9Y&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tBQKG2tzp9Y&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />I was the goalie. Each player (11 year old kid) got three penalty shots on me in goal. Whoever made the most - obviously - would be the winner.<br /><br />In 3rd grade, I was the best goalie in the Macabee League (Jewish league in L.A.) - or so I like to think. So I brought my "A" game - 110 percent baby.<br /><br />I shut Shaked (one of the kids) down - 0 for 3 - sorry buddy. But the other two kids, they got one goal on me. I was just being nice though. <br /><br />After the game, we just played with the ball for a while. Then I told em' I had to go. The kids asked me, "So are you coming back tomorrow?" I responded, "Same time?" In some rambled Hebrew I didn't really understand, I think they said - "Alright, your on!"<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/osxU-hZvK8w&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/osxU-hZvK8w&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />So during the presentation before I played soccer with the kids, people were arguing on what should be done to help Sderot. Many simply blamed the Israeli Government for not stopping the rocket fire, not protecting the city and calling on the government to act now to fix everything - not really offering any real solutions to what we, as caring students, could do to help. <br /><br />To me, it's simple - what we as human beings, not just Israelis and diaspora Jewry, need to do. <br /><br />First, spread awareness about what's going on in Sderot.<br /><br />Second, just come here and hang out with the people, play with the kids. Show them we care. <br /><br />So tomorrow at 5 PM, I got a soccer play date outside the Cinema.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-1758648870826233732007-12-30T09:07:00.000-08:002007-12-30T09:34:39.036-08:00Blue Label's on MeToday the Sderot Media Center did a presentation for 120 students from around the world on a trip to Israel with thel World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) - great networking opportunity if you know what I mean.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYtDgaKB86-ct92kRRAzEdbZjWH0F4E-nPo6yDJ7k-6qn4WARmDQvgRFkancBFhywvOKs50kIJ5r3LzHLKoPH65QZKOldz-yFRxC_uHa-tp0s-niGsBcfWs7XKF8R8CubgzW2zYPk7C8/s1600-h/IMG_1257.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYtDgaKB86-ct92kRRAzEdbZjWH0F4E-nPo6yDJ7k-6qn4WARmDQvgRFkancBFhywvOKs50kIJ5r3LzHLKoPH65QZKOldz-yFRxC_uHa-tp0s-niGsBcfWs7XKF8R8CubgzW2zYPk7C8/s200/IMG_1257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149818941171878882" /></a><br /><br />We started at the police station and ended up at the Sderot Cinema to watch important videos and hear from important speakers on the situation in Sderot. We heard from Tal, one resturaunt-bar owner in the town. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClG60adXxqmUxjo_lFOe2oZdYKPTeO5zMOLxVx2yqNuaTmyyYE-kN16NRlzNsTVqala8K1AhDt0LQ4yfN2kgOcPH-hebnLpr20emWg7WeWceK-HT4EMLGQsKQykAc2F3QzNHQEJd2DwY/s1600-h/IMG_1261.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClG60adXxqmUxjo_lFOe2oZdYKPTeO5zMOLxVx2yqNuaTmyyYE-kN16NRlzNsTVqala8K1AhDt0LQ4yfN2kgOcPH-hebnLpr20emWg7WeWceK-HT4EMLGQsKQykAc2F3QzNHQEJd2DwY/s200/IMG_1261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149819323423968242" /></a><br /><br />She retold the story of when a Qassam landed thirty feet outside of her eatery, while she and her cook were preparing the grub an hour before opening. Someone in the audience asked:<br /><br />"So what did you do right after the Qassam fell?" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0pAtdHMixsS1RSAWB3cDq5P2fu_IIUvD7Ut6leW_k8HhrrQbwZ9BfmtTXtYZzDSGx_2asIEgri4lNxNR5jd9qak72jNu5H8A0zfvhVjCiuqsU2KFUEdWa1OD5BbfiUWbw9EUxjeAwzM/s1600-h/IMG_1259.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0pAtdHMixsS1RSAWB3cDq5P2fu_IIUvD7Ut6leW_k8HhrrQbwZ9BfmtTXtYZzDSGx_2asIEgri4lNxNR5jd9qak72jNu5H8A0zfvhVjCiuqsU2KFUEdWa1OD5BbfiUWbw9EUxjeAwzM/s200/IMG_1259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149819598301875202" /></a><br />Tal responded, "Drank a cup of Whiskey - relaxed - and then opened the resturaunt on time - with the broken windows and all".<br /><br />Someone else asked why she opened a resturaunt-bar in Sderot. The eatery owner said people here in Sderot also have lives; they like to eat, drink, go out on dates, do things you guys do. <br /> <br />It's true. Why shouldn't Sderot have a bar? If the people here can go out and have a drink an hour after a Qassam lands just thirty feet from the bar, they deserve unlimited alchohol. Blue Label is on me - go ahead Sderot, drink away. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaMMQwuOZp9gTZpAvF1sudGkBer-6VzXXHaBKNUULCAwQ7YdR3cMYKThaXxYyNyHob82nyGDguqpxdXOXtTt-d5JXV6S216QQKKSzlKTYSQJdzaAB7ioElsrnLYzYEjOFllFCz9RuppQ/s1600-h/johnnywalkerblue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaMMQwuOZp9gTZpAvF1sudGkBer-6VzXXHaBKNUULCAwQ7YdR3cMYKThaXxYyNyHob82nyGDguqpxdXOXtTt-d5JXV6S216QQKKSzlKTYSQJdzaAB7ioElsrnLYzYEjOFllFCz9RuppQ/s320/johnnywalkerblue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149818614754364370" /></a>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-3797569184978305082007-12-29T17:19:00.000-08:002007-12-29T17:22:56.911-08:00I'm a Mensch!Check this article out. Mentioned by the editor of the Jewish Journal - top ten mensch in L.A! Pretty sweet honor right?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=18704">Click Here:</a><br /><br /><em>Brave + mensch = ? <br /> <br />By Rob Eshman, Editor-in-Chief<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Three years ago, we were sitting around our offices dreaming up an end-of-the-year issue, inundated with examples from other magazines: The Ten Best Movies, The Ten Richest Angelenos, The Ten Most Powerful Hollywood Players, The Ten Top Restaurants, The Ten Hottest Bars and et cetera.<br /><br />Since these lists are both celebration and statement, we decided we wanted to promote something a little different. What if a list championed a Jewish value, not people, things or bars (not that there's anything wrong with them....)?<br /><br />Thus was born The Mensch List -- a roster that, humans being human, is far more difficult to crack than one tabulating power or wealth or even cool.<br /><br />But this year, after we made the list, I -- in the spirit of some holiday -- checked it twice. And there are four people missing. <br /><br />These are people I've come across in 2007 who didn't make this list but who deserve some special notice of their own. That's because they are not only mensches, they are also remarkably courageous. <br /><br />Funny that the Yiddish adjectives that mean "strong" and "brave" never made the jump into the modern Jewish vernacular. Somehow, schnorrer and shmendrick and ferklempt remained near and dear to our tongues, but mutik and bahartst are no more a part of our lives than Benny Leonard or Kingfish Levinsky. When great Jewish prizefighters like these went down for the count, so did the words their fans used to praise them. That leaves shtarker. But shtarker has baggage that mensch doesn't begin to carry.<br /><br />I'm no Yiddishist, but to my ears, the word has always been said with a wink, the speaker already knowing that strength and health, no matter how abundant, are fleeting. To this day, when I drop my son off at a teen party, my last words aren't "Be a shtarker!" but "Be a mensch." <br /><br />So I don't know what neologism will suffice for someone who is both extraordinarily brave and a mensch to boot. What word describes those Jews and non-Jews who risk their lives to stand up for the things we all believe in? This year, I found four, and I suppose their names will suffice: <br /><br />Benji Davis and David Landau<br /><br />These two young men packed up this year and left their comfortable lives in Los Angeles and moved to Sderot, the beleaguered Israeli town under near-constant bombardment by Qassam rockets launched by Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorists in Gaza. <br /><br />Davis is a college student from Beverly Hills volunteering at an elementary school in Sderot -- there is a charmingly awkward YouTube video of him trying to folkdance with his young charges -- and at the Sderot Media Center, which tries to raise awareness of what Israelis within the Green Line are faced with every day. <br /><br />"Sderot's residents deserve protection," Davis writes on his blog, 90210tosderot.blogspot.com. "Sderot's children deserve some sense of normalcy. Sderot deserves our help. <br /><br />"We can protect Sderot from the terrorists -- it's up to you." <br /><br />Landau is 19. When I asked his father, Fred, why his son moved -- of all places -- to within two miles of Gaza, he said, very matter-of-factly, without a hint of boastfulness, "Because he's a Zionist." Many of Sderot's own residents have moved away, the Israeli government has for a year now struggled to come up with a response to the Qassams, Jews from Tel Aviv to Tarzana have gone about their normal lives, but Davis and Landau have chosen to risk their lives to remind us that, no, not all is milk and honey.<br /><br />They're on my list. </em><br /> <br />--The article continues with some other menches...but that's good enough.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-83306292564009384432007-12-27T06:28:00.001-08:002007-12-27T06:28:39.883-08:00Important Presentation on Sderot<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HsEJt9AY5Pc&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HsEJt9AY5Pc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-32495940998095359842007-12-27T05:38:00.000-08:002007-12-27T06:24:15.103-08:00The 9th Day of ChannukaHere are pictures from the house hit by a Qassam rocket two weeks ago. All of the pictures show different Jewish Symbols, that in some miraculous way, survived the attack.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtihOtZpo5t69fKVaY-7aFjVT1bNjjRpKmvKlLuPzNplanPSFnZYfDL3Lq5N04H1dGYpNkdnrBR5Z-N5ZGmtYMMcQHVm_o1uECMJhl8CUI4szd3ir02pP9ba83XDpOPYIyGeBntCxLL90/s1600-h/hamsah+1.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtihOtZpo5t69fKVaY-7aFjVT1bNjjRpKmvKlLuPzNplanPSFnZYfDL3Lq5N04H1dGYpNkdnrBR5Z-N5ZGmtYMMcQHVm_o1uECMJhl8CUI4szd3ir02pP9ba83XDpOPYIyGeBntCxLL90/s400/hamsah+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148651800989059954" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NugoUR1FBuzOJOx1GSE-kmBibMnHDf6y2ftCPQPr9TMWSHSd_W5xY21yejLm614YWiR_avE9Gh7tOUiZPvvbZBvgNfO4GAq_BTeKrWYMioWkUOhfoClMYIDGSuNUyuXReMK_Rtk4-pc/s1600-h/Bircat+Habbayit.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NugoUR1FBuzOJOx1GSE-kmBibMnHDf6y2ftCPQPr9TMWSHSd_W5xY21yejLm614YWiR_avE9Gh7tOUiZPvvbZBvgNfO4GAq_BTeKrWYMioWkUOhfoClMYIDGSuNUyuXReMK_Rtk4-pc/s400/Bircat+Habbayit.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148651538996054882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWTgo3zcRXp_fMMlXPvlV9PHGWuPPl9k0zzHnqlrtUsq8eCsrrvv_Bp2OFxqraD91b5C_whRv2wKCyESF8JdkwhDF1lUx4ku6OJc2VX0ivKRUezAIwd-mSTXSx-46KSqC_0unNPFBK3I/s1600-h/hannukia+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWTgo3zcRXp_fMMlXPvlV9PHGWuPPl9k0zzHnqlrtUsq8eCsrrvv_Bp2OFxqraD91b5C_whRv2wKCyESF8JdkwhDF1lUx4ku6OJc2VX0ivKRUezAIwd-mSTXSx-46KSqC_0unNPFBK3I/s400/hannukia+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148648592648489810" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsEKLgNxDk7nARdhKs9fSKcHgolof3_WhGPDp1QsMv2OeVxN7THsZnQO9Jzxhyphenhyphen-pIU355cmbiYxa3WUdvF1EYtBgQ-Mj2s5fkYXH2B-bx0cA6ccDO4vod9z79IGkRfEU2F5I_WMlmxqA/s1600-h/rabbis.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsEKLgNxDk7nARdhKs9fSKcHgolof3_WhGPDp1QsMv2OeVxN7THsZnQO9Jzxhyphenhyphen-pIU355cmbiYxa3WUdvF1EYtBgQ-Mj2s5fkYXH2B-bx0cA6ccDO4vod9z79IGkRfEU2F5I_WMlmxqA/s400/rabbis.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148652372219710338" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IXjQIis4b4jp9X4dIn66_x3Ww8W1Yfj0aBpO7npCN5d118CaJbSXt3Q_QZm75Fo3yNlH8-PsGkX3kbA6sV1pP-H0ctJz36YkpucpsFJ02JQYDR1S3mTdbWdSHlxf_y1n9RlmlyJZGpE/s1600-h/luck.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IXjQIis4b4jp9X4dIn66_x3Ww8W1Yfj0aBpO7npCN5d118CaJbSXt3Q_QZm75Fo3yNlH8-PsGkX3kbA6sV1pP-H0ctJz36YkpucpsFJ02JQYDR1S3mTdbWdSHlxf_y1n9RlmlyJZGpE/s400/luck.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148654871890676658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yJueGZ6iCW2wWDAar9aq66yKwQCnVYKR9lfOgZToWiyGpUFpJ7PBQCoWKZElaBqUb_EOR2Y7e3GhBrxwPA-PU5O95-8iYErYQ7q423Wzj_FtQcgZgjVulCAEL_RTuLp_6bD1x8bHFPw/s1600-h/candle.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yJueGZ6iCW2wWDAar9aq66yKwQCnVYKR9lfOgZToWiyGpUFpJ7PBQCoWKZElaBqUb_EOR2Y7e3GhBrxwPA-PU5O95-8iYErYQ7q423Wzj_FtQcgZgjVulCAEL_RTuLp_6bD1x8bHFPw/s400/candle.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148655589150215106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is an excerpt of Noam Bedein's, director of the Sderot Media Center, report of the attack.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">When the Chabad Rabbi of Sderot, Chaim Pizen, viewed the damage on Mount Sinai Street in Sderot the day after the eight day holiday of Chanukah finished, he remarked, “The Miracles that we are seeing in Sderot have revealed themselves more clearly than the miracles we witnessed on Mount Sinai itself”... <br /></span>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-73677235617266519262007-12-26T04:31:00.000-08:002007-12-26T05:39:52.889-08:00O' Canada!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LTtU7XyAJxbS7R56QNaVl-80sf2cJ5TbmnGvnFBFkBae-ooG6LKyOIL8lTFrUR1LBFWvFeTjNr2pfxDFFhZyeKhoEukPKjP6L3yeouKmNLrzY_PS3aA27XS6Kr8Cz7fFVvf6QIPQlNA/s1600-h/flag_canada.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LTtU7XyAJxbS7R56QNaVl-80sf2cJ5TbmnGvnFBFkBae-ooG6LKyOIL8lTFrUR1LBFWvFeTjNr2pfxDFFhZyeKhoEukPKjP6L3yeouKmNLrzY_PS3aA27XS6Kr8Cz7fFVvf6QIPQlNA/s200/flag_canada.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148269570374552338" /></a>Yesterday, I went to Cherna Rosenberg's house for lunch and stuff. Cherna, who lived in Israel from 1964-1984, returned from Canada to Israel in January 2006, to Sderot of all places. Yes, Cherna made Aliyah to a town safer than any gated community in the San Fernando Valley.<br /><br />Cherna's grub was phenominal - I'm still stuffed! The conversation, however, was even better.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xbpWbA4GsvkO1ftXVwwejBnl0oLrDbQR9ELmGedDraiJuLdqpC8udagZxzyycWv9ClBW2_bMvEsKd3nOZoe_yN6nPOpb710nYi2hVWV735IcqhNcoStgi74UF2xZLggArrjtQwzllqE/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xbpWbA4GsvkO1ftXVwwejBnl0oLrDbQR9ELmGedDraiJuLdqpC8udagZxzyycWv9ClBW2_bMvEsKd3nOZoe_yN6nPOpb710nYi2hVWV735IcqhNcoStgi74UF2xZLggArrjtQwzllqE/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148274784464849714" /></a><br /><br />She delighted me with her candor, humor and passion. Cherna did move to Sderot so, umm, the new immigrant's got a little personality to say the least. Cherna, in her sixties, is my kind of lady- she says what's on her mind, always. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCiAGchbLa-CEoSEXQt4o_UM9JJBREinuHpHsy0eSRk1m_08s2iSLCFOBEyKKPt48BfE0hIQcWgJ8f2E9S7KzZvd-218Rh3mv6FWTQnkLCFcopvDzkaPgLOTtEm9V-hlqQFAg47URpmA/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCiAGchbLa-CEoSEXQt4o_UM9JJBREinuHpHsy0eSRk1m_08s2iSLCFOBEyKKPt48BfE0hIQcWgJ8f2E9S7KzZvd-218Rh3mv6FWTQnkLCFcopvDzkaPgLOTtEm9V-hlqQFAg47URpmA/s400/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148275402940140354" /></a><br />Even being the crazy Zionist that she is, her second husband of thirty years comes from the Druze population in Israel. To most people, that might seem odd, but to Cherna - it was an obvious choice. The dude loved Israel and served in the IDF - a zionist at heart- perfect match.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqGPi1DdIweeejMfPa2LPLD9l_EW1QmCVwzRux9WMkZkJ2U7jJyRE95oDlLyslpRhHngHWLnItWpNO3f6jhlh_4LUymgD3VzS8qYSWob_kABW-HDN4g6GuZF78V1f-FOI0RLsjzjLKo4/s1600-h/Druze+Elders.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqGPi1DdIweeejMfPa2LPLD9l_EW1QmCVwzRux9WMkZkJ2U7jJyRE95oDlLyslpRhHngHWLnItWpNO3f6jhlh_4LUymgD3VzS8qYSWob_kABW-HDN4g6GuZF78V1f-FOI0RLsjzjLKo4/s200/Druze+Elders.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148273272636361506" /></a><br /><br />Her house, like many others in Sderot, is not protected from Qassam rockets. If you don't have protection, they say you should go to a room without windows to protect yourself from the shrapnal. But all of the rooms in Cherna's cute house have windows. Uh-oh. <br /><br />Cherna moved to Sderot to lives two doors down from her daughter and grandkids. She made it seem so matter of fact she moved to Sderot - to her, if given the opportunity, wouldn't anyone pick up and move to be neighbors with their child and grandchildren? <br /><br />For most people, it would probably depend on whether rockets were falling from the sky on a daily basis. That being the status quo in Sderot, I'd say it's not the norm to retire in Sderot. But when you got the passion and belief of Cherna Rosenberg, it's a no brainer.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-91636594578172122922007-12-26T04:00:00.000-08:002007-12-26T04:01:20.748-08:00Video of Qassam attack taken on my camera<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QLh1HyfGMTc&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QLh1HyfGMTc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-82952809468784668962007-12-25T02:27:00.000-08:002007-12-25T07:17:43.189-08:00Stop Rocketing the Beer Factories, Idiots!Yesterday was my first day back in Sderot since the Qassam attack on Thursday. I convinced my good friend David Lawrence Abraham<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxSleq5ScI02JCKQh7vli394EM8TFfwzMchGIC3GZp72OZi4oB7a9CRnlTUPVWjt-UGUOs_pGfYjgPDTlblKOmezpwNLQEWutkKwKObyEU9agtPSKVOsPfrLixCbZsRWnGnEfwnHSiTU/s1600-h/s10120423_35797602_4836.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxSleq5ScI02JCKQh7vli394EM8TFfwzMchGIC3GZp72OZi4oB7a9CRnlTUPVWjt-UGUOs_pGfYjgPDTlblKOmezpwNLQEWutkKwKObyEU9agtPSKVOsPfrLixCbZsRWnGnEfwnHSiTU/s320/s10120423_35797602_4836.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147856415995513378" /></a> to come down with me; I wanted to give him a tour – my first one!<br /><br />As soon as we arrived into town, we headed directly to the police station. There we met these two young guys from New York (still a few years older than me), who just so happened to stop in Sderot (of all places) on their way to enjoying stuff, foreign to the western Negev, in Eilat. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQO3HNnvzr9MntFyjfXw-T7NPfzabpfHAyCS0bMunw8_xgkq8F8xtttg-26YS-XIKMujqPgaMLGOk2cAmKtCDXgMV3tObxv4VCaD3gD0OE0-LypouI5p5ulmvf9zRwjq2invOaWuMH2E/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQO3HNnvzr9MntFyjfXw-T7NPfzabpfHAyCS0bMunw8_xgkq8F8xtttg-26YS-XIKMujqPgaMLGOk2cAmKtCDXgMV3tObxv4VCaD3gD0OE0-LypouI5p5ulmvf9zRwjq2invOaWuMH2E/s200/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147857047355705906" /></a><br /><br />I gave em’ a quick run down on Qassam rockets: what the different colors mean, their impact, how many are launched <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp4GfpaV5zpXWlFHwDnjynsRqn0WS8hoDsh7e8v1EtaANoH1GPaescAp1Rrhse9oJKd6E3R4mTxbSwFRosNtiFEV5rLSPYYfyQMEZOSaKt3sd7Js6VGOj4WPoyWQlb5SJ3bAyTMHuXDo/s1600-h/IMG_0213.JPG.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp4GfpaV5zpXWlFHwDnjynsRqn0WS8hoDsh7e8v1EtaANoH1GPaescAp1Rrhse9oJKd6E3R4mTxbSwFRosNtiFEV5rLSPYYfyQMEZOSaKt3sd7Js6VGOj4WPoyWQlb5SJ3bAyTMHuXDo/s200/IMG_0213.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147857897759230530" /></a>– all the good stuff. We go outside, and they ask me “so where should we go in Sderot, seems like a happening town” (it went something like that, they were pretty funny), and I’m like, “Yo, I’ll take you around, got a car?” <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15KIoxKYynpcOrgpv2odfM6CHHCqf1_xFro6zfGaDRHAn0fHNYWG32CQCaRCbFnkKTjVz-1JZGyQdCAqI-8lLciCYsjAHJqXMjuX6Scd3UZCmsmpMfPJMSCvs1uVq2j0eANzKXentrqk/s1600-h/images-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15KIoxKYynpcOrgpv2odfM6CHHCqf1_xFro6zfGaDRHAn0fHNYWG32CQCaRCbFnkKTjVz-1JZGyQdCAqI-8lLciCYsjAHJqXMjuX6Scd3UZCmsmpMfPJMSCvs1uVq2j0eANzKXentrqk/s200/images-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147858404565371474" /></a><br /><br />Knowing I needed to pick up my laundry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYk2SlE06EHwTxQuj1JxBx_wawJFFlXe-qe9hE9O82qpL2HncaKQlw6AGORlAeCVEBP1udsz788DD31nqPPTQU9JCAp-6mL4KpGDRGuiKOzNuAyjxl_3WeQdLzYsYqiLMkOHPyUoGywM/s1600-h/uses-for-vinegar-doing-laundry-ga-1.jpg.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYk2SlE06EHwTxQuj1JxBx_wawJFFlXe-qe9hE9O82qpL2HncaKQlw6AGORlAeCVEBP1udsz788DD31nqPPTQU9JCAp-6mL4KpGDRGuiKOzNuAyjxl_3WeQdLzYsYqiLMkOHPyUoGywM/s200/uses-for-vinegar-doing-laundry-ga-1.jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147858885601708642" /></a> and get a ride for David and I to Kibbutz Saad (where we were going for the afternoon), it was the perfect situation. Ari and Adam, the guys from New York, got a sick tour from the best tour guide in the Middle East, and David and I got hooked up with a ride. <br /><br />After the police station, we headed over to the house severely damaged by a Qassam rocket nearly two weeks ago.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqKz7jCRfrY-qTdzz5022Qs6VdxW656oqm8J_0oQLk-T7ngtCIJD2RGykqY8KT7cpAIO0X7goWBn4t1dL-K85KwevJFdbCeTWLCknaWW6qHqzpcr3oHEL1p0vWGHifKBMA1axNAzp-wU/s1600-h/IMG_1180.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqKz7jCRfrY-qTdzz5022Qs6VdxW656oqm8J_0oQLk-T7ngtCIJD2RGykqY8KT7cpAIO0X7goWBn4t1dL-K85KwevJFdbCeTWLCknaWW6qHqzpcr3oHEL1p0vWGHifKBMA1axNAzp-wU/s200/IMG_1180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147920917814364818" /></a> It was really cool to see their reaction to what’s going on in Sderot; it showed there are people who care about this place. <br /><br />But seriously, who stops in Sderot on their way to Eilat? Are you trying to ruin your day? It was awesome though, come back guys – beers are on me.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ekNRHfYdddgCA3m-2U0SKFCM8E3MgfCWZ1u4Nz_Ehyphenhyphen9mgi1JNg-rM7QzM3aU9v1EjHDG5fmDXnziB5-vavANGeYUbf97vP41x3-qz8CwDoj08fxY44TrNIcYogLiTYxfYBhoc0Jbxm8/s1600-h/BM1185~Beer-White-Guys-Dance-Posters.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ekNRHfYdddgCA3m-2U0SKFCM8E3MgfCWZ1u4Nz_Ehyphenhyphen9mgi1JNg-rM7QzM3aU9v1EjHDG5fmDXnziB5-vavANGeYUbf97vP41x3-qz8CwDoj08fxY44TrNIcYogLiTYxfYBhoc0Jbxm8/s200/BM1185~Beer-White-Guys-Dance-Posters.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147924671615781554" /></a><br /><br />Something to note, one of the first things Ari and Adam said was, “Didn’t the terrorists hit the Carlesberg factory with a rocket – seriously, what the hell is wrong with them?” True that.<br /><br />We then went to an outpost overlooking northern Gaza. Ari took his shirt off to prove to his friends he got “some rays” while in Israel, and I proceeded to explain them what’s going on in the happiest place on earth.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i2CFtO_9atMLRIn2_cKSktGyMf5IJ3HoGMyWT6TEGOQaT45stWaSaKE_tcp6AdlyYJ4y1ZM_KI7f8_x04eycTc4juhoWoCzLZpWl5K59BcrJnp0g3Hxq8gApWWXPnjUNKkrn0SCh5WE/s1600-h/images-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_i2CFtO_9atMLRIn2_cKSktGyMf5IJ3HoGMyWT6TEGOQaT45stWaSaKE_tcp6AdlyYJ4y1ZM_KI7f8_x04eycTc4juhoWoCzLZpWl5K59BcrJnp0g3Hxq8gApWWXPnjUNKkrn0SCh5WE/s200/images-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147925333040745154" /></a><br /><br />Where we were, you could see Beit Hanoun – the village from where the majority of Qassam rockets are launched on Israel – the Jebaliyeh refugee camp – a hotbed of pretty intense terrorist activity – and the home of the greatest economic center in the world – Gaza City! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCRURv0n58l0nitaavv00Y8S23nN5dc1ZtEUpwfqSno7lmXZLeuRKHFALjPSsXCy0qyQ147fADm8gne1__YLm-pV4ZvdtrQf8ia6ytWg0NiJo0ruV9KjJnHo96tArfKOV3g4v39wxpFw/s1600-h/images-3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCRURv0n58l0nitaavv00Y8S23nN5dc1ZtEUpwfqSno7lmXZLeuRKHFALjPSsXCy0qyQ147fADm8gne1__YLm-pV4ZvdtrQf8ia6ytWg0NiJo0ruV9KjJnHo96tArfKOV3g4v39wxpFw/s200/images-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147926638710803170" /></a><br /><br />If we went at a good time – between 6:30 and 9:00 AM – we may have seen one of those cute little terrorists launch a Qassam rocket. How sweet would have that been? Better than being on the news? Hmm, maybe I would have been on the news again (I got to get over myself).<br /><br />I also showed them that there is a white, Israeli blimp flying over Gaza taking pictures of the area making sure no fishy activities are going down. Well – just things that are fishier than terrorists launching rockets on civilian populations, that’s not that bad. Here's a picture of Beit Hanoun - rockets are launched from here daily, yikes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZFYInNbgnyhDrZCCNK2iC6dNOSrfqSS7nkqfMdmjGR74e4QcF01Zu9iIJh0ZmtD1Kx2ITI09rJpZac9rdaVrrfaTagqxTJZP6wgiH2kewKRTA-H0UeGTBdQz9Eg_cVVCiijiGAqYCVU/s1600-h/P1100920.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZFYInNbgnyhDrZCCNK2iC6dNOSrfqSS7nkqfMdmjGR74e4QcF01Zu9iIJh0ZmtD1Kx2ITI09rJpZac9rdaVrrfaTagqxTJZP6wgiH2kewKRTA-H0UeGTBdQz9Eg_cVVCiijiGAqYCVU/s320/P1100920.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147929284410657538" /></a> <br /><br />After doing the Gaza Strip, Ari, Adam, my boy D. Abraham and I went to Kibbutz Saad for lunch. Yesterday really rocked. Here's a picture of Ari, Adam and I with the Gaza Strip in the background.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzerQVPZcGA67vVeT9hs_IFQnzYcXbzxuwH5_W8zkpWj43Hp39ue3oCokoC-VgwkfbMRazh-FXLfC_cLDyimrvo57VhXcayT6SPpC-4T-tQA_Q-3Tvd64whshatvNCt0mN5SYfNjuKnNQ/s1600-h/IMG_1237.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzerQVPZcGA67vVeT9hs_IFQnzYcXbzxuwH5_W8zkpWj43Hp39ue3oCokoC-VgwkfbMRazh-FXLfC_cLDyimrvo57VhXcayT6SPpC-4T-tQA_Q-3Tvd64whshatvNCt0mN5SYfNjuKnNQ/s320/IMG_1237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147927166991780594" /></a> <br /> <br />Even after this past crazy week of CNN and “Hi Benji, I think I saw you on the news”, taking Ari, Adam and David around made me feel I’ve accomplished some good things over the last month. Showing these guys what’s going on in Sderot, and that more people need to know about this place, was one of the better things I’ve done while being in Sderot. <br /><br />So I hope I run into some more people at the police station, but next time, maybe some cute girls instead. Seems like the best place to socialize in Sderot because if conversation ever gets awkward, you can just say, “Yo, don’t you like the coloring of the green and red rocket as opposed to yellow and red ones?” Those comments never get old…Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-31818131670471350832007-12-23T23:11:00.000-08:002007-12-24T05:29:01.511-08:00Spreading the Word About Sderot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA_wxYvZ49GTFQdCyE5ih1w3XEGjumpEOORd9CWG0aqALjMXc1-aWfQ5DTIAUL4uEQDVhihazrPvet4mq0A43ecR3f6-V69fitthHWt6aZWL8VYZrwbHTDdpHNTATmq_ulEq4n5zWPq4/s1600-h/cnn1231.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA_wxYvZ49GTFQdCyE5ih1w3XEGjumpEOORd9CWG0aqALjMXc1-aWfQ5DTIAUL4uEQDVhihazrPvet4mq0A43ecR3f6-V69fitthHWt6aZWL8VYZrwbHTDdpHNTATmq_ulEq4n5zWPq4/s200/cnn1231.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147441036823415266" /></a><br />The video taken on my camera of the Qassam attack has circulated all over the world the last few days. Numerous people wrote on my facebook wall, "I was just sitting around and then, wow, Benji Davis, you're on CNN". Yah, that was pretty cool.<br /><br />But in all honesty, it's not important that I was on CNN, as long as my message was clear - there's a big problem in Sderot needing fixing.<br /><br />The segment of my video of the Qassam attack was headlined on national Israeli news on Channel Two at six, eight and twelve o'clock. <a href="http://www.keshet-tv.com/videopage.aspx?MediaID=28919&CatID=0&Level3=0">Here's the piece.</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YQFTcwTq2o4amiqCWRtthbuggKDlAvGiNBzN53RJvlVtkA_h-Eoja6Cz_feEE-2zGY009rvFAiZH16tALjn05lPLp5-1aYLs5nSvDvW6bxHQ84Jj2ePYuORWoFYD3Dn_5a0cLR5vZPU/s1600-h/images-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YQFTcwTq2o4amiqCWRtthbuggKDlAvGiNBzN53RJvlVtkA_h-Eoja6Cz_feEE-2zGY009rvFAiZH16tALjn05lPLp5-1aYLs5nSvDvW6bxHQ84Jj2ePYuORWoFYD3Dn_5a0cLR5vZPU/s200/images-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147441552219490802" /></a><br /><br />Also, at 9: 30 of the night of the attack, Channel Two called me and asked to come in for an interview during the 7:00 morning news. So, I didn't sleep that night, and took a 5:30 cab from Jerusalem (where I was at the time) to Herzliyeh (where the studios are). Yes, the interview was all in Hebrew - the billions of dollars<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGhdlL8o3cCIksr0R55L2N1hlyvyGvQMSVFdmyy5o2skZstiLPIkr0sKthRm1ma1owXR69Zcbyk4TQGZcenc76LaCRy_q2ptuyMv7llIkvXWpDXl9kkom8-9W34lzw7eAdzy2bSm_Pls/s1600-h/money%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGhdlL8o3cCIksr0R55L2N1hlyvyGvQMSVFdmyy5o2skZstiLPIkr0sKthRm1ma1owXR69Zcbyk4TQGZcenc76LaCRy_q2ptuyMv7llIkvXWpDXl9kkom8-9W34lzw7eAdzy2bSm_Pls/s200/money%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147530333488466450" /></a> my parents spent on my Jewish education did go somewhere after all. <br /><br />Here's the link of my interview on Channel Two morning news. <a href="http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ClipMediaID=1584652&ak=null&st=00:00:03.991&dr=01:50:52.572">Click here</a>(My interview starts at 7: 07 you'll figure it out). FYI - apple users might have trouble, good luck.<br /><br />My video of the Qassam Attack is also featured on the Israel Foreign Ministry web site - <BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Missile+fire+from+Gaza+on+Israeli+civilian+targets+Aug+2007.htm>click here</a></BlogItemURL> - and by Newsblaze, a wire service for journalists across the globe - <BlogItemURL><a href=http://newsblaze.com/story/20071220151315nnnn.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/story.html>click here for Newzblaze story.</a></BlogItemURL><br /><br />I'm telling you all this to show you the power of one raw video. This one-minute clip exemplifies the terror and trauma suffered by the people of Sderot on a daily basis.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgtE7PsJikpGEpkowV_iEQ4n9QQo4IIuuh1PEVTbD1hGYyFsw4p8WFLO3tOFHw0TGVJCvgqs4mbWmSWTn2OJYWfqgIPYeXMniJdQSguIUrpT4pH-sAsraxX158pBC_IxVP4wJjUEnIoU/s1600-h/images-3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgtE7PsJikpGEpkowV_iEQ4n9QQo4IIuuh1PEVTbD1hGYyFsw4p8WFLO3tOFHw0TGVJCvgqs4mbWmSWTn2OJYWfqgIPYeXMniJdQSguIUrpT4pH-sAsraxX158pBC_IxVP4wJjUEnIoU/s320/images-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147442089090402818" /></a> Please share it with your friends, family, everyone you know, so they can understand that the Jewish people are under siege in Sderot. It'll only take a minute.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-17922910536357697212007-12-21T13:48:00.000-08:002007-12-21T14:02:48.315-08:00I'm on CNNLink of me talking about attack right after Qassam fell- on CNN.<br /><br /><BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/12/21/israeli.rocket.attack.cnn>CNN Link</a></BlogItemURL>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-85287174189294793592007-12-20T06:41:00.001-08:002007-12-23T03:37:07.428-08:00My Account of Thursday's AttackWhile volunteering with special needs kids on Thursday, "Tzevah Adom" sounded. Because it was during a repelling activity, I was hanging from the top of a tree when the alert sounded.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38kbm8tmF1STDynYNU6Z8t1QXeILGyavknx32GNvlB1Q5jY2ZtL2uEKA5UPy3iEHvtpRnUuVwQB7D9rggk8sHOGb6ofhn5wO80Pk4HRFUUmZQ1oJhPobnvf_wdbPfGnvdhhCO2c3mRG0/s1600-h/IMG_1198.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38kbm8tmF1STDynYNU6Z8t1QXeILGyavknx32GNvlB1Q5jY2ZtL2uEKA5UPy3iEHvtpRnUuVwQB7D9rggk8sHOGb6ofhn5wO80Pk4HRFUUmZQ1oJhPobnvf_wdbPfGnvdhhCO2c3mRG0/s200/IMG_1198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147128951614785970" /></a> So the dude in charge got me down as fast as he could. Then I took the safety thing off and ran into the shelter outside (pictured below), relieved I made it in time before the boom. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6pplKs87gC4nGKq51wHMxTDhv0A2cC-8eo962m3srkIlTxb_eUEJojxA-qPJrhRgXZSW0Hz3GKNEcpukQYJEuVAIkGEFMhdHXRyjPTyF3Mh9aeQPjZCK9JmUGBubRHBIG0_pOUuzryQ/s1600-h/IMG_1191.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6pplKs87gC4nGKq51wHMxTDhv0A2cC-8eo962m3srkIlTxb_eUEJojxA-qPJrhRgXZSW0Hz3GKNEcpukQYJEuVAIkGEFMhdHXRyjPTyF3Mh9aeQPjZCK9JmUGBubRHBIG0_pOUuzryQ/s200/IMG_1191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147129415471253954" /></a> <br /><br />As soon as I entered I said, "I knew the Tzevah Adom was going to go off while I was up there", not thinking the Qassam was going to land near us. I smiled in relief, and began fixing my glasses as they appeared broken. Ten seconds later... the loudest boom of my life! I've never heard such a sound. It was crazy. How does the city endure these attacks everyday?<br /><br />Kids were crying, I was worried for the children, teachers were making sure their students were okay. It was total mayhem. Eighteen people were treated for shock. You can't think or speak during these crazy times. <br /><br />Anyway, the Qassam landed 50 feet outside the school in a pile of sand <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJucvgU-ymibtM889405MMvHf3H8L1tnFEEP8sHsXMJx7uBegfxTMuV8wby9-1JrVzaZHr8d3Ubsd_1ZUclMyJb-LwV4cc7T1ArxD_ygVqJfzNTSpncG4ltA-GIvTovLOHo-eGj9mCTo/s1600-h/IMG_1211.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJucvgU-ymibtM889405MMvHf3H8L1tnFEEP8sHsXMJx7uBegfxTMuV8wby9-1JrVzaZHr8d3Ubsd_1ZUclMyJb-LwV4cc7T1ArxD_ygVqJfzNTSpncG4ltA-GIvTovLOHo-eGj9mCTo/s200/IMG_1211.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147130596587260370" /></a>- right in between the school and a block of houses. The rocket also landed 20 feet to the right of a block of houses - wow, what a miracle - so close to a disaster. <br /><br />I am constantly asked if I'm going to leave Sderot because of what happened. How could I leave Sderot after what happened? I need to stay to show the world the terror people live with daily here. This is what needs to be done.<br /><br />As I've said earlier in my blog:<br /><br />1) Sderot and the western Negev has been under rocket attack over seven years.<br />2) Since Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza two and a half years ago, over 2,000 rockets have been fired on the western Negev.<br />3) There are 78 bomb shelters all over the western Negev that need repairs of $15,000-$20,000.<br />4) There are 800 houses without any protection from the Qassams.<br />5) Only a third of the schools in Sderot are fully protected from the rocket threat.<br /><br />Hopefully because of my experience today, someone may decide to open up their pocketbook to help the people, but most importantly, the children of Sderot. <br /><br />I'm going to stay for the duration of my time in Israel. To me, the attack was one of the scariest days of my life. But to the rest of Sderot, it was just another day, another Qassam.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-8017072376331417382007-12-20T05:26:00.000-08:002007-12-20T05:57:10.585-08:00Download Videos of Qassam Attack<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Below are the links to download videos taken on my camera during this mornings Qassam attack, which fell 50 feet outside the local Sderot elementary school I volunteer for.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sederotmedia.org/upload/20071220/MVI_1200.AVI">Qassam Alert</a><br /><a href="http://www.sederotmedia.org/upload/20071220/Kassamhit.avi">During Attack</a><br /><a href="http://www.sederotmedia.org/upload/20071220/MVI_1203.AVI">After Attack</a>Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-25021434944820516122007-12-19T22:43:00.000-08:002007-12-19T23:24:37.437-08:00No Hudna PleaseThe ruling regime in Gaza, Hamas, wants to establish a "hudna" (truce) with Israel. Yet after the early "Tzevah Adom" warning this morning, I heard the boom of a Qassam rocket. Even though Hamas <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvFdqr1neaojWs1eTok_avA8cxiumbSPYpYECCoxz0L2ELQD-sNkvm02E9_xRw6VQ9zauukFoJvWNTEayB97lc1Yh1ewp9kiZ253yP7UtkCm82ZtHDk2FdG3hyZYvTEeoeTIoI4VReRI/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvFdqr1neaojWs1eTok_avA8cxiumbSPYpYECCoxz0L2ELQD-sNkvm02E9_xRw6VQ9zauukFoJvWNTEayB97lc1Yh1ewp9kiZ253yP7UtkCm82ZtHDk2FdG3hyZYvTEeoeTIoI4VReRI/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145947101168978258" /></a>is not firing Qassams at Israel right now, they are facilitating the launching of Qassams by other terrorist organizations - most notably Palestinian Islamic Jihad - by giving them rockets. <br /><br />And more importantly, Hamas launches mortal shells at army bases and communities in the western Negev daily. How do you expect to have a ceasefire when you can't even display one day of restraint?<br /><br />Hamas has thousands of Qassams stored, ready to fire them at the western Negev as soon as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) invades Gaza in its defensive mission to stop the rocket fire on its civillian communities. "Hudna"? Are you kidding me! <br /><br />The only way to stop the daily Qassam fire is an IDF<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rEkACaqsuXjoiBGsayunoWKzqKBjIyaK8ERskPYn8Bq7R6KMwnjw5a9qkQBoh1hRSnHCetcBPiF74_9MPDo2yXYaoqoulCgSFjQJFEbxSVomvDF2i-Jk5pQMX9dx2eAOuONR13AEP6M/s1600-h/idf-hotties.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rEkACaqsuXjoiBGsayunoWKzqKBjIyaK8ERskPYn8Bq7R6KMwnjw5a9qkQBoh1hRSnHCetcBPiF74_9MPDo2yXYaoqoulCgSFjQJFEbxSVomvDF2i-Jk5pQMX9dx2eAOuONR13AEP6M/s320/idf-hotties.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145947981637273954" /></a> incursion into Gaza. But word on the street is (what I read in the news), IDF casualties would be higher than the 119 that died during the Second Lebanon War if it enters Gaza. <br /><br />Another word on the street<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTV_0t_nxP75U8Ic1C6kdiISEzsrjiM_9fiTlFhihHi_kOaxnB9cfAvXDoyUZwHQ9EZdZtff8vkXqPMDihz1dutVBgcD0Gaa7u9c34C6ZJACsZzo21o_TO0bAm77ir1UZFVvrDI6KE6Bk/s1600-h/High+Street.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTV_0t_nxP75U8Ic1C6kdiISEzsrjiM_9fiTlFhihHi_kOaxnB9cfAvXDoyUZwHQ9EZdZtff8vkXqPMDihz1dutVBgcD0Gaa7u9c34C6ZJACsZzo21o_TO0bAm77ir1UZFVvrDI6KE6Bk/s200/High+Street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145949411861383538" /></a> (something else I read in the new) is that Israel needs to continue with targeted killings of terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The Israel Air Force (IAF) recently killed 13 terrorists - mostly affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad -in air strikes. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is claiming to get revenge, but after the targeted killings, things are more quiet then usual down here. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWAwa8ERjmhcEtTc2pyGyaolrC4shZeE8Yuicfe_j76iBi_fBwVEq66_R3kPf2S5zifelKgmhU9zo5tjGhOMq3d2lbcnqWZVgrhtj4rjxGd2dObRUoP31stlUJepHQcLRDlWnkB6SlTM/s1600-h/f16i_i1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWAwa8ERjmhcEtTc2pyGyaolrC4shZeE8Yuicfe_j76iBi_fBwVEq66_R3kPf2S5zifelKgmhU9zo5tjGhOMq3d2lbcnqWZVgrhtj4rjxGd2dObRUoP31stlUJepHQcLRDlWnkB6SlTM/s200/f16i_i1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145950129120921986" /></a><br /><br />The terrorists want a truce to build up their capabilities against Israel. "Hudna" equals less terror now, but when the time comes, the terror will be much worse than we're seeing today. <br /><br />The idea of a "Hudna" means halftime <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gWDMQcUqxCHZnM799wzgBp_D7NNEPMcz0F5pyvUySYcJBPQx-T0l73WQewEn4FDI53SOe5AWMgid5BRS6uvDtGU476uV2yaPlXj31N2f8FWi3jTfWI3y_h4G8orbO-NHabPHY3NpwsE/s1600-h/images-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gWDMQcUqxCHZnM799wzgBp_D7NNEPMcz0F5pyvUySYcJBPQx-T0l73WQewEn4FDI53SOe5AWMgid5BRS6uvDtGU476uV2yaPlXj31N2f8FWi3jTfWI3y_h4G8orbO-NHabPHY3NpwsE/s200/images-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145951752618559890" /></a>to the terrorists. Time to regroup and when you got a better game plan, then you attack with greater force. Israel needs to get em' while still ahead.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-79815730989530204442007-12-19T05:02:00.000-08:002007-12-19T05:15:31.002-08:00Have it My Way - Get a Job!It's kind of nerve wrecking that it's been a few days since a rocket landed in Sderot.<br /><br />You terrorists better not be planning something big. I really don't like you- get a job or something (Mickie D's builds careers!).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZmSBlTOUUif08EWLCt57pUsYX4Tm-ZA3keROYdEr1sCNsBnAgna4qaFeoYYh5N8RVd4EwHsc9n919yfeKv7uFAQVyF3HQS12euFJHtz9gyfmhh41XD-R8J1CcmaL4mJfTooQEtxnc4E/s1600-h/mcdonalds.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZmSBlTOUUif08EWLCt57pUsYX4Tm-ZA3keROYdEr1sCNsBnAgna4qaFeoYYh5N8RVd4EwHsc9n919yfeKv7uFAQVyF3HQS12euFJHtz9gyfmhh41XD-R8J1CcmaL4mJfTooQEtxnc4E/s200/mcdonalds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145668959086889202" /></a<br /><br />Sheesh. Or, have it your way (Burger King slogan). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIyZXYWXv-IrZMYK2JMwMhto6xX6uuCe3gZnKHusqpTV5II_mnGhiTYVtc6k8PQKEN3eovD0DqwMTBP5fjl9sw7eQfufhDtamHzK2VVnziDPCz6qexhXGgzhh2Dc_9Zv2wPJnUlUKX3Q/s1600-h/Burger+King.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIyZXYWXv-IrZMYK2JMwMhto6xX6uuCe3gZnKHusqpTV5II_mnGhiTYVtc6k8PQKEN3eovD0DqwMTBP5fjl9sw7eQfufhDtamHzK2VVnziDPCz6qexhXGgzhh2Dc_9Zv2wPJnUlUKX3Q/s200/Burger+King.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145671677801187650" /></a><br /><br />Oh ya - Poverty? authoritarian regime (Hamas)? no civil rights? Ah - there aren't any job opportunities in Gaza. <br /><br />For those older readers, remember when the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza - under Israeli rule - had the 4th largest growing economy in the world during the 1980's<BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.pmw.org.il>(Palestinian Media Watch)</a></BlogItemURL>?<br /><br />Then came the first Intifada in 1987<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6ei_qu-gCUIn0zbRkxrianXuTwVxw3_iTHXrmjU3GnLQHPs6W3i1DxFEdADX4dlvYZL9SUO7Gd869jtudkCZhfwD42Ru44n8mtl3buosbUtrcCbiCTdh4HwzEsl1pxjjok8dZ_YFs3I/s1600-h/intifada1.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6ei_qu-gCUIn0zbRkxrianXuTwVxw3_iTHXrmjU3GnLQHPs6W3i1DxFEdADX4dlvYZL9SUO7Gd869jtudkCZhfwD42Ru44n8mtl3buosbUtrcCbiCTdh4HwzEsl1pxjjok8dZ_YFs3I/s200/intifada1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145669414353422610" /></a>and you know what, bye bye growing economy. <br /><br />Twenty years later, the socio-economic state in the Gaza Strip has never been worse. Not even this guy (Alan Greenspan)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6tkmHx7vNzNaAAbpgqmLvJY4caOaAWwq4nrHIW8gbUBYqKr65aIj4BizBuq_vAN2XMz6lS3Ek6DbOxWY9HjBXJFnrK2zcn-aztDy2I8peTIeayw4lZkUMG4mIz-jbtBLhhN2eIG4nXg/s1600-h/PH2006012700873.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6tkmHx7vNzNaAAbpgqmLvJY4caOaAWwq4nrHIW8gbUBYqKr65aIj4BizBuq_vAN2XMz6lS3Ek6DbOxWY9HjBXJFnrK2zcn-aztDy2I8peTIeayw4lZkUMG4mIz-jbtBLhhN2eIG4nXg/s200/PH2006012700873.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145669830965250338" /></a><br />could help you.<br /><br />I got some advice. Ditch the terrorism!<br /><br />It'll do you some good.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-10602118687147042562007-12-18T21:34:00.000-08:002007-12-19T07:08:52.344-08:00It's Raining, Water?I walked into the kitchen this morning at 7:20 AM in my tennis garb to hear Stan say - "It rained". I go, "Water? From the sky?"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLr8nPes1QHBKnfP5nsPHSrrCW9xmwbywqf5bNgbp2vsECZZ1Ytc-lwuYuAZrKCA-F0g8cynaIUp9Rd50oNSAeFvyxm6NL2WgQZnVfwG0MmucZDV_jymdNAv2IbXo3vcN0damSi1YwvKQ/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLr8nPes1QHBKnfP5nsPHSrrCW9xmwbywqf5bNgbp2vsECZZ1Ytc-lwuYuAZrKCA-F0g8cynaIUp9Rd50oNSAeFvyxm6NL2WgQZnVfwG0MmucZDV_jymdNAv2IbXo3vcN0damSi1YwvKQ/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145561499005143122" /></a><br />The first time it's rained in centuries (probably months) in the western Negev had to be the morning I planned on getting on the tennis court again, as the expectation for it to rain rockets has yet to come to fruition.<br /><br />Last night, I bought tennis balls for my anticipated match with Stan- over $7 plus later (29 sheckles).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglToLuh6uYxYnppgJP5A2CujLGe7wUQ-ubkTZnE1h31oYY-5LN7Ni57KS-nngV5NZpVVa9L64Iqgs_R5JFqeXnt0NjCmiSNfxOd5e5y3LlzKsUqQvhGxrmTXuYyXJcseGUg_rA32Pd6Uc/s1600-h/Penn+Pink+Ball+Extra+Duty+Can.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglToLuh6uYxYnppgJP5A2CujLGe7wUQ-ubkTZnE1h31oYY-5LN7Ni57KS-nngV5NZpVVa9L64Iqgs_R5JFqeXnt0NjCmiSNfxOd5e5y3LlzKsUqQvhGxrmTXuYyXJcseGUg_rA32Pd6Uc/s200/Penn+Pink+Ball+Extra+Duty+Can.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145562233444550770" /></a>They were the last can of tennis balls in all of Sderot. An hour later I saw a movie - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJvNRYIIeEXQ772Fl58SD8Qhf-s6-wsQUS53FILvvykSMDtiNsXcw2_y1hFzHVQMleKlAfBkCGmbFKiE6jHU57IHNb7MIIkWOnAzVIm-Kq_Nklb6VOkmOdafP7UrBUnpRDtOL8cIymWU/s1600-h/images-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJvNRYIIeEXQ772Fl58SD8Qhf-s6-wsQUS53FILvvykSMDtiNsXcw2_y1hFzHVQMleKlAfBkCGmbFKiE6jHU57IHNb7MIIkWOnAzVIm-Kq_Nklb6VOkmOdafP7UrBUnpRDtOL8cIymWU/s320/images-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145562422423111810" /></a> just 5 bucks (20 sheckles). <br /><br />Can you believe tennis balls cost more than a movie? Love this little town - except when rockets land two blocks away from me!Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712638526158311404.post-40446488300465770492007-12-18T05:09:00.000-08:002007-12-18T12:44:53.680-08:00Land for Peace......Not!Almost thirty years ago at Camp David, Egyptian Prime Minister Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachim Begin established peace between the two nations (supposedly President Jimmy Carter participated in the negotiations without parental supervision). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUJ3XSPHixRtFHherYD6zZpW3Awwe0y2V7M42qAH6x-YVgr8SinfByg5fZ12HoluhPMOvUAvcIOZCCjoE2W6AH2vmpmdCtxKBcbZ0j4gnQ2e1gvm7Lv7SocOZUhG7z7wYQ-ZWExOBvIQ/s1600-h/campdavid.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUJ3XSPHixRtFHherYD6zZpW3Awwe0y2V7M42qAH6x-YVgr8SinfByg5fZ12HoluhPMOvUAvcIOZCCjoE2W6AH2vmpmdCtxKBcbZ0j4gnQ2e1gvm7Lv7SocOZUhG7z7wYQ-ZWExOBvIQ/s320/campdavid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145323596471650354" /></a> In Israel's first "Land for Peace" initiative, it gave Egypt the Sinai peninsula in return for peace. <br /><br />So what is Egypt doing with the Sinai Peninsula? Using the land for peace initiatives perhaps? Hahahahahahaaha.<br /><br />According to this <BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847366227&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull>Jpost story</a></BlogItemURL>, Egyptian policemen assist Palestinian terrorists along the Egypt-Gaza border. Yes, Egyptians help the Palestinian terrorists smuggle weapons into Gaza. <br /><br /><BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847366227&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull>Jpost reported</a></BlogItemURL>, "Since Hamas's takeover of Gaza in June, the terrorist group has smuggled into Gaza 100 tons of explosives, millions of bullets, hundreds of antitank missiles and even a small number of Katyusha rockets". (picture pre-disengagement- If anyone is interested, I posted instructions on how to build a weapon smuggling tunnel at the end of this entry)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi6lkX6AE73DC_oYAMpq4aa4kPV8WUCJY8GoiTPV9EyIDN6ux1_wSiTZXMDLTAzGlVByKVuElOgpbnfvTWLs6Mi9s7zsVihyphenhyphen2cbuvRPyKHQMvJf2lDxLScBZmUBeyRH5ndeeRv7Y7uvM/s1600-h/tunnalplan.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi6lkX6AE73DC_oYAMpq4aa4kPV8WUCJY8GoiTPV9EyIDN6ux1_wSiTZXMDLTAzGlVByKVuElOgpbnfvTWLs6Mi9s7zsVihyphenhyphen2cbuvRPyKHQMvJf2lDxLScBZmUBeyRH5ndeeRv7Y7uvM/s400/tunnalplan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145319829785331682" /></a> <br />With its passive aggression, Egypt is now joining the likes of Iran and Syria in helping Palestinian terrorists fight against Israel. No - Egypt is not training terrorists to fight against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). <br /><br />But, Egypt recently allowed Palestinians who claimed to be traveling to Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage out of Gaza through the Rafa Crossing. Among the 1,700 pilgrims, a significant number are Palestinian terrorists on their way to Iran and Lebanon for training (<BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847366227&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull>Jpost report</a></BlogItemURL>).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxKY8YkO8Hs_ZbdKNW5b28xp5hDgWt_CtZyutqLvm8Ti-6ZWlQKJcnQPiGEkDyLJXccUlaPLtTVElMCb_0updewVAMT9dqG6h2T_PJDlJFCw80BCUU-jlbQjeyV5gkGxya_EXrT4eR4g/s1600-h/img4393cfeceb3ec.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxKY8YkO8Hs_ZbdKNW5b28xp5hDgWt_CtZyutqLvm8Ti-6ZWlQKJcnQPiGEkDyLJXccUlaPLtTVElMCb_0updewVAMT9dqG6h2T_PJDlJFCw80BCUU-jlbQjeyV5gkGxya_EXrT4eR4g/s320/img4393cfeceb3ec.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145321590721923058" /></a><br />Yes, Egypt's got its own problems to deal with, I.E Hamas's extremist cousins - the Muslim Brotherhood. I get it - President Mubarak would rather not deal with arms smuggling from Sinai because he'd rather let the weapons be fired against Israel than <BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847366248&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull>end up in Cairo. </a></BlogItemURL> <br /><br />But, I'm pretty sure such thinking goes against the whole "Land for Peace" agreement Sadat <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNajFGhbLVCFgYPgj8EDf3mhMBWNXGsyTmbotlLvPPTHFxwNvyIWnuRnYONMmu4_rnTzc1IAASiMNHflkbCwQ2H8-kLMYhkJV47s-ry6WFYFyWG-gi6OvJTB-xB15vGul_SiAevEMt9Lw/s1600-h/Jimmy+Carter.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNajFGhbLVCFgYPgj8EDf3mhMBWNXGsyTmbotlLvPPTHFxwNvyIWnuRnYONMmu4_rnTzc1IAASiMNHflkbCwQ2H8-kLMYhkJV47s-ry6WFYFyWG-gi6OvJTB-xB15vGul_SiAevEMt9Lw/s200/Jimmy+Carter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145332328140163138" /></a>and Begin brokered at Camp David while President Jimmy Carter threw peanuts at his babysitter in the other room (Am I mean?). Passively sponsoring terrorism is not nice! <br /><br />But with everything I've said, I still feel so secure about the future! Annapolis was such a success and negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtqXrfbklZK-0F8IVpejahN0fObr3e58d1jn8vLTZdlYbogoUmBBDHy3H-Vmsah57zjY3Mf-bW5XQFcGBhOOhVLK1pKt4IoT1hq7RJIVPp6cF2FQYVIO67Zg673chNGmfLztvjeH4HK0/s1600-h/2007-05-24T005034Z_01_NOOTR_RTRIDSP_2_OUKEN-UK-BOOKS-BORAT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtqXrfbklZK-0F8IVpejahN0fObr3e58d1jn8vLTZdlYbogoUmBBDHy3H-Vmsah57zjY3Mf-bW5XQFcGBhOOhVLK1pKt4IoT1hq7RJIVPp6cF2FQYVIO67Zg673chNGmfLztvjeH4HK0/s320/2007-05-24T005034Z_01_NOOTR_RTRIDSP_2_OUKEN-UK-BOOKS-BORAT.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145323544932042786" /></a>are progressing so quickly.............................NOT!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><BlogItemURL><a href=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terror+Groups/Weapon+Smuggling+Tunnels+in+Rafah+May+2004.htm>How to Build a Weapon Smuggling Tunnel:</a></BlogItemURL><br /><br />1) Locate a landowner who agrees to provide his house for the exit of a tunnel.<br /><br />2) Search for a suitable opening for the tunnel on the Egyptian side. The tunnel opening should be located in a house or within private property, to allow the owner of the house to cross from one side to the other; to abide by agreements with Egyptian officials; for economic reasons, and to prevent discovery of the tunnel by Egyptian officials.<br /><br />3) Choosing an engineer: An engineer specializing in the excavation of tunnels is chosen. The engineer mobilizes and recruits individuals to construct the tunnel, and provides electric and hand-held tools for the job.<br /><br />4) Duration of the excavation: The duration of the excavation may last anywhere from two weeks to two months based on the following conditions:<br /><br />• The number of workers digging.<br />• Excavation equipment.<br />• Depth and length of the tunnel.<br />• Width of the tunnel.Benjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827916686230386823noreply@blogger.com0