Tikkun Olam

Congress adopted resolutions recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recommended that the U.S. Embassy be moved to Jerusalem from its present site in Tel-Aviv: "Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999" .  That year has gone and passed.  There is no other capital city in Israel, except Jerusalem.  It will be forever--and has been, From Time Immemorial (the definitive book to read by Joan Peters, if you really want the facts instead of towing the politically correct line or hiding your head in the sand).

Just in case you weren't sure of exactly which city is the capital of Israel--because apparently The Guardian listed Israel's capital as Tel-Aviv, which could really confuse someone who had been, say, living under a rock for a few years--here is an investigative video, interviewing people in Israel to find the real capital of the Jewish State.  Which is, of course, Jerusalem. And has been, for over 3,000 years. And what about "West" Jerusalem and "East" Jerusalem? It's nonsense.  Jerusalem had never been divided until Jordan attacked in 1948 upon the inception of the nascent State of Israel. Thank you, Honest Reporting .

Eli E. Hertz of Myths and Facts puts the lie to the Palestinian contention that Jerusalem is and always was an Arab city.  It is actually exactly the opposite.  In fact, in the 1,300 years of various Islamic dynastic rulers, it was never made the capital city of any of the dynasties, nor did Mohammed, founder of Islam, ever set foot there.  Rather, Jerusalem has always been a Jewish city and is integral to the history and spirituality of the Jewish People.  Here are some excerpts (emphases mine).  Read the entire article on Arutz Sheva . Op-Ed: Islam's Connection to Jerusalem - vs. Israel's Published: Thursday, March 29, 2012 8:00 AM Various Islamic dynasties governed Jerusalem, but not one made it their capital. The Jews were a majority there - in what is called East Jerusalem today - for generations, including in 1948. Despite 1,300 years of Muslim Arab rule, Jerusalem was never the capital of an Arab entity. Oddly, the PLO's National Covenant, wr...

My D. H. saw this first on Facebook, then went to Janglo , where it was posted from. I wonder how long they practiced for this.  Choreography is exciting, and they're really well coordinated.  Go to their website, Hora Jerusalem (I'm linking the English one), and everyone--learn to dance!! *what's Hebrew for, "flash mob?"  It can't be... פלאש מוב ...?

In an article on YNet Magazine, Daniel Friedmann writes a sobering report on how Israel itself, through indecisiveness or bad decisions, prepared the ground which strengthened the concept of a "Palestinian" state.  Even though, after the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel officially declared "no" to a Palestinian state with full consensus of the Israeli population, it's actions since then have actually contributed to the opposite. Immediately following the Six Day War, the Arab League convened in Khartoum and passed the famous three No's resolution: No to peace, no to recognition and no to negotiations with Israel. Meanwhile, Israel also had No's of its own: No to pulling back to the '67 borders and no to a Palestinian state. There were some weighty considerations behind the decision to oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state that are still relevant today. It was a national consensus that only the radical Left contested. However, despit...

I found this wonderful picture of a tall, cool glass of Limonana , several posts ago.  And it got me thirsty for that wonderful Israeli drink: lemonade with nana, or mint leaves.  There ain't nothin' like it for thirst-quenching during hot, dry (or humid) summer days, whether in Israel or elsewhere. So here's a recipe for you.  It makes approximately a 2-quart pitcher.  Enjoy! Limonana: 1 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best, but bottled works) 1 cup sugar About ¼ cup fresh mint leaves (to taste) + some extra sprigs (optional) 1 or 2 fresh lemons, skins well scrubbed (optional) and then sliced. Grape juice, cherry juice or Grenadine (optional) Chop up the ¼ cup of mint leaves and put in small pan with the sugar and 1 cup of the water. Bring to boil. (Alternately, pour one cup of boiling water over the mint leaves, let steep a minute or two, then add the cup of sugar). Put the mint/sugar mix and the cup of lemon juice in a 2 quart pitcher and add water t...

I'd like to end the week, and go into Shabbat with this excellent and powerful video, made in 1969 by Stanley Goldfoot .  Shabbat shalom.

(nablopomo day 21) This is going to be a short post, as there's no need for verbosity with this beautiful video.  It brings documentation which shows that Jerusalem historically belonged to the Jews, that the Jews have yearned for it from their places of dispersion in the diaspora for thousands of years, and that it belongs to the Jews, period.  Jerusalem will not be divided.

I spent Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) working.  The night before it started (my time), I went over to my computer and opened a browser to view the kotelcam, the camera pointed at the Kotel, recording in real-time. It was 5:30 a.m. in Jerusalem, and there were throngs of people at the Kotel, davening, and just walking about.  What the heck are people doing up at that unearthly hour, let alone sauntering about at the Kotel?!  It was wonderful to behold.  I watched for a while, not being able to...get any closer than I was.  When I woke up the next morning (at the same unearthly hour, I might add),  I ran to the computer.  It was 2:30 p.m. in Israel, and there were still throngs of people there!  I watched, as groups of men formed into circles and began dancing, and as I heard them singing through my speakers (the camera was equipped with a microphone), songs such as "David Melech Yisrael," and others--I felt good, and proud--even though I am so...

Ok, after the highlight of the weekend with our extended Shabbaton, I was trying to figure out what to do for an encore, when I saw Batya's post on Ruby Tuesday , which originally was a Rolling Stones song but became a blogging theme to post something RED every Tuesday. So I decided I would post my first ever Ruby Tuesday pic, of two of my beautiful granddaughters, the daughters of my eldest, Mrs. Baby K'tan who live in that sunny-some-other-state-but-not-mine-place. This post now covers three subjects: 1) Ruby Tuesday, 2) Nablopomo, and 3) the January theme for Nablopomo, which is "Best." How about that for efficiency? The photo was shot at our younger son's wedding two-and-a-half years ago, ironically not in the state where they live, but in that other one --a smaller one, area-wise (but much, much bigger in so many other ways), right outside of Jerusalem at Chavat Aviv . Are those flowers red, or what? (Are those girls gorgeous [ bli ayin ra'ah ], or w...

I should have written about this on Chanukah, but time did not permit (hat tip to my older son, Mister A ., for sending me this story) so I am posting it now. Those who say that Jews are usurpers in the land of Israel, need to see this video and read the story (the original is in Hebrew; translation below). In brief, a secular Israeli Jew was building his house in Jerusalem, when he accidentally, while digging out his basement came upon a cave five meters underground. It contained writings in ancient Hebrew, and what seems to be the burial place of the last Hasmonean king, Mattityahu ben Yehudah (Mattathias: not to be confused with Matityahu ben Yochanan , the father of Yehuda Maccabee). As a result of his findings, this secular Israeli Jew did teshuva ("returned") and became religious. Hanukkah miracle: a secret burial cave was discovered in a garden house in Givat Hamivtar, Jerusalem. One hypothesis is that the burial cave belongs to none other than the last Hasmone...

This is where I really want to be, this Chanukah and every Chanukah hence. Meanwhile, let's Distribute the light . Chag Urim Sameach!

I awoke this morning to cold air. The temperature (it was forecast) had dropped to the fifties. It was gray and raining. As I looked out the window (while freezing in my PJs), I saw rain mixed with snow. Our first snow, on Tzom Gedaliah* . September 21st. This is considered early, although the changing-t0-snow was very brief, although it is still raining. It was barely snow; just a hint . . . But it is interesting, because the geese had disappeared. Our complex is a haven for ducks and geese, because there are greenbelts and several 'lakes' (man-made, of course; part of the design). They live here in the summer, and practically all year round, at least the ducks do. But the geese a week or two ago, suddenly were gone. A friend of mine opined that geese have a sense of the seasons, and if they suddenly fly--it means that it will be an early winter. It certainly feels like that now. I read sometime back in the summer, around Tisha b'Av* , about a gathering w...

I am having a great time just participating in the chat room, virtually 'meeting' other bloggers by watching the live webcast and chatting with other bloggers. I am seeing bloggers whose blogs I read, and I wish there were some way we could have video set-ups for each chat-room member so if we choose, we could see and be seen (anonymity, be gone!). Right now, different bloggers are being introduced, while the general hevre went to have dinner (I ran to get my oatmeal breakfast & more coffee)! Benji Lovitt of What War Zone is about to to a stand-up; they are all coming back from dinner now... Benji is funny, no question about it. Stand up comedy is serious business, and it is TOUGH. Will try to update this as it is happening (Jameel, thanks for setting a precedent!); it is 8:03 p.m. Israel time, and Benji is into his act: talking about the funnyness (is that a word?) of the Hebrew language for olim chadashim... Ron Dermer speaking now--discussing the changing paradigm o...

There just ended--in case you live under a rock, or are not a blogger (same difference)--a contest to choose several bloggers to go to Israel and participate in person at the Jewish Bloggers Convention sponsored by Nefesh b'Nefesh to be held in Jerusalem on Sept. 13th . The winner would fly free (NY to Tel-Aviv, that is) and would be assigned to an oleh family (a family making aliyah, moving to Israel) and would blog about their experience. I was shocked and thrilled (well, not so shocked; I was actually thinking of her and hoping she'd do it. . . ) when Ye'he Sh'mey Raba Mevorach of the Every Day and its Challenges blog asked me if I wanted to be nominated (are you kidding ?!). To make a long story longer, she did-and this is what happened: 1) I was thrilled, 2)I told my kids there was a smidgen of a chance I would be there next week (but don't bet on it), 3) I sent them all Ye'he 's beautiful nominating post (click on link above), and (drum roll) 4) ...

I first saw this on Shiloh Musings , republished from Jewish Israel , and was beside myself. What is going on here? Is Heichal Shlomo becoming a venue for missionaries whose agenda, underneath, is converting Jews? Read on: In an unprecedented and radical move, which most Torah observant Jews would categorize as an outright Chilul Hashem, Heichal Shlomo will be hosting a Christian “worship convocation” and banquet sponsored by evangelical missionary Christine Darg of Exploits Ministries . The event is scheduled for October 1, 2009 (a day before Erev Sukkot ), and is being promoted as a prelude to ICEJ’s Feast of Tabernacles. The advertisement for the event calls for an afternoon “Daughter of Jerusalem” Worship Convocation in the 18th Century Renanim Synagogue of the Heichal Shlomo, followed by a banquet at the Heichel Shlomo. Heichal Shlomo is a complex which for years served as the seat of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and currently houses the Great Synagogue, the Jewish Herit...

Last month, the Haredim were out in force protesting the opening of a municipal parking lot on Shabbat. Secular Jews came out the following Shabbat for a counter-protest. Mayor Nir Barkat is caught in a bind between two segments of Jerusalem society. Do we want to see more pictures like this one? What is the answer for all Jerusalemites to live side by side, in tolerance and respect? *Copyright alert: No infringement of any text or graphic copyright is ever intended on this blog. If you own the copyright to any original image or document used for the creation of the graphics or information on this site, please contact the blog administrator with all pertinent info so that proper credit can be given. If you wish to have it removed from the site, just say the word; it shall be, ASAP.

(I think I'm forgetting how to blog.) The Downturn In The Economy finally came home to roost in the last week of April: my husband was laid off from his job. In the interim between then and now, we have been making calculations and trying to configure what we will need in order to stay where we are, i.e., have a roof over our heads and food on the table (forget clothing; we wear twenty-year-old stuff anyway). Meanwhile, hubby is applying for jobs all over, not only here where we currently live, but wherever there is anything remotely related to his expertise and experience. In this economy, and at our stage in life, we have to retool ourselves and adapt to a changing world. The internet (as much as I love it) has impacted the information-disseminating professions, specifically--newspapers--in a profound, and negative way. The revenue models are changing, with the advent of "it's on the internet, it's FREE." Anyone can anonymously spout what is purportedly calle...