Those fine chains of sand that bind us

I finished reading this book in one long night, but took me some more weeks until all the impressions and ideas started to get together, less emotional and more clearly. 

Written from the perspective of British, sometimes too liberal, Jew - see the discussions about Israel and the religious compromise in a mixed family - it explores the identity stories of young Jews and Israeli, during the last war in Israel. If for an Israeli born and breed like Udi, being Jewish and Israeli is an identity to carry on with, for the successful banker Daniel from London, making aliya and eventually going to the Army is the confirmation of an identity that cannot fully develop outside Israel. For Daniel, taking part to a pro-Israeli manifestation in support of the three yeshiva kids kidnapped by Hamas, although confronting animosity and anti-Semitism, was this way to show his support. For Udi, in a British hospital after surviving a terrible car accident, facing the animosity of some of the nurses, was a part of life. 'But he knows that there will be always be those who hate Israel, and most of the staff are friendly and welcoming and blessing-sent'. And there is also Daniel's mysterious artist girlfriend.

There are a lot of discussions and cruel social realities, about Israel and the everyday tensions and the need to break free of all the drums of war, in a quiet sanitized European city. But somehow, those fine chains of sands are bringing us together or around the same (Pesach) table, everyone with its own truth. 

The book is well written and keeps you awake and curious to find out the rest of the story. The characters have depth and the tensions between idetities and love stories make it a captivating story. It is a book that makes you think a lot about your own identity, sometimes in a provocative, not always convenient, way.

There is an inaccuracy in the book, as the Iraqi Jews do not speak Farsi, but an Arabic dialect. I did find the choice for using 'yamaka' instead of kippa a bit awkward. 

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher via NetGalley.com

The forgotten refugees

The fate of the Jews from Arab countries is a topic that was not addressed accordingly and sometimes I wondered why. Instead, I've heard very often, including among other Jews, what a better life some Sephardim had in the Arab lands. Being a little bit familiar with stories of refugees and survivors I never realized from where this stereotype originated.

Maybe there were not pogroms and crusades and not too much religious awakening and extremism, but I met many former Yemeni Jews who were forced to change their religion. Sadly enough, many Askenazim used to have fun of their Mizrahi neighbors calling them 'Arabs', but they did not know that they were forced to learn this Arabic. Similarly as many of the Askenazim needed to learn the language of the place - Russian, Frech, German, Hungarian or English etc. - as the only way to be accepted and got professional success. More than all of us, they understand very well what does it mean to deal with the Arab world, their prejudices and stereotypes. 

I wonder why it took so long until the media approached the issue of ethnic cleansing of Jews from the Arab lands. There are so many people for decades talking about the fate of the 'Palestinian refugees' - many leaving the country at the advice of their leaders - but not too many were curious to find out what happened with the Mizrahi Jews. They don't have where to go, their property were stolen and their chances to see the graves where their families rest aren't almost impossible. The rich culture of Mizrahi Jews were took upon in Israel, where many found their home after being forced to leave. 

We are used to think about the strong Zionism of the Jews from Europe and America, but we hardly remember the brave Mizrahi and Sephardim who suffered a lot for being Jews. Many left their houses with their kids in their hand and nothing in their pockets, their properties being held illegally by their Arab hosts. 

After the fall of communism, in many Eastern European countries, a symbolic restitution was sometimes possible. Our brethren from the Arab lands can't have their houses back. Some were even stolen their memories and their religion. 

Better late than never, the world should know more about their fate, and hope that more and more testimonies will be collected and published. Until it is not too late.

Being Proud

This article is a reminder of the story that maybe we forget about when faced with bashing from inside and outside. This moral excellence is part of our power as a community, to face any historical storms with hope and a smile on our faces. Did they realize that they can write history without us?

Shabbat Shalom!

The 'complainglos'

This is one of the articles that I love to read early in the morning: tonic, smart and logic: The 'complainglos' | Nate Dubin | Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel
I am terribly annoyed sometimes by people that are in Israel complaining that they do not like what
they find and by people that did not make aliyah because complaining about the realities they do not know.
If you do not like something, try to change. If you do not like your community, go find something else. But do not complain that the others fail to be as you expect them to be.

IDF launches campaign against soldiers hitchhi... JPost - Defense

IDF launches campaign against soldiers hitchhi... JPost - Defense

Who are the Jews from Mexico

A good reminder of the traces of our history. Driven far away from our land, leaving refuge after refuge in the quest for the way to return home. This time, it is about the Jews from Mexico, who, as I saw recently, are starting to return to Israel, together with the other Jewish communities from Latin America.

We are ready to go back home. 

Youth Aliyah – saving the Jewish children from the hand of the criminals

Youth Aliyah (עלית הנוער Aliyat Hano'ar) rescued 22,000 Jewish children from the Nazis during the Third Reich. They were resettled in kibbutzim and youth villages and received proper schooling.

The organization was founded in 1933 by Recha Freier, a rabbi's wife, an idea supported by the World Zionist Organization. Freier supervised the organization's activities in Germany, and Henrietta Szold in Jerusalem, founder of the Hadassah. Recha Freier was born in Germany at the end of the 19^th century and died in Jerusalem, in 1984. In 1957 she founded the Israeli Composers Fund and sponsored the Israel Testimonium, a music event that took place in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. She also wrote poetry and prose.

In 1919 Recha married Rabbi Dr. Moritz Freier (1889–1969), whom she had met in Breslau, where they also began their married life. They soon moved to Eschwege, where her husband was already a rabbi. Here, their first son, Shalhevet, was born in 1920. From 1922 to 1925 her husband served as a rabbi to the Jewish community in Sofia and while there she taught at a German high school. In 1923 their second son, Ammud, was born, followed in 1926 by a third son, Zerem. In 1929 the couple welcomed a daughter, Ma’ayan. In 1925 the Freier family moved to Berlin, since Moritz had been hired by the Jewish community of Berlin to officiate as rabbi at three synagogues: Rykestrasse (Prenzlauer Berg), Heiderreutergasse (Alte Schul) and Kaiserstrasse. In addition to being a busy young wife and mother, Recha worked as a writer and folklorist.

The involvement of the organization increased after March 31, 1936 when even German elementary schools were closed to Jewish children. "The utter senselessness of Jewish life in the Diaspora stood palpably before my eyes," Freier wrote.

After a brief period of training in Germany, Youth Aliyah youngsters were placed on kibbutzim for two years to learn farming and Hebrew. Kibbutz Ein Harod in the Jezreel Valley was one of the first cooperative settlements to host such groups.

Just before the outbreak of World War II, when immigration certificates to the British Mandate of Palestine became difficult to obtain, Youth Aliyah activists in London came up with an interim solution whereby groups of young people would receive pioneer training in countries outside the Third Reich until they could immigrate to the Holy Land. Great Britain agreed to take in 10,000 endangered children, some from Youth Aliyah groups.

After the Holocaust and World War II, emissaries were sent to Europe to locate children survivors in Displaced persons camps. Children's homes in Eastern Europe were moved to Western Europe, fearing that evacuation from Communist countries might be difficult later on. A Youth Aliyah office was opened in Paris.

Later, Youth Aliyah became a department of the Jewish Agency. Over the years, the organization has brought young people to Israel from North Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Soviet Union and Ethiopia.

In 1958, Youth Aliyah was awarded the Israel Prize for its contribution to education, being the first year in which the Prize was awarded to an organization.

Directors of Youth Aliyah after the establishment of the State of Israel include Meir Gottesman (1978–1984), Uri Gordon and Eli Amir.

Sources:

http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/freier-recha

Short story of Sambusky Cemetery

Before moving to a new place, take care to be sure that you can find enough stories to read and write.

Jerusalem is, obviously, such a place. Today, I had the pleasure to read the sad story of Sambusky Cemetery. I promise that, one day, I will start writing about all the Jewish cemeteries of my life. Many are full of the hope of green. Many others, especially in the lonely corners of Eastern Europe, they are neglected and half destroyed. Nobody is there any more to take care of them. I must confess I did not expect such situation in Jerusalem, but you never need to consider Jerusalem as a perfect city. It is only the city.

Being a Jewish Journalist in Jerusalem

The roads of journalism, especially when it comes to the Middle East, are very hidden and not always - if ever - going through clean zones of the human mind (I am too kitch and fluffy, here I know).

New York Times will have a new bureau chief, who - 'anyone surprised ?' - is not so Twitter-friendly with the Jewish state and many Western journalist sent there, from chief media institutions, are highly recommended for this position if they do not speak Hebrew, and do not like the Jewish state and, if possible, are fluent in Arabic. This remainds me of some situations I am quite familiar with when a journalist with a solid background in the Middle East issues was completely banned of writing news about the area, unless accepted titles consonant with the dirtiest pro-Saddam and pro-Iranian propaganda. 

Comparatively, an undergraduated of Arabic studies will always be qualified to report about the Middle East. I am the first to recognize the important of being able to read the newspapers of the country you are covering in the original language. I am only fighting for the same right of being qualified if a fluent speaker of Hebrew. Anyway, they will not send me to report about Egypt of Bahrain anyway - 'too biased, you know' - but they will not have any second thoughts to do so with a journalist close to Hamas. Are you able to see the logical failures of such an approach?

From many ridiculous points of view, the overall attitude of the New York Times regarding the Jewish issues, is at least schizophrenic: the coverage of the horrific events during WWII was shameful (if you want to know more, pay a visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC and you will give up any effort of reading your NYT ever); but they also used to publish the Jewish dateson the front pages (there were some good Chabad influences here, as far as I know); recently, they  published several articles about the Haredi life (including an article about eating disorders, whose logic I was not able to grasp) but also a fantastic statement of Thomas Friedman, about "Jewish lobby". Balanced reporting means to confuse completely your readers through the fringe of madness?

I don't want to answer. In the last 12 months I am reading NYT maybe once the month and the Guardian probably twice the year. I avoid as much as possible Haaretz.  

PS: I saw this article only now: CNN decided to 'reorganize' its office in Jerusalem by firing the Israeli Jews journalists. Abu-Dhabi looks as a better source of news, for some of Turner's employees...

With or Without Buses on Shabbat

Not FBB, I learned little by little the beauty of the day of perfect rest. It took me a bit of time, sometimes I succeeded, sometimes yezer hara was stronger, but I will not give up my 25 hours of rest for any salary in the world. Or for any exotic destination that I can reach at a very cheap price only on Shabbat. 

This is my choice and I am happy with that.

One of the reasons I love to spend Shabbat in Jerusalem is that only there I can have a full feeling of Shabbat. I love to join the groups going to the Kotel, to dress beautifully and to say Shabbat Shalom to the people on the street. You feel and see that it is a moment of celebration (if you have eyes to see, and a heart to feel, of course).

One of the most difficult challenges for an observant Jew in galut is that when you walk on Shabbat to the shul or to join your friends for a Shabbes dinner, you feel that you are out of space. People are running their cars, the shops are opened and, in general, it is business as usual. You can ignore it, but once you see that it is possible to live differently, your aliya ticket is ready. 

I spent Shabbat in Tel Aviv and in other places as well and depending of the neigborhood, you still can enjoy your day of rest, but again, nothing compares with Jerusalem. 

Thus, when I read about the discussion regarding the possibility of using the buses in Tel Aviv during Shabbat I had a little sad feeling. Tel Aviv is very touristic - but Jerusalem is too - and it is not easy to start at 50 or 30 or even 20 to be Shomer mitzvot and to go to the shul instead of watching your favorite show. In order to convince more people about the need of the first choice, you need a smart and well targeted communications campaign. What you offer is so precious that any effort is priceless.

Kyrkyzstan, why not? But Israel...

I work on Sundays and for me this day of the week is one of the busiest - take into consideration also the difficuties of coping with the post-Shabbes readjustment. But still, I reserve always one hour or two for reading some travel, funny articles, as a source of inspiration for my lazy writing. 

Last Sunday, I've found this article about Jerusalem, in the New York Times. The author is enthusiastically expressing his feeling about keeping himself on the road - nice, I said, I love this too. And he outlined: "As a Jew, especially one who travels constantly, I was expected at least to have the Jewish state on my radar, if not to be planning a pilgrimage in the very near future." Even Iran or Montenegro are looking more appealing to him. And he goes on and on, mentioning again how secular he is, and visits Jerusalem and is happy to find human people with whom he can talk. Anyway, in order to keep himself on the line, he is first visiting some non-Jewish places and he's very happy to recommend it. (His message: You know, I am not as bad). I didn't find the piece an amazing article well written, but was not surprise at all by the words - and the medium. I've read previously many bad articles spotting overrated places, but as they don't pay too much for their contributions at the travel section (you may be happy with a $25 for freelancing staff), I'd kept the observations to myself. Plus, at the end, the author looks as changing his mind and this may be a good beginning. And, mission accomplished: he went to Jerusalam, maybe he will return and why not, he will decide to change his life.

Yesterday, David Harris replied to the piece in The Huffington Post, criticizing the content of the article and the choice of the author.

I do not want to defend anyone and actually I am reading daily so much crap and self-denial and misinterpretations that nothing may surprise me. What it is obvious in many of these positions is the lack of education and understanding of Judaism. Many people introducing themselves as "Secular" and "intellectuals" never had the opportunity to meet people with high education, able to share their knowledge and get people closer to the Torah. The fault is not only on one side.

I am reading right now another interesting book of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks about Jewish continuity. Shoah and the galut put at hard trial our belief and knowledge. We stop being Jews by choice or by the force of the events. But, it doesn't mean that resuming our position to criticize those who are different may absolve our responsibility. We should do our best to have them on our side, with their past, differences and points of view. 

Where do we go?

Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef outlined in his weekly sermon: "We do not hate the secular people, but rather love them, we bring them closer." Yosef spoke out against extremism, stating that "there are haredim carrying out forbidden acts, that our Torah forbids, they must be denounced." There were other nuances and differences introduced lately as well. 

Neturei Karta is pushing harder, maybe too far, in my opinion. In a way, is very difficult to explain that people from the Sicarii and Neturei Karta are a little bit different in their ideology. Can you say they are a special category of Jews? It is not easy to explain without making distinctions...

On the other hand, the public opinion is hot enough for encouraging a mini-war of us against us. Hence, Bibi's warning. Please don't! 

Back to the basis

I watched the so-called controversial ads of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption shortly after the release and I was sadly amused. I didn't find nothing wrong or misleading. Maybe to real for being gulped with pleasure - mostly for those who self-imposed the acculturation and dreamed for assimilation 0 and too much harsh Israeli humor.

It is true that America was a safe heaven for persecuted Jews from Europe when the State of Israel didn't exist, but as we can find in the dedicated literature and studies on the issue, the price was assimilation. True is also that America remains a golden destination for many Israelis - thus, the US warning ad campaign released recently - looking for more space and business opportunities. And this is available everywhere, not only in the US: in Canada, France, Germany. Some of them are living together with other Israelis, some of them intermarry, celebrate Halloween, Xmas or other holidays. Their kids are doing the same, the language being sometimes their only - if any - connection with Judaism being. 

Nu...what's the problem?

Elie Cohn, our man in Damascus

An interesting story of one of our heroes: Elie Cohn, an Egyptian-born Jew, offered significant information helping the Israeli Army to win the 6-day war with a minimum of casualties.

On Mafia

I am familiar with Misha Glenny's writings on the recent history of the Balkans and hence, when I found in the bookstore his book on Mafia I was curious to buy and discover new connections between South-Eastern Europe and the dangerous underground of drugs, diamonds and corruption.

One full chapter titled "Aliyah" is dedicated to the various cases of "most wanted" Israeli, some of them new Israeli citizens, originary from Soviet Union or Russia. Among others, the author is quoting a 2003 report of the US State Department according to which Israel "drug-trafficking organisations are the main source of distribution of the drug (ecstasy) to groups in the US, using express mail services, commercial airlines, and recently also using air cargo services" (p.140). Hmmm, I always thought that it's easier to do this dirty job from South America or Europe...Maybe my logical skills are not as good as before.

At the end of the chapter, he made the following conclusion: "And lest we fall into the error of thinking that Israelis or Jews had a particular penchant and ability for engaging in organised crime, it is worth remembering that the centre for the global money-laundernig industry was a few hundreds miles away in a very different country: the United Arab Emirates" (p. 141). Maybe he was out of inspiration as I am convinced that there were 100+ writing options available to analyse and conclude on this issue.

My sad conclusion was that, in fact, we are extremely bad in supporting and talking about ourselves, including about the strict Jewish business ethics code. Extremely bad.

Who's the first?

Today, I am in the mood for contradictions. For the moment, with the daily stereotypical reports about the situation in Israel. This is the reason I highly appreciate the sharp and smart analysis of Honest Reporting.

Different versions of Zionism

Image via Wikipedia//David ben Gurion, the "founding father"

An interesting article, by Dr. Offer Shiff, on the different interpretations of Zionism- and frictions - between David ben Gurion and Abba Hillel Silver, before but mostly after the creation of the state of Israel. A good lecture outlining the identity discussions and eventual controversies that set the terms of the dialogue between the state of Israel and its diaspora, mainly the American one.

Seminary refuses to admit Sephardi girls

This is the kind of news I don't like to read at all. As somebody used with both traditions and happy with this rewarding situation, selecting the best from each - and I am not talking only about the gorgeous Sephardi meals, even though meals also are sending an important identity message, but also about music, literature and talmudic traditions - I can't stand the narrowmindness of rejecting another person, especially children, because of the color of their skin of the place of birth of their parents.

I dare to say that the problems are faced not only by the Sephardi girls, but also by Sephardi boys looking to enrol in some yeshivas. And the examples could continue.

However, I consider that it is also a good message in this story: the Separdis should mobilize more resources - including of financial nature - and more energies to create their own elites, to outline their traditions and, of course, to learn more in order of being able to create their own institutions and educational systems. I wish the final result will not be the exclusion of Askenazim.

Seeing the high number of young Sephardi eager to learn more Torah in the yeshivas from Jerusalem or elsewhere, I am optimistic and I trust their open mind and humour. Mistakes are human.

Gilad Shalit is heading home!

He will be back soon and alive!

Watch the live blog from Haaretz for more news. Let's hope that everything will be fine, at least for today, and he will be soon with his family. Soon, it will be time again for reconsideration and evaluation and time to pay the price. Let's hope that after 1940 days in captivity, Gilad Shalit will enjoy the freedom! Let's hope and pray as we did a lot in the last five years!

PS

1. I can't stop my appreciation for the way in which Israeli media prepared to address the report on the release of Gilad Shalit.

2. My big misunderstanding regarding the swap is the following: where in this world, when you made something wrong or terribly wrong (as killing for instance), instead of spending the much deserved time in prison (perhaps for the rest of their life) you are called prisoner, freed and exchanged for a young innocent man? Where?

Related articles

• Gilad Shalit release: Timetable (telegraph.co.uk)
• Shalit Captors to Enter Limelight (israelnationalnews.com)
• Noam Shalit: It's not over until Gilad is home - Ha'aretz (news.google.com)
• Court Names Shalit Family as Respondents (israelnationalnews.com)

Portrait of the Palestinian at a young age

Every time I hear or read stories about the issue of the "Palestinian" statehood I am trying to imagine how a Palestinian (competent) government will look like. Or at least I am making various imagination efforts to understand what elites would represent the image of this state abroad: the writers, scientists, artists, historians, journalists.

As I didn't have too much direct contact with educated people belonging to the Palestinian community, I was curious yesterday to take part to an event where an intellectual young lady in whose CV was mention that she is from "Palestine" was invited. Dressed very creatively, in a way that will make her a lot of troubles in the Hamas-controlled territories (democratically elected) she recited a long poem, with many 4-letter words, about..."Palestine". I will not enter into too many poetical details, but I will mention only that the 10 minutes work was written in the Third World rhetoric with the compulsory lines of hate against the IDF and Israel and (poetic) stories about children killed in the street (wait, wasn't it about the Israelis killed by the Palestinian terrorists??? Maybe I was too bored and tired to graps the message). The young lady, whose Palestinian identity is part of her personal and professional brand, is speaking a very good English (better than her Arabic) that she acquired in the American schools in the Middle East. She belongs to a Christian family, with a high political profile, but assumes an non-religious identity and dreams on (and on and on) a secular "Palestine".

In her glamorous interventions she wanted to mention how the political regimes in the Middle East (including the Arab League!) were set up by the regimes that recognized the state of Israel. And I realized again how idiotic such claims could be and how thinking about this is an excuse for underdevelopment that apparently they love to enjoy as an excuse to accuse the others (mainly Israel as an image of the West they deeply hate although they fully benefited of its advantages).

In many respects, I was sorry for her, for her denial and enthusiasm wasted for showing off and literary exhibitionisms. Beyond the ridiculous and colourful aspect, it is a sad reality that all those pathetic supporters that were nodding in a Pavlovian way every time they were hearing the word "Palestine" don't understand an inch. Probably, to be continued...