Car Hijack, Baby Intact

A frightening incident happened in Israel where a woman's car was hijacked by three Arab men.  Her baby was still in the vehicle when they drove off.

Here is the story Hijacked

Excerpt..

The carjacked vehicle

Shai police spokesman

When the wife of a resident of Dolev, north of Jerusalem, called frantically to report Arabs had carjacked their car with their one-year-old daughter inside, the Jewish father quickly picked up a knife and drove to the abduction spot, saving his baby.

"I was driving home toward Dolev with the small daughter in the back seat,” the mother recalled Tuesday, in an interview withYediot Aharonot.

“Suddenly, a car began tailgating me, so I accelerated. Then heard something hit the car from the back so I went out to see what happened. There were three Palestinians in the car. One of them got out and asked if something had happened. Before I could answer, he was already inside my car. The two cars drove off, speeding away. I was helpless. The cellphone was inside the car. I ran to the middle of the road, screaming that my girl had been abducted. An Arab man let me call my husband.”

(hi five = Arutz Sheva)

Thank G-d the baby was okay.  But notice the help between Arab and Jew.  Its a mindset that is good and there is a mindset that is very evil. That is what we must fight.

There was a previous incident a few weeks ago, where an Arab couple was mistaken for Jews and attacked by Arabs. sigh.  Thank G-d, they spoke Arabic which signaled that they were not Jewish and the attackers backed off. But it should be appreciated that the couple reported those hordes of attackers.

Here's that story.  Mistaken Identity

Excerpt

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.A Muslim family from east Jerusalem was attacked two weeks ago by three Arab youths near the road of Sur Baher. Only after the group learnt that the family was in fact Palestinian did they leave them alone

(hat tip = ynet)

Israeli Forces join with Kenyan Police

Please G-d, cause this to end well during this beautiful holiday of Sukkot.

Negotiation strategies.



News on Kenya (not about Israeli forces joining)

The Making of A Racist?

Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

Sometimes in the deep deep secret of my heart, I wonder where is the loyalty of the Black Jew? Is it to his blackness? Is it to his Jewishness?  Is there a right answer? Should there be?

Many Black Americans feel compelled to have allies of like people around them.  Its comforting and creates less chance of verbal gang ups by whites, less chance of being visibly singled out and shunned,  less chance of victimhood.  Even as they enter the Jewish world, which is diverse however, in America there is a prominent Ashkenazi population, even then they seek out their color brother for safety and comfort.

And when such color brothers are nowhere to be found, or are too few and far between, then the borders are knocked down and color brothers are searched for in other realms.  Thus, we have many groups of "Black Jews" which includes Orthodoxy, Conservatives, Reforms, Black Hebrews, Hebrew Israelites, Christians, Messianics, Muslims, you name it all in the same group. If its got the color, its in.

However, because the value system is not upheld (I mean seriously, does an Orthodox Jew believe Conservatives or Reforms are Jews or are they just flattering for the sake of having the numbers around them for the time being? Don't Reforms feel weary of the Orthodox's "holier than thou" thinking? Do Messianics and Christians not want to eventually devour the Jew's mind and replace it with their own dogma? ), the Black Jew must compromise on much of what they claim they hold dear for the sake of getting along with their color brothers.

As a result, they participate when these "others" slander the State of Israel,  they participate when Others denounce any rabbinic ruling they are not in favor of, they slowly disrobe themselves of the faith they once had for the sake of accommodating others' ideals.

(Granted I know why this is done.  Its the middot we are after, the kindness, the comfort the love that can be found from another.)

The poor Black Jew is just about ready to give up his Jewishness for the approval of his color brothers.

But what he doesn't know, and what is usually the case, is that those Other color brothers would love to have his Judaism. So an exchange slowly happens.

As the Black Jew gives up his Jewishness, his brothers slowly pick up his sparks that are foolishly discarded. They pick up his diction, his words, his clothes, his knowledge, his Torah, etc.,  at least at face value.  Then he begins to walk around amongst the Jewish people pretending as if he is a Black Jew.

Lest anyone finds out his ruse, he builds a wall. A wall called "Racism!"  If anyone dares ask him questions as to where he comes from or who he really is, he will declare the questioner a racist.  It doesn't matter that the question is asked out of stupidity, foolishness, curiosity, for the sake of clarity; any and all questions are

met with the dreaded label of  "Racist!"

So now what are the rest of the Jews to do?  How should they deal with the fake Black Jews and the real Black Jews.  How can they tell the difference? How will they know if that levite they are calling up to the Torah reading is really a Jew at all? How will they know if that couple that asked for their son to be circumcised on Shabbat is really a Jew at all? Can't ask! Don't want to be a racist!

And then we have another issue with our color brothers.  The studious Hebrew Israelites and Black Hebrews who learn Torah, not because they want to be part of the Jewish people with all its diversity. No.  They would rather usurp the title of Jew. Why? I have no idea. But it wouldn't be the first time people wanted that title. And so they work, tirelessly, to create the history of the Moors and how they were Jewish all along.

The Nigerians are getting in on this action too.  As they insist to their fellow Nigerian counterparts that all their other Nigerian oral traditions are false except the one that says that they were of Jewish descent.  They keep the propaganda going because if you say something long enough and loud enough... just maybe...

There is an enormously loud knocking on the Jewish door. Can you all hear it? Or is that a window getting broken?

And how unfair it is! Undoubtedly, there are White folks who try to sneak in the back door as well.  However, that is not spoken about as loudly. Different culture. Different methods.   But it personally hurts me, a Black Jew, that Black folks are doing this.  For all the struggles that I and people like me have gone through, and then to have to deal with this smoke screen, this fog, is disheartening. It makes that people can never be sure if someone is for real. And I'd like to keep it real.

So what's the solution? Granted, the problem of fake Jews pretending is not in a big scale as far as I've seen so far.  I've seen enough to make me nervous, but not enough to call the police ( Say where's the Sanhedrin when you need it? come on, people!). But its enough to raise an eye brow. So what's the answer? My fear is that if White Jews heard of this, they'd automatically take the easy lazy route and just dismiss all Black Jews. Black Jews will probably bite their nails. But whats the answer?

Hilary Clinton -to visit Israel

Hilary Clinton is set to visit Israel. Curious what will be said behind closed doors.  Definitely NOT going to be anything like Glenn Beck's message, but we can hope...



I like that the Iron Dome is called the Iron Dome, in Hebrew its the " Iron Kippah" (kippat barzel). Here's a video of this kippah at work...



The Jewish people are one of the few people who actually have a deed to the land, a document that says Israel should be ours. Something like that can probably make many "take over" nations hate us and want us gone for how can they look at the people that lived in the land before them with a serious face?

Nevertheless, if we do not keep our side of the bargain, than what good is that document.  We have to keep Shabbat, eat kosher, and do the mitzvot and celebrate the festivals so that we can claim Israel.

War in Israel

Yes. as you know we are in war with Hamas in the Gaza area.

so much to say, but for the sake of the military, its best not to reveal too much now.

Pray for us -those who care.

Thank you.

Breaking news...

Israel  Defense Force struck and killed Hamas military head via air.

This causing retaliation from Hamas, firing yet more missiles into Israel, Beer Sheva, one aimed at Dimona. 

There is unconfirmed report that Syria is attempting something in northern Israel -in the Golan. This is from ARabic media so...

An Untoned -Down Commentary on Sudan by Kola Boof

[Ed. Note - Background: For many, many years, the radical Islamic government of Sudan has waged, what President George Bush called, "a brutal and shameful" war against its Christian and animist citizens in southern Sudan to force them to convert to Islam. Negotiations in 2002 in Machakos, Kenya, produced an agreement between the government and the South's Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), but the war continues. Meantimes, over two million people have died, and another four million have been displaced.]
KOLA BOOF SAID:

My dearest ones in Israel, the devil has been very busy. For no matter who risks life and limb to tell the truth about the evil injustices carried out by the Arab Muslim governments of North Africa and by the mullahs that advise these governments, the media in America has responded with a hideous prejudice against Jews, against black African Sudanese, and against any fair-thinking person who dares despise the Arab imperialism that is not only destroying the Middle East, but now threatens to destroy authentic African culture of the Nile River more than it already has.
It does not matter

that I speak as the daughter of an Arab Egyptian father, a woman born Islamic in Omdurman, Sudan, or that I am an accomplished African woman writer, obviously of some intelligence.

It does not matter

that my parents were murdered in my presence, because my Arab Muslim father spoke out against the building of Lake Nuba and the enslavement of Dinka children by Arab Northerners in Sudan.

It does not matter

that I have witnessed Muslim women rolled up in carpets and set on fire, because they failed to produce male children.

It does not matter

that I speak, most regrettably, as the former mistress of two of the Arab world's most powerful men, Hasan al Turabi and Osama Bin Laden, or that I have been a paid hostess at the parties of President Hosni Mubarak and Moamar Khadafi, or that I provided proof of this before I was profiled by Fox News, and therefore, have knowledge of their true faces.

Anyone who speaks the truth in America about the evils of the Arab world is ignored, shunned and accused of supporting the so-called Jewish desecration of the Arab birthright.

---

Of course, we all remember that the Black Plague was blamed on Jewish people, even in nations where there were no Jews living, and this today, is the similar anti-semitic blame game, but for being a black African woman who has said so in America, I have been written off as "crazy", "emotional", "a whore" and "a hoax".
I don't deny that I'm a controversial, provocative public figure. I reject all man-made religions, be it Christianity, Islam, the Jewish faith, Buddhism or any worship that was created by men. I am a womanist and an African mother. I bare my breasts in the river once a month and I believe in the womb.
    Yet still,
I have not lied about the atrocities of the Arab world.
I have not lied about the cruel evils of Islam against African people and those who refuse to join it.
I have told these truths, not because I hate any race or religion of man, but because I believe that it's wrong for human beings to take part in any cult of hate, any orgasm of violence against other humans.

---

According to my Sudanese Zarpunni (the women's neighborhood) and all the black women before me, the Palestinians have sterilized black women since the 1950's.

It is well known by African women that our wombs are loathed in Arab nations, because it is our wombs that produce the authentic black man. Our tongue bequeaths him his heritage and identity.

Who on this planet will deny me this truth?

For the rest of the speech: see Kola Boof Speech

Israel :Moshiach ben Yoseph and Moshiach ben David Conclusion

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This is a continuation of a series.

Here is where we stand. We've got three main groups: An old spirit from olden days of European greats (Hareidi), a new body with all the lusts of a body (Zionists of old), and an infused soul for that new body (Dati Leumi). We are still missing a spirit to put on top of the soul, and a neshama to put on top of the spirit. (from part 3)

What the world is not understanding today is that the children of those former zionists of old, are actually no longer "zionists" in that sense of the word. Those children who are fighting to remain as the elite, the ruling class, are actually wanting to give the land up -that's not a sign of a zionist according to the definition the world has.

Now the battle is more the religious zionists who insist that we should keep the land that was gained during war, as well as all the land that is under Israel rule. Giving up land is wrong because (1) the PA leaders don't really want peace, just to win by concession after concession until they "push the Jews into the sea." and (2) once holy land has been acquired its tantamount to blaspheme to just give it away -as if it has no value to us.

Now a new battle is brewing: Israelis vs Jews. Who knows maybe in the end there'll be a four state solution out. Sad. PA, Hamas, Israeli (non religious), and Jews (religious). Oy vey.

And so we wait for a leader. Someone who can fix this mess. There are two Messiahs that we, Jewish people await. The Moshiach son of Joseph, and the Moshiach son of David.

Moshiach son of Joseph is the one who is supposed to bring all the Jewish people back. The gathering of the exiles. Some say it won't be a person, but technology. Others say its suppose to be a person. Once he's done, the next Moshiach is suppose to come. This is Moshiach son of David. It is taught that he will be a regular guy -i.e. not a god- and rule the world. As people get more and more dissatisfied with their governments, I can almost see how this will happen. It seems as if the leaders are all out with their own agenda and the people are scrambling to figure out what is the real truth behind the propaganda news, what is the real truth behind the various hurtful surveys and studies, what is the real truth in life -some way to make the resources work and get everyone to a point of contentedness.

But there is a catch. The Talmud teaches that there are three things that come by surprise: a lost object, a scorpion, and Moshiach. Meaning that when we least expect it, then he will come. Meaning, don't just sit around passively thinking the Messiah will come and fix everything. We have to do -as if- we are ready and willing to right the world, then surprise! the help will come.

And so, we toil...

Because It Won't Get Reported...

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(or get reported in an underhanded way such as this:)


More good news..

Even more at Jewish Odysseus blog.

Oy! One day......one day......

sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank God I'm breathing
then I pray
don't take me soon
cause I am here for a reason
sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because
all my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day ......



...............

What?! Egypt P-Praises Israel. Calls Dagan Superman?!

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Story at Debka. With news like that, maybe Moshiach really is on his way?

Israel :Moshiach ben Yoseph and Moshiach ben David Part 3

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Rav Avraham Itzhaak HaCohen Kook (Abrahahm Isaac the Cohen Kook) was said to be a genius. Well learned in Torah, I think if he was more worldly, he may have been another Albert Einstein. To this day, many are still studying his works.

It is said of him that "Zionism was the body, and he and the Orthodox masses was to be the soul of that body"

He came to Israel (called Palestine then) and became the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. His intent was to infuse the secular zionists with a bit of Torah. However, the older rabbis who were in Israel were non to happy about this new "kid on the block."

With the secular on one side and the religious on the other, Rav Kook tried to find a middle ground. The only problem is, nobody wanted to play on that seesaw!

In an attempt to find the good in both, Rav Kook wrote that the secular zionists should be praised for their physical actions. Indeed, many came to the land, rolled up their sleeves and got to work. They tilled the land, paved roads, grew agriculture, built homes, buildings, offices. They worked very hard! Too bad there wasn't a before and after photo of Israel. All we have is perhaps Mark Twain's words when he visited there long long ago. He said,

"..... A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds... a silent mournful expanse.... a desolation.... we never saw a human being on the whole route.... hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country."

Indeed, even in the hot summers, there are botanical gardens to visit, parks green with grass. It is a little trickier in the summer, I do wonder how they manage. Oh right, my water bill. oy. Okay back to the subject...

The Zionists have contributed greatly to the body of the land. However, the religious, because they knew and felt no commeraderie with the Zionists, were not willing to praise them for anything. In fact, they declared them evil (even as many packed their bags and headed for Israel). And in fact, it was a gift on loan like the splitting of the sea and rescue of the Jewish people from Egypt. Like giving a crown to an undeserving. You hope the undeserving turns away from a life of lust when he sees the honor he is given.

Well, Rav. Kook boldly said it: The Zionists were more perfected in the soul (i.e. body, physical actions, etc) and the religious were more perfected in the spirit (Torah learning, religious duties -mitzvot, prayer, etc). The religious would have non of this! How dare Rav Kook praise the Zionists with having anything as 'better' than the religious? Some compared his praise for physical activity to praising "futbol."

I'm cutting the history short here, but after much ado on the matter, a new group emerged. The National Religious/ Dati Leumi. This group was a combination of religious people, but people who also believed that working the land was important, going to the army was important, getting involved in government was important. To what degree is debatable within that group. They began to dress differently too.



No longer was the religious relegated to wearing their European styled clothing; they wore clothing that were more in tune with working, moving, etc. Now there was a distinction. Those who choose to stay with the European style dressing and none or small physical activities and who delve in Torah all day were called Ultra Orthodox or just Orthodox or Chareidi. Those who dress casual, different colored kippas/yarmulkes, and who usually have a profession are called National Religious or Dati Leumi.

It was finally happening! Religion was being infused in the Holy Land! The holy land that "consumes its inhabitants" was comsuming its inhabitants to holiness! a land that actually has a "Hebrew name" of Zion. The loan was begining to get paid off.

But the secular felt threatened. More and more Dati Leumi were entering the Knesset, the government, policies were changing, more accommodations were being made for the religious. At times I've wondered if these reasons were what caused the government to give up gush katif, to end settlements (some settlements are two or three ram shackle huts) - to demoralized the Dati Leumi progress? Interesting that alot of those settlements chosen for demolition were religious ones.

So here is where we stand. We've got three main groups: An old spirit from olden days of European greats (Hareidi), a new body with all the lusts of a body (Zionists of old), and an infused soul for that new body (Dati Leumi). We are still missing a spirit to put on top of the soul, and a neshama to put on top of the spirit.

To be continued...

p.s. I want to note that what I mean by the "secular" being "evil" is in the sense that they do not accept that as part of the Jewish people that they have a calling to be a bit higher than simply chasing after the lust that what they see others have (they wanted a prostitute on the street corner of Tel Aviv for example). Like reverting back to the days of Egypt. Not accepting that they have a Godly mission.

Israel :Moshiach ben Yoseph and Moshiach ben David Part 2

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Part 2: THE LOAN




For turning their backs on their own heritage, the covenants that were between them and God, God also turned His 'back' (so to speak) on them. Things were so bad, it is said that they went down to the 49th level of uncleaniness --and there are only 50 levels!

(If that doesn't give you hope...)

So when they began calling upon His Holy Name again. The Almighty gave them a loan. I'll split the sea -cause a great miracle for the world to behold that I am with you. But afterwards you must prove that you are deserving of it.

As one kabbalist pointed out, its also another great miracle that Yom HaAtzmaut /Independence day falls on the same day as the 7th day of Passover -the day of celebrating the splitting of the sea.

Which brings us to the situation that we have today. Slowly slowly with the birth of the Haskala movement, the Jewish people began once again to chase after a different way --the European way. Many began to reject their own heritage. Then came the holocaust. I won't even begin to talk about the horrors there. No doubt the Jewish people in Europe were crying out for salvation. Many who had rejected their Judaism in the hopes of being accepted by the non-Jewish world received a figurative slap in the face when they understood that they were not accepted. In fact, despite many Jews attempting to intermarry, the nazis searched through various document down several generations to find our who they consider still Jewish.

A way out was needed. Zionism was born. There were two types: the type who wanted Israel to be a little Europe within the middle east. All like minded Jewish people were welcomed. The second type was a bit more tolerant of religious Jews and thought they could all be a part of the new little Europe within the middle east.

In other words, no thoughts of returning to the land for the sake of reviving the covenant with God. No God in the picture at all!

That's not a good way to start paying back a loan.

The old Jewish community that was already in Israel welcomed the new influx of Jews. Anything was better than dealing with the massacres at the hands of angry Arab mobs. In fact, when Israel got its independence, the whole town of Tsfat -Mahmoud Abbas's home town when he was a youth, up and moved to East Jerusalem in an attempt to consolidate in case Israel would take revenge for the 1929 massacre in a nearby town.



On top of that, all the Arab lands around Israel started sending their own Jewish population to Israel. Why should they contend with the Jewish population, let them go to their own land!

So, a new group of Jews: dark, very different in culture, long haired, and very religious began to show up in the new little Europe within the middle east. Plus they were penniless -what money they had was confiscated before they were kicked out of Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, etc.

The Zionists of old dealt with these new immigrants. Not very nicely. Another touchy subject. Suffice it to say there was now a "lower class" to do the menial work a country needed done.

Another strike against paying back that loan.

What will be if that loan is not paid back? What will be if Israel doesn't get its act together? Clearly the world is attempting to get rid of the whole Jewish state by demanding that they make suicidal concessions in the name of peace.

There was always some one from within the religious groups who saw this and tried to payments going.

Enter Rabbi Kook...

To be continued...

Israel :Moshiach ben Yoseph and Moshiach ben David

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I saw this nice video at Hochma & Mussar, Ehav's blog:



It got me thinking about Israel and what I think and how I feel.

But before I write about that, I think its important to review the prototype of history: Egypt.

Pretty appropo since we are starting the book of Shemot / Exodus.

Background: So, as you know Joseph's brother sold him because they were jealous of their father's treatment of him and also because he seemed to be having dreams of grandeur --when he's not even the first born!

But it was all Divine providence because being in Egypt enabled Joseph to rise to viceroy position and help his family during a famine. Time passed. A new Pharaoh arose; one who did not know Joseph. This new Pharaoh decided to enslave Jacob's descendents for "they have become too numerous" (the Egyptians who were turning towards Jacob and his ways were too numerous and was seen as a possible threat -according to some sources). So slavery. The Hebrews moan --too tired to even cry out. God hears them. Moses is born. Mazal tov.

Plot: The Hebrews are begging for salvation from the Egpytians. The country they once grew to admire, they even ran after the Egyptian ways and got entangled. As a result of the Jewish people not keeping their own way, they became enslaved.

(Abraham was told long ago that his children would become slave to a strange land --perhaps that's why Esau copped out of the birthright?)

So here they are, like naughty children coming back to the very Father they has snubbed begging for forgiveness and a second chance.

Imagine a father hearing his baby full of regret wanting to come back....



...Now what Papa can say no to that?

So, He gives them a loan. Credit. They get their freedom but they must get their act together.

So with an outstretched hand SWOOSH!!! the sea of reeds is split open. The clouds of glory leads the way towards the land of Israel, they are fed and clothed throughout their stay in the desert.....and the press declared the exodus from Egypt unfair and oppressive! lol. Sorry skip the last sentence.

So they got their freedom! woohoo!! But they are no better than when they were in Egypt. So as they walk and journey through the desert, they learn and grow and become righteous again. They work on divestment of their old slave ways, change their mentalities (wisdom, understanding, knowledge), work on every part of trmselves: chessed, gevurah, tiferet, etc. They reach such a level culminating to the giving of the Torah at Mt Sinai. They reached a level that they could manage to hear at least two of the commandments from G-d Himself, Blessed Be His Holy Name.

To be continued...

Israel's Fence of Apartheid

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Yeah.

Israel attempted to build a wall to separate the Israeli citizens from the Palestinians. Those in Israel know why. Its very hard to fight against suicide bombers, stabbings, just plain random attempts at killing us simply because we are us. etc. Those outside of Israel, who follow the mainstream media know -its all just apartheid with no reasoning behind it.

Now Egypt has built a wall to separate themselves from Gaza. A METAL WALL! Surely there is a brotherly explanation. Perhaps their love is so great, that this wall will help somehow. Surely there is a nice benevolent reason...

Protests in Israel

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more at Arutz Sheva (Channel Seven)

Forget the Media

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Forget the Media, Israel. Hold on to what you know is truth. Do your thing.



hat tip: Hochma & Mussar Blog.

Blogging Blahs

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Somehow I just haven't been motivated to blog much.

I knew there was a sand storm yesterday, but I didn't realize it was THAT bad.



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Oh Dear! Tomorrow is Election

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Its election time in Israel. I've got to figure stuff out.

A Dangerous Trek

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Sadiq Sahour Abkar paid human traffickers $750 to smuggle himself, his 28-year-old wife, Hajja Abbas Haroun, and their infant daughter Samar over a remote border crossing in the Sinai Desert into Israel last year.

The smugglers, however, dropped them along with four pregnant women, eight men and numerous children - all Sudanese refugees - several miles from the border. As the African migrants neared the frontier, they heard a patrol of Egyptian border guards and lay down quietly on the ground, waiting for them to pass. Suddenly a baby in the group began crying....

Here's the story: A Dangerous Trek

Ramblings: Tired of the BS

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This is actually good news. A blessing even. I'm throwing in the towel. I'm tired of the BS in my life. My goal originally was to post about interracial dating and marriage. There was just too much vitriol to deal with. Too much anger and hatred vomited out from bloggers and commenters against each other. What drama, who needs it? Finally, I abandoned that goal.

Then I just wanted to post about BW topics and give it my own Jewish twist to events and inspire. Well, I don't know if I've inspired. Anybody. I am not a very patient person. Perhaps I am, but I don't feel it.

There are so many things that I just don't agree with but say nothing. I don't want that anymore. I want to live my life more freely.

There are many "self help" BW blogs out there, but I am afraid they are not for me. I am not knocking it, its just not for me. My 'self help' is found within me. I can't borrow someone else's decision or path to "free" themselves of any or all previously known concepts in the name of self empowerment because my decisions are my own. I know many would not be able to hang with who I am and what I am. Many can't even conceive that black can have any value. Many can't even conceive that Jewishness can be anything good. Some can't even understand that there is more to life, more to me than just these. Catch words have bound us. Zionist has its connotations. There is even a book, I believed called, "Is Gay the new Black?" As if to say, is being gay the new negative, bad, discriminated, etc. Would anyone think that the title of this book meant that gays could be the "new" artistic, musical, spiritual anything positive?

Anyway, I can't be doing self helps. I went through that already. I am where I want to be! I know where I want to go.

Any attempt to go backwards and I'll have to fight the same battles I've fought long ago. Also I can't deal with the let's-mourn-our-bad-decisions-and-reflect business. Everything we did, everyone one we met has led us to become who we are today. God Loves Us! And yes, we have free will. So here we are. In the here and now. And we are who we are in the here and now. Now what? That is the question.

Now, we arise, like a phoenix on to the next level. That's what.
* * *

Well, I went onto a blog recently and found folks talking about how they want "peace". Peace against all the hateful CIA who conspire and rouses countries like India and Pakistan and others to fight each other and peace against the "warhawk Zionists". Well, I guess we've decided who the enemies are. LOL.

Its so much easier to say that any other government leaders are "puppets" and pawns, and the CIA is the only one in the world with a BRAIN. But it makes the problems too simplistic. But the truth of the matter is that nobody really cares anyway. Its just a question of how will this effect ME?! That is why the biggest threat seems to be the CIA. The other countries may have corrupt governments and may even hate Americans, but they are not the immediate threat.

Now Israel is not a big threat, I don't think, to America. But yet folks almost lovingly choose to hate them too. Why? Is it the lobbyists in Washington? Aren't there many lobbyists in Washington? Are they too successful? Has it turned into a white vs black situation? Palestinians being the "new black" so to speak?

I remember long ago, I took a trip to a caribbean island. It was beautiful. The coconut trees, the smell of the air, the colorful dresses....The people there did not have much. No tvs, nothing to expose them too much to what they are missing had they lived in America. They tried to get bread on the table everyday, went to local soccer games, kicked it with friends, carried baskets on their heads, and had a ready smile for whoever needed. After that trip, I closed my ears whenever I heard MSM (mainstream media) discuss how poor that country was and how blah, how negative. They had no good news to say about that place. I learned to screen them out.

However, I believed what MSM had to say bout everything else.

Then I became religious and came to Israel. I saw first hand Arabs, Jews, Christians living here. Then I became wary of MSM's portrayal of Israel. and that was it.

Finally, it clicked. What else are they just slandering for the sake of entertaining news and maintenance of stereotypes?

This was the final blow for me on MSM. But I fear many, so many others are still under their spell. Humans are not meant to be negative for prolong periods of time.

This is why they post constantly these various studies of how bad things are in the African American community and various other groups -because without the continuity of these bad reports, we'd get out of our funk and do better. But we only look at what interest us and not the wide picture. So we don't see the games they play. We're too stuck trying to rectify our image, our self esteem, our whatever else that just got slandered. People are buying it. Blogs after blogs, I find BF wondering how to find a self esteem, where to go for love, even wondering CAN people actually love them! The studies are working. Folks get so lost in their own search for value, no time is taken to wonder perhaps others are getting a bad rap.

But truth is needed. It needs to be loud.

In a lunge to grasp self esteem, many fling themselves to whatever institution that could maybe help.

Many run to Islam.

I respect Islam and wish I knew more about sufis and how life was/ is like for them and what they believe. I also like that in Islam, they don't have a middle man between themselves and God and there's no ambiguity.

But I seriously wonder, is it truths about Islam that attracts many African Americans? Or is it the color? Is the presumption that since most Muslims are seen as 'not white' and so therefore there is acceptance there? I know that there are some who are truly serious and seek this out because they understand and believe truly.

Our color has a significant purpose and value. But its not a ticket or a pass.

Okay, maybe on the human level. But I mean it doesn't DEFINE us.

* * *

Who wants world peace? I mean really.

For this to happen we need unity and harmony. HASSADIM and GEVUROT. Unity in that we understand each other and work towards a common goal. Harmony in that we don't have to lose our individual identity and /or beliefs in order to accomplish the unity.

Imagine, in an orchestra the violinists are angry at the flutists because they are using such 'foreign' instruments. They should burn!!! eh? We should all be violinists? But imagine the harmony that comes when the orchestra plays with various instruments?

There is a place in the world for everything and everyone. A bad character trait (anger, jealousy, etc) is simply a misplaced character. Yes, there are times to be angry. Times and reasons to be jealous. Just don't misplace it. lol.

Who wants world peace? Where is your Ayin tov /your good eye?

Its so easy to look at things with an Ayin Ra /an evil eye. An eye that sees the bad, the wrong, the criticizing eye. The eye of hatred. Wash those eyes out. Look with both of them and you'll see the truth of the matter.

Who wants world peace? Seek it out.

You'll find it in the scriptures. In the Torah. In the Koran. In science. Inside of yourself. Seek truth and good. It permeates the world and is ready to be drawn in once we really want it.

Okay, I am starting to sound preachy so I'll stop my ramblings.