.
Kaguya explores life as a Japanese Jew at Notes of a Jewpanese Nomad.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Quotable Quotes
.
Benjamin Franklin
"We must hang together gentlemen, or we will surely hang separately"
Benjamin Franklin
Another Jewish Blog
.
I discovered another interesting Jewish blog. The blogger has a Jewish mother and Muslim father.
The Arms of Moses
Its definitely about diversity and inclusion. Yay!
(((A business man comes home. A days work behind him. He quietly closes his doors and sits on his bed. Unveiling his day's profit, he lays them out on his bed and begins to count them anew...)))
If you love your blessings you count them and recount them. That which you love, you reflect upon. That said, let me re-count, anew, all these blogs. LOL!
So there's Hochma and Mussar, This is Babylon, Arms of Moses, and my own blog!
I discovered another interesting Jewish blog. The blogger has a Jewish mother and Muslim father.
The Arms of Moses
Its definitely about diversity and inclusion. Yay!
(((A business man comes home. A days work behind him. He quietly closes his doors and sits on his bed. Unveiling his day's profit, he lays them out on his bed and begins to count them anew...)))
If you love your blessings you count them and recount them. That which you love, you reflect upon. That said, let me re-count, anew, all these blogs. LOL!
So there's Hochma and Mussar, This is Babylon, Arms of Moses, and my own blog!
Figuring Out How to Behave Around Ethiopian Jews
.
I have tried my best to do the Ethiopian shoulder dance.
Some more training would be appreciated! lol
I have such an interesting relationship with Ethiopian Jews here in Jerusalem. In America, there was always the nod of comeraderie or a short hello. Something showing solidarity. But here its just not like that.
Don't get me wrong, its not that there isn't solidarity between black Jews to black Jews, its just that I haven't figured out the right way to behave yet. lol.
Yes. I remember the first time I passed by a store. There were security guards sitting on high stools right outside the store with their metal detectors. As I passed by I wondered, should I give a quick smile, a hello? Is that too forward for this very modest society?? I had to decide quick because I was coming up to the store. I decided to risk it...
As I passed by the two security guards, I cooly smiled mouthed out a soft "shalom". But much to my dismay it did not go well AT ALL. One of the men let out a high pitched phrase in Amharic. Then they both began to talk. I quickly tried to walk faster and turn the corner before a spectacle was made! Whew!
Okay, I understood now. I am not in Kansas any more. But what's the new norm? I've decided to play it by ear. Now when I pass by, if its men, I do nothing. Except of course, the guys who work at my local supermarket. Those guys call my son Obama and joke with the kids so that's established. Otherwise any other guy -too risky. However, when I see Ethiopian women, I still venture out a smile. We usually end up talking and having mutual respect for each other. Chavivuta - mutual love! The more that goes around the more power people are.
So far I have met Ethiopian Jews, Liberian, Caribbean, African American and a few others which escapes me at the moment. As many as there are countries! But my most memorable moment was having Shabbat with Rabbi Hadana. The respect his family gave him, the memorabilias in his home, the food, the history and the agony over traditional ways vs the new ways, everything was fascinating. I wish I could actually have met his father (who is a Qes -like a Cohen or rabbi).
So much to learn.
At any rate, I pray for unity for all of us --world unity.
I have tried my best to do the Ethiopian shoulder dance.
Some more training would be appreciated! lol
I have such an interesting relationship with Ethiopian Jews here in Jerusalem. In America, there was always the nod of comeraderie or a short hello. Something showing solidarity. But here its just not like that.
Don't get me wrong, its not that there isn't solidarity between black Jews to black Jews, its just that I haven't figured out the right way to behave yet. lol.
Yes. I remember the first time I passed by a store. There were security guards sitting on high stools right outside the store with their metal detectors. As I passed by I wondered, should I give a quick smile, a hello? Is that too forward for this very modest society?? I had to decide quick because I was coming up to the store. I decided to risk it...
As I passed by the two security guards, I cooly smiled mouthed out a soft "shalom". But much to my dismay it did not go well AT ALL. One of the men let out a high pitched phrase in Amharic. Then they both began to talk. I quickly tried to walk faster and turn the corner before a spectacle was made! Whew!
Okay, I understood now. I am not in Kansas any more. But what's the new norm? I've decided to play it by ear. Now when I pass by, if its men, I do nothing. Except of course, the guys who work at my local supermarket. Those guys call my son Obama and joke with the kids so that's established. Otherwise any other guy -too risky. However, when I see Ethiopian women, I still venture out a smile. We usually end up talking and having mutual respect for each other. Chavivuta - mutual love! The more that goes around the more power people are.So far I have met Ethiopian Jews, Liberian, Caribbean, African American and a few others which escapes me at the moment. As many as there are countries! But my most memorable moment was having Shabbat with Rabbi Hadana. The respect his family gave him, the memorabilias in his home, the food, the history and the agony over traditional ways vs the new ways, everything was fascinating. I wish I could actually have met his father (who is a Qes -like a Cohen or rabbi).
So much to learn.
At any rate, I pray for unity for all of us --world unity.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Ramblings: Tired of the BS
.
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
I am So Sorry, Moshe
.
This piece of news was very very hard to post about. Moshe's parents were killed in the Mumbai attack. The parents and others from the Chabad House* were tortured before they were killed. Tortured so badl, so "beyond words", that the doctors -experienced men and women who have seen bodies before-- were traumatized.
Now little Moshe is an orphan.
I have no words.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet. (Blessed is the True Judge)
(h/t for photo: Am Kshe Oref)
This piece of news was very very hard to post about. Moshe's parents were killed in the Mumbai attack. The parents and others from the Chabad House* were tortured before they were killed. Tortured so badl, so "beyond words", that the doctors -experienced men and women who have seen bodies before-- were traumatized.
Now little Moshe is an orphan.
I have no words.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet. (Blessed is the True Judge)
(h/t for photo: Am Kshe Oref)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Neshama News...
.
What is Neshama News. Neshama is the part of our soul that is still connected to God. Its that part that tugs at us when we feel the need to 'connect to the universe' or 'feed the hungry' or 'save the whales.' Neshama News is meant to document news stories but in a way that encourages faith and, at times, give us (me) hope.
Black Friday blackened. As with every year, stores have a black Friday sale in which items are drastically cut down in prices. Hopeful consumers line up hours in advance before the stores open hoping for bargains. Well this year, things turned deadly. At a Toys R Us in California, two people were shot and killed -possibly in the name of materialism. What kind of "bargain" was that? Materialism is just NOT worth two lives -not even one life! But it continues as Wal Mart Black Friday Stampede takes the life of a worker. The Holiday season has been infused with materialsim for a while now, perhaps this is a wake up call?
The terrorist attack in Mumbai is finally over. According to reports, about 195 people were killed. Again, precious lives taken by those with disregard for what is holy and precious. India claims that the attack was from a Pakistani militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, they stopped short of accusing the Pakistani government of being accomplices. India and Pakistan have been battling each other since 1947 over border disputes. (the same type of disputes that went on in Rwanda, the middle east) Who's footprints are those? At any rate, blame does not fix the problem. In a show of great humility, Shivraj Patil, the At Home Minister of India resigned. Other governments should learn from this.
Speaking of government heads resigning, In Thailand, protesters have taken over Bangkok's two airports and won't let go until Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns. Why do they want him to resign? Because of a protest that happened in October 7 in which the police were ordered to take apparently drastic steps against the protesters and fired teargas canisters.
A first ever Noahide Radio Show. Noahides are people who are not Jewish, but they take on the Torah and the laws that are meant for non-Jews. Hosted by Ray Pettersen and Jim Long, the Noahide Nations show is a program about the Noahide, or Bnei Noach, movement. More on that at INR.
(this is a test to see if I enjoy it or not. Bear with me!)
What is Neshama News. Neshama is the part of our soul that is still connected to God. Its that part that tugs at us when we feel the need to 'connect to the universe' or 'feed the hungry' or 'save the whales.' Neshama News is meant to document news stories but in a way that encourages faith and, at times, give us (me) hope.
Black Friday blackened. As with every year, stores have a black Friday sale in which items are drastically cut down in prices. Hopeful consumers line up hours in advance before the stores open hoping for bargains. Well this year, things turned deadly. At a Toys R Us in California, two people were shot and killed -possibly in the name of materialism. What kind of "bargain" was that? Materialism is just NOT worth two lives -not even one life! But it continues as Wal Mart Black Friday Stampede takes the life of a worker. The Holiday season has been infused with materialsim for a while now, perhaps this is a wake up call?
The terrorist attack in Mumbai is finally over. According to reports, about 195 people were killed. Again, precious lives taken by those with disregard for what is holy and precious. India claims that the attack was from a Pakistani militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, they stopped short of accusing the Pakistani government of being accomplices. India and Pakistan have been battling each other since 1947 over border disputes. (the same type of disputes that went on in Rwanda, the middle east) Who's footprints are those? At any rate, blame does not fix the problem. In a show of great humility, Shivraj Patil, the At Home Minister of India resigned. Other governments should learn from this.
Speaking of government heads resigning, In Thailand, protesters have taken over Bangkok's two airports and won't let go until Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns. Why do they want him to resign? Because of a protest that happened in October 7 in which the police were ordered to take apparently drastic steps against the protesters and fired teargas canisters.
A first ever Noahide Radio Show. Noahides are people who are not Jewish, but they take on the Torah and the laws that are meant for non-Jews. Hosted by Ray Pettersen and Jim Long, the Noahide Nations show is a program about the Noahide, or Bnei Noach, movement. More on that at INR.
(this is a test to see if I enjoy it or not. Bear with me!)
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