"Lo alecha ham'lacha ligmor, velo atah ben chorin lehibatel mimena" -It is not up to you to complete the work (of perfecting the world), but neither are you free to refrain from doing it. Pirket Avot 2:16
I have wanted to contribute to my blog for some time and have started countless posts, but have been unable to complete them... for many reasons. There is so much I want to tell, so much that NEEDS to be said. So much that you the reader has to understand. So I have taken it upon myself to write this post to tell the truth. To express my thoughts and provide you with my perspective. To give you an opportunity that I believe to be vital to the future of you the reader (and your future generations) and to the World. To this point in my blog I have focused on my experiences here. This post is different. This post has an agenda. I want you to wake up. I want you to act. I want you to be inspired. I want you to see Goodness, pursue it and spread it. I don't know if I can reach you... I don't really know what kind of an impact I can really have... but I have to try.
"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: G-d will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I have to speak... my hope is that you will take action.
I warn you that what I'm about to write is biased, opinionated, non politically correct, and polarizing. It is not easy to write this, as I know that many of you may change your opinions about me based solely on this post. I am putting myself out there, taking a 'leap of faith' if you will... but remember that I am who I am. I believe in goodness and righteousness. I do my best to live with the values that I was raised with, to uphold a moral code that was passed down to me through my parents and through my religion, to spread goodness. I write this post in an attempt to do just that, to spread goodness.
What do you know about the recent events that have begun to transform the Arab World over the past few months? Have you seen some news on the riots in Egypt on TV? Maybe read an article about the fighting in Libya? Possibly even listened to the Presidents speech this past week on the Middle East? What do you think this transformation is about? Does it really concern you? You probably think it doesn't... but you're dead wrong.
What you have been told is that the people are rising up for Freedom. Is this true? The President wants you to believe it: "Sometimes, in the course of history, the actions of ordinary citizens spark movements for change because they speak to a longing for freedom that has been built up for years." (from his Middle East speech 5/19/11). Well, it is true that there are definitely those who are rising up for Freedom and those who truly want it, risking much to attain it... but they are among the vast minority. How can this be? Because Freedom is not just a word, it has real meaning. For the people to be rising up for Freedom, they must be rising up for idea of freedom, not just for what "freedom" can do for them. Freedom is a term that applies to all peoples and it must apply to everyone or it means nothing! For people to rise up to want "freedom" from a dictator and unjust rule is admirable... but not if it doesn't apply for all of the people to be free of that rule. The people of the Arab World are not rising up for Freedom... they are rising up for freedoms. If Freedom was the goal, would they not rise up also for the Freedom of Women? If Freedom was the goal, wouldn't they also be pursuing Freedom of Religion? How about Freedom of Speech or Press? But no, we see the opposite of this. We see the women as oppressed as always. Instead of Sunni helping Shiite to be "free from oppression" and vice versa we see the same brutal fighting between them. We see churches being burned to the ground (in the name of freedom and G-d). And we see the all too familiar rhetoric in regards to their actual Free neighbor (the only Middle East Country where women do have rights... where Sunnis and Shiites both are able to practice their religion fully and publicly, where Freedom of Speech exists, where Freedom of Press exists) Israel. The one example of a Country with real Freedom in the Middle East and their attitude towards it? They are calling for its destruction. They are calling for a massacre of its people. They are impassioned, they are emboldened and they are now 'free' to push us to the sea. And what about the new governing structures that these 'pursuers of freedom' are creating? Do they promote Freedom? Well, no... not really. Freedom for women? No. Freedom for other religions? No. Freedom of speech? No. Freedom of press? No. Freedom of commerce? No. Freedom from the burden of old and outdated pacts and agreements like peace treaties? Well in the case of Egypt we are seeing just that. The Muslim Brotherhood which is gaining power there calls for the destruction of Israel and has already threatened war.
But wait... there's more:
1967 borders means dividing Jerusalem which would leave the Old City to the government of the new Palestinian State (which has recently allied itself with Hamas). Today, under Israeli rule, people from every corner of the World and of every Religious background and ethnicity are free and encouraged to come to the Old City of Jerusalem and experience its wonder. I know first hand how amazing and powerful this is... thousands of years of history rest in the Old City available for everyone to see. It is the center and foundation of 3 of the worlds major religions. This is where the temple mount is. This is where the last supper was. This is where the Dome of the Rock is. From Abraham to King David to Jesus to Mohammed, this city has had significance. It has tremendous significance to me. It's beautiful, it's powerful, it's special. For over 2000 years my ancestors have dreamed of one day returning and being able to see this city and today I actually have the opportunity. The prophet Zachariah prophesized that: "There will yet be children playing in the streets of Jerusalem" -Zech 8:5 and it is my dream that my children too will have this opportunity. To play in the streets, to visit the Wall, to literally see our history. But this will not happen if the Old City is given to the Palestinian state. Before 1967 Jews were not allowed to "play in the streets". They were not allowed to see the Wall, to experience its wonder. Instead, the Muslims defaced holy sites like the place of the last supper with graffiti, and blew up ancient synogogues. Today in every corner of the Arab World other Religions holy sites are under attack. Recently it has been the burning down of the Coptic Christian churches in Egypt and the Buddhist statues in Afghanistan. Jerusalem will be no different. If the Old City is given to the Palestinian State I can say with absolute certainty that many sites and much of the historical places will be destroyed and that we (the non-muslims) will have at the very best limited access. Today, we are Free to experience Jerusalem. Come September we may not.
1967 borders means that Israel will be indefensible. At certain points it would leave Israel with about eight miles in between the Mediterranean Sea and the Palestinian State. The major airport (Ben Gurion International) would be three miles from the border with the Palestinian State. Here in Israel we are all too familiar with the horrors of terrorism and rockets being launched in won-ton fashion and without discrimination towards innocent civilians and children. This year alone, hundreds of rockets and mortar shells have been fired into Israel from Gaza (which is allied with the Government pushing for sovereignty in the West Bank). If a Palestinian State were to gain sovereignty three miles from the airport there would be no way to stop the forthcoming attack on air transportation to and from the Country.
1967 borders means that Israel would be destroyed. It means that to the West would be a Hamas controlled Gaza. To the North would be a Hezbollah (backed by Iran) Lebanon and a Syria in the midst of up-rest all too ready to use the Jews as a scapegoat (as they did on Nachwa day) to regain power. To the East would be Jordan and the new Palestinian State. And to the South would be Egypt. A little further East is Iran, still developing Nuclear capability with intent (if we can take its leader at face value) to massacre the Jews. Of these countries, how many do not recognize Israel as a State? Hammas controlled Gaza, Hezbollah, the new Palestinian West Bank, and of course Iran. Of these countries, how many are actively calling for the destruction of Israel and the massacre of the Jews, pushing us to the sea? Well... all of them. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is calling for it. The people of Jordan are calling for it. The Iran backed Hezbollah is calling for it. Syria is all too happy to shift the anger of their people (which is currently aimed towards the government) towards Israel, as they did on Nachwa day. Hammas is calling for it. The new Palestinian State? Well, they recently allied themselves with Hammas.
This is real. We are facing an increasingly likely war... an affront on all sides by an impassioned and emboldened generation with a genuine hatred of Israel and of the Jews. It will all culminate in September with the decision in the United Nations.
So I ask you, the readers to act. The last time we heard this type of rhetoric towards the Jews was Nazi Germany. This is a chance for the World to take a stand. This is a chance to recognize Evil for being Evil and Good for being Good. Take a stand, Stand with Israel.
First, educate yourselves... don't just take my word for it. Do your own research: http://www.memri.org/content/en/main.htm provides translation for Arab media. http://www.jpost.com/ is my favorite online English Israeli newspaper. http://www.standwithus.com/ and http://www.aipac.org/ are organizations that have a lot of information and avenues to get involved. And if you're feeling very adventurous try: http://www.theblaze.com/ and http://watchglennbeck.com/.
Second, become active in your community. Educate others. Teach peace. Form groups and do everything you can do to spread goodness. Whether it's playing music for a nursing home, providing food for the homeless, or making a donation to charity, do something. Make a positive impact on someones life today. We have no idea how much one positive act can positively influence the world, but the only thing we can control are our actions. The only way to attempt to fix the World is by promoting our Values, so do everything that you can to spread goodness.
Third, if Jerusalem or Israel is of any importance to you, come visit and come now. Come before September, before you may not have the opportunity. There is an amazing event taking place August 24th called "Restoring Courage". If you have the means, go. It will literally change your life. It will inspire you. It will send a message to us that we are not alone. And it will send a message to G-d that this time there are those that stand with the Jews. You can find more information here: http://www.glennbeck.com/israel/ and book your ticket here: http://www.humanitarian.travel/index.php?showpage=search.php&type=date&cat=Tour.
Lastly, pray for peace. I do. Traditional Jewish prayer services are held three times a day and every service when I come to one specific verse at the end of one of our most central prayers I look around at the soldiers around me who are enveloped in their tallits, tefillin wrapped around their arms and between their eyes, kippahs on their heads and automatic rifles strapped over their shoulders and together we fervently pray:
"Oseh Shalom Bimromav, hu yaaseh shalom aleinu veal kol yisrael veImru Amen"
G-d who makes peace in the heavens above, make peace upon us, and upon all Israel. And we say, Amen.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A Matter of Perspective
"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross; but it's not for the timid." -Q, Star Trek the Next Generation
06:30
The stars are all gone now, replaced by a myriad of colors just making their way over the Eastern mountains. The valley and foothills to my left cease to be outlines and start to take form. I see cows in the pastures and cars starting to make their way from village to village. It seems as if the World is awakening. The birds are up now, singing to each other. It almost sounds as if they're saying their morning prayers, as I will be in just a few more minutes... "Amod Noach!" I hear. Instantly and without conscious thought I move my left leg out and tilt my M-16 forward with my right hand. "Amod Dom!" I resume position. To my left and right, soldiers stand solid and stiff, awaiting. The Commanders take their places in front of us. Previously only a dream, I am now only moments from making it reality. The flag is raised, saluted. And now: "Col Od Balevav..." We sing the Israeli national anthem, for the first time as soldiers, for the first time fully understanding what it means: As long as in the heart, within, a Jewish soul yearns and forward, towards the East an eye looks to Zion: Our hope is not yet lost! The hope of two thousand years. To be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem. I think about what that really means. It's easy to understand the words or the history or the dream, but to Live It, that is something else entirely. This is it, this is the hope - I'm living the hope! Shivers run down my spine and my eyes water up with tears of elation. 'Don't forget this, don't ever forget this moment and don't ever forget why you're here.' I tell myself.
22:58
I furiously scramble back to my room, bumping off walls like a pinball trying not to drop anything ... 'Why was there such a big line at the bathroom?' I ask myself. It feels like I was waiting for eternity to take my contacts out. Finally next to my bunk bed, i carefully throw my contact solution, water bottle, pants and shirt into an organized mess on top of my duffel bag. I jump on to the top bunk, adjust my luxurious pillow (really just my army jacket) and pull the sleeping bag on top of me. Now that I'm lying down I realize how exhausted I really am, it feels like I could sleep for days. I glance at my watch, 7 seconds left... I guess I could have relaxed a little more and taken my time. I shut off the lights just as the door opens. "Laila Tov (goodnight)" the Samelet (division Commander) says. "Laila Tov HaSamelet" we respond in unison. The door closes and there's silence for a few seconds has we hear her footsteps walking away. I'm already half asleep. "Laila Tov Americans" I hear Vladimir say. I smile: "Laila Tov Russians" I quietly respond. "Russians?" he says, "We are not Russians! I'm from Ukraine, Dimitry is from Moldova and Dimi is from Kazakhstan.". I had no idea. "I'm sorry" I reply, "Goodnight, Ukraine, goodnight Moldova, goodnight Kazakhstan.". "Thank you" Vladimir replies. A few more seconds go by, and again I can feel myself falling into the heavenly bliss that is sleep. "Just to set the record straight" Leon bursts out, "I'm not from America, I'm from Venezuela. Ephraim here is from Australia and Simcha is from Canada.". Vladimir responds: "Oh, you're from Venezuela... wow... LAILA TOV!". The entire room explodes with laughter, partly from exhaustion... but mostly from Vladimir's delivery and the ridiculousness of the conversation. We all truly feel like brothers, but because the only common language between us is Hebrew it's incredibly difficult to really get to know everyone... how could we have spent a month together and not know what COUNTRY our brothers are from? The door slams open and the room goes silent. "Everyone who just laughed on your feet and outside NOW!" the Samelet commands. Three of us get up and go outside. "You have 5 minutes to change into full uniform and report for sport" she says. Sport really just means a whole hell of a lot of sprinting from object to object, push ups, sit ups, up downs and etc... the type of stuff you're not particularly keen on doing when all you really want is to sleep. 45 minutes later and the three of us return to our room. I'm a sweaty mess. Everyone inside is sleeping. I climb back onto my bed in the dark wondering why in the world I (one of the shortest guys in the room) chose a top bunk. I guess when I see bunk beds I think of summer camp. This is definitely not summer camp. I lay down and think to myself as I close my eyes: 'This too is a moment that I won't soon forget.'
That's what life has been like for my first two months in the army... ups and downs. Sometimes it's REALLY good and sometimes it's REALLY bad. For some, going through 0-2 basic may be the hardest thing they have ever had to do in their lives. I'm not ashamed to admit that it's tough. It takes a lot of mental and personal discipline. Everyday I'm told what to do and when to do it by a girl who is 4 years younger than me. She's my commander. Most days I get screamed at or yelled at or treated like a little kid because someone somewhere at sometime messed up on something... not necessarily me. But we're a unit, and we're a team, and we're brothers. Most times through basic I didn't understand exactly what I was supposed to do. The army only speaks to you in Hebrew, and I don't speak Hebrew... yet (I'm almost at conversational). The only way I could handle the experience was to do my best, give the maximum I could give 100% of the time. It's all about perspective... sure there are parts that are shitty... but so what? I expected that. Just accept that whatever I'm not enjoying is going to be unenjoyable. Something being unenjoyable doesn't excuse me from giving my all. Realize that it will pass. Keep things in perspective... that there is nothing else that I would truly rather be doing than protecting my people and in order to do that I have to go through the entirety of the process good and bad. Suddenly it's not so hard. Suddenly it's not so tough. It takes a lot of energy, but it's worth it. I worked as hard as I could through basic, both on what I needed to do and on helping other soldiers that were having a hard time. I'm proud of how I handled my first couple of months in the army and I should be. At our graduation ceremony I was recognized by my Commanders as being the top soldier in the unit through basic and was given the honor of carrying my Commanders weapon. That too, is a moment that I won't forget.
There are so many stories and so much more to update, but it will have to wait until next time.
Finally I want to say: A special Thank You Thank You Thank You to Ami, Paul and Danielle, and JMill! You are all Tzadikim! I can't describe how horrible it feels to not know where you're going to sleep; and how amazing it feels to have people so openly and warmly invite and insist on having me stay with them, help me out with storing my bags, make sure I have a nice Shabbat Dinner, a hot shower, and a place to do laundry. Unbelievable. You are truly friends of the highest caliber and incredible human beings. Those too are moments that I won't forget.
06:30
The stars are all gone now, replaced by a myriad of colors just making their way over the Eastern mountains. The valley and foothills to my left cease to be outlines and start to take form. I see cows in the pastures and cars starting to make their way from village to village. It seems as if the World is awakening. The birds are up now, singing to each other. It almost sounds as if they're saying their morning prayers, as I will be in just a few more minutes... "Amod Noach!" I hear. Instantly and without conscious thought I move my left leg out and tilt my M-16 forward with my right hand. "Amod Dom!" I resume position. To my left and right, soldiers stand solid and stiff, awaiting. The Commanders take their places in front of us. Previously only a dream, I am now only moments from making it reality. The flag is raised, saluted. And now: "Col Od Balevav..." We sing the Israeli national anthem, for the first time as soldiers, for the first time fully understanding what it means: As long as in the heart, within, a Jewish soul yearns and forward, towards the East an eye looks to Zion: Our hope is not yet lost! The hope of two thousand years. To be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem. I think about what that really means. It's easy to understand the words or the history or the dream, but to Live It, that is something else entirely. This is it, this is the hope - I'm living the hope! Shivers run down my spine and my eyes water up with tears of elation. 'Don't forget this, don't ever forget this moment and don't ever forget why you're here.' I tell myself.
22:58
I furiously scramble back to my room, bumping off walls like a pinball trying not to drop anything ... 'Why was there such a big line at the bathroom?' I ask myself. It feels like I was waiting for eternity to take my contacts out. Finally next to my bunk bed, i carefully throw my contact solution, water bottle, pants and shirt into an organized mess on top of my duffel bag. I jump on to the top bunk, adjust my luxurious pillow (really just my army jacket) and pull the sleeping bag on top of me. Now that I'm lying down I realize how exhausted I really am, it feels like I could sleep for days. I glance at my watch, 7 seconds left... I guess I could have relaxed a little more and taken my time. I shut off the lights just as the door opens. "Laila Tov (goodnight)" the Samelet (division Commander) says. "Laila Tov HaSamelet" we respond in unison. The door closes and there's silence for a few seconds has we hear her footsteps walking away. I'm already half asleep. "Laila Tov Americans" I hear Vladimir say. I smile: "Laila Tov Russians" I quietly respond. "Russians?" he says, "We are not Russians! I'm from Ukraine, Dimitry is from Moldova and Dimi is from Kazakhstan.". I had no idea. "I'm sorry" I reply, "Goodnight, Ukraine, goodnight Moldova, goodnight Kazakhstan.". "Thank you" Vladimir replies. A few more seconds go by, and again I can feel myself falling into the heavenly bliss that is sleep. "Just to set the record straight" Leon bursts out, "I'm not from America, I'm from Venezuela. Ephraim here is from Australia and Simcha is from Canada.". Vladimir responds: "Oh, you're from Venezuela... wow... LAILA TOV!". The entire room explodes with laughter, partly from exhaustion... but mostly from Vladimir's delivery and the ridiculousness of the conversation. We all truly feel like brothers, but because the only common language between us is Hebrew it's incredibly difficult to really get to know everyone... how could we have spent a month together and not know what COUNTRY our brothers are from? The door slams open and the room goes silent. "Everyone who just laughed on your feet and outside NOW!" the Samelet commands. Three of us get up and go outside. "You have 5 minutes to change into full uniform and report for sport" she says. Sport really just means a whole hell of a lot of sprinting from object to object, push ups, sit ups, up downs and etc... the type of stuff you're not particularly keen on doing when all you really want is to sleep. 45 minutes later and the three of us return to our room. I'm a sweaty mess. Everyone inside is sleeping. I climb back onto my bed in the dark wondering why in the world I (one of the shortest guys in the room) chose a top bunk. I guess when I see bunk beds I think of summer camp. This is definitely not summer camp. I lay down and think to myself as I close my eyes: 'This too is a moment that I won't soon forget.'
That's what life has been like for my first two months in the army... ups and downs. Sometimes it's REALLY good and sometimes it's REALLY bad. For some, going through 0-2 basic may be the hardest thing they have ever had to do in their lives. I'm not ashamed to admit that it's tough. It takes a lot of mental and personal discipline. Everyday I'm told what to do and when to do it by a girl who is 4 years younger than me. She's my commander. Most days I get screamed at or yelled at or treated like a little kid because someone somewhere at sometime messed up on something... not necessarily me. But we're a unit, and we're a team, and we're brothers. Most times through basic I didn't understand exactly what I was supposed to do. The army only speaks to you in Hebrew, and I don't speak Hebrew... yet (I'm almost at conversational). The only way I could handle the experience was to do my best, give the maximum I could give 100% of the time. It's all about perspective... sure there are parts that are shitty... but so what? I expected that. Just accept that whatever I'm not enjoying is going to be unenjoyable. Something being unenjoyable doesn't excuse me from giving my all. Realize that it will pass. Keep things in perspective... that there is nothing else that I would truly rather be doing than protecting my people and in order to do that I have to go through the entirety of the process good and bad. Suddenly it's not so hard. Suddenly it's not so tough. It takes a lot of energy, but it's worth it. I worked as hard as I could through basic, both on what I needed to do and on helping other soldiers that were having a hard time. I'm proud of how I handled my first couple of months in the army and I should be. At our graduation ceremony I was recognized by my Commanders as being the top soldier in the unit through basic and was given the honor of carrying my Commanders weapon. That too, is a moment that I won't forget.
There are so many stories and so much more to update, but it will have to wait until next time.
Finally I want to say: A special Thank You Thank You Thank You to Ami, Paul and Danielle, and JMill! You are all Tzadikim! I can't describe how horrible it feels to not know where you're going to sleep; and how amazing it feels to have people so openly and warmly invite and insist on having me stay with them, help me out with storing my bags, make sure I have a nice Shabbat Dinner, a hot shower, and a place to do laundry. Unbelievable. You are truly friends of the highest caliber and incredible human beings. Those too are moments that I won't forget.
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