Sababi Blog

Jews React to Biden Visit to Israel in New York City

2010-03-11T23:47:00.000-08:00

No surprise, Jews in New York have something to say too. Friend, Author, Blogger, and MacCracken Fellow in Sociology at New York University, Michael Gould Wartofsky's coverage of the Jewish community's response to Biden and Netanyahu in New York is not to be missed.

"Jews vs Jews? Protests, Threats Reach Fever Pitch"

Originally published in the Huffington Post

Written by Michael Gould Wartofsky

This week, New York City's Jewish community is riven by protests, counterprotests, and now, Jew-on-Jew threats over the question of Israel and the Palestinians.

On Tuesday night, over 500 people gathered and marched in silent protest outside the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where Lt. General Gabi Ashkenazi, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was appearing at a $1,000-a-plate dinner hosted by the New York-based Friends of the IDF.

The protest was initially called by Jews Say No!, a local peace group founded last year amid Israel's Gaza offensive, and was cosponsored by about 30 other organizations, including Jewish Voice for Peace, American Jews for a Just Peace, Palestinian-American and other local groups.

"Everyone feels that Operation Cast Lead was an outrage," said Dorothy Zellner, a protester with Jews Say No, of the Gaza offensive. "As a Jew, I can't tolerate that the country that did this claims it is doing it for me."

The Jewish peace movement, while united against the ongoing blockade of Gaza and expansion of settlements, remains divided on questions of the Goldstone Report, the international boycott movement, and the proper course of action regarding the Iranian regime.

Other Jewish groups, like the "pro-Israel, pro-peace" lobby J Street, kept their distance from the demonstrations (which coincided with the contentious Israeli Apartheid Week), while rallying their members to press for a two-state solution.

Counterprotesters, for their part, affiliated with groups like Stand With Us and the pro-settler Americans for a Safe Israel, showed up Tuesday night, waving Israeli flags and taunting the protesters from across the street. At points, the night saw heated exchanges that included both anti-Arab and anti-Semitic slurs on the part of individual protesters.

Meanwhile, intimidating statements were finding their way into the inboxes of Jewish peace activists:

"STOP TREASON BY ANTI-ISRAEL GROUP," read one from the Jewish Defense Organization (JDO), a New York-based splinter group affiliated with the far right Kahane Movement. The message, now circulating on Facebook, calls on supporters to target another local Jewish group, Jews Against the Occupation (JATO), which it brands "Jews for Destroying Israel," and to "take them on in the streets." The call to action is followed by an article addressed "TO THE ENEMIES OF ZION."

The JDO describes itself as "a militant Jewish group dedicated to the eradication of Jew haters," and runs a paramilitary training camp, Camp Jabotinsky, in upstate New York. The JDO's Facebook page advertises its program thus:
WANTED: JEWS WITH GUTS! TO TRAIN IN SELF-DEFENSE & GUN TRAINING

Members are followers of Rabbi Meir Kahane, an ultra-nationalist figure assassinated in 1990, whose movement was linked by Israeli authorities to the 1994 massacre of 29 Muslim worshipers in Hebron and to the 1995 assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. At the time, the Kahane movement was also tied to an attempted bombing of the offices of Americans for Peace Now and the New Israel Fund.

Now tensions are rising anew in the Jewish Diaspora, as the government of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu faces growing dissent at home and worldwide condemnation - including harsh words from Vice-President Joe Biden - over its plans to build 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem.

Today, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced that the Palestinian Authority would boycott any further negotiations unless the Israeli government reverses its decision.

Follow Michael Gould-Wartofsky on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mgouldwartofsky

Biden Follows Status Quo Alienating Israeli Arabs and the Israeli Left

2010-03-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Unfortunately, Vice President Joe Biden's speech at Tel Aviv University today was anything but ground breaking. In an effort to smooth the ruffled feathers of Jews in both Israel and the United States, Biden filled his speech with old school Zionist rhetoric and Jewish centric mantras playing right into Netanyahu's hands. If the United Stated intends to be the "true friends," as Biden called the two states today, then the Obama administration is going to have to do a lot more than simply condemn the Israeli government's plans--the United States must also part with the old Zionist rhetoric that degrades the Israeli democracy by alienating the Arab-Israeli population, weakens the Israeli left and rots out any chance of a truly sustainable peace.

The Demographic Dilemma

If you've ever been to a pro-Israel lecture, you've probably heard about the demographic dilemma. The premises is simple: the Arab population is growing faster than the Jewish population in the State of Israel -- creating a threat to the Jewish identity of the State of Israel.

While this 1950s rhetoric has continued to be popular amongst right-wing Jewish leaders, I was shocked that Biden used the demographic dilemma to make a case for a two-state solution. And I quote: "It's no secret the demographic realities make it increasingly difficult for Israel to remain both a Jewish homeland and a democratic country in the absence of the Palestinian state."

As Biden mentioned, Israel's democracy deserves praise. In addition to being comprised of people from vastly different cultures--as Biden mentioned--over 20% of Israel's population are Israeli-Arabs, or Palestinians. Surely a large portion of these residents want nothing more than a Palestinian state, however many Arab-Israelis have come to embrace Israel not just as a democratic state, but as a Jewish one as well.

Exhibit A: A recent poll published by the Maagar Mochot research institution revealed that nearly half of Jewish-Israeli high school students do not believe Israeli Arabs are entitled to the same rights as Israelis, and more than half feel Arabs should not be allowed to run for the Knesset. On the other hand, "half of Arab-Israeli youth see themselves as Israelis and 72% of Arab youth feel part of the state, a similar proportion of "accept Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state" (only available in Hebrew).

Exhibit B: The Arab-Israeli woman sitting next to me, who upon hearing Biden's remarks about the demographic dilemma, scoffed at the idea that an increasing Arab population will mean the end to the Jewish state.

Shortly after his remarks about the demographic dilemma, Biden proceeded to tell a personal story about his experience with Zionism:

I had said in a speech in the United States some years ago for which I got some criticism, I said were I a Jew, I would be a Zionist. And it got a lot of national publicity, how could I say that, until I was reminded by my father you need not be a Jew to be a Zionist.

While this story illustrates Biden's wholehearted intentions to support the Jewish people, coupled with his statements about the demographic dilemma Biden's remarks ended up alienating one of the most important populations for the peace process -- Israeli-Arabs. If the United States intends to be "the friends that delivers the hardest truth," the Obama Administration must also publicly acknowledge the strategic role Israeli-Arabs play in the peace process and deliver speeches for the entire population of Israel--not just the Jewish one.

While the core of Biden's visit has been focused on Netanyahu's latest plan to build 1,600 new apartments in a Jewish neighborhood in disputed east Jerusalem, Biden failed to acknowledge the current demolition of Arab homes in Sheikh Jarrah and bolster the efforts of thousands of Israelis who have been protesting the demolition in East Jerusalem for the past month, many of which are Tel Aviv Unvierstiy students.

Definitely disappointed, and even a little suprised, I felt a sense dejavu ascending and the memory of the Bush administration's policy towards Israel coming to haunt me. As an Israeli-American citizen and Zionist, I truly hope that the Obama administration won't stop at publicly condemning Israel, but will use more powerful tactics to provoke Israel to make the big changes that a prospective peace depends on.

Secretary in Israel

2009-12-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

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Palestinian and Israeli High Schoolers Create an Animated Vision of Peace

2009-07-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is a great coexistence project that was launched at the International Animated Film Festival. The project aims to help Palestinians and Israelis re-envision the possibility of living together in peace. Originally conceived by Davide Papini and Attilio Valenti, the two seasoned animators partnered with the Office for Peace in Jerusalem of the City of Rome, the Municipalities of Raanana (Israel), and office of Qalqilia (Palestinian Authority).

Since the project aims to help build a vision for the future, "the main protagonists of the project [were] young people, those most defenseless builders of the future and, perhaps, those least intoxicated by the poisonous fumes of reciprocal acts of war and terrorism."

Together the students of two schools, Aviv Secondary School in Raanana, Israel and Al Sadia Secondary School in Qalqilia, Palestine, created the animated film “Pace of Peace”, "which portray their thoughts, hopes and expectations for the future and the cohabitation of their two nations." The film had also the artistic supervision of the most prestigious Italian authors, Giulio Gianini and Emanuele Luzzati, twice Oscar nominees.

Enjoy their vision for peace. It's sure to put a smile on your face : ) .

2009-07-13T13:58:00.001-07:00

This beautiful piece was created by Alice Mason.

It is based on the writer Carol Drinkwater, who wrote all the Olive books and in her book the Olive Route, she writes about olive trees and the issues in Israel and Palestine.

Getting the Real Scoop: Connecting to Palestine through Independent News

2009-07-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

A few days ago a new friend of mine, Firsa Arafat, a Palestinian peacemaker that I met at MEPEACE.org, shared Ma'an News Agency with me. Even though I'd passed over the site before, after Firsa recommended the site as the best independent Palestinian news source, I started browsing MNA more frequently and have been greatly impressed.

Ma'an, which means “together” in Arabic, is a Bethlehem based news agency that works with independent journalists throughout Palestine to provide a professional, informative independent news source in Arabic and English.

Launched in 2005, Ma'an News Agency (MNA) ... is among the most browsed websites in the Palestinian territories, with over 3 million visits per month. Considered the main source of independent news from Palestine, MNA has become the first choice for online information for many Palestinians, and is also attracting a growing international readership and interest from prominent international news organizations and agencies.

Ma'an News Agency is an integral part of Ma'an Network, a non-profit media organization founded in 2002 to strengthen professional independent media in Palestine, build links between local, regional and international media, and consolidate freedom of expression and media pluralism as keys to promoting democracy and human rights.

Unfortunately MNA doesn't have an RSS feed and I have to make a little added effort to go to their site. However, they do regularly update their facebook page and tweet on twitter. The content is written well and covers unique stories that I haven't found any where else on the web.

Today I was especially surprised to find that only MNA was covering the opening of the Gaza Strip's commercial crossings. The story is especially important since the crossings haven't been opened all at once since June 2007 and signals a change in the relationship between Israel and Hamas.

Who doesn't love a little laugh?

2009-07-07T00:56:00.000-07:00

It's always good to laugh about the conflict--especially if it doesn't involve the usual slew of racist jokes that both Israelis, Palestinians and all in between have come up with to make light of an often dark situation.

And that's where Sascha Baron Cohen comes in. In his much anticipated film, Bruno, he travels to Israel as a gay Austrian journalist and interviews unknowing political officials and passers by. As usual, he has a way of asking just the right questions and poking fun in just the right places.

In my favorite clip so far, Bruno interviews Yossi Alpher, former Mossad Cheif, and Ghassan Khatib, a former Palestinian Minister. He asks the former Mossad Chief, "Vy are you so anti-Hamas? Isn't pita bread the real enemy?".

And if you really get going, and want to enjoy more Bruno, you should check out the Digg interview below. Here Bruno tackles tough questions like, "What's a better accessory for a lady in today's modern world? A gay best friend or an African baby?" and my favorite "What do you think was Hitler's impact on military fashion?" Take a look, you must--it's priceless.

Jordanian Peace Message to the World

2009-07-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

While President Obama's recent addressess to the Arab and Muslim world may not have mended all wounds, this new inspiring video and song is a sure sign that there are people on both sides continuing to make calls for peace.

In Israel, even though Israel and Jordan have "cold peace" (as international relations buffs call it), Israelis and Jordanians rarely cross cultures. However "Risalat Insan," produced by "Al Amal," a Jordanian foundation, strengthens my hope that a real peace is beginning to be established.

"Risalat Insan"
Written by Karim Al Iraqi
Composed and arranged by Ayman Abdallah
Performed Diana Karazon

An Office with Soul: Social Entrepreneurs Develop a Unique Workspace in Tel Aviv

2009-06-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Last week Eyal Raviv, the founder of MePeace.org, invited me to The Hub TLV (short for Tel Aviv). In Tel Aviv's equivalent to The Meat Packing District, on the top floor of a seven-story building smack in the middle of Menachim Begin Street, a rooftop office (with a sweeping view of the horizon) is becoming home to a unique group of progressive social and environmental entrepreneurs.

Founded by Danny Gal and Eli Hillman in May 2009, The Hub TLV is an incubator for social and environmental entrepreneurs, kindly called "the partners," a place where "friends and entrepreneurs from various fields, through shared values, create a workspace that is innovative, productive and enjoyable." In addition to The Hub TLV, The Hub is a global project that stretches to over four continents and 12 cities. The website's mission is stated as:

The Hub is a global community of people from every profession, background and culture working at 'new frontiers' to tackle the world's most pressing social, cultural and environmental challenges.

As a guest at The Hub TLV's weekly partners meeting," I was expecting a professional gathering to discuss organizational bricks and mortar. Instead, Gal facilitated a soul session where hard working entrepreneurs gave support to one another in an honest, constructive manner--opening their hearts and their minds to lend a loving hand.

Anyone that has started a social venture, like the partners, knows that the path can be long and lonely. However, The Hub is a really unique way for people working for good to connect, strengthen themselves and others.

If you would like to become a fan of The Hub Global you can sign-up at The Hub Facebook
You can also watch an interview with Danny Gal at the opening of the Hub (in Hebrew) and get a view of the amazing space.

Never Forget to Heal the World

2009-06-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Like many others, I feel the need to post a tribute Michael Jackson. Since I was a small child, singing "Heal the World" as a conclusion to a play in el ementary school, Michael Jackson's message of love for all human beings has touched me.

In addition to an endless list of achievements in the entertainment industry, the King of Pop was also one of the worlds greatest philanthropists. In his lifetime he donated more than USD$300 million to various foundations and in 2000, he set the world record for contributing more than any other entertainer or personality to others.

His life as an artist, philanthropist and peacemaker is an inspiration to us all and I hope that we shall continue to carry forward his message of "heal[ing] the world and mak[ing] it a better place for the entire human race".

Super Obama

2009-06-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

Image by SliceofNYC via Flickr

While the general public in Israel is definitely divided over Obama, the Israeli news doesn't avoid making a darling out of him. Tonight on Channel 10, during the evening news, the news casters started the hour off with a little humor that I just can't help indulging in.

The video, created by Jibjab, is called "He's Barack Obama" (and he's come to save the day). According to The Washington Note, President Obama saw the video last night at the annual black tie Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner. Just imagine if we had a super hero like Obama for a president in Israel and Palestine--what wonders they could do.

A Classic Inspiration for Peace: Neve Shalom Wahat-al Salam

2009-06-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know Neve Shalom Wahat-al Salam (Oasis of Peace), you should. For a long time I've been a fan of this village, which was jointly established by Jewish and Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel in the 1970s.

While desegregated schols are becoming increasingly popular, there is still much work to be done. As Christine Deakers writes in "Israel-Pealestine Constructivist Schools: How education solves the conflict"

The structural violence of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis is built into the educational system in Israel. A majority of families in Israel send their children to segregated schools, promoting antagonistic viewpoints and attitudes that “other” their fellow man. Separated from learning about the other culture indirectly exploits the youth into becoming proponents of violence because they are taught to think of the other as an enemy.

While most schools Israel are still segregated--Jewish and Arab, religious and secular--since Neve Shaom Wahat-al Salam was established, their mission to "engage in educational work for peace, equality and understanding between the two peoples" has spread to other communities in Israel that I hope to feature in the future.

For the time being...

Global Photoshoot in Support of Iranian Voters

2009-06-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

I'm loving this global photo shoot project started by Setadema, "an online volunteer movement that advocates participation through voting and has launched various campaigns through [their] website." Considering Iran's current situation, this project is another great way that people are dissolving the old boundaries of nation-states and coming together to support voting rights around the world.

iPeace and a New Voice of the Obama Era

2009-06-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Mahran's profile at MePeace, I found ipeace--another great social networking tool for peacemakers around the globe--and this inspiring new video by Porscha Parker which expresses the infectious Obama era optimism that is flourishing in the United States and growing around the world.

Even though we still have many mountains to climb, spread the good word--there is peace on earth.

Time in Tel Aviv

2009-06-15T02:04:00.000-07:00

One more one eyed monster on the streets.

Goldstar at the beach. What could be better?

Translation: Feminist Sex is Fun

Beach Shower

Ultimate 70s Status

Love Story.

Mosque by the sea.

Do you think he's scared?

She's waiting for you.

She's expecting you.

Oh man, lately I've been fighting like a woman.

Dance your pants of at the Love Parade.

Bush Bashing. But wait, where's Bebe Netanyahu?

Modern marvels.

Party peeps.

The glitter in the sand.

2009-06-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

Gaza

West Bank

Hamsa Mosaic

Mediterranean Sea Dive

Bahai Gardens, Haifa

Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

"White Night" Tel Aviv

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

"Church of the Holy Sepulchre"
Sam Rohn

"Olive Tree"
Ballycroy

Women's Center, Gaza

Sing Peace

2009-06-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

After my experience in Israel last January, during the war in Gaza, like many Israelis I was consumed by the fear and enlisted in supporting the war. After seeing how susceptible I was to this fear, I have made a commitment to become a part of a network of peacemakers to help me keep pushing out the fear and standing for peace. While I can't promise I won't wain, I'm certainly going to make an effort to bolster the peacemakers projects by posting here.

One of the most inspirational peacemakers I know, Eyal Raviv, pointed me towards Sing Peace, a music festival for peace taking place in Jerusalem this August. Only a few years shy of Woodstock, Sing Peace is continuing the legacy of the four “Shir Hayona” (the Dove’s Song) peace festivals, which took place in Israel since 1980, following the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty.

I can’t make out the peace train no more

2009-01-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

Now I’ve been tormented lately, loosing sight of the good things to come. And I believe, it could be, that we’ve lost it forever--from this nothing good can come.

Oh I’ve been crying lately, seeing the world all broken. And I believe it could be, that my tears will run on.

I’m living here, on the edge of darkness and I don’t hear no peace train. Cause in this country you don’t remember it ever coming, you don’t have a home to go back to again.

Are you coming? coming? coming peace train? The noise of this war is so loud that I can’t hear your roar, and the smoke is so thick that I’ve never seen your tracks run ‘round, ‘round here.

I’ve been sobbing lately, your call too distant from my ear. The sound of the train is quite, does your line even run near?

I’ve lost more than you, I can’t see all the good things to come, and honestly? after days like these? I’m starting to believe that a darkness like this, will forever, carry on.

I have bags under my eyes. I’ve lost all my friends. Cause we’re still far from the station, we’re searching under every rock in the desert my friends and no peace train is coming near.

I’m trying to join the living, but they are far from view. The peace train is running further away from us and we seem never to know what to do.

Out on the edge of darkness? But here I am! Ready to ride your peace train, come, come, come to me my dear, so that the sight of you won’t slip away and I’ll never be able to return home to you again.

This piece is dedicated to my father, who helped me realize that I at least better recognize that there could be a peace train out there.

One way to get less sleep during a war

2009-01-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

Hey Readers,

In case you haven't been keeping up with all the war time fun and you want an overall review, the War on Gaza Update #8.5, is a great place to see a collection of articles from the main stream media and posts from the blogosphere.

This "Round-up" as it is called, is part of a Israeli blog carnival called Haveil Havalim, who Jake, the administrator has created (but I learned about it through Meryl Yourish's great blog).

The most recent edition of Haveil Havalim #199 is the aptly named:
The We Can’t Stop Twittering/Blogging/Reading/Worrying/Watching/What’s Going On in Israel Right Now Edition….
or….The Stuck To My BlackBerry Like Glue Edition….

Hope it's a good way to catch up on all the action, if you're missing out. I certainly am not--I'm still looking to escape the inescapable.

Ground War, Air War, Online War

2009-01-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

Armed with their keyboards, their cameras, YouTube and the blogosphere, the Israeli Defense Force is taking publicity online.

Major Avital Leibovich, the head of the Israeli military's Foreign Press branch, told reporters, "the blogosphere and new media are another war zone [and] we have to be relevant there."

While the Israeli Defense Forces have an official website with updates and articles about "Operation Cast Lead," since the war begun the IDF also launched IDF on YouTube , the IDF blog, and a way to follow the IDF on Twitter.

In addition to the raw battle scene footage on YouTube and pictures of the first fallen solider on the blog, yesterday the IDF held a press conference on Twitter, an instant-messaging community site.

But the Israelis aren't the only one's using the web for a new kind of propaganda war. According to Bloomburg:

Hamas has been trying to conduct it's own public relations campaign. After YouTube censored its video posts -- the group is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union and Israel -- Hamas began using an alternative video-sharing site called AqsaTube, said Weimann, who monitors Islamic militant activity on the Web.

The Hamas site has not been updated for a number of days now, most likely because the creators are hiding underground.

So as the war continues in the air and on the ground, don't forget it's also online.

One thing Israelis and Hamas have common

2009-01-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

There is one thing that Israelis and Hamas Officials have in common--they are both hiding in bomb shelters.

Since the Israeli Operation "Cast Lead" started last Monday, Hamas officials have been in hiding. And everyday in southern Israel, between three and four times a day, a "Red Color" alarm alert sounds (listen to it here) giving 900,000 Israeli citizens fifteen seconds to run for cover before a missile strikes.

Tonight, as the death toll reaches over 400 in Gaza (10 - 20 % civilian casualties), I'm wondering how many seconds do Gazans have before the Israelis strike? The New York Times reported that, "hundreds of thousands of Gazans have received warnings in the form of telephone messages or fliers that their buildings are Israeli targets."

Even with this warning, I find myself asking, why do "the latest casualties in Gaza include three children who had been playing outside"? Someone has to ask, what are your children doing playing outside? Why aren't they in a bomb shelter?

But it turns out, as Amnesty International reported "that there are no ‘safe’ places in Gaza for civilians to seek shelter."

As one Gazan said on the BBC, "we get together on the ground floor - we don't have basements or centres where we can all shelter together. So we can never be prepared for massive operations."

Maybe Hamas should have built bomb shelters instead of bombs, but I'm waiting for the day where Israelis and Gazans don't have to build either.

Missiles Blasting Away Dreams

2008-12-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Missiles fall on my house, snatching up my loved ones and shattering the fragile dreams of a peaceful future that we had. Dreams, dreams, dreams of missiles--every day and every night.

The early morning light breaks,"Waaawooo, waaawooo...70 missiles have fallen today, today, the closest missile to Tel Aviv yet. You're just twenty minutes away from shrapnel breakfast." Is that the sound of a siren? Am I hearing a siren? Do we have bottled water? I should have stocked our bedroom, I should have...but wait. Wait. This is just the alarm clock radio. My normal, every day of the year wake-up call. Relax, this is a day like every other day.

I start my day, flick on the television, drink my coffee, smoke my cigarette. "We have to go in, we have to do something, we can't just sit idly..." Yeah, I have to do the dishes, go to the grocery store, make dinner--I have to do something--do something to keep myself feeling like everything is normal--today is just another day in Tel Aviv.

Filling my grocery basket, the radio blares overhead,"There are massive food shortages, the last food in Gaza is running out." Suddenly my basket is empty, the shelves are bare, the shoppers are scavenging the aisles...I pinch myself. Wake-up, wake-up. Make your way to the check-out, buy your weeks groceries, carry the blessed food home.

As I walk home, the rain comes pouring down; the cold, hard, winter rain streaming down the streets. "100, 200, 300 dead--blood running through the streets," a man babbles into his cellphone. A car drives by, splashing me with thick, red blood, blood? blood! No, it's just rain, just cold, dark rain.

It's dinner time. Standing over my gas stove, I stir my thick, red tomato soup, slowly, slowly. The television badgers me, "There is no more gas in Gaza, people are short on food and they can't cook what little they have..." I reach to turn the heat up, the flame goes extinguishes. I reach for the lighter, the gas won't light. Why won't it catch? What am I going to do? Oh no. no, no, no. I pull my hand from the burner, it's hot, my hand is burning! No, no, no. I'm just cooking tomato soup for my lover on this cold, dark winter day.

The phone rings, my friend is calling me from a bar. "You're where?" I shout into the telephone. I think, "Are you nuts?" Such a wide open bar, a bar with streets on both sides? That's a perfect bar for a terrorist attack. "I'm coming (coming, to get you out of that bar, coming to take you home where it's safe)."

As I walk towards the bar, police lights flashing. No, no! Really? The police are gathered outside, gathered outside giving tickets to people who are smoking indoors. SMOKING INDOORS? That's what you're wasting your time with right now? Don't you have something better to do during a war? I go home.

Time for bed. I brush my teeth, turn out the lights and draw the soft, velvet curtains over the window. Lying in my bed, my dreams start to tangle with reality, "Go into your shelter, this is a RED ALERT." Hurry, pull the window shield shut (thank god my bedroom is also a bomb shelter), close the bomb shield door. We're safe right? We're safe in our bomb shelter bedroom, we're safe in Tel Aviv. Right? Right!

For me, unlike hundreds of thousands of my neighbors, Israelis and Gazans, these are only lucid dreams. Dreams that are growing out of the soil that is rich with fear. Fear which I can't escape, even if I try. A fear so real, that it shatters my dreams.

Collection of Hannukah Videos

2008-12-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

One great video for each night of Hannukah

"Guess Jew?" Jewish Games for the whole Jewish Family - MyRabbi.com

The Hannukka Dreidal Song

Adventures of Todd & God - MyJewishLearning

Dreidal, Dreidal, Dreidal - Erran Baron Cohen

Tips for Hannukah (Stand Up Comedy) - Jeff Dunham

Chocolate Coins - Eric Schwartz

How to spell Hannukah, Channukah, Hannukkah?!

2008-12-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

"Umm. You're Jewish. Maybe you know how to spell Hannukah..."
Nope. Fu*k Webster. He has no answer to this question...

Hannukah Harry Beats Up Santa?!

2008-12-25T15:21:00.000-08:00

A little Hannukka / Christmas cheer, since this year Hannukah is falling on Christmas. Enjoy!