Give Peace A Chance?

Since our congregation does not have a Rabbi and the services are conducted by lay leaders there is no weekly sermon. Members of the congregation take turns doing a brief commentary on the weekly Parsha (Torah reading) and they are free to toss in a few personal comments.

Last night's Parsha covered the battle of Jericho, a bloody massacre that ended with the slaughter of every man, woman and child inside the fallen city. The man who did the commentary must have had a rough job reconciling this week's reading with his own feelings because it was obvious he supported Israel's negotiating for a diplomatic, not military, solution to the current conflict with Gaza. He ended his homily with the words of John Lennon: "give peace a chance".

I think the Parsha - and History - gives us a different lesson. Sometimes it is necessary to thoroughly vanquish one's enemy to assure they are gone for good. This of course does not mean the slaughter of innocents - oh no! - but the thorough trouncing of 1) any ideology that vows they will exterminate YOU and 2) pure evil. I am ready to accept that our current conflicts with hateful, extremist, murderous thugs across the world are such a battle.

I wish it wasn't so and peace really could have a chance...

Locke

I watched the most unusual movie this afternoon. It is called Locke and it is mesmerizing and thought provoking.

I found myself admiring the title character. Here's why.

He made a mistake. Instead of choosing to avoid the consequences of his mistake (a biggie) he owned up and took full responsibility for it and its devastating consequences.

Once he decided to "do the right thing" he did not waiver, even when the ramifications kept piling up.

While suffering through the consequences of his decision he still did his best to meet all his other obligations.

He compared how he was handling his responsibilities to how his deadbeat, drunken dad handled his own. He realized he did not have to follow the same path and that he could be a better man than his father.

When his problems started to multiply, he kept as cool as possible and thought of alternatives. He looked at things logically and believed there was a solution to every problem. I definitely could relate as I am rather Type A myself.

He visualized and vocalized the outcomes he wanted and I think that was a bit of a prayer.

This movie probably cost a ton less than any other recent film, has only one (fantastic) actor and was shot in a few weeks. But the tension was Hitchcock-esque and it left me wishing Locke will take another drive someday.

I also learned quite a bit about concrete...

Dear Debbie

Dear Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz,

Two years ago you visited my Temple, Temple Solel in Hollywood, to stump for Barack Obama's re-election. The Temple membership of course had one main interest, the President's stance on support for Israel. You assured us that it was solid, unqualified and uncompromising.

I gathered up my nerve and when it was time for audience questions I asked you directly how you reconciled this "support" with an obvious degradation in support for Israel as stated in the Democratic platform and the raucous anti-Israel shouts from the floor when the phrase "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel" was attempted to be re-inserted after the so-called "mistake" of "accidentally" deleting it. You replied that you were not on the floor at that time. Really?? You're the Chairwoman of the Democratic National Party and you were not at the opening of the convention? I did not press you on that. You did not provide an answer to my question; instead you alluded to the "relative meaninglessness" of a stated platform.

My question to you - are you still happy with your President's support of Israel?

"Amid diplomatic tensions between US President Barack Obama's administration and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the US halted a shipment of air-to-ground missiles to Israel last month during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. 
 

In July, Israel requested "through military-to-military channels a large number of Hellfire missiles", a first batch of which was about to be released to Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Israeli and American officials. 

 

But the Pentagon immediately put the shipment on hold, and top officials at the White House instructed US defense agencies to consult with the White House and the State Department before approving any additional Israeli requests, according to the report. http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Report-US-halted-weapons-transfer-to-Israel-during-Gaza-offensive-371062#!"

 

and this

 

"On day WSJ reports Pentagon put on hold Hellfire missiles to Israel, Hurriyett reports that US cleared sale of air-to-air missiles to Turkey."

 

It is my belief that you did (and perhaps still do) genuinely trust Barack Obama. Please use whatever influence you may have to get US-Israel relations back on track. Israel and the Jewish community here in the US need steadfast, vocal, public and unwavering support.

 

Thank you. 

My Life Now

It's been ten months since we moved to The Villages. Although I planned to hit the ground running with all sorts of new activities, it was not to be. I've blogged enough about some of the setbacks so no need to recap. Instead, I'll focus on what my life looks like today.

I get up a little later and find my energy peaks in the late afternoon. Quite a change for someone who has always been a very early morning person. Instead of asking for the earliest nail and doctor appointments I find myself grimacing at the thought of leaving the house before 10 am.

My daily calendar usually shows one, occasionally two, fun things to do. We meet new friends for dinner about twice a week. There are Temple activities and the Borscht Belt Club. Thanks to the BB Club we get "fixed up" with new couples every month. Hubby plays poker with the neighborhood guys every week and goes to the men's discussion group once a month. I go to Sisterhood and Hadassah meetings and volunteer at the Temple's money-making Bingo games (today will be in the kitchen). I go to the neighborhood ladies' Lunch Bunch and Red Hats gatherings and to low-impact strength training classes. I adore new gal-pal Kathy who always has ideas for new projects and places to go. We love going out with June and Kay - former co-workers from years ago. Sometimes I get invited to a Maj Jong game - finding a regular game is still on my to-do list. When things slow down there's always a golf cart ride and/or a visit to a Town Square for live music and people watching. The neighborhood pool is always warm enough for me and I love to paddle a few laps, especially with my noodle. And then there's just normal stuff - housework and grocery shopping and TV.  

The Golf Channel had this cool segment on life in The Villages. We certainly don't do a fraction of the stuff shown, especially not the physically demanding activities. I'm trying for a balance between those super "active" adults and my grandma's rocking chair!

;-)

A Mess

A Mess.  That's how I felt when I woke up this morning. I attribute it to stress. What stress you say Dear Diary? Aren't I always blogging about how great life is? It's true, life IS great, I should have no worries.

Am I one of those people who must have something to worry about?  I think yes.

I have been obsessed with worry about the World (it's truly gone mad), Muslim Jihadists, Putin, and most of all, Israel, my heart's home. I do not have the words to describe what Israel means to me but I have read many other people's beautiful tributes and their thoughts are exactly my own. Israel is truly Hatikvah, The Hope of my people.

My obsession has done me no good. I have done all I can for now. I must remember to take care of myself. Take my vitamins. Cut out the junk food I've been consoling myself with. Call my friends. Go for a swim or a walk. Comb my hair.

Robin Williams passed away yesterday. It is said he suffered from the demons of addiction and depression. My old staff member, Alessandro, said it well on Facebook yesterday "I guess it goes to show that no amount of money or access to the best care in the world can help you if your brain decides YOU are the enemy."

My brain is telling me it's time to get it together...

Never Again

Never Again. That's what we Jews say when we mean there could never be another Holocaust. Most Jews believe it.  I am not one of them.

I believe that many, many people in many, many lands hate Jews with a deep seated passion based upon what, I cannot begin to guess or fathom. I believe that under a veneer of tolerance lies a well of animus. I believe that should circumstances change - perhaps due to a global depression or a hateful propaganda campaign - you would once again see prejudice come to the surface and the ugly face of loathing and malice revealed .

Oh, I am paranoid you say? I sincerely hope so. There are so many "good" people in the world, how could another Holocaust happen? I hope you are right.

As Israel fights for survival against an enemy sworn to its destruction and the annihilation of Jews everywhere, I see the world rising to condemn them.  Not the terrorists. Israel.  The same wonderful countries who are supposedly "ashamed" of their Nazi heritage are oh so quick to sink back into anti-Semitism. Recent events in Cape Town, in Glasgow, in Australia and all over Europe point out how fragile their tolerance, good will and support is.

The rabbi at my last Temple said Jews in America are completely assimilated and we are safe here. The reason for his highly optimistic view? Non-Jews want to marry Jews! Wow, lucky us. Asians, black people, Christians, everyone - all think a Jew would be acceptable as a life partner. I certainly don't mean to insult a Rabbi's opinion, but I did point out that he is looking through the rosiest of rose colored glasses.

I hope I am wrong and Never Again is really, truly Never Again...

Heaven Is For Real - Part Two

A wonderful photographer here at The Villages captures amazing images of our beloved "hometown".  Here a just a few of my favorites.

If there is any doubt that Heaven Is For Real I think these images put to rest any doubts.   I'm pretty sure Heaven is right here, all around me.

I feel like I have been climbing a ladder all my life, trying my best to reach the next rung. And now that I'm pretty close to the top, I can look down and see the trials and tribulations that I have climbed through. And I think I'm also seeing a glimpse of Heaven as I get nearer to the top and look up. 

Heaven looks a lot like retirement in The Villages!

;-) 

Heaven Is For Real

I tried watching this movie and got about half-way through it which I consider to be an accomplishment. It was just a bit too sappy for me and, truth-be-told, I can take quite a lot of sappy. 

I guess I don't really believe Heaven exists, at least not in the way it was portrayed in the movie. I'm pretty sure Jesus will not be waiting to greet me when my day finally comes.

But I do believe in experiencing the most joyful and spiritual of moments right here on Earth. To know love and devotion and peace and security and to experience the beauty of this incredible planet must truly be what touching Heaven is like. And funny isn't it, the most magical and wonderful of moments are the ones that take place in our own homes with our favorite people.

Heaven really is For Real!

;-)

Happy 3rd Birthday Blog!

Today marks three full years of blogging and 783 rants, raves, prayers, vents, and reminiscings by me. A few people sometimes read what I've written but mostly I write for myself.

My blog is a good listener. Whatever I am feeling that prompts a dash to the computer to put my thoughts into words, I know my blog will be sympathetic, hahaha. Sometimes I feel the essence of who I really am is contained in these 783 little vignettes.

As personal as a fingerprint and as revealing as a confession - that's blogging.

Write On!

;-)

The Joy of UnFriending

An acquaintance (at best) whom I have not had contact with for oh about ten years sent me a Facebook request. I debated for a second but decided to accept. After all we are both Jewish and retired here in central Florida. Why not?

We  were "friends" for about a day and I received my first (and last) message from her (it was probably from her husband, a former work subordinate). It read:

Can you believe it? A lecture on what I should and shouldn't post on Facebook? Who is she/he, the Facebook Police? If my "friends" don't want to see what I post, they don't have to read it or they can unfollow me or unfriend me. I have four times the "friends" that this person has - how does she/he know what my "friends" do or don't appreciate seeing from me?

But this little incident did remind me that this is exactly the kind of thing I don't need in my life and best of all, it is the kind of thing I never have to deal with again, God willing. I love my new BS and Cr*p free life as a retiree!

UnFriend!  ;-)