Rally for Israel-Philadelphia Style

Today, at Love Park in Center City Philadelphia, the Jewish Community gathered to show our support for the State of Israel. The event was attended by approximately 2,500 people and speakers included Senator Arlen Specter, among others. Senator Specter stated that, "Israel's recent incursion into Gaza was justified because the country "has every right under international law to defend itself against rocket fire from Hamas." There were signs that echoed the same sentiment, saying, "How would you like rockets thrown at your home."

Early this morning, before the rally, I received an email from Rabbi Edgar Nof, the rabbi of Congregation Or Chadash in Haifa, Israel. He stated that, "As you may already know, the North woke up this morning to find that for the first time during this war, 5 rockets were thrown onto the North of Israel from Southern Lebanon, reaching the coastal city of Nahariyah and the Western Galilee. There, regrettably, a nursing home was hit, but no one was hurt as the residents were at that time eating their breakfast in another part of the home. The IDF retaliated by sending mortar fire into the sites from where they believe that the rockets were launched. As of now, the citizens of Israel do not know yet whether the North will become a new front in this war, therefore deeming the next 24 hours very crucial in determining this.

While, it remains quiet for the time being in Haifa, this has brought flashbacks of 2006 back to reality, and has brought the North into a newly heightened state of preparedness and worry. Luckily at Or Hadash, we are very prepared for such an attack, and have learned a lesson from the last war, when we had to renovate our shelter amidst the rocket barrages. Now, thanks to our friends and donors from abroad, (including the URJ, WUPJ, ARZA, and the AJC) have one of the best equipped bomb shelters that will protect us against the most horrifying of scenarios."

Let us all hope and pray that Haifa, and the rest of Israel, will soon be blessed with God's greatest gift, the gift of Shalom, of peace.

Lessons Learned from the Fall of Bernie Madoff

Bernie Madoff will be in the news for months if not years to come. Investors, as well as recipients, of the 50 Billion dollars invested with Madoff have already felt the consequences. Jewish institutions, as well as secular institutions, have lost a substantial source of funding and are being forced to look internally at their budgets.

The Jewish community is not only feeling the hit financially, but also emotionally. Not only here in the United States, but also internationally, the press makes sure to mention that Madoff is a Jew. Many have commented on the potential impact of this.

The best article I have seen is
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/nyregion/23yeshiva.html). It is well worth the read.

Let us all think about, especially as 2009 is upon us, how we begin to trust in humanity, and ourselves, once again.

All my best for a happy, healthy, and sweet 2009!

Bailout or Blowout?

There has been a lot of talk in Tekiah meetings about concern for the environment. What needs to change in order to make a difference? This kind of change requires thinking out of the box, bringing new ideas to the table.

The Detroit Bailout is a good example of this. Does Detroit need to change? Here is what Thomas Friedman has to say in yesterday's NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/opinion/10friedman.html?em

What do you think? And, well done Israel!

"LOL," "BRB," and "PRW": Communicating with Our Kids-The Text Generation

Do you have difficultly communicating with your kids? Would they rather "text message" their friends than speak to you in person? Instead of having a conversation around the dinner table, is their phone out and their thumbs on the keys?

It is no secret that communication has always been an issue between parents and kids. But, today that issue is more complicated with the development and innovations of technology. In many of the Tekiah meetings that are taking place around Beth Am, communication and technology was an issue many were concerned with, not just with kids but adults as well. We use email more than ever before, choosing to send an email than pick up the phone. More situations arise from a poorly worded email than with a one to one phone conversation. Is it easier to use email? Do we feel more uninhibited with email to say what we would never say in person? Have our social skills weakened because we communicate more with email than in person?

The article in the hyperlink above, from this week's Jewish Exponent, addresses this issue and makes some suggestions. It is definitely worth a read.

The abbrevations above stand for: "LOL"-Laugh out loud; "BRB"-Be right back; and "PRW"-Parents are watching.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in America has always been very interesting to me. So, I did some research and spoke about its origins during Friday night services and how it was Abraham Lincoln on October 3, 1863 made Thanksgiving an official National Holiday. Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation that year was very religious, Biblical, in nature and could have come right from a Jewish prayerbook.

Lincoln began by saying, "The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God."

Sometimes as Jews we need a reminder from secular American society to recognize and thank God. Thanksgiving serves as a great reminder. Additionally, during this Thanksgiving season, Lincoln urged us not to forget the, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged." When we are truly Thankful for what we have, we must give back to those who are in need. This is part of the rationale for the Tekiah project. The other part is about building relationships with others in the pursuit of Tikkun Olam, in our work to repair the world.

Why do we have such difficulty in giving back and thanking God for what we have? Are we just forgetful? Is it due to lack of time? Interest?

Welcome to the New Blog

For a while now, I have been thinking about creating a blog. The initial rationale was to provide a space to post news about the Tekiah Project, our social action initative at Beth Am. In the process of creating this blog, I thought that it would also give me the option to post my random comments about what was going on in the world and solicit your comments- way to engage you all in dialogue on a more regular basis.

Well...here goes.

Let me start by asking you about the Tekiah Project. Have you heard about it? What have you heard? Have you attended a meeting? Would you like to attend? General enough?

BTW...if you have not heard about the project and want to learn more, click here to read my Yom Kippur sermon about the project. http://www.oyrtbetham.org/LS_YK_sermon.html