When Criticism is a Blood Libel

Why was the recent Blood Libel against Israel not considered regular criticism?

You may want to watch this video (there are others, but this one is strong. notice the response to the accusations 'if you talk like that, you will not be allowed to speak', no response to the accusations at all):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhWgZu6tcZU

To keep a short story short - When Israel is consistently condemned more than all other nations on the face of the earth combined, it is not criticism, it is a blood libel.

When Israel is condemned for things that others do, and are not condemned for, it is a blood libel.

When unquestionably, the scale and degree of suffering is greater in other parts of the world (Darfur, Zaire, Chechnya, etc) yet Israel is condemned more than all the rest combined, it is a blood libel.

When many of the nations involved in the condemnation have repeatedly and publicly called for and/or acted towards Israel's destruction, it is a blood libel.

When individuals involved in these organizations have stated that Israel is guilty before making investigations, it is a blood libel.

There is no person who does not have his/her moment. (P. Avos)

I saw a friend of mine on the street today. After talking about all sorts of high falutin stuff he wanted to thank me for encouraging him to go back to school for a graduate program. He was trying to give me a compliment of sorts on how I may have positively encouraged him and others.

Well, I thought about it. I realized that it's all about learning from each other's 'craziness.' People who make a difference usually have a 'peculiarity', or do something 'outside the box,' which others often see as being 'crazy' or weird. So, yes, going back to school as an adult with a family and responsibilities is often seen as weird, especially if your program is not a direct significant money-making track. Many people think I'm nuts. However, two friends of mine like my craziness, and they went back to school. Both of them are in programs that are not necessarily big money-making tracks, and both of them are loving it.

Needless to say, both of these friends have inspired me in many ways, and actually they played a role in my return to school. One of them is always walking a foot above social norms, not accepting anything because that's the way it's done. The other never became cynical, constantly continuing intellectual pursuits, even as he muddles through constant mundane struggles. So I guess we have a bit of a 'vicious cycle' going on here.

What do we learn? Often we can learn especially from a person's unusual ways. Remember, every person has his/her moment.

Spreading Some Good Words

I friend of mine posted a 'I'm under the weather' type of thing on his facebook. Here are some of the inspirational responses he got. I'm sharing them for all of us to reflect upon and share with others.

"Don't look back, my friend, only look ahead. Everything is just a learning experience. Learn and go forth!"

"You're still young and have nothing but time ahead as you travel down your path to righteousness!"

"every day brings a new opportunity to take a step in a new direction, any direction we want..."

"You are, of course, comparing your insides with this guy's outsides. Truth is, you have no idea what goes on in this person's shadows. Perhaps if you knew everything there is to know, you wouldn't trade places with him. Your job is to make sure that your resentment doesn't take a dump on your day today, because it's all any of us really have. "To live well is the best revenge.""

"We should measure ourselves only according to our own yardstick and not in relation to anyone else's life..."

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exaltation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tisha B'Av

As we are approaching Tisha B'Av we are reminded of the destruction of Jerusalem. Nations of the world rebuke the government of Israel for allowing Jews to build in parts of Jerusalem - the city that has never been capital of the various empires that ruled the city. Only for the Jewish people, Jerusalem, was, is, and will be their capital and most sacred city. This is no secret. And so we mourn - the destruction of Jerusalem is not about a city, but about G-d's glory on earth. May we all do our parts to return G-d's glory to earth, and May G-d have mercy and send the redemption already!

Gold Blinders

Western China makes the news. The Turkic Uighurs and the Chinese are historical enemies. The Great Wall of China was built to keep the Central Asians out of China. Well, the Chinese empire grew west of the wall, far west.

I read an economics professor write that the leaders of China will be sure to develop central and western China, because they don't want civil strife. Hmmm, heard that one before, give them jobs and all will be well. He doesn't get it. The Uighurs want their national/ethnic identity, not to be flooded with Chinese people and their jobs. Similarly, the news-sites reported that Chinese people don't understand why the Uighurs are not thankful for economic development, or why they hold on to their religion and won't assimilate. They really don't get it.

Here in Quebec, people wonder why the nationalist ethnic Quebecois make policies that drive away qualified people and businesses. They don't get it. Ethnic pride is more important to them.

The 9/11 bombers were not poor, nor is Ben Laden.

Etc, etc.

When a person is blinded by gold, they can't see past their blinders, everything to them revolves around gold.

G-d Speaks in Montreal

We had a special radio program on last night in honor of Radio Shalom's second anniversary. We had a lot of phone calls. One of them is of special note.

A young woman with a Quebecois accent gets on and asks if she can speak in French. We tell her 'sure', but we'll answer in English for our listeners. Then what does she say....

(paraphrased) 'I'm not Jewish, but I love the station, particularly the French programing, since my English isn't that good. I don't have any contact with Jewish people and I love to listen to the Parasha commentaries on Friday mornings. I think the station should have more.... Torah. And I think the Parasha commentaries should be on earlier in the week, so I can know what week's Parasha it is. You really should keep up the French programming, the station is not just for the Jewish community, but for all of Montreal!'

What a voice from heaven.

Heroes on Passover... No Chometz Involved...

Over Passover I read about two Heroes, and I'm not talking about sandwiches that others call Subs.

There was the famous Captain Phillip. When pirates attacked his ship, he offered to go captive in order to save his crew and ship. Then after being rescued by the U.S. Navy, he deflected all praise saying the Navy was the hero, and he didn't do anything. Wow, now that's a hero - rising to the occasion and not feeling he deserved any praise.

Then there was another hero, still passover, still wanting a good sandwich, but, no not a hero sandwich...

I reconnected with an old friend. He just retired from a police force in a city in the U.S. (go guess which one...) When I told him he's lucky to retire so young, he pointed out the tremendous stresses of twenty years as a policeman. He didn't mention what we all think about, the danger. He mentioned all sorts of other things, many that affected his family... odd hours and shifts and overtime and stressful environment etc.. Definitely another hero. His personal danger was not on the list, his family was.

This was a meaningful Passover.