Dear Friends and Family,

Why Israel…?
Last Saturday we woke to the Presbyterian election results indicating (by a slim margin) their intent to divest from 3 American companies connected to Israel. Realistically, this will have very little impact on Israel though it is a slap in the face for All Jews.

Why Israel? The only democracy in the region (though not perfect as no county is) that provides equal rights to all citizens regardless of religion, race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.  Why not Syria for forcing children to become soldiers; Why not Egypt for jailing Journalist; Why not Malaysia for arresting Transgender Women; Why not Bangladesh for their abysmal working conditions; Why not Australia for their forced sterilization of disabled underaged girls; Why not Afghanistan for stoning women to death for accused adultery; Why not Saudi Arabia for banning Women from driving; Why not ANY of the 81 countries where Homosexuality is illegal!!! NOPE, Israel is the only country deserving of a Boycott from this religious institution. Why… Because Anti-Semitism as been replaced (after Nazi’s stigmatization) with the more acceptable Anti-Zionism (which is still anti-semitism).

Proud Zionist
FACT: Jews are a Peoplehood, a Nation, just like the French, Americans and Italians.  FACT: Our homeland since the biblical era is Israel.  FACT: Anti-Semitism has plagued our entire existence, yet during our “wondering years” without our safe haven we were massacred repeatedly.  FACT: UN resolution 181 established an Israeli Jewish State along side a Palestinian State. Somehow Zionism became a dirty word.  The definition of Zionism is that Jews are a Peoplehood deserving of a protective Nation. We need to reclaim the positive meaning of Zionism. Without it, History could repeat itself as all attacks against Jews always started with words just like the Presbyterian agenda.  Yet the difference and irony is that Israel is now here to protect us as their words try to delegitimatize our Protection. Please check out http://www.zionistspring.org/ and stand up as a proud Zionist.  Please read MLK’s quote below.

Black Jewish Brotherhood (Andrew and Michael were Jewish)
50 years ago this week, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were murdered (in cahoots with the Mississippi police) by the Ku Klux Klan while participating in the Freedom Rideto assist Southern Blacks in the voter registration process. Segregation was a disgraceful time in our history as it preempts the inequity for all citizens in this country. We need to focus on compassions and protection for those who are different in color, gender, religion, orientation or income bracket. “All men (women and transgender) are created equal”. Thomas Jefferson (with my slight editing) wrote these words in 1776 (yes, Lincoln said them too), yet there is still much work to be done till these words ring TRUE.  This week also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.  This act, signed into law on July 2nd, 1964 by President Johnson, helped to ratify Jefferson’s words:

Update on Sudanese Christian
Freedom of religion is taken for granted in our country but certainly not in Sudan where it is illegal to convert from Muslim to any other religion.  The Christian mother of two who was sentenced to death (after 100 lashes) as been released from jail and was traveling to the US with her American husband and children when they were detained at the Sudanese airport. Hopefully this detention is only temporary and she will be allowed to escape persecution.  I’ll keep you posted.

 

Ginger Rogers did it first but these guys are quite amazing too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc17H68IKMs

Mazel Tov to talented local boy (and son of friends Marcie and Rob) as Jason Orley catapults his career and punim onto the big screen: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nancy-meyers-casts-assistant-key-714087

Wishing you and your loved ones a Sweet Shabbat Shalom,

Lisa

 Day 15
Free these sons!

  We pray and hope for there safe return! 

Dear Friends and Family,

1982 Union
32 year ago today (June 20th), we walked down the aisle of Adat Shalom Synagogue to recite our vows of marriage.  Back then, perms were the style and hairlines hadn’t rebelled.  4 kids plus a son-in-law and granddaughter have enriched our lives since those early days and we gratefully anticipate our future filled with another 32 (or more) years together.  This was the (our) look in the early 80s.

Unity Debated
Instead of praise for what we do to help the global community, we get boycotted for building homes in a territory that was acquired during war and we would gladly return in exchange for Peace. This week (here in Detroit) the Presbyterian Church is holding it’s biennial conference to debate (as one of its main issues) the (anti-semitic) Boycott of Israel fueled on by “Nobel Peace Prize winner” Rev. Desmond Tutu who urged the Presbyterian Church to condemn Israel as an Apartheid State. Seriously !!!?http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.599422 or how about this insulting suggestion by a Presbyterian Minister encouraging all Israelis to leave “Palestine” and move to the US: http://tinyurl.com/mguxm3l Bravo to the many Jewish Community members who attended the conference to speak out against the Boycott though in the process they had to endure hateful bias rants against Israel.

Deadly Sandbox
Another dangerous Sandbox is Iraq where “3 children” seem to have more hatred for each other than even the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.  Sunni and Shiite are Muslim sects and Kurds are an ethnic group who are mostly Sunni (but not all). The current Iraq leader is Shiite while the ISIS terrorist group is Sunni.  The leadership baton continues to get tossed back and forth but what is really needed is a 3-State Solution since these people seem hellbent on killing themselves into extinction. In fact some think we should just let them do this of course until their actions start threatening our interests.  For now we are sending Military consultants but stay tuned for further US plans.

Job Well Done !

Kudos to the special forces that captured (without a gun shot) the

mastermind of the Benghazi massacre.  This is the same military unit which “got” Bin Laden and brought home Bowe Bergdahl.  I’m sure more intel on the deadly Benghazi revolt will now be revealed after his interrogation.

Applauds !

Bravo to 2 MI State Reps (Sarah Roberts and Gretchen Whitmer) on introducing legislation to help repeal the blatantly anti-women bill that would require us (women) to purchase extra insurance (if its even available) in case an abortion is needed within our reproductive years. http://tinyurl.com/RepealMILaw

Congratulations !
Congrats to Gary Peters as this week he was endorsed by the Detroit Regional Chamber which represents Businesses in the SE Michigan. After interviewing both candidates at the Mackinac Conference, they felt Gary would best represent us in the Senate given his “proven track record of bipartisan leadership that is focused on solutions instead of partisan bickering” said Brad Williams, VP of government relations for the Det. Regional Chamber. http://tinyurl.com/GaryPetersEndorsement

Wishing you and your loved ones a Sweet Shabbat Shalom,
Lisa

Dear Friends and Family,

“Cats in the Cradle”
From our own Fathers to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ben-Gurion, Abe Lincoln, JFK, Pope Francis, MLK, Albert Einstein, Warren Buffet, Mahatma Ghandi…or whomever you choose. It’s time to pay tribute to the Patriarchs and “Fatherly” Heros of our Lives.  Happy Father’s Day to all Dads, Abbas, Tateh (Yiddish), Baba (Turkish), Babbo (Italian) and Vader (Dutch) and especially our family’s Fathers.  And for a musical accompaniment in honor of this weekend’s celebration,

Here is newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (and my high school crush), Cat Stevens’ (aks. Yosef Islam) classic song dedicated to Fathers and Sons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q29YR5-t3gg&feature=kp or if you are a Harry Chapin fan (like us), here is his classic Father and son poignant message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s5r2spPJ8g

By the way, Harry Chapin was one of our favorite concerts back in the early 80s. (Josh F. what’s your musical reply this week?)

 Happy Father’s Day!

Shalom (Good Bye)

“One Love”
During this political season, Party Platforms are being drafted and Shame on the Texas Republican Platform as they include Gay Therapy in theirs which states: “We recognize the legitimacy and value of counseling which offers reparative therapy and treatment to patients who are seeking escape from the homosexual lifestyle.” This statement is disgraceful! If Homosexuality is a choice to be corrected, so too must Heterosexuality though no one is ever asked when, during their lives, did they “Choose” to be Straight.  Here is the full article about the Texas Platform:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/05/texas-gop-conversion-therapy_n_5454875.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl17%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D484743

          Much more support is still needed for these heros.

“Taking Care of Business”
Israel swore in it’s (new) 10th President, Reuven Rivlin, this week.  Mr. Rivlin seems a stark contrast to the previous (and well respected) Shimon Peres (who founded a Peace Center in his name). Reuven comes from (Likud) on the right side of Israeli’s political spectrum with a pro-settlement stance. Not sure his views today but he was opposed a 2-State solution in the past. Good thing his job is mostly ceremonial, since he seems to lean somewhat conservative.

“A Taste of Honey”
On a delicious Israeli note, the farmers in the south have named a new melon after the sweet vocal sounds and delightful moves of Justin Timberlake who performed in Israel last month.  This cantaloupe will hit the Israeli fruit stands in September and arrive to our U.S. shores soon after.
http://israel21c.org/news/new-melon-is-sweet-like-justin-timberlake/?utm_content=bufferafd85&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

“Trouble, oh Trouble can’t you see”
Was the Iraq War fought in vain? In hindsight, some view it as a mistake.  Just this week, an extremely brutal Jihadist (Terrorist) group, called ISIS took over Mozul, the 2nd largest city in Iraq. This group is so extreme it was shunned by Al Qaeda as being too heinous.   The American trained Iraqi soldiers had to flee the city with their uniforms tossed aside to protect their lives.  This is an unfolding story that could have dire consequences for the whole region.  World leaders are closely following these developments as this story continues to unfold.

“You’re in my heart” (Rod Stewart soccer song)
Among much controversy,  much money, much protest… The World Cup in Brazil gets underway this week.  It used to be prestigious to host the World Cup and the Olympics but these days it is more costly to build the arenas and infrastructure so the countries come out of the events with a huge deficit that they can’t afford in the first place. Good luck to the host and the teams competing.

“John Barleycorn” (song by Traffic)
I was in NYC this week (shout out to my friends at National Women’s Philantropy) and got to walk the city a bit.  I kept thinking about that Seinfield episode with George crossing the street with his Frogger machine. You remember the scene…right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRK-pRza5eA  Well here is a real life extremely busy Ethiopian intersection that has NO traffic signals yet it looks like everyone gets through safely.  Very cool to watch:
http://twistedsifter.com/videos/meskel-square-timelapse-addis-ababa-ethiopia/

“Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the music”
Kol Hakavod to (well deserving) Dr. Richard Krugel on being selected to receive our Jewish Community’s highest honor of the Butzel Award.  Richard is a mentch and one of the shining gems in our community.  Mazel Tov to Richard, Sally and his whole family. Also, Kudos to dear friend, Jocelyn Benson on her appointment as Wayne State University’s 11th Dean of the Law School. A very wise decision for this brilliant woman.  Jocelyn is the youngest woman (at age 36) to ever lead a Law School and I know she will lead it with distinction. Congrats to Jocelyn (and Ryan).

Wishing you and your loved ones a Sweet Shabbat Shalom and a Happy Father’s Day,

Lisa

Dear Friends and Family,

Mismatched
I don’t often wish divorce upon unions but I’m hoping this week’s marriage of Fatah and Hamas will end quickly just as their past partnerships have bit the dust.  How can we trust a Terrorist Organization that hasn’t committed to ANY reforms.  Hamas’ Charter still states the complete Destruction of Israel because they still don’t think Israel has the right to exist.  How can we make Peace with Stubborn Hatred.  Maybe a miracle will occur with Hamas bopping their heads in a V8 Juice moment saying “Peace is the Path to Prosperity”.   If only it were as easy as the 8 tasty vegies in the healthy tomato drink.

POW
Most likely he left his post and was picked up by the Taliban. Its been reported that several soldiers died while trying to find Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, though more info on those casualties is needed to accurately assess the situation.  Outcries to bring him home were flooding the airwaves and now many of those same voices call the rescue a disgrace.  Bottom line, should a captive American be abandoned…? Time will tell the whole story, but for now, a family is reunited with their son who I assume will be watched for many years to come.  My first thought was Life imitates Art as his story mirrors the TV show Homeland. My second thought addressed Guantanamo Bay… We need to finalize that chapter for our history books.  To be continued…

Inhumane
It’s amazing there are no limits to the degree of Human cruelty in this world… from two Wisconsin 12-year-old girls stabbing their friend 19 times… to the senseless laws in the Sudan.  A 27-year-old Christian woman sits in a Sudanese Jail cell with her 2-year-old son and 2-week-old daughter waiting for 2 more years till she finishes nursing her baby so they can put her to death for renouncing Islam as her religion.  Her father was a Muslim but abandoned her when she was 6, at which time she was raised as a Christian.  Converting from Islam is illegal and marrying a Christian is forbidden.  Her punishment…100 lashes then death by hanging.  Her husband is a Sudanese Christian with U.S. citizenship which is how her story reached our U.S. media. Sadly her story is all too common in our 21st century barbaric world with many others living in similar brutal circumstances.

Leadership
Bravo to Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget Mary McCormack for taking the lead on this week’s ruling that the “one parent doctrine” is unconstitutional. This will now safeguard One parent’s custody regardless of the Other parent’s behavior.

Road to Recovery
Bravo to all who helped pass the Grand Bargain. This is a HUGE step forward for Detroit.  There is still much work to be done and money to be raised (like $100 Million by the DIA alone). In the meantime, let’s continue to support Detroit by attending at least 13 out of these 14 Summer Activities and Festivals (#4, the Hoedown, was last weekend).
http://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/detroit/things-to-do-this-summer-in-detroit?ref=facebook-869

Happy Birthday
By the way, Happy 313th Birthday to Detroit as her age, this year, now matches her area code and if you go to the city this weekend, please check out the Cinetopia International Film Festival which brings the “best in show” of all the other Film Festivals (like Sundance, Cannes, Toronto…) to Detroit and Ann Arbor: http://www.cinetopiafestival.org/

Fresh Air
Bravo to POTUS’ direction this week instructing the EPA to implement a 30% reduction of Carbon Pollution by the year 2030 from Power Plants (the worst pollution offenders). Finally a bold step in response to the bold climate change we are all experiencing. Power Companies might like this but our lungs will be overjoyed.  Also, the Pres. is commended for his proclamation of June as Pride Month with the hope that Equality will bloom like the Spring flowers especially with cleaner air.

Green Space
Speaking of saving our environment, check out Israel’s new Porter School of Environmental Studies (at Tel Aviv U.) and the “Greenest” building it is housed in. (by the way, it is perfectly kosher to end a sentence with a preposition, heard this liberating news on NPR).
http://www.greenprophet.com/2014/05/first-pics-of-israels-greenest-building-porter-school-of-environmental-studies/

Enjoy this Roger Waters
Kol Hakavod to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones for their rip-roaring performance this week in Tel Aviv.  Mick thoroughly impressed the crowd with his numerous (and somewhat advanced) Hebrew phrases.  I wonder who his tutor was? Mary HS, I’m sure you got much “Satisfaction” from this story:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/mick-jaggers-top-12-hebrew-phrases/

Remembering
This may be the last big D-Day commemoration that WWII vets can attend as 70 years ago this week, our U.S. troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to help end the Nazi atrocities.  90-year-old Vets were on hand to be honored but most likely none will be around for the next decade’s acknowledgment.

Sad Chapter
Another anniversary occurs this week as 25 years ago young Chinese students demanded democracy at Tiananmen Square yet their success was thwarted as thousands were killed with zero transparency of their deaths.

This student has never been identified.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Sweet Shabbat Shalom,

Lisa

 “To live in the hearts left behind is not to die” – Thomas Campbell