Dear Friends and Family,

Sorrow
I intended to open this week’s Shabbat email with a message of Independence, Freedom and Hope as we celebrate our 238th birthday, but, of course our week began with the most somber discovery of the 3 Israeli Teens’ demise.  Israel is Independent yet surrounded by enemies.  All citizens are Free yet safety is elusive.  Hope is her national anthem but Peace seems to be a dwindling image.  What will Israel’s 238th birthday hold? Will the day come when Israel can celebrate her independence without the constant threat of annihilation? The neighborhood is DANGEROUS with inhabitants who are filled with hate and value death (even against themselves) in exchange for dominance.  We value LIFE and need to remember our ethics while continuing to PROTECT our citizens yet keeping the casualties of our enemies to a minimum.

Stronger Voices
The day the teens were found coincided with the month-long commencement of the reflective Ramadan holiday.  Muslim observance of Ramadan includes fasting during the daylight hours, praying, reading the Quran, being humble, refraining from bad deeds and giving charity.  Certainly killing teens would be counterintuitive to the holiday.  We must continue to pray for the day when moderate Muslims can safely stand up and speak out to repress and root out the violent radical high-jackers of their religion, like this brave Arab teen who’s life is now threatened after criticizing terror.  His aunt, an Arab Israeli Knesset Minister (though very anti-Israel), objects to his peaceful stance.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/threats-against-israeli-arab-teen-who-slammed-kidnapping/

Politicized Decision
Shame on SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) for disregarding one of the major blueprint elements decreed by our forefathers.  We must keep our vast and varying religions clear and separate from our governing bodies. This new judgement by SCOTUS has set a precedent and opened pandora’s box.  There are 71 other companies who’ve sued to restrict affordable Birth Control from their employees.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/04/hobby-lobby-sebelius-contraceptive-for-profit-lawsuits (side note, our Michigan Attorney General, Bill Scheutte, filed briefs against the ObamaCare in 6 of these 71 lawsuits). The Citizens United debacle which opened the door to Corporations being treated as People is one of the rationalizations for this latest decision. Corporations are NOT People and even if they were, they can’t pick and chose which LAWS they prefer to follow. It is now the LAW to (wisely and for the good of our country) require Birth Control to be covered under Insurance.  Half of all pregnancies are unexpected (yes HALF!).  One way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and decrease abortion is through safe and affordable birth control. Also, there are many health benefits to the Pill. http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/features/other-reasons-to-take-the-pill This Supreme Court decision is a direct assault on Women’s Health Care.  I don’t see them cutting off Viagra from anyone’s insurance policies.  Here is a great diatribe (by the brilliant President Jeb Barlet) of why religion needs to stay in their own Houses of Worship and out of our civic policieshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYaewOBGybw

Lots of Dishes
Many of you will be joining friends and family for Shabbat dinner tonight but I assume it won’t be as large as this Guinness World Record Shabbat Dinner of 2,226 attendees in Tel Aviv last month:
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/176199/worlds-largest-shabbat-draws-2226-to-tel-aviv

Two Step
I love this meshing of Laurel and Hardy dancing to my favorite Santana tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkZGg0qNdCc&feature=kp

Chevre Cheese
To conclude this week’s email, here is a photo from last weekend’s trip to Eugene, Oregon when we visited Liat (our daughter) and Andrew (Liat’s boyfriend) on the goat farm.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Sweet Shabbat Shalom and a joyful 4th of July weekend.

Lisa