Shabbat Shalom

July 25, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Continued Distress
This week brings a continuation of our prayers and thoughts for Israel’s rapid and safe dismantle of Hamas’ Terror.  With the IDF’s ground incursion, the death toll is raising but when one side uses deceitful and ruthless tactics, no one wins. This message epitomizes the ideology of the region:

“Israel uses Weaponry to Protect civilians while Hamas uses civilians to protect weaponry”.  Israel HATES war while Hamas HATES Israel.  And for a small region, the conflict is getting top billing.  World opinion is either on one side or the other with pockets of violent anti-Israel protests risking lives all over the world (Paris, Nazareth, Germany, Houston, Ireland).  What is Israel to do…? After 66 years of trying to get along with her neighbors, it’s time to just isolate, protect and continue to build our Homeland that was obtained legally and with deep historical roots. I’m an optimist but, sadly, I don’t see Peace in our near future.   I do see hope when I read letters like this one, which is just SPOT ON! http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-letter-to-israel-an-indian-writes/ And of course stories of the Israeli Field Hospital set up to assist injured Gazans is ignored by most in the world…but not here: http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/israel-sets-up-field-hospital-for-wounded-gazans/ And lastly, here are 5 media myths about the situation that will enlighten your view, especially if you’ve been watching CNN, reading the NYTimes or listening to NPR: http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=7oJILSPwFfJSG&b=9077509&ct=14093965

Abrupt Continuity
We, in the US, take Freedom of Religion for granted.  This week, in Iraq, ends the millennial long history of Christian in Mosul as Islamist threatened (with death), that all Christians either flee their homes with no possessions or convert.  Thousands fled while 5 families converted.  These persecuted victims are decedents of the earliest Christians from 2,000 years ago who’s history is now wiped clean from Mosul. Pure genocide.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iraq-christians-flee-mosul-militant-threats-24659276

Water Disruption
There are many things we can’t live without but none more important than water.  Sadly, over 7,000 Detroiters, who couldn’t afford to pay their water bills, had their service turned off last month. Nearly half came up with the payments and had their water return but the others were still dry till this week when the Water Department gave those who still had unpaid bills a 15 day reprieve. Most hope those who are still without service can make arrangements for a payment plan so service is not interrupted in the future. Again our friends to the North are coming to our rescue as carloads of Canadians plan to deliver 200 gallons of water to the dry Detroiters:http://tinyurl.com/CanadianWater

313
And speaking of Detroit, Happy 313 Birthday (celebrated yesterday July 24th) which coincides with the Detroit’s 313 Area Code. To celebrate, maybe you’d like to purchase a cool and unique pair of Detroit Flip Flops made from recycled (illegally dumped tires) http://tinyurl.com/DetroitTreadsSandals

Interrupted Sleep
Another necessity for the well-being of our health is Sleep. Recent research indicates that sleep has a direct correlation to your health.  It’s the new “Apple a day”…
Here are 37 tips on how to achieve a better nights rest:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/better-sleep-tips-best_n_4958036.html  Wishing you a Lila Tov (“good night”).

May next week’s Shabbat message be filled with more peaceful news.  Shabbat Shalom to you and your loved ones.

Lisa

Bonus Music Video
Please enjoy this beautiful rendition of David Broza’s famous song “Yihiyeh Tov / It will be good”.  This English version was first song by a father (heading to fight terrorism) to his son more than 10 years ago and now the father and son are singing it again as the son heads to Gaza to fight that same battle.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152316818298717&fref=nf

Condolences
The above song is a tribute to all of the people who have lost their lives these last several weeks. Condolences to the Israeli families of the nearly 30 deaths from this Operation Protective Edge as well as these two Americans/Israeli soldiers who were killed.

Max Steinberg z”l

Michigan Primary is Aug. 5th (quickly approaching)
National Election is Nov. 4th

Get your Absentee Ballot
For those who will be out of town (or out of their district) on Aug. 5th or for those who are older than 60 or for those who are disabled and can’t get to the polls, you can pick up your Absentee Ballots from your County Clerks office this week.

Please help support and spread the word of our

Michigan Candidates:

Mark Schauer (and Lisa Brown)

District 3 – Brian Ellis – Western MI – (Justin Amash must go)

District 5 – Dan Kildee – Central MI –

District 7 – Pam Byrnes – Jackson, parts of Ann Arbor…

District 9 – Sandy Levin – HW, RO, Fern, Frank…

District 11 – Livonia/Novi area – Bentivolio MUST go!

District 12 – Debbie Dingell – Detroit, parts of Ann Arbor…
District 14 – Ruby Hobbs – Detroit to Auburn Hills zigzag

District 13 – Ryan Fishman – Rochester Hills, Rochester, Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, Clawson, Royal Oak, and Berkley

District 14 – Vicki Barnett and Ellen Cogen Lipton (both are friends of mine and brilliant legislators) – Farm., Farm. Hills, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Hunt. Woods, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak Twp., Southfield.

District 27 – Robert Wittenberg – Berkley, Ferndale, Hazel Park,Huntington Woods, Oak Park and Pleasant Ridge and Royal Oak Township

District 35 – Jeremy Moss – Southfield, Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin

District 37 – Barry Brickner, Christine Greig, Theresa Rich – Farmington, Farm. Hills.

District 39 – Sandy Colvin – Commerce Twsp, Wixom, West Bloom. Twsp, Wolverine Lake (FYI, Sandy’s Dem. primary opponent, Michael Saari, is an NRA member and used to be listed as a Republican)
District 40 – Mary Belden Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and the eastern portion of West Bloomfield Township
District 61 – John Fisher – Portage/Kalamazoo area.

July 26th

July 27th

July 28th

July 29th

July 30th

July 31st