After two weeks of computer Hiatus, I may have overloaded this week’s Shabbat email with issues, concerns and opinions.  Sorry for the length but the content is all meaningful to me and I hope to you. To begin…

Iceland was stunning…

Here are some of Hannan’s photos:

Israel was also wonderful…More artistic photos from Hannan.

Before I continue to reflect on this week’s news, I must commemorate the one year passing of our beloved George Austin Orley z”l,  son of Randy and Diane and brother to Amanda and Sam. His young life touched so many with his passion for Friends, Family, Food, Sports and Detroit.  His legacy lives on in all who loved him as his goodness is engrained in their souls. His Detroit commitment also continues with the George Orley Social Impact Award initiated at TechTown Detroit this Summer. May George’s spirit be blessed and at peace

With 2.5 million participants all over the world from the famous to the unknown, raising nearly $90 million dollars (with more pouring in each day), surely the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a HUGE success and epitomizes “going viral”.  How does something so simple latch on to our global community? This is an attribute to the power of Social Media with some minor manipulations by Facebook. First, as of December, you’ll notice that videos are on autoplay (meaning they start playing just as you scroll past them, piquing your interest). Also, Facebook knows if you watch lots of video they places them at the top of your feed and then of course its the old Chain Letter mentality which many can’t resist. For whatever the reason, ALS research could surely use this added boost of cash and awareness.  This disease is the most dreaded as our family saw the devastating effects while watching it ravage my step-father, Dr. Bill Ross. It steals all physical abilities while keeping your mind completely intact essentially placing you as a prisoner of your own body.  We are fortunate to have the brilliantDr. Eva Feldman (U of M Hospital) dedicating her efforts to finding a cure for ALS and with this injection of donations, hopefully her success will be accelerated. For more info on this issue, please click on this site: http://tinyurl.com/ALSCharity

   

Dr. Eva Feldman        Dr. Bill Ross z”l

On another medical topic, 1 in 5 Americans have been diagnosed with Mental Health concerns and bravo to the Affordable Care Act as it has expanded the much needed coverage to millions of people who previously were unable to get help. Under the ACA mental health treatment must be covered by Medicaid and all private plans. Though there are stumbling blocks, this emphasis is in the right direction and will help many desperate people.

Not surprising, Jimmy Carter will be the keynote speaker at the51st Annual Convention of the Islamic Society of North America held this weekend at Cobo Hall in Detroit.  Carter is known to be very outspoken against US policies in the Middle East and is a major critic of Israel to the extent I would call him anti-Israel. Governer Synder will also be speaking at the conference. I searched the convention’s program and was not surprised to find the LACK of content to address the elephant in the room of speaking out against Islamic extremism. Here is their website, maybe you can find any reference to dealing with the takeover of their religion by Zealots. http://www.isna.net/annual-convention.html

The boycott movement may have just shot themselves in the foot with their protest of SodaSteam which employed nearly 1,000 Palestinians.  The company will move its headquarters to the Negev and possibly shut the West Bank factory though they say their decisions are solely based on the financial benefit of the company. http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.612799

After 50 days of rocket attacks from Gaza, there appears to be a ceasefire that hopefully will take hold.  But where do we go from here?  Israeli children will return to school and deal with their emotional distress while Gazans will return to their destroyed homes and cities.  Who will fund the rebuild of Gaza? Qatar, the same entity which provided weaponry to attack Israel.

http://tinyurl.com/QatarHamas  But until Hamas is expelled from the area, there will NEVER be peace and the rockets will start up again. Take it from someone who was inside the Hamas. Check out Mosab Hassan Yousef’s (son of Hamas founder) powerful words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KakxXN5Z-XI

History is destined to repeat itself unless drastic changes are made in the mindset of the Arabs.  Here is proof as this 1968 Wall Street Journal Op Ed is as relevant today as it was then.  The last two lines are the most powerful: http://tinyurl.com/OpEd1968

The IDF should be commended for their admirable efforts these last 7 weeks (and last 66 years). Here is a beautiful tribute TO them and BY them of one of my favorite Leonard Cohen songs translated into Hebrew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nt_zDQjkwY

Shabbat dinners were NOT interrupted even the night after the brutal murder and attack of the Mumbai Chabad Center in November of 2008 and continued throughout different locations in the city to this week when they reopened the Chabad Center which will continue their mission of exemplifying goodness and kindness through Jewish Programs.

This week we celebrate National Women’s Equality Day as we commemorate the 19th Amendment which provided Women the privilege and responsibility to vote and contribute to our democratic process. If every woman took the time to vote, I’m sure the makeup and agenda of our congress would be more reflective of the true progressive majority of this nation.  Please help Get Out The Vote (GOTV especially among women, please help me on Sept. 14th, see below).  And speaking of women, this next photo is dedicated to the Victors of Breast Cancer. 

Avenue Q had it right with their song “everybody’s a little racist” which is cute, funny and true:

But deadly when it comes to an all White Police force in a mainly Black community like Ferguson, MO. Sadly, Michael Brown‘s death caused riots which spotlighted the racial divide in our country.  Yes, I agree with Avenue Q and Nicholas Kristof in his op-ed this week on racism. Admitting the problem is Step One…how do we correct it?http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/opinion/nicholas-kristof-is-everyone-a-little-bit-racist.html

Malala Yousafzai (the young activist shot by the Taliban for her efforts to bring education to the girls in her community) must be so proud of her mother as she is, now, learning to read and write.

Your Help is Needed

Again this year, Hannan and I will be co-chairing the Forgotten Harvest (Food rescuers and redistributers) Fundraiser (Spring 2015) with comedian Tim Allen.  Your assistance on the committee would be greatly appreciated. Our first committee meeting (with free lunch) will be Thursday Sept. 4th @ noon @ the Weight Watcher’s office building. Please reply back to this email if you’d like to help.

Flood Recovery

Wishing those who were affected by the damaging Floods that destroyed the basements of Oak Park and Huntington Woods a speedy recovery to their lives.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Sweet and Peaceful Shabbat Shalom.  I was “Happy” to hear this version of Adon Olam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtcpbwmRbac

Lisa