What should we do when we are repeatedly and repeatedly attacked, defamed and terrorized…?  Sadly it is been our history and seems our destiny.  It’s cyclical and currently on the rise in Israel with the killings (3 this week), the knifings, suicide bombings, car rammings, fire bombings and rocket attacks due to the incitement of lies and rhetoric spewed via social media (and leadership) who are hateful, closed-minded, selfish, have zero value for Life and no interest in living in Peace.  Lies about Israel trying to destroy Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque is preposterous but it doesn’t stop an Arab member of Knesset from voicing this libel.  And Jordan’s King Abdullah (our “friend”) states that the Temple Mount should only be for Muslim prayer, ignoring and flagrantly disputing that our ancient Temple even stood there. And where is the world/media/UN condemnation of this violent incitement? Even our US administration (Israel’s “Best Friend”) blames both sides. Not true… If Arabs laid down their weapons, the violence would stop.  If Israelis laid down their weapons, Jews would die in mass quantities.  There are a few moderate Arabs who are speaking out against this violence, but their message needs more volume and more voices.  Joseph Goebbels’ famous statement during the Holocaust haunt us, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” He continues with…“truth is the mortal enemy of the lie”.  The truth about this situation is muddled in the press but here is the historical truth about our ancient Jerusalem Temple from Brown University that was published after a NYTimes article suggested the Temple’s existence might be debatable.

Israel has an incredible sense of resilience, no matter what the adversity…life, as usual, always moves on.  Is it the chicken or the egg? What causes us to pick up the pieces and never give up? Has the constant attacks on our peoplehood given us the strength or we are innately strong to bear the constant attacks we must endure. Meanwhile, Concerts, music, culture, school, shopping, coffee shop visits…everyday life continues.  Even our quintessential American Jewish Comic, Jerry Seinfeld,  knows the importance of supporting Israel and will be gracing his humor upon Israelis in December with two shows (after the first one rapidly sold out). Kol Hakavod (All of the Respect) to Jerry for bringing his stand up act to Israel (for the first time).

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4708497,00.html  There should be a request to all entertainers, celebrities and world leaders to come vistit Israel to show their support, solidarity and insistance the Israel has the right to exist (which is constantly being questioned).

Gloom vs. Glam
I cannot be all doom and gloom and what better way than a paragraph about music and the arts.  Happy 50th annivesary to the National Endowments for the Arts with gratitude to President Johnson who signed the Arts and Humanity Act which planted the seed for the Endowment. Dance, Theatre, Music, Art…have all benefited from this agency but Americans are the true beneficiaries. Here is an interactive website spotlighting the NEA history:https://www.arts.gov/50th  And in honor of the NEA’s Golden Jubilee, PBS hosted a jammed packed talent fest presentation preformed at the White House Wednesday (to air on PBS Jan. 8th) with the likes of Buddy Guy, Queen Latifah, Audra McDonald, Smokey Robinson, Trombone Shorty, Esperanza Spalding, Brian Stokes Mitchell, James Taylor and several more.

The Dem’s Debate this week was filled with important issues like…

immigration, income and wealth inequality, cost of education, climate and environment, the banks, gun control and Health Care. But one of the most memorable lines of the night came from Bernie Sanders to Hillary Clinton, who said, “…the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails”. Yes, let’s put that issue to bed and discuss what is most concerning for most Americans. Hillary and Bernie dominated the debate with help from the Silver Fox, Anderson Cooper.  The big question still remains about Joe Biden.  Did the frontrunners’ debate success diminish his odds? His stalled decision is slowly converting from intrigue to fatigue. He needs to make up his mind…like yesterday.

Bravo to NYC restaurant owner, Danny Meyer, for eliminating tipping to help equalize the wage gap of his staff while the minimum wage increase is debated in the State.

Bravo to Lizzie Velasquez on her bravery after being bullied as she brings encouragement to many with a TedX talk that changed her life.  Here is the trailer to her new documentary.

Bravo to Hugh Hefner (89 year old editor in chief) and Playboy as they have come to the conclusion to eliminate nudes from the magazine since the internet makes their female photos obsolete. Now, you’ll really only be reading the magazine just for the article.

Bravo to California Governor Jerry Brown for signing the New Motor Voter Act which automatically registers (to vote) all new driver when receiving their licenses. They join Oregon in this opt-out policy (meaning you’ll need to opt-out of voter registration rather than asking to opt-in).

Bravo to James Franco on becoming a (37 year old) Bar Mitzvah.

Bravo to Julie Hermelin for bringing her Momstamp website to Metro Detroit. Check out this ingenious online tool to get trusted and reliable advice on “all things” family related from connected friends.  https://www.momstamp.com/

Bravo to Pink Breast Cancer Awareness month. Though we should be aware all year long… Know the signs, self-examine and get your mammograms. http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month

BS to Columbus Day as the real Chris Columbus was a scoundrel who kidnapped and enslaved thousands of people during his voyage, abused the natives he encountered and was brutal to his own people.  As history of his atrocities come to light, many states abandoned the holiday and in our city of Detroit, a century old statue was vandalized by taping a hatchet to the head. Alaska just renamed the 2nd monday in Oct. “Indigenous People’s Day”

With our granddaughter, Dassi (and her parents Ariella and Tzvi) and our son, Mataan all in Israel, I too would like to be “Homeward Bound” as Israel is the Jewish Homeland and those living there deserve to live in peace. I know, it’s a quirky segway, but please enjoy this beautiful and vintage rendition (from 1976 SNL) of George Harrison and the other Paul singing Homeward Bound.