Dear Friends and Family,

Northern Neighborhood
Thank God there were no injuries during this week’s (Lebanese) rocket attack on Northern Israel.  What?… you didn’t hear about it…Surprising!!!  Two of the 4 Rockets hit populated areas.  One fell near a nursing home for Holocaust survivors.  As repeatedly stated in these messages, Israel got stuck in a nasty neighborhood. How would Michigan feel if Wisconsin occasionally lobed rockets at the Upper Peninsula, while Ontario was dealing with a violent civil war, as Illinois fired missiles at Kalamazoo and Ohio exhibited major governmental instability and violence.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/rocket-falls-in-northern-israel/

glass damaged by rocket

Beauty in the Northern Neighborhood
Northern Israel (Haifa to be exact) is the home of the beautiful BahaiGardens and Religion.  If you don’t know about this religion, please view this 4 minute video.  The main elements of their religion are Beauty and Rquality.  Something all neighboring countries could use a bit more of… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZCcg2rj8Ww

Literary Neighborhood
Rest In Peace, Elmore Leonard (aka. The Dickens of Detroit) who’s crime novels (like “Get Shorty”) were loved my many but proudly honored by Michiganders. Occasionally he would auction off (for charity) the prestige of using the auction winners name as a characters in one of his books. He passed away at age 87 in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Early Neighborhood
It could NOT have been a more beautiful Sunday last week when I reminisced down memory lane. 14 (flat) miles, 8 (interesting) stops though Northwest Detroit with 200 other bikers on the (Jewish Historical Society’s) J-Cycle, starting at Palmer Park (where Grandmas Toba and Ruthie used to push me in a stroller) to the original Temple Israel building (where brothers Jeff and David became B’nai Mitzvah) past Hampton Elementary (got my first pair of aviator framed glasses in 3rd grade) to the Curtis/Meyers JCC(use to roller skate in the basement) but the piece d’resistance was biking right past my childhood home on Strathcona in Palmer Woods where we lived from 1960-1969. Though I struggle to recall most daily memories, last Sunday will NOT be forgotten. Thank you, JHS of Michigan for all the work you do preserving our Jewish Detroit Heritage.
http://www.michjewishhistory.org

Childhood Home on Strathcona

Segregation wall *

New York Neighborhood
In honor our my J-Cycle participation, please view this sadly (yet) humorous PSA about the obstacles NY bikers must endure: http://twentytwowords.com/2011/06/08/new-yorker-rides-into-obstacles-in-bike-lanes-to-prove-a-point/

DC Neighborhood
The year was 1968, the date was Aug. 28th and close to 300,000Civil Rights supporters Marched on Washington.  50 years later we are still dealing with both subtle and blatant discrimination throughout our society (not to mention Global Human Rights atrocities).

view from Lincoln to Washington

Historical Neighborhood
During that same month of Aug. (on the 19th) but several decades before, the women’s vote was ratified.  Happy 93rd birthday to the19th Amendment. Let’s not take this right for granted during our next election cycle.

Yemen Neighborhood
The rights of Jews in Yemen have been violated since 1948 when most Yemeni Jews became refugees and many walked to their new home in Israel.  Just this past week, a secret airlift of 17 members of the Karny (Yemeni) family arrived to the Be’er Sheva absorption center in the south of Israel. There are still about 100 Jews left in Yemen.  Their clandestine journey to reunite half their family from Argentina reads like a mystery novel, thankfully with a happy ending. http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-features/.premium-1.542775

Ford Highland Park Model T Plant: http://www.crowdrise.com/5aday

Dear Friends and Family,

War and Peace

As Egypt broke out in violence this week (with over 500 deaths and thousands injured), more peaceful activities were occurring just to the north with the first (of a 9-month)Israeli/Palestinian Peace Powwow. Though most analysts are guardedly pessimistic due to past failed attempts, this time might prove more successful with its code of silence instilled by Sec. of State John Kerry.  Let’s hope the gestational period gives birth to a new era for the region.  It is just exasperating to continuously release Palestinian prisoners who’ve murdered Israelis with no Peaceful outcome for the concession.

Cold Soup

Vintage Music

SciFi Reality

Can you see yourself strapped into a human size capsule traveling for a 1/2 hour at bullet speeds of 800 miles per hour between San Francisco and Los Angeles.  This is the brain child of Elon Musk who also wants to make space travel available for the privileged private citizen. These Science Fiction sounding ideas are his reality and may soon become the norm.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/08/12/latest-update-elon-musk-will-start-the-hyperloop-himself/

Guilty

Boston Mob Boss, James “Whitey” Bulger was convicted this week of 11 murders (though he is probably guilty of many more) and all under the watchful eye of the local Boston authorities.  I hope I’m not naive to think that this Mob mentality is a thing of the past. At least the FBI isn’t condoning it any longer… I hope.

Like This

Check out and “Like” (if you chose) this cool Facebook page of interesting photos of “Humans of Tel Aviv”, inspired by the original “Humans of New York” which is also fascinating. https://www.facebook.com/HumansOfTelAviv

Religious Reasons

Pure evil and demented mentality resulted in the acid dousing of two young (Jewish) British volunteer teachers (wearing pants and t-shirts) this week as they were heading to a restaurant in (Muslim) Zanzibar (East Africa) during Ramadan.  The goal of the perpetrators was to force a strict dress code on foreign visitors and to ban alcoholic consumption. Sadly, acid is a common weapon throughout certain parts of this world and not surprisingly, most often women are the target.

Alternative Cure

To end this message on a “High” note, this week Dr. Sanjay Gupta spotlighted the advance study of Israeli Cannabisresearch and the successful treatments of many diseases. Since the early 60s, Israel has been on the forefront of Marijuana research and is now the “Go-To” country for state-of-the-art research.

Lisa

P.S.  The tiny town of Vicco, KY is leading the way on Gay Rightsand Steven Colbert brings light to this important issue with his perfect sense of sarcasm.  This video is hilarious and poiyant (especially the last voice heard on the tape).

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/428601/august-14-2013/people-who-are-destroying-america—johnny-cummings

Dear Friends and Family,

Aviv Lis

Tamarack’s Alaska Summer of 2013

46 days by bus from Detroit to the Wilds of Alaska

(with travel stops in Western Canada and Northern US)

Ice Climbing, Sea Kayaking, Salmon Fishing, Backcountry hiking and much more.

Welcome Home!

Detroit Neighborhood

I just love this website of the top 10 Musical Moments on Sesame Street including Paul Simon, Ray Charles, Billy Joel and my favorite (no. 9) Jason Mraz. I hope some of your favorites are included too:  http://tinyurl.com/top10-SesameStreetMusicMoments

Unfriendly Neighborhood

With all of the negative PR Israel gets from the media, an emphasis on something positive is due.  Each day, Israel’s hospitals heal Arab patients from all across the region including many Syrians who have been wounded in their current civil war.

http://tinyurl.com/Israeli-Hospital

Hidden Neighborhood

Last October, 60 Minutes did a heart-wrenching/eye-opening story about the newly re-discovered massive amounts of Nazi documentation housed in Bad Arolsen, Germany.  They brought 3 survivors to the warehouse and showed them material about their past that they, themselves, weren’t even aware of.  All Holocaust deniers should be forced to view the 50 million pages (shelving 16 miles long!) of historical evidence that was meticulously kept for the purpose of proving success of their extermination plan. Thank God they failed yet, devastatingly, not before 6 million Jews (plus several million Soviets, Polish Citizens, Yugoslavians, Gipsies, Homosexuals and mentally/physically disabled men, women and children) perished. Here is the (13 minute) clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoNdL3nFKWw

Dangerous Neighborhood

Have you even wondered how the State of Israel succeeded in 1948 against ALL odds to fend off 13 warring armies, which included 6 Arab Countries (ie. Egypt), 5 Arab volunteer entities (ie. Muslim Brotherhood) and 2 unconventional armies (ie. The Holy War Army). Miraculously, diaspora volunteer fighter pilots halted the Egyptian forces with antiquated Soviet airplanes. This set a much needed (though unexpected) victory for the rest of the battle. For more details, I know you’ll find this (8 minute) Documentary Trailer very interesting: http://vimeo.com/54400569

 Lovely Neighborhood

Some dispute the Shark part, insisting Bull Sharks do inhibit ourGreat Lakes, but either way, I feel its a mitzvah to add

 some Michigan-lovin to these messages.

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

Lisa

P.S. Bonus video of the week: http://www.aish.com/sp/pg/Maccabeats-Brave.html

I hope you enjoy this very creative new musical message from those talented Yeshiva U. a cappella singers, the Maccabeats. Though it looks like they are playing instruments in this youtube, in fact they are not.  Also, part is filmed in Central Park (I think) but can you identify the other beautiful location…I can’t.

Dear Friends and Family,

Alaska/Vancouver
To remind you, this email was pre-written before we left for Alaska. We cruised out of Anchorage and ended in Vancouver for a few days of touring.  I’ll include some photos in next week’s messages.

Alaskan Sun
As the Alaskan Summer sun seems confused on when to set, I thought you would find this creatively and humorously animated rendition of George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” enjoyable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZeKIkvnAis

Question
Here’s a question for our Country and especially Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Ohio (the States with the worst Anti-Women laws).  If we want to prevent abortions, shouldn’t we ensure that every young woman has access to birth control, health care, nutrition and education ( including factual based sex education)? Not the exact opposite?

Girl Power
Due to the neighborhood, the Israeli army needed to create the most powerful force to protect itself from constant bombardment from its enemies.  Here is one reason they have been so successful:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1aepni9dra5n3ww/Noa160113_720.mov
(thanks Ettagail for sharing).

Shopping Mall Drama
Here’s a fun way to encourage Art Museum attendance:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/a6W2ZMpsxhg?feature=player_embedded (thanks, Michael B. for sharing)

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

Lisa

P.S. I found a little time and internet while in Vancouver to express my condolences on the passing of Irving Weiner, father to Eric and Nancy Winer, Bruce and Rochelle Weiner and Andrew and Elizabeth Winer.  May Irv’s memory bring comfort to his sons and their families during their time of sorrow. His final wish for those who knew him was to do something adventurous in his memory.

P.P.S.  Condolences to the family and friends of the tragic train crash victims in Spain.  This marks the 3rd train accident this Summer after Quebec and France.  Speed, apparently, was the cause of this deadly crash that took the lives of 80 souls, as the driver boasted his love of speed on Facebook last year.

Dear Friends and Family,

Semantics
Does it really matter if it’s called Bankruptcy, A Coup or Pilot error.   Detroit may or may not go into bankruptcy but either way, the city has NO money and major changes must occur. Was it a Military Coup? Either way, new leadership is needed for the 14 Million Egyptians who filled the streets in protest.  Was it pilot error? Either way, 2 young Chinese girls are dead, many others are injured and a plane is destroyed.  Yes, we need answers but sometimes, semantics don’t matter… it’s the outcomes that are crucial.

Can normalcy return?
A tragic outcome occurred for our neighbors to the North as 50 Canadians are presumed dead after a US oil transport train (presumably with failed brakes) slammed into a Quebec town decimating it with an inferno that destroyed at least 30 buildings. Sadly, it will take years (if at all) for this town to return to normalcy.

Early demise
Amy Winehouse had an unfortunate outcome to her life with her early death, but her family wants her life to live on as a new exhibit just opened at the Jewish Museum in London.  It is meant to showcase her Jewish cultural identity and give the public a private glimpse of her short but prolific life.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/amy-winehouses-life-explored-in-new-jewish-museum-exhibit-20130703?utm_source=dailynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Hate in disguise
Last month in a Paris Art Museum (subsidized by the government) a highly offensive installation opened to the dismay of the local and global Jewish Community.  The exhibit is called “Death” and it portrays (and glorifies) photos and captions of Palestinian Suicide bombers.  This is a blatant case of hatred hiding behind the shield of “Art” and Freedom of Speech.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/09/art-paris-museum-showcases-exhibition-of-palestinian-suicide-bombers/

Sir Paul in Vienna

Linda’s photo exhibit in Vienna

Train from Vienna to Budapest

Cat Cafe in Budapest

Skys of Tel Aviv

4th of July celebration at the home of American Ambassador Dan Shapiro

Views of Jaffa

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

Lisa