Dear Friends and Family,

Though we are currently in our beautiful homeland of Israel, we hope a festive 4th of July was had by all back in the States.  Appreciation to the United States is due in comparison to so many other places we all could be living (aside from the lovely counties some of you live in, like Israel, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Canada and England). Here is a sad and staggering statistic…80% of the World’s population lives on less than $10 a day.  Yes, fireworks are worthy of our country’s birthday (though, sadly, many in our own country suffer as well).

Back to America, please enjoy this vintage youtube of Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park singing America: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCbOEZ8c8dM

Did you know that back in the 1970s NYC instituted a Car Idling Law(one of my pet peeves) that states:  “NYC law restricts the idling of motor vehicle engines while parking, standing or stopping as part of the City policy to reduce air pollution. No motorized vehicle can idle for longer than 3 minutes unless it is being used to operate equipment”.  Not sure if it is enforced much, but bravo to the attempt.  By the way, it was instituted long before (do-gooder) Mayor Bloomberg (and I use that term endearingly) was elected.

I read a NY Times story about this amazing (14 year old) guitar virtuoso,Quinn Sullivan who plays and writes music all by Ear.  Hope you enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQJGIdCy5Rc

Bonus track of Quinn (age 8) of “Mother’s Natures Son”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkNnaAC_ibw&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL8F60AF5F9C9D696A

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

Lisa

P.S. I found two minutes and a computer in the lobby of our Tel Aviv Hotel to briefly reflect on the Egyptian regime chance as it has dominated our media.  Wishing the people of the  (whole) region a peaceful transition.  Also, condolences to the family and friends of the Arizona fire fighters who lost their lives battling the devastating blaze.

Dear Friends and Family,

An era of Summer Camp Bus Departures ended last Sunday while we waved good-bye to our youngest son as he travelled off to Alaska with Tamarack Camps.  From Willoway, Summer Impressions, JCC Day Camp,Tanuga, Tamarack… and since the early 90s, we tearfully and joyfully sent our kids off to their summer adventures.  As the cliche goes “time flys” but the adventure (though rapid) is well worth the effort so we must follow another cliche to “stop and smell the roses”.

If big news occurs these next two weeks, you might not find it mentioned here because this week and next week’s emails were written before our summer journey.  While in Austria, Hungry and Israel, I might not have access or time to edit these Shabbat emails so I have written them ahead of time (though I can read your replies on my iPhone).

As you read this week’s email,  Hannan and I will be touring the nooks and cranny’s of Vienna, Austria where we will meander the Jewish section, eat the wonderful food but most enjoyably groove to the sights and sounds of Sir Paul McCartney at the Happel Stadium (where we will be very “Happel”). Saturday we head to Budapest via train and then onto Israel where next week’s Shabbat message will be based.  I will include some photos of Sir Paul and our trip in a later Shabbat message.

With the Beatles in mind, here is a great glimpse of a behind the scene video of filming of “Help” with (mid 60s) state of the art technology: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/the-beatles-help-go-behind-the-scenes-20130624?utm_source=dailynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

This video is worth repeating.  I put it at the bottom of last week’s email but many of you have expressed thanks for sharing it and found it moving and meaningful.  It is a beautiful story of tolerance, acceptance and equality and worth a 2nd viewing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0

Shame on the Michigan State Senators for not voting on the Medicaid Expansion Bill before their vacation.  Bravo to Gov. Snyder for expressing his anger and disappointment for their incompetence. I hope they get their act together and“Take a Vote, Not a Vacation” as Synder apply stated.

Till next Friday (from Tel Aviv)…

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

Lisa

Dear Friends and Family,

Population Equality
50 years ago this week, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. marched down Woodward Ave. in Detroit seeking justice and equality for all people. He previewed his “I have a Dream” speech to the crowd YET 50 years later we are still fighting this equality battle for many in our diverse US population.  This weekend a reunion March will take place on the streets of Detroit with the same high hopes as those so long ago.

Military Equality
This week’s discussion at the Pentagon may equalize Women’s military opportunities in the near future.  Navy Seals and Front-line Combat warriors will (within two years) include physically qualified female soldiers. This important decision could help combat sexual assault that some say is a result of the current disparty between male and female military hierarchy. To give you perspective, 26,000 military sexual assault cases occurred just last year. Bravo to (our Michigan) Senator Carl Levin for holding “feet to the flame” of those responsible for Military Sexual Assault.  Punishing and halting this repulsive activity is his steadfast mission.

Prayer Equality
Bravo to Ms. Barbra Streisand for 1. visiting Israel this week  2. receiving an honorary degree from Hebrew University 3. for singing to your 90 year old good friend, Shimon Peres and 4. speaking out against the ultra-orthodox abhorrent and disrespectful behavior toward the Women of the Wall who only ask to be treated equally as their male praying counterparts.

Garbage Inequity
Soon New Yorkers will need to separate their egg shells from their cotton balls as Mayor Bloomberg plans to institute his most ambitious initiative to require the 8 million residents of the Big Apple to compost their apples cores, orange peels, brussel sprouts and every-other edible waste.  As predicted, there’s been major push back with this plan, so we’ll see if Mayor B can add this effort to his legacy.

Cost Inequity
“Spring” protests have arrived to it’s newest country with 200,000 Brazilians swarming the streets of its biggest cities demanding a reduction in the recently increased transportation fees.  Their protests were successful as both cities of San Palo and Rio returned the fees back to the lower rates. Will these governmental actions satisfy to public?

Life’s Inequity
Farewell to actor, James Gandolfini, on his early (age 51) demise from a fatal heart attack while visiting Italy this week.  His talent and Soprano image will live on in perpetuity.

Musical Equals
I heard this wonderful story on NPR about (Father and Son) Swing Jazz Guitarists Bucky and John Pizzarelli (who I had never heard of) so I googled them and found this little ditty by John.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVNVJGLVFCk

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

Lisa

Dear Friends and Family,

Data Mining
Balance is the KEY.  This week’s main controversy is supported and reviled by equal “enemies”. Glen Beck and Michael Moore BOTH call Whistleblower Snowden a hero, while Bill Maher and John McCain BOTH support the NSA’s mining tactics.  I agree with Pres. Obama’s statement that “We can’t have 100% Security AND 100% Safety”.   Sadly, we live in a Terrorist Era, where extremist devalue human life and ignore rules of war.  We are a Democratic Country with a legitimately elected President and Congress (including sufficient checks and balances and an accountable Court System) who we must trust to keep us safe with legal actions.

UN News
How and why do some people become self-hating Jews.  This would be my definition of Professor Richard Falk who continues to misrepresent facts of the Israeli-Palestinian situation as his UN role to monitor Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories (fueling continued hatred for Israel). Thank goodness for Hillel Neuer and his Non-Governmental Organizatoin UN Watch for discrediting Professor Falk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o2regmDlyQ

Mary Antoinette Perry
Who is this women you ask…well if you watched last Sunday’s awards telecast, you still might not know that Mary Antoinette Perry is the namesake for The Tonys.  Ms. Perry founded the American Theatre Wing in 1939 and after her death in 1946, the ATW starting giving Tony awards in her memory.  I look forward to our next NYC visit to see Best Musical Kinky Boots with applauds to Cyndi Lauper as the first solo woman to win the Tony for Music and Lyrics.

New Jobs
Good luck to John Oliver as he sits in for Jon Stewart at the Daily Desk. Good luck to Jon Stewart as he directs (and wrote) the film Rosewater about the true story of a jailed and tortured Iranian journalist. The filming will take place in the Middle East (presumably Jordan) but I wouldn’t be surprise if they use some Israeli locations as well.  After all, safe Middle East Locations are limited.  Also taking on a new job is Samantha Power as US Ambassador to the United Nations (replacing Susan Rice). The old adage of 2 Jews, 3 opinions holds true for Ms. Power’s support.  The Republican Jewish Coalition and the ZOA are against her appointment yet the ADL, Alan Dershowitz and Rabbi Shmuley Botaech are all supportive and convinced she will well represent the US and well support Israel.

Bye, bye Ahmadinejad
There were 7 Iranian candidates for today’s presidential elections but for political reasons, the “most reform” guy dropped out of the race to support the “least conservative” guy.  Now these terms are used VERY loosely as all of the candidates needed the blessing of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who ultimately runs the country. Though Iran will have a new President, its policies against Israel and for Nuclear power will remain the same.

Good riddance to this Punim.

Do you think he understands hand symbols?

Andrea
The first named storm of the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season hit North Carolina this week with minor damage.  Though Andrea was timid we hope her future pals are kind to our coast during the next several months of Hurricane Season.

Health
Bravo to Gov. Snyder for supporting the Expanded Medicaid bill even-though local Tea Party members threaten their future support. Our Governor understands (both financially and ethically) the Right thing to do for the (close to) 1/2 Million (near poverty) Michiganders who are in desperate need of access to Health Care.

Israel News
Google has purchased (Israeli) Waze for $1.3 Billion.  Since Waze is an Israeli company, do you think our BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) “friends” will also boycott Google.  Soon, to shun all things Israeli, you’ll need to live under a rock (which is where they belong).  If you haven’t tried the Waze app, I highly recommend it.  It, not only, is a great navigational tool but it also provides (real time) crowd-sourcing traffic patterns (accidents and slow downs) so you can switch your route before you get stuck in the middle of a highway parking lot.

Sudan Supporter
Speaking of BDS, here is someone who experienced a devastating life in Sudan of torture and slavery yet understands that Israel is a beacon of hope, light and refuge for many oppressed people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMElbNh1JvM (yet, Israel is a tiny state and sadly can’t possibly absorb all those who seek her shelter.

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

Lisa

 Dad’s are great role models.

Happy Father’s Day! 

Bonus Video: If you stayed up till 12:30 Wednesday night (like I did), you’d have seen this GREAT (hour long) episode of The Cobert Report featuring Sir Paul McCartney.  If you didn’t here’s a 2nd chance: http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/wed-june-12-2013-paul-mccartney  Enjoy!

We head to Vienna this summer to see the Mestro in one of his “Out There” concerts. I’ll report back…

Dear Friends and Family,

NYC
Most of this week was spent in New York as I attended the National Women’s Philantropy Retreat.  Other highlights included Tom Hanks in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy, plus the Israel Parade, to wave at dignitaries like Gov. Coumo, Sen. Schumer and Anthony Weiner but most importantly our daughter staffing her Federation contingent.  I also had fun candy shopping at Dylan’s, yogurt eating at (40 carrots) in Bloomingdales and perusing the street fair on 3rd.  But, one of my favorite activities was watching the cat and mouse game played by pedestrians and drivers as each dangerously defended their territory.

Farewell
NYC was snarled the day I left as New Yorkers and New Jerseyans paid tribute to Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the oldest living Senator in recent history (age 89).  We also lost Jean Stapleton this week as she was best known for her “dingbat” Edith Bunker character (though she was no dummy).

Leaders
From the oldest living Senator to the longest serving Congressman… Congrats, to our own John Dingle for his record breaking (20,998 days… that’s over 57 years) serving our great State of Michigan.

Amazing
The Miami Dolphin cheerleaders created a tantalizing video for our soldiers in Afghanistan and our soldiers returned the favor.  I think both men and women will really enjoy this video. (Thanks, Sheri Schiff)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H96-TwrwY7M  and now to cement this song in your head even more, please enjoy this orchestral version of the same song.   http://miniurl.com/92vM

Israel Performance
“I look forward to my first visit to Israel. Music is a universal language that is meant to unify audiences in peace and love, and that is the spirit of our show.”  – Alicia Keys

Healing
One fact that Ms. Keys may have read is that Palestinians are being cured of many deadly deseases at Israeli hospitals all the time.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1305/S00631/israeli-hospitals-medical-care-for-palestinian-children.htm

Instead of the above truth, hateful lies that ensues violence gets reported as fact like this one on the internet with no accuracy to its claims what so ever, yet people read it, believe it and spread its evil message:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/27/305777/israel-poisons-gazan-patients/

Spreading
Turkey is the lastest country in “The” neighborhood to experience mass anti-government protests.  The Turkish Tourism board has been flooded with cancellation of conferences and conventions.  The protests started with environmental concerns to save 600 trees in Istanbul but quickly morphed into a soap box (with a cross-cultural and varied societal spectrum of people) gainst the increasingly conservative and autonomous direction that Prime Minister Erdogan is taking the country.  Let’s pray this country does NOT follow the death toll example of its neighbors.

Dumpling
Do you know how to spell the Yiddish word for Matzah Ball?  If you do, you could have won this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee as the final word which provided the (13 year old) Arvind Mahankali the grand prize was KNAIDEL.  What a perfect way to end this week’s Shabbat message.

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

Lisa

P.S.  Rabbi Jason Miller came through again with another VIP Shabbat Shalom greeter.  This one is for all you sports fans, enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_6vl9fUOyY&feature=em-upload_owner

P.P.S. Bonus inspiring video about the power of music and recycling.http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=UJrSUHK9Luw

Thanks, Atlanta Ross family

Dear Friends and Family,

Tea Party
Apparently, 8 years is all Minnesotans will get from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann as she has decided (this week) to bow out of the 2014 election.  Her extreme Right-Leaning views have crowned her Tea Party Queen, but hopefully the tides are turning so more sane voices can return to the Republican Party.  I would assume Ronald Reagan would give his “thumbs up” to this hopeful trend.

Bad Neighborhood
An underestimated count of 70,000 lives have been lost in the last two years of the Syrian Civil War.  Now, Lebanon’s Hezbollah wants to add to that count as they have inserted their presence to protect the diabolical President Bashar al-Assad.  Too bad we can’t go back in time to the Biblical era to suggest the peaceful Caribbean neighborhood as our Jewish Homeland.  Is there some unforeseen reason we are smack dab in the middle of the volatile Middle East.

Insane
Iran is creating Nuclear Weapons (everyone knows that).  The UN is crazy (everyone knows that, too).  So logically,  Iran has been appointed CHAIR of the UN’s Conference on Disarmament.  How insane is that?  Bravo to 72 congressman (including our own Gary Peters) for requesting the UN to re-think this insulting appointment. Double Bravo to the US and Canada for boycotting the Disarmament Conference, yet this surely won’t help the true problem of proliferation

Summer Songs
As Memorial Day marks the beginning of Summer, here is my (and Rolling Stones’) tribute to the top 10 Summer songs.  Can you guess what comes between #10 Janis Joplin’s “Summertime” and #1 Lovin Spoonful’s “Summer in the City”.  Follow this link http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-greatest-summer-songs-20130522 and click the red arrow in the website to see all 10 songs. My favorites were numbers 3 & 5.

Carol and George
Speaking of music, Mazel Tov to Carol King for breaking that glass ceiling as the first woman to receive the coveted and prestigious George Gershwin prize.  She was surrounded by talented friends like James Taylor and Billy Joel as President Obama recently presented her with the prize at the White House.  Past recipients are all favorite musicians of mine including: Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder (misguided regarding Israel), Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach.  To view the White House performance, please click on this PBS website: http://video.pbs.org/video/2365018129

Cup Pursuit
Red Wings were so close…but no cigar.  Mazel Tov to Chicago friends and good luck pursuing Stanley.

Strange Trivia
It turns out Shabbat and Gefilte Fish could be responsible for our affection of Pee Wee’s Playhouse as it saved his father’s life during wartime:
http://thejewniverse.com/2013/pee-wee-hermans-crazy-dad/

Weekly Reason
To remind most of you, the original and main intent for these weekly emails is to reach out and say Shabbat Shalom to those near and far.  I found this video that gives my message in various forms.  Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cfkiok940lU

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

Lisa

Dear Friends and Family,

Mud to Good Use: 

Wounded Warriors will reep the rewards from our son, Mataan’s Tough Mudder (mud-covered military style obstacle course) experience this weekend.  Already $5 Million has been donated to the Wounded Warrior Project while the TM participants are awarded a mug of beer at the completion of the challenge.

http://toughmudder.com/about/

Good from Bad:

Those 1,127 Bangladeshi garment workers, buried in the rubble of the worst industry disaster in history, have brought life (in their death) to future garment workers. Companies all over the world have finally taken action and responsibility to improve working conditions and wages for developing world services.  Of course, much work needs to be done to reach the minimal standards that exist in most developed counties, but hopefully this is a good start.

External Superficiality:

From cheap clothing to elitist attire…Abercrombie and Fitch is getting unwanted PR this week for their exclusionary practices of advertising to a select size and type of person.  Their marketing is not new, but a Mr. Greg Karber’s actions are a youtube sensation as he has been distributing Abercrombie attire to homeless people all over Los Angeles.  Of course, we live in a free society so A and F are free to choose their marketing strategy, but I am also free to avoid their product based on their superficial importance. By the way, here is one of their quotes: “We hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.”

Role Model:

Speaking of cool and good-looking people, bravo to Angelina Jolie for publicly acknowledging her devastating decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after learning she has the BRCA gene which is an indicator for possible Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer.  Close to 1/2 million people die each year from Breast Cancer and until there is a better solution, many women with the same gene mutation can save their lives by following Angelina’s path.

Space Oddity:

Enjoy this really cool video by Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield as he performs David Bowie classic song Major Tom from actual Outer Space.  The visual are breathtaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo

Banana Seat:

Farewell to Al Fritz who died this week.  Thank you for bringing joy to my growing up years as we all rode throughout the neighborhoods on his famous (banana seat with the high handle bars) Stingray bike.

Questionable Honor: 

After protest and debate, the Newseum removed 2 journalist from their Fallen Journalist tribute this week. It was confusing to read the full page Newseum ad in Monday’s NY Times honoring 2 Fallen Journalist with Israel listed as their country of death.  I didn’t remember ANY journalist dying in Israel this year. It turns out they were in Gaza at the time of their deaths and working for the terrorist organization Hamas. Thank you Sen. Mark Kirk and others for urging the Newseum to reconsider this honor.

Coney Dogs and KFC

The Nice Attempt Award goes to Mike Binder for bringing our favorite Michigan Coney Dogs to Los Angeles residents.  After two years of dwindling sales, Mike (and his MI celeb friends) have sold the Coney Island to a Middle Eastern Restauranteur, appropriately, as after Coney Dogs, Middle Eastern food is our next Michigan favorite. And speaking of the Middle East, you can get a bucket of KFC in Gaza for only twice the normal price after it travels 4 hours from Egypt through the illegal tunnels to your table.  There are NO fast food restaurants in Gaza but plenty in the West Bank.

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

Lisa

Thanks, Rabbi Jason Miller, for this week’s Shabbat Shalom VIP Greeter: Mr. Conan O’Brien Shabbat Shalom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY-6czR3ZFU&feature=youtu.be