Looking forward, looking back . . . . . . . . . "It's the environment, stupid!"

Happy New Year Y'all.

As 2006 draws to a close, here is some perspective to focus on in 2007.
Quote:

In Europe, which has long eclipsed the United States in such matters, even conservative parties have taken up the environmental banner. And in the pivotal U.S. mid-term elections, analysts were surprised to find that global warming played a role in many races, often at the expense of incumbents who had ignored the problem. As a result, climate policy will be high on the agendas of both Democratic and Republican legislators in 2007.

and . . .

Without the leadership of the world’s leading superpower—and biggest polluter—it is impossible to mobilize the global consensus needed to tackle this daunting problem, or to galvanize the second and third most important countries, China and India.

Goodbye "Cowboy Diplomacy" - - - - - - Hello "Cowgirl Duplicity"

Ever heard of Debra Saunders? Thanks to the Newsless Courier, I finally have.

In the Op-ed section on Monday, Dec 18, the Courier published Miss Debbie's article under the headline - "Revised global warming estimates appear more realistic". To their credit, the editors saw fit to change the headliner from the title used online -

"The cows missed the movie" .

I kid you not, just follow the link, but y'all be sure to come back for more!

The gist of the article is that cows world-wide contribute more to greenhouse gas production than cars - 18% vs 6%. From there, Miss Debbie takes aim at Al Gore, from the front seat of her SUV, with a double cheese burger and fries in her lap, and an automatic carbine poken' out the window for good effect. Indeed, the cows missed the movie, both ways: they were not mentioned in the movie, and they could not have seen the movie to know that they should curb their greenhouse-aggravating emissions. Of course, in the end, it is Miss Debbie who misses the point, as do most rightwing bloviators. Gore may use hyperbole, but his position is being given credence thanks to those Republicans with some measure of integrity, like Gov Schwartzeneger (see Terminator 4 in the Climate Watch) and Sen Lindsay Graham, to name just two. Both of them see the need to do something about man's contribution to greenhouse-gas production.

So, just some tidbits for y'all to chew on and ruminate:

1 Miss Debbie - please be careful. An article like this tends to lend credence to the great science fiction of global warming. The discussion is no longer "if", but "how fast"?

2 Miss Debbie - if you eat less cow meat, its good for your cholesterol AND the invironment.

For more lessons from cows:

The "2 cow method" of understanding global economics

And now for CowPower - this is not just an afterthought from the "Hot Air" department. Learn how some farmers are generating power from methane. ( This online article is geared to education in physics, earth sciences and the environment, and also addresses a few principles of mammalian biology. From the standpoint of journalistic themes, it is interesting to note that this includes discussion of bovine and human burping - and there is a key difference between them. So, check it out.)

Hmmmm. Maybe it is time to rename the Kvetch corner the "Hot Air Department". Indeed, I should do so in honor of Miss Debbie and the rest of the rightwing blowhards.)

Chanukkah greetings . . . and all that Jazz.

The Three Amigos celebrate Chanukkah! . . . any resemblence to person or persons, real or fictional, is purely coincidental.

Jews in the News . . . They say "bad" news comes in 3's.

"What were they thinking?"

and well might you ask.

A Seattle-based Lubavitch Rabbi opened the set with his assertive moves on Christmas Trees at his local airport. (Links to this may be found under the title - "How to win friends..." on the ECF.)

Then, some Rabbis attended an International Holocaust Denial Conference in Iran, and kissed you-know-who. (This link takes you to a new blog by A Dershowitz on Jerusalem post website - see his take on this.)

As Jon Stewart said on the Daily Show, at a Holocaust Deniers Conference, "you probably don't want to be the guy ordering the Kosher meal." (See more on this take - you may be surprised to see exactly where on the web.)

And then, to help the other Sasha Cohen make it back into the news, some city official stirred up another Christmas Carol storm-in-a-tea-cup.

Talk about finding creative ways of generating bad press!

The take home message is this: some people's actions are so outrageous, that their viewpoints represent nothing more than kvatch. In some cases, we should afford such people only disdain, but as for the Rabbis who attended the conference in Iran, we should settle for nothing less than their complete isolation. not just from the religious community, but from the wider community of civilized nations as well.

How to win friends . . .

. . . and influence people.

Just remember, you still have to live with yourself in the morning.

Could be coming to a community near you!

Global Warning! Squirrels ARE evolving . . .

I know I shouldn't say it, but . . .

I TOLD YOU SO!

Go on, have a look, just a report about a recent scientific study from the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2224)
***

Unhappy Beat - Things get grim for Beck and the right.

I haven't sorted this out yet. It's clearly not very simple.

I mean, is "Happy Feet" left wing propaganda? Let me mull this over a bisl.

Mmmm.... It does not look good. I am afraid this is going to consume the whole of my Sunday musings on the desperate state of the world. We have untold hot spots in the Muddle West, nukes on the Korean peninsula and soon in the Iranian desert, cancelled ski races in Europe due to climate change, and a dozen other crises keeping me up at night - international and local.

And last night I took a lighthearted break to see "Happy Feet", and it was fun. "Nemo" was better, but both were fun. Take your kids, if you haven't already. Just don't let your guard down, right? (or is that don't let your "Rightguard" down?)

So, this is bothering me? NO, it's just Beck et al ranting and crying "Fowl". (I guess they don't speak "Penguin".)

NO. I think I have it! Beck and the rest of the right wingers in and on the media have taken several big hits. They are sinking in a wash of setbacks, and clutching at straws. I guess they are afraid that Hollywood will get to their children's minds before the kindler, gentler, fair-and-balanced Fox. Not to mention that "Rove lost to Abe", but then, what does the electorate know? Could they be tuning Beck, Rush and Fox out when they "have make intelligent decision?"

Face it folks, they cannot handle the fact that the electorate gave the House and Senate back to the Dems, and that Republicans in all sorts of places are conceeding the merits of climate change, and looking for real answers and solutions.

So, go online and tell Mr Beck he might as well give some time to the "Swift Boat" team. Now that's what I call proper gander!
_____________
ps: Forr djor conveniente, 'eez email address:
me@glennbeck.com

Go ahead, "Give it a gander"

The Case against Carter

The original posting is below the dividing line:

Here is the case against Simon and Schuster, link added Jan 17th, 2007
________________________________
Carter defends his book.

Dershowitz responds to Carter's book.

And a professor resigns from The Carter Center of Emory University:

"This note is to inform you that yesterday, I sent letters to President Jimmy Carter, Emory University President Jim Wagner, and Dr. John Hardman, Executive Director of the Carter Center resigning my position, effectively immediately, as Middle East Fellow of the Carter Center of Emory University."

and

"President Carter's book on the Middle East, a title too inflammatory to even print, is not based on unvarnished analyses; it is replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions, and simply invented segments."
___________
Update 12-17-06 in Jerusalem Post - Carter explains his use of "Apartheid".

To which: Talkback 160. Inciting violence
Peter R - USA
12/18/2006 03:47

Under US law one may be charged for inciting violence. I am sure Mr Carter is aware of this provision. It is quite clear to most fairminded people, no less to Mr Carter, that the words "Apartheid" and "Nazi" have very clearly defined meanings. Their use requires no "explanation". Thus, the use of "Apartheid" in the context of the Palestinian conflict is purely inflammatory and utterly reckless. No explanation can strip it of its (clearly intended) accusation of "racism".
_____________________

Having written a book of limited merit, Carter seems to have chosen a catchy-hook-title to gain media attention. Here is more on the failings of his book - Carter's compromised statemanship - by David A Harris

Our debt to Milton Friedman.

On the passing of a champion of being free to choose . .

Article by Ben Stein in Time

"Love" - how long will it last?

Some say it will last forever,
that it is all you need,
and it will keep us together,
some say it was just a summer,
and then again, that you can't buy it.

But for a short time you could have heard the whole CD on AOL Radio.

And while the "Love" CD contains remixes of stuff you all know well, there is a song that you have not heard this way before - "While my guitar gently weeps" in an acoustic solo version by George Harrison, with a rich orchestral score making it quite "Something". This track used an early take of Harrison's monumental song, and Sir George Martin wrote the orchestral backdrop for the Cirque du Soliel show now running in Vegas.

Also, as a public service, here are some other links:

1) to McCartney selections
2) to the Beatles on AOL radio
3) to an article wrapping up a view of the Beatles in Time's Top 100 of the previous millenium,

for those who are so inclined.

Happy Thanksgiving . . .

************** Go, Dems, Go! ***************

******** Teach your children well.
(link to see lyrics and play song)

Yikes! Squirrels are on the loose again?

Uncle Sam wants YOU and YOUR POOCH to join the "Squirrel Patrol" . . . Don't delay.

Books-by-the-dozen . . . .

I am sorting through our books at home, and fear there are several we have come to posess by forgetting from whom they were borrowed.

I will begin posting the titles in this section:

If you see any that belong to you, or you are interested in reading, please email me at etzchayimforum@aol.com

Also, email me if you think you loaned us a book, and want me to check and see if we have it.

____________________________________

#1 Clues to American Architecture by Klein, Fogle and Etienne. A pocket size book with diagrams, might be interesting to take along on one's travels.

#2 Rising Sun - Michael Crighton

#3 The Ice Queen - Alice Hoffman

#4 Masai Dreaming - Justin Cartwright (bought in SA)

List will likely continue under comments

Faith Restored . . . and then some.

So, if you have been following along, Abe triumphed over Rove. The pendulum has begun its swing back. At last, correction is under way. My faith in the order of things, how the world works, is restored.

One of the many wonders of this world, and this life, is to learn from the great people who have preceeded us, and to appreciate the depth of their wisdom.

At this moment to reflect on the following:

“You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.” Abraham Lincoln.

and

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner stone." Psalms 118:22

and to see that this is true, whether the context is national or regional, involving millions, or just a few. At the heart of the matter is the resilience of people and their collective will.

re - Choice: the PROs and CONs . . .

As election day approaches, we prepare to cast our votes, to exercise our rights and duties as citizens, to choose who will represent us, and govern on our behalf. This is the essence of freedom, exercising the right to choose.

Freedom to choose is also the cornerstone of a free economy, the engine that drives prosperity, bringing low cost goods and services to the masses. Choices and competition keep the market accessible and affordable. Businesses and organizations know that to succeed, they need to meet the needs of their customers and clients.

_________

So it is with choices in Jewish Charleston, particularly Orthodox Jewish Charleston. With the advent of the new West Ashley Minyan, new choices are now available to us.

BSBI has functioned for years as a monopoly. But now there are options beyond the control of the BSBI establishment. And the expansion of choices is good for the community, collectively and individually.

Some like to speak in code - "We must do what is good for BSBI." Yes, indeed. And which kibbutz are you from?

Actually, the New West Ashley Minyan is good for BSBI, good for AHA, the JCC and Jewish Charleston, no question about it. Let’s have more alternatives to the bromides of the old guard. Let’s see whose model for progress, growth and change has traction. Lets see what happens in the market-place of freely-chosen ideas.

Are there any cons to having choices?

Not as I know it . . . and Happy Voting . . .

Rove vs. Abe (Nov 7, 2006)

A moment of truth approaches.

The polls show the pendulum is swinging away from the political "Right".

But polls are one thing, votes are another.

Under Rove et al we have seen how the system and the people can be "gamed".

The question is, will Abe Lincoln again be proven correct to have said:

“You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.”

A reason to pause . . .

Professors murdered in Iraq.

More Sauer Kraut?

Here is a posting that is fairly recent, and topical: it deals with the link made in the Congress between the minimum wage and the "Death tax".

Seems someone noticed Sauer Krauthammer (SK) distorting "the facts" , on the fabulous Fox no less, to suit the party-line.

SK is wrong on both issues -
1 ) raising the minimum wage does not materially damage small businesses or employment levels of minimum wage earners (or others earning more, for that matter)
2 ) repealing the current estate tax does not amount to a protection of small businesses and /or farms.

"a July 2005 Congressional Budget Office report found that based on an analysis of 1999 and 2000 estate-tax returns, only 135 family-owned businesses would have owed any estate tax at the current exemption level of $2 million. By contrast, about 4.5 million active businesses with assets under $5 million filed income-tax returns in 2002, according to the IRS."

That is way less than 1%. (If you do the math, lets say there are 4 million small businesses, 135 is 0.003375 %.

As for the minimum wage, Sante Fe, NM, has seen mostly positive effects from its minimum wage increase, and in New Jersey, increasing the minimum wage did not decrease jobs at all. As quoted in the above posting, increasing the minimum wage also increases payroll and revenue taxes: "Think Progress also noted that a report from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development found that the state's 2005 minimum-wage increase "produced $175 million in additional payroll and a $3 million boost in state tax revenue."

To cap this off, consider this - the Federal minimum wage has not been increased for a good while, but Congress has voted itself numerous pay increases. Isn't there something wrong with this?
___________________________
(For part 1 of this new series, visit "Sour on Krauthammer".

You don't have to be Jewish . . .

. . . but speaking a bisl Yiddish vouldn't hoyt !!!!

So, test your knowledge of Yiddish trivia here.

True or false: Colin Powell learnt to speak Yiddish in his youth.

Nu, click already !!?!

Mellow in Ithaca

A friend is someone
who knows your past,
believes in your future,
and accepts you, always,
just as you are

Sour on Krauthammer . . .

Time for a new turn on the blog.

I am Sour on Krauthammer!

Don't know what I am talking about? Here, look at this article in current issue of Time

So, what do you think? The standard line about the UN being useless?

I recognize the UN has not lived up to it's intended mission, but lets not forget who has said and done what.

Here is my letter to Time on the matter:

re: Krauthammer on the failings of the UN (Time US Oct 23, 06)

This is the 2nd or 3rd occasion, I believe, that I am writing to Time regarding an article by this so-called journalist and commentator.

There is a very deep irony in this fellow earning money to write about the failings of the UN.

Why? Because he vigorously supported the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 - an action that is now widely recognized in the US, as it was initially in most of the rest of the world, as a brazen incursion enacted for other purposes under the pretext of “intelligence” regarding Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. With hindsight it is clear that Krauthammer and the rest of the media assisted in spooking the nation into quietly going along with this at the time. The consequences have been disastrous.

If the UN were able to read Time, it might have sent a letter with the reminder that Krauthammer was wrong, and the UN right, about Iraq.

But to add insult to injury, in the same article, Krauthammer writes that the UN Security Council was “reduced to a bystander when a second Gulf War broke out in 2003 ”. Did you see that? Of course you did - the war simply broke out.

The reason this matters is because many US politicians and the right wing media regularly belittle the UN. It is of course quite clear that by invading Iraq, it was the US that reduced the UN to a bystander - theirby fulfulling their collective prophecy.

Clearly Krauthammer was right to state earlier in this article that “illusions never die”. In his case it is more a "delusion": that he and the rest of the Neocon establishment were right about going into Iraq and creating a new democratic reality in the Middle East.

So, to conclude, some possible headliners you (Time) might consider:

Sour on Krauthammer.

or

We should learn from our past; if a journalist has no merits, he can’t write.

Or he can write, just not for money, and/or not for Time.

Ps feel free to send the feedback on to him as well.

_____*****_____

To which I have had the following reply - gib a kook, and stay tuned for more in this vein.

Dear Reader:

Thank you for writing. We welcome timely, insightful reactions to material we have published, and we can assure you that your observations found an attentive audience among the editors. Should your comments be selected for the column, you will be notified in advance of publication. Again, our thanks for letting us hear from you. We hope that you will write again should you discover something of particular interest in the news or in our reporting of it.

Best wishes.

TIME Letters
____________

Update November 1st 2006.

Of course, we are not alone! At least, I am not . . . when it comes to "zis zauer kraut".

Check out this google search of "Sour Krauthammer". Just be warned, this is a regular web-search, and some sites you reach may not be suitably restrained in their use of language. For this, I can not be held responsible. As for Krauthammer, I am not done with him yet.

Getting the picture . . .

Part 1: We have entered the 9 th month of the New WAM and this blog, and it seems there may be some perplexity out there as to postings on different subjects. The artwork above, if I may call it that, pulls together the major elements of this blog.

First things first, the blog is not an official mouth piece for anyone, but me. True, both the blog and the Minyan came into being in Feb 2006, after BSBI's historic meeting concluding the "location issue". And I certainly hope it speaks for as many of us as it might, but no doubt at times it may not. One of the reasons I set up the blog was to give voice to people's frustrations, and provide them a place to air them. The blog is moderated, which means I can temper what gets expressed. The intent of that was to reduce the number of angry emails making the rounds. In that regard, I believe the blog has been largely successful.

However, fairly early into my blogging experience, I figured there was a need to provide more than one theme for visitors to have reason to return. To that end, I extended the blog content into a number of directions. The initial themes are laid out in the Magen David above. To signal which theme or corner is being addressed, posts are often headed by a piece cropped from the larger scheme.

The Editor's Corner postings tend to be serious, and formal. The Kvatch section is fun and nonsense (literally "rubbish" - as in the German quatsch). The Kvetch corner has only been used once thus far, on the latest posting, Sour on Krauthammer . . , but more will yet come.

As for the corners denoted by Hebrew letters, that will await another day . . .

In the meantime, Farewell,

Peter R

Some afterwords - If I decide to enhance a post with another image, then that image replaces the label. So,
Tales from Summer Camp is Kvatch without the



label.

Instead, you see, you get . . .

the picture . . .

My kind of Shul . . . . the story continues

At my kind of shul . . .

. . . it's hard to keep from smiling.

. . . 25 children blessed the Torah together.

. . . 3 children danced in circles on the morning of Shmini Atzeret.

. . . the announcements sounded like a 50's country radio station . . . with the call sign "Radio W. A. M." - and D. J. inspiration from Charles Steinert.

. . . children chanted parshas, and their parents' faces beamed with joy.

. . . it's fun to be on a winning team.

. . . it's fun to be a benchwarmer on a winning team.

. . . even the benchwarmers use benchers.

. . . we often have Conga lines at Friday evening services (ask Charles Steinert)

. . . we still like to round off services with a rousing "Spiro" Adon Olam.

. . . you can come and be part of the ruach.

. . . you can come and be a part of Charleston's new history.

. . . you can share precious moments with friends and family, to remember forever.

. . . is full of pleasant surprises - and nostalgia is everything it used to be, and more . .

One more time . . .

and now, here they are . . .

all the way from the Muddle West!

the beatless . . .

PS: if you get a message from your computer about foreign characters (as in letters, Kvatchkopf !!!), click ignore or cancel, then the thing will load (as in download, not ammo !!). Oy, hapless? . . . .

Hit the Chai lights . . .

A touching clip of music and images of Jerusalem

and

Don't miss the latest crazy story - Tales from summer camp, starring - The Kid. (scroll down)

Also, if you want to dig into the archives, there is the zany story - Could squirrels be evolving?, with interesting links to explore.

Please don't drink and read at the same time, your tea/coffee/beer/scotch/milk may come out your nose!

More fun on the web tomorrow.

Tales from summer camp!

*****************Out cold - the Kid takes a nap.


Summer camp is not supposed to be a Darwinian experience. But sometimes it just turns out that way. Could our children be evolving?

If you sent your child to camp this summer, did you check them over really carefully when they got back - things you should have looked for: gills, changes in eating habits, deportment and subtle new social behaviours. For a few days after our son returned, "Camp Judaea" took over the lake out back by day, and the FROG by night. (FROG = Finished Room Over the Garage, often used as den or playroom - FROG is a southern contribution to the evolution of the American branch of the English language, courtesy of "realtors", who are fairly vilified as arch practitioners of the Darwinian Arts, but that’s another story. Just kidding, Susan, okay?)

Adaptability and initiative are key elements that helped our forebears survive on the savannahs of Africa. I am happy to report that these traits are still very much in evidence in Charleston, SC, not far from Savannah, Ga. I can say this because I have seen my wife prepare our children for their summer sojourns in the hinterlands. I have also seen my children cope with any shortcomings there may have been in those preparations.

Take this last time, for example. We sent our youngest off to camp with a shortage of a major resource - cash! Just after he had gone through security at the airport with his travel companions (he is 16 already), my wife turned to me and said, "I forgot to give him some MONEY!"

Imagine the scene. A frantic mother trying to get through our nation’s massively-upgraded security at the airport to give her poor, deprived, starving child . . . . spending money - it could break your heart! Fortunately, sanity prevailed, and she did nothing of the sort. That other great coping mechanism kicked in - "Oh well, he’ll just have to borrow some from his friends. They all have lots of money." (Rationalization to the rescue again!) And with that, we turned round and left for home, with nary a flicker . . . of hesitation or guilt.

So here’s where survival instincts really kicked in. Our son, let’s call him "The Kid" ("The Dude" will have to wait for another story). OK! So, The Kid gets to camp with $2 in his pocket. What does he do? The Kid finds a poker game, and buys in. By the midpoint of summer camp, he has made $XX, with a record single-game-take of $XX somewhere in all of that. On the one hand, it makes me chuckle, on the other, I worry some parent is going to come along and ask for his money back. Time to lay low and avoid eye-contact. (Sorry for Xing the $$$ above, but these amounts have been censored to protect the perpetrators! and me, based on the very best in legal advice $$$ could buy. No matter what you do to make money, someone else always gets a cut!)

Now at first blush you may think this isn’t connected, but when we visited The Kid at the midpoint of camp, he was a vegetarian. I . . kid . . you . . not! I mean, where did we go wrong? Gave him too many granola bars? Let him live a whole week on Cinnamon Taoist Crunch? (Puts a new spin on "You are what you eat" now, doesn’t it?) And another thing, is this an evolutionary step forwards, or backwards? And will it be permanent?

Actually, there is a lot to be said for being a vegetarian. It is healthy. Some say it is better for the environment - cheaper than raising all those cows that generate methane, which is a greenhouse gas, you know! (All roads lead to Rome - All man’s activities lead to greenhouse gases.)

So, here’s a test of your instincts and intuition. How did The Kid become a vegetarian?

Here, let me help you. He’s male, 16, and plays poker and soccer, loves football and all other kinds of macho stuff. So naturally, he likes a challenge. He’ll take a bet. He and some other kids were shooting the breeze. Somewhere along the line, the conversation touched on following a vegetarian diet. Next thing you know, there’s a challenge thrown out as to who can be a vegetarian longer. The Kid takes up the challenge. This is not a big deal, now. The Kid doesn’t have to be a vegetarian-for-life. All he has to do is outlast some other kid! By the time he came home, he was no longer a vegetarian. And, yes, he won. Not money - just won!

Now the camp the Kid was at for first session was up in Barryville, New York, and they had to cope with some heavy rain and some regional flooding. The camp had to be evacuated. First night they spent in an emergency shelter in a school gym, managed by the local Red Cross. Then, for another several days, half the camp, yes, the Kid’s half, had to stay in a hotel. Not just any hotel, but a resort in the Catskills. A little dated, perhaps, but not too shabby, and Kosher, and equipped - the Kid and his pals got to watch world cup soccer during free time. Ah, coping with the elements is not what it used to be. (When I went to Habonim Machaneh in Hermanus, South Africa, we lived in tents, had cold showers, and ate in shelters with no walls!)

However, the Kid did have to cope with some adversity, but only briefly - he lost something to the flooding - his Reefs. Now, for those who may not know, Reefs are very fine flip-flops. They are at their best when they have been worn in, so that they hug the contours of the foot in a very satisfying way. The Kid was really attached to his Reefs. He had worn them to school and to everything else he did, including the school trip to Greece (Thank goodness the school has introduced a uniform, so footware fit for the beach will no longer be the norm - wrong again! The Kid wears oversized rubber clogs instead!.) So, by the time camp was just about upon him, there were holes in his Reefs. He was offered a new pair. He demurred (refused). He got hold of that most versatile invention, the one Tom Hanks put to such good use in Apollo 13, fixing the CO2 filters so they could get back to earth without sinking into a coma - yes! you got it, Duct Tape (or is it Duck tape?) The Kid repaired his holey Reefs with Duct Tape.

So here’s how he lost his preciousss . . . . Reefs. After some wild-water activity, the Kid put his Reefs outside his bunk to dry, and left them there when his group set off on a field trip. Obviously, he needed more substantial footware on the field trip. Well, the storm struck while they were on the road, and the flood waters claimed the Reefs. (Seems poetically appropriate too!)

Well,what to do with his reefs washed away? The Kid looked in his bag, and found his elder brother’s shower sandals, you know, by Adidas, dark green molded-to-foot-shape, a quite comfortable version of plastic or rubber, with a single broad strap across the forefoot. With these in hand, the Kid went looking for someone with reefs . . . found one, and made a trade! In no time at all, the Kid’s feet were back in that familiar comfort of his favorite footware - well-worn-in Reefs. Footcomfort heaven . . . . I tell you!

Now The Kid’s mom and I found this all out between first and second session. Those of us who feel we must, who feel we haven’t showered our children with enough love and attention, who feel we have not expended enough time and resources sending them off to camp, make the trip to Hendersonville, NC. There we wait to dote on them when they arrive by bus from the far north east. We take them to hotels, let them have hot showers, some decent food, and some ZZZZ’s in a clean comfortable bed. Then, the next day, we throw more money away at Walmart and then we drop them off at camp again, and make the long trek home. Shucks, some of us travelled from Florida for the privilege!

It is a special time, though, to catch up with the news from summer camp. Last year The Kid had learnt about Darfur, had seen and discussed the Holocaust documentary "Paperclips", visited Ellis Island, cleared overgrown brush out of an old Jewish cemetary, delivered meals-on-wheels to the elderly and visited with them. You could feel his horizons widening as you talked to him.

This time, he’s full of all these tales, and we are at first aghast. Is this what we saved up for? That the Kid could look for a poker game? Become a card-shark? Then he says he has something else to tell us. He didn’t always go to the regular activities and programming! "What?" we both exclaimed! "You played POKER instead?" "Well, only once or twice, early on," replies The Kid. About the 3 rd or 4th time he was skipping things, he says, he got to thinking about us. And in his head, he says, he hears me, his father, say - "this is not what we send you to camp for. . . "

"You GUILTED ME," he says, I mean more like shouts, as he points at me, "and you weren’t even there!" And so, thanks to an adaptation that dates to around the Exodus from Egypt, The Kid quit his dubious ways and got back on the straight-and-narrow. Now, that is a sign of effective parenting, huh?

All told, The Kid was glad to see us at the midpoint of summer camp. We enjoyed seeing him and his chaverim, relaxed and happy, even after a 10 hour bus ride that began at some ridiculous morning hour. He arrived minus his bags, which had to go on another bus. The next day, when we took him back to camp, we were a bit concerned because one of his bags was still missing. After checking with various people and looking in various places, we still came up empty, so we took him to the camp office to report the missing bag.

The Kid had been glad to see us, but when it was time to go, it was time to go. With his name on the list of "missing bags" (more for us than for him) The Kid herded us gently but firmly back to our van and said goodbye. Then he turned and ran off to rejoin his friends, . . . . with nary a flicker . . . of hesitation . . or guilt.

Simchat Torah

We might have said, "Next year in Jerusalem" at the close of Yom Kippur services, but for Simchat Torah, it's
"This year west of the Ashley . . . "



Right about here . . . (click on image for a better view, or better yet, see us at services!)
Check out New WAM announcements for service times and other happenings.

Is this "showing respect"?

"Being orthodox is more than going to services, keeping kosher and observing the Sabbath and holidays. We should live our life with dignity and show respect for others whether we agree with them or not." The President’s message - October 2006, BSBI Messenger
____________

I have heard and read these ideas before, and I find them quite objectionable. Now, if they were spoken by an observant person, addressing the behaviour of another observant person, I would have no problem. In that context, they are quite correct.

But from where it comes in the BSBI Messenger, I have a very deep and vexing problem with it.

You see, it is a mask, a foil. From behind this, those of us in the congregation, who have been observant, and those who are striving to be more observant, are being provoked and insulted.

Does that include me? Well, I may keep more than most, but I am less than fully observant, and keep far less than many. Does this make me better or worse than anyone else? You decide. I believe we can all agree on one thing - what we do in our private lives is our own business. What we do as public figures, is another.

BSBI has a long history of treating its observant members as "second-class citizens". Now, to add insult to injury, the president implies in his message that the observant among us are responsible for the "unrest" in BSBI.

The depth of this is almost unspeakable.

At the heart of it is this - ritual observance has no meaning for him. He does not / cannot / chooses not to understand why others need to believe in all that Judaism teaches, ethics, laws and rituals. He has no sense of empathy for those to whom it matters if one walks to shul for services, rather than riding. He cannot feel our, your or their pain.

There are many in BSBI who are not observant, but who understand what is going on, what those who wish to observe are feeling. From them I can accept a request to forgive if they have offended.

But from those who deliberately, and continually offend
. . . . . .

I have a problem.

and heartfelt thanks . . .

. . . to all who make the new West Ashley minyan possible.

Shanah Tova

The Year In Review

A seed has been planted west of the Ashley River. A fresh new spirit is taking hold. An idea is being transformed, little by little, into a new reality. Jewish Charleston has a new addition in the neighborhood of its key facilities, and a significant addition to the heart of the community.

Let’s begin with some milestones . . .

New WAM milestones 2006

We began holding Shabbat services in Feb 2006. In August we passed the 6 month mark. In that time, we missed having a minyan present for Saturday morning services only once.

We began quite modestly, holding services in family homes.

Pesah and Shavuoth services were well-attended.

In May 2006, the JCC Board agreed to rent us space to hold our services.

In July 2006, we began to hold services at the JCC.

On the Labor Day weekend, we dedicated two Torahs donated for our use by Stuart Katz of Long Island, New York. The Torahs are housed in an Aron Kodesh donated by the Chase family.

We have seen new faces quite often, and look forward to seeing them again and again.

An Eruv has been set up, and just awaits a formal rabbinic approval.

This week, we look forward to holding our first Rosh Hashanah services.

_____________________________

There are many inspiring things about all of this, one could write pages. To say but one thing now - it is a joy to be part of people’s efforts to transform their lives, for themselves, their children, for the community, for the future. And in the process, true to the concept of "a minyan", everyone counts.

In a small community, such as we are in Charleston, everyone does indeed count. The strength of the community is firmly based on the goodwill and cooperation between the people, goodwill that crosses the boundaries of affiliation to the three major branches of Judaism. In that regard, Charleston is a shining light.

Unfortunately, not everyone shares the view that the New WAM is a good thing. It is no secret that there are people in the leadership and membership of BSBI who are adamantly, even aggressively, opposed to it. I will not belabor you with the details. Quite simply, it is to the detriment of BSBI and the community at large that such opposition exists.

But we are adults, and we must be honest. It has long been apparent that change in the orthodox section of Charleston would not come about from within BSBI’s official proceedings. That process has been manipulated and "controlled" for years to squash meaningful developments, and nothing internally has changed.

What has changed has been external - and those who could manipulate things behind the scenes at BSBI have had to come out into the open, if they so chose. I guess sometimes it is important that people stand up and be counted - and some have - they have threatened, or have actually withdrawn, their support from the JCC, the Federation and AHA. As some like to say, the heat is on.

But we are adults, and we must be honest. BSBI’s leadership and membership have a choice. Later today, BSBI congregation meets to vote on a new board for 2007. The chairman of the nominating committee knows that he has overseen the proceedings of the most important committee of BSBI’s operations. As this committee sets the tone of the board and all other committees, it should have done its work meticulously, fairly, and above all openly. If you are a member of BSBI, you need to attend this congregational meeting to see if the chair and his committee measure up.

Does it matter if they don’t? "Yes" and "No".

"Yes", because it would be to the benefit of all if BSBI gets "on board", recommits to its mission, and pulls with the rest of Jewish Charleston. They do have that choice.

"No", because experience has shown that change comes not from within BSBI, but beyond it’s reach.

And what should our perspective be? It’s like driving a car. 90% of your visual field is to the road ahead. The rear-view mirror is important, and you should know what’s in it. But "keep your eye on the road that’s ahead of you . . . ."

Shanah Tovah

The latest flashpoint in the "War on Terror"

Powell finally speaks. "the world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism."

So does John McCain.

And Lindsey Graham. "I share the President's goal of pursuing a CIA program that would protect us and operate within the rule of law,"

Imroving the standards of community proceedings

The most valuable asset of any community is its people. If there is a single word that describes what is most valuable among a community’s people it is "harmony". If there is harmony within a community, the community shares its resources and its values. In adversity, the community pulls together, in good times they celebrate together. At all times, as individuals look out for their personal needs, they must also give due attention to the good of the greater community. The better community institutions meet the needs of the people, the better the institutions will be supported in return, and the stronger those institutions will be.

By and large, this is true of the Charleston Jewish community. In fact, something recognized as unique to Charleston is the level of respect and cooperation that exists between the three denominations / congregations - Conservative, Orthodox and Reform. In particular, this has been exemplified and maintained by the conduct of the community’s three rabbis over many years. The three shuls, and their members, participate in, and are served by, the "shared" institutions of Jewish Charleston - the JCC, the Federation, and AHA, the community day school.

Nothing, of course, is perfect. Difficulties and disagreements will arise from time-to-time.

To limit the negative effects of such matters, the process of dealing with them must be open, and fair. The implementation of democratic processes must be logical, and be based on identifiable values. That is why we have constituions, rules and bylaws, and institutional mission statements.

Finally, we must ensure the health of our democratic processes by evaluating and dealing with these issues honestly and openly, so that the leadership bases its decisions upon the collective wisdom and desires of the members the community at large. That is not just their undeniable responsibility, but larger groups have been shown to make better decisions in the long run, than small cardres of experts or people with special interests.

For this brief discussion, I wish to deal with the matter of "conflict/s of interest". I will probably ask more questions than provide specific answers, and the reader will finally have to make up his / her own mind on these issues.

I present this material for individuals and / or groups to review and discuss. I believe that if we exercise our minds, and consider these issues, we can evaluate better what is being done in our institutions on an ongoing basis. By doing so, we will be better able to maintain the health our institutions and our community.
_______________________

Consider these questions:

If one is serving on a committee and an issue comes up that affects one personally, in some way that places one’s interest in the issue at odds with the general interests of the institution one is supposed to be serving,

a) is it acceptable for one to place one’s personal needs above those of the organization one is supposed to be serving?
b) must one withdraw from participation, or can one participate provided one clarifies one’s position/s?
c) if no-one else present knows that the matter affects one in some way, does one have an obligation to declare one’s "conflict of interest"?

Repeat this question with the following options:
a few know, but most don’t;
most know but a few don’t;
all present know, but in the larger organization there are many who do not.
______________________________

There are many acceptable options that may apply in such settings. The following lists some examples:
1 A chairman may let some-one else run the meeting for the discussion of a matter in which the chairman has an actual or perceived "conflict of interest".
2 One may declare one’s conflict, and continue to participate or withdraw from participation, whichever appears to be appropriate.
3 One may abstain from voting on the issue.

_____________________________

Such issues will vary depending on the specific details of each case, and for many situations, if not most, reaching a consensus on what is appropriate should not be difficult.

Here are some additional scenarios.

During a committee discussion, a participant takes a position that is clearly based entirely on his / her self-interest over the larger group-interest. What should be done? by the person chairing the meeting, or by others if the chairman does not act?

a) nothing
b) the chairman should remind everyone on the committee of their duty to the group / mission / organization
c) if the chairman does nothing, someone else should
d) the person should be approached outside the meeting and be advised of the inappropriateness of his / her actions or position.
e) the general discussion of the issue/s should clarify why the individual’s position is inappropriate in that setting.

Again, one can see, that various options may apply.

For there to be harmony, proceedings must be open and fair, and these issues must be kept consistent - a balance that encourages participation, but discourages inappropriate actions.

Dealing with such issues may require some sensitivity. It will certainly be easier to manage if at the outset of conducting business on a new committee, or a newly installed board, the chairman reminded all participants of their responsibilities. Where appropriate, members should recieve copies of mission statements, rules and bye-laws. Some institutions hold board retreats to orient their participants.

In conclusion - there are many ways to achieve these standards. The goal should be for us to apply the same standards of conduct to our participation in Jewish community organizations as we do in our professional lives, and in our coduct of civic affairs in the wider community.

Ruach of the Outback returns . . .

If you ask Rabbi Galinsky about the Outback Minyan, he will tell you about one of the most memorable experiences of Shabbat he has ever had. It was a Shabbaton held in the Rice Hollow subdivision, just a stone’s throw from the JCC. It probably included Shlep - the Shabbat Learning and Experience Program. In addition to a full round of Shabbat services from Friday through Saturday evening, there was a kiddush that people never left. The children played and played out in the Bielsky backyard, and the adults sat and talked with each other, and with the Rabbi. There was an atmosphere of contentment you could see and feel.

Well, I am happy to report that that special ruach (spirit or atmosphere - literally "breath") is well and truly back. It can be found not far from where it was before, and just like before, it is drawing new faces to the scene.

You know, when BSBI was pretending to discuss its location options, some liked to say, "Who is going to become shomer shabbat" if the shul moved to the JCC? I don’t know. I don’t go prying into what people do in their private lives.

But I get a thrill out of leaving new West Ashley services and seeing a throng of families with young children strolling home. I am not strictly shomer shabbat, but I prefer walking to shul . . . . from my home.

Could there be more people out there like me?

You betcha!

Happy Labor Day . . . .

Photo-P Rosenthal

If you are in New York in September, here is an exhibition you may want to stop by and see . . .

The artist, Berenice Michelow, is well known in South Africa.

Going Global - could this blog be evolving?

The week in review - Round #1:

When I first began this blog / forum, I began with a very narrow focus - but I realized very soon into it that it had to be more than a whine seller. And so the changes have come along.

First, I went global with a piece on climate change prompted by Al-you-know-who's movie. Had some fun with that, and even picked up on some cool and informative sites on the web. So I figured I would keep this thread going as a subsection - under the link "Climate Watch".

Then came the conflict in Lebanon, and I began reading the Jerusalem Post online. Posted some links to interesting articles there, and this week I set up "Israel Watch" - another link to your right on the Forum entry page. So these forays-on-impulse have become blogs-within-a-blog.

Which brings me to this - I need a place where visitors to the Forum can go and get an update, since entries are being modified all over the place.
And here it is:




The week in review:
Beginning August 25, 2006.






The week began with some Kvatch -
"Could squirrels be evolving?"

(If you don't know what Kvatch is, dig into the archives Feb or Mar 06. And yes, I wrote it, and it is based loosely on real events.)

Then I set up "Israel Watch" and "Climate Watch". Both can be found at the main blog / forum entry page -
Click here! if you feel lost, and look at the links to your right!

"Israel Watch" is obviously more serious - ( one of the articles linked from there is by Alan Dershowitz ), but I really like the newest entry of the "Climate Watch". Go check it out! Should make you think!

The week ends with the forward-looking invitation to our special treat for the Labor Day Week-end. Need I say more?

And so, concluded is this week.

Best wishes to you all . . . and Shavuah Tov.

Torah Dedications at Shabbat Services

All are invited to join us for services this Shabbat at the JCC.

Kiddush/Seudah Shlishit is being sponsored by:

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stricker & Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Katz

In Loving Memory of Irving and Martha Katz, and Al Katz

Please come and share this special occassion with the Stricker and Katz families as we rededicate two new Torahs for use by our new community orthodox minyan.

SERVICE TIME AND LOCATION INFORMATION:

Friday Evening Services are held at the home of Linda and Nathan Kirshstein, 1928 Madagascar Ct., Rice Hollow Subdivision

FRIDAY EVENING MINCHA

Mincha will begin at 7:00 PM. Please help to make a minyan so that we can say Kaddish.

As a community, Charleston lights candles and brings Shabbat in at 7:00 PM

Sunset is at 7:28 PM

Shabbat Services are held at the Jewish Community Center, 1645 Wallenberg Blvd. Enter through the front door and services will be in the Auditorium.

SHABBAT MORNING

Shabbat Morning Services will begin at 9:00 AM. Please try to come at 9:00 AM to ensure that there is a minyan to start the Torah service.

SHABBAT AFTERNOON/EVENING MINCHA/MA’ARIV

Pirket Avot Study Session will begin at 6:30 PM at the JCC

Mincha will begin at 7:30 PM. Please help to make a minyan so that we can read Torah.

Shabbat ends at 8:30 PM

Could healthcare be evolving?

Want to know who leads the way in health care excellence?

See the latest issue of Time online.

Quote from this article:

"For the sixth year in a row, VA hospitals last year scored higher than private facilities on the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index, based on patient surveys on the quality of care received. The VA scored 83 out of 100; private institutions, 71. Males 65 years and older receiving VA care had about a 40% lower risk of death than those enrolled in Medicare Advantage, whose care is provided through private health plans or HMOs, according to a study published in the April edition of Medical Care. Harvard University just gave the VA its Innovations in American Government Award for the agency's work in computerizing patient records.

And all that was achieved at a relatively low cost. In the past 10 years, the number of veterans receiving treatment from the VA has more than doubled, from 2.5 million to 5.3 million, but the agency has cared for them with 10,000 fewer employees. The VA's cost per patient has remained steady during the past 10 years. The cost of private care has jumped about 40% in that same period."

Quote from one of my sons - "Proves that Big Government can be successful, with the right motivation and commitment."

And now for the punchline:

" . . it's becoming more and more "ideologically inconvenient for some to have such a stellar health-delivery system being run by the government," says Margaret O'Kane, president of the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which rates health plans for businesses and individuals. If VA health care continues to be the industry leader, it may become more difficult to argue that the market can do better."

Could squirrels be evolving?

I don’t know where you stand on the evolution versus creation issue, but there may be somethig going on - could squirrels be evolving? It’s something to think about, you know? The reason I ask is, well, some stories have come to light, and this is what I’m thinking, man.

First, a colleague of mine, a healthcare provider, with a Ph D no less, tells me she had a narrow escape getting out of the Grand Canyon. Let’s call her Nancy, so she won’t sue me for telling you this. She went on a rafting trip down the Colorado River, with a reputable company (she’s in healthcare, do you think she’d go with some raft-by-night operation?). By day the group rafted, and at evening they beached the rafts and set up camp. The nights were unbelievable, clear, star-filled skies, clean air, and the peaceful sounds of nature to settle them to sleep.

By all accounts, it was an amazing trip, riding the rapids, coasting on the quiet segments, experiencing the great outdoors, and communing with nature - (you remember the Marlborough ads?). My colleague, what’s her name again? Right. Nancy had many apprehensions about making the trip, but got to the end without being bitten by snakes or eaten by bears. She wasn’t kicked by a mule or stung by scorpions. She wasn’t even thrown from a raft or dunked by a wave. It boggles the mind to think how many hazards she by-passed without so much as a scratch.

Now it turns out, the most dangerous segment of the misadventure proved to be getting out of the canyon. It is a mile deep, you know. And there are various ways of getting out. If you go down by mule, the mule usually brings you back. If you hike down, you have to hike out. Of course, if you are rich, you can get out by helicopter. Or if you have a significant mishap, you could end up riding a med-evac chopper. (Be sure to have emergency evacuation insurance coverage before you plan your own trip, but you’ve GOT-TO see and experience the Grand Canyon before your own Grand Exit.)

Well, the excursion in question required the participants to hike out of the canyon, carrying a backpack with their personal camping gear. The group were given instructions about pacing, and keeping well hydrated and loading with calories - you know, power bars, trail mix, and lots of water and stuff like that, and then the rafting guides let them go. The group set off, breaking into smaller groups, and began the hike along the trail leading out of the canyon. There were rest stops on the way, with first class rest room facilities, and the views were spectacular.

Well, my colleague, you know, Nancy. Nancy is a healthcare provider, and she knows how to keep things finely tuned, medically, I mean, and she was careful, really careful, about her hydration and nutrition. But hiking up a full 1 mile’s altitude can take it out of you.

Now here’s the thing. I grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is 6,000 ft above sea-level. If you live there, your body adapts to the thinner air by boosting your hemoglobin. (It’s a natural form of doping - altitude training, you know?) If you live at sea level, and step up to 6,000 feet without time to adapt, you get short of breath when you exercise, much quicker than at sea level. This is true even if you are fairly fit. Did I mention the canyon is a mile deep? Did you notice any connection between a mile and 6,000 ft? That means that climbing out takes you from somewhere like sea-level to nearly 6,000ft ( Do the math if you think I’m fooling. One mile is 1,760 yards - thank the Romans - multiply by 3, gets you to 5,280 feet. 720 feet short of 6,000. In round numbers, 1 mile is 90 % of 6,000 ft - and you know what I say, 90 % is a 100 %.)

So, the long and the short of it is, Nancy flagged a little during the ascent, but she kept at it. She was even doing fairly well till she reached the final rest stop, about 1 hour short of the canyon’s crest. (By the way, the official elevations at the Grand Canyon are all well over 6,000 ft above sea-level.) By this stage, Nancy had fallen behind her companions a bit, so they were leaving the last rest stop as she was reaching it. She put her back pack down and took out her last power bar, and set it out planning to eat it after her bathroom break. But when she got back to her gear, the power bar was gone - disaster had struck. A skinky squirrel had spotted the treat, and had made off with it - a hit-and-run, and no enforcers in sight!

Not much of a deal, really. Except when you have another hour’s worth of uphill hiking to do, of course. Then, it’s a different matter entirely. Well, what to do, you know? No tourist tearoom or concession store at this rest stop. Not much traffic either, not when you’re the last one in the pack. Actually, if you’re the last one, and you have flagged and faded, you’re no longer "in" a pack. Nancy took another drink of water, picked up her gear, and resumed the climb. But somehow, her energy and strength were gone. It was so bad, she thought she was going to die there. She could not climb out of the canyon.

Now this was not very amusing, you know?. She was alone, and unable to proceed. What was going to happen? There was no-one there to help. Well, not right away. But eventually, someone must have done something. Her companions must have reported she was behind them, or the rafting company had someone to check on the group at the top, and knew she was missing. So they notified the rescue services.

Rescue services sent a young woman down to check on Nancy and see what needed to be done. Apparently they considered evacuation by chopper, but there was no place to land one. There was nothing to be done except for Nancy to finish the walk out. In the end, it took her 6 hours to cover the final 1 hour segment of the exit trail. She was exhausted, and extremely embarrassed, and mad as heck at that squirrel. That stolen power bar was the proverbial last straw ( you know, that broke the camel’s back?).

Now, its interesting, you know. Nancy also figured she had gotten overhydrated. That she had drunk too much water, and that combined with the deficit in calories, had cut her off. But, you know, I had my doubts from the moment she told me. I still had my doubts when I began to write this little piece about squirrels evolving and all, but now I think I have the answer. It was the altitude, man.

Of course, I said to Nancy that hers was a "likely" story, humph! "Sabotaged by a squirrel?", it's about as weak as saying "The dog ate my homework!." So a few days after telling me about her ordeal-by-rodent, she sends me this news item by email about squirrels attacking people in a suburban park in Florida. Are they mutating? Picking up tips from the Florida ‘gators? See the video for yourself. I am a bit ticked off at getting trivial email at the office, you know that bosses read your email at work, so I reminded Nancy to send this kind of thing to my personal email address. She apologized, but had "lost her email account" - where she had my email address, and I'm thinking next she'll say "the computer mouse ate it".

Then, a few days later, there’s this item on TV. Some guy gets mugged by squirrels. He gets off lightly, though, no visit to the emergency room or rabies shots, and his family wire him some money so it’s a happy ending. But this is starting to look like a story!

So it’s time to search the web, you know, and see if there’s a trend out there, and look at THIS!

And there's more . . . .!!!!!

I tried to alert some journalists about the story, you know, from Time and National Geographic, but they refuse to run with it, and I’m thinking, "they’ve been threatened with a lawsuit by the Sierra Club, the WWF and the ACLU."

Anyway, my advice is, if you see a squirrel crossing the road, accelerate and nail the critter, before they come and get you! (And next time Holly catches a squirrel, I'm not having her set it free . . . You get 'em, Holly!)
______________________

Afterword: and if you plan a trip to the Grand Canyon, please, be well prepared. (A public-service message from the Ecf-Editor.)

Update 9-12-2006: And now I can happily report that the word on "squirrel evolution" has finally gotten out. Here is one that didn't get away! (Though nailing them on a bicycle is obviously more risky.) Now, go do your part!

Pluto is no longer a planet! . . . DURN ...

Wrong, and foiled again . . . .

See AOL - top story today

Israel: Hold inquiries - with due deliberateness.

Parallels between the recent conflict with Hizballah and the Yom Kippur war came to my mind when the cease-fire took effect in Lebanon. There are silver linings in the clouds of this war, but it will take time for them to be fully apparent.

Here is an article by a US military strategist available online from the Jerusalem Post.

The politicians in Israel must appraise what happened, (Israel should be better prepared in future), but they should not be too hasty in their judgement of Olmert, his ministers and his generals. How they move forward is critical to the longterm prospects for peace.

GORED AGAIN? ( day 4 in the next phase towards peace in the ME )

You know the trouble with politics? We leave it to the politicians!

Here is a summary of Al Gore's personal greening - again to be found at AOL.

Change will come . . .

Pluto is a planet !! . . . . again?!

and day 3 of quiet in Lebanon . . .

See the planetary pictures on AOL.

Progress in the Muddle West . .

How do you know things are quiet in Lebanon?

The top news story on AOL is -
_____ the moon landing tapes are missing!!!!!

Here is the link to their main page, http://www.aol.com/. If you hurry, you may still see it in their banner headline spot . . . .

The Lebanese question . . . .

Israel Watch - 2007

Israel Watch - Update #8: July 30th, 2007

An article in NY Times Sunday Magazine - couple of weeks back, but still worth reading: especially the section saying this: there are 3 things one might want for Israel - democracy, a Jewish state, and greater Israel - any 2 of the 3 can be achieved, but not all 3. Here, from a article about Tzipi Livni.

___________________________________
Isreal Watch - Update #7: March 26, 2007
Condi gets it right, according to article in J Post

Israel watch - Update #6 February 22, 2007

Appeal for action on Antisemitism from Natan Sharansky

Israel watch - Update #5 December 2006:

Carter publishes book, and academics strike back.

Israel watch - Update #4 December 2006:

Lebanon again teeters on the brink of civil war -
Can the center hold?

Israel watch - Update #3 November 2006

Diplomatic activity reported in the Jerusalem Post ____________________________________

ORIGINAL POST: (posted at the beginning of the ceasefire)

The Lebanese question:

More like, the question for Lebanon - when the dust settles and rebuilding is under way, will they want to let Hizballah put them through this again? Pure self-interest dictates that they will not. There are hints of this in the news already.

Check this out: JPost quoting Nasralla: (Link to article with this quote)

In a televised address on Monday night, Nasrallah declared that now was not the time to debate the disarmament of his guerrilla fighters, saying the issue should be done in secret sessions of the government to avoid serving Israeli interests.

"This is immoral, incorrect and inappropriate," he said. "It is wrong timing on the psychological and moral level particularly before the cease-fire," he said in reference to calls from critics for the guerrillas to disarm.

The article speculates that Hizballah will keep its weapons - but I think you can already read the signs between the lines.

_________________________

Update #1: August 28, 2006

In keeping with what was said in this entry originally (see below), there are changes taking place for the better in Lebanon. There are reasons for optimism. Israel's actions, characterized by some as "disproportionate", are having the desired effect. This is apparent in some of the reports I have linked to below, but especially to this one quoting Nasrallah, who said he would not have approved the cross-border action that started this war in Lebanon, if he had known Israel would respond with such a vigorous campaign.

It is essential that the following principles be recognised as forming the legal basis of self-defense applicable to all nations:

1) It is every nation's duty to control the actions of all their residents (citizens and non-citizens alike) in regard to protecting the people and property of other nations, wherever they may be.

2) That such nations that fail to do this, and which permit the conduct of terrorist actions in or from within their territories, may be subject to ligitimate deterrent and punitive actions, including military actions targeting not only military assets, but material resources and infrastructure.

3) The actions of nations exercising their rights of self-defense in response to unprovoked attacks should be deliberate, and should be directed, as far as possible, to minimize the loss of innocent lives.

In such a context, Israel's actions did not consititute the indiscriminate, collective punishment of the Lebanese people and / or state, but legitimate actions of self-defence under international law.

In regard to legal issues, see Alan Dershowitz's article countering the position of Amnesty International on the issue of defining war crimes.

(Amnesty tries to make amends 9-14-06 - Hizballah war crimes.)

For other reports regarding changes on the ground, use the links below to more articles in the Jerusalem Post online.

Hizballah tears down operation sites near the Shaba farms

IDF uncovers Hizballah bunker.

And get an update on the Shaba farms: which brings into focus the status of Lebanon vs Syria.

___________________________
Israel watch - Update #2: Sept 7, 2006

Responding to the accusations of "collective punishment" and "disproportionate response" in Lebanon:

Let's keep the record straight.
See this letter to Time
(scroll to "Why Such Discontent?"
at the bottom of this page.)

To see the original article - Time.com

Towards a new global framework . . .

The groundrules are being set for Lebanon to take charge of all its territories, and all its people.

Here is material from Jerusalem Post online:

Israel's cabinet votes on UN resolution.

Quotes from the above:

Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres praised the UN decision, saying that it "restores the authority to the Lebanese government, ends the weapons supply to Hizbullah and distances Hizbullah from the border, brings the deployment of 30,000 Lebanese soldiers and international forces, and calls unequivocally for the release of the kidnapped soldiers."
_________

Addressing reporters after the vote, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said the cease-fire deal approved would bring about a "change in the rules of the game" between Israel and Lebanon.

"The decision is good for Israel. I am not naive. I live in the Middle East and I know that not every decision in the Middle East is implemented and yet I still say it's good for Israel. It can lead to the real change in the Middle East that we have all been waiting for."

She noted that "The world now understands that Israel will not accept a terrorist organization on our border firing upon our citizens. We achieved most of our goals. If it's implemented, the change has been dramatic."
__________

Read the full text of the UN resolution.

It includes the following:

OP3. Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon;
_______

For continuing updates - news and commentary - go to
Jerusalem Post online

Been reading more than writing . . . .

. . . these past few weeks.

http://www.jpost.com/

Been fishin' . . .

Ropes and buoys - Cranberry Island, Maine. Photo - A Rosenthal

Gone fishin' . . . again.

Seagull on Peer, Bar Habour, Maine, June 2006 - photo P Rosenthal

"Yadda, yadda, yadda . . . "

See you all again next week

the name game . . .

What's in a name?

Nu? Why don't we have one?

Actually, word on the street is that "the new West Ashley Minyan" (The New WAM!) is already taken.

And so, dear friends, perhaps it is time we settled on a name. Certainly, there are some indications out there that we need to come up with some new way of identifying our minyan.

Now, when you think about a name for someone or something, you have to try it out, to see how it fits, and how it sounds and looks. It's hard to know when a name will stick, and we have not yet found our mark. But, let's give it a go.

My first suggestion has a modern ring to it - maybe too modern. Maybe too far-out-there, in sixties-speak. Anyway here it is - the new "JAM" ( - as in the new JCC-Area Minyan.) Doesn't even need a slogan: it is a slogan!

Then there is this one, something a little more serious.

The new "JACOM". meaning the new JCC-Area Community Orthodox Minyan. This, to me, speaks of our essence in all respects. You could make it more interesting in written form, this way - The New J.COM (JCC-area Community Orthodox Minyan). What d'ya think? Huh?

Another consideration - What about the "Outback" Minyan?

It has the merit of being used with the catch-phrase - "where to get back in!" but I'm not sure there are any, or many, who feel like going with this. Let bygones be bygones and all that jazz.

Well, in the interest of kicking ideas around, this week's question of the week awaits you.

1) Which of these do you like - the new JAM, the new J.COM, the Outback?

2) Any other suggestions.

Either email your response to me at

Etzchayimforum@aol.com,

or respond online at EC forum FreeZone.