In love with Amsterdam

I am very much aware of the fact that I come from a small, dusty little place in the desert where politeness is rare and rain is even more rare, but arriving in Amsterdam yesterday was like walking into a dream sequence from a movie. Compared to the humid heat of Israel, Holland's weather is heavenly. The weather may not have seemed like anything special to the locals, but to us the cloudy sky, light drizzle and cool breeze was a form of therapy.

Once we recovered from the weather surprise - we begin to look around and notice the quaint little streets, canals and bicycles. Bicycles are everywhere - old ones, new ones, all sorts. What impresses me the most about the cyclists is that sturdiness with which they seem to travel - the bikes mostly have a very comfortable, old fashioned design - and the riders pedal slowly and seem to move almost effortlessly.  

Almost every sight one comes across is so breathtaking, they look like they should the subject of a postcard or puzzle. Streets and canals look so gorgeous, they should have rows of painters and photographers busy trying to capture them. The canal boat houses each have their own distinct characters, some new, some barely floating. There are many tourists about, but then why wouldn't there be. This place is special.



         

The challa stand-off

It wasn't that he could not understand me. My Hebrew might be shocking, but I manage to make myself understood with most Israeli’s. I could even say the Hebrew words without too much of an Anglo accent. So why was this guy not hearing the words coming out of my mouth? We just locked eyes and that was it. No one was going to back down. The last challa at the bakery and we each had a hand on it.
It was still warm from the oven and very soft. If either of us pulled, it would be the end of the challa. It was a true stalemate .. or should I say, fresh mate. The other shoppers around us were frozen in anticipation of what would happen next. You could have cut the tension. with a knife. A bread knife that is.  
Sheli - I repeated slowly. Surely he understood. That is Hebrew for ‘mine’ for those who don’t know the language. He growled and snarled, but I was not going to be scared off by these tactics. He had already tried the shouting thing, but I had held my ground. Israeli’s often make a lot of noise to get their way, but it’s just a scare tactic. Its the quiet Israelis you need to be scared of. So the staring and low growling went on.
It was time for my Anglo tactic and I switched to English. ‘Listen old chap, I had my hand on this challa before you did. Now you can let me have it or you can bend over and let me ram it up your behind’. The growling stopped as his brain attempted to register what I had just said. It had sounded polite enough and from the look in his eyes, I knew he had no idea what I had just said. The tactic had worked. I was now the superior being. He was a mere local. I was the one from over the great sea, from a land where people queued in single file and did not argue with policeman. In his confusion he lost focus and tried to behave more politely, even smiling slightly. It was then I slipped the challa out from under his hand and into my trolley. Shabbat Shalom bud!

On Israel's sandy ground, major dreams for minigolf | The Times of Israel

An  article about my big plans to build a mini golf park in Israel -

On Israel's sandy ground, major dreams for minigolf | The Times of Israel

Purim 2012

Purim is a festive holiday in Israel. For the kids and some adults, it means going to school or work dressed up in a costume. One drives down the road on Purim and sees kids wandering to school looking like policeman, super heroes, draculas, devils, etc. Its very entertaining and probably the closest thing we have to Halloween. We even give each other gifts and food .. but then all Jewish festivals involve food!

So that is what modern day Israel has made of Purim. But what's it really about? The religious festival that Purim is based on the book of Esther from the old testament. Yes, I had to look it up on 'Wikipedia'! It tells the story of a Jewish girl named Esther, who became queen of Persia and thwarted a plan to commit genocide against her people in about 486-465 BCE. So Purim basically commemorates the victory of the Jews over adversity, in that case Persia's evil strongman Haman, whose plan was to exterminate all the Jews .. the entire Nation of Israel.

So here we are again ... almost 2500 years later and we find ourselves in a similar situation. Israel finds itself surrounded by modern day "Hamans", otherwise known as Hamas, Hezbollah and today's evil Iranian regime with its ruthless dictator. All these 'Hamans' openly call for the destruction of Israel. Iran is even ignoring international pressure and continuing to push to gain nuclear arms capability.

I guess the question is - will history repeat itself? Will Israel have to defend itself against a threat? The world is applying sanctions and dithering about - having almost no apparent influence on the Iranian regime. I wonder if the USA would be so calm about the situation if Mexico was developing nuclear arms and threatening to destroy them. I guess a pre-emptive strike would be ok then?

I grew up in a place where everything was ordered and calm. I understand how many people in the West live everyday without any threat of chaos or destruction. There is no-one threatening you. No need to look over ones shoulder. That is how it should be. Unfortunately in Israel, we face a different reality. We have many crazy neighbours who cover up their own failed states by misdirecting their people's attention with hate and aggression. Personally, I don't believe the people themselves have a problem with us ... thorough propaganda has done its work. Most people just want to live and work in peace.

I know the world will not understand if Israel carries out a pre-emptive strike on Iran, but that is irrelevant. We exist in a different reality here. Israel is a modern state with its own share of internal problems. We do not want to attack Iran, but we appreciate the threat of a mad man with a nuclear weapon - it is very real. It is not some movie plot. Yes, the Arab world will hate us even more. So what's new? They failed to sort it out between themselves and we cannot afford to sit back and wait to see if he will pushes the button. Jews put saving life before all else. Happy Purim everyone!

Another successful Benji Hillman Walkathon!

Last Friday, something very special happened. In a car park near Ra'anana Park, early in the morning, a group of loyal volunteers gathered and started preparing tables, directions, sound systems, refreshments and even porta loos. As more and more people – young and old, families and groups of friends, kids and even some dogs - gathered in the car park, the excitement started mounting. The fifth annual Walkathon in aid of Ha’Bayit shel Benji - Benji’s home for lone soldiers - was about to start!

For five years an annual walkathon has been held in order to raise the $3.5million needed to build a center in Ra'anana that will assist lone soldiers or soldiers from deprived backgrounds. A “lone soldier” is normally someone who has come to Israel to serve in the army, but who has no family here to assist him. During their weekend leave and time off from the army, these soldiers must seek out places to stay, figure out a way to do their laundry, grab an inexpensive meal, or take care of personal errands instead of catching up on precious sleep and receiving a little well-deserved care and attention.

These are the soldiers for whom HaBayit Shel Benji is being built, and every year it aims to help up to 1000 of them. This year is a special one, as construction of the house has started at the site in Ra'anana allocated by the municipality. It's an amazing feat that can only be attributed to the perseverance of the members of the Hillman Foundation and a supportive public.

The house is being built in memory of Major Benji Hillman z”l, who was killed during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, just three weeks after his wedding. His caring nature and unstinting sense of responsibility toward the soldiers under his command will live on at HaBayit Shel Benji.

Back at the car park, walkers were given a lively warm up by professional trainers from the Great Shape gym and then they were off on either the 3, 6 or 10 kilometer rural route. Each walker had paid or raised sponsorship money for the walk. Over the last five years, the money raised by the walk has topped one million shekels.

If you wish to join us for our next walk, make a donation or just get to know more about the foundation, you are welcome to visit the site www.benjihillman.org

Innocent Christians

I wonder if Pastor Terry Jones even thought about the consequences of his words before he opened his mouth?

I am not talking about the unsurprising hysterical reaction form the Muslim world. We know better than to expect a different response. I am not even talking about the potential danger that he caused for the peace keeping or peace seeking troops stationed in the regions like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

No, I am talking about people I know and communicate with often. I have many new friends on the internet and some of them happen to be these innocent, unprotected Christians, who live in Pakistan. It is a completely different situation when you 'know someone' there. They tell me of the hysterical responses to just about anything that the West says or does. These are real situations that can quickly turn to violence and threaten the lives of thousands of Christians who live there. My friends live with an unhealthy awareness of the mood of the Muslim majority and any activity or 'reprisals' that may occur. They have become in effect the punching bag of the Muslims fanatics who operate above the law and outside of the law. They live in areas where the graffiti on the walls is 'Al Qaida Forever' or 'Taliban Forever'.

These friends of mine are peace loving people and have even formed an organisation called the Muslim Christian Cooperation Forum that promotes peace and inter faith harmony. Unfortunately, there is no way to reason with fanatic mobs and the group is forced to cower in the face of fanatic Muslim mobs that are instigated by fanatic clerics with alternative agendas.

When Pastor made his statement - my friends in Pakistan held a meeting and condemned his proposed act of burning the Koran. I would like Pastor Jones to know that the extremist response to his actions was a threat to burn all the Christian neighbourhoods in Pakistan. How can it be that this threat did that not make the news?

My friends were helped by their liberal Muslim friends to take shelter outside of their homes to avoid any confrontations with angry mobs. Christian leaders left remote churches and sought the safety in the major cities. The police and government forces do not have a great reputation for being able to protect anyone.

The situation is a powder keg. As recent history shows - it only requires the irresponsible action of a simple pastor to spark protests. What if the 'spark' is greater and triggers riots and mob action against the innocent Christians, stuck in their Christian neighbourhoods. Will the Christians in the West be ready to step in and save them? Like the Israeli's who 'rescued' Jews from multiple Muslim countries. Do the Christians in the West have a plan?

As my friend says - 'Thank God that the issue resolved itself peacefully'. But what about next time?

The Jewish New Year - 5771

For the five thousandth, seven hundred and seventy first time - the Jewish New Year has arrived! Yes, we count our years from the beginning of creation - hence the number 5771. Don't worry about it - most Jews adhere to the Gregorian calendar. Jesus beat us on that one!

And yes, its another Jewish holiday although it's slightly misleading to call it a holiday as most Jews don't rush off to the beaches and mountain resorts - unless they're Israelis :). These holidays are the high holidays and no, cannabis is not legal in Synagogues unfortunately. Jews would probably be a little more popular on the planet if that were the case.

They are called high holidays as they involve a period of time during which Jews are supposed to examine themselves, achieve some level of spiritual spring-clean and prepare for the coming year. Here is my very simple understanding of the high holidays - and for anyone who wants to know, the appropriate greetings:

Rosh Hashana (direct translation = head the year)

Greeting - Chag Sameach (direct translation = holiday happy)

(CH - pronounced by flapping you epiglottis while exhaling. For those familiar with Afrikaans - its the same sound as when you say 'gat'.

Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (direct translation = ten days of repentance)

Greeting - Gmar Hatimah Tovah (direct translation = may you be sealed (signed) for a good year). You are wishing the person success in being forgiven for their 'sins' and that God will grant them another year of life by adding their names in the book of life.

Yom Kippur (direct translation = day of atonement)

Greeting - Tzom Kal (direct translation = fast easy) Wishing them a day of fasting that is not too difficult.

Hope that clarifies things a bit! Just remember that with almost everything Jewish, the more you investigate, the more complicated everything becomes.

Good Luck - (Hebrew translation = Behaltslacha)