New Name - New Blog

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See you there!!

Thank you!

I wanted to thank everyone for following my trip to Israel. It will remain one of my most cherished experiences in my graduate student career. As promised from my blog, I am keeping up with news in Israel and the work of iRAC, making sure that even if I wouldn't ever want to live there or work full time for an Israel cause, it is important for me to know what is going on there as a Jewish Communal Professional.

That being said, I've negated my promise to blog more, so I'm trying again. I'm going to start with some political comics that I like, they are also posted on my Facebook page but this is a good platform too. Next, I've put it on my calendar for every Friday- we'll see how it goes! For me, it's easier to break a bad habit than to start a good new one :)

*sigh* and then there was one

I'm sitting in Cafe Hillel on Jaffa street about to get a goat cheese sandwich. Our program has ended and although not everyone has left for the airport I had some gifts to get and broke off on my own. As I observe the people around me, I could be in any city, the US or otherwise.  The main difference is that everyone around me is presumably Jewish, this is the draw of Isreal, the land where Jews rule, where we are the majority- finally! But what if I don't want to be the majority? What if I like having non-Jews around me, like feeling special, more responsible for being a good person.

We visited the Israel museum yesterday and one of the things I took away was that the Torah, the 5 Books of Moses, ink on parchment scroll, the tree of life, was the same- no matter where in the world, no matter what time period- from the first moment these stories had been written down, they have continued, word for word, letter by letter. This is the heart of Judaism that beats inside every Jew, religious or not. What changes is what it looks like on the outside, the physical case, the Synagogue, the geographical place, the time period, the culture of the non-Jewish neighbors, the thoughts and feelings of the Jews who read from it, and Israel is but one expression of what Judaism looks like as expressed as a nation for the last 60+ years. As I have previously stated, if there is nothing else that connects me to another Jew, I can appreciate that our Jewish essence is the same.

From this, my thoughts as our trip came to a close (having not read through my previous posts) was that my connection to Israel is not to the societal norms, the politics, the religious, or the land but to the people I've met who have shown me my place in the Israeli Jewish community. I know people here now, I could call up someone and stay at their place (thanks Chase!), I could navigate the streets, and bargain in the shuk. I would assume, however, that I would have the same feelings if I were to spend two immersive weeks with say the Brazilian Jewish community.

I'm walking away from this experince a different person than when I arrived disheveled and sleep-deprived last Monday morning. I am able to view Israel with more informed, knowledgable, and rightfully critical eyes. I do not yet know how this will manifest itself when I actually do return home and begin classes- knee deep in my thesis research, finance and budgeting, issues in philanthropy, program evaluation, inter-sectorial leadership, and my internship. How I will feel after I've re-read my blogs, in essence re-living my experience from the view point of the end.

What I do know is that this has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that I look forward to returning to Isreal on an organized trip with family to learn more about myself and the Jewish people. I would also be quite interested in visiting other Jewish communities to see how Judaism is expressed in South America, Afria, China, or Europe. I also feel very blessed and appreciative of being Jewish (thanks Mom!) and having a wonderful world-wide Jewish community that I can connect to simply because I am Jewish.

Not everyone has that, but I do, and for that I am forever grateful! :)

Coming to the end

Quick recap of the last two days (maybe not so quick)-

Yesterday we did a quick processing session in the morning then headed to Tel Aviv to meet with Jeremy Fisher from the Reut Institute about an idea they have called '21st Century Tikkun Olam' to get 14 million people (presumably Jews in the world and Israelis) to participate in Tikkun Olam projects around the world to effect a 1/4 billion people. In essence a type of Israel Jewish World Service- similar to the American Jewish World Service that exists today. They have spent 2 years developing the project and have gotten as far as a PowerPoint. So nice idea but a long way from reality. 

We took a nice hike after that and then heard from a very passionate elderly man named Ginid Shimoni who presented his ideas of what Jewish Peoplehood meant. His conclusion, which he had clearly been working on for quite some time and was convinced was absolute truth, was that the Jews were an ethnicity. This is what I was able to gather of his definition - Jews are an ethnic group, a social entity possessing of a myth of common origin and cultural characteristics, which are mainly but not solely attached to the Jewish religion and the land of Israel. Interesting stuff but the man clearly did not know how to have a discussion. 

Today we began with a wonderful meeting with the Masters in Management of Nonprofit and Community Organizations at the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Fascinating! First, I sat next to a girl who was from Ohio, who wasn't Jewish, who wanted to live in Israel, I was interested by her connection but could understand her interest in Jewish life. We briefly discussed as a group what educational program we were focusing on, our internships, the SJNM Israel seminar, and the differences in the two programs. 

One of the main points of discussion was the fact that we were the "Jewish" School of Nonprofit Management and that the word "Jewish" was not included in their title. The main conclusion from that was that their program is in Israel so it is implied that it is Jewish and/or has Jewish components. It was wonderful to meet those students who had come from all over (Germany, South Korea, Canada, the US, Russia, Greece, Switzerland, and more) to study what we were studying but in the context of Israel. 

Our next visit was to the Jewish Agency to meet with Alan Hoffman. I asked the question "what would you say to someone who told you they had no connection to Israel?" He had a wonderful answer about engaging in conversation with that person and attempting to understand where there might be gaps that a connection to Israel might fill, then help them find a way to connect that makes sense for them. He added that Israel is an add-on to being Jewish, not the core. I greatly appreciated his answer and his presentation!

Back at the hotel we had a panel discussion with Jeremy Leigh from Jewish Journeys, Noa Golin from the ROI Community, and Micha Odenheimer from Tevel B'Tzedek. It began with a wonderful activity on identity by Noa and then a thought provoking presentation by Jeremy about the power of travel, which really resonated with me in regards to the fact that we are currently traveling! It was another wonderful discssion about Jewish connection and identity. 

We ended our evening at the home of Terry Cohen Hendin, a graduate of the SJNM program when it was the School of Jewish Communal Service in 1975. We got to meet other alum, hear about their journeys to making aliyah, and what they are doing now. I was also lucky to spend time with Ted and Sarah who are currently studying in Israel for a year before they join our program this coming summer. 

Now here I am back in my hotel room listening to the 25th anniversary sound track to Les Miserable as I write this (I must say I'm quite excited to see the movie when I get back to the states). These last few days have been really helpful in being able to see myself in Israel. Not in the moving here sense but in the way that it relates to my identity. Over the last couple of days I've seen myself in the people we've met, I've been able to identify with them as Jews living in Israel. Our trip had previously perpetuated my disconnectedness, this very separate secular and religious populations whom I did not see myself in. 

Above all else, I'm Jewish, that is my number 1 identity in the long list of who I am. I can connect with any other person who is Jewish, if not on anything else, on that. That spark that happens in the states when I learn that a new person I've met is Jewish and instatnly begin to play Jewish geography, can happen here in Israel, that I can feel connected if only on that very basic level. 

This trip has been a whirlwind. I'd be lying if I were to say I was not excited to go back to the states but I am so very grateful for this experience. I also know that it will take re-reading my blogs and some post-trip processing to come to more general conclusions about my connection to Israel. At the moment, I feel much better about the way I view Israel, the people who live here, the politics, and the culture, mostly because I see that things are changing to better reflect what I believe a Jewish state should be- a light onto the nations. 

A place like home

If there was somewhere I would live in Israel, it would be Haifa. It's a beautiful bay with hills around me that remind me of home. Moreover, I've found my brand of Judaism, well as close as one could come in Israel, at our visit to Leo Beack Education Center. This K-12 school/ Synagogue/ JCC (without the J), is the best expression I've seen of Reform (or as they call it here 'Progressive' Judaism). I greatly enjoyed hearing about the programs they offer and their view of Progressive Judaism in Israel. 

One point I thought was exceptionally interesting was when the speaker said that more Jews like us need to move to the land of Isreal in order to help change the social tides and the hold the Hardai community has over Israeli society. When you actually examine the trends of those who make Aliyah (move to Israel), they tend to move back home within 5 years (or so was mentioned at the presentation). 

What this reminded me of was a presentation I heard earlier this year by David Cygelman the founder of Moshe House, a house based Jewish community for young adults where 4-5 young adults move into a house and put on 5-7 Jewish programs a month for other young Jewish adults. The model is quite successful and Dave spoke about his travels to each of the Moshe houses, 19 international houses and 34 houses in the US. One thing he found extremely different between the US houses and the international houses was their Israel programing. In the states, the programs was centered around culture- food, dance, music, language, etc. For the international houses it was much more centered around political affairs, current events, economic issues, for the purpose of knowing that one day they might have to move to Israel if their community decides they no longer want Jews in their country. This is not the fear of Jews in the US, this is why we are not moving here in large numbers. 

This was my initial point when I began my blog- why Israel, when life in LA as a Jew is so great and that will not change in the foreseeable future? This also goes back to the point my classmate made about the view of her mother that Jews are not safe anywhere and at any moment they might have to flee to Israel. I don't share that sentiment and maybe it is naive.

The other places we visited was the Yemin Orde Youth Village for up to 500 children who are either recent immigrants or troubled youth. The goal of the village is a cultural transformation for these children and a place for them to come to terms with their troubled past in order to mix with other ethnicities and gain the tools to be a productive member of Israeli society. This model was also used in creating the Agahoza Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda where many of my friends have spent a year with the orphans and refugee children who live there. The idea of the model is that it can be translated across nations providing the same success they have achieved with their residence. It is a lovely organizaiton doing really great work!

The other place we visited was an organization called Kayan who works with Arab women to help them organize for change in their communities. Their greatest success has been getting public transportation to Arab villages. It helped me better understand the Arab population and their struggles in Israel. 

On our drive to Haifa, I was able to listen to some of my favorite radio (podcast) shows, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!, This American Life, and Slate's Political Gabfest. I've also been able to keep up with Rachel Maddow as I download her shows when I have wifi. This is a welcome treat for me as these shows are part of my regular life at home. Many of my classmates do not have this connection (as I've stated earlier), I believe making it easier for them to connect to Israel. Before going to bed last night I read iRAC's newsletter and for better or worse, felt nothing. I feel as if I'm trying to fit into a mold in which I do not fit. I'm an American Jew and (maybe as a result of my news loving non-Jewish father, sorry dad) care far more about what happens in the US, my home, than I do about the struggles of the people in Israel. 

This is there home, not mine, I'm thrilled to know that they are fighting, that democracy can work even if it is created out of rubble by a society of people who have never known democracy or liberal ideas and if anything it solidifies my belief in democracy, the power of the many over the few. I keep coming back to the question, why should I care? 

Today we discuss this more as a group, meet with Jeremy Fisher of the Reut Institute, and hear from Prof Gindi Shimoni. Maybe my question can be answered. What I do know is that I am greatly enjoying learning about Israel from different perspectives, absorbing the culture, and struggling with these issues. Clarity will come, whether is it to solidify my previous sentiments or to create new ones is yet to be seen.

As the dust settles

Today has been quite mellow for me. I heard from Mike Prashka about the importance of shared citizenship identity among the diverse population in Israel, then we heard about the social investment projects going on, then from Rabbi Michael Marmir from HUC about the role of the Reform movement in Israel, and lastly about the tech industry and the role of business in Israel. In my mind I kept the question, why should I care. When I asked Rabbi Michael Marmur this question his basic answer is that he did not understand how one could say they care about Jews except for the Jews in Israel, that we are one people.

Although I can not identify with the million plus ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel, I can on some level identify with the remainder of Israeli citizens. But how much more time should I devote in my life to Israel in the same way that I devote a portion of my life to the Jews in NY or the Jews in Amsterdam? I feel so critical, why can't I just love Israel and want it to be a part of my life? Why is this such a struggle?

I didn't get a chance to ask Rabbi Michael Marmur about his feeling regarding the Haradi community and the fact we are not considered Jewish but something along the lines of 'love they neighbor as thyself', even if they hate you, it is your Jewish responsibility to love them.

Israel is a young country made up of immigrants whom a majority came from non-democratic and non-liberal countries. As difficult as it is for me to wrap my mind around what I am experiencing, I'm sure it's just as difficult for people in Israel to wrap their minds around my brand of Judaism or the US political system in which I enjoy.

The director of my program, Richard Siegel, pointed out that previous seminars (these seminars happen every two years) focused much more on the Palestinian conflict and our seminar will not even touch upon that topic at all. This is the case because the areas we are exploring are becoming more relevant in Israeli society. Things are changing, democracy is taking hold and the people are getting involved with helping mold Israel into the country it should be.

So if it is my responsibility to be involved, how would that look for me? How do I take my American Jewish values and help them be expressed in Israel because this is supposed to be my land too? Of all the speakers we've heard, the one that resonated most with my values is Anat Hoffman from iRAC, Israel Religious Action Center. I've signed up for their e-mail newsletter and will try to bring it home with me.

There are still a few days left in this trip and a few weeks after I return home before classes begin again, to process and digest, to figure out how I will internalize Israel and how it will look in my personal and professional life. Today I'm less sad, less angry, just trying to keep my mind open and absorb all that I can.

Problems beyond my control

I am filled with intense sadness. How did Israel get like this? Thousands of years in exile, we finally have a land of our own and this is how we choose to run it. As I listened to Anat Hoffman, the executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center and Women of the Wall, talk about her fight to end female male segregated public buses, radio stations who do not allow women to speak, the 49 racist rabbis who call for the murder of Arabs, Orthodox only marriages, divorces only able to be given by the man, and to allow women to pray with talitot on, to pray aloud or to have a Torah at the Kotel (Western Wall), my previous feelings of detachment solidify. Israel is stuck in the 1960s, the feminist movement has yet to begun and religious extremist rule the land, and not many Israelis seem to care. 

I went walking with some friends this morning to the old city and although I do not remember the context of the conversation, I said to my friend 'remember, I am not Jewish'. In the eyes of those who dictate Israeli law, I am not Jewish. My heart is broken. How did it get like this? How did Israel become a country with an intense divide between the secular and the ultra-religious? We went to the Kotel, I touched it, I said the Shema, I tried to feel but felt nothing but emptiness. 

Last night we had services with the HUC students who are currently studying in Israel, about 50 of them. I have not been to a Friday night service is quite some time because there is nowhere in Los Angeles like what I experienced last night. Singing, praying, clapping, smiling, feeling, with fellow young adults who have dedicated their life to being professional Jews, this is my Judaism! 

So why should I care about what goes on in Israel? One of the comments made to me was 'look at all then hope! Things might seem bleak but they are getting better, little by little'. But why should I spend my money, time, and energy helping to make another country better? Another country that is just as backward as its neighbors, that turns its back on Jewish values, clear Torah based Jewish values, for the interest of the few religious extremist. I say let them have it, let the Haradi continue to take over Israel and then when there are no other people to support them, let them figure out what to do. How dare they ask to be supported from cradle to grave by people they consider heretics, unclean, non-Jews. Lets start this Jewish experiment somewhere else becuase this is not working. 

One thing that I've noticed which might help Israel get on the right track is the underlining purpose for our visit, the civil sector. For so long being a part of government was not something regular citizens thought about and in that vacume religious extremism grew and hijacked the state. Secular Israelis are now waking up and they are pissed. There is hope but its not my hope to have. 

I have a somewhat unique perspective. Many of my classmates have much stronger ties to Israel- family, friends, significant time sent here, well versed in Hebrew, and therefore have the perspective that yes Israel has its problems but so does America and we should love Israel and work for its preservation despite its flaws, as you can tell, I do not agree. In addition, not many of my classmates immerse themselves in American politics and news the way I do and personally I would rather spend my energy fighting for the rights of people who live in America.

Another aspect of this that frustrates me is that yesterday we heard from a gentlemen who explained the Israeli political system to us. Complicated and very different than the US's, I was left with the prevailing question, who is Israel for? I raised the question to my classmates, that if this is a Jewish state, how come not every Jew has a vote in Israeli politics? The common response I received is that we do not live here and would not feel the consequences of our votes but there are many other ways to be involved with organizations who do have influence in Israeli politics. Well that makes a lot of sense... instead of being formally involved in the land that is supposed to be for all Jews, just maneuver around and be involved informally. This simply makes no sense to me- a Jewish state for the Jewish people should invovle every and all Jewish persons, period.

In the interest of respecting your time I will end here. As our trip continues, we will be exploring this idea of peoplehood and why Jews in the diaspora should care about Israel. Maybe in the next week someone can convince me of such. For now my disconnectedness to this land remains strong and my commitment to my community in Los Angeles, living and being an example to others of true Jewish values, to being the Jewish voice for issues in America, to ensuring that the greatest democracy in the world can be even greater, remains my passion and drive. 

Shavua tov :)

What is the underlining purpose here?

In comparing these last two days, I struggle. I struggle between defining Israel as a state in which Judaism is to be preserved and a state in which Jewish values are at the utmost expression. All my life I believed the later, as I study I believe the former.

The ultra-Orthodox, those who observe the laws of the Torah to the letter and devote their lives to study, are called Haradi in Israel- a term I only recently became familiar with. This population in Israel is about 1 million people (1/6th the population) and because of the laws in Israel they are 'taken care of' for their entire lives. As I've come to understand it, this was originally set up for a few hundred Jews with the notion that they are preserving Judaism in its truest form given the atrocities the Jewish people faced. This population has exploded and is now a growing social issue in Israel.

55% of Haradi men are unemployed and regardless of the number of years they receive in religious education, it is equivalent to 0-4 years of public education when translated to the job market. This leads to intense re-distribution of wealth in order to support this growing population. Our last stop yesterday was to the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel, an economic think tank mostly funded by the Joint Distribution Center. This is where these numbers became very real.

Our morning had begun at the Kiryat Ono College where there is a push to educate Haradi students in secular subjects so that they might have the tools to enter the work force and provide for themselves. This is a difficult task as the Hardai see themselves as purposely separate from modern society, as it is morally corrupt and their purpose is of a higher caliber in the preservation of Judaism and the Jewish people. This college also educates Ethiopian Jewish students and integrates them into studies with the rest of the Israeli student population. As with other nonprofits doing good work, it was great to hear from the college and their view point on educating Israel's population.

Yesterday's visits coupled with the previous days activities led me to the place I am now as expressed at the begining of my post. Although it is clear to many of my other classmates why the Haradi community is the way that it is, I do not have the in-depth institutional knowledge on the issue. What I do know is that a large percentage of the Israeli population does not have to work while there is a population of immigrants and refugees who want nothing more than to work and be a productive member of Israeli society.

This is my struggle. Is Israel here to preserve Judaism, in-turn supporting a population devoted to the study of Judaism, even to the detriment of the rest of Israeli society or is it a state in which living Jewish values for all inhabitants, regardless of race or religion (or religious sect for that matter), is of the utmost importance?

Thoughts? Which should it be? This is clearly a loaded question as I am writing it from my perspective, not a necessarily un-biased appropriate survey question, but the question I will keep with me as we continue to study.

On a lighter note, we also visited a modern day Kibbutz named Tammuz. The inhabitants do not work on this Kubbutz, they have non-agricultural jobs outside, they do however live together, celebrate together, deal with finances together, and make decisions together. The one defining element of the presentation was the emphasis on discussion, study, and dialogue. They have no formal rules or constitution or written foundational values, every decision (although ultimately a personal one) is a discussion among the collective. Our presenter did not like our hypothetical questions as the community is quite rational and together come up with solutions to problems as they arise.

They are compised of 14 families and was founded 25 years ago. To put it in a different context, imagine you belong to a small Synagogue but everyone else who belongs to it lives around the Synagogue or imagine permenant camp with families. In essence, this is socailism on a small scale. I think it's great! :)

I imagine for my life a similar situation when Barak moves to Los Angeles and we are able to find a small community of Jewish young adults whom we will meet regularly, celebrate holidays and life cycle events, study Judaism, and discuss the ups and downs of our lives together. I am also very blessed to have this currently in a group of friends whose company I do not get to enjoy as often as I would like but I envision as my life becomes more stable that this will be a constant in my life.

What I liked most, and what most don't like about socialism, is the financial aspect. This is the biggest difference between this Kibbutz and the havarah I currently enjoy or will enjoy in the future. Everyone's pay checks go into the same account and each family (depending on the number of children) gets a specific amount for their personal budget. The remainder is saved or used for communal purposes, i.e. food, electric bills, health bills, rent, etc. There is also an open account where community members can be reimbursed for various work or necessity expenses.

Ah, what a life where I do not have to worry about taxes!! A life where I work and am given just the net amount left after all other expenses are taken care of- for me, this is a dream, a very relaxing one. He spoke about a member losing his job and the fact that he did not have to rush to find any position to be able to support his family, that the collective was able to support him until he was able to find a job which ended up being better than the one he was fired from.

Lucky for me, I have a wonderful boyfriend who will take care of all those things for me, right Barak?? Nah, I really have no problem dealing with my finances and the rosy picture painted I'm sure has underlining issues. Would I actually ever live inthe Kibbutz like this, probably not, will I seek out a communal way of life, however that looks in the states, absolutely!

On an ending note there have been a few things here in Israel I'd like to take with me. For one, I have eaten more pickles in the last four days than I think I have ever in my entire life, they are soooooooo good :) There are also phrases I use on an hourly basis I'd like to keep in my vernacular- Toda and Toda Raba (thank you and thank you very much), Shlecha (sorry or excuse me), and Betzeder (my favorite- it's ok or it's alright). Lastly, their toilets are awesome, two flushing options, not a lot of water wasted and they have solar water heaters on every roof (come on SoCal this is a no brainer!).

Today we focus on politics but only till 1:00pm because it is Shabbat! Yeah!! This means I get to see friends who are studying at the HUC in Jerusalem, go shopping, and enjoy a wonderful Shabbat service, I am quite excited :) Today and tomorrow comprise of far more down time than we've enjoyed these past few days and I feel very blessed to not only be able to spend it in Israel but with my wonderful, intelligent, insightfully, interesting, another i word I can't think of, classmates and teachers.

Shabbat Shalom :)

Do not oppress the stranger, for you were a stranger in the land of Egypt

Yesterday was a long day full of a variety of different activities. We first heard from Avi Armoni the former director of the New Israel Fund and the Museum of Jewish Peoplehood. He spoke about the 3rd sector (Nonprofits, NGOs, civily society) and the specific statistics associated (listed at the end of the post). What I found most interesting about his presentation was the emphasis he put on the influence Jews in the US have had on Israeli society in terms of being active in government. Avi explained that when he was younger the activity of the government was something you just accepted and felt as if you had no influence over. This sentiment has changed and Israelis have adopted a similar advocacy culture (as seen by their tent protests), where they feel as if their actions can make a difference.

For Avi and his family there are a few truths they live by- numbers matter, civil society matters, the only platform that can make a difference is the political platform, values of philanthropy, and the development of nonprofit professionals is important. These are very telling aspects of how the mindset of Israelis are changing. One of the last things Avi mentioned was the evolution of a 4th sector, businesses employing previously unemployable people (physically or mentally handicapped). This is evident that the lines between public, business, and the civil sector are blurring and there is more collaboration than competition- the theme of our world today.

From that presentation, we went to A.D. Gordon Elementary, a school for predominantly Russian speaking immigrant children. When we got there the children were lined up and ready to sing us some Hanukkah songs (in English, Hebrew, and Russian) and did a dance for us. It was the cutest thing ever! Afterward, we were able to talk to some of the older students about their experience, what they hope to do when they grow up, their favorite subject, ect. They were very eager to speak with us and we were quite impressed by their English!

When the students left we spoke with the principle about the nature of the school. They are a public school funded by the government. Soon the school will be opening it's doors to non-Russian speaking Israelis with the hope of helping to integrate the Russian speaking students into Israeli society (even though they will enter an integrated school after 6th grade). I thought it was interesting that the goal of the school was one- to provide a place for Russian speaking immigrant children to attend school with other Russian children and two- to assimilate these children into Israeli society, leaving it up to their parents to teach them any Russian culture they wish to retain. This made me a little sad, I think the idea of giving these children an opportuntiy to begin their education with other Russian children so that they are able to enter the larger Israeli society, well educated while retinaing their Russian culture. However, the view is that if you live in Israel you should be Israeli and that this school is destined to be like every other.

Lunch was in the central bus station in South Tel Aviv, very delicious falafel!! This is also the area where a majority of the immigrant community live. There we met with Meslia, an aid and information center for the foreign community and refugees, and heard about the 40,000 immigrant population who live in South Tel Aviv, 80,000 in all of Israel. They are funded 25% from the Israeli government and therefore are not able to do advocacy work or speak against the practices of the government. What they do do is provide absorption services in an attempt to provide basic human rights (as defined by the UN) to the refugee and immigrant population.

The women we met with spoke specifically about the way immigrant children are cared for before they are old enough to enter the public school system. For the first three years of most immigrant children's lives (about 1,000 children), they spend their days in a single room with about 40 other children and a single caregiver. This puts these children at a severe disadvantage as they begin school significantly behind their peers, reverberating throughout their lives, because they do not play or learn, these day cares are more of a 'holding room' while the parents work. Many children die in these facilities because of the lack of available and proper care. The conditions she showed us were quite upsetting and Mesila has been able to both open 3 appropriate day care facilities and help educate caregivers on the proper way to provide daycare.

I'm grateful that there is an organization who works to help mitigate these problems but it makes me sad that the Jewish government and people are not more involved with helping provide a better start for these people in Israel. I am also grateful that the immigrant population in the US for the most part do not experince this. Our issue is that we are now faced with a population of immigrant children who are literate and able to be productive members of society but we are not allowing them to do so legally.

Lastly, we visited Bina, an organization that emphasized social justice and study. They have many programs for Israelis and non-Israelis to study and volunteer in the immigrant community with the focus of helping to make their lives better. We examined different texts that speak to helping the stranger, the oppressed, and the orphan. Discussion ensued from there about Israel's responsibility to these populations and how the issue should be approached when looking at it through a Jewish lens.

I found it interesting that none of the quotes used were from the Reform movement or had a Reform tint. In addition, Rabbi Laura Geller brought up that this issue is a real test of how 'we' as Jews are to run a country. For so long we were the minority, powerless to influence the way the country in which we lived was run. Now we are not in that position and we do have the power to create policies and programs that reflect Jewish values. Sadly, this is how the Jewish people are choosing to deal with this problem.

As I write this, we are on our way to Kiryat Ono College to discuss the ultra-Orthodox (Hareidi) community in relation to the Ethiopian population and the education they provide to Israelis. More to come from today's adventures!!

NGO Stats:

34,000 NGOs, 236,152 employees, 29% education, 15% culture, 15% religious services, 12% welfare, 10% philanthropy foundations, 3% health, 70% are providing services, 4% advocacy- 20% of GDP, 12% of labor force, 60 billion shekels

volunteer force = 40,000 jobs, 32-35% volunteer, 160 hours a year, 22% to security, 43% welfare, % health

Income 25% fees for service, 10% contributions

"I'm not as rich as I deserve to be"- quote from Ari I thought was interesting

77% of Israeli adults contribute- values based and emotional relation to need drive volunteering- average $1,000 shekels per year per adult - door to door solicitation is commen and works
with increae wealth, not necessarily increase giving

NGOs have transformed the nature of the country that goes way beyond services, world Jewery participates in all things Israel

More similar than I thought

In the summer of 2011, almost a half million people protested the economic inequality in Israel, sparked by an increase in the price of cottage cheese. As a result, free education was extended to begin at 3 years old (previously 5 years old) and the tax rate for coporations were frozen.

The current income and economic inequality was the topic of our lecture today by Valeria Seigelshifer, the advocacy director for Adva Center, a policy research center with a focus on equality and social justice in Israel. The root cause of this inequality in Israel dates back to the 70's oil crisis. Since then, Israel has continually moved away from the welfare state it was established as to become more privatized and business oriented.

This is a fundemental difference between Israel and the US. The US was never established as a welfare state, however, since 2001, US policy has shifted to favor the private sector. This has resulted in increasingly widening income inequality and the recession we continue to enjoy. Inequality- more money at the top than in the remainder of society collectively. This was not the vision of the founders in Israel and I do not believe this was the vision of the founders in the US.

Clearly there are many differences between Israel and the US, more persisely the presence of the military. I just finished listening to the 'Twilight of the Elites' by Chris Hayes, in which he mentiones the distance between those who serve in the miliatry and those who make decisions about the military (i.e. upper class politicians). Because they are so removed, they and their children do not serve, their decisions are disconnected from the effects of those decisions felt by those who serve and their families. He also highlighted the intense variation between the view of those political representatives who had served (far more anti-war) than those who have not. The US's miliatry is voluntary and largely privatized, the Israeli army is largely mandatory and completely government run (althought I am not an expert in this area so I many be incorrect, this is just what I was told).

The US too had a large social movement, the Occupy Movement, and I am jealous to see that the movement in Israel was able to result in actual policy changes where as Occupy lead to.... oh that's right, nothing. People can argue that it lead to awareness, but as our Jewish sages have taught me, what is awareness without action??

Pointedly, there is of course no simple answer to solve all of the US's problems as we continue to debate how to appropriately cut social services, military spending and raise taxes to begin to balance our budget. What is interesting is that our income inequality and social unrest will not be solved with a balanced budget. Our discussions during this seminar will continue as we attempt to define what the role of the public sector (government) verses the role of the civil society (the nonprofit sector) verses the business sector (or private sector). Where are those lines and how can they all collaborate to make a better society as a whole, if that is ineed the desired end result.

For me, it's all about education. If the argument from the right is that every individual has the responsibility to take care of themselves and if they are poor it is of their own doing and the argument from the left is that it is the responsibility of the government to take care of those who fall through the cracks, my solution is education. If the US has a strong public school education system, every child will be given the appropriate tools to 'help themselves' and less people will fall through the cracks, balancing the budget!! (that's sarcasm :) We are unfortunately a long way away from making that a reality and recreating the middle class but what I do know is that more social services cuts won't get us there.

What's your solution? What change might lead to lower income inequality in the US or Israel? Is income inequality what needs to be changed and if not than what?

For the rest of our afternoon, we joined Leket Israel, an organizaiton who collects unused food from weddings, events, hotels, ect. to redistribute to poor communities and food banks. In addition, the organization gleans left over food from fields to provide fresh produce which would have otherwise been left to rot. Together we picked a row of clementines filling a crate and a half, about 1,340 lbs, which will go to 200+ families in food baskets.

It was a great experience and reminded me of going apple picking with Barak a few months ago, I even got to eat a clementine! It made me think a lot about what nonprofit service might be missing in Los Angeles. There is an organizaiton called Food Forward who gleans from private residence all over LA, donating to local food banks, as well as many other food banks that re-distribute produce. I also know there are tight regualtions on a venue being able to donate left over food for the fear that the food might make the recipent ill, without knowing who was responsible. So whether or not this model would work in Los Angeles is a difficult question, what I do know is that it is making a difference to the disenfranchised here in Israel.

Looking at who we are through a different lens

I am sitting among many models of Synagogues around the world with a recording of collective Hebrew prayers playing in the background.

I am sitting in the Beit Hatfutsot: The Museum of the Jewish People, created in 1978 to represent the Jews in the diaspora, the museum has not been updated since.

I am sitting in a rather comfortable chair after eating a very Israeli lunch and having not slept since Saturday night, trying to keep my eyes open, very open.

I am sitting alone.

I am sitting in the land of Israel.

As our group was so wonderful guided through this aging museum by David Mendelson, title here, I couldn't help but think about what I would want to say to Israelis about life in the diaspora as a Jew, if I were to design this museum. I would want to reflect my own Jewish experience, summer camp, youth group, modern Synagogues, speeches by my favorite Rabbis, Jewish nonprofit organizaitons, and the Jewish university in which I currently study. I would want to convey how happy I am as a Jew in the diaspora.

The museum ends with the idea that all the Jews in the diaspora will eventually make their way to the land of Israel and that the diaspora will be a thing of the past. I take this, of course, with a grain of salt because of the aging nature of the museum. However, I can not break away from this idea. In my wonderful Jewish history class, we talked about Jewish nationalism before Israel was a state. Many nationalist were purponants of assimilation and living in the diaspora, that is until a Jew was targeted for a crime they did not comit and the entire host nation turned against the whole Jewish community. That was the Jewish problem these nationalist were trying to solve by having an autonomious Jewish state, anti-semitism.

One of my classmates and I spoke about this idea today that nowhere is safe for Jews, the idea that no matter where we live, persecution will eventually follow and all Jews will make their way to the land of Israel for it will be the only safe place in the world for Jews. This is the exact opposite message I would want to send Israelis from the diaspora.

I don't live with anti-semitism, I live with the opposite. I live in a world where I watch movies and tv shows that make regular references to Jews and Jewish culture. I live in a world where Jews are promenant politicians on both sides of the isle. I live in a world where the President throws a Hanukkah party! I live in a world without anti-semitism, outside of the land of Israel (where I could argue one might experience more anti-semitism than I have).

The fear then is that this world I live in, my bubble in Los Angeles, is but a temporary farce and at any moment the tides could turn as they have done time and time again in our collective history. And when that happens, the Jews of Los Angeles will flock to Israel for refuge, as many non-Jews do today. Nevertheless, if I were to send one message about the diaspora, it would be that Jewish life outside of Israel is flourishing in a million different directions, growing strong Jewish identities among our people.

What would you want to add to Beit Hatfutsot (diaspora)? What message would you want to send Israelis about life as a Jew in the diaspora?

Not quite 'political' but the best nonetheless!

I started this blog in 2009 when I graduated college and was feeling worthless as a waitress. I've since neglected the best blog and chose to use it to write about my trip to Israel (starting tomorrow). When I came back to it I found that over 2,000 people had viewed it and 51 this past month from the US, Russia, Spain, and Australia. I suppose that's what a good title gets you since I have not written a post in 2 years!

That being said, 2013 is upon us as I sit in the airport awaiting my flight to Newark. There I get to spend 7 wonderful hours with my boyfriend Barak (get it, Barak and Michelle- feel free to laugh out loud :) and then it is off  to Israel with my classmates for 14 days, then back to Jersey for New Years and our 1 year anniversary : D THEN to Sacramento (Rockville to be specific) to see my sister Kim and my 10 month nephew, this is my idea of a perfect break!!

Today is also the day I finished my last final from my first semester of graduate school. For those who don't know, in June I began a duel masters program at Hebrew Union College's School of Jewish  Nonprofit Management and USC's Price School of Public Policy (Masters in Jewish Nonprofit Management and a Masters in Public Administation). It's a mouthful and as you can imagine a lot of work! However wonderful my experience has been, this is not the topic I wish to discuss here. I'm going to Israel- what does that mean to me as an American Jew? Lets explore!

I've found it weird to tell non-Jews that I am going to Israel. Not that it's a bad thing, I get the normal 'oh, great' reaction but regardless I'm left feeling as if I'm a religious weirdo. When I tell Jews they get excited for me and concerned for my safety. A few weeks ago as rockets flew toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I sat on the phone with my mom and FaceTime (apple's Skype) with Barak and cried because I did not want to go, I was truley concerned about my saftey. Alas, the fighting stopped and the trip was not canceled, so here I am... going to Israel...

I like Los Angeles, I like being a Jew in Los Angeles! No rockets here :) The weather is beautiful, there is a huge tight-knit Jewish community, you can be any kind of Jew you want to be and you'll be fully accepted, you don't have to know another language, I don't have to serve in an army, and for the most part we enjoy a relative courtesy like lines and saying your sorry when you bump into someone. This is my dilemma as an American Jew. I love that there is a place where Hebrew is a spoken language, Jews are looked at as strong, and you can visit historical sites that you feel a connection to. But beyond that I'm pissed... there are so many elements of the way Israel operates that do not in any way reflect my Judaism and I think the founders would roll in their graves if they knew how Israel was being run. Women being arrested at the Wall?? Reform Rabbis are not considered Rabbis nor are the marrages they perform?? Reform congregations can only get state support under the 'recreation' budget line?? Israelis growing up in Israel with no religious Jewish identity?? Sending refugees back to their genocidal country to die?? These elements keep my heart in the west, in Los Angeles.

All that being said, I look forward to exploring all these things and more on my trip. I hope my perspective can be changed and when I write my last blog post I will be able to articulate a different, more educated point of view (I'm not sure if I'll ever change my feelings about LA though). Here are the topics we will be covering:

*Issues in Modern Israeli Society: Responses from the Nonprofit Sector
*The Peoplehood Paradim: The Changing Agenda in Israel Diaspora Relations
*Challenges to the Social Fabric in Israel: Social Justice
*Diverse Populations
*Religious-Sector Diversity Focusing on Hareidi (Orthodox Jews) and Secular
*Israeli Political System and Current Realties
*Shabbat: Jewish Public Space
*Socail Entrepreneurship in the Arena of Israeli Nonprofits
*Training Leaders of the Next Generation
*Enhancing Jewish Peoplehood
*The Emerging Peoplehood Agenda: Changing the Relationship Between Israel and the Diaspora

Lastly, I have to give a shout out to Richard Siegel, the Director of the School of Jewish Nonprofit Mangement, Mandi Richardson, Associate Director of SJNM, Mikaela Bender, SJNM Administrative Assistant, other HUC staff and the JCC staff in Israel for their tireless hard work in making this trip possible. I feel so very blessed to not only be able to go on this trip but to be able to study at HUC with a group of amazing people. Thank you! :)

I will be posting as often as I can throughout my trip, wifi allowing, and if all goes well posting more about politics when I return. That being said I close this blog with tears welling up in my eyes at the thought of the tragedy that bestowed our nation today as 30 people senselessly lost their lives. I pray that the memory of those lost will live on in the hearts and minds of their loved ones and that our nation can eventually figure out how to stop these things from happening (on what seems like) a monthly basis.

Shabbat Shalom! Have a wonderful reflective weekend and hug your loved ones tight!

**PLEASE excuse any misspellings or typos, I will do my best to edit my posts but I am typing from an iPad into a Google application, which as we all know is far from perfect :)

The House Gets Taken Over By Republicans - Good Luck!

Republicans think they can do it better and the American people believe them. Now here is their chance to really fix all of American's problems with all their great ideas!


Idea's like huge tax cuts for the wealthy adding billions of dollars on to the deficit, repealing health care reform so children with cancer will have to get a job to pay for their health bills, and of course keeping that great policy of 'Don't ask - Don't tell’ because the military is much better off without those gays getting in the way.

Oh - and we get to watch an oversize ompa loompa decide how to run a section of the government. This should be entertaining! One way Obama can make sure that Republicans can be seen for their true colors is to just agree with them, all of the time - that way the Republicans will be left with no ideas at all nothing to show for themselves except their discontent for the American President (Nobel Peace Prize winning American President, by the way).

I'm so excited for these next two years, for Republicans to really show us what they've got, that THEY know how to fix the slow growing economy, that they can bring millions of job miraculously back to America by giving really rich people more money to createcheaper jobs overseas because it’s better for business that way *cough* Meg Whitman *cough*. They have spent the last 2 years whining like babies (Nut Gingrich anyone? - I'm only 23 and I remember what happen last time)- that no one is listening to them - that no one cares what they have to say - and that Democrats are big bullies trying to push their crazy socialist agendas on all of America.

The problem does not lie with the Republicans - they are only the loudest voice in the room. The problem I fear is with the Democrats - their fight for what is right is a quiet one. They do not boast about their accomplishments, they do not highlight the good work they have done as legislators; they do not tout their frustrations with an opposition that simply wants them to fail at everything. Democrats sense of standing up for what is right is done in a way that they are not the loudest voice in the room or the voice that gets the most attention - except for the few brave ones *cough* Anthony Weiner *cough* - who choose to use their voice to gain media attention to bring to light the unfair politics that have been occurring in Washington.

I know Obama is going to get re-elected, that I am not worried about. He is a strong intellectual man who stands up for what is right not based on ideology or blind faith, he stands up for what is right through pure humility in connecting with people on a deeper level than any other president and he knows how to give a speech!

Obama is not who I am worried about - Republicans are not who I am worried about - it is the American people who have been blinded by ignorant hate, by acid words, and by fear filled propaganda. To use Glen Becks homage to WWII - do you ever wonder how an entire country could have participated in the systematic inhalation of 12 million people in a few years? Now I am in no way equating what the right wing does as ever possibly being able to cultivate such strong hatred as to ever reach this level of evil - I am however asking that you open your mind to see how it was possible 60+ years ago with similar campaigns fueled by the rich, similar media propaganda spewed by those who lack the maturity to compromise, similar finger pointing to a single set of people who are the root cause of all the problems our society faces??

No, Republicans it is your turn. You are in power. You are the ones who will take the blame, who will take the fall, who will loose and this time you will not be able to hide behind Democrats for your failures. And don't think for one minute that Democrats will not be right behind you doing the good work they do with the American people's best interest at heart - the quite voices, the humble policy makers, with the well informed and the disenfranchised by their side.

Or maybe you'll succeed - maybe you'll somehow create jobs, lower the unemployment rate, bring prosperity back to America, and once again we will be a strong economic front to the world. All in all, it's a win-win situation - the down side, this continued stalemate of our government, the continued decline in our material wealth and global strength, the continued bloodshed of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the continued policy of 'NO', and the continued suffering of so many Americans needlessly- this would be the greatest loss for the next two years...

I apologize for the length of this post, I have been off the blog radar for some time but now that I have internet in my home I am back, I will be getting the facts, I will be deciphering the opinions and I will be following the issues. More to come, thanks for playing :)

Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council Stakeout, on the situation in Darfur

Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council Stakeout, on the situation in Darfur

Time to Conga!!

Last night, the Jewish World Watch put on an event entitled ‘Conga Line for Congo’ a Mother’s Day women-only dance party for the Jewish community of Los Angeles. Although I was unfortunately unable to attend the event, it began to make me think about the way people respond to humanitarian need and the way Jews respond to tragedy.

For the women of the Congo who have suffered unspeakable life altering events, a dance party in the city of Los Angels on their behalf might seem a little off to some people. ‘Why are these people dancing around and having a party, while there are thousands of people suffering?’ or ‘what is a dance party suppose to do for the situation in the Congo?’

In my experience with Judaism, tragedy and celebration are closer than one might think. For example, when commemorating the Shoah or Holocaust, the very next day is Israel’s Independence Day, full of celebrations and parties. Judaism seems to realize that tragedy happens and however horrific, life continues and life is wonderful!

At the present moment, organizations are scrambling to get the funding and necessary attention to the country of Haiti who’s people are still experiencing the repercussions of the massive earthquake that hit their under developed country five months ago. When the earthquake first hit and the preceding weeks everyone was willing to donate, via text or through their religious institution or telethons, etc. Now, everyone has ‘done Haiti’ and the situation does not seem so drastic- the need not so needed- and the support has died down.

This is why we need events like ‘Conga Line for Congo’ or ‘Hats off for Haiti’ or ‘Kickball for Kentucky’- because people want to be engaged in many different ways so that their interest in helping others does not dwindle. With any tragedy comes hope, comes the celebration of life, comes the need to more forward in the best way possible.

So what would the women in the Congo think about the Jewish World Watch’s ‘Conga Line for Congo’ event? In my opinion, they are probably happy to know that someone cares enough to mobilize their community in support of helping make their lives better. Along with the many other events the Jewish World Watch puts on- activist protests, educational speakers, direct victim relief- a dace party for women on Mother’s Day seems to be the perfect way to keep the community involved and informed about the situation in the Congo while continuing to enjoy life- mothers, daughters, and sisters together for one purpose- so that the mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, and brothers of the Congo can live in peace and have a dance party of their own!

The Congo Initiative

Hello again ‘Best Blog’ readers! After a brief stint as the Assistant Director of a call center that does telephone fundraising for non-profit groups, I am once again in pursuit of a fulfilling, professional, challenging, and exciting job with a non-profit organization (none of which were the case with the position I held at Telefund). I could go into detail about that experience, however, I think it best to look forward and move on to put my efforts toward the greatest good.

My junior year in college I did an internship with an organization called the Jewish World Watch. The organization was founded by a retired lawyer after an inspiring High Holiday speech at her local Synagogue. From the foundation, their goal has been to mobilize the community in order to do three things: Educate the community about genocidal situations, Advocate for better legislation through public policy, and provide Refugee Relief for those who have suffered from genocidal situations.

Their initial focus was on the situation in Sudan, more specifically the southern Darfur region. The situation goes as such- the villages of the people living in the Darfur regions were being raided by government supported Janjaweed militia for the purpose of displacing the people of the region- all because they had resources those in the north did not have access to.

Flash to October 2004- as the JWW joins other organizations like ‘SaveDarfur.org’- uniting communities for public activism for Darfur, ‘24HoursForDarfur.org’- an online video/ story based organization, ‘EyesOnDarfur.org’- Amnesty International’s response to the situation, and ‘DarfurIsDying.com’- an interactive online experience where you are a Darfuian refugee who has to forage for water, food, shelter, and remain healthy to raise awareness. What is unique about the Jewish World Watch is the Jewish part. A common theme taught in Judaism is the concept of Tikkun Olam, or fixing the world- the JWW harnesses these ideals within the Jewish community to do its part to help the situation.

In the last six years, the Jewish World Watch has mobilized more than 60 Synagogues and more than 2,500 individuals in unity to end the genocide in Darfur. Unfortunately, the situation continues…

More recently, the JWW has taken on the situation in the Dominic Republic of Congo, as a necessary situation that needed more spotlight within the Los Angeles and Jewish community. But why? Don’t we have other problems to deal with?? The US’s economy is still in shambles, the congress still can’t pass any legislation (easily), there are gallon and gallons of oil spilling out all over the gulf coast, earthquakes, volcano’s, tornados, OY VEY! Why- why the Congo, why Africa, why should we pay attention??

Now- take your iPhone, open it up and dismantle it’s parts, ok maybe you won’t go that far- get out your electronic x-ray machine and take a closer look at the newest electronic. Whether it is apparent to you or not, every new iPhone contains minerals such as gold, tin, lithium, and tungsten- all of which are mined out of the Congo. Thanks to the liberal magazine Mother Jones, people can be more aware of the true price of an iPhone- http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/03/scary-truth-about-your-iphone. This is the source of why we, as Americans, and me as a Jew should care about the situation in the Congo- we are all a part of what fuels the ever burning fire.

The Congo is different- the German’s targeted Jews, the Turk’s targeted Armenians, the Janjaweed targeted Darfurians- in the Congo everyone is at risk. With the high demand for the mineral rich land of the Congo, anyone who gets in the way- or doesn’t- is at risk of being slaughtered, displaced, or worse. The women of the region suffer the most- repeated rapes, watching their children be murdered or turned into the very soldiers who assaulted her in the first place.

So this isn’t my normal blog- my normal opinion about the new immigration law in Arizona being unconstitutional or Goldman Sacs giving three million excuses because they know they’ve been caught and are about to be punished for being thieves or how for some reason I don’t believe that a man who beats other men to a bloody pulp didn’t hurt his ex-porn star pill addicted baby’s momma. But it is the most important thing that I’ve written about yet. Next time you use your electronics- 33.75 MILLION iPhones sold to date- think about the lives of women, men, and children- think about murder and greed- think about unsatisfyable wealth and unstable government- think about gang rape and being burned all over your body- think about doing something!

As for me- I’m still in search of my purpose- ‘the little flame that lights a fire under our a**’ (Avenue Q). Whether it be as a youth worker or social justice advocate- I know what my purpose isn’t- to simply make money. No matter what I end up doing with my life, I know that I will never stop caring about other human lives and doing whatever I can to ensure that everyone has the same rights and privileges I have had living in America. With a new puppy, Shlomo, my one year old cat Kit-Kat, and my loving boyfriend Colin- I know I am on the right track!!

As the War Turns

Today our President announced his plan to increase troops in Afghanistan by 30,000 soldiers- totaling over 100,000 troops fighting the extremist Afghanistan’s who hate America. All in the name of safety for American civilians.

As conservative and liberals all weigh in on President Obama’s decision, I can’t help but think about what everyone would say if Obama were to announce the opposite strategy:

“Today, I announce the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan within the next six months- we will turn our focus to American’s at home and use our resources to better the lives of the people living and struggling in this great country. We will continue to promote the stability of the Afghan government but the toll this war has taken on our country has been immeasurable and has to come to an end.”

My words are not as eloquent or suave as President Obama’s might have been- maybe cheers would have filled Westpoint, as relieved soldiers hugged their families knowing that they will not be put in harms way against an unclear enemy in a corrupt nation. Maybe they could start to think about their lives finally continuing, not being afraid of even their own comrades turning on them or their fellow soldiers turning on themselves.

This is not what happened- instead the American people get AT LEAST two more years of American flag draped coffins, staggering numbers of soldier suicide, fear, and a room full on droopy eyed young adults having to call their loved ones and say they love them and goodbye for what could be the last time. All for the fear that if this is not done that America is vulnerable to another attack like the one we all experienced on 9/11.

Does this also mean two more years of unfathomably climbing debt? Two more years of increasing job loss? Two more years of American hunger, disease, under education, and strife?

And what if it doesn’t work? What if 2011 comes and goes with American soldiers still fighting and dying? What if this great nation continues to collapse onto its self and dig its self into a hole we can not climb out of? Worst yet- what if we ARE attacked and we only have 20,000 troops here in America to help?

We will have FIVE TIMES more troops on our offensive line than we will on our defensive line- and this makes us some how less vulnerable to attack- less likely to live in fear- more prepared to fight?

With so many questions and less answers- Obama is acting more like a pastor asking us all to drink his special blend of cool aid. (Now that might be extreme but it was the best example I could come up with, bear with me)

FAITH- have FAITH cries Obama- BELIEVE what I say- I KNOW I am making the right decision-

Not that any of us really have a say- not like anything we could do would change his mind and find a way to not be at war any more. Flex our intellectual strength, create a strong display of scientific discovery, show mortality rates increase and literacy becoming wide spread.

So now the American people have to believe in this, very un’CHANGE’d, decision that I could see John McCain or former President Bush making. This is NOT the Change I believe in.

But I’m an American and he is our President. We’re continuing this war in hopes that it will stabilize an unstabilizable nation, bring Afghanistan to a place where we could leave and not feel guilty about being there is the first place. Bring our troops home to a nation not in turmoil- a nation prospering and offering education and job opportunity. By the end of President Obama’s first term, we will look back on this decision (as we do now about the Iraq surge) and know it was for the better and that we are not only safer but better off having sent more troops to Afghanistan.

Somehow, I’m still afraid for the people of America- not from foreign attack but from spontaneously imploding onto ourselves- and Obama being blamed.

He’s a good person, a good president between a rock and a hard place- and that’s where he remains with this decision- stuck…

Tuesday's With Politics- Getting Down To Business

September 13^th, 2009

My Six Month Goals:

- Run 5 successful youth group events and make the youth a vital part of the community

  (2 down and yes)

- Run for at least an hour twice a week and/or join a gym or yoga studio

  (I now run about 3 times a week for an hour and a half)

- Either find a full-time job or embrace my current employment situation

  (I’m trying really hard)

- Finish at least 1 more book (3 down- 2 in line)

And last but not least:

- Blog at least once a week…

Can you guess which goal I have yet to be able to keep up with? The last blog I wrote was about Senator Wilson’s outburst at the President, ‘You Lie’, during his address to a join session of Congress on September 14^th, 2009. And oh so much has happened…

Why is it so hard to write a blog once a week? I suppose when I started the Blog it was for intellectual vindication for being a college graduate who couldn’t find a job and had to work as a waitress at a small not-very-well-managed restaurant. So when I wrote I posted it everywhere and checked the amount of people who read it almost hourly. Then I got another part-time job and began going on more interviews- somehow blogging didn’t seem as important.

In order to reach my goal I have to forget about that this blog should validate my intelligence. I don’t blog for approval, I blog because I find myself yelling or cheering at the television as news stories break and- well, things happen. So I’m going to write this blog- every Tuesday- and that will be that, if you like it, please read, if not that’s ok too.

That being said- what’s going on in the world? Health care (still), Afghan war (still), money problems, Presidential visits, and people are dying or almost.

What made me yell at the TV this week? This war- sorry, I should say this occupation. This empire has been supporting and ‘re-building’ two middle eastern countries- aka pouring billions and billions of dollars down the drain, oh sorry not just dollars- our dollars, hard working Americans who can’t find decent jobs or health care dollars. To do what? Kill people who don’t like us- detect road bombs so more soldiers aren’t killed- give all our money to a president who is probably just as corrupt as the people we’re shooting at.

What other sign does the President need to do the right thing and pull out of both Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible? American soldiers are killing themselves- American soldiers are killing other American soldiers- American soldiers are coming home crying for the war to stop- and our country is suffering.

Do the right thing Mr. President- that is the platform you ran your election on and as far as I see it, the way you’ve run the white house for the last year. Stop the occupation- stop ‘don’t ask don’t tell’- concentrate on paying back our debts- help provide basic health care to your citizens- and take our country in the right direction. Please L

Wilson Apologies for Being Right

In Obama's address to a join session of the most influential people in America, one Rep. Joe Wilson decided to voice his opinion loudly in the midst of the President informing the public that some facts about the health care plan were simply not true.

As soon as his outburst was finished, the room erupted in boos and disapproval. If one wants to agree with the President during a speech, that person stands and applauds the President, if someone wants to disapprove they sit in their chair quietly with their arms crossed. Mind you these are the same people who employed others to disrupt town hall meeting, with loud shouting and rude behavior, lead by their colleagues in hopes that this will be too much and people will just drop the issue all together. Maybe he just took advise from his own party on how to handle his disapproval- whats the point of actual intellectual conversation, it never got anyone anywhere...

So Wilson apologized but he apologized like a 9 year old- "President, I'm sorry for yelling at you during your speech- however, you know you are totally wrong and I am totally right"

Haha! Now people want him to apologize publicly and he says "Nope, one is enough. The punishment fits the crime and I apologized to the person I did wrong against". What is wrong with this statement? He needs to go back in time and apologize to the founding fathers of this country, he did not simply yell out at the Executive of a large organization during a fundraising event- he did not send a strongly worded letter to the most prestigious scientist in the world- he shouted out 'YOU LIE' to the President of the United States of America- his Commander in Chief, the MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN AMERICA. And to him one apology is enough.

That is not to mention he has made a mockery of our entire legislative system...

Mr. Wilson does not have to apologize for his display of rudeness toward the president- he's going to pay for it! Already his opponent has raised significant amount of money simply based on the fact that the other guy is an idiot. His opponent didn't even have to campaign yet!

I believe in the justice system, I believe in the legislative system, and I'm beginning to believe in the executive system as well. I believe that people will see this as a blaten disrespect for someone who is simply just trying to make peoples live better and choose not to re-elect Wilson to office. I believe that Wilson will get his justice for his ignorance and bigotry.

So he may not really be sorry- he may not apologize- but he will be on his hands and knees when he can no longer enjoy the plush life of a Representative and will be forever known as the guy who shouted at the President 'YOU LIE'.

If only there were more Joe Wilsons in the previous administration- may Bush would have had to actually apologize for something... maybe not :(

P.S. I just heard the President make excuses for this rude behavior on the radio- what a nice guy!

Gentlemen: Start Your Engines- Here We Go Again!!

I hope everyone enjoyed that hot summer recess from all the health care hoopla. It was a nice break knowing that no matter how much people hollered, nothing was getting passed, no bills were going to get written and no one was working on the matter- well kinda nice. So now congress is headed back, refreshed and ready to figure out what to do about health care reform and the President is two steps ahead of them.

On Tuesday, the President will address the youth of America- emphasizing the importance of education, studying hard, being a productive member of society, and respecting their teachers/ parents.

What? Why? And why now? Oh that's right- his approval rating is slipping because of all this health care non-sense. Only 55% of Americans 'approve' of how Obama is doing in the office of the Presidency. Something MUST be done- hum, should he feed the homeless? maybe play baseball with some orphans, oh oh I got it- he'll address the kids in his most dynamic and charismatic way- that'll get them coming back. Ohhhhh and we'll do it on the first day back at school- get started running.

With this brilliant plan in place, I think Obama's team tended to forget how controversial his policies are at the moment. Although his message is said to be 'health care' free and not out to push any political agenda- this is ALL the president is concerned about right now. He stays popular, his policies get passed. This is not to say that the very unpopular previous president got stupid legislation passed even with an approval rating of around 35%- Obama can only be effective if he is liked.

One of the arguments I heard on the radio today is that it is up to the teachers to lead meaningful and well organized discussions with their students- to digest what is said so that the students have a well-rounded unbiased opinion of politics- what the administration forgets is on the first day of school the teachers just met their students, they are trying to establish a report, their lesson plan and rules, and the last thing they want to think about is coming up with a new discussion based on a speech they are going to be able to read the day before? Effective, very effective :/ Even if the best and brightest teachers lead very meaningful discussions that speak to their students, at the end of the day they go home to their parents...

This is where the educated meaningful understanding conversation should take place- at home. However, some parents are outraged that the President of the United States of America wants to address their kids- how dare he push his political agenda on our youth, he is just trying to recruit them to convince their parents to give 47+ million people a chance to live a healthy life without crushing medical bills. That socialist prick!!

Well there you go, that's the answer- shield your children from any opinion that is different from your own- other opinions are dangerous and might lead to questions and we just can't have that coming out of our school children.

On the morning of 9/11 I walked to my friends house down the street- at this time I found out that a plane had flown into one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center- not really knowing what that was being 14 years old- we hoped into the car and got to school. Everyone was a bit of a buzz but I made it to my first class at 8am. Our English teacher had made the educated decision that education was more important than watching whatever was going on in the news. We did our lesson plan and about 50 minutes later when we were let out of class, we were the only ones in the quad. Everyone else was in their classrooms glued to the television as they watched the destruction continue. I ran to my next class and got caught up on what was going on- after about an hour I called my dad to come pick me up and take me home, bursting into tears in the car.

I will never forget that day and I will never forget my teachers decision to choose education over the news, especially that event. At the time I'm sure he did not realize the magnitude of the situation and might regret the decision as well but it will always effect me.

Obviously this is a very different situation but my point is that if we shield our youth from politics and the outside world, it is only harming them and if anything disconnecting them from politics. This isn't China. This opportunity- although very political to improve Obama's ratings before congress goes back into session to debate health care- is a great opportunity for the youth of America to finally have a role model who isn't looking to wage an unjust undemocratic greedy war.

So he'll give his speech, some kids will still have ignorant parents, and some teachers will have great discussions with their new students- starting the year off strong. Then congress will be back in session and we'll see how it all goes- health care? no health care? public option? no public option? It'll be interesting and we'll be around to watch what happens :)