Think we can't win? You've got another thing coming

No, that's not for the Hawks, although I will be up with Chicagoan Noah and the other roomies tomorrow for the 3 am face-off here, as the Blackhawks and Michigan alum John Madden try to bring Chicago its first Cup in almost 50 years...

Last week's flotilla was merely the latest in a relentless string of can't-win situations for Israel. And we lost quite a bit in the face of a clueless world, giant swaths of which has been brainwashed by their leaders to be violently anti-Semitic.

Our enemies may believe (and are saying) that Israel can't win. They're dead wrong. We will defeat them. Don't mess with me--I've been working out :) That's me on a bike that powers the laundry machine at uber-green Kibbutz Lotan down south in the Arava.

Last week was one of those weeks. When I came to Israel on OTZMA, I experienced the bitter divisiveness that displayed itself with Prime Minister Sharon's plan to disengage from Gaza (which went through three months after I left). One afternoon, I saw a sign at a rally at Jerusalem's Paris Square against the disengagement reading, "If the IDF leaves Gaza, the rockets falling on Sderot will arrive in Ashdod and Beer Sheva." Despite my support at the time for Sharon's plan, that sign of course made me stop and ask myself whether the protestors could be proven correct. And, sure enough, Ashdod and Beer Sheva were attacked a few short years later. Long before I had decided to make aliyah, it became very clear to me that afternoon that living here means moments like that which provide you with a gray hair or three. So let's just say it feels that I got a whole bunch last week. You can't say I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I decided to take my new country for everything that comes with her. I still believe very strongly that I made the correct decision for a more meaningful life.

So last Shabbat provided me with the great opportunity it always does to take 25 hours worth of a deep breath. It was especially sorely needed last Friday to tone down after an emotional week. Saturday and Sunday nights' continuation of the free concert party with Holland's OhnO! Jazzband and Israel's Tabachnik jazz combo also helped immensely. During the Tabachnik show, I got an opportunity to say hi to jazz giant Joe Lovano, who had just headlined the festival's jazz series. He couldn't have been kinder, and was on a high from a great show (guess I'll have to catch the next one).

I'll provide one more barrage of what I feel are important reads. I'd love to hear what you're reading as well. We'll see how long I can hold out, but exams are approaching rather quickly--so don't hold your breath for the next post.

As for concerts, here's a Jerusalem Post Editorial about how best to respond to the latest additions to the concert cancellation list.

Here's Horovitz's Friday column about the flotilla. Krauthammer wonders aloud how the world would like Israel to defend herself here. Yaakov Katz gets into the IDF intelligence failures here. Gil Hoffman details the latest version of Israel v. the world here. Meet the martyrdom seekers onboard here. This Jerusalem Post editorial points out the enormity of the Israeli Supreme Court's legal support of the IDF. Another begs the US to respond fair-mindedly. Details about the anti-Israel hackers, mostly from Turkey, here. Jonathan Spyer decries the world's misplaced condemnation here. Barry Rubin wants the world to think a little deeper before crying for Hamas. David Harris calls out the Free Gaza Movement for what it truly is, namely the official Hamas Fan Club. Tough questions about the affair from an Israeli business paper here. It's at times like these that Caroline Glick's farther-right-from-center-than-my-liking analysis makes sense to me (here she defends Israel's strategic value to the US). This advisor to President Shimon Peres lets buffoon Helen Thomas hear it here. Here, The Israel Project founder and president calls for a wholly new brand of Israel advocacy.

As for the Turkish side of this snafu, Robert Pollock looks into the decline of Turkey here. Here's a wake-up call about the Kurdish victims of Turkey. Harvard Law alum Joel Pollak calls for a legal offensive against Turkey here. This Washington Post editorial surprised me by laying responsibility on Turkey's Erdogan. Here's a long one from Turkey expert Rubin.

If you prefer watching videos to reading (that's cool, go ahead and own that), this depiction is very well done. And I couldn't post without including this satirical video, We Con the World, which my friend Shlomo put together (he and Glick also got singing gigs). Not gonna lie--I personally would've made it a couple minutes shorter, but it's pretty freakin brilliant. Watch out--my roommates and I can't stop singing this catchy ditty to ourselves.

And here's The Israel Project's latest list of Pro-Israel Rallies/Events, as well as AIPAC's Take Action Page. I'd humbly suggest you both Back Israel's Right to Self-Defense, and equally importantly Back Crippling Sanctions on Iran. Thanks so much for getting Israel's back!

With all that, I must wish y'all adieu. Much love from Beer Sheva, gray hairs be damned!
אריק/Eric

I LOVE ISRAEL/אני אוהב את ישראל

This has been a rough week. I heard Sunday night of the passing of Anat Dotan, who staffed my incredible year on OTZMA five years ago. Her smile and the light that she brought into the world will shine on. But it will take some time to come to terms with the tragedy of her passing at the age of 33, one week after the birth of her first son, Rotem Yair (Yair means to illuminate, as he, please G-d, will illuminate the world like his mom did), and two hours before Rotem's brit.

Shortly before heading to her funeral in Kfar Saba, I got news of the flotilla/משט incident. It goes without saying that I regret the deaths of nine passengers of the flotilla. As for the outrageous condemnation that has been showered on Israel since Monday morning...

MY ISRAEL
My Israel is the incredible place where I have, since last Thursday night alone, seen the following:
At the annual Israel Festival, free concerts at the Jerusalem Theater by Kabako (African jazz and dance), Vitaly Podolsky and the Gypsy Drive (always good to hear some accordion on a Saturday night), a celebration of the 200th Argentinian Independence Day featuring Argentinian olah (immigrant to Israel) singer Perla Malkus, and tonight's 40th anniversary of Woodstock celebration of classic rock. Last night's Jerusalem celebration concert (also free) featured the reggae, etc.-influenced Mosh Ben-Ari, as well as pop singers Moshe Peretz and Harel Skat. On the way out, we caught a killer fireworks show at just the right time--with the Knesset spectacularly placed in the background. And in between, I caught a Beer Sheva fundraiser for children with cancer featuring my favorite hip-hop band Hadag Nachash, singers Efrat Gosh and Dudu Tasa, goofy cover band Groove Redemption, and a few others.

My Israel is the country that is providing me with an incredible education: a Master's in Gerontology, studying alongside a passionate, well-seasoned in the field, serious cohort who diligently soak up as much learning as they can for the benefit of Israel's elderly.

My Israel is home to this week's Shavua Ha'Sefer Ha'Ivri/Hebrew Book Week, with all of Israel's major cities celebrating the nerdiness of the bookwormy Jewish people.

My Israel is host to the two rocking weddings of friends I attended over the last two weeks, overflowing with happiness and celebration. There is absolutely nothing to compare to celebrating the beginning of two marriages in Jerusalem, the epicenter of Judaism over the millenia.

My Israel (specifically in my diverse but predominantly national-religious area of Jerusalem) is a place where you can't possibly miss the schedule of the Jewish calendar.

My Israel is home to the world's only Stage for the Deaf-Blind, the NaLag'at Center in Yafo. Well then. I just tried to link to their website (nalagaat.org.il), which has been hacked as a virtual protest for Palestine (as was a friend's company's website). You have to be kidding me. Simply pathetic. If they only realized the beauty of this incredible center that they try to silence. About a month and a half ago, we dined at Cafe Kappish, staffed by hearing-impaired waiters (who taught us lots of sign language), then attended the purely magical "Not From Bread Alone" play. This photo is of the posse with our waiter. My Israel empowers its weak. Let's hear whether there's a theater employing and giving a voice to the deaf and blind in Gaza.

My Israel was the home to tonight's one-of-a-kind evening of a medley of Nelly rap songs over sushi dinner--hand-rolled by my roommates, some of the coolest cats on earth.

An addition with kudos to friend Sara Hirschhorn for calling me out (everyone, please do make this a conversation): My Israel is where I learn from classmate Mohammed about the fascinating family and cultural structure of the Muslim and Bedouin family with regards to its elderly. (Side note: Mohammed is a Social Work student, not in my Gerontology program. As far as I know, there are no Arab students in my program. The word is that this field does not attract them. On my campus, however, there is a very significant Arab student population, seemingly mostly in the nursing program). Admittedly, that is my only regular significant interaction with an Arab, I have no interaction with Palestinians, and I would like to change that. There's simply not enough time in the day to do everything though.

All of my vibrant Israel and more could have been possible of a neighboring Palestine, starting back in 1948 and even earlier, and time and time again since. But all this won't be part of a neighboring Palestine until those of our neighbors who are rejectionist will stop rejecting me, stop hating me, and stop working to kill me for being here, being Jewish, and living out my dream--the dream of my grandparents who never made it to Israel and countless generations before them. Until you stop rejecting, hating, and working to kill me, there is no real conversation to be conducted here. And if you try to kill one of my brothers in the IDF, so he's going to kill you first.

As for the news, I'll start with the work of dear friends from Ulpan Etzion who made aliyah roughly when I did--Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson reporter Elana Kieffer and photographer Arielle Yahalom. These women are like my sisters. I just saw Elana at an engagement party (the parties truly never end). We were lucky that she jumped out to celebrate another Ulpan friend's engagement, as she stayed in the office for two days straight this week, working her tucchus off to get the truth out to the world. She believes strongly that as more and more footage continues to be released, we continue to look better and better. Here's one of many articles on which Elana has worked (check them all out at idf.il). The Spokesperson's Unit's YouTube channel is also a great resource.

I'd suggest you read the following analysis, and throw the anti-Israel slander into the recycling bin, where it belongs. Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, tells it how it is here. Here's Daniel Gordis, on top of his game as always. Take a look at UN Watch's Hillel Neuer attacking the "humanitarian" credentials of the flotilla. Shmuel Rosner doesn't beat around the bush here. A fellow OTZMA participant's brother Joel lauds the IDF's courageous restraint here. Do you feel that the world has gone mad? So does this guy. Here's some context to Monday's firestorm. David Horovitz frustratingly tears a new one into whoever withheld critical film coverage of the mission for whatever cynical reasons.

Did you know: Well over a million tons of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza from Israel from January 2009 - May 2010, equaling nearly a ton of aid for every man, woman and child in Gaza. A ton. Get more information on humanitarian aid from Israel to Gaza on this Ministry of Foreign Affairs page.

So...if you stand with Israel and believe in her right to defend herself, please take it to the streets! That's all I could ask of those of you who live in the cities on this list of pro-Israel rallies. Thanks so much in advance.

In non-flotilla news, here's a nice video presentation of Israel's critical security needs. Here's a Jerusalem Post editorial on Obama dropping yet another ball, this time with his colossal failure on the NPT. More on Obama's foreign policy cluelessness here from Martin Kramer.

With that, I'll wish farewell to a less-than-perfect week and re-visit the high I left you with last Friday--standing on top of the world Van Halen-style. I'm smiling as I go to bed while dear friends and family celebrate my Dad's birthday back in Dallas. Rare is the party which has nearly everyone invited in attendance. Mom and Dad are truly special people--love you guys and happy bday Dad!

With love for you and for Israel in every fiber of my being,
אריק/Eric