שבת שלום/Shabbat Shalom!

Hi all,

Since the last post, it feels like we've commemorated/celebrated a million holidays (plus two joyous weddings of friends), all of which I'll have to come back and cover. Never a dull moment!

For now, recent articles of note...

From way back on Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Independence Day), here's friend and fellow J.J. Pearce alum Benji Lovitt's annual list of things he loves about Israel.

What in the world is going on on the Mount of Olives Cemetery?

Here's an insightful interview with minister Silvan Shalom.

As of his decision to cancel his planned Israel performance, Elvis Costello is dead to me (as much as I enjoyed his show in Grant Park at Taste of Chicago some seven years ago). David Horovitz could not have expressed my opinion better.

Here, Daniel Gordis spells out the challenges of re-connecting Jewish youth to Israel. I do my best to portray my Israel to all you loyal readers in the hope that you'll connect to this incredibly powerful place as I have.

Here, Ed Koch spells out how Obama is a giant sieve of a President with regards to foreign policy (sieve was my choice). Charles Krauthammer echoes those sentiments here.

As the Palestinian Authority continues to incite against Israel, recently by boycotting products made in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria (in blatant violation of the Oslo agreements), I for one will seek out and buy those very products (listed in this Arutz Sheva article). As for Gaza, this Jerusalem Post editorial shows what Hamas is doing to its constituents.

Here's a fiery Dershowitz interview.

For those who foolishly claim that mere Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria (a.k.a. the West Bank) would usher in a new dawn of peace across the Middle East, Horovitz spells out the very real strategic threats Israel faces (and yes, I also took part in the national drill on Wednesday, going down to our shelter).

As for Michigan news, here Drew Henson expresses regret for leaving Michigan early. Wonder if that has anything to do with the earful I gave him after Rick's let out on a Saturday night...

I caught a great May 13 concert, the first time I saw the Israel Philharmonic (in Israel anyway, may have seen them in Ann Arbor), backing legendary singer Yehudit Ravitz. At bottom is the song list from the less-festive Memorial Day event.

And for a little bit about me, life is phenomenal--school and two new jobs (research with the head of my Gerontology department and marketing Masa programs to birthright groups in Israel) are great. I feel this good!

Much love,
אריק/Eric

יורם
מה אברך
החול יזכור
באב אל וואד, שלד
הנסיך הקטן
הרעות
אחי הצעיר יהודה
זה מכבר
מכתב קטן
אנחנו מאותו הכפר
דמעות של מלאכים, זלג
עוד חוזר הניגון
מקום לדאגה
שיר למעלות