Dance With the Moon

by Jerry Waxman

What makes you dance? Does music make you dance? When you hear your favorite song on the radio, do you automatically stand up and dance?

Sometimes – many times in his life – a man just feels like dancing. And he uses the music in the supermarket or the elevator as an excuse.

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The next time you just start dancing in your local Walmart or A & P, don’t be deceived by the appearance that you are the only one doing it. People are doing it all over the world — I think. Well, I never actually saw anyone else do it, but I’m pretty sure you and I are not alone in supermarket dancing.

Anyway, it’s not the music that makes you dance. Music just alters your mood, and that’s what makes you dance. Dancing is a natural reaction to a good mood.

I don’t know if that’s been scientifically proven. But in my extensive observations of dogs and cats and fish and cockroaches, I have seen that dogs and fish dance quite often, especially when their favorite food is nearby.

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Torah Insights at Israel Mag.Net

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Kittens dance with each other until they’re in their teens, and then they aren’t cool if they don’t take life more seriously. Cockroaches don’t dance. They never have mood changes. They have no response at all to hip hop, pop, rock, or classical music.

Well, yesterday I did a bit of walking. I saw parts of Sderot I had never paid attention to before.

There are some really nice houses in Sderot. There are some really quiet neighborhoods also. And they are all within 30 minutes walk from the center of town.

The air was fine, there was a nice sun, and the site of these great houses, looking like the suburbs of Sderot, made me want to . . . .

You probably thought I was going to say “dance.” I was. But I just changed my mind. I wanted to know — and I still want to know — what those families did to get those houses.

Now it did make me happy to see a different side of Sderot. A side that doesn’t smell bad. But it wasn’t quite happy enough to break into a Fred Astaire routine.

Yesterday evening, after all that walking, the guys at the Bukhari beit knesset (synagogue) held a ceremony to bless the moon. It’s tradition to make a blessing on the moon every month about the 10th of the month as long as you can see it in the evening.

Last evening, there was a fine more-than-half moon. While I’ve participated in these ceremonies before, this time I found it interesting that it includes dancing with the moon a few times. Now, when these guys dance, they just jump up and down a couple times. No big tap number.

Later last evening, I wanted to know why we were dancing with the moon. So I looked at the words in the blessing. Most of the ceremony is about how the moon makes everything new. (The word “hodesh” means month and often refers to the moon itself. The word “hadash” means new, and it comes from the same root as hodesh.)

So it’s a light and friendly little ceremony. But then I came to the part about dancing.

It says, “We cannot touch you. Now, when our enemies dance and say they are coming for us, they won’t be able to touch us.”

So even dancing has to remind us of something we don’t like. It reminds us that we have enemies all around us.

When we crossed the Red Sea and saw Pharoah and his army crushed, we danced with joy.

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Torah Insights at Israel Mag.Net

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So I have a question. Is joy just the absence of oppression and threats? Is there any way we could have happiness without misery? Would we even be happy if we had no enemies?

That last question gets to me. But not for long. . . . (I’ll be right back.)

Just as I was pausing to reflect on the profoundness of dancing with the moon, I heard a loud sound-truck with amplified music driving up the road. I went out to check. It was a procession to bring a new Sefer Torah to a nearby yeshiva.

The parade of men and women behind the truck was not too long. The amplified music made it sound bigger than it actually was.

Right behind the truck, the men were dancing rings around a couple guys who were holding the Sefer Torah and dancing with it. This was real dancing, not just hopping up and down a couple times.

As far as I know, bringing a new Sefer Torah to a beit knesset or yeshiva is just a happy event. There is no reminder of oppression or enemies. Just a time to dance for joy.

So maybe happiness has its own integrity after all. Maybe happiness is the emotion that brings us closest to our Creator. He really doesn’t want us to be sad and miserable. So He gives us chances to experience joy.

And dancing is kind of a two way street going one way. It makes no sense at all. You dance when you’re happy about something. If you’re not happy, then you dance to make yourself happy. So our traditions tell us to dance and be happy because, like all other mitzvot, it brings us in touch with our true selves.

We don’t need enemies to be happy. But as long as we have them, we should be happy they can’t touch us any more than we can touch the moon.

Sderot Israel, less than a mile from the rocket launchers in Gaza.

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The Truth in Rainbows and Funerals

by Jerry Waxman

It’s easy to not like Sderot. Wow, what a thing to say about this town that I chose to live in. The sad truth is I haven’t met anyone who is in love with the town. People here have shown me reasons to believe that there are better places.

The most pungent reason is that Sderot literally smells bad. The original sewer system was not meant to service more than a few thousand residents. Sderot has an estimated 20,000 people who live and work here. The trouble with sewage often expresses itself in little streams of water crossing the streets. It more often expresses itself with an odor that pervades the air particularly in my neighborhood.

Another thing about Sderot is the people. On the whole you’d have to say they are a friendly bunch. However, when you see them in action everyday, facades of friendliness somehow disappear, and people let their stress out on one another.

Enough said about the negatives. More than enough.

The real point is, I have been trying to find a way to stay here and am failing to find even a good reason. Nobody answers my applications to work. The only reason that comes to mind is they only hire people they know, regardless of qualifications.

Reminds me of last year’s political campaigns, when I went to Davidi’s campaign headquarters twice to get involved. Nobody even approached me to ask me to vote for Davidi. When I approached them, the attitude was, “I don’t know you. Not gonna talk to you.”

Okay, enough with the negatives. My mind has been plagued lately with thoughts of leaving Sderot. Even of leaving the country if I get a decent job offer.

This last Shabbat was Parashat Noach, the story of the ark, the animals, and the flood that destroyed the world. It was also a yahrzeit weekend for me, which is always a reminder of my obligations to those who came before me. Even before the Shabbat, I was in a supermarket buying, amongst other things, a memorial candle. And it crossed my mind, “Only in Israel will you find a supermarket like this.”

I went to the Bukhari synagogue and they gave me the fifth aliya to the Torah. It was kind of a short passage. I noticed it mentioned a rainbow, G-d’s sign to Noah. And I thought, “What a beautiful way to remember those who have passed on.”

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After the service my friends taught me that the rainbow is not a good sign at all. It is beautiful to look at. But a complete rainbow is a reminder of the flood that destroyed the world. We’re not supposed to stare and marvel at it.

A hard truth. But truth is truth, whether you like it or don’t. Besides, it never rains in Sderot. I haven’t seen a rainbow since I’ve been here.

Yesterday, a funeral was held a block away from my apartment. I went because the deceased was somebody from the Parsi (Iranian) synagogue, where I often go. I didn’t know the man. But in Israel, when someone dies, it’s family, no matter who you are. In this case, he was a well respected man who came from Iran, and kept all the Jewish traditions, and went to synagogue every day.

During the funeral, which was attended by a couple hundred men and women, including several Torah scholars and rabbis, I sat on a nearby bench and observed. While eulogies were spoken, I could see comic-strip-like balloons over everybody’s head. They all had the same words, “When my time comes, what will they say about me?”

Will they say I left Israel to find a job? Will they say I left Sderot because it smells bad?

Truth is truth, and we live with it in Israel perhaps more than any other place in the world. Where else would we find people leaving their workplaces in the middle of the day to attend a funeral. Where else would a neighborhood build a tent in a parking lot and lead a procession down the middle of the street to honor one of its elders?

The truth is, a rainbow is a beautiful thing to behold, but it has a horrible episode behind it. Sderot may have its outward ugliness, but it has some beautiful lives and stories inside of it.

I don’t know if I’ll end up staying here or not. One thing is for sure, though. No regrets about being here. There are more positive things about Sderot than negative; just that the positive things tend to stay quiet.

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Leaves of Hope

by Jerry Waxman

Sometimes it seems Sderot has no life.

I was walking around the other day, just observing things. I saw three dogs playing on a lawn and went closer to watch. Why?

Seeing dogs play is a rare thing, believe it or not. Most dogs in Sderot wander around kind of sad-like. And they do not trust people. They are uncommonly afraid of people. . . . Strange.

One of the dogs I was watching saw me and one began to bark, to protect his territory, I guess. All three dogs pranced off to another field. They wanted nothing to do with humans. And I couldn’t blame them.

I continued on and walked in to a supermarket.

When you walk in, there is always at least one security guard, often two, at the entrance. They are pleasant enough for having to stand there all day. They say nothing to me, but they know some of the Russian speaking customers and greet them.

The faces of the cashiers is discouraging. Blank stares, almost, as they go through routines. Even in conversations they have with people they know, there is little sign of emotion of any kind; just blank, serious stares as they process each customer, slowly and machine-like.

My guess is they don’t trust humans any more than the dogs.

The conversations you do hear in the supermarket often sound like arguments, almost like fights. Whether it is between two customers or between two employees or between an employee and a customer, it always seems to come up short of swinging fists.

I saw all this when I was nursing a melancholy mood. The dogs were supposed to put me in a better mood, but they failed.

Yet I remember times when I first came to Sderot, that I saw things differently. My mood was upbeat and it seemed like everyone else’s was, too.

So in reality, Sderot is neither a happy place or a desparate place. It just depends on what your mood is.

My wanderings brought me to a gymnasium near my house. Two men sat at the top of some stairs and explained to me what this facility was. Lying next to one of the men was a big furry dog that looked like a lion. No matter what I did to try to cheer that dog up, it remained aloof. Typical scared-of-humans dog.

I asked why all the dogs are afraid of us. The dog’s owner told me it was because of the kassams. The dogs are very afraid of them. He said the dogs know when they are coming before people know. And they are stressed out.

The same dog owner told me he once had 5 dogs, but two of them died of fear.

You know, it’s been months since there were regular rocket attacks on Sderot. Months and months of quiet. I have been eager to NOT define Sderot by its victim-hood. But the effects of the kassams keep coming back.

The dogs are stricken. And the people must be, too. Maybe it’s a major source of stress for all these people you see in the supermarkets and elsewhere with few smiles and quick grievances.

When I came to Sderot, I held ideals of living in a town of heroes who have given the enemy the collective finger, saying, “We ain’t leaving!”

But the more I see the faces of Sderot, the more I see people who have stayed in Sderot only because they have nowhere else to go.

Where are the ideals? Where is the courage – - the passion to protect our homeland?

I think I found it.

In the back of my apartment, I noticed something remarkable. Leaves.
Leaves were coming up in a garden I had once designed and built. They were watermelon leaves.

I had put the seeds of watermelons in the back yard months ago and forgot about it. There has been no rain for months, so how ever the seeds got the idea to grow is a mystery.

There they were, watermelon leaves that had braved the dry elements, the hard soil, the stones and sand and gravel, and broke through for sunlight.

Nobody can say for sure if these watermelon plants will succeed. There are insects and cats running around. Sometimes there are dogs and humans running around. Nevertheless, the watermelon leaves do not give up. And they’re not going to leave because of fear or stress.

Watermelons of Hope

That is a message of hope. If the leaves of a watermelon plant can brave eight inches of dry soil, and then continue to grow with no help from anyone, not even water, shouldn’t the people of Sderot be able to overcome their fears and apprehensions, too.

Maybe they will. And maybe we can help the dogs, too.

Meanwhile it would be good to get a little rain. But that’s another issue.

“Project “770″

Making life a little better all the way around.

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Rays of Hope

by Jerry Waxman

Did you know that there really is a place where people are happy?

The holiday of Succoth ended last weekend. Saturday was Simchat Torah.  I did not stay in Sderot last weekend.

It wasn’t the town that I wanted to get away from, but the little things surrounding my life here. Sometimes, you get caught up in the obstacles to happiness, and you forget that there is such a thing. But there is.

It had been months since I’d boarded a bus. When I got on the bus last Friday afternoon, and found a seat, and the bus began to move, then all of a sudden it was like weights were lifted off of me.

The sun’s rays drifted through the window,and I felt a latent happiness bubble up from weeks of deep suppression, celebrating its freedom and liberty by having me call friends spontaneously to wish them a happy holiday.

When I got to my destination, I knew it was the right place for a good mood. The house I stayed at was clean – noticeably different from mine. It had kids running around. When I arrived, we played in the succah; danced in there.

The whole neighborhood had an atmosphere of happiness. The people are more than content with where they are. And why not? They all have decent houses, large families, lots to do. They all were preparing for Shabbat and the holidays.

At some time in the afternoon, someone in the neighborhood played a little music loudly. I thought it was just a sound truck or somebody driving by with a radio blaring. But that isn’t what it was.

The music was a signal to the neighborhood that Shabbat was coming. Not long after, there was another bit of noise. It turns out that it was a signal to get ready to light candles.

Lest you labor under the misguided perception that people HAD to light candles, or people HAD to do this or that, let me assure you, the people in this town are happy.

Not everyone lights candles, or does a proper kiddush or celebrates the holidays. Still they are happy with their community, the vast majority of whom DO observe the traditions. Nobody pressures anybody else to be different. They work more at getting along, helping each other when the need arises, having their children play with each other.

I’m talking about a real place. I refrain from telling you where this Gan Eden is for fear you might think it is the only such place in the world. It isn’t.

There really are communities in Israel, where neighbors get along. Not just get along; they support each other. There’s no crime. The kids don’t even think of stealing or doing damaging things. Nobody does. Happiness is a matter of being satsfied with what you have and who you are, and not having anything to complain about.

There really is no reason such a community could not be where you live. I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me you live in something similar. You deserve it.

As you know, happiness doesn’t come from being in a place with happy people and clean houses. But those things help. And it helps when people in general are decidedly in favor of getting along. With the way things have been happening in the last few days, maybe people are ready to get along.

I’ve been watching the goings on in America through news sources on the internet. It may just be a misperception, or it may just be hopeful thinking. But ever since Simchat Torah, there seem to be less loud and ridiculous debates. The people in the U.S. seem to be pulling together on the main issues.

There seems to be a ray of hope in Israel, too. Of course my perception is limited, but there does seem to be a trend of getting along. As we prepare for Shabbat Bereishit, the absolute first book of the Torah, there is reason for hope.  Good beginnings lead to better people.

“Project “770″

Making life a little better all the way around.

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Help Philippines Flood Victims
By Buying This Old Time Radio Comedy
Audio Book Package

posted by Jerry Waxman

Buy all 4 Radio Comedy Classics audio books for only $17.70
All proceeds go to helping flood victims in the Philippines.
You get more than 12 hours of sidesplitting comedy from the golden age of radio. And your contribution goes a long way in the Philippines where relief and rescue workers are distributing food, clothing, and medicine to thousands of displaced people.

Radio Comedy Classics #1 More than 3 hours of hilarious Old Time Radio Comedy, including Abbot & Costello, Burns & Allen, Bob Hope & Jack Benny, and much much more.

Radio Comedy Classics #2 More hilarious Old Time Radio Comedy, including Laurel & Hardy, Burns & Allen, Bob Hope & Al Jolson, and much much more.

Radio Comedy Classics #3 Even more sidesplitting Old Time Radio Comedy, including Amos & Andy, Baby Snooks, Ozzie & Harriet, and much much more.

Radio Comedy Classics #4 Laugh hard with this set of Old Time Radio Comedy classics, including Danny Kaye, Mel Blanc, Blondie, and much much more.

Click & Buy now for $17.70

(All proceeds go to Children International for Philippines Flood Relief. Thank You!)

30 September 2009: This is an urgent appeal for help! Please help the relief effort going on in the Philippines right now, after heavy rains and floods have devastated parts of Manila and other towns. Buy the above Radio Comedy sets, and your money will be donated to Children International. You may also donate more money at this website where it says “Buy me a coffee.” Thank you.

Why Children’s International? I have sponsored children through Children International since 1996. I chose Children International because they offer full disclosure of how their funds are used, at least 80% of donations goes to helping the children, and none of the money is used to advance a religious agenda.

When I visited my sponsored children in the Philippines in 1997, I saw that Children International was very much involved in community service. They were very active in getting low income communities to become independent..

In December 2005, a super typhoon ripped through the parts of the Philippines where Children International had sponsored children. At the time I was working at a university in Thailand. I was able to organize many Thai students who went out to the beaches and collected several hundred dollars in contributions to the disaster relief effort at the time. Children International later sent us documentation of how our donation was used. For the most part it was used to re-furnish a school house.

Now, I am asking you to contribute toward relief efforts in Manila. Buy these audio books through this site. All proceeds – 100% – from the sales on this webpage will go to Children International to help them help the communities in Manila that need it most. Each of these Classic Radio Comedy audio books sells separately for $7.70. (Click on the links below to see the contents and / or to purchase them separately.) As a Philippines Flood Relief Special, you may get all four audio books for only $17.70 when you buy the special package.

Click & Buy now for $17.70

(All proceeds go to Children International for Philippines Flood Relief. Thank You!)

In addition, when you buy this special package, not only will you get quality entertainment, I will send you periodic updates on the relief effort in the Philippines. All proceeds from sales of the Special Philippines Disaster Relief Audio Book Package will be donated to Children International.

To learn more about “Children International,” see their Website .

Four (4) Radio Comedy Classics audio books, each with more than 3 hours of sidesplitting comedy.

Radio Comedy Classics #1 More than 3 hours of hilarious Old Time Radio Comedy, including Abbot & Costello, Burns & Allen, Bob Hope & Jack Benny, and much much more. Price:$7.70 Click Here

Radio Comedy Classics #2 More hilarious Old Time Radio Comedy, including Laurel & Hardy, Burns & Allen, Bob Hope & Al Jolson, and much much more. Price:$7.70 Click Here

Radio Comedy Classics #3 Even more sidesplitting Old Time Radio Comedy, including Amos & Andy, Baby Snooks, Ozzie & Harriet, and much much more. Price:$7.70 Click Here

Radio Comedy Classics #4 Laugh hard with this set of Old Time Radio Comedy classics, including Danny Kaye, Mel Blanc, Blondie, and much much more. Price:$7.70 Click Here

About PROJECT “770″

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