Sderot to Surat; A Sad Happy Story

In 2008 I gave up a pretty good job and nice place to live to come to Israel. Sderot was my choice because kassams were scaring people away. We can't all act scared. We do what we can to defy those who would tell us to leave our land.

I guess my determination to have some impact here didn't work out too well. For two years I looked for a way just to make a living. Still alive, so things didn't work out too badly.

This will be my last Shabbat in Sderot for a while. I finally found a job in a town called Surat. It's not in Israel. It's in Thailand.

It has been hard to reconcile this part of the journey. I got a post office box to retain some kind of presence in Israel. I'm leaving much of my belongings here. My sites are continuously on returning. I believe I will, before too long. What would I do with this website outside of Israel?

That's all I have to say for now. Will continue to post to this site from Thailand. Anyone that wants to come there, drop us a note.

Make this life an adventure.
Keep a smile on your face and dance in your feet.

Flotillas to Our Neighbors, Gaza

Abstract: Sequence of Events and Thoughts

• Last Week, word came that activists were sailing toward Gaza. The activists support Hamas. In Sderot, we don't support Hamas.


• Last Thursday night about midnight, the "tzeva adom" warning sounded. A kassam flew over Sderot and landed in Sha'ar HaNegev. We know that Hamas has many more rockets in their arsenal.


• Before Saturday, we learned that the "humanitarian" activists aboard the flotilla refused to try to bring something to Gilad Schalit. Their purpose was not humanitarian or peaceful.



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Picture on the rightArabs claim that there has been no Jewish influence in Gaza. Her's a poster inspired by the famous story of Samson and Delilah.

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Around Sunday morning, we learned that Israel had planned to inspect all the humanitarian aid on the flotilla's boats, and send it overland from Ashdod to Gaza.

• Monday we learned that Israel forces had intercepted the flotilla. As the day progressed various reports of violence and even deaths aboard the flotilla's boats surfaced.


• Tuesday, we learned that violent confrontations aboard the Mavi Marmara led to 9 deaths and many injuries. Spontaneous protests in Gaza and in several cities worldwide dominated the news.

Reactions in Gaza's Neighbor, Sderot

Since last year's war in Gaza, there have been very very few rocket attacks in Sderot. We would prefer no attacks at all, and no threat of missiles or bombs at all, but we're realistic. We appreciate what Israeli forces have been able to accomplish to maintain the quiet in Sderot.

We also know very well that stockpiles of weapons - more kassams and mortars - have been smuggled into Gaza. We fully appreciate that the embargo around Gaza's shoreline has helped keep things quiet in Sderot. We don't think much of those - such as the "Free Gaza" movement - who support Hamas. When the "tzeva adom" sounded suddenly last Thursday night, I thought about the flotilla and its pro-Palestinian activists; they encourage this violence against Sderot.

They are neither friends of peace nor advocates of humanity.

Why were they really sailing to Gaza? Hamas was there, ready to accept the humanitarian aid supplies. We know from experience that Hamas is NOT the place to go if you want to help the Palestinian people. Hamas has a history of hijacking deliveries of supplies for their own purposes, at the expense of the Palestinian people who need the supplies.

If they were on a truly humanitarian mission, the activists would never think of bring supplies to Hamas. If they were truly on a peaceful mission, the activists would have worked with Israel to bring their humanitarian aid into Gaza. The "Free Gaza" movement, and similar pro-Palestinian organizations are severely misguided and misguiding. They don't care as much about the Palestinian people as they do about damaging Israel.

The "Free Gaza" movement is NOT pro-Palestinian; they are anti-Israel, and anti-Sderot.

I think most residents of Sderot are saddened by the violence that occurred on the Mavi Marmara, and the deaths and injuries that resulted from it. And I think we have reason to be apprehensive that the world's reaction will trigger rocket attacks against us. If the "Free Gaza" movement had any integrity at all, its leaders would denounce the rocket attacks from Gaza - and they would take full responsibility for the confrontation aboard the Mavi Marmara that led to 9 deaths. They are the ones responsible.

Shavuot, the Lonesome Holiday

I wonder how many people in the world knew that yesterday was Shavuot. I wonder how many people in the world -- including Jewish people -- have never heard of Shavuot. How many Jewish people in the world - whether they've heard of Shavuot or not - have any idea what the holiday is all about?

I'm happy to say that here in Sderot, the town and the people did the holiday proud - more than I remember ever seeing before. The town sponsored a celebration two days before the holiday (on Erev Erev Shavuot). The supermarkets had special displays. And of course there was a run on cheese and milk products.

At night just about all the synagogues in town kept their lights on so men could learn all night. And a nice, quiet night it was, too.

Why Shavuot is my favorite holiday:I like all the holidays. Everyone has a favorite, though, don't they? Ask them and they'll tell you, "Pesach," or "Succoth." My favorite, as a kid, used to be Chanuka. But nobody says "Shavuot." Why? Because there is nothing special for kids on this holiday?

Shavuot should not be lonesome anymore. I call it my favorite holiday, not because of the food, or the cheese, or even the custom of staying up all night. I like the message of Shavuot.

The whole world seems to be in a state of advanced confusion. Look at what's happening in Bangkok -- there's no reason for all the harm and destruction. Look at what's happening in America's gulf coast. Again -- no good reason for all the damage from the oil leaks. Take another look at America and tell me if you aren't at least a little bit ashamed at how people of different political parties relate to each other?

Right in the middle of all the confusion and chaos comes this quiet little holiday that -- unbeknownst to most of the world -- ties everything together. You see, Shavuot is so named because we are told to count 7 weeks from Pesach. 7 weeks and a day after Moses and the Israelites left Egypt, they received the Torah, including the Ten Commandments.

The world may not want to accept that the Torah has solutions to all the problems in the world. Even most of us - Jewish people - find it hard to believe that the Torah contains all the answers. Even religious Jews get tempted to look to other sources for knowledge and inspiration. And that's probably a good thing; people were put on the world to think and use their minds. But maybe we've depended too much on our own minds and that's what's gotten us into trouble.

People make mistakes. Little mistakes lead to financial disasters and environmental catastrophes. The Torah has no mistakes. My grandmother used to say everyone should follow the Ten Commandments.

If everyone did as my grandmother said and respected and honored the Ten Commandments, then Shavuot might be the favorite holiday for a lot of people. Chances are that if everyone did as my grandmother said and respected the Ten Commandments, we wouldn't see so much confusion in the world today.

Make this life an Adventure.