The Sea Dancer, The Forbidden Video, And You

As things are winding down, other things are winding up. View and I have only a few more days before we go to Thailand. We are trying to experience as much of Israel as we can before we leave. It may be a while before we return.

The operative words above are "experience Israel." There is no other place like it. What other country ever receives global condemnation for protecting its borders? There's a whole host of inconsistencies that the nations of the world have heaped on Israel. And then there are hosts of things the world often turns to Israel for.

By the way, the video down below was banned by You Tube. Allegedly You Tube banned it because of copyright infringements. There's plenty of evidence that that is a bogus issue. Anyway, take a look at the video, and have a laugh.

We went to the beach this afternoon. The highlight of our day was watching a man facing the sea. He danced a mean dance. It looked funny, but there is a lesson there somewhere.

I'm reminded of that part of the Torah where Balaam spells it out very clearly. "Praise Israel and you'll be praised. Curse Israel and you'll be cursed."

If that's true - and there are a lot of people in all corners of the world who believe it is - where does the international community stand today? What'll happen to everyone if the good old Messiah suddenly shows up. (If I was the Messiah's advisor, I'd tell him to wait a bit more. But that's another story.)

About this video: It's a parody of a song that was written for a different reason.

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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.

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Going Up To Jerusalem - We Are All Commando 13

We happened to go to Jerusalem yesterday. We began to wander toward the market. Suddenly we saw a mighty big procession, with singing, chanting, drum beating, and lots of flag waving. I found out that it was a yearly thing, Aliya le-Yerushalayim -- going up to Jerusalem.

Groups of youths paraded down the street in front of us. They were jubilant, waving flags and carrying signs. These were youths from the settlements. They were joined by tractors of more than 60 years ago. They all had a part in building up Israel as a Jewish state. They all see Jerusalem as the center of Israel life, the Jewish capital since the time of David.

The marchers all assembled in a huge park for an evening of music and fun. Some musicians were already playing music. There was a fast Chassidic piece -- klezmer music -- and then they went to more modern favorites.

This year Jerusalem Aliya carried an air of defiance. At a time when around the world there are rallies and protests against Israel . . . when there are new calls to boycottIsrael products, and condemn all of Israel in general, and its defense forces in particular . . . the settlement youth proclaimed solidarity with IDF. They carried signs saying "We are all Shayetet 13" (the commando unit that boarded the Gaza flotilla two days earlier.")

At the park, a woman explained to me the significance of going up to Jerusalem every year at about the time of Shavuot. Our holidays all carry messages of building up the land of Israel, and being a united people. The families of the settlements link their lives to the capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem. When I told her that we came from Sderot, her eyes widened and she welcomed us as part of the cause - uniting and protecting the land of Israel.

There may not be much to be proud of, living in the Negev. But to live where enemies shoot rockets because they don't want you there is an act of defiance. To live in the settlements, where so much of the world believes you don't belong, is an act of defiance. To do your duty as a soldier and protect the borders even while much of the world calls you a criminal, is an act of defiance. It was good -- no, it was fantastic -- to see youths of all ages, despite all that the world is saying about them, marching in solidarity and with pride

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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.

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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.

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"We Did Our Jobs"

The evening air is beautiful. After a day of winds and dust and a little rain, a nice spring breeze brings memories of gentler days gone by.

It's quiet in Sderot. That is its greatest attraction. We are not overwhelmed with traffic or factories or even loud people.

It's quiet here. An evening breeze brushing away some clouds so we can see the stars completes the scene. Whatever struggles we find ourselves in - personal or otherwise - it's easy to let them go, on a quiet, cool evening like this.

Malka has watched me go through the pains of job-hunting. She has asked why I'm here, why I stay here, if I don't fit in. She has a point.

Logically, there is no reason for me to be jobless. There is no reasonable explanation for the fact that nobody will hire me to teach here. Even the school directors and the head teachers look at my resume and ask me why nobody hires me. Then they turn around and say, "I'll have to . . . ." Then they fill in the blank with some lame excuse for not hiring me then and there. And of course I never hear from them again.

"Why do you stay here if nobody wants you here?" Malka's question. My answer, "SOMEBODY wants me here."

"We stay because .... Anatevka is our home." Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof.

Last week, when I went to Petach Tikva for a job interview, I really expected a different outcome. Why would the English coordinator invite me to come all the way from Sderot, if she didn't believe there was something to benefit from my coming there? By now I guess I shouldn't even be asking that question. Or looking for any other hint of professionalism or competence in those doing the hiring.

With the English Coordinator's first couple questions, it was fairly clear she was not in a hiring mood. I had thought she had scheduled the interview for a time when she would be free from other duties. But it turns out, it only occupied the last 5 to 10 minutes of a break between classes. I guess that's how serious she was about finding a teacher.

All was not lost from this little adventure. Not at all. Just the opposite. Perhaps they would not hire me to teach in their classes. But SOMEBODY wanted me to go there.

Some sort of synchronicity: Things happen in Israel which I don't believe occur with the same frequency in other countries. Unique things. When I walked into the teachers' room in Petach Tikva, a dozen teachers were standing around, too busy to notice me. The handy-man was the only one actually working on something, so I went to him to ask him where to find a certain teacher.

He stopped what he was doing and stared at me. I stared back in mutual recognition.

"I know you," he said.
"We were in miluim (army reserves) together." I said.

His name was David and he looked good after more than 20 years. After my 10 minute interview with the English coordinator, David and I had tea together, and a good conversation. We recalled the fellows that were in our unit, and some of our escapades during the first Intifada.

"It was a good plugah (company)" I said.
With the greatest melding of humility and pride, David said, "We did our jobs."

We did our jobs. Is there a better way to say it? We are in Israel because it's our job. We live here or there in Israel because it's our job. We work as teachers and business people and cashiers and janitors in Israel because it's our job. It's what keeps the country going.

Here was David who did his fair share of combat duty and now has a son in the army. Here he was, still doing his job, working as a handy man in a high school.

"SOMEBODY wants me here," I tell Malka. I haven't done my job yet.

Maybe no school will have me. Maybe I'll never get to do in Israel what I am most qualified to do. Maybe people will continue to abuse my time and talents. And maybe it will always be hard to squeeze by month after month, day after day.

And maybe Sderot will never really feel like home. But it is home now. And tonight we have a beautiful star-lit night to enjoy, with a relaxing breeze. We're doing our job.

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Images of Israel – An Embedded Dream

by Jerry Waxman
Sderot Israel

It’s been difficult, but enlightening; trying to show Malka what I see in this place – why I came to Sderot – why I stay in Israel. To her, my home should be in America, where my family is.

On the surface there is nothing to make the case that I belong here – neither in Sderot nor in Israel. I knew nobody in this town when I came here. I hardly knew anybody in the country. I have not found a job,so there’s been no income. The prices on everything here are really high, especially with our financial straits.

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Burekas! ... or Bourekas?

I've always called them "burekas" because that's how you say it.

Even if it's just one bureka, it's still called burekas. More than one and it's burekases - burekasim? Everyone just says "burekas."

Except in writing. It's "Bourekas." Why?

While you're looking for an answer to that question, I'll get to the bigger question - maybe the biggest question of the day. Ready?:

What do you do when you're in a town like Sderot, and you want to have fast food, but you don't have 12 shekels for a felafel?

When I first came to Sderot a couple years ago, the first thing to catch my eye was the bakery in the center of town. When you walk in, your eyes and nose are treated to all sorts of sensations you don't usually find outside of Israel. It has different kinds of bread and pastries in various sizes and shapes. And over on the side walls there are bourekas . . .
[Side note: A bourekas is flaky pastry stuffed with different fillings; you have potato bourekas, mushroom bourekas, spinach bourekas, pizza bourekas, and a lot more.] The sell bourekas by the kilo. You just choose the kind you want and you put as many as you want into a paper bag. The first time I saw this, I went wild -- potato burekas, mushroom bourekas, pizza bourekas, tuna bourekas - I had to try at least one of each. My stomach did not thank me for that.	Get Burekas - Sent Right To Your Door!
Well, that bakery isn't the only place to get bourekas. There are about a dozen bakeries in town. Many of them have bourekas. On a forlorn day with no food at home and only small change in my pocket, I'd stop in at the bakery down the road, pick up 3 or 4 bourekas, and head over to the park across the street for a picnic. Last night was one of those forlorn nights. Malka is still adjusting to living in Israel, and I'm still trying to find work so we can stay here - or somewhere. [Side note: Hey, if you happen to know someone who is hiring - or needing a teacher - I can be reached at My Contact Page] Needless to say, there's been some tension. Malka is not used to the surroundings and I'm getting no great feedback from any prospective employer. Last night, we were there. I mean that's where we were - the number one question of the day.. No food in the house, not enough money for a felafel, and in a small town like Sderot Israel. What did we do?: Well, we didn't sit around dreaming of an Israeli breakfast like the one on the right. We got our pocket change together and walked over to the supermarket. A quick glance at the bakery counter - lots and lots of burekas. Cheaper than pizza. And here's the deal; At night time the supermarket bourekas go down to about half price.. Amazing how far 4 shekels will get you. Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment.

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Shy Dogs of Sderot

by Jerry Waxman
Sderot Israel

A Best Friend Is Hard To Find:
Before Malka came to Israel, my social life was pretty nil. True, I was never much for going out, hanging out, or visiting people’s houses. Also true that before Malka came here, my appetite for socializing was hardly voracious. Nevertheless, I welcomed company if it came to me – in the form of a bird or a cat or a dog.

Of course, birds are really hard to get to know. They don’t hang around the same trees for too long. While they might be curious about humans who try to talk with them, they aren’t anxious to meet them.

Cats on the other hand relate to people a little differently. The ones in Sderot live side by side with humans, even while they follow a policy of separation. In Sderot, maybe throughout Israel, it is a rare cat that allows itself to be pet by a person. They may stare straight at you, and you might think it is an overture to friendliness. But don’t be surprised – or overwhelmed with grief – if every cat you ever see runs away the second you get close.

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Artful Bomb Shelters of Sderot

Grafitti Therapy:
Some artists came to Sderot this week. They came from the United States, Spain, and Mexico. There were also Israeli artists in this project.

Why Sderot?

That's where the bomb shelters are.

Guerrilla Graffiti This last week the bomb shelters of Sderot became canvases for Artists 4 Israel. I didn't see the artists. Apparently they descended upon Sderot in a night time sneak attack. On Tuesday, I noticed some of the surroundings were suddenly more colorful. Across the street, someone had stenciled "SEAC" onto a power cabinet. Big comical letters surrounded by color. As you walk around town, you see "SEAC" appearing on some bomb shelters. I guess it's a signature, because it appears alongside some pretty creative graffiti. Take a look at the shelters now. They didn't paint all the bomb shelters in Sderot. You can see some of their work in the center of town, and close to the entrances to town. Comment: It is very nice to see that someone is paying attention to Sderot's appearance. And it is very nice that there are good-willed people - professional artists - willing to come to Sderot and contribute their talents. Wouldn't it be nicer if the people of Sderot took it upon themselves. 1) There are now trash bins scattered around the city. Yet still there is all sorts of debris floating in the streets and in the parks. Sderot would indeed be a nicer place if its residents decided to keep the city cleaner. 2) Not to downplay the effect that the kassams have had on the people of Sderot, but why overplay it. In general the people here are not suffering such adverse conditions that we need to keep bringing up the kassam problem. Moreover, wouldn't the people of Sderot benefit most if THEY painted their own bomb shelters? Who is SEAC anyway? I would much prefer to see local signatures. The quality of the art may be lower than that of these international pros. But so what? It would belong to Sderot. Someone(s) from Sderot painted this bomb shelter long before we ever heard of Artists 4 Israel. Think Rich - Get Rich Fast! A new website on "making money fast."

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