Israel’s happy but realistic about bin Laden demise

May 3, 2011 - 6:47 AM by · 2 Comments
Filed under: A New Reality, General, Israeliness, News, Politics, War 

Americans celebrate outside the White House Sunday night.

There was almost uniform praise and congratulations from Israeli officials and citizens over the successful US mission to kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issuing a statement congratulating President Barack Obama and hailing “the United States’ determination to fight terrorism.”

Other government officials as well as the Israeli media made sure to point out the reaction to the killing by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who condemned the US ‘policy of killing and repression’ and hailed bin Laden as a Muslim mujahed [warrior] and Arab human being.

The only naysayers among the general public in Israel were those fringe Obama haters who worried that the action would boost the US president’s ratings and chances of being reelected in 2012. “There is no doubt that Obama is a greater threat to Israel than Osama was,” National Union MK Aryeh Eldad told The Jerusalem Post, going down in infamy as an all-time boneheaded statement.

But while there weren’t any spontaneous celebration – like there were in Times Square, outside the White House or at Ground Zero – the vast majority of Israelis rejoiced along with America on Monday.

Perhaps, because we’ve been fighting the daily struggle against terrorism and our own local bin Ladens for so long, we’re aware that one knockout punch isn’t going to end the battle of Islamic fundamentalist terror against the West. It didn’t happen when Israel took out Hamas mastermind Sheikh Yassin in 2004 and it didn’t happen when it targeted Hiezbollah leader Imad Mughniyeh in 2008.

That could be why we weren’t out dancing in the streets along with America. It’s not the last dance yet.

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The past and the present come together in Jerusalem

December 27, 2009 - 9:28 AM by · 2 Comments
Filed under: A New Reality, coexistence, General, History and Culture, Life, Politics 

Sir Martin Gilbert

Sir Martin Gilbert

Who says Jerusalem isn’t a hopping place? Last night, if you were in the capital, you could take your pick of two riveting lectures by two brilliant 21st Century Jews – Professor Irwin Cotler and Sir Martin Gilbert.

Cotler, one of the world’s foremost international human rights lawyers and a tireless advocate for Israel, spoke at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue on ‘Facing the Challenge of Ahmadinejad’s Iran – Can the Free World Ensure the Security of Israel and Global Human Rights?’

Only a couple miles away in East Talpiot, at the Masorti Movement’s flagship synagogue, Moreshet Avraham, I chose to hear Gilbert, arguably the leading historian of the modern world, give a fascinating talk about his upcoming book ‘Jews Under Muslim Rule’ (alright, I also introduced him to the packed audience of 500).

The official biographer of Winston Churchill, Gilbert is the author of over 70 books including the comprehensive History of Israel, The Holocaust: The Jewish Tragedy, and his three-volume work, A History of the Twentieth Century.

In his hour-long talk, Gilbert mesmerized the audience with his anecdote-filled overview of the Jewish experience living under Muslim authorities from the time of Mohammed up until the present day. He recounted the ordeals of Jews in Arab countries in the years following the creation of Israel, pointing out guests of his in the audience who had provided their personal experiences of being persecuted and expelled from their native countries because they were Jews – and by association – Zionists.

Of special relevancy, he tied in the current debate about refugee status and restitution for Palestinians displaced by the creation of Israel with the 800,000 Jews from Arab lands who were thrown out of forced to flee, leaving their property and possessions behind.

One member of the audience who left Yemen with his family as a 10-month-old baby, who also served as a source for the book, spoke during the question and answer period about a movement which is gaining force to attempt to gain restitution for the lost Jewish property.

Gilbert astutely pointed out that the obstacle facing such a campaign was the tit for tat effort by Palestinians who are claiming restitution for their homes which were once in Talbieh in Jerusalem or in Jaffa.

It was one of those moments when you realize that it’s almost impossible to hold an historical talk in Jerusalem without current events becoming interminably entwined – which is probably why most of us live here.

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Ward Off Evil Eyes With Handmade Israeli Jewelry and Jewish Gifts From Israel

December 20, 2008 - 6:13 PM by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: design 

jewish jewelry handmade israeli jewelry photo‘Tis the season to be jolly, if you are a Christian. But a number of holidays for people of all faiths intersect around this time. It’s more noticeable if you live in the Middle East. Over here in Jaffa a couple of weeks ago, Muslims everywhere were celebrating Eid al-Adha; and Jewish people start lighting candles and gorging on jelly-filled doughnuts for Hanukah starting next week.

But whatever the season, or holiday, unique gift-giving is always something on our minds. When it comes to choosing gifts that are “green” the options are limited even more. One nice way to “say I love you” to someone in a way that is soft on the environment, is to give something handmade. Trendy, with no official religious affiliation is the good old hamsa, one of our faves, which means “five” in Arabic.

According to Wikipedia, an alternative Islamic name for this charm is the Hand of Fatima or Eye of Fatima, in reference to Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Muhammad. An alternative Jewish name is the Hand of Miriam, in reference to Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. It is a kind of “protecting hand” or “hand of God.”

Some associate the significance of the five fingers to the five books of the Torah for Jews, the Five Pillars of Islam for Sunnis, or the five People of the Cloak for Shi’ites.

In recent years some activists for Middle East peace have chosen to wear the hamsa as a symbol of the similarities of origins and tradition between the Islamic and Jewish faiths. The fingers can point up or down.

Among Jews in Israel, it’s considered a Jewish gift, but one appropriate for Muslims, Christians, pagans and the unaffiliated. When I went to see my Catholic cousins in Scotland last year, it was hamsas for everyone.

While the gifts might not be certified green, there are some wonderful gift items in stock on MostOriginal.com, an online jewelry and gifts store that sells handmade artwork by Israeli artists.

Selling Israeli jewelry and Jewish gifts, their hamsas (like Laly Cohen’s Hamsa Hands pictured above), or Kabbalah bracelets, would satisfy even the choosiest friend.

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