Category Archives: TV, Movies, Video

Thinking about Gilad Shalit, the captive Israel soldier

It’s because of topics like this that I feel guilty for not keeping up more on the news. Is it not good, at least once a day, to stop by a news site and check the headline?

I say this because I don’t know exactly how things progressed to get to where they are today in regards to Gilad Shalit’s kidnapping over three years ago. But, I watched the video the terrorists took of him to prove to Israel that he is still alive. I’m sure there are many moral questions around the kidnapping by terrorists. But the most basic one is, in this case, do we exchange terrorists for his release? Israel already released 20 female terrorists just to get this video.

My opinion? You have to think about now. Right now we have a beloved Jew who is in danger. We must get him back. At any price? Maybe not. But considering there are so many terrorists amongst them, and such a large percentage of the “Palestinians” want us driven into the sea anyway, I’m not sure it’ll make the biggest difference to set some more of these haters free.

The fact that it sets a precedent, that is definitely a problem. If only we could act stronger so they knew that, on the one hand we’re willing to do whatever we need to in order to save a life, but on the other hand we won’t be pushed around.

There, I got political on blog midrash. How can I worry about being “too” political when Gilad Shalit has gone through hell for over three years? How selfish would that be?

Am I not responsible for the people of Sderot?

Whenever I think of the people of Sderot, I’m so embarrassed that I let them live like this.

(BTW, check out their website: http://www.sderotmedia.com

Hitler’s children: a project

There is a project going on that brings together children of top Nazis with Holocaust survivors. There is a short video that you can see here that shows interviews with these descendants of some of the worst monster-humans to ever live. It’s heart-wrenching to watch and so interesting.

Israeli hasbara – a very funny video

Hasbara is the term used for the explaining that we do, officially or unofficially, in order to try to portray Israel in a more positive light, despite all the bad rep we often get on the news.

Many cringe at the lack of proper, intelligent hasbara for Israel. Many times, the tactics used are just painful. This video makes fun of this. There really have been times when scantily-clad women were used to try to up our ratings. Don’t underestimate the creative powers of the Israelis in charge of hasbara.

P.S. It is probably worth learning Hebrew just to be able to fully understand this video.

Last Jew in Afghanistan and SHALOM!

OK, well here is the most random post ever. For a while I’ve been meaning to post this video about the last Jew in Afghanistan. While I’ve heard at least one person say that this man is very brave, I cannot help but find his story simply depressing and I’m wondering why he doesn’t “just” move. I know, believe me, it’s hard to move. I’m right now trying to psych myself up to move. But, thank God, I live in a great city, in a great apartment with pretty great (OK, good) jobs. I have a community and friends. What does he have there besides his flowers? :(

Here’s the video

So what is random about this post? Well, the video embedding wasn’t working so I searched on youtube for any Jewish video to use its URL and test to see if it was a problem with the blog or maybe just with this specific link. Well, it turns out it’s just a problem with the link and meanwhile I thought it was be amusing slash disturbing to post the tested video here as well. It is strange, I’m warning you.

Shalom.

Birkat hachama systematic explanation

Birkat hachama, the blessing of the sun, is a custom that Jews can perform once every 28 years. It is believed that every 28 years the sun returns to the place – relative to earth – where it was created. Why once every 28 years? It has to do with the day of the week, the season and the time of day… It gets complicated. But a friend of mine sent me this video that explains it really well. It is around 45 minutes long but very worthwhile.