Year 2
August 9, 2006Been over a week since the last one… maybe a week in a half.
The question thing was pretty much a bad idea.
“I can’t spend more than 25 seconds dealing with Yudie and his nuttiness.. more than 1 minute will cause serious damage”
I hear you. I feel that way sometimes myself.
SO I spent August 3rd in Baltimore. This year’s TIsha B’av wa alot different than last year’s.
There are many more reasons to cry this year. While last year we were in the middle of the gush katif disengagement, I had no idea what was going to happen. We were thinking that at the last moment that perhaps SOMETHING was going to allow them to stay.
I also thought people’s lives would be able to go on.
Wrong. and Wrong.
In baltimore in Shomrei Amuna, they had several videos throughout tisha b’av. The one before mincha was a 30 minute video on people reflecting on their lives PRE disengagement. Just the thought of people having their efforts over the past 30 years thrown away and destroyed in enough to make you cry. And coupled with the fact that the current war, I feel, is a direct cause of the disengagement has made me cry even more this tisha b’av.
The day after I drove to the catskills as I was twisting balloons at camp hasc. A friend of mine Rabbi Mischel from RBS is running the camp and hired Yudie Ballooney for the folks there. Little did I know that the events of the day were: Yudie Ballooney and Rabbi SOlomon from Lakewood. I didn’t get to meet the rav, but I was honored to be a part of making these kids and adults happy for a little while. Its incredible seeing all the counselors and helpers, wheel and take care of the people who are in the camp. I know I could never have done that. Takes someone with a special neshama to spend their summer this way. These are boys and girls ages 18-21 I think. Some hang in woodbourne or in the city. But these are dedicated to helping the kids and adults with special needs have a great summer. It was especially rewarding to see my friend Jeffrey Goldgrab there. Living in Staten Island with him and seeing him change from a small scrawny kid who I once ran over in a softball game to REALLY turning into a special person. I draw alot of strength seeing the youth of tommorrow being so involved in chessed. I think when I was 20 I was in college for the summer and was a counselor in day camp somewhere. But these kids are just different than my chevra was. or most chevras for that matter.
He’s going back a second year to Reishit so we’ll see him g-d willing in Beit Shemesh.
Last shabbos we spent in Monsey and it was an interesting shabbos. I just spent several hours listening in the car friday to Rav Leff on my Ipod. He gave several speeches on and befre tisha b’av and spoke about many different topics. One hit home was the huge difference between US and Israel .The philosophy in life and material objects or “toys” as the rav would call them. I’m not going to get into this. Although its kedai to go to Rav leff’s website and download his drashot. Sunday was spent in Camp dina visiting my daughter, michal. Its interesting how many people I know that send their daughters there. Guys from high school, elementary school. One guy who learned in israel and was there several times before as well. I clearly remember staring at the coke can in hebrew in his house. Another friend of mine who has israeli parents. Both live in the US, while I’m living in Israel. I guess you can never tell who gets the “bug” to make the leap.
Its been a quiet week here in Baltimore. Unfortunately, in Israel its anything but quiet. My friend Adiel Levin was called to serve in the reserves and I’ve been keeping him in my thoughts in tefilla and during the day. When I asee a report about reserves… my heart just stops for a second. Although I should really be shuttering at any mention of soldiers. Every one who is killed or injured is someone’s friend, brother, or father.
I caught a glimpse of a website that mentioned a reservist was killed from Michmas. A settlement near ma’ale adummim. I mention this bec. my friend micha has a brother that lives there. Turns out it was the son of a friend of Josh Males. Josh also had a friend of his killed a year ago in another incident. A civilian killed a week ago used to play softball with the captain of my current team. Its difficult and while we are gung ho in driving out hizbolla there is a huge cost to this. The numbers dont affect us when its US soldiers because we dont have a connection to them. Israeli soldiers are our people.
This week has also seen a shift in public and world opinion. France has caved, no surprise and just hours ago the US told israel not to escalate the war. Just hours after the Israeli GOv’t announced that they are going to expand their ground offensive. First time in this tekufah that we’ve seen any words out of washington that hasnt totally supported Israel in their operations. We’ll see if Israel backs down, although I don’t think they will. With over 3,000 rockets hitting israel over the past few weeks most in Israel support the operation. Even the left parties.
Well, I’m going to sign off. Mincha then Ma’ariv then the daf and then a shiur from Rabbi Hauer. Busy night…..
Also a farewell to The Kenigs as they are heading to Israel in the AM. Be safe kenneth. Maybe the kenigs will want to stay and make aliya…stay tuned…
Be well,
j
