June 02, 2005
Hmm so why exactly did they make Aliyah, ehrm?
This isn't very important or anything. It's just disturbing in a very strange way:
Police Discover Ring of Neo-Nazi Immigrants From FSU
20:23 Jun 01, '05 / 23 Iyar 5765
Israel’s police have uncovered a group of at least 20 neo-Nazis who immigrated to Israel from the Former Soviet Union under the Law of Return.
Police are not certain how to proceed due to the lack of legal basis for prosecuting Israelis espousing anti-Semitic ideology.
The neo-Nazi group was discovered following the arrest of a 20-year-old IDF soldier on drug charges. That resulted in the discovery of neo-Nazi material in his home and a swastika tattooed on his arm.
During the investigation of the arrested neo-Nazi and his mother, who also professed hatred for Jews and Israel, other members of the group were revealed. Police detective Haim Fadlon told the Maariv newspaper that the suspects are believed to have met each other in anti-Semitic chat rooms on the Internet. They have held meeting and performed ceremonies with swastika banners and other Nazi paraphernalia as well.
"We cannot disclose details of the inquiry, but it's chilling," Fadlon said. "It appears these are people living in this country who are talking among themselves about extermination of the Jews."
Under the current 'Law of Return,' anybody with a Jewish grandparent can immigrate to Israel and receive citizenship and benefits. Immigrant groups representing Jews from the former Soviet Union have long called for reform in the law due to immigrants moving to Israel for financial reasons, bringing their enmity for Jews and Israel along with them.
Interior Minister Ofir Pines-Paz has asked Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to interpret the law regarding new immigrants and citizenship to examine the legal procedure under which a new immigrant’s status can be revoked.
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The Orange Wave in USA
Over 2,500 orange T-shirts have been distributed to communities in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.
The shirts are to be worn at the Israel Day Parade this Sunday and the subsequent concert. "The goal is to flood the area with orange in support of our brethren in Gush Katif," say the organizers. Participating communities include Lawrence, Woodmere, Passaic, Teaneck, Bergenfield, Monsey, Engelwood, Edison/Highland Park, Brooklyn, Milford and Manhattan. For more information, contact "randbk@aol.com" or "smarstan@aol.com".
Ladaat.net reports that Rabbi David Druckman, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Motzkin and a strongly vocal opponent of the disengagement plan, plans to move to Gush Katif tomorrow.
The plan is for Rabbi Druckman to move tomorrow to the recently re-populated Palm Beach Hotel in Gush Katif, and for his family to follow him after the Shavuot holiday, two weeks from now. The rabbi said that his purpose is to show a personal example and solidarity with the residents. Asked how long he plans to be there, he said, "Until the fury passes."
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Comment:I assume that in protest against the State, the good Rabbi will be resigning his State paid post in Kiryat Motzkin?
Gilly
Posted by: Gil Ben Mori at June 2, 2005 11:53 AM Permalink
Gil, I hope that you don't mean to imply that protesting government policy cannot coexist with support for the state? My impression is that the typical orange protestor is more patriotic than average.
Posted by: David Boxenhorn at June 5, 2005 10:13 AM Permalink
There is no question that the Settlers in Gush Katif are very patriotic. Its a tough call though. I really can't see any way that the Israelis should keep their smaller settlements. Gaza in particular is a wasteland. Its better to cut those 1,000,000 Palestinians from Israel.
Posted by: KevinE at June 6, 2005 05:50 PM Permalink
Contemplating work
Life is so weird sometimes.
Infact, life is weird at all times. In a way one can say that it appears quite pointless how one has a tendency to constantly keep waiting for things to happen, and planning every little detail, because we never know what is going to happen.
Nothing of tremendous significance has taken place in my life that is causing me to be so philosophical (unfortunately). But today my bosses summoned the staff, and told us that at 4 o'clock that afternoon, they would be selling the company. And who would they be selling it to? To one of the wealthiest men in the country (who owns practically everything, including 66°c North). So our personal, beloved 'family company' that was to celebrate its 65th birthday this month, is to become part of a huge company, owned by a millionaire who is in possession of shops and companies worldwide. My boss and his wife (both people I adore) have, as of today, left the business.
I'm ashamed to say it but I feel far less joy in doing my job now. I don't take any pleasure in making a millionaire 'just a little more rich'. But I guess I should just be grateful that I still have a nice job where I get to meet people from all over the world every day.
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June 03, 2005
A poem about emptiness
A saw a sad poem on an Icelandic website that gave me a strange feeling of familiarity. Despite the fact that the poem consists of very simple words and sentences, I found translating it virtually impossible. Nevertheless, it went something like this:
Emptiness
Like stepping on air
without falling
Like green becoming yellow
and yellow becoming green
Like sounds becoming relative
and losing connection to what moves
Like sleep being the only joy that remains
and dreams having lost their purpose
And like everything is nothing
nothing becomes everything
Such is emptiness
-Anonymous Icelander
*Note, I changed the original due to problems with translations:
Tómleikinn
Líkt og að stíga á tómið
án þess að falla
Líkt og grænn verði gulur
og gulur verði grænn
Líkt og hljóð verði afstæð
og missi tengsl við það sem hreyfist
Líkt og svefn sé eina hin eina gleði eftir
og draumar hafi misst sinn tilgang
Líkt og allt er ekkert
og ekkert er allt
Slíkur er tómleikinn
-Ónefndur höfundur
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A post for Bergljot Hiller
This morning my grandmother passed away. While her death came as a shock, I am slightly comforted by the fact that she died peacefully and painlessly, in a hospital bed in Namsos, Norway. Strangely, she died on the day that marks 6 years since the death of my father.
I haven't got any idea when blogging is to resume, but it has been put on hold for the time being.
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Trackback from Rishon Rishon, Barukh Dayan Emet:
I wish to extend condolences to Maria of Hatshepsut, on the death of her grandmother. The traditional Jewish response on hearing of a death is: ברוך דין אמת Barukh Dayan Emet Blessed is ...
Barukh dayan emet.
I hope you're managing. If there's anything I can do, let me know.
Posted by: David Boxenhorn at June 5, 2005 10:17 AM Permalink
My thoughts are with you. Wishing you a long life.
Gilly
Posted by: gil ben mori at June 6, 2005 09:01 PM Permalink
June 07, 2005
Losing, loving, living
I'd like to thank you for the thoughtful comments on my latest post, concerning the death of my grandmother.
Life has been a bit strange lately. When I was a child I was much closer to my grandmother (Bergljot) than I have been since I moved to Iceland, at the age of 7 (from Norway). Since then I have been much closer to my Icelandic grandmother, Asta. I still don't fully, or maybe not at all, comprehend the fact that my grandmother Bergljot is not sitting in her usual favorite chair in the kitchen of her old white house in northern Norway, where my father was born, and where I played as a child.
Since she died I have practically been 'stalking' my other grandmother. I think she is quite amused by the attention. I've been calling her relentlessly from work "just to check how she's doing", as well as having fish & ryebread with her, going shopping with her, etc.
I am not feeling too bad, I'm certainly hanging in there. The only thing that scares me is the power that those who love us have over us, and keeps us in emotional bondage, in a way. But as Cat Stevens once said (before he lost his mind): "Freedom is just another word for having nothing left to lose".
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You probably don't realize how incredibly descriptively you write. From just a few well-chosen words I could see in my mind's eye the house in Northern Norway... the favorite chair... your father as a child. I could smell and taste with my imagination the fish and rye bread (not to mention experiencing the comforting smells that only older relative's homes posses).
Thank you for taking me with you on your journey.
Posted by: David at June 8, 2005 02:48 PM Permalink
I agree with David.
BTW, it was Janis Joplin who said that, originally Kris Kristofferson - see here.
Posted by: David Boxenhorn at June 8, 2005 09:42 PM Permalink
Maria, I am a little older than you, could actually be your mother in age, and I want to tell you how comforted I feel after I read your blog. It is comforting to see that a person who is far from me in age, in geography (you're from the north, I'm from the south...of the Mediterranean, and now lives on the other side of the Atlantic), in culture somehow, and perhaps in other things.. can actually be close to me, in her way of thinking, in her strong and proud attachment to Israel. Thank you for giving me this comfort.. BiShalom.
P.S.: another closeness: I am a social anthropologist...! And believe me, I do not encounter many anthropologists who are "proud friends of Israel"!!
Posted by: Nadir at June 20, 2005 05:29 AM Permalink
Anti-semitic stereotypes die hard
Still a reality?
Hmm, I think this article more than deserves a mention, especially since it talks about much of what I've been waiting for.
Before judging it, one must bear in mind that the people asked are generally, or at least very often:
-Ignorant when it comes to authentic facts
-Brainwashed by biased media
-Anti-semitic, often due to one of the two reasons mentioned above.
Anti-Defamation League survey shows plurality of Europeans believes Jews are not loyal to their country, have too much power in business and finance; 20 percent of those surveyed across Europe continue to blame Jews for death of Jesus
A plurality of Europeans believes Jews are not loyal to their country and that they have too much power in business and finance, a new poll released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Tuesday showed.
Similarly, European respondents still adhere to the notion that “Jews have too much power in international financial markets.” Overall, 32 percent of those surveyed cling to the traditional stereotype.
The countries surveyed were: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and for the first time, Hungary and Poland.
The opinion survey of 6,000 adults – 500 in each of the 12 European countries – found either minimal decline, no change or, in some cases, an increase in negative attitudes toward Jews from its 2004 findings.
The poll also showed that large portions of the European public continue to believe that Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust.
'Cause for concern'
Overall, 42 percent of those surveyed believe it is “probably true.” In fact, a plurality of respondents in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain and Switzerland believes this notion to be true.
Overall, 20 percent of those surveyed across Europe continue to blame Jews for the death of Jesus, and 29 percent said their opinion of Jews is influenced by the actions taken by the State of Israel.
ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman said.
“Millions of Europeans still accept a wide range of traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes, including the charge that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country. These attitudes help incite and legitimize anti-Semitism and, coupled with an atmosphere where violence against Jews is still prevalent, give us great cause for concern."
----------
It's also worth a mention that yesterday was Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day. I would like to point out David Treppenwitz's post on the subject.
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June 08, 2005
The world's most 'kosher' MC
Separated at birth?
Am I being a little harsh here? I certainly do not mean to make any negative statements about Christianity. But I must confess that it caught my attention that a public figure who has based his career on stressing his 'Jewishness', now greets readers with bits of the New Testament upon entering his website.
So to quote Israellycool's Dave: 'The world's most kosher MC is no more kosher than a ham sandwhich'.
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Maria-
I hope all is well with you and your family. Ya, 50 Shek is a moron. I don't care for his Jewish sellout make-a-profit on Hannukah and Jay-Z style. I think he lives a few miles up the road from me. If I see him I will be sure to call him out.
Best to you, dear,
Posted by: Max L at June 11, 2005 09:12 PM Permalink
Max
June 15, 2005
The king's clothes
For the last few days I have been doing a lot of thinking, and absolutely no writing at all. It appears as though I have been incapable of writing down what I have been contemplating. Lately I have been giving the reality of disengagement more and more thought, and it seems that I am certainly not the only one. We are all hearing news about how the opposition to the disengagement procedure as well as feelings of doubt is rising among the Israeli public. I suspect that people are beginning to come a step closer to realise what is really taking place. An excellent analogy came from Tel Aviv protesters when they said "The king has no clothes".
Last night before I went to sleep I was horrified to suddenly somehow, although only partly 'grasp' how people will actually be taken out of their rightful homes by force, and never permitted to return.
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It is quite upsetting. If this were done to any other group of people there would be loud shouts of protest; but it is done to Jews by the Jewish state with the encouragment and at the behest of the sole superpower, the USA. It is overwhelming at times, emotionally. I can't understand why...I really can't. There are no promises that we will receive peace from this. If anything there is bound to be more terrorism. What can one do at this point but pray?
Posted by: Rachel Ann at June 15, 2005 02:05 PM Permalink
I was surprised how little you wrote about the Disengagement so far. As you know, I don't share all your views, and I certainly support evacuation of Gaza on certain terms. I've just come to realize that these temrs are not fulfilled. Actually I was very much in favor of the Disengagement when it was first mentioned, and I can hardly remember why. I only remember that Arafat was alive and that there was a series of incidents where soldiers were killed in Gaza - including the horrific scenes where soldiers had to dig in the dirt searching for their friends' bodies. Anyway now I don't see how a complete pullout from Gaza will improve this situation. And I certainly don't see how a pullout will strengthen the moderates in the PA.
I'm just getting more and more worried, like many other people. But there is nothing to be done as Israel (Sharon) is committed to this process. During the last year the Disengagement is the only thing everyone talk about, but the goverment doesn't bother to explain why is it good and what will happen the day after. The most troubling thing is that I'm beginning to believe those who say that the Disengagement came so as to divert attention from Sharon's corruptions. A short time ago I would say that this is a ridiculous theory, but I'm afraid it's starting to look more and more reasonable.
Posted by: Orly at June 16, 2005 01:51 PM Permalink
A jew, a universal genius, and headed for Israel!
Mazal tov to Yehoshua Torbjörn, who won a two day traveling contest. I simply couldn't resist posting this newpaper clip of him, and translating bits of it:
"Last night the winner of the two day travel-chance quiz was determined. During 45 minutes the 10 contestants were made to answer questions from different Americans presidents, to the names of the capitals of Switzerland and Croatia, and the winner was Torbjörn Karfunkel, age 35. He had no doubts about how the prize should be spent: "It will be a trip to Israel, I haven't been there in 23 years".
Like I've said to Torbjörn himself already (who won shitloads of cash on "Who wants to be a millionaire" a few years back), it pays off to be, like, incredibly smart! Since he is the manifestation of modesty, he answered back saying "well it pays off being well informed".
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Some things they should all know
Smooth Stone is my hero. He or she (has refused to reveal) has posted a long list of Important Historical Facts. I practically feel obligated to link to this excellent post, and encourage everybody who needs it (=most everyone) to read it thoroughly:
Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict,
20 Facts About Israel and the Middle East,
FLAME,
History in a Nutshell,
Nutshell 2,
Pipeline of Hatred,
Palestine Facts,
Balfour Declaration, 1917,
As early as 1922, Arabs were apprehensive that Palestine would become 'as Jewish as England is English.': British White Paper, 1922,
Arabs required, again in 1939, reassurances that Palestine would not become 'as Jewish as England is English.': British White Paper, 1939 ,
Palestinian National Charter,
Camp David Accords, 1978,
Israel-Palestine Liberation Agreement, 1993,
The creed of the terrorist group Hamas: The Hamas Covenant,
UN Resolution 242. What does it really say? ,
JIMENA,
Dhimmis and Dhimmitude The Status of Minorities Under Islamic Rule,
What Muslims Really Believe: Jihad Watch,
The Arroganice of Islam: Dhimmi Watch,
American Jewish Historical Society,
The Fence. The Facts. ,
The false claim of "occupied" territories ,
The Fake History of the "West Bank" and Gaza Strip,
Yes, This Is About Islam,
The Promised Land of Israel,
Arab/Nazi Connection,
Why We Support Israel,
The Arab Invasion - 1948,
The Myth of "Arab East Jerusalem",
Was there ever a flourishing Arab society in what used to be Palestine?,
What words are contained in the Hamas Covenant? ,
Muslims who have left their faith
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Maria, thank you for the kind post, I am so very flattered. You're one of my favorites, too.
Kantor, I see that you have inserted a link to your opinion on the dis-engagement as a response to this thread. Oddly misplaced, it is, but I imagine that was your intent. I haven't read your opinion on the dis-engagement and I won't; I personally don't care what you think. However, since Maria's particular post had to do with what I wrote, I find it appropriate to respond:
STOP the disengagement - if for no other reason than that the international press is waiting for pictures of the Israeli army in action against *unarmed* Israeli civilians.
The Jew-hating press will expect horrific photos of Israeli soldiers struggling with women and children.These photos will “prove” the accuracy of their previous stories of Israeli brutality, thus milking even MORE sympathy from the uneducated international community for the poor "palestinian people."
In all likelihood, the photos will be edited to show that Israeli soldiers are worse than Arab "freedom fighters". Readers will, in the future, believe any story that the media fabricates about Israeli soldiers.
No democracy removes 8,000 of its own law-abiding citizens from their homes, in order to appease their enemy.The IDF’s reputation will be reduced to an all time low and these photographs - the real ones and the touched up ones - will immemorialize the horror of the disengagement for eternity.
Those are a few arguments that you should be thinking about.
Posted by: Smooth at June 15, 2005 11:58 PM Permalink
Maria and Smooth:
I don't think Kantor meant to 'bark' att all. You are both obviously very bright (one just has to have a look at your blogs to realize that), so even if you disagree with Kantor on this topic, you should realize that there are pros and cons with the disengagement. If the pros have less weight than the cons, or vice versa, is a matter of dispute.Debates tend to get very heated in Israel and among its friends (not to mention between us and the anti-Israel mafia *shiver*). Sometimes I get really embarrassed, like when I hear Israelis compare other Israelis to Hitler and Nazis. It's better when our enemies do that, because then they make fools out of themselves.
I'm not at all saying that you in any way are bringing the discussion to such a low level. I only want to warn everyone - our enemies just love the spectacles we offer by being too narrow-minded in our internal fights.
My personal view on the disengagement, you might ask? Well, not a clear view. I do think that disengaging Gaza might be a good thing as part of a final peace agreement. Since I don't see such an agreement on the horizon, I suspect the timing is awful. Still, I must say I have great respect for the Israeli government, and they are definitely in a better position (military and political advisors, etc) than I am to judge the situation.
Posted by: Torbjörn Karfunkel at June 16, 2005 09:31 AM Permalink
Torbjörn: Mazal Tov again. I agree with what you say about internal debates. I also respect the fact that you don't rush to form a clear view on the Disengagement. I think, however, that you have a very common and dangerous mistake: "I have great respect for the Israeli government, and they are definitely in a better position (military and political advisors, etc) than I am to judge the situation."
This is something we have been telling ourselves many times, and it didn't always prove to be correct (I mainly refer to the Oslo Accords of course). "The Israeli goverment", in this case, refers to Ariel Sharon and his environment. It doesn't mean that they are wrong. However, if Sharon would, instead, decide to annex the West Bank and Gaza, he would probably gain similar support of politicians who fear for their chair (only this time the US would object).
"The goverment" here is, very sadly, not a group of people who are committed only to the well being of Israel. On the other hand, there are many military and political experts who warn that the disengagment would be a disaster. I really am aware that we, as non-experts, have limited capabilities on these issues. However, I don't think we can say that some experts are better than others only because they express the opinion of the current government.
Posted by: Orly at June 16, 2005 02:21 PM Permalink
Well, it is amazing such a big hostility towards no more than a debate. I fully understand hostility against antisemitism or anti-Israel people. But, the goverment of Israel and more that a half of the people are pro-disengagement!
Disengament is on one hand a moral question, on the other a pragmatic one.
Chutzpah! That is the word for having all answers
Posted by: Kantor at June 16, 2005 11:02 PM Permalink
even before the questions are proposed. But anyway, I like (even I envy?) that (sometimes misleading) passion.
Torbjorn, I don't quite know how you arrived at your conclusion about my anti dis-engagement views, but I will never submit to a request to shut up simply because someone else is afraid of how my opinion might excite my enemy. I don't give a crap if a palestinian or some other unevolved backwoods barbarian just read what I wrote about how I feel about the disengagment. In fact, I am ever more compelled to write about my view on the disengagement, because if one of Israel's enemies should happen to read what I wrote, they'll know that not all Jews are cowardly patsies. We don't all roll over on our backs waiting for our enemies to gut us, like a fish. If you're embarassed by what I wrote, then you have a problem, not me. Moreso, my opinion here is hardly an example of "in-fighting". Jewish in-fighting is when one Jew betrays another publically. I've betrayed no one. I have devoted the past 7 years of my life defending Israel's right to exist; I've gone head-to-head with fascists, neo-nazis, klansmen, islamists and their apologists. I've been threatened and I"ve been impugned by some of the lowest life forms on earth, yet I was never hurt by someone's words more than by a Jew who defended a terrorist. THAT's in-fighting. THAT's gut-wrenching. What I wrote above is hardly that so let's not over-react. As for that old mantra "well, I don't live in Israel, so I can't have an opinion" or "the Israeli government has more expertise that I do so I can't judge" is a bunch of bullcrap also. Are you going to tell me that during WWII, when Jews were being slaughtered by nazi scum, that other people in the US should not have had an opinion?? What kind of idiocy is that? If more people would have more pride about being Jewish and less shame, we would have been in charge of the Temple Mount back in '67, instead of handing the keys over to the waqf, and we would have held onto world opinion, instead of being referred to as "zionist cancers" in the arab media. Think about what image you yourself are projecting and how your comments are affecting the enemy.
Posted by: Smooth at June 17, 2005 01:09 AM Permalink
You're not making sense right now, Smooth:
"I don't quite know how you arrived at your conclusion about my anti dis-engagement views"
What conclusions? I drew no conclusions at all!
"I will never submit to a request to shut up"
Noone has put forth such a request.
The rest of your post seems to be a lengthy attack/defense against what you *think* I meant (which I didn't).
Here is what i *did* mean:
People here have different opinions about the disengagement. When Kantor posted a link to his/her arguments, you dismissed him with the remark"Oddly misplaced, it is, but I imagine that was your intent"
Maria said
"you're barking up the wrong tree.."
I found both these remarks slightly (yes, just slightly) rude. My post was a request to stop the rude comments. Nothing else.
Posted by: Torbjörn Karfunkel at June 17, 2005 01:11 PM Permalink
The expression "to bark up the wrong tree" does not indicate that a person is angrily shouting or going berserk. What I meant was simply that Kantor's efforts to persuade me that disengagement is a positive thing, are in vain. I hope that Kantor did not think that I meant to be offensive, or that I didn't appreciate his comment. (Kantor, I like you! ;=)
Posted by: Maria at June 17, 2005 01:41 PM Permalink
June 16, 2005
Stories of the day :-)
I really must begin to take my camera with my to work so that I can take pictures of the interesting people I meet there!
Once again I must declare how much I love my job. The *strangest* incident happened to me earlier this evening. Sometime between 8:30-21 pm I had 1-1,5 hours left of work. I was working alone for the last few hours, and I decided to play some Eyal Golan (Israeli music). A few minutes after I begin playing it the first Israeli visitors of the summer entered my shop! I was so surprised that the first Israelis should come into this little souvenir shop in the "arctic" that sells sheep skins and woolsweaters, exactly as I was playing their very own 'mizrahi' music. I thought it was very bizarre indeed, and so did they. The group consisted of a woman, her young son, and another woman. I had a long conversation with one of the women. She said she's attending a conference on RNA here. She also said that she knows (or is related to, can't remember) Iceland's first lady (who is an Israeli, as I have previously mentioned).
I also had a bunch of weird conversations with tourists today (as I often do). I had a big laugh today when a woman from Minnesota was paying for a painting by an Icelandic artist, and I noticed that her name was "Maria Susanna", like myself! We both laughed and said we had never met anyone with the same name before, although I confessed to having looked it up online.
Then I was utterly insulted by a Swiss guy with incredibly curly hair. I hate when men aren't properly 'trained' in talking to women. I just hate it! I think I shall soon enough post a "How not to insult a woman - a guide for dummies" to my weblog.
Guy: Do you sell stamps?
Maria: Yes
Guy: Do you sell stamps to Switzerland?
Maria: No. Only to other countries (I often say that as a joke to tourists who ask this silly question, but I always correct myself afterwards).
Guy: What?!
Maria: Oh we don't like Switzerland here, all the chocolate and stuff, makes us fat!
Guy: Oh you don't have to worry, you're not that fat.
Maria: NOT THAT FAT?? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Guy: No no that is not what I mean, you're fine, bla blah whatever. Are you offended?
Maria: Yes. You should never tell a woman anything else than that she is perfect!
Guy: You are perfect, really! Is it okay now?
Maria: Sure (not true, of course).
Guy: Okay thank you, bye bye!
*oh and I sold him the stamps, of course :p
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HAHAHAHAHA!!!:D
Poor Swiss guy...he goes to Iceland for vacation, and what does he encounter? The evil shop attendant from hell! ;)Don't bother to post the guide for dummies on how to treat a woman. Face it - men and women are psychologically incompatible, a fact you'll have to learn to live with. The first couple of months I dated my girlfriend I couldn't tell what color her hair or eyes were or what clothes she were wearing the moment I turned my back to her. Now I at least know the color of her hair and eyes...
Posted by: Torbjörn Karfunkel at June 16, 2005 11:03 AM Permalink
Reading, writing, arithmetic and how to talk so you don't offend a woman.
Posted by: Rachel Ann at June 16, 2005 11:35 AM Permalink
Funny that on the day that I am having my comeback on the net, you have a complaint about a Swiss! But honestly, that's how they are, really! I think only the Germans can be worse concerning narrow mindedness and general stupidity. And to think that my baby is going to have a Swiss passport... poor thing! You got me frustrated! And even worse - racist!
Love you lots!
did you get my e-mail? And sms? No worry if you're busy, just hope my stuff got through and that you're not mad at me for not writing more often... if you are, just figure my "Imsosorryface" right now, and please crack up...
Posted by: p-j at June 16, 2005 04:13 PM Permalink
June 17, 2005
Photos from Independence Day in Reykjavik
I am so proud of myself for having finally done what I've been meaning to do for ages: Taken photos, and uploaded them.
Today Icelanders are celebrating 61 years of independence from Denmark. I was in town today (like most other people, it seems), and I took some photos. While I was at it I took some pictures of a few of my favorite places. I also bumped into my boss and one of my teachers, and I photographed them as well, along with the place where I work, etc.
This is the first time I post a photo gallery that gives such a glimpse of what much of my personal environment is like, so I suppose one could say that I am in a way taking my website to a slightly more personal level. I do prefer to think of it as "giving readers a glimpse of my reality" instead.
Well here is the album: Icelandic Independence Day Photos
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Great photos, Maria! They sure made me want to visit Reykjavik & Iceland again and I noticed some familiar faces among the pictures =)
Take care and post more photos like these.
Posted by: Huckleberry Finn at June 18, 2005 08:08 AM Permalink
June 18, 2005
Quote of the day
Quote of the day comes from my co worker, Gunnar, who used to live in Southern France:
"The French are crazy bastards. A French person's day seems to consist of going to work, coming home, sitting down on the couch and thinking to himself: "What can I do today to make my neighbor miserable?".
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June 19, 2005
More tales of the palestinian never never land
Hey wow, I've managed to locate an even shorter version of "palestine for dummies": The mythical never never land of palestine
If only I could get everybody to read the right stuff. Hmm, somebody purrhapps. Someday..
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I've been shouting about this article. This stuff makes me ill at heart.
Posted by: Rachel Ann at June 19, 2005 08:12 AM Permalink
Correction...my mind is a bit foggy from lack of sleep. I've been shouting about this stuff as well. Thank you for the link to this article/site.
I'll try to comment with a bit more intelligence...
Posted by: Rachel Ann at June 19, 2005 08:16 AM Permalink
I didn't read it. I think dummies need a shorter version!
Anyway, yes, I agree, of course, that the Palestinian propaganda is making massive use of the false idea of an old Palestinian state or culture. This is done with great help of Western media. It is IMPORTANT to expose this deception.
Yet, I think it's time to acknowledge that there IS a Palestinian people. It's very young, it's identity is not well formed, but it exists, and we refer to it ourselves all the time.
As Jews, we are used to think of peopls in terms of thousands of years. Of course our culture is a thousands years old, but we have to acknowledge that our culture is also changing. Much of the Jewish-Israeli culture has been created in the last decades, and is significantly different from the American-Jewish culture, for example.
We have to acknowledge that there is a Palestinian culture, though it is much a political creation. We can also see great difference (though interaction and similarity) between Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and Israeli-Arabs (only a minority of which call themselves Palestinians). The conclusion is that cultures and peoples can be formed withihn decades.
Now I have to go to a class.
Posted by: Orly at June 19, 2005 10:30 AM Permalink
I didn't mean that Palestinian Arabs didn't exist or didn't have any sort of culture, but the Palestinian idea is young. Actually, as far as I know, during the Ottoman era, even the Arab identity was week. It doesn't mean that there was no Arab culture, but the Arab world wasn't one unit (it's also hetrogenic today, but it units mainly for political purposes). As far as I know, an Arab person's affiliation was mainly to his/her village/town/tribe.
And yes, Jewish communities worldwide also developed their own local cultures in addition to the Jewish culture or religion. But the fact is that the Jewish people survived.
Posted by: Orly at June 19, 2005 02:27 PM Permalink
Well, the age of a culture or nation is IRRELEVANT for their political rigths.
If the Palestinians wanna became an independent state in Gaza and most of West Bannk, as long as they and the rest of Arabs fully recognize Israel, that is fine for me
Posted by: Kantor at June 19, 2005 08:57 PM Permalink
If it is IRRELEVANT, than why do so many Palestinian spokesmen insist that Jesus was a Palestinian, and King David was a Palestinian?
I AGREE with you that there are many more other relevant things, but a culture's age IS relevant. Otherwise, why was the Jewish State established in the Land of Israel? And perhaps the newly shaping Muslim culture in France, for example, should be recognized and given a state?
Posted by: Orly at June 21, 2005 11:32 AM Permalink
A little piece of a little land
I am absolutely ecstatic. I just ordered this "land of Israel" necklace. I've been talking about how I've wanted this for ages, wanting to carry a little bit of "Israel" around with me wherever I go, but I've never been able to find any such thing.
The necklace is designed by Israeli soldiers, and tithes go to charity, such as terror victims.
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Well, I'll try not to blatantly ruin your ecstacy, Maria. It's a nice idea, and nice to have them pay tithes to charity. But in general, I wish to say, many businesses make easy money of people's devotion for Israel. The fact that they may be devoted to Israel themselves or may have served in the Israeli Army (like millions of others) isn't very relevant.
I am especially angry to see cases - not this one, probably - where people are made to believe that their purchase supports Israsel or the IDF, where in fact they simply buy overpriced products from a fully private business.
Again, this is probably not the case, and maybe I am hypersensitive on this issue. Of course, it's your choice how to use your money, whether related to Isreal or not, but really, I just want to say: This necklace is is a *business*, so I wouldn't give it too much meaning beyond that.
Posted by: Orly at June 19, 2005 10:19 AM Permalink
Orly I shall tell you what I have told so many before: I'm from Iceland. For me everything is cheap! 18 dollars is nothing...
And I realise that carrying sand and dirt around your neck seems lame for someone who lives in Israel (and always did), such as yourself, but I assure you it's different when you don't.
Posted by: Maria at June 19, 2005 02:49 PM Permalink
And so what if they take atvantage of people's devotion to Israel? If everybody is happy, then let them! I make a living off taking atvantage of people's interest in Iceland. And believe me when I tell you things cost a loooooot more here :-) But hey, I don't force anyone to buy anything.
I would like your take on Iceland's welcome to Bobby Fisher, a washed up chess player who spouts off the most horrible anti-semitic statements. Why is Iceland so interested in this nasty perverted individual?
Posted by: Markylevin at June 20, 2005 04:46 AM Permalink
A lot of Israelis buy bottled water from springs in the Golan. Once I had a friend over from the Golan, he said, "We flush our toilets with that."
It is the "intrinsic value" fallacy: if you bring a thing from where it is common to where it is dear, you don't increase its value, therefore the merchant who does it is a parasite. This argument has been used against Jews for thousands of years.
Posted by: David Boxenhorn at June 20, 2005 07:30 PM Permalink
David: You refer to so-called mineral water. Nobody buys them becasue they are "from the Golan", but because they allegedly come from a spring and thus are better than regular tap water. Your friend probably meant to say that the value of mineral water is not as claimed to be.
Anyway, it's everyone's right to buy/sell things and pay according to their emotional rather than actual value. What bothers me in this field is that many businesses create a FALSE display as if they are charity or non-profit organizations.
Posted by: Orly at June 21, 2005 11:27 AM Permalink
Whether a business or helping out or a mixture of both it's a cute idea.
Posted by: gil ben mori at June 21, 2005 02:21 PM Permalink
June 22, 2005
Stupid is who stupid does.. and vice versa
Rishon Rishon's David is currently very occupied with this discussion on Jews and their abnormally high IQ's.
I personally do not like the strong faith people appear to have in intelligence tests. It is far too often that I've heard remarks such as "African Americans have lower average IQ's, and therefore they are not as smart", or "his IQ is 150, so he must understand that".
I'd like to show you something I read on the mensa website:
Are there really any true geniuses?:
Genius may be in the eye of the beholder. Furthermore, a true genius may not score particularly well on a standard group IQ test. We know a Nobel Prize winner who never scored at Mensa level on a school IQ test - he was too busy seeing all the alternate possibilities for each answer. At the present time, all IQ scores are read off of tables. Now there are almost no tests in use that will give extraordinary high IQs except those with very large standard deviations. And really, those who are what we may call a genius don't need a score to prove it.
Abbie F. Salny, Ed.D.
Supervisory Psychologist, American Mensa
Looking into achievements should be a far better way to determine intelligence than a bunch of meaningless testscores. An example could be the fact that 22% of Nobel Prize recipients between the years 1901-2004 have been Jewish. And that's.. a lot.
Even Albert Einstein failed exams
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I don't think motivation is enough to become Einstein, Freud, Marx, Kafka, etc. I also don't have statistics about the average Jews. But certainly there are much more excellent Jews that anyone would expect. Besides, many Jews have huge motivation to become international soccer players and the end beeing successful engineers. Not everything is motivation.
Posted by: Orly at June 23, 2005 01:31 PM Permalink
On Efrat and abortions
Now here is a worthy cause that I saw on Rachel Ann's website: Efrat - Saving thousands of children from death by abortion
I could write a long essay or a book bout "why abortions are wrong, and yet the world has decided to condone or even embrace them". It may sometimes be difficult to remember that sometimes, and infact quite often, a majority can be very wrong, even brainwashed, and very misled.
Even when the facts are as simple and clear as they indeed are. I am sometimes asked questions such as "what is a fact?", "who are you to define a fact?", or "do you really think there is one authentic truth?". I am sorry to break the news to the left wing postmodernists out there, but: Yes, there are such things as facts, and they can indeed often be quite easily defined.
Example (for dummies, such as postmodernists):
If a woman gets pregnant she will most likely end up giving birth to a child. The child will then become a full fledged individual. It is an indisputable fact.
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I recently saw a longer video of Efrat on a CD a woman gave me on the street in Jerusalem.
I don't think abortions are always wrong, like you do, but I am too bothered by how thoughtlessly they are sometimes performed in the so-called progressive society.
I think the timing of the abortion is critical. I certainly disagree with the view that right after the conception we have a human being. No, we have a few cells. Today you can have an "abortion pill" and end a pregnancy within 48 hours. It's certainly not "murdering a baby" and there's nothing wrong with it.
After 48 hours it's still not a baby, and for some time (I can't determine how long) the fetus is worth nothing more than a tadpole. The fact that it "responds if we tickle it" doesn't distinguishes it from any other organism.
I think there is propaganda on both sides - both the anti- and pro-abortion, and women who consider abortion should be cautious of both.
Generally I support abortion in the early stages of the pregnancy. I also support abortions in later stages in case of danger for the mother's health or if the baby is due to suffer some problems. Here, of course, it's hard to tell what problems exactly make the abortion justified. I do think that abortion is the best thing to do in many cases, but I have a feeling that in Israel there are too many abortions because the parents expect perfect children.
I, for one, have epilepsy. More precisely, I had a few seizures in my entire life, but besides I have a normal life, although I still take medication. I'm sure that with the common attitude today, many parents would choose to abort a child if they would know he/she would be epileptic. Of course, I think it's totally unreasonable in my case, and also in more severe cases. I mean, I feel that people - esp in Israel - are really exaggerating with this demand for a perfect child.
And now to EFRAT: They apply to women who consider having an abortion due to FINANCIAL reasons and help them mostly financially. Now why I DON'T like this attitude: We have increasing poverty in Israel, and there is much to do helping the children ALREADY born. Efrat would rather see as many as possible Jewish children (they don't help non-Jewish children). I would rather see happy children and women who control their lives. I'm not saying these Efrat children are not happy, but it's always better to have children when you PLAN it and when you can provide for them yourself.
So I would prefer if Efrat's money woulb be spent on advertising contraceptives and abortion pills and helping the many, many poor children we already have.
Posted by: Orly at June 23, 2005 10:43 AM Permalink
While on the subject. Lazer Brody has had some interesting posts lately about thousands
Posted by: Scott#1 at June 23, 2005 01:12 PM Permalink
abortions carried out in Israel each year, many induced he asserts, by mis-interpreted sonograms.
Orly: You have epilepsy? I have epilepsy as well..
Posted by: Maria at June 23, 2005 01:39 PM Permalink
I don't think parents would chose to abort their children if they knew they'd be epileptic. Maybe if they knew they'd be severely handicapped, but not epileptic.
But did you know that epileptics were not allowed to marry and have children in USA until 1963, in order to prevent them (us) from spreading the "bad genes"? Here in Iceland it was 1974..
Do you drive? What meds do you use?
I believe that more than a few people would abort an epileptic child, because people are ignorant about epilepsy. They aren't aware of the fact that people they know have epilepsy.
I have a driving license but I made it after the time where everybody else did. In practice I don't drive much. I'm not very confident in driving, but I do things that people with seizures aren't supposed to do, like climbing or swimming, and I feel confident because I haven't had a seizure in years.
Posted by: Orly at June 23, 2005 05:00 PM Permalink
Back to our subject, as far as I know, the tendency to abort babies because of various "defects" is stronger in Israel than anywhere else in the world. Israelis are world champions both in fertility treatments and in various tests during the pregnancy. I think it's generally good, but sometimes I hear that people decide to have an abortion because things that seem minor to me. It seems that people feel that their child must be perfect. Maybe it's related to the other discussion with David about the Jewish motivation...
Well epilepsy is an unusual condition in many ways. Much like Judaism, it has often been associated with big time achievers/geniuses. There is the theory about epilepsy and genius. Two out of the four men you mentioned, as an example (Freud and Marx), had epilepsy. And so many more of history's greatest achievers..
Posted by: Maria at June 23, 2005 06:30 PM Permalink
I wasn't aware of that. But maybe it's not so surprising, because epilepsy is a genetic condition having to do with the brain, and it's not really understood yet. Epilepsy is actually a broad range of conditions, some of which appear with mental deficiency, but perhaps others are more likely to appear with genius.
As for Judaism, I don't see it as an unusual condition, but maybe some people do...
Posted by: Orly at June 25, 2005 10:31 AM Permalink
June 23, 2005
I just couldn't resist posting this..
I think most of you who have been reading my page for a while know what I have nothing against pot, or those who smoke it. But I just can't resist making fun of this person.. I wonder if this was on Jay Leno..
The sad part is that her only real crime, is being incredibly stupid!
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June 26, 2005
Just a few more points to be stressed
While I know that most of you already know these things, most people don't come anywhere even close to comprehending. That's why I shall continue sometimes writing things that many of you won't find interesting. But I'll never force anyone to read it ;)
Honest Reporting has an article out worth reading, about attempted female suicide bomber Wafa al-Bas, who tried to blow up an Israeli hospital. What is especially noteworthy is the fact that what al-Bas claims to be her motives, does nothing but prove:
1) SUICIDE TERROR: ASPIRATION, NOT DESPERATION
Al-Bas explained to reporters why she carried out the act:
I love Allah, I love the land of Palestine and I am a member of Al-Aksa Brigades... my dream was to be a martyr. I believe in death... Since I was a little girl I wanted to carry out an attack.
2) IMPORTANCE OF ISRAELI CHECKPOINTS
3) PA EMBRACING, NOT STOPPING TERRORISTS
Read the article: Here
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I think most would-be suicide bombers I heard of described their "istishhad" as an aspiration.
However, Maria, it doesn't help us much with "most people", because they would still argue that this aspiration is a result of unbearable desperation.
I find it very frustrating. There are many open minded people, but once you come to talk with them about Islamic terrorism, they show some compassion for it. Why? Because some terrorists also kill themselves. What distorted reasoning people have!!
Not to mention that the highest suicide rates are still in Europe. Suicide rate is not a measure of national suffering anyway. But, please, these people don't just commit suicide. They are mass murderers. I agree, however, that while some of the suicide bombers are convinced they are going to sit next to Mohammed in heaven, for others this "martyrdom" is just a "heroic" substitiute for a shameful, "ordinary" suicide.
As for Wafa al-Bas, I'm NOT sure that she really has always dreamt of blowing herself up. We have seen in previous cases, esp of women, that the motive is sometimes different. The suicide attack is sometimes "offered" to a women as a substitute for so-called honor killing.
Posted by: Orly at June 26, 2005 09:13 AM Permalink
A brand new passport
Okay that's disturbing. I'll pretend I didn't see it and just go to sleep.
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June 28, 2005
A nightmare in the making
I think the headline of this article describes the situation in a nutshell: "Won the battle - Lost the war".
I have little to say about it. I just can't believe this is happening. Where is the last minute miracle I've been waiting for?
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the whole of jewish history has been one long series of miracles... i don't see why the disengagement should be any different. but if it is (hashem forbid), the world is definitely going to be poorer for it.
Posted by: yiddishe-kop at June 29, 2005 05:05 PM Permalink
Silent Judaism in Iran
I decided to point out this article about Jews in Iran. It reminds me of something from the (not so distant) past.
The Mahariv synagogue in Tehran Photo: Orly Azoulay
TEHRAN - "What do you want?" asked a suspicious and angry elderly local, as I entered the Mahariv synagogue in Tehran on Friday night.
When I explained to him that I was Jewish, and asked to join the prayer service, he was incredulous.
"We haven't seen Jews from outside of Iran for 30 years," he said.
On my first day in Tehran, I asked my cab driver to take me to the local synagogue. I didn't have an exact address, only the name of the neighborhood.
The driver sensed my disappointment.
"If you would like to see the Jewish cemetery, I can take you there," he said. "It will be interesting for you. The grandmother of the president of Israel is buried there."
I asked him who the president of Israel was.
"Moshe Dayan," said the cab driver. I didn't rush to correct him. It seemed to me that in the heart of Tehran, on a road that connected the synagogue to the Jewish cemetery, accompanied by an unknown driver, it was preferable not to reveal familiarity with Israeli affairs.
"Nearly 300 people took part in prayers. The experienced ones held the prayer book, and became lost in themselves, as they mumbled silent Hebrew words, a forbidden language in the streets of Tehran outside of the confines of a synagogue or a Jewish school."
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Trackback from Pejmanesque, JUDAISM IN IRAN:
Naturally, I was drawn to this post. It is a pity, of course, that Judaism must be "silent" in Iran, though I suppose that if it were louder, it would attract a lot of unwanted attention from the Islamic regime...