Mixed Messages
From Today's Ha'aretz website:
Bus destroyed in suicide bombing to be displayed at NY fair
By The Associated Press
JERUSALEM - A bus destroyed in one of the deadliest
Palestinian suicide bombings will be displayed at
a New York fair alongside booths promoting Jewish
culture and tourism to Israel.
(For those interested in the complete article:
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/346592.html )
One can only wonder, when did Jewish culture come to consist of blown up buses? Further ponderings will lead one one to wonder, who in their right mind, after seeing this bus on display in NY will decide to visit Israel themselves, allow their children to come to Israel or even fathom the idea of ever living in such a place?!
Yet, fear not, fruits will come to bear from this display, as many, many Jews will open their pocketbooks and wallets to help their poor, needy brethren in Israel.
So long as our culture is one that proudly displays the struggles of the Jewish People - particularly in Israel - Aliyah will never be on the radar. Only when we are able to spread a culture of true Jewish Pride can we hope to move the masses.
Living in America is Stupid.
I must say that every time I see a map of Israel, video from Israel, or hear any news from Israel, I get this overwhelming understanding of how absolutely ridiculous it is that we live in America now. What on earth are we thinking, and how can we possibly correlate our perpetual yearning for the Holy Land, our 3,000 year yearning, and our cushy, cushy lives here in the States? And thanks very much, but Moshiach probably doesn't want us to cover for our own fears and insecurities by saying we're waiting for him to bring us home, as if that were ever a Jewish value. "Oh, I don't think I'll go to work today, I'll just wait for Moshiach to bring me a brisket." And those of us who aren't yet religious, no matter who you are, no matter how your non-Jewish friends love you, no matter who you're dating or what philosophies you subscribe to, you're Jewish and there's no way for you to ever change it, so you'd better start learning about who you are - life's too short to fake or avoid it.
Let's get out of here, people. It's time to go.
