israeloutlook.com

People are funny. They give and take credit for the most amazing things. When you win at something, they say that you are a ’winner’. But if, in the next moment, you lose, then you are a ‘loser’. Have you changed in that moment?  

When you win, your status becomes magnificent. Your success is attributed to excellence, and your weaknesses are forgotten. You are hailed as a guru, and the talking heads wax eloquent over how they had ’seen this coming’ - when just minutes before they were predicting failure and ignominious defeat.

People are funny. They give and take credit for the most amazing things. When you win at something, they say that you are a ’winner’. But if, in the next moment, you lose, then you are a ‘loser’. Have you changed in that moment?  

When you win, your status becomes magnificent. Your success is attributed to excellence, and your weaknesses are forgotten. You are hailed as a guru, and the talking heads wax eloquent over how they had ’seen this coming’ - when just minutes before they were predicting failure and ignominious defeat.

Read Full Post »

Yesterday was Jerusalem Day. It commemorates and celebrates the recovery of the ancient city of Jerusalem by the Jewish State of Israel, and it has something of a personal significance to me.  

Those of you who are not Jewish, but know history will be scratching your heads. Jerusalem was recovered during the Six Day War, on June 7th. Yesterday was May 16th. What gives? Why isn’t Jerusalem Day celebrated on June 7th?

Well, once in every 19 years it is.

Yesterday was Jerusalem Day. It commemorates and celebrates the recovery of the ancient city of Jerusalem by the Jewish State of Israel, and it has something of a personal significance to me.  

Those of you who are not Jewish, but know history will be scratching your heads. Jerusalem was recovered during the Six Day War, on June 7th. Yesterday was May 16th. What gives? Why isn’t Jerusalem Day celebrated on June 7th?

Well, once in every 19 years it is.

Read Full Post »

I can’t believe it.

Or, maybe I should say that I believe it but am thoroughly disgusted by it.

Apparently, the United States and the EU are boycotting the celebrations marking forty years since the liberation of Jerusalem.

I could scream, I’m so mad!

In fact, since I am on the verge of incoherence, let me have someone else speak for a moment while I go and jump up and down and scare the cats:

I can’t believe it.

Or, maybe I should say that I believe it but am thoroughly disgusted by it.

Apparently, the United States and the EU are boycotting the celebrations marking forty years since the liberation of Jerusalem.

I could scream, I’m so mad!

In fact, since I am on the verge of incoherence, let me have someone else speak for a moment while I go and jump up and down and scare the cats:

Read Full Post »

I wrote about my friend the assassin because she represents the incredible moral dilemma that Israel struggles with every day.

My friend has strong moral values. She loves her mother and brothers.

She would make a great mother. In fact, I can’t imagine too many who would be more loving and devoted to her kids.

Her comrades look up to her, like an older sister.

But, she has a hollow tooth with a radio transmitter. She is a black belt in three martial arts. And, she is deadly accurate when her finger is wrapped around a trigger.

I wrote about my friend the assassin because she represents the incredible moral dilemma that Israel struggles with every day.

My friend has strong moral values. She loves her mother and brothers.

She would make a great mother. In fact, I can’t imagine too many who would be more loving and devoted to her kids.

Her comrades look up to her, like an older sister.

But, she has a hollow tooth with a radio transmitter. She is a black belt in three martial arts. And, she is deadly accurate when her finger is wrapped around a trigger.

Read Full Post »

I have a friend who is an assassin.

Her job is to go in and kill those that the government of Israel says should be killed. It is a terrible job, and she hates it. But, she hates worse the idea that more people will die if she doesn’t kill.

She has the dubious advantage of looking like an Arab, of speaking Arabic with a Palestinian accent, of knowing the customs and body language expected of an Arab. She is unimposing. She is good at her job.

And, she is one of the nicest, most sensitive people that I know.

I have a friend who is an assassin.

Her job is to go in and kill those that the government of Israel says should be killed. It is a terrible job, and she hates it. But, she hates worse the idea that more people will die if she doesn’t kill.

She has the dubious advantage of looking like an Arab, of speaking Arabic with a Palestinian accent, of knowing the customs and body language expected of an Arab. She is unimposing. She is good at her job.

And, she is one of the nicest, most sensitive people that I know.

Read Full Post »