The horrible violence in Rafah is heartbreaking. I’ve been feeling like I want to react to it since the incursion began, but other than the usual things said (and said in many places all over the web) I only have one thing to add. I continue to find the loss of life to violence, hatred, close-mindedness and ego here, thorughout the US, Gaza, West Bank, Israel, Iraq, Sudan, Afgahnistan and so many other places so sad.
Tearfully.
I’m adding a feature which I enjoy looking at on other’s blogs – some links to what I am currently reading. This list will be (by no means) exhaustive, as I am usually reading many many books at one time. I will post ones which discuss a topic I think is especially important, or a book which is particularly moving or a book which conveys something I think enough of to share. Feedback, as always, is welcome. You’ll find the information in the column on the left in the section marked Currently Reading.
Shalom haverim, (greetins, friends)
This week I have selected a Torah commentary by Rav Kook, former cheif rabbi of Israel and a man with an imense character and influence on learning in the pre-state and early days of the State of Israel. The commentary linked to this week is called The Signs of Jacob and speaks of our personal and communal relationships to Torah.
Go, and Study!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom
In a post yesterday I wrote about an Arab editor/publisher who called upon Arafat to resign.
Today, an King Abdullah of Jordan has called upon Arafat to resign for the sake of the Palestinan people. Read about it in Ma’ariv. The call is getting stronger.
I doubt he will respond, but it is telling of the state of affairs amongst the Palestinians.
Steven Weiss of The Forward newspaper and of Protocols has started a new Forward blog called Fiddish.
In Sunday’s Jerusalem Post, there is the report of an editorial in Al-Hayat by the London paper’s former editor-in-chief, Jihad Al Khazen. In it, he calls for Arafat to resign. The article begins,
“Our dear brother Yasser Arafat, I suggest that you resign,” Khazen, who describes himself as a long time friend of the PA chairman, wrote. “You have done your best. It is time to give the wheel to younger hands. The American administration wants you to leave the scene, and Ariel Sharon wants to kill you. The reasons of both are known. They took a stance from you based on enmity. I came to this conclusion out of love. I am worried about you.”
Read the rest of the provocative article. I wonder if it will accomplish anything?
Check out The Daily Scribble to add some laughter to your day. It’s a daily (m-f) political cartoon which I’ve been enjoying for a few days now. The liberal bent of the cartoons is right up my alley.
According to Maariv, who is reporting an Arab language London paper, the remains of Ron Arad may have been found and are now being sent to Israel for testing. If this is true, this is big.
The Forward has an article about Nick Berg, his life, especially his Jewish life and his parent’s blame of the Bush administration.
May Mr. Berg be the last American and the last Jew brutally murdered as a “statement.”
UPDATE: (May 20) Thanks to the commentor below who caught my horrible mistake of using the wrong first name. Usually, I would cross of the original error rather than deleating it, but it didn’t seem right it in this case to do so.
A sad and tragic story is told in a JTA article about the Videotaped beheading of U.S. Jewish contractor.
When I read this story, beyond the horror I felt, one though repeated in my mind – the manner in which this war has been fought and the way in which there is little coordination in the supposed rebuilding of Iraq is a shame. (Not to even discuss the treatment of prisoners.)
A sad, sad day.