Notes of Interest

 With so many bloggers out there it is increasingly difficult to be "original". When I write about something it is because I have had an experience or I feel it is important for others to know. Sometimes I take the lead from another post--and I always include the links to allow you, the readers, to go to the original poster. Some things I just do not attempt to write about--other than to give a reference because I cannot do the topic justice.

One such topic is the Haredi world. While I have some experiences to relay, I am by no means expert. If you want to learn more about the Haredi society I urge you to rely on someone who is knowledgeable. In this case I direct you to Shearim (English) and if you are a German speaker go to  Hamantaschen (German). Also for German Speakers, I recommend Leben in Jerusalem (German). The author spends a great deal of time traveling to the various places in the blog and writes from personal experience--not just from reading a book or surfing the net. 

There are many other great blogs out there and from time to time I will post comments. Let me know if there are topics you are interested in reading about. In the meantime, have a Shabbat Shalom!

Ten Milliion Dollar "Turkey"

Hat tip to Muqata--please take the time to go to his site and read the entire  review. One  of the highest budget films ever made in Turkey (over 10 millions dollars), will hit theaters in November in about 100 countries around the world. "Valley of the Wolves: Palestine,". Supposedly inspired by the May 31st Mavi Marmara Terror-flotilla ship, intercepted on the way to Gaza, this is a great example of how doctoring film is done. Paint guns become machine guns, and the murderous thugs aboard the ship become innocent peaceniks. 

Quoted from Muqata: The childish plot depicts a "Delta-Squad" of elite Turkish commandos arriving in Israel to "take revenge" for the deaths of the Flotilla terrorists, killed by IDF soldiers. Their "target" is an eye-patched Israeli officer, Moshe Ben Eliezer, who "planned and managed the raid" of the Mavi Marmara. Of course, many people planned it, but why let facts get in the way of a pathetic Turkish film?

I won't bother to repeat the whole story, but it was the people of Gaza who actually reported that the "Humanitarian Aid" unloaded from the peace "flotilla"  to Gaza consisted of outdated, useless  medicines, and a  lot of junk.   But the world would rather vilify Israel. Go figure.

Here is a clip from the "blockbuster" movie.

72 Years Since the Kristallnacht Pogrom

During the evenings of November 9th and 10th, 1938, thousands of synagogues and Jewish businesses and homes were damaged or destroyed.

The Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem is holding a ceremony and symposium to mark 72 years since the Kristallnacht pogrom. The pogrom was named for the broken glass that resulted when the Nazis unleashed a series of riots against the Jews in Germany and Austria.

German and Austrian ambassadors will participate in the symposium. The program is in Hebrew with translation into English available, and includes lectures on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial, as well as Holocaust Survivor Artists from Central Europe. There will also be memorial ceremonies held at  noon and at 5:30pm. Rabbi Mordechai Neugroschel will speak in the Yad Vashem Synagogue. He is is a well known lecturer and educator in Eretz Israel. He speeches in Hebrew and English reach a wide range of Israeli audiences.

Over the years the organizers of Yad Vashem have created one of the most complete centers for Holocaust information. I hope to post more on this amazing institution at a later date.

They now have a website where you can learn about the Shoah, and even search the database for names of Shoah victims.

Do visit their on line section dedicated to the  Kristallnacht Exhibition called It Came From Within.  You will find pictures and stories of the people who lived and died during those terrible nights. 

The sad truth is that the evil of antisemitism is rising around the world once again. Israel and the Jewish people are being blamed for all the ills of the world. 

While Christians are being slaughtered in every Muslim country in the Middle East, the mainstream Media  either ignores the atrocities, refuses to name the perpetrators or promotes the view that this would not be happening if Israel would only give up their country. I listen to BBC and their biased reports bear no resemblance to what is happening here in Israel. They maintain a policy that is completely  against Israel and consistently invite only those who share their antisemitic views. I don't know which is more disturbing, the fact that they are funded by public taxes or that they are heard around the world!

Sadly, even those in Germany have once again joined in the hatred towards Israel and the Jews. There was an article in the New York Times pointing out that the keynote address this year for the commemoration of the Kristallnacht pogrom at Paulskirche (a former church in Frankfurt that is a symbol of German democracy), will be delivered by Alfred Grosser, who was born in the city 85 years ago. Last year, he published a book called “From Auschwitz to Jerusalem,” in which he suggested that Germany was not critical enough of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians because of the legacy of the Holocaust. A "Pro Palestinian" Jew, he rails against Israel. It should be noted that he lives in France, where his family fled in 1933. 

Today there are many, many Jews both in Israel and abroad who jump on the podium to vilify Israel. Just as there were Jewish Kapos in the concentration camps, these people bring shame to themselves and disgust to those who must witness their blather.

The violence today has nothing to do with land--it is totally about the evil rise of Islam and their bid to conquer the world to establish a new Caliphate. Read and be informed.

We must stand up and say Never Again to those who would deprive us of the freedoms that so many have died for. As we remember the horror of Kristallnacht and what it brought to the world we mus ask; "If Israel falls...who is next?"

What You Should Know About Islam

For those of you who are interested in Truth this is a Must Watch movie. It is presented in six parts:

1]  There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet:Various commentators argue that Islamic violence stems from the teachings and examples of Muhammad and that the Qur'an prescribes and sanctions violence against non-Muslims. 

2] The Struggle: Walid Shoebat defines the word "Jihad" to mean the struggle to impose Allah's will over the earth, resulting in holy war against the non-Muslim world to bring it under the rule of Islam. 

3] Expansion: Bat Ye'or describes the expansion of Islam through conquest and presents historical evidence of enslavement and massacres of Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and Hindus by Muslim invaders. 

4] War is Deceit:Robert Spencer and Serge Trifkovic discuss the Islamic principle of Taqiyya, Islamic dissimulation, which, the lecturers argue, enjoins Muslims to deceive non-Muslims to advance the cause of Islam.

5] More than a Religion: "Islamic law (Sharia)" governs every aspect of religious, political, and personal action, which amounts to a form of totalitarianism that is divinely enjoined to dominate the world, analogous in many ways to Communism". 

6] The House of War: The final part covers the division of the world into Dar al-Islam ("the house of Islam" or "the house of peace"), the land governed by the Islamic law, and Dar al-Harb ("the house of war"), the land of non-Muslims. According to the film, Muslims are enjoined to bring the Dar al-Harb under the control of Islam. The film argues, "Muslims in Western nations are called to subvert the secular regimes in which they now live in accordance with Allah's command."

This movie is filled with gripping historical facts. It reveals murder--not of Jews, but the systematic slaughter and eradication of Christians from the Middle East, the rapid spread of Islam and the politicians who spout the "Politically Correct" spin that Islam is just like any other religion. It is not! Educate yourself, and others--Please take time to watch here or at this link:

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=hd8zIrVrVr

Conversion Woes

Channukah is one of my favorite times of the year, but for many converts it is a time of stress  as families gather each night to light their Menorah and celebrate.  Most converts come alone and must slowly develop friendships and community ties. Israelis are warm and welcoming, but when  you are without family, you can be lonely in the midst of a crowd and the  truth is, there is no quick fix for this.

What I see so often is people who, for whatever reason, want to convert to Judaism and live in Israel. Many have come on tours and have felt the "spiritual call". What they do not realize is that when you come as a tourist--usually in a group--you are seeing  Israel from the Christian viewpoint. Many of the conversion courts outside of Israel maintain this warm fuzzy view of the "Holy Land" and neglect to inform converts of the harsh realities on the ground. This is a large topic which I will come back to from time to time. In the meantime here are a few items to consider.

When you convert to Judaism you are rejecting all of your former beliefs. This means for example that you must believe in your heart and declare that Jesus was nothing more than a mortal man. He was not a prophet and definitely not the son of Gd. There is only one Gd.

As a Jew you become the child of Avraham and Sarah. You are no longer connected to your  former family. This can have varying effects on the individual. What if your mother dies? What about your children? At first it seems like "no problem" but that is wrong. If you choose to visit your family, how do you keep Shabbat? How do you keep Kosher--remember, you cannot eat from the dishes or pots in a house that is not Kosher. How do you daven? How do you explain to your family the changes you have undergone? If you say, well, I will not be observant  when I am there, you should never consider conversion!

Harsh? Maybe, but it is truth. When one truly embraces Judaism there are sacrifices. On a personal level the rewards are great, but for many the reality is shocking. If you are thinking of converting, do not do so lightly. Remember, you can't say--Ooops! I changed my mind. Stay tuned for more...

Before Your Next Vacation

I don't usually promote sites, but this is unique. When you follow the link  to:

http://www.jcdurand.ca/Monde/Tour.html

Jerusalem Old City~Cardo

You will land on  the "tours" page. In the left column are cities names from around the world  in alphabetical order. Click any name for a beautiful tour of the city highlights, accompanied by music. Let me know if your city is there and if it is accurate!

I viewed Jerusalem and it is well done, though a few years old as it features our former mayor, Uri Lupolianski, but it is good. I will be doing some posting on Jerusalem  sites and places to see in Israel in the future.

If the tours aren't enough, scroll to the bottom of the city names and there is the word "Sortie". This takes you to the main index. Each selection is a different topic (ie) top models, music, etc. The music section for instance names artists and groups in the left column. Click on one and you are taken to a page of videos.

The site is in French, but part of what I found interesting was clicking around to see what is there. This is a fun site, but be warned--you may end up spending a lot of time roaming around!

Racist Muslim Paedophile Epidemic

This is a terrifying example of what political correctness gets us. The article and sources come from Vlad Tepes where you can find many videos that the mainstream media refuses to carry. Do watch the video, there is an interview of a girl who was also abused in this fashion. It is hard to read, watch and listen to--but until we begin to face reality these attacks will only get worse.

Note that the girls attacked were Christian and the attackers British Born Pakistanis (Muslims). Imagine the world press outcry had the girls been "Pakistani" and the attackers Christians. There are untold numbers of stories like this happening on a daily basis, but the Media is Silent! Also, when they can no longer avoid these types of stories they insist on calling these guys "Asians" to avoid saying anything bad about Muslims. We must wake up~our children's future is at stake. Here are excerpts from the article:

A gang of Asian (Muslim) ‘sexual predators’ were jailed yesterday for abusing white girls as young as 12. The five men preyed on their victims over several months and threatened them with violence if they refused their advances. One of the men branded his victim a ‘white bitch’ when she resisted, while a second smirked: ‘I’ve used you and abused you.’

The men, all British-born Pakistanis (Muslims), attacked the four girls in play areas, parks and in the back of their cars, Sheffield Crown Court heard. They gave them gifts and introduced them to their friends. The girls were abused so frequently that after many months it ‘became a way of life’. The girls, who were being monitored by social services, were eventually rescued by police and removed from their homes amid growing concerns for their safety.

Two of the men wept in the dock yesterday as they were jailed. Judge Peter Kelson QC told them: ‘I’ve listened to the backdrop of some of you sobbing--I have to say your weeping cuts no ice with me at all. ‘You had what you regarded as your fun, now you will take your punishment.’ 

The attacks took place in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, during 2008, the court was told. Khan, a mortgage adviser who owned a BMW, described his victim as a ‘little stick’ who looked as if she had not reached puberty. Despite this he told her he loved her and would spoil her like a ‘princess’.

During the seven-week trial the jury were told how the men drove around the streets looking for girls. The teenagers believed they were in relationships with the much older men. On one occasion Umar Razaq tried to pull the clothes off one of the 13-year-olds. When she resisted he pulled her hair and called her a ‘white bitch’. On another occasion Umar introduced the girl to his brother Razwan who had sex with her in his car. Afterwards he told her: ‘I’ve used you and abused you.’ When Ramzan was asked by police what age he was attracted to he later replied: ‘As long as they are not too young and they’re legal, that’s it.’

The authorities were alerted after some changes were noted in the behaviour of the victims and they were removed from their homes. Joyce Thacker, director of Rotherham’s children and young people’s services, said the girls were under child protection plans following family breakdowns or other issues with their behaviour.

‘When we pieced together a map of what was happening we stepped in very quickly to move these girls to a place of safety outside Rotherham,’ she said. ‘It started off as a grooming exercise by the men who became friendly with the girls, gave them gifts and introduced them to their friends.

‘When they got used to being abused it just became a normal way of life for the girls. It is akin to self-harm. ‘It was very dangerous. The girls could have faced death if the men weren’t getting what they wanted.’

Detective Sergeant Dave Walker, who led the inquiry, said: ‘One was only 12 when she met one of the men and started smoking cannabis and drinking and coming in late at night. ‘As it escalated the defendants were becoming more aggressive to the girls. ‘We basically have a group of young men who think it is all right to abuse young girls and they just groomed them and isolated them from their families.’

The IDF in Moscows Red Square--Wow!

This is not new, but it is fun to watch. On September 15th, 2009, at the International Military Music Festival "Spasskaya Tower" in Red Square, Moscow, the IDF marched out under the Israeli flag and performed to an enthusiastic audience. Who would have thought??

Ever Hear of LTC Allen B. West?

With all the recent excitement about the mid-term elections it is hard not to pay a bit of attention even though I am not American. Some time ago I saw a clip that caused me to do some searching to learn more. LTC Allen West is a very impressive man and I have to say I am pleased that he was elected to Congress. I read that he is the first black Republican Congressman from Florida since a former slave served in the 1870s.

He is the first person to stand up and say "you have to know your enemy and be prepared to engage them". I believe he will be someone to watch in the future, hopefully when the next elections roll around in 2012. I have watched many clips of LTC Allen West, he knows his history and how it affects the future, and most importantly he Does Not Use A Teleprompter!

You can find many videos of him, where one can see that he  is proud to be an American and is willing to put himself on the line in the defense of his country, but this is the speech that most impressed me.

I am sure there will be many who will come up with ways to try and discredit him, but he strikes me as a real man, a fighter and someone who will not fold. I hope I am right because the free world needs a lot more like him--time will tell.

Do You Know Your History??

I have just read an excellent article in Arutz7 at this link:

[ http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127428 ].

It offers proof that the Arab Moslem position that the Temple Mount is not Jewish--is a bunch of bunk! The proof?? It is in a Temple Mount Guide published by none other than the Supreme Moslem Council (Waqf) of Jerusalem--in 1925!

The article presents information that was provided by the Jerusalem-based Temple Institute:

[ http://www.templeinstitute.org ]. Apparently they have a copy of the official 1925 Supreme Moslem Council Guide Book to Al-Haram Al-Sharif (the Moslem name for the Temple Mount)--the article includes three pages from the guide.

Look at some of the garbage spouted by the Arab Moslems in their attempt to "re-write history":

...the claim of the Jews to the right over [Jerusalem] is false, and we recognize nothing but an entirely Islamic Jerusalem under Islamic supervision...

...we remind, for the 1,000th time, that the entire Al-Aqsa mosque [on the Temple Mount], including all of its area and alleys above the ground and under it, is exclusive and absolute Moslem property, and no one else has any rights to even one grain of earth in it...

...the 'Al-Buraq' Wall [the Western Wall] is a part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Jews have no relation to it...

...the false historical claim of the Jews in the holy city, a claim which they were unable to prove in all of the excavations conducted by foreign groups for the past hundred years, and

...statements that Israelis are guilty of unprecedented historical forgeries, emphasizing the Palestinian, the Arab and the Islamic nature of the holy city for the past 6,000 years, saying that Israel fails in her attempt to find a historical connection to Jerusalem.

For too long Israel has been bad-mouthed, and it is time to stand up and say ENOUGH!

One person who has not only said this, but written about it, is Binyamin Netanyahu. At the Nefesh B'Nefesh Blogger's Conference, he stated that the way to fight Israel's bad press is by speaking the truth, and the only way to do that is to know the truth--and your history--the history of Israel. You can watch Mr. Netanyahu, and listen to his comments on this and some other topics at [ http://www.nbn.org.il/bloggers/ ]. He begins speaking at 01:00:56 into the tape and addresses this issue at approximately 01:29:49. Even if you are not interested in the conference, I urge you to listen to this portion--Listen and Learn!! Whether you like Mr. Netanyahu or not, his words on our history and "Our Rights" are powerful, and something that we should all take very, very seriously.

And for those who may not be aware of it:
Jews have not been allowed to pray on the Temple Mount since former Chief IDF Rabbi Shlomo Goren led a prayer service there on the first Tisha B'Av after the liberation. Jews' visiting hours are also restricted

May the great evil that is oppressing this land be removed soon--in our time!!

A Night to Remember

An evening out is always special, but on the 17th of August 2008, I had the opportunity to see a one-of-a-kind, one-time-only concert at a unique site--an occasion to mark and remember. I was given a pair of tickets to Mashiv Haruach (From Safed to Jerusalem--A Concert of Jewish Soul Music) held at the Valley of the Communities,Yad Vashem, on 17 August 2008. My friend came from Haifa for the occasion, and together we set off for the unknown. Of course we were so early it was embarassing (forgot about Israeli time!), but it gave us an opportunity to wander around and explore the amazing location chosen for the evening's entertainment. We had not seen this area of Yad Vashem, and we were impressed! The sun was just setting, creating the most beautiful backdrop imaginable! As we stared into the entrance with the sunset's golden glow on the amazing rock-structure, I once again felt the awesome thrill of living in Israel. The concert site, was the "Valley of the Communities", a massive 2.5 acre monument literally dug out of natural bedrock which look like the huge stones surrounding the Old City of Jerusalem and the Kotel.

The Valley was

excavated out of the earth--nothing was built above ground! Over 5000 names of communities are engraved on the stone walls in the Valley of the Communities, the idea being to allow future generations to be able to identify with these memories and find their roots. Each name recalls a Jewish community which existed for hundreds of years; for the inhabitants, each community constituted an entire world. Today, in most cases, nothing remains but the name. The names of the communities are engraved on the 107 walls which resembles the geographic arrangement of the map of Europe and North Africa.

The audience had chairs and cushion seats arranged along the rocks in a semi-circle facing the stage. There were even some seats located in little alcoves carved into the rock face.

On either side of the stage the huge stones were engraved from bottom to top, and illuminated with a soft blue light. It was beautiful and practical--the back stage and entry and exit points for the performers were between these rocks!

We sat there waiting

expectantly, when suddenly there was a faint, soft sound of music, but we were unable to see anything on the stage...finally, in the center aisle we noticed a lone clarinetist. Maestro Giora Friedman began his premier perfermance, and the Jerusalem String Ensemble conducted by Prof. Ilan Schul, gently joined in. Drawing the audience into his performance, he slowly made his way to the stage where he stood on the bottom step, motioning for everyone to joint in. With the audience humming and softly singing to his "Prayer" improvisation he mounted the steps--the concert had begun!

Of the highlights
we were treated to, one of my favorites was Hila Ofek's Harp Solo, Jerusalem of Gold by Naomi Shomer. Of course, like all concerts there are the intros, bows, and general speech-making--no exceptions here. What was so enjoyable was the diverse blend of musicians--young and old, secular and religious, male and female--all very talented and clearly all loved what they were doing.

As the concert progressed the musicians from either side of the stage came and went along with the performers. Of particular note was a young clarinetist--wow did he have talent. Not to take away from the opening act, but this young man was amazing!

MC, Benny Hendel delighted the audience with an impromtu solo!

Guests from abroad added to the delight of the evening. From Paris, Prof. Philippe Cuper gave a beautiful solo with only a pianist to accompany him. Next from Spain came Maestro Raul Jaurena who played a Klezmer Tango on th Bandoneon, an instrument that I hadn't known the correct name for, but which we used to refer to as a "squeeze-box", kind of like an accordian, but without keys--just buttons on both sides. We were treated to a rousing performance and the audience was clearly loving it!

Throughout the evening the audience clapped in time, hummed, and generally enjoyed themselves. Sitting in the warm evening air, amongst the old stones, with the stars overhead creating a fantasy-like scenario, we were all drawn together in a single moment in time. The finale brought all the musicians back, and once again the audience were drawn into the performance singing and swaying. I had a good time and really felt priviledged to be there--it was truly a night to remember!

Nefesh B'Nefesh JBlogger Convention

On 20 August, 2008 Nefesh B'Nefesh hosted the First International Jewish Bloggers Convention in Jerusalem. Regardless of what the nay-sayers were posting prior to the conference, I think that everyone in attendance came away with something positive and those who black-listed it missed a great opportunity. Although the Nefesh B'Nefesh agenda was to improve their already successful approach to Aliyah, they acomplished much more by bringing together for the first time a huge number of Jewish Bloggers from every area of religious and secular society.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Sun Microsystems, Office Depot, Israel Mall, and Web Ads those in attendance were treated to a great buffet, and nifty black document bags.

There was an interesting talk about the government's quest for "branding". While everyone seemed to agree that this was a good idea, the three facets that were proposed--Passion, Ingenuity, Fusion--did not get the audience excited. In fact I saw more people groaning and giving a negative head-shake to the idea. What is needed is a brand that will be "Israeli" and not European or North American, otherwise it is just going to be another highly expensive document to sit in government file cabinets.

This conference was well attended both in person and via internet. The attending bloggers have already posted well-written articles--recommeded reading for all. I went out of curiosity and admit that I was pleasantly surprised and very happy that I was there. It was uplifting to see all the Jewish blogs and the variety of opinions and subjects that were covered. Of special interest was the appearance of Benjamin Netanyahu--a good writer, and a fascinating speaker--he fielded questions and gave an inpromptu insite to our Jewish History. Israel truly needs more people of his caliber to represent us on the world stage.

The entire conference was filmed and is available on the Nefesh B'Nefesh site at: http://www.nbn.org.il/bloggers/. I highly recommend taking the time to watch. Below are a few snaps of my own, but the good pictures on on the Nefesh B'Nefesh site at: http://www.nbn.org.il/gal2/.

Poster for Convention

Blogger-Panel for 1st Segment

Blogger-Panel for 2nd Segment

Benjamin Netanyahu in an exchange with panel-members

Blogroll prior to start of Conference

Benjamin Netanyahu

Coming Back Slowly

It has been a long, difficult year--but it is drawing to a close and with the help of Hashem the next one will be better. As we enter into the days before Tisha B'Av we let go of things that we do purely for enjoyment. There are different minhags for various levels of observance.

For the night and day of Tisha B'Av (sundown on 09 August to nightfall 10 August, 2008), we abstain from eating and drinking, bathing, the wearing of leather footwear, and marital relations. It is customary to sit on the floor or on a low seat until after mid-day. Torah study is restricted to laws of mourning, passages describing the destruction of the Temple, and the like. The tefillin are worn only during the afternoon Minchah prayers. You should consult a Halachic authority for more specific guidance. There are many sites with full information for observance of the fast and special rules, such as Chabad or Aish, but you are best served by speaking with your local Rabbi.

In Jerusalem there are many places that offer study classes during the fast day. On Motsaei Shabbos (09 August) there will be the traditional walk around the walls of the old city. Unfortunately what should be an evening of commemoration and mourning is being turned into a circus, thanks to the xians. Their total lack of knowledge and respect is an affront. For them Tisha B'Av has no meaning, and their loud, lewd presence is a reminder that after all, they are only idolaters.

May we see the coming of Meshiach soon, so that the idolaters may be removed from Hashem's Holy Land.

High Holidays

Erev Rosh Hashanah~29 Elul (12 September)--Light Candles at 06:10pm

Rosh Hashana~01 Tishri (13 September)--Light Candles at 7:25pm

Shabbat~02 Tishri (14 September)--Light Candles at: 6:08pm

03 Tishri (15 September)--Shabbat Ends: 7:23pm

The month of Elul brings the High Holidays. What does this mean to a convert?

A convert experiencing the "first" Elul, especially in Israel may be a bit overwhelmed--I would suggest finding a transliterated Machzor. When I started to become observant this allowed me to follow the service (and understand what was being said) I experienced...well, I really can't describe it, but I pray that I can reach that level again.

Starting this Motzei Shabbat many shuls have slichot--usually beginning around 11:45pm--in preparation for Rosh Hashanah. Many synagogues also have reserve seating during these days, so sure to check with your vaad. There are many good sites for information on the Holy Days, but one must be cautious and be sure to consult with your local rabbi on all issues of Halacha.

I think the most difficult thing is when a convert has not yet completed the process. In your heart and mind you feel Jewish, but you are still a "gentile to the community". It can be a time of stress, pain, and even depression. Those who were blessed to be born Jewish often do not understand how difficult it is for the convert--everyone is so involved with their own family and customs. Perhaps this is just another hurdle that one must overcome in the quest to become Jewish. It is difficult, but it can also be a time of sincere, soul-searching prayer. Find a good teacher, follow the customs of your community, concentrate on finding the true meaning of the High Holy days.

May we all merit to be written into the Book of Life to have a happy, healthy and successful year for us, our families, and all Israel...Shanah Tovah

Tribute for the Pop-Star Tenor

While it has nothing to do with Judaism, I decided to include this small tribute. It was announced that Luciano Pavarotti (12 October 1935~06 September 2007), died today of pancreatic cancer at age 71.

Why the tribute? Well, I was never a true opera fan until I heard Pavarotti~his outstanding voice and zest for life made me a fan. I discovered a new genre of music that I had been missing, although I confess that there are some "opera voices" that make me cringe.

Pavarotti was the greatest tenor of our times. What made him so special was not just his voice, but his presence and personality. A man of humble origins he had a desire to bring opera to the "people" and during his life managed to reach people round the world. He sang with pop, rock and soul musicians and raised money for many worthy causes worldwide. One of his last performances was the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino Italy, where he showed that he was still the best (See 2nd Video Below).

His signature tune, Nessun Dorma, from Turandot (famous for the last verse where he declares "I will win, I will win") became the theme song for the 1990 World Cup in Italy~Go Ahead and Watch~You Might Even Enjoy It!

While he wasn't Jewish, I kind of like to think that Hashem will have a place for the golden voice of Luciano Pavarotti in the World to Come.

FIFA World Cup 1990~Pavarotti Brings Opera to the World

Torino Winter Olympics 2006~Nessun Dorma