Sweetness
Last week's travel to DC was highlighted by a college visit with our son
Aviv, the magnificent
Cat Stevens concert
* at the iconic Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, meeting
Stevie Wonder in our hotel (though I regret not having the courage to ask for a Shabbat Shalom greeting), the
POTUS motorcade speeding past us, visiting the
National Mall and Museums and great food wherever we ate. How can this week be topped... how about a visit from our other son,
Mataan who arrives home today for a 2 week leave from the Israeli Army and a visit from our musical daughter,
Liat, coming from Eugene, OR. Plus
Rosh Hashana 6777 is upon us; our Jewish New Year when we become reflective of the year past, repentful for our human mistakes and hopeful for a bright future. May this holiday bring joy to you and your family. May the Shofar sounds help you remember what is important in life. May the
Days of Awe (between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) keep you grounded in righteousness. And may this coming new year bring Peace to our world.
A Patriarch, Pioneer and Peacemaker
Sadness
The world lost a peacemaker, hero, patriarch and mentch with the passing of
Shimon Peres z"l (age 93) this week. Szymon Perski (his birth name) was born in Poland and emigrated with his family to Tel Aviv in the early 1930s. Betty Perksy (Lauren Bacall) was his first cousin. He served Israel with distinction for 66 years in various capacities yet Peace was his passion for our homeland. When he spoke to the Turkish Parliament 2007, he became the first Israeli leader to address a Muslim Legislature. In 1996 he established the
Peres Center for Peace to encourage peacemaking opportunities for our tiny nation and her neighbors. We have lost the last of Israel's Founding Fathers and Grand Pioneers. Though we are saddened by his passing, his life was truly a blessing unto his beloved community. In tribute to this great man, here is a wonderful, humorous video he made when "attempting" to find a new career. It's filled with creative nuances from his long life helping to build our Jewish Homeland and the end has a heartwarming message about the hopeful peace he always thrived for.
(I love this photo)
Deceptiveness - "That makes me smart"
In 38 days, maybe Peace will return as this unprecedented contentious election will be over and these weekly emails (and our inboxes) will be void of campaign crap. But until then...the debate continues. Those who watched Monday's debate were bombarded by a deluge of Trump Lies.
Pretty much everything that came out of his mouth was fabricated and
Fact Checked.
He lied about the loan from his father...it was not small.
He lied about his bankruptcies.
He lied about his inflated income and tax returns.
He lied about his ICE endorsement.
He lied about crime statistics.
He lied (big time) about his Birther stance.
He lied about the murder rate in NYC.
He lied about jobs in MI and OH.
He lied about Palm Beach's wealth.
He lied about Janet Yellen's political motives.
He lied about his support for the Iraq war.
He lied about Climate Change, he did call it a hoax by China.
He lied about ISIS
He lied about Pregnancy, he did call it an inconvenience.
He lied about Women, he has called them Pigs, Dogs, Slobs.
He lied about his Temperament being his strongest asset.
How can he be trusted when his life is a complete LIE.
Worthiness
After 100 years, the
Cinci Enquirer
has endorsed its first Democrat.
NYTimes
also endorses Hillary, as well as the conservative
Bret Stephens
. Check out this point-by-point interview
http://www.wsj.com/articles/nevertrump-for-dummies-1473722261
.
Also, why is it that back in 2012, 70% of the Jewish campaign contributions landed in Obama's coffer, but now 95% of Jewish dollars are going to Hillary? Could it be that Trump treads heavily alongside Anti-S
emites
, Racists, White
Supremacists, Bigots
and the likes. Not to mention his lies (see above), he is also surrounded by scandals including his bogus Trump U, funding his legal fees and art purchases through his Trump "Charitable" Foundation and jilting construction trade workers throughout his building career. In addition, the Afghan Taliban watched Monday's debate (from a secret location) and characterized Trump as "a non-serious candidate who says anything that comes to his tongue". Is it possible to open the eyes of our kin who plan to vote for Trump? Or for those who hate Hillary and plan a "protest" vote for Johnson or Stein. That would be risking our county's future. In this extraordinarily election, we must pick either Trump or Clinton or your vote is wasted. How can we convince them a Trump, Johnson or Stein vote is a HUGE mistake?
Try sharing the above Bret Stephens interview with them. Also, Grandparents are jumping into the anti-Trump game. They've reversed Sarah Silverman's tactic. Remember when Sarah sent a message to the Florida Bubbies and Zadies to vote for Obama, well, now those same grandparents have an important and humorous message for their grandkids and everyone else.
Attentiveness
Violence seems to be the weekly theme for our Nation lately. Police caused the deaths of 2 African Americans in Tulsa and Charlotte which ensued rioting. A Seattle mall shooting left 5 dead. Another one in Houston wounded 9 people by a perpetrator with Nazi admirations. This is a sad epidemic that needs attention. Whether its Sensible Gun Control or Better Police Training, we need to be better attentive to this serious issue.
Responsiveness
Still the most shocking violent act against our country remains the
9/11 Attacks, where most of the perpetrators were from Saudi Arabia. A Bill was passed in Congress to allow 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi government however Obama vetoed it in an attempt to prevent precedent setting for other global citizenry to sue US. For the first time of his 7.5 years, POTUS's veto was overridden by a unanimous vote in Congress (btw, Hillary is in favor of the Bill).
Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act
will become law and will then lead to lawsuits against the Saudi government. A whole new chess maneuver will ensue as the Saudis have plans for retribution against the suits.
Effectiveness
Though our legislators did find common ground on the Saudi Bill, they had trouble agreeing on how to budget for the coming year with an Oct. 1st deadline looming. One sticking point was funding for our own lead-poisoned Michigan city of
Flint. The current budget has no help for the disaster, but a government shutdown was diverted with an agreed plan to deal with Flint in the upcoming lame duck session. A short term (till Dec. 9) budget agreement was ratified.
Veterans Affairs was satisfied as they will receive a 4% increase in funds to help deal with the much needed Veteran issues like military housing, medical care and the electronic health record system. And thankfully there will be $1.1 Billion for
Zika research and thankfully, without Planned Parenthood restrictions. But as Dec. 9th nears, they will need to go back to the drawing board to finalize the 2017 budget.
Callousness
Like the VA, we have many other issues in this country which need attention. Homelessness is an epidemic here and around the world. But, I'm sure, all who read these messages have never experienced the discrimination homeless people feel. This experiment illustrates our callousness ever toward children. It is a sad reflection on humanity.
Ugliness
We should take a lesson from France on their humanity laws includes their bans on food waste and plastic usage. We all know the lifespan and detrimental environmental effects of plastic bags, plates, cups and silverware. Well, France is the first nation to prevent plastic products in their country by 2020. This comes after their new rules preventing grocery stores from disposing of edible food.
Tastes the same no matter how they look
Fondness
Farewell Charles Osgood and welcome Jane Pauley to my favorite show on TV, CBS Sunday Morning. Jane will be the 3rd host after the two Charles, the late Kuralt and the retired Osgood. May the show live on for many more decades to come
https://goo.gl/OYPaUx.
Shana Tova v'Mituka