The Closing of Maitland

Far more important than the pending closing of Gitmo is the pending closing of Maitland. Tonight marks the final appearance of Chaim Dovid (and possibly the last gig) at this historic home.

With the help of The One Above, the holy occupants of this holy temporary dwelling will soon be journeying to the home that they have been longing for for many years.

I enviously wish them a tzaitzchem l'shalom. They will be sorely missed but their arrival in Israel will greatly enhance Artzeinu Hakedosha.

If you are free tonight and can get to Teaneck, you won't want to miss what is sure to be a very special night.

Adar in Efrat

Last Thursday night, as I waited for my flight to Israel in the British Airways lounge, I heard (and saw) the horrible news unfold about the terrorist attack at Merkaz HaRav. From my cab ride into Jerusalem Friday morning until the time I left on Sunday night, I sensed a heaviness around me that I hadn't felt in many years. Even friends who are normally optimistic were very shaken.

For much of the weekend (even though I was there to celebrate a very joyous occasion in our family) I thought about the juxtaposition of the month of Adar with the unspeakable tragedy that had befallen eight families (and so many others who are connected). How can one celebrate Adar under such circumstances?

Then, two things happened that put this question into even more focus. First, I read this post from David Bogner about how one of the young men murdered in Merkaz HaRav was a family friend from Efrat. Then, late on motsai Shabbos, I met Chaim Dovid for tea and he told me that he, Aron Razel and Shlomo Katz were scheduled to give a concert (one of a series of concerts that they are doing around K'shoshanah, the CD I recently produced) in Efrat next motsai Shabbos.

Efrat, at the end of the day, is a small town. No doubt that the murder of this young man has cast a terrible pall over everyone in town. So how do you have an Adar concert ten days later? Do you have a concert?

Waiting for my flight home on Sunday in the El Al lounge, I took comfort from this post from Jameel. Money quote:

No one ignores the pain of the terror, no one forgets the mourning.

But we can't forget the message of Adar. We survived our enemies back then on Purim and we will continue to survive and flourish, today, and in the future.

A Joyous Month of Adar to all of Israel.

Indeed, a joyous month of Adar to all.

"Interesting Times"

I received the following email tonight from a good chaver from Israel. (Names have been changed in respect of their privacy).

Hope you enjoyed your visit here. I have to share this story with you, a rather wild incident that took place tonight.

After Ma'ariv I went out to (a town) to learn with my son. So there we are in the middle of the Tichon (High School) Beis Midrash and all of a sudden we hear what sounds like gun shots coming from the hall. Suddenly one of the boys comes running into the Beis Midrash screaming "Terrorist, terrorist" and turns off the lights. As soon as this happens the boys in the Beis Midrash dive to the floor and are silent. As I'm crouching down to the floor I reach for my gun at which point my son, Yitzchak, grabs my arm and yells - "Abba, I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you about the drill!" ..... "Interesting" times.

Shenishma bsurot tovot,

Amen.

The Absence of Shame

That is what I'm struck by more than anything in the wake of the interim Winograd report. The absence of shame by the pathetic leaders of Israel. Had they the least bit of it, Olmert and Peretz (and the entire government for that matter) would have resigned long ago but especially after the release of the report. It is very sad and, potentially, very dangerous to the country.

Are they so hungry for power that they can't see what 97% of the people of Israel see? They are finished. Kadima is finsished. As it should be. It's only a matter of time but much damage can be done during that time.

(Keep in mind that the interim report does not even address the last few days of the war when the incoherent leaders finally gave orders for an expanded ground campaign (in which 30 soldiers were killed in the last two days) when it was already too late).

It is time for Olmert to finally do the honarable thing. But he is not an honorable man.

Ben's Take on Winograd

This one is serious.