In the series “Postcards from Israel – Postcards from Home,” Ari Bussel and Norma Zager invite readers throughout the world to join them as they present reports about Israel, homeland of the Jewish People, as seen by two sets of eyes. This “point - counter-point” presentation has, since 2008, become part of our lives. It can be found in numerous websites around the world as well as in print in the USA.
There is a reason the Jewish word Oy has no English translation.
Okay, sure, some would offer such phrases as Oh My God, too bad, who needs this, too much, etc. etc. To these interpreters I say, are you kidding me?
“When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty,
There arises the recognition of ugliness.
When they all know the good as good,
There arises the recognition of evil…” Lao-tzu, the Founder of Taoism
I wasn’t born until after World War II was over for a year. I imagine I am the quintessential baby boomer. As a child, I don’t remember my parents speaking much about the war. My mother seemed eager to forget the whole episode and my father’s painful memories and loss of his mother and sister were palpable whenever the subject was broached.
“I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations…” John Adams.
“You will take me to Jabba.” “I will take you to Jabba.” —Return of the Jedi
In Psychology there is a phrase for people who drive you mad. They are called crazy makers because they have the ability to make an intelligent and rational person doubt their own sanity.
“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!” -- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
It is difficult to imagine any one group more feared, lionized and idealized than the Israeli Mossad.
“Repentance for past crimes is just and easy; but sin-no-more’s a task too hard for mortals…” Sir John Vanbrugh
I am caught a bit off balance by the lack of a man marching with a sign “Repent Now, the End is Near.” As long as I saw those signs I took heart that if there was some serious repenting to do, it would certainly take a great deal of time to accomplish, so the end couldn’t really be that near.
“The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay,
I heard the laughter of her heart in every street café. The last time I saw Paris, her trees were dressed for spring,
And lovers walked beneath those trees and birds found songs to sing...” Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein.
When I awoke this morning, I wasn’t certain if I wanted to jump out of bed and begin the day or curl myself back into a groggy bundle beneath the quilt.
“The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don't do anything about it.” Albert Einstein
The United Nations must go! However, before I begin my diatribe on the stupidity, ignorance and sheer audacity that is the United Nations, I must begin by telling our readers that writing the postcards has been a cathartic exercise. Many thoughts about upsetting events that plague one in the wee small hours of the morning are lightened through the very process of the sharing.
America’s poet laureate Robert Frost claimed “good fences make good neighbors.” I know there are numerous interpretations of the phrase, but I currently find myself wondering about the meaning of his statement in light of today’s world.
Luke: “Obi-Wan! Why didn't you tell me? You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father!”
Obi-Wan: “Your father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true... from a certain point of view.”
Luke: “A certain point of view?”
Obi-Wan: “Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.”
“If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.” Albert Einstein
