“...there is one thing [Israel’s founders] definitely didn't know: That the State of Israel would lead the contribution to humanity and would also become the most hated country by that same humanity.
The museum features different units of Hezbollah, including its missile unit. Hezbollah’s increasing rocket and missile capabilities were some of the defining features of the 2006 war and continues to attract attention. In 2010, then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accused Iran and Syria of equipping Hezbollah with advanced weaponry. “We are at a point now where Hezbollah has far more rockets and missiles than most governments in the world and this is obviously destabilizing for the whole region,” he said.More recently, the Lebanese magazine, NOW featured an article about the museum.
“I came here to see what the Islamic Revolution in Lebanon did to free my land and my village,” visitor Kamel Mouradi said, referring to Hezbollah, which was founded by the Iranian establishment.
Up the hill from the Abyss is a walkway that leads tourists through a dense forest. Visitors walk past a hidden cove where former Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Abbas Moussawi would pray and encourage fighters. Life-size replicas of Hezbollah militants are spread throughout the woods – some carrying missiles, others firing them and another, kneeling down to pray.Not to be left out, Hamas now plans to build a museum devoted to its resistance, with Iranian help.
...“Has Ben-Gurion declared independence, yes or no?” asked Linder, beside himself with impatience.
“David Ben-Gurion declared independence this afternoon in Tel Aviv. The Jewish state comes into being at midnight.”
There was a dead silence. Midnight was minutes away. Even the air seemed to be holding its breath.
Happy birthday to the State of Israel, which was born 65 years ago!Here is the video:
Over those six-and-a-half decades, Israel grew from a struggling young nation into a highly developed state. While Israel is now known as a world leader in hi-tech, this short clip highlights a number of Israel's many other accomplishments in nation-building, immigrant absorption, the environment, international aid, culture, peace-making, science and sports.
1) Not saving Syria
America's Syria Abdication by Fouad Ajami
The defining truth of this struggle is the abdication of the Obama administration. For a year now, American officials have skillfully run out the clock. They made much of the authority of the U.N. Security Council when any model U.N. team in any high school would have predicted the vetoes of Russia and China. It was clear that the Obama administration did not want to arm the opposition for fear of "escalating" the conflict.
April 26, 2012
"Celebrating Our Nation"
Feeling good about Israel is great. But I would like to suggest that it's just a first step. Once you understand what we're about, and what there is in Israel to be celebrated, you can then help others to understand --- especially is this the case if you are outside of Israel. In light of all the attempts today to delegitimize Israel, this is not a small thing.
Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is an Israel who left for the States years ago, and ended up teaching at Harvard.When he returned to Israel recently -- he's now teaching at the Inter-Disciplinary Center in Herzliya -- he was astounded at the changes in his native land. This ultimately prompted him to created a film, "Inside Israel: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference."
"[It] shows Israel to be a dynamic, inventive and humanitarian society. Tal helps us discover that the deep-seated Jewish values such as freedom, education, family and responsibility (tikun olam), mixed in with a good dash of chutzpah, contribute to Israel’s accomplishments in both the economic and humanitarian spheres. We learn that these core values define Israel and have fueled this tiny, resource-challenged country’s drive to become an invaluable asset to the world."
(It is breathtakingly ironic, of course, that enemies of Israel, for perverse political reasons, would destroy a state that does so much good for the world, including for those enemies. But I digress from the focus of this film...)
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Al haNissim for Yom HaAssmauth
and Yom Yerushalayim
From Michon Shilo
Published 5/5/2011
The story is told of the Hassidic rebbe who, upon the establishment of the State of Israel, began to recite the thanksgiving prayer of Hallel on Yom Ha'assmauth, Israel's Independence Day. After a few years, his followers noticed that the rebbe no longer recited Hallel. When queried about this he explained: "When a child is born, everyone is happy. But if, as he grows up, he goes off the correct path and moves away from the Torah, the earlier jubilation becomes inappropriate".
April 25, 2012
"The State of Israel"
Another Zakkai update:Another 25-hour Tehillim/Psalms rally (hopefully last!!)
Without a doubt, the incredible success of Zakkai's last surgery (on 4/4) was due to the world-class medical team in Boston and the overwhelming outpouring of prayer by friends around the world. The medical team is lined up, including the phenomenal anesthesiologist who took great care of us last time - we found this out today and we're very relieved!
Now we need our friends again for the prayer part. As we did last time, we are organizing a 25-hour Tehillim/Psalms reading during the halachic/Jewish day that Zakkai will be undergoing (hopefully his last) surgery in Boston this coming Monday morning, April 30. There are 20-minute time slots during which one can read Tehillim/Psalms of his/her choice. The timelines start 7:20 pm Sunday, April 29 and end 8:40 pm Monday, April 30. Please see http://tinyurl.com/7k2f6ua for the details. Thank you in advance to all who participate (as well as to those who don't participate but keep Zakkai in their prayers nonetheless).
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Tonight we begin the celebration of Yom Ha'Atzmaut -- Israeli Independence Day.
It might be hard to believe when you look at recent newspaper headlines, but 93 percent of Israelis are proud to be Israeli, and the majority, 70%, even describe themselves as "very proud."
Technorati Tag: Israel and Yom Haatzmaut.
Technorati Tag: Israel and Yom Haatzmaut.
...I heard a story, attributed to the Lubavicher Rebbe, that illustrates this point:Read the whole thing.
After the Six-Day War, France, unhappy with Israel's grand victory over the Arabs, stopped their sales of the Mirage fighter jets to Israel. Israel, in need of fighter jets, turned to the United States with a request to buy American jets.
The US sent a delegation to Israel. The Israelis wanted to impress the American group and promptly took them to what the Israeli's thought the American's would be most interested in. They took them to Tel Aviv, the playhouses, the bars, to all the modernity that Israel could muster up at the time.
However, the delegation was nonplussed. They returned to America, gave a lukewarm report to Congress, and the sale did not go through. A few months went by and again the Israelis requested the sale of fighter jets. Again a delegation was formed and was flown to Israel. This time, however, the Israelis took the delegation to the Western Wall, and to the great yeshivas of Mea Shearim where the Americans saw the old study benches that were brought over from Europe.
When the Americans returned home and testified in front of Congress, they said: "We saw the Holy Land." The sale, of course, went through.
The point is so obvious, yet Israel's image makers cannot seem to grasp it.
Technorati Tag: Israel and Yom Haatzmaut and Lubavitcher Rebbe.
