I hadn't forgotten....

.... that tonight in 1938, one of the most infamous pogroms occurred. I wasn't sure if I wanted to discuss this,  as I often get lost for words and my emotions, especially anger and hurt, get the better of me. However, my sister has put her brief thoughts down in a way I can't on subjects such as this one, here.

Events to remember

Greetings all,

There are 2 things to reflect about today.

The first is the remembrance day, in which Britain remembers the fallen of 2 world wars and the wars Britain has fought since, especially pertinent during this year's 100th anniversary of the start of world war I.

The second-which seems like only yesterday- is the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of Socialism in eastern Germany, the eventual reunification of Germany and the end of the cold war.

I will leave readers to think about these events in the comments thread below.

If i were a rich man....

Greetings all,

 I switched on the radio and if classic song was being played! So I thought I'd share it here.

PS-

I've been absent from here for a while, in part because it is our holiday season& therefore my eye has been on other matters and partly because I'm reflecting on the direction this blog should be. I haven't gone away. I am just contemplating the future.

The future British isles?

Okay , so this  was a prank. But it's the  reality  of a yes  vote, isn't  it??

Atheism, observance and orthodoxy

All,

David here,

This is something written elsewhere, but as it is on my heart, I thought I'd reproduce it here, for my own readership to ponder. The context is about how atheist  Jews in the orthodox community continue to observe Judaism, for community and family reasons, but no longer believe in God (albeit the atheism isn't public).

 This was my response:

I don't feel I fit into the categories mentioned, but I would say I'm a Jew first and foremost, of the Sephardic tradition, who believes in God and specifically the God of the Tanakh. I do have theological issues with taking all of the bible literally, such as a talking donkey, a talking serpent, a flying and talking scroll,  a six day creation et al. I  have had personal issues from the past where I have often questioned the almighty and been somewhat estranged from him, but I do see this questioning as part of the Jewish tradition. 

 I've come to appreciate that one can never fully understand God,  I believe a rabbi one said "if I knew him, I would be him"(Judah ha Levi) and as it is written:

"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how life enters the body being formed in the mother's womb, so you cannot understand the works of God, the maker of all things"(Ecclesiastes).

I also understand atheists who are observant for cultural or family reasons. That's a distinctive feature of Judaism, a nation and a community, fused into a religion which permeates every aspect of oneself and life. We are more than a group of religious believers, but a global family. And to me family and community are key aspects of Judaism. We don't turn our back on  family and therefore we shouldn't turn our backs or force them out, that those who struggle with God, with beliefs, but who wish to still be in the tent. I think one of the US presidents, Lyndon Johnson made a quip about tents and people shouting out, rather than into the tent.

A concluding thought to ponder. Does God prefer the most pious person, who observes the rituals and believes with dogmatic precision, but acts in a shameful fashion or the one who just tries with all of their heart?

Discuss.

Mazel Tov to the royal family!

Hi all

Hannah here!

Congratulations to the duke and duchess of Cambridge, who is preggers again!

I just love the royal family.Never do get why people  want to make Britain a republic. 

Thoughts on Gaza

David here,

So there is a cease-fire agreement in place between Israel and Hamas.  For Israel a lot has been achieved, such as destroying the terrorist tunnels and hitting the terrorist cells hard. But there has been a cost on lives and money: $2.5 billion, 70 Israeli dead and 2,000 Gazans, not all terrorists have lost their lives.

Then  there is the backlash against the Jewish diaspora community, the terrible relationship between Israel and the US... and seemingly most media outside of Israel was hostile to her. Bibi's popularity has slumped, despite overwhelming support for the war in Israel, his cabinet seems quite divided.

So no one comes out a clear winner. But for the various parties involved, my personal view is that Israel stopped too early, probably due to US and European pressures. However much  this has effected the political landscape, it won't alter the fact Hamas is still there.  Sooner or later, when they've rearmed they will start to attack Israel again. The cycle will continue until Hamas is gone or Israel. And it won't be Israel disappearing.