It has now been almost a week, since the IDF intercepted a flotilla of ships planning to ram the embargo on Gaza. While I am a definite Zionist, I do not believe in solidarity and will not blindly side with Israel, but I did wish to get all the facts in. So far, Israel's only sin is sending in their Commandos on the ship when it was still in International waters. I don't think this was a good move. I do believe that once the activists attacked the Commandos, they became enemy combatants and the use of deadly force was justified after that.

Now, the activists were a nasty bunch out to challenge the Gaza Embargo. They could have sent the aid through normal channels but wanted to be defiant. Blogger Reut Cohen has very useful commentary about the international double standard applied to Israel and challenges Hamas claims.

Here is a twist. Hamas refuses the flotilla aid and let's see what the main ship contained.

Not very peaceful stuff. Now, this is an IDF website so you may oppose it's objectivity. Fine. Respond with proper challenges then. I am willing to learn new information.

Now, conversely, I should comment about the blockade. Meghan McArdle presents a list of allowed and prohibited items. I don't get the logic in it. Chemical fertilizer and pesticides are permitted...that is one I'd be concerned about after the Oklahoma City bombing, but I don't get the reason for the other bans. Maybe I am missing why they are a threat.

Overall, I'd rule 85-15 in Israel's favor. The Embargo is too restrictive and the raid was poorly done, but I understand why.

The right to be a dickhead

Damian Penny shows an interesting story about a real jackass.

Now, David Ahenakew is a racist and a hatemonger and he should be stripped of more than a few honors, but I believe you have the right to say something anti-semitic, or burn the flag, or destroy a privately owned religious article, provided you are a private citizen and not doing it in a way that disgraces a larger group (a solider burning a flag while in a US Army uniform is illegal and should be regarded as low level treason).

I always figured aboriginal North Americans are among the few indigenous people not to be anti-semitic, but I guess that record is sullied. Now, blaming the Jews for WWII is like blaming black people for the American Civil War, which many low born whites did.

As for some of his asinine comments:

"How do you get rid of a disease like that, that's going to take over, that's going to dominate?" Ahenakew said to the reporter. "The Jews damn near owned all of Germany prior to the war. That's how Hitler came in. He was going to make damn sure that the Jews didn't take over Germany or Europe.

"That's why he fried six million of those guys, you know. Jews would have owned the God-damned world."

Sorry indigenous hate monger, but all Jews did was fight nobly for the Kaiser in WWI, get fucked by Britain after Lord Balfour made a promise, and provide Germany with lots of scientists, philosophers, and other contributions. I wouldn't be surprised if every great German mind had some distant Jewish ancestor. The Renaissance didn't come to Europe until after millions of Jews migrated there...well the Spice Trade and the printing press also factored in, but look at post-Roman Europe before Jews and after :)

Besides, David should be a bit more sensitive as his own ancestors suffered a very similar fate over a longer period of time. Besides, I would say almost all atrocities committed against First Nations were done by Christians. Besides, if you ahve such a problem with Jews, change your first name from David to Adolf or Yasser.

I admit....long time, no update.

Why? Hereditary depression causing apathy and procrastination. I may have lost all of my fans, but only one way to find out.

Now, let's recap. I haven't posted much in a while, and I am sorry about that. I went to New Orleans on Emergency leave, because my father was doing very poorly. He is doing better and can speak again for the first time in almost a year. Once again, I am very glad that I never started smoking. Next week, my father will be able to eat again.

Now, on to the recent holiday season. Yes, you heard that right. Starting with Rosh Hashana and ending with Simchat Torah, I'd say that we had a great holiday season and a time of great joy, which was rightfully tempered with Ecclesiastes at the end of Sukkot, a sobering and also depressing scroll that can kill the mood in any party, but perfect when the party needs to end. Starting with Rosh Hashana, I began my tanach project where I read the prophetic and writing portions of the tanach that I honestly feel get neglected. I admit the Torah is primary, but the other parts of the tanach get neglected, and they are worth reading, plus the reading is minimal. I have been beta testing my project and I see some errors I made though it may the difference between an artscroll and JPS translation, plus I made some other errors with assigning certain portions. Maybe I should begin the cycle at Simchat Torah as the Haftarah is the beginning of Joshua, which is a perfect way to begin the Nevi'im. The Kethuvim begins with Proverbs, as I like how the chabad space the Pslams out over a month, so why mess with a good thing. I also know that for Yom Kippur the Book of Jonah is perfect for the Nevi'im portion as it is the haftarah for that day anyway. Also, the megillah for those five days is perfetc for assignments in Kethuvim portions

Now, during the 25 days of reading Joshua and Proverbs, I find them an interesting contrast, but the two are good together. Joshua is about the conquest of Canaan to make it Israel. Proverbs is about wisdom and advice. I'd say wisdom is key to a good conqueror, as the conquerors will have to become managers, and wisdom is necessary to curtail the blood lust that can result from Iron Age fighting. I also know that this is simply the order given for the tanach, but it is good if I can draw some insight as well :)

I also admit that I have enjoyed my first time for the High Holidays, though when I heard the shofar blown, the word riccola shouted in the back of my mind, but Hashem has a good sense of humor, so I am not wrong to think that.

Gedalia and Yom Kippur were the first fast days I could do fully as they occurred on the weekend, though my mother visited during Yom Kippur and I wish she didn't, as she expected me to drop plans to spend that whole time with her and wanted me to plan what to do in this sinkhole I call Killeen. Such comes of having a shiksa mom, I guess.

Sukkot was good for many things. One, it was the first pilgrim holiday I could participate in. I was at WLC for Pesach and the field on Shavuot, but here's hoping I can attend both in Iraq. I also spent last Saturday night in the Sukkah, though it took me a while to get to sleep, but I guess that can be chalked up to being in a slightly different environment.

My unit planned a stupid FRG meeting on Shemini Atzeret, and no religious exemption....if my unit FRG gives me a Christmas card, I may angrily rip it up instead of simply shredding it. The following day was spent with household goods pickup, so I missed the day service, but that evening was Simchat Torah and I got to carry the Torah scroll around the Chapel twice. I also had a very nice send off and a touching card from the West Fort Hood congregation, and when I leave Ft Hood I will truly miss them.

BTW, FRG stands for Family Readiness Group, and I am a Bachelor so I have no reason to attend the meetings, though my Commander strong-armed me into giving my mother's information, which I think is very pushy of him as my parents are my business. If I had a wife and a few imps, he could concern himself with that, but he shouldn't try to get involved with parents, except to offer goons to take care of some parents, like Cindy Sheehan.

Time for a Two-fer book review

Today I review two books: Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends (Paperback) and Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its Moods (P.S.) (Paperback)

Now, these books are very different. Antia Diamant talks about how one converts to Judaism as the wife of a Jew by choice, she has a certain insight. Michael Wex offers a fun book about Yiddish, a fun language that has loads of insults :)

Both aspects are important in being religious. To choose a faith, you need to make a plan and know the rules, but you also have to have fun and joke with Hashem (joking with Elokim may prove risky). Yiddish is also a language of Ashkenazic Jews, like my wonderful Sara (or Suri as her name is pronounced in Yiddish).

Both books have very different goals, but both are informative and worth the read.

My project is complete!! Now, most of you are wondering what the Hell I am talking about. Well, it is a project inspired by the daily parsha portions and Psalms readings done by Chabad. Now, I decided to break down the Prophetic and Writing books of the Tanach (sans Psalms which is already in a good order) by chapter and verse so they can be read over the course of a year, starting with Rosh Hashana, but excluding the leap month of Adar I.

Now, for daily portions of Torah and Psalms, click here. The rest is on an excel spreadsheet that I will email to interested parties, but I don't know how to upload it, myself.

This will be my last blog post until Thursday evening. I have a Field Training Exercise tomorrow (with sarcasm: oh joy oh joy) until Thursday and may it be over early on Thursday, rather than later. I have everything, but toiletries and some other materials packed and I am ready to endure this exercise.

In the meantime, I present another April review:

What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew about Judaism (Paperback)

Now, this book is worth reading if you do not know much about Judaism. However, I didn't learn too much new from this book, but that makes me feel great. It means I am learning the basics, as basic Judaism books are becoming redundant for me. It means I am ready to enter the world of intermediate Judaism, though I have yet to fully master the aleph-bet, but I will in time. Now back to the book. I do admit I should have probably made this one of my first books to read as it is excellent for anyone with questions about Judaism. If you're curious or if you're Jewish and still learning your heritage, get this book. If you're a rabbi, then you probably know everything the book would have to teach you :)

Now on to my final book of April: Exodus, by Leon Uris

Now, this book is historical fiction so I have no doubt liberties were taken. Obviously Yosef Trumpledore, David Ben Gurion, and Lord Balfour are real. Conversely, Adolf Hitler, Haj Amin El Husseini, Adolf Eichmann, and pro-Arab British officers are also real (and some of those schmucks may still be alive).

I do suspect the main characters are not, but I'd love to see if I am wrong. This book was powerful and passionate. Britain's prison camps and the cruelty of keeping a persecuted people behind barbed wire is not mentioned in history class, but it should be. I also love how each character is given a biography as we are first introduced to the reporter and his childhood friend, a nurse looking to replace her lost husband and child. Next are the contrasting tales of Karen Clement and Dov Landau, along with their own experiences of the Holocaust and their unlikely pairing.

The prison camps (I won't call the Concentration Camps as the British didn't actively try to kill the Jewish refugees) were run by a British General who is in fact Jewish, but it isn't until much later that he embraces his heritage fully (at the beginning he is pro-Jewish). His aide is a nasty Amalekite named Freddie Caldwell, a petty and vindictive man who will eventually meet justice through the Maccabees.

The plan is very basic. Under the Mossad and Ari Ben Canaan, a ship overflowing with children will ram the blockade and make international news, putting much needed pressure on the British to allow the Jewish refugees to emigrate to Palestine, where the Jewish Yishuv contains the only democracy in the region.

The tactic works and the next part of the book details the land that will become Israel and the British operations there. In addition is the background of Ari Ben Canaan's father and brother as well as his fiery and lovely sister Jordana. The tale of the gangster Haj Amin is given as his family proved the worst dons in the Levant and used threats and extortion to make Haj Amin Mufti of Jerusalem.

Also, a more enlightened sheik is mentioned and he works with and befriends the Ben Canaans as long as they promise to teach his Arabs the same techniques. Unfortunately this noble figure is murdered by the other dons and his son is a good, but weak leader, failing to stop Egyptian forces from taking over his town.

The story doesn't end with the modern state of Israel. One final tale is told of a roguish fellow and a daredevil pilot who seek to make a quick fortune rescuing Jewish refugees from Yemen, which leads to a certain amount of humor as Jews still living in the time of Solomon are taken aboard a plane and start a fire on board. These rogues become heroes as they continue their missions and join the Israeli community.

I highly recommend this book. I am not a man known for emotions or passions but it stirred up more than a few in me. I highly recommend this book, though remember it is not 100% accurate. A style I love, but the caveat is needed, as it is based on real events :)

Forty years!!!

Forty
has a strong meaning in Torah.

And today is Yom Yerushalayim (יום ירושלים), the 40th anniversary of the day that the IDF won the Old City and Jews had the right to worship at the Temple Mount, plus the Six-Day War is like many wars where rogue nations try to wipe out Israel only to expand her borders. Now, they just use UN condemnations.

In other news, Irina has a great summer job and will hopefully start a nice network from contacts.

Now for a review:

My thoughts on Leviticus.

Well, to be honest, Leviticus is not an exciting read. This is also my first time reading it, so it was interesting to learn all about what can be one of the most controverssial books of the Torah, as the laws may seem draconian by today's standards (we are talking about a late Bronze Age culture, so modernists can cut them some slack here). Also, it was sad reading about Aaron losing his two sons, plus Hashem cutting down his shivah time, but no one said being Kohen Gadol was easy.

I do admit that while I read the commenatry, I would like to read my portion with a group and have soem dsicussions and debates for the future, but I am in many ways impressed to have read it and hope that I get something out of each annual reading. Next time I rad Leviticus I will be deployed. That should definitely add something to my perspective.

Here is a question. While I have no doubt I can read more than 50 boosk this yuear, I was wodnering if you would include Torah books I have been reaidng in my weekly parsha readings among the books. So far, I have finished Exodus and Leviticus this year, though they are not exceedingly long, but I also read the Commentary in my Chumash. I was just curious about any opinions.

Today is a day of many events. First it is Lag Ba'Omer along with the Salute to Israel Parade in NYC (a pity I am back in Texas already). In addition, France has just elected Sarkozy who bears a resemblance to Charles Krauthammer, just like Jacques Chirac bears a resembalnce to Ehud Ohlmert

Check for yourself

Now for a much overdue review:

Converting to Judaism - Choosing to Be Chosen : Personal Stories (Paperback)

This was a great book, to say the least. I loved the stories each convert told. Some stories were not as relevant to me, while others spoke to me, especially Arthur's, as I was at one time a fairly devout Catholic, before that oatmeal-rich foudnation collapsed.

Each story gives a detailed profile of each convert as well as one woman who didn't convert, though not everyone is called. It also remidns me of stumbling blocks people, especially Christians would have if converting while their old belief system is still intact. For me, it was no problem as I for one hate Christmas and have since I was 12, and Easter is neither here nor there, though the progroms caused by Easter week is very unsettling.

On the downside I did not learn too much new information, though this is a good sign as I am learning the basics of Judaism and may be able to start on Intermeidate and eventually advanced topics. I definitely recommend this book to proselytes like myself and others with questiosn about why someone would want to convert.

Slight update for now.

My time has been going great. I have purchased a new laptop for my upcoming deployment, so my computer troubles are less. I also spent Friday with the beautiful, witty, and highly intelligent Irina the armed.

My plan is to teach history and Ft Hamilton is an excellent place for a field trip. The scenery was also beautiful and I am also glad that I showed a very good friend a fun time.

That night I went to a party at RT's and stayed until midnight. Then I went back to David's and got up to go to shul with his dad. I hope we start Saturday services at Ft Hood, though there are not enough men for a minyan. However, one may be able to tell I was not raised Jewish as I actually like gefilte fish, which I enjoyed at kiddush after the service, plus I was mistaken for David as well as his brother-in-law (highly amusing as he has no sister) :)

Afterwards I had lunch with David and boarded the LIRR to RT's place where I am now. Today was spent in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens where I saw lovely cherry blossoms, as well as folk dances, and a samurai show with dancing and katana waving. For dinner I went to this wonderful Yemeni restaurant on the Upper West Side, and highly recommend it, especially for anyone not used to Sephardic or Yemeni cuisine....I always encourage diversity, plus it's kosher.

Last two books.

Now, I am giving another twofer, because the two books are about conversion:

Your People, My People: Finding Acceptance and Fulfillment As a Jew by Choice

Conversion to Judaism: A Guidebook

Now, I for one love stories about conversion. Conversion is more about how to convert and reasons for conversion, as well as reactions to converts, be it family, friends, and other Jews.

There aren't as many stories as guidlines and prayers, but it is very helpful in learning about conversion and about Judaism in brief.

Your People, My People is more about conversion stories, through different categories, like the reaction of the non-Jewish parents as well as the Jewish parents as their in-law joins the tribe.

The one thing that wasn't as useful to me was that I am single, and while there are some Jewish women I am attracted to, and will eventually get the coruage to ask out, I am not converting to court Jewish women. Luckily Your People contained a chapter for singles. In fact, one interesting tidbit was about a guy who converted at the behest of his Jewish girlfriend, a five week Conservative conversion.....part of me is curious about that, though I feel that would be cheating :)

After the breakup he puts his new faith on a shelf but thankfully a Jewish friend gets him to a single havurah at a Synagouge. Knowing of such a group is very helpful to me. The singles tales speak more to me, because I am single and have no idea when I will go on a date again, let alone get married. The other stories were great to read, but I saw them more as stories, and I was rather amused by the guy who converts to marry his Reform wife, but he goes Lubavitch, and that ends the marriage.

I give both books positive reviews and recommend them for reading. Also Your People, My People informed me about a network for Jewish converst that may be a useful resource for me in the future.

Book Review Time. First I want to thank Sara with no H for sending me a book. I can't wait to see what it is :)

Now time for the last book on my list, but one that drew me to it by name: Turbulent Souls:: A Catholic Son's Return To His Jewish Family

Now, when I saw the book, I was curious to say the least. I myself grew up Catholic. My mother is from a mostly Irish family with some German, though her maiden name is Worthington, but thankfully they were originally Normans. Besides, the Worthington's moved to America (well NYC to be more specific), because a Joseph Chapman Worthington married an Irish Catholic and the Brits didn't look too highly on an Anglican marrying an Irish Catholic. MY father's side is Scottish and French, and this is true for centuries as Forsyth was DeForsyth, but in the first goyim millennium, they emigrated to Scotland...probably towards the end of that millenium, as Scotland was Calydonia until the Irish conquered it..this is why Mc and Mac are so similar and why both nations are Gaelic. Those Franco-Scots eventually became Barons and sold out the British, and this group includes Logans who were DeLogans until King James came about. That group settled in the American South and were Episcopalians. My father's mother was French from New Orleans and her family was exiled from France for being polite to tourists :) They were a combination of Canadians who didn't like the outcome of Abraham Plain and aristos settling in New Orleans.

Well, that is my family, and also why I was brought up Catholic. Now the author Stephen Dubner has a very different background. For me to be Jewish, I will convert, though this may be after I move to New York City, where I will not have too much trouble finding a Synagogue :) Stephen's case is different, because his mother is Jewish, even though she converted, so he just needs to embrace his birthright, which he does, but more on that later.

Now, Stepehen's parents were both Jewish and grew up in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, their parents didn't provide them the best religious upbringing. Solly (Stephen's father) was raised by a very devout father, who was not the most personable father, and Solly lost his mother as a young man, which gave him a tremendous emotional blow. During WWII, Solly joined the Army and served in the Pacific, where he would convert to Catholicism, perhaps hoping Mary can fill the void left by his mother Gittel's death. Florence, Stephen's mother had a different background. She grew up in Brooklyn, but in a very secular background, as opposed to Solly. As a young adult she took up ballet and was instructed by a Russian expatriate who had converted from Russian Orthodox to Catholic. Florence would follow in a similar path, but she became a much stricter Catholic. Needless to say, their parents weren't pleased. Florence's parents were disapproving and understandably dismayed to find a holy water dispenser or crucifix, while Solly's father sat Shiva and mourned the "death" of his son. Another prominent change was the names. Solly became Paul and Florence became Veronica. The two met after the war ended and after marriage they moved to a rural area in Suffolk County. As Catholics, they were actually very devout and zealous (which I once was) and had eight children. With all the children, the house in Suffolk proved too small, so they moved to a suburb of Albany, in a farmhouse that was dubbed Eden.

At 10, Stephen was lose his father, which had many effects on him, including an aversion to the Charismatic Catholics his parents had begun flocking to, but his questions about his faith would come much later in College where he would meet his first wife and start a band.

Now, his Catholic faith had lapsed and he had married his first wife in an Episcopal ceremony. They lived in Greenwich Village, where Stephen met his wife's instructor and role model, an Orthodox Jew who, while not advocating any specific faith for Stephen, encouraged Stephen to find absolutes to his life and determine his identity. Through this connection and a search for his parents' family that even leads him to Poland, Stephen re-connects to his Jewish roots. Also, after hi first marriage ended, he remarried a Jewish women and now has two kids, continuing a strong, but knowledgeable Jewish tradition. Ironically, this may have only been possible due to his parents' conversion as he was the youngest of eight kids.

Now, I did not know the story in advance and in some ways I can relate to it, but not too much, as the only non-Catholics in my family are Episcopalians. Also, my parents are not overly devout or the least bit zealous. One other factor affecting Stephen was his initial resentment at his par nets for abandoning their Jewish roots, until it was his ex-wife's mentor who helped him understand that his parents were following their hearts as he was following his, and the fact that if his parents became nonobservant Jews instead of zealous Catholic, they would never have had eight kids, so no Stephen to return to his Jewish roots.

Granted, I have only covered a portion of what the book is about, but if I give too much away, you won't get curious and read the book for yourself :) I thought the book was very good, and of course I also loved Freakonomics, which he wrote more recently. As a Jew in training, I love stories about conversions, and while this book is not a conversion story formally, it still has a great story to it, and I can sympathize with some of Stephen's journey as I am learning Hebrew and will eventually learn how to use a tallit and tefillin, though I will have the benefit of conversion classes and instruction while much of it had to be self-taught, as he accidentally ripped his tallit while davening in one chapter.

I highly recommend the book, especially if you enjoy learning about journeys.

A Happy Purim

Chag Sameach!!!

Today was a great day and great for a fun purim in Austin. The day started at 11:30 when we all boarded a bus for the Dell JCC in Austin. Upon arriving, we enjoyed the festivities and a few of us went to the kosher deli at the grocery store near the JCC...unfortunately I didn't, but I will at another time.

After enjoying the festivities I went to the Megillah reading at UT Austin's Hillel Center, and while I had trouble keeping up with the Hebrew, I followed along with the graggers in attacking Haman's name. I also now have a gragger and a black yarmulke to go with my desert camoflauge yarmulke.

The event was a great deal of fun and contained an improtant message considering events in the world today. My dear friend, Red Tulips of Culture for All sends me a great link about a modern day Haman in modern day Persia.

Also, for great fun is the Purim Podcast.

My Trip to Austin

Just in case any of my readers don't know, I have decided a few weeks ago to convert to Judaism, as can also be implied by many books I've been reading. I actually scheduled a meeting with a Rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim, a Conservative Synagogue in Northwest Austin.

The good news: I learned of two helpful books and it was a nice experience, plus Rabbi Liberman was very helpful.

The bad news: Conversion classes were closed. Also, the classes open in the autumn, when I'll be deploying. When my deployment ends, I'll be ready to get out and strike out on my next step in life.

Now, the other unfortunate factor for me is that the course is done like a traditional class and not online. This is a setback for me, but nothing too great. I fully understand her reasons, plus I know that she would want her students to also experience Jewish culture first hand and not just from books or online.

I do regard myself as a Jew in Training, though conversion plans will wait a while longer, but no great ordeal as I'll be heading to New York City after my Army tour ends, and there should be no shortage of synagogues in the Big Apple. In the meantime I will continue learning and seeking Jewish resources.

Time for another review.

I should post more often, but work is draining all my energy and spirits, and then our leadership has been giving constant barracks inspections the last week.

Now for my next review:

Becoming a Jew, by Maurice Lamm.

This is the ultimate book for anyone interested in Judaism (including born Jews) and especially for someone curious about conversion. The first part of the book gives details about people who have converted and their stories. Some people convert out of marriage, while others convert because they have found a spiritual home in Judaism (like myself).

The conversion stories are interesting to read about, and I took an additional interest in conversion stories from former Catholics, especially reading about one who was a Dominican priest. In addition, there are explanations given about the reluctance of some Jews to welcome the idea of converts and in fact one Sephardic sect will not acknowledge any convert. The reasons date back to Rome as well as the Middle East and Medieval and even early modern Europe, where the entire Jewish community in a village could face heavy persecution if a Muslim or Christian converted.

The second part of the book talks about the process of conversion including circumcision and the symbolic circumcision for civilized men who were circumcised at birth, along with the mikveh, and the Beit Din. Additionally, there are two chapters devoted to the Jewish holidays, and explanations about some of the mitzvot, especially the more visible ones like the mezzuzah, tallit, tzitzit, and kippah.

For a potential convert this is excellent reading. Also, it is a good book for many Jews who are not as knowledgeable about their faith as they'd like, or if they are curious about why someone would convert, they'd enjoy the stories.