Holy Exposures Commentary and Photos of Israel

My cousin was visiting in Sderot last week. He is a Rabbi and sofer (Biblical scribe), and often travels to places in Israel to check religious articles to see if they need to be repaired.

He shared with me this absurd and truly ‘unreal’, but very real story:

Last week, he visited a few houses in Sderot to check their mezuzot (Jewish families are required to place mezuzot on the doorways of their home). During one of his inspections, a nine year old girl from the home was following him and watching his work. Suddenly, the sirens went off. He froze. What to do? Where to go?

The 9 year girl very calmly said, “quick, follow me to the corner of the sealed room and bend down like this.” Fifteen seconds later he heard a big BOOM outside the house. The girl then said, “wait a little longer, there’s usually another boom or two.” Again, seconds later, BOOM, BOOM.

Shaken and disturbed, my cousin completed his tasks in Sderot and hurried home to Jerusalem. He then realized that the other family members were busy doing other tasks around the house and had deliberately sent their girl to watch over him in case of an attack.

This is Israel, a modern first (or second) world country, with a strong economy, lauded hi-tech sector, and yet our border towns have been afflicted with this absurd ritual for as long as Gaza has been in the hands of the terrorist Iran-backed Hamas.

Imagine that you are visiting your friends in Florida. Miami Beach is nice this time of year. During your visit, sirens start whaling and your friend’s 9 year old child (that’s a 3rd grader) tells you that you now have 15 seconds to run to the corner of the sealed room, where the missiles are less ‘likely’ to penetrate.

What if this scenario was played out in France? Would Sarcozy listen to the world opinion that the French government should show restraint and not fire back against the aggressors? Yes, Israel has the capabilities to fight back, and usually only after many blows does Israel finally takes steps to end the aggression against it.

The world media has always run roughshod over the tiny State of Israel. AP and Reuters have Arab journalists managing and writing stories on Israel. They often make feign attempts to show both sides of the story, but usually the venomous words are directed at the Jewish State. Other media organizations, such as the BBC and The Guardian make no attempts to hide their disdain for Israel. Such tendentious reporting helps to skew the already tainted view of Israel.

When you read Yahoo News about Israel (the world’s number 1 website destination), you are often reading AP’s Ibrahim Barzak, a Palestinian Arab, giving you so-called unbiased accounts of Israel’s fight for freedom against daily terrorist attacks.

The next time you read a story about Israel’s aggression and attacks on Gaza, remember the fifteen seconds you will have to follow your nine year old guide to safety.

15 seconds is all that it takes for a rocket fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza to land in the nearby Israeli town of Sderot. It will probably take you longer than that to read this blog post.

Imagine that you are in your living reading a book, watching TV or having a bite to eat, your kids are in the next room playing, and then you hear the sirens sounding that another mortar or rocket is heading your way. You now have 15 seconds, FIFTEEN SECONDS, to run as fast as you can to your shelter and hope that the rocket goes somewhere else.

Gaza Under Fire (AP)

This is the life that has been determined for the residents of Israeli towns near by Gaza the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist organization. Israel has suffered much damage, including loss of civilian lives, damage to buildings, destruction of local economies, and emotional scars to the local residents for eight years.

Israel’s decision to finally (hopefully) put an end to this suffering of its innocent civilians, and to rid the Palestinians of their Iran-backed terror state, was met with mixed responses by the world community. We didn’t expect praise from the Arabist U.N., nor from our ’so-called’ friends in Europe, but let’s see how any country, democratic or otherwise, would respond to these similar circumstances.

The State of Israel is fighting the same war it has always fought, since it’s inception in 1948. This is a war of “kiyum”, being able to remain a sovereign nation. This is a war we must win.

Yesterday was the 30th annual Bet Shean Half Marathon (21.1KM) which I ran and completed in 1:49.  It was my first time running in Bet Shean.  What a great event!

This race is considered a favorite among Israeli running clubs since the terrain is mostly flat and the organization is top-notch.  It is also considered a great warm-up to the Tiberias Marathon to be held in a few weeks from now (Jan 8).

The Author at the Beit Shean Half Marathon

Yesterday, Dec 11, 2008, over 1,200 runners participated on a windy day.  The course is generally fast, the organizers make every effort to get runners off on a good foot.  There were many registration tables, free coffee, crackers and fruit to make things go smoothly.

The only downside came after the race.  Runners were required to return their timing chips and then receive a free race shirt along with a bag of ‘goodies’.  The lines were incredibly long, and I waited over 20 minutes just to return the chip.  Failing to return the chip would cost I think a 200 NIS fine (~$50 USD).

Official photos from the event can be seen here.

Our club, The Beit Shemesh Running Club, sent a record 29 runners to the finish line.  Our fastest runner completed the race in 1:25.

The Author on the run

Happy running, and onwards to Tiberias and other great runs in Israel.

Classic Photos of Israel Collection: 

Back to Classic Photos Part 1

Many of our photos have won awards and/or have been published. You may also use them under the terms of Creative Commons License.   Click on images to see larger resolution.  Please rate the photos and add your comments below. Enjoy!

Tel Aviv Beach Panorama

Tel Aviv Beach

Tel Aviv Habima Theater

Rothschild Ave

Going To the Beach

Sex Shop - Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv Sex Shop

Photos of Israel Collection by Holy Exposures is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at holyexposures.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at holyexposures.com.

Classic Photos of Israel Collection: 

Many of our photos have won awards and/or have been published. You may also use them under the terms of Creative Commons License.   Click on images to see larger resolution.  Please rate the photos and add your comments below. Enjoy!

Night Fall

Chabad at the Jerusalem Shuk

Sunset over the Shefelah

Arab Man Selling Keffiyehs in Akko

Jerusalem’s Old City & Western Wall in Infrared

The spot where Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin was assasinated in Tel Aviv.

The sign says “Forgive Us”

Celebrating a New Torah

Panoramic View of Tzfat (Safed)

Go to Israel Photos Collection - Part 2

Photos of Israel Collection by Holy Exposures is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at holyexposures.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at holyexposures.com.

Nir Barkat

Nir Barkat wins in Jerusalem, beating out Haredi Knesset Member and Gimmel party hopeful Meir Porush.

Incumbents Huldai in Tel Aviv and Yahav in Haifa both won .

After 7 terms in Ashdod, Tzvi Tzikler lost to Yechiel Lasri.

In Bet Shemesh, three term incumbent Vaknin was ousted in favor of Sha”s party candidate, Moshe Abutbul.  (Abutbul 52%, Lerner 30%, Vaknin 18%).

2008 Israeli Election results for all cities available in real time at Ynet (in Hebrew).

Obama Won, What does it mean for Israel?

Barack Obama is President Elect of the US for less than one day and already the pundits are giving their dark forecasts for what will happen to Israel during his presidency.

Ben Weidman reported on CNN today that 75% of Americans living in Israel cast absentee votes for McCain.  CNN then jumped over to Ramallah in the West Bank, and interviewed a few happy Palestinians who feel that rosier days are ahead for their people.

I had been receiving a smattering of emails  and phone calls up until the election from friends and influencers who implied that a vote for Obama was equal to a vote for the PLO.  There were smear campaigns and sophistic logic arguments detailing death and destruction.  This is of course rubbish.  Was it not Obama himself who came to visit Sederot a few months ago to see the shelling from Gaza first-hand?  Could his visit have been any less sincere than any American politician?

If history is any gauge, I think it’s safe to say that no major policy changes will occur vis-a-vis Israel during his presidency, (at least not as a result of his presidency).  Israel is a sovereign nation, and the rules of engagement with the US have been codified into status-quo since the Truman administration.  American presidents have pressured Israel (along with their notoriously Arabist State Department) since 1967 to cede lands taken in the Six Day War.  They have pressed us to remove settlements, outposts, ease travel restrictions, continue to provide electricity and humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank.  Yet, during all these years, despite differences in agreement and/or implementation between Washington and Jerusalem, the US has steadfastly supported Israel in the international arena.  Sort of like your big brother pushing you around at home, but when you’re at the playground, he defends you against all the bullies.

Speaking of “friendly” US Presidents, was it not Bill Clinton who visited the “Palestinian Parliament” in Gaza and even declared there of his wishes for a Palestinian State?  What more harm can Obama do than that?

I remember eight years ago receiving emails and phone calls from Gore supporters who were outright begging me not to vote for Bush, the “Texas Oilman”, whose palms were “greased with Arab oil money”.  Can anyone honestly say that these fears were justified?

Future of American-Israeli Relations

Obama is a smart man.  He is also a pragmatic politician.   He will lead the US through its toughest and darkest period in economic and foreign relations arguably since World War II. There will be differences of opinion and changes that may not be favorable to us all, but these changes will be within the realm of American mainstream policy.

On a personal level, I am satisfied to see a Chicagoan in the Oval Office - perhaps he will figure out a way to ensure a Chicago Cubs World Series?

What do you think?

Add your comments here and tell us how you think the future of Israel and America relations will be affected by Obama’s win.  (page down to reply)

We’ve all been watching the recent developments of Wall Street with a keen eye.  How, if at all, will it affect us individually?  Will Israel be dragged into a recession as well as the rest of Europe?

An inevitable part of the US’s historic $750 billion bailout package is the huge amount of paper that the government has to print.  The money has to come from somewhere, and usually that means selling more treasury notes and bills, or bartering paper with foreign governments.

With all that new money hitting the markets, you’d expect the dollar to drop in value.  However, the world economy follows the USA like a herd to a shepherd.  All the talk about Euros, shmooros…  When you want a safe currency in times of crisis, you don’t look to Europe with one of its EU members (Iceland) on the brink of bankruptcy, nor do you look to China or Japan, as they are having their own crises.  You buy dollars.  And that’s exactly what’s been going on since the US bailout plan was passed.

As a result, major and 2nd tier currencies alike have lost approx 5% in value against the US Dollar in the past week.  In Israel, the drop was sudden and major.  Two week ago, the Shekel (NIS) was trading against the USD in a range from 3.48 to 3.50.  Almost overnight, the Shekel devalued against the dollar to 3.70.  That’s a 5 percent change.

That’s very good for Israeli exporters, tourism, and for Israelis who’s salary is linked to the dollar, and for technology companies who raised funds in dollars.

That’s very bad, however, for importers, most Israelis who do not have linkage on their salary, and just about every consumer.  Prices will start to rise at the supermarket, which will in turn reduce consumption, and bring on inflation, and then recession.

Much of the strength of the Israeli economy over the past few years has been related to the strength and new found autonomy of the Israeli currency.  Breaking with the norm of the past 60 years, for example, Real estate was being quoted in Shekels.  Israelis had a new sense of pride in our national currency.

Now with this recent crisis, and the fall of the Euro as the other viable currency alternative to the almighty dollar, it appears Israel’s economy will be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I remember as a kid in Chicago how I used to walk around the house (and neighborhood) and try to find the best spot for reception on my shortwave radio. In those days, tuning in to Israel Radio was like catching an ephemeral glimpse of far away land.  At 4pm in the afternoon, I would tune in Reshet Bet and listen to the 6am Boker Tov announcement which included the incredible recital of the Shema and then the top of the morning news.

Nowadays, perhaps the mystery and anticipation are gone, but the fun is still there. Now you can listen to many thousands of radio stations around the world with a simple click of a link on your internet browser. In fact, now that I live in Israel, I listen to Chicago radio stations with the same nostalgia as I did as a kid tuning in from the other side of the world to hear the sounds of Israel.

Here are the most popular Israel Radio selections available for you to tune in live now. Simply click on a link, and your Windows Media Player will open and begin to play the selected channel.

1. Arutz Sheva Hebrew - Voice of the right of center in Israel
2. Galei Zahal - Army Radio, news, interviews, music
3. Galgalatz - Army Radio, mostly music
4. Kol Hamusica - Classical Music
5. Reshet Bet - Israel’s main news and talk channel
6. Reshet Dalet (Arabic) - news and talk in Arabic
7. Reshet Gimel - Israeli Music
8. 106FM Tel Aviv - Local Tel Aviv
9. 107.5FM Radio Haifa 107.5 - Local Haifa, Webcam of Studio
10. 88FM - Jazz Music, News

The internet makes it easy for you to watch live tv from anywhere in the world.

There are several Israeli TV Channels who stream their stations live, or offer daily rebroadcasts of news and other shows. When you click on the link, your Windows Media Player will open and begin playing the selected channel.

1. Channel 10 This is a very popular Israeli channel that is available on cable. The internet broadcast is usually live during the mornings and evenings Israel time.
2. Channel 1 IBA News (English) Daily rebroadcast of the half hour long evening English news program.
3. Channel 1 Mabat News Daily rebroadcast of Israel’s most popular evening news (in Hebrew).
4. Knesset Live See what’s going on at Israel’s parliament. They also offer news programs and interviews on political issues.
5. Machon Meir - Religious Classes Online. Catch a live shiur!
6. Shopping Channel TV Shop till you drop (in Hebrew).