Sunday, July 16, 2006

Rockets and Thunder

So far, I have never "gone political" in a post. I have commented on other bloggers' potentially controversial topics, but have refrained from posting something that might create unrest or virulent disagreement. Note, please, how this post should not provoke either of those. But over the weekend, certain readers of this blog of mine advised me to mend the lack of political commentary in order to "spice things up a bit".

Well, they weren't being completely serious -this is, after all, a blog about a girl who went to seminary in Israel for two years, became a Judaic studies teacher, and is on her way to law school, and loves Slurpees. Not exactly evening-news-worthy. Thank G-d.

But regardless of my political aspirations blog-wise or in general (I used to want to be the first female, Jewish President. Used to.), I feel as though I cannot just write another post about my own idiosyncrasies, but instead something referring to the current world political situation.

No one can be unaware of what is going on between Israel and Lebanon, between Israel and the Hezbollah, between Israel and Gaza, between Israel and Hamas.

And on what day did the situation so dramatically escalate? Almost laughingly coincidentally, on Shiv'ah Assar B' Tamuz -the day of fasting for the Jews, a day marked by the breaking of the Luchos, the discontinuation of the Korban Tamid, the breaching of the walls of Yerushalyim, the burning of the Torah by Apustamus, and the placing of an idol into the Bais Hamikdash -a day of mourning for Klal yisroel, the day marking the beginning of the three weeks of mourning leading up to the saddest day on the Jewish calendar- Tish'ah B'Av.

I am so scared.

I was supposed to be in Israel now, you know. But members of my family said no, so I didn't go, but my heart is there, and my heart is breaking. People are fleeing the north of Israel, the mountains of the Galil, the shores of the Kineret. People are asking the dreaded question, "What will be?" And no one knows the answer.

They say to take shelter if you are anywhere from Tel Aviv up to the border.
And they say it is not just the guerrillas of Lebanon and Gaza, but also Iran, Syria...
And they say Israel's retaliation is disproportional to the provocation.
And they say Israel has the right to defend herself.
And they say we should turn to Hashem, utter the priceless words of Tehillim, beseech His mercy...

Tzfat, Meron, Chaifa, T'veriya...hit, damaged...by rockets and thunder...

So many voices saying so much...after a while it all blends together...after a while we hear nothing...but, please, for all our sakes, hear the voices that say we should turn to Hashem. Are you nervous? Use that worry. Are you afraid? Use that fear. Are you angry? Use that ferocity. Are you crying? Use those tears. And throw that worry, that fear, that ferocity and those tears at Hashem. Beg Him to help us now. Our upcoming Tisha B'Av does not have to be another day of weeping - it can become the most joyful day we have ever known.

"Then they will say among the nations, Hashem has done great things for them; Hashem has done great things for us; we will be joyful..."
(May it come soon)

14 comments:

Pragmatician said...

It's scary indeed.
Good post and good advise.
I think you did the right thing by not going, having your family constantly worry about you is not fair towards them.

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

I am so not political ever in my blog or in my life. Good post thanks.

kasamba said...

Amein, Amein, Amein!!!!

Beautiful post!!!!

FrumSingleGuy said...

So as I sit pondering hos I should put my thoughts to paper regarding our situation in Israel I came across this post and now I am afraid that if I do write something about Israel I will plagarize. The great French philosopher and psychoanalyst Lacan believed that there is no ownership over intellectual property and wrote that there is no such thing as plagarizing thoughts. But I still feel wierd posting about Israel. Your post was... perfect!

Lee said...

prag --yes, it is, and thank you. I do think I made the right choice, but it is difficult, since my summer because of that choice hasn't been productive or so much fun...maybe next year? (In Yerushalyim!!)

sw/fm --for me, it truly is a danger to get into a political discussion with someone. Either I have no idea what I'm talking about, and in that case I'm smart enough to shut my mouth, or I do know, and in that case I get an tiny bit too worked up, and my debater usually has to tell me to lower my voice...not pretty.

kasamba --"Kein Yehi Ratzon!" Thank you. This situation has hit too close to home for all of us.

frumsingleguy-- Well, thank you! Although I am unfamiliar with Lacan's theories (I didn't go to the best college...some would say), I wonder if those unowned thoughts, once written, become plagiarize-able? Anyway, I really appreciate your comment, cause this post was pretty much unplanned, stream-of-consciousness, unedited and basically just a visceral reaction to the current situation. And if you want, you can just copy and paste- I don't mind...

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

Yup our political views seem to be the same on this one lol.

David_on_the_Lake said...

Great post...
I'd vote for u in a second
OKEE for Prez!
:-)

ADMITNOTHING said...

Check it out !

www.toughjews.blogspot.com

You'll be glad you did !

smb said...

Okee, I'm with you. Very well put.

FrumGirl said...

You write it ever so eloquently. We all seem to be feeling exactly as you are!

Lee said...

sw/fm --so it would seem!

david --hmmm, maybe I will go for it, after all...

admitnothing --did I check it out? I admit nothing.

lvnsm --thanks. That's achdus!

frumgirl --Thank you. It's true -also everyone I've spoken to outside of the blogosphere has shared similar reactions to what's going on -disbelief, fear, confusion, and the automatic turning to Hashem. That's the key, and I hope all of us, all of klal Yisrael, will unite in turning to Hashem and end the fighting. Forever.

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

Hmmmm.....

Anonymous said...

Wow, I just stumbled across this awesome blog. You write beautifully, and you remind me exactly of someone I know. Wow, I wonder if it is. Now I am going to be very curious, indeed.

Lee said...

hisbonenus --Welcome to my world!!:) We're so glad you could make it!

And about that other thing you said...hmmmm, I wonder if you're right....