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4 items tagged "Obama and Aliya"

August 18, 2008
11:10
The Night before Aliya
» ‎ The Muqata

This coming Monday morning, at 10:30 AM, another few hundred North American Jews will arrive at the JFK airport in preparation for their flight home.

Its now slightly after 1 AM in NY, and I'm honestly very excited for the privilege to join this flight. I recall almost 18 years ago, the night before I moved to Israel. I couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning with anticipation, excitement, and a bit of trepidation, I could barely squash the jumble of thoughts which prevented me from sleeping.

Songs danced around in my head. Homeward Bound, ושבו בנים, Take me home, אם אשכח ירושלים, and so many others.

In the end, I didn't sleep. It was too much. I didn't sleep on the plane either...all the way home to Israel -- It was far too exhilarating.

But that was almost 18 years ago.

I spoke to one of the families tonight that I will be escorting home on tomorrow's flight. They had already put their kids to sleep, and were very excited about the flight...the culmination of their planning, hopes and dreams to return home.

Please join me over the next few days as I blog about 2 families and their journey home.

My thanks to Nefesh b'Nefesh and Webads for arranging this special trip.

--Jameel

PS; And special, special thanks to my wife and children, for their understanding -- while I "disappeared" for a few days to accompany this special flight.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
July 27, 2008
15:04
Reading Obama's Personal Mail to G-d
» ‎ The Muqata

In a new low for Israel's newspapers, Maariv published the note that Sen. Obama placed into the Western Wall, the "Kotel" -- a private message between himself and G-d.

On the bright side, the Yediot Achronot newspaper didn't print the note because they valued Obama's privacy...yet Maariv had to "run with scoop" against all etiquette, norms of privacy, and basic decency.

The note has since been picked up everywhere and published in the NY Post as well, so there's no real issue in it not appearing here on the blog.

"Lord - Protect my family and me," reads the note published in the Maariv daily. "Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will."
The paper's decision to make the note public drew fire. The rabbi in charge of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitz, said publishing the note intruded in Obama's relationship with God.

"The notes placed between the stones of the Western Wall are between a person and his maker. It is forbidden to read them or make any use of them," he told Army Radio. The publication "damages the Western Wall and damages the personal, deep part of every one of us that we keep to ourselves," he said. (NY Post)

However, the following scenario ran around my head this morning.

What if...

...the note said the following:
Bless and protect the State of Israel and its inhabitants, spread the wings of peace and security throughout the land so that all may live in harmony with one another. May the words of Your prophet come true, "They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."
Or, if you're a not an Obama supporter...
Bless and protect the Palestinian people from Israeli aggression. Grant them sovereignty over Jerusalem and their land so that this oppressed nation can thrive among their brothers in the Middle East...
What if? Let's say that this was the message that appeared in the note that was offered to Maariv. (Or maybe, Yated Neeman or HaModia or Mishpacha).

Do you think that seeing such a message (either of the above) would be important enough, or urgent enough, to bypass Obama's privacy and should be printed and publicized?

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
July 21, 2008
17:38
Muqata RoundTripping: Israel, NYC, Israel
» ‎ The Muqata

A few years back I had some cool ideas for livening up the JBlogosphere. I managed to implement a few; the Purim parody carnival or the Purim collaborative Purim Podcast, yet others never got off the drawing board (like the JBlogosphere Game Show idea, which I think is still a great idea, but don't have the time or advertising cash to make it happen yet).

And then...this opportunity drops into my lap. Not only is it completely in tandem with my blog's goals and aspirations of promoting the good things about Israel, love for the land, and a general feeling of connection -- but the idea spans many blogs and bloggers.

Nefesh b'Nefesh has offered to send me and other JBloggers to the US (and return back) on one of their aliya flights -- to accompany an oleh family and blog their experience before leaving, during the flight, and at the welcome-home reception at Ben-Gurion airport. In addition to helping share their personal aliya, there will be a JBlogger conference in Yerushalayim the next day.

I'm not listed yet on any conference panels...because I haven't yet figured out how to keep the yellow smiley face on my head for so long...

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
June 18, 2008
20:03
Obama Bumper Sticker
» ‎ The Muqata

Posted by JoeSettler

Hattip: Jewschool

Jameel Adds:

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

A Peek into Others' mind » Tags » Obama and Aliya

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4 items tagged "Obama and Aliya"

The Night before Aliya

Reading Obama's Personal Mail to G-d

Muqata RoundTripping: Israel, NYC, Israel

Obama Bumper Sticker