Who’re the Nazis?

Okay, so I’ve been a bit critic on Israel lately, and I haven’t changed my mind about that.. But something I’m really tired about, in the discussions about Israel and the Palestinians, is when people are comparing or making Israel equal to the Nazis.. And it happens quite a lot..

I read this passage in Matthias Küntzel’s book, “Jihad and Jewhatred” about this phenomenon, which I found pretty interesting:

Secondly, for Yassin and Arafat the subject of the Holocaust – the central experience in the establishment and attitudes of the State of Israel – has remainded taboo, as has that of the role of the Mufti in National Socialism. No post-Oslo PA schoolbook so much as mentions Auschwitz. When a PA official asked that this be changed, he was met with furious protests and the request was rejected. The Chairman of the Palistinian Parliament’s Education Committee declared that, “we have no interest in teaching the Holocaust.” His parliamentary colleague and Fatah leader, Hatem Abd al-Qader, added that teaching about the Holocaust would present “a great danger” for the Palestinian identity. “If such a decision [about teaching the Holocaust] is made, it will undoubtedly ruin the Palelistinian dream and aspirations. It will entirely obliterate the past, present and future of the Palestinians”. Not the slightest danger to the Palestinian identity, though, seemed to be presented by the circulation with express PA approval of Hitler’s programmativ work Mein Kampf , which reached number sic in the Palestinian Territory’s bestsellers’ list in 1999. The translator of the Arabic edition refers in his introduction to his author’s continued relevance: “Adolf Hitler does not belong to the German people alone, he is one of the few great men who almost stopped the motion of history, altered its course….. National Socialism did not die with the death of its herald. Rather, its seeds multiplied under each star.”

While the PA “sows” the seeds of National Socialism un this way, and reaps a harvest of murderous anti-Jewish actions from it, Israeli policy is presented in all its media as a continuation or even intensification of Nazism. The constant equation of Israeli and Nation Socialist policies – “Nazism of the Jews,” “Nazi-like enemy,” “Nazi-Zionist practices” – amounts to a specific form of Holocaust denial, one which legitimates the pursuit of an anti-Jewish extermination policy, while projecting these murderous intentions onto the chosen victim. – “Jihad and Jewhatred” Matthias Küntzel page 117-118

So the question remains, who really are the Nazis? Israel or the Palestinian leaders?

Now, I’m not trying to say that all Palestinians are Nazis, not even close, but with leaders like this, what can you do? The worst part is that there actually are many intelligent and well meaning Palestinians, who want to make a difference and build a better future for both the Palestinians and Israel, but when all the support goes to the hatemongers among the Palestinians, what can decent Palestinians do? Not much..

And when I’m talking about support, then I don’t only think about Iran, but also Israel herself (who supported Hamas in the 80s), EU (who supports Hamas today) and the States, who is allied with the largest producer and exporter of Anti-Semitism, namely Saudi Arabia..

I really find this sad and it makes me wonder, how much so called “meddlers for peace” really want to make peace..

All the best and Shabbat Shalom

Being a Jew and the hard art of communication

 

Yesterday I had a little discussion with a Jewish friend from my work.. In general the subject was focused on being religious as a Jew..

It started with her telling me, that she had been on work on Shabbat, a fact I am aware of, but nevertheless really don’t need to know, since I don’t take much rejoice in Jews acting wrong (or in any people acting wrong, for that sake)..

When I told her, that I didn’t need to know about it, she went on: “But I don’t keep Shabbat!”.. “No, I know..” I responded, “but still, don’t tell me, maybe I one day have to keep it against you, and I really don’t want to..”

She didn’t quite understand that, since it’s her right, in Denmark, to keep or don’t keep Shabbat – which is true – so I had to explain about that hypothetical thought, that maybe one day we will live in a Halachic state.. We joked a little about it, in reality I don’t feel any need to force my beliefs on anyone, even though I would prefer all Jews to be religious and take our religion serious..

Well, at a certain point she apparently felt the need to state the obvious to me: “I’m borne by a Jewish woman, so I’m as much a Jew as you!”.. Well, I couldn’t really deny that, neither did I want to.. And neither had I at any point stated that she wasn’t..

 

But this is the whole point.. Why is it, that some people, when they suddenly feel attacked, needs to point out that they’re Jews too? Actually, my though was (and is) that, yes, she – and all of you Jews who read this – is as much a Jew as I am, but this is the point: She is as much obligated to keep the Mitzvot as I am.. It’s not a safe to state “I’m a Jew!” and then think everything is okay.. On the contrary, state that and hell is loose (sort of speaking).. Yell “I’m a Jew!” and some One will yell “YES, KEEP MITZVOT!”..

 

But maybe that is where we Jews go wrong of each others sometimes? When religious and non-religious speak together.. We religious don’t say it clear enough that we consider all Jews our brothers and sisters, and as valuable as everybody else, no matter the level of religiosity.. And our non-religious brothers and sisters think that when we talk about the need of being observant, we talk about the need of being “Jewish enough”?

 

So let me say it out clear.. Are your mother a Jewess or have you converted Halachic, the I certainly do think you’re a Jew.. But then again, I also do think that you’re as obliged as I am, to keep Mitzvot.. Torah was given to ALL of Israel, also you..

One Day!

This is my new motto: One Day!

I’ve been listening to Matisyahu’s “One Day” and it has greatly influenced and strucked me deeply.. Az, toda lecha achi:o)..

And somehow he’s putting words on my thoughts, on my feelings and my hopes, that we one day may be living together in peace and acceptance of eachother, no matter our differences..

So from this day, my motto is One Day! Especially with big emphasis on ONE!

One day we’ll be living in peace..

Under One sun..

Humankind living together on One world..

Praying to One G-D..

Okay, so some of you probably will disagree, or at least doesn’t share all my hopes, but still, I believe that One Day, we will know the truth, whatever that may be.. And One Day we will accept that we don’t have to hate each other just because we don’t look alike, act alike, think alike, but accept that we’re different, though we’re still One humankind.. We all descent from One man, we all live on One planet, and we’re all just One person among billions of people..

So One Day everything will be better.. And if we will it, that day could be tomorrow..

Sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank G-D I’m breathing
Then I pray
don’t take me soon
cause i’m here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it’ll all turn around
because

All my live I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
there’ll be no more wars
and our children will play

one day x6

It’s not about
win or lose
’cause we all lose
when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pavement
keep on moving though the waters stay raging
In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
it might drive you crazy but dont let it faze you no way (no way)

Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
So my negativity surrounds
I know some day it’ll all turn around
because

All my live I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
there’ll be no more wars
and our children will play

one day x6

One day this all will change
treat people the same
stop with the violence
down with hate
one day we’ll all be free
and proud to be
under the same sun
singing songs of freedom like

one day x2

All my live I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we don’t wanna fight no more
there’ll be no more wars
and our children will play

one day x6

Accepting hatred?

Yesterday I was in for a surprise.. I took myself the freedom to post a link to a Youtube-video, showing Palestinians and Jews together in friendship.. Apparently that was too much for some people.. Stating that as long as the Arabs doesn’t do anything, then we can’t be friends with them, and that we shouldn’t have anything to do with them..

It isn’t because I was surprised that some people have these feelings, it’s not like the conflict is anything like a bar fight, people do die, people we love and care for..

But still.. Some of the arguments I experienced in the, rather heated, discussion, were totally out there..

While I tried to argue for understanding of the Arabs situation – they’re not really having a great time – I was told that I didn’t know nothing about the situation, even told that until I live in Israel and have served in IDF (where Arabs, too, are serving), then I have no right to talk about the situation.. Excuse me? I have no right? What, being a human that don’t really like the fact that other humans are suffering, no matter who they are, isn’t right enough? Apparently, only Jews, who live in Israel and have served in IDF, have any rights to talk about the situation.. Except if you’re a hawkish Arab-hating Jew, probably..

While many Jews are talking about the danger of hatred against Jews, we’re forgetting that we’re just humans, who can hate too.. And we do hate and even promote it sometimes.. I understand that Jews don’t jump in the arms of Arabs, we’ve too many bad encounters to do just that, but at least try to understand that they, too, have had quite many bad encounters with us, no matter how perfect some of us might think we are.. We’re no saints.. And we can’t go on refusing all the negative stories about relations between Jews and Arabs, saying that it’s propaganda, made up or whatever excuse we might find.. There are some nutniqs amongst the settlers, not meaning that all settlers are just that (most settlers are decent and great people, who are able to have a good relation with the Palestinians, should the situation allow it, believe it or not).. Arabs are getting harassed at checkpoints.. Not all Arabs or every time.. But too often..

And you know, not all Arabs hate Israel.. Yeah, that’s right, there are actually Arabs who’re supporting the existence of Israel, and not all the time bad-mouthing Israel whenever they get the chance.. For example you can read what Moha from Qalqilya has to say, in this post.. Or this Israeli Arab, who’re proud of being Israeli.. Or Nonie Darwish, who created Arabs For Israel.. There’s my friend Afief, who’re also Israeli, who’d rather be living in Germany, but he doesn’t hate Israel, he’s just not too thrilled about religious nutniqs.. There’s my friend Hannan, a Lebanese Palestinian, who I’ve never heard saying anything bad about Israel..

Let me make this clear: I love Israel, I want to live and die there.. More than anything, I value my people and our security and right to exist in peace.. And I certainly believe that Israel has a right to defend herself.. But that said, I also believe and understand that the Palestinians have the same feelings.. Israel’s right to defend herself, isn’t her right to harass everybody else..

We, as Jews, have a greater responsibility to behave morally and ethically right (and I’m not thinking in a humanistic context here, don’t worry/sorry).. I am religious, so I am – of course – focusing on my religion, and what my religion teaches me.. What about what Talmud says about Adam:

Therefore was the first man, Adam, created alone, to teach us that whoever destroys a single life, the Bible considers it as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a single life, the Bible considers it as if he saved an entire world. Furthermore, only one man, Adam, was created for the sake of peace among men, so that no one should say to his fellow, ‘My father was greater than yours….

Or what about being like Aharon, pursuing peace? Or what about what Rav haKohen Kook said about Love in his Moral Principles?

1: The heart must be filled with love for  all!

2: The love of all creation comes first, then comes love for all mankind and then follows the love for the Jewish people, in which all other loves are included, since it is the destiny of the Jews to serve toward the perfection of all things

And there’s even more of this kind, I recommend every religious Zionist to read a little about this great Zionist rabbi..

I’m certainly a Zionist, I believe in our right to have our own state, where we can live in peace.. I believe in our right to defend ourselves.. But I don’t believe in our right to hate, to harass others or to demand that the world suit us.. And I do believe that Torah is more Holy and important than Israel, sorry.. We’ve survived the last two millenia, not because Medinat Yisrael, but because Torat HaShem.. Don’t make Zionism your new religion, stay strong in the religion HaShem has chosen for you..

Yallah Chevrey, let’s Dance and Sing together..

“I’ve had enough yesterdays, I need a tomorrow” (Mahmoud Darwish)

Kol tuv l’culam..

Rabbis for Human Rights

Rabbis for Human Rights.

 

I ran into this organisation on another blog..

 

Any thoughts?

 

A”S

Zionism – And an invitation to reflection

So, I’m staying home today, being a little sick (and really tired lacking sleep, thank you neighbours!)..

That doesn’t mean that I should give my brain a rest, does it? Or, to say it more clearly, maybe that should be an opportunity to shake it a little from it’s rest;o)..

Anyway.. After a little talk about the Zionist fathers of Israel with a dearly beloved, I thought a little about this concept, Zionism.. What is it, how is it portrayed, who is a Zionist and how does such a person behave?

To be honest, I consider myself Zionist.. I also do tell myself that I do know a little about the concept, but there’s probably those out there, who knows a lot more than me:o).. No doubt.. That’s good and well, but it disturbs me a little when I read how some people portrays Zionism and Zionists.. To be honest, sometimes when I read what some people write about Zionists, then I wonder whether I’m an okay guy who basically just want to live and let live, or whether I’m an evil suppressor, who just want to kill (KILL) innocent people while trying to take over the world.. Okay, I do have my days where I really just want to, well, not kill, but at least tell people what I think about them.. But who doesn’t? Anyway, when I read those certain people’s, of whom I’m talking about, thoughts on Zionists and Zionism, then I have to say that either they don’t really know about either, or I don’t know about either.. So what is it?

A little history.. Zionism is a concept, whose name is made of the word ציון – Tzion, or Zion, which normally is another word for Jerusalem.. Basically it consist of the Jewish dream to return to Zion, which means to get back home to Israel.. How that portrays itself, how the dream comes to expression, is very individual I think.. A secular person probably have another understanding of the dream than a religious person.. But no matter the person, the dream is about a home for Jews, where we can be Jews among Jews in a Jewish state..
Most persons know about Herzl, who actually was a totally secular person without any connection to Judaism.. He really didn’t consider Judaism an option or reason to exist, and to him the pure notion “Jewish people” was stupid.. People needed to be enlightened and assimilate into the environment in which they lived.. It changed though.. When he was in Paris to view the case against Richard Dreyfuss, a Jewish officer in the French army, he experienced anti-Semitism (or anti-Jewishness for our semantics out there).. That was like a revelation to him.. He admitted to himself that no matter how much a Jew tries to be like the rest of the society and how little he connected to his Jewishness, then the society would still view him as a Jew and that not being a positive thing.. This happened in 1894 and let to his book “Der Judenstaat” (The Jewish State), where he among many other things, writes about his reflection on the Jewish presence among Gentiles:

“The Jewish question persists wherever Jews live in appreciable numbers. Wherever it does not exist, it is brought in together with Jewish immigrants. We are naturally drawn into those places where we are not persecuted, and our appearance there gives rise to persecution. This is the case, and will inevitably be so, everywhere, even in highly civilised countries—see, for instance, France—so long as the Jewish question is not solved on the political level. The unfortunate Jews are now carrying the seeds of anti-Semitism into England; they have already introduced it into America.”

Interestingly enough, he argues that it’s the presence of Jews that creates anti-Semitism.. I’m not sure that I agree in this, ’cause the seeds of hatred has to exist before the hate can blossom.. If people hate you for being a Jew (or something else for that matter), it doesn’t matter whether you’re there or not, it’s his perception of you that he hates.. I’ve talked with people who’ve never met a Jew, but still hates Jews..

Anyway.. This was the spark for the Zionist movement.. But it wasn’t the first of these kinds of thoughts though.. While many people know about Herzl, not so many know about Pinsker.. Pinsker was a Russian Jew, who like Herzl believed in assimilation.. At first.. After the anti-Jewish pogroms in 1870-1884, Pinsker advocated Jewish independence.. He acknowledged for himself that:

“… to the living the Jew is a corpse, to the native a foreigner, to the homesteader a vagrant, to the proprietary a beggar, to the poor an exploiter and a millionaire, to the patriot a man without a country, for all a hated rival.”

That no matter what a Jew does, he will never be viewed as one of the people in the country he lives in..

In 1882, Pinsker wrote his pamphlet “Auto-Emancipation”.. If you have any interest, it can be read here:

Auto-Emancipation

Pinsker died in 1891..

And! Even before Pinsker there was Moses Hess, one of the Socialist fathers, who in 1861 wrote “Rome and Jerusalem”.. I don’t want to write too much more about the important figures of this century here, just note that Zionism has much deeper roots than many people normally conceive..

“Rome and Jerusalem” can be read here:

Rome and Jerusalem

(sometimes I do love Wiki:o)

But to make it clear: Zionism is much older than this!! When we talk about Zionism, it’s normally conceived as meaning “The political modern movement that started in the 1880’s” and not the millennium old Jewish dream of returning to our country.. Our Home! This is what Jews have dreamed about and prayed for for thousands of years, since Bar Kochba lost against the Romans in 135 CE.. The difference is that the modern Zionism is a pure political (and in the beginning a purely secular) movement.. In the beginning of this movement the religious Jews were strongly opposed to it, and it really didn’t change much before father and son Rabbi and Rabbi Cook emerged on the scene..

But all that is well and good.. What about the murderous Zionists and all that? That Jews just want to expel Arabs from their land (not to talk about taking over the world)??

I know that there are quite many “quotes” from Herzl, Ben Gurion and so on and so on, on how much they hate Arabs and how little they think the Arabs should be allowed to exists.. They are false though..

Ben Gurion was always opposed to such extremists as Begin (yes, Begin was quite extremist in his young days – later he became a hardliner, but stopped being an extremist).. Ben Gurion didn’t want Arabs out of Israel, he even sent Golda Meir to Hayfa during the war of Independence in ‘48, to plead for the Arabs residents to stay.. He was also among that large and dominant group of Socialist Zionist who wanted to make a struggle together with the Arab workers..

I also want to point to another noteworthy, but not very mentioned (at least in this matter), Zionist; Martin Buber, who argued for a bi national state (something that some Palestinian intellectuals today argue for, among those is Ali Abunimah, one of the creators of Electronic Intifada)..

Zionism never argued for the expelling of Arabs, it only argued for the return of Jews to Palestine..

So, what about today? That was then and now is now..

Well, after the war in 1967, something changed.. Suddenly Israel became something else than before.. Israel conquered Yehuda v’Shom’ron (the Westbank) and Gaza (and together with that reunited Jerusalem).. Suddenly Israel became controllers of areas with no Jews but on the contrary with a huge groups of non-Israeli Arabs.. To be honest, this wasn’t good for anybody.. First of, Israel as a Zionist state had never thought about a situation like this, it has only thought about being a Jewish state with non-Jewish resident (as well as Jewish of course).. The problem, besides the security of the State, was how to deal with Zionist values with people that hated anything related to Zionism? It was, and still is, impossible.. But Israel couldn’t give up the territories of several reasons.. One is the security.. In 1956 Israel was forced to leave Sinai, even though she was threatened by Arab terror.. UN promised to guard the borders and secure Israel.. It wasn’t the great success though.. When Nasser demanded the UN-troops to leave, he didn’t even get to blink his eyes, before UN had said “oki-doki” and removed the troops.. Israel didn’t want to accept such a situation again..
Another thing was the symbolic issue of the territories.. Yehuda is the heartland of Eretz Yisrael (not to differ with Medinat Yisrael, the State of Israel), and the most holy area after Jerusalem herself in Judaism.. It’s here we find the cave of Avraham Avinu (our father Abraham), Hevron and Yerico.. And many other places.. Conquering this also meant the rise of the modern Religious Zionism and the Neo-Zionism..
It also meant that the world slowly started to look different at Israel (especially with the help of the Soviet Union), from before a small state fighting for survival to suddenly becoming a state that conquered land (we’re not only talking about Gaza and the West Bank, but all of Sinai and Golan too).. And conquering people..

But does that mean that Israel is only thinking about conquering as much land as possible? Well, not really.. First of, the war in 1967 was a defence war.. Yes, Israel started the actually battle, but the war was started sooner by Egypt.. King Hussein explains in his book “My ‘War’ With Israel”, that it was decided by the Arab league already in 1964 to create a joint army, which purpose was to defeat the Israeli army.. And Nasser of Egypt clearly showed this intention by his action up to the war’s beginning, by among other things to close the straits of Tiran, the closing of Israeli ships in Suez, the expelling of the UN-troops and so on.. There was also an incident, where Jordan and Syria attempted to block water to the Jordan river, which was ruined by the IDF..

And, and this is a pretty important thing to consider, Israel did give back all of Sinai to the Egyptians in 1979, when a peace treaty was signed by the two countries.. So while Israel might stay on land out of concern of security, this doesn’t mean that she intend to do so forever.. Okay, now there’s those who will claim that the building of settlements prove that Israel will NOT leave the West Bank.. But I beg to differ.. Israel build settlements in Sinai, and they were removed.. Israel build settlements in Gaza, and they were removed..

So, this wasn’t supposed to be a defense of Israel, but a reflection on Zionism, so back on track again:o).. It is important though to show some historic incidents to show that Zionism isn’t about conquest.. Clearly not, when we look at what I’ve just been through!

But then, what is Zionism? Well, it’s what I started explaining, the longing home to Zion.. That’s what it is.. Then there’s several streams within Zionism, certainly! There’s always been.. There was the communist Zionist, the Marxist Zionist, the Socialist Zionist (the largest group by far, who counts among others Ben Gurion and Golda Meir) and so on and so on.. And today we have the neo-Zionism, the religious-Zionist movement, the post-Zionism (well, that’s not really Zionism, but) and so on..

Personally I try to reinvent or evolve Zionism.. The Zionist movement was a success as I view it.. Yes, there’s still a conflict going on, but all in all Israel is a fact and that isn’t going to change.. There will always be challenges, no matter what..
Today i see a new way of thinking Zionism.. Let me quote Marcus Garvey, as to introduce my aproach:

“other races were engaged in seeing their cause through—the Jews through their Zionist movement and the Irish through their Irish movement—and I decided that, cost what it might, I would make this a favorable time to see the Negro’s interest through.”

And then, let me reflect on some various group of people around the world and their situation:

The Kurds.. A people that has a distinct history, language and culture.. A people that has been and still is oppressed.. They have finally received autonomy in the Nothern Iraq.. Why not let them have their own nation, a Kurdish nation for Kurds, where Kurds can be home.. A homeland.. I’m not talking about creating a Kurdistan with borders within Turkey and Iran, but about improving an established fact, that Kurdistan is a reality, we just have to accept it and allow them to pursue their dream, just as we have pursued our dream..

The Tibetans.. Isn’t they allowed to have their own country? They have never done harm against anybody when the Chinese conquered their land.. Now they’re a people without a country, just as we were..

The Copts.. They experience oppression in the country that once belonged to themselves.. Today they’re a minority in their own land, facing forced conversions, kidnappings of their children, rapes on their women, attacks by religious fanatics in their churches.. Aren’t they allowed to dream too?

The Gypsies.. I’m embarrassed to live in a world, where we still keep a people like this in a situation like theirs.. Last year two gypsies drowned in Italy.. And people just sat and ate next to their bodies, why not? It’s “just” Gypsies.. Ask around, and everybody “knows” that Gypsies “steal and cheat”.. They “don’t wash themselves” and really don’t have any place that they “belong”.. No, they haven’t.. Just like the Jews didn’t have any place, so the Gypsies haven’t.. Let them have a place that they can call theirs..

And I could go on..

What I’m trying to say is, that as I view Zionism today, it should become universal.. We have shown and proved that a people can claim their right for their own homeland.. And why should any distinct group of people accept to live oppressed?

So, thank for your time:o).. I’m looking forward to all your reactions:o)..

All the best!

 

S”A

Criticizing Israel and Anti-Semitism

YOU’RE AN ANTI-SEMITE!!

This is an accusement I’ve often witnessed in discussion (or should we say “fights”) about Israel.. Okay, sometimes I’ve thought it myself about the person criticizing Israel, but often I’ve been confused about just what was Anti-Semitic in the persons criticism..

For example: A person has a hard time about the settlements in the West Bank, especially the attacks some settlers make on Arab civilians (it does happen, let’s not pretend it doesn’t).. Does this make him Anti-Semitic? Of course not, not the criticism in itself.. As long as he isn’t against the existence of Israel (even as a Jewish state), then he can’t be labeled as an Anti-Semite, not even an Anti-Zionist, not even if he doesn’t condemn Hamas, Fatah and whoever you can think about amongst the Palestinian groups.. He might not even be anti-settlement, but just anti the attacks that some settlers are making against Arab civilians..

Criticizing Israel for its policies against Gaza, isn’t Anti-Semitic in itself either.. Believing that Israel is still occupying Gaza and criticizing that, isn’t Anti-Semitic (though it might be ignorant)..

It isn’t Anti-Semitic before the moment, the person criticizing is making attacks on Israel and equate Israel with Jews, trying to conspirate about Jews and Israel.. Then we can talk about Anti-Semitism..

But how often does that happen? Right now people are going crazy about the Goldstone Report (myself included, don’t worry;o), but calling it “Anti-Semitic”? Please, we’re doing ourselves as Jews and Israel as an independent state a great disfavor, when we try to equal every kind of criticism of Israel to Anti-Semitism.. Maybe we should begin to differ between what is Anti-Semitism, what is Anti-Zionims and what is Anti-Israelism.. Satmar, as an example, isn’t Anti-Semitic, while they’re certainly are Anti-Zionist..

Let’s keep the discussions fair, okay? In a discussion where one thing means everything and everthing means nothing, we’re not going to come to a common understanding of anything..

Take care

S”A

Shalom

Hey world..

So, my first greeting was “shalom“.. A word meaning “harmony“, not “peace“, as many actually thinks.. Shalom comes from “sh’lemah“, meaning “perfectness“.. Wishing someone “shalom“, means that you wish that his (or her) life may be in harmony, that he may be in perfect rest and be relieved of all worries, living in harmony..

Though the greeting has this, I guess, beautiful meaning, I always feel that it’s a bit, I dunno, cliche to use it.. Not that it’s wrong, but somehow this has been something that people just expect you to say, when they know that you’re a Jew..

Okay, I’m religious, so it isn’t that I don’t use it, but mostly in the full form, “Shalom Aleychem” (or more informal to my friends: Shalom aleycha achi!, and then we hug and stuff, it’s so great, we love each other, ya habibi!)..

In Israel I choose to use the more informal “ahalan“, being this wannabe Arab that I, apparently, tend to be sometimes..

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is: Hey everybody! I’m new, or my blog is.. This is actually my first English blog, already have a Danish one, but since only 5½ million people speak Danish, I thought I wanted to spreaden my “clientel” a little:o)..

A little about me: My name is Shmuel Aryeh.. I live in Denmark, where I study Hebrew studies, which is about everything related to Israel and Jewishness. Hebrew, Israeli politics, Jewish history and religion, Israeli history and culture, Jewish identities and so on.. Very interesting.. Especially if you’re interested in these things:o)..

I’m 31 years old (or young), planning on making Aliyah (moving to Israel), working on a project (I won’t tell so much about here), looking for my other half, and doing whatever a person in my situation, position and age are doing..

So, what is this blog about? Well, mostly about my thoughts.. And since my thoughts mostly are focused on my religion, being Jewish, politics, Israel and things related to this, this is what this blog will be about mostly.. So, for everybody who thinks that these things are interesting; welcome to, hope I’m going to come up with something good:o).. For the rest of you, well, I’m sorry, you’re welcome to join anyway:o)

Take care out there

S”A

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