Chalk One Up for the Squares
27 Apr 2012 3 Comments
in Family Stuff, Media matters, Musings
When it comes to technology, I am very old fashioned. I have a cell phone – and I use it to make and receive phone calls. If I have to I send a few text messages. I also turn off my phone when I get home from work. If someone needs to get in touch with me, they call the house phone. (It took my extended family awhile to figure this out, and some think I am a bit weird).
What is worse, westbankpapa and I are very old fashioned when it comes to our kids and cell phones. We bought them ones that can make phone calls, send texts, take pictures, and play music - but do not have internet. The end result is that when our kids want to go onto the internet, they do so from our computer, with our Internet Rimon (an Israeli internet provider that screens out nasty stuff). They also have to share the computer with the rest of the family (no laptops for us), so by nature their total time on the internet is limited (and we kick them off when they have been on for too long, even if noone else wants the computer).
As you can imagine, it has caused a bit of conflict with the teenagers, and we have been accused of being unbelievably square.
I don’t mind being called a square – it reassures me that I am doing my job as a mother. This past few days I received another sign that we made the correct decision.
We had friends over recently and they brought their teenagers. Each one had an Ipad, and throughout the afternoon they played with them. When the discussion turned to something interesting, they would join in, and they would of course answer questions politely when addressed. When the discussion was “boring”, or did not concern them personally, they would play their games and check their Facebook pages. My kids of course did not do this.
After they had left my son mentioned this behavior to me. He told me that he has a friend who drives him crazy – because he can’t stop playing with the Ipad. “I even told him once – turn off your phone, I am trying to talk to you!”
At Pesach someone gave me a copy of Jewish Action, the magazine of the OU. There was an article in there about kids who, although they are Orthodox, they keep what is called “half Shabbos”. This means that they keep most of the laws regarding the Sabbath, but they use their phones to text to friends (which is against Jewish law). I was completely shocked. I could not understand how kids could be so addicted to this little machine, that they justify breaking Shabbat. (I am not sure if it happens here in Israel).
We need to put the latest technological tools in perspective, and we have to teach our kids to do the same. Just because you have email, does not mean that you have to be connected to the computer for most of the day so that you can check it. Just because you have a cell phone, does not mean that you have to be available to anyone who wants you at all times. When you are with other people, you have to be “with” other people. There is a reason it is considered rude to answer a phone call when you are in the middle of a conversation with someone else. The only exception should be medical personnel who are on call. (During work hours there are exceptions of course).
If I am considered square for insisting on this, so be it.
Peace Now – Taking Charity From Those Who Need It
11 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Israel Update, Israeli Life, Media matters, Musings, What were they thinking?
Last year Bank Leumi launched an interesting drive to help small charities in Isreal. Called “Millions of Reasons”, they invited small charities to make up a video explaining their group, and these were put on the Leumi Youtube channel. Bank Leumi pledged to give money to the top charities, and let the people decide who should qualify by voting by internet. Not only did the small charities earn money, they received a lot of good publicity and volunteers.
This year they decided to run the drive again. Unfortunately, the left wing group Peace Now has killed it. Im Tirzu, a group that promotes Zionism on Israeli campuses, was in the top five charities in the competition. Peace Now threatened Bank Leumi that they would have all of their members close their bank accounts with Bank Leumi if they didn’t disqualify them from the competition (claiming that the organization is political. It seems that to Peace Now, Zionism means right wing.) Bank Leumi refused to do this, and when the left wingers continued their protests they decided to cancel the drive altogether.
You have no idea how awful this is. If you look at the charities represented, you will see a wide range of organizations that help both people and animals. Soup kitchens, battered women’s shelters, organizations that help children with disabilities, animal shelters, health organizations fighting diseases like ALS, and an umbrella organization helping gays and lesbians, are just some of the 139 charities that will now not receive needed funds and publicity.
It makes me want to cry. I was about to write a post asking my readers to vote for “Knefaim shel Krembo” -(they were number five on the list when the competition was halted) the only Israeli youth group for teenagers with disabilities, which doesn’t receive government funding. My son volunteers for this group once a week, and the teenager he helps is someone who can blink his eyes and smile, but he cannot move any other muscle in his body. This boy gets out and has a social activity once a week thanks to this organization, that is dependent on donations and volunteers. If Knefaim had made the top ten, they would have received 200,000 shekels.
I urge you to go see what this wonderful group does.
The Truth Sometimes Hurts
06 Dec 2011 3 Comments
in Media matters, Musings
The Israeli government recently launched an ad campaign aimed at convincing Israelis now living in America to come home. The ads are emotional and powerful – and had unintended consequences. Many American Jewish figures (probably not Orthodox, but I am not sure) were offended by the ads and in response Bibi Netanyahu ordered them off the air.
I looked at a few that I could find on Youtube, and they are below. I don’t know about you, but I found them incredibly truthful, and not offensive at all. Then again I am an American Jew who realized that Jewish life in America was not enough, and I came to Israel so that my children would have more.
The second video has a bittersweet tinge for me. About a year after we made aliyah my son, who was in gan at the time, came home and announced that he wanted to start calling me Ima, “since no other kids in gan have a mommy”. That stung for a bit, but I agreed, knowing that it was important for him to feel that he fit in, and knowing that this was just one of many adjustments that I would have to make.
For Those of You Who Twitter….
06 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
I joined twitter for about three minutes. I just could not get the hang of writing a really short message, and the amount coming in was too overwhelming for me. In any case, for those of you who do twitter, check out this article in the Jerusalem Post about how a pro-Israel twitterer (is that a word?) fought Israel “hate” with Israel “love”.
Good going!
Israel Seeks Peace
18 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Background to Israeli current events, Media matters, Modern Israeli history
Danny Ayalon did his part by explaining the Israeli situation. Now the younger generation does its part….
Justifying Terror is Also Terror
26 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Media matters, Terror
Update: Larry Derfner has been fired from the Jerusalem Post (apparently hundreds of people cancelled their subscriptions).
(Hat tip – Jameel at the Muqata.) There are many journalists that I avoid reading, since they raise my blood pressure. Larry Derfner of the Jerusalem Post is one of them. He is known to not only be left wing, but to say hurtful and outrageous things. This time he has gone way too far, and it behooves us to do something about it.
He has written on his personal blog that the Arabs are justified in killing Israelis, and that we should just go ahead and admit it. A good analysis of this is found here at Commentary.
If you would like to write to Larry personally his email is lderfner@gmail.com. (I personally think it is a waste of time – people who justify terror do not listen to reason or emotional appeal). The only thing they listen to is losing their jobs.
His boss at the Jerusalem Post is Steve Lind and his email is Steve@jpost.com. If you would like to complain to the Minister of Justice (to get him tried for incitement) you can write to Yaacov Neeman at sar@justice.gov.il.
Please take the time to write an email. This is the only way to make a difference and get this guy on the unemployment line.
Now In English…The Truth About the So-Called “Occupied Territories”
19 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in ABC's of the Middle East conflict, Background to Israeli current events, Media matters
On June 6th I posted a video in Hebrew explaining the legal status of Judea and Samaria. Now the same video has been translated into English, with deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon doing the narrating. Enjoy, and spread the word!
