Want to know what it's like in Israel right now?

a post from Tel Aviv by Tzeira Creditor

Want to know what it's like in Israel right now? Let me tell you- 75,000 People are waiting in the ready for their phones to ring calling them up from the reserves to active military status. 25% of the country has under 20 seconds to get to a bomb shelter if the air raid siren goes off.

Similar to 9-11, cell phone service after a "red alert" doesn't always work. (My way of communication with family during that time is by using the internet.) Like in a natural disaster, a school shooting, a plane crash, or the entrance into Iraq by the US military- the news is always on on the house waiting to hear the latest update.

You're in your car driving to work/school/the beach and all of a sudden the program is interrupted saying "red alert. red alert"- that means that there is a rocket on the way. You have 15-20 seconds to get to a bomb shelter.

Weddings and public events in 25% of the country have been canceled due to not having a bomb shelter large enough to hold all of the guests.

The most popular (in my opinion) application that has been downloaded to Israeli smart phones with such frequency is the one that alerts you to where the rockets are being shot and if you need to get inside.

There are thousands of families who have contacted various organizations that have said that they have room in their house for total strangers if they are in need of a place to stay until the violence is over.

All the while, despite of this, people are still going to buy a cup of joe, going out to movies, restaurants and the like, and still living heir lives.

Food for thought......

A Missile Hit Jerusalem: The Jewish People, wherever we are, was attacked today in our very heart.

Please support Israel with a gift to the Masorti Movement A Note from Rabbi Creditor A Missile Hit Jerusalem Rocket over Jerusalem (Photo: Or Saban, Ynet) Dear Chevreh,    Every week we recite a Misheberach for the State of Israel, and each week we pray for the safety and return of Tzahal, the Israeli Defense Forces.  We need to pray harder right now. Scores of missiles have rained into Israel, hitting Be'er Sheva, Rishon LeTziyon (on the edge of Tel Aviv), and just this morning a missile landed in Jerusalem. The loss of ANY human life is wrong, and ending what appears to be a worsening situation is going to take enormous effort from all sides. I personally believe that things are about to get worse. And very scary headlines and status updates and calls from friends and families will once again be "the norm" for at least the next few days.  The news, somehow, is focused at the moment on the "twitter-wars", where both Hamas and the Israeli government are feverishly using social media to communicate. But attacks in the virtual world aren't what's costing lives. Missiles from Hamas are.  The Jewish People, wherever we are, were just attacked in our very heart. May the days ahead find, somehow, everyone on every side calmer and closer to and end to this latest round of destruction. Every person on earth deserves better. Our family is only one family of many, but it is ours. And our hearts are viscerally connected. May our family do what it must to be safe, with as little harm as possible to anyone else. May our homeland and all its inhabitants, Jewish and not, be safe. Shabbat Shalom - Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, Rabbi Creditor ---- netivotshalom.org

The Perfect Rabbi

The Perfect Rabbi
reposted from http://sunybgrad.tripod.com/perf-rabbi.htm

The results of a computerized survey indicate the perfect Rabbi preaches exactly fifteen minutes. He condemns sins but never upsets anyone. He works from 8:00 AM until midnight and is also a janitor. He makes $50 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $50 weekly to the poor. He is 28 years old and has preached 30 years. He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all of his time with senior citizens. The perfect Rabbi smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work. He makes 15 calls daily on congregation families, shut-ins and the hospitalized, and is always in his office when needed.

If your Rabbi does not measure up, simply send this letter to six other synagogues that are tired of their Rabbi, too. Then bundle up your Rabbi and send him to the synagogue on the top of the list. In one week, you will receive 1,643 Rabbis and one of them will be perfect. Have faith in this procedure.

One congregation broke the chain and got its old Rabbi back in less than three weeks.

Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest: Special Newsletter: Israel Under Fire

Special Newsletter: Israel under fire  11.15.12 Greetings! November 15th: 3 Israelis killed by Gazan terror groups  3 Israeli citizens were killed, over 90 injured arrived at hospitals. On Thursday morning (Nov 15) three people were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Kiryat Malachi. Over 90 injured people also arrived at hospitals.  Names of the victims: Mira Sharf z"l (25, pregnant); Aaron Smadja z"l (50); Itsik Emsalem z"l (27). In addition, two people were seriously injured, one boy was moderately hurt and two infants sustained light wounds. The apartment, on the top floor of the building, suffered a direct hit, with shrapnel throughout the rooms. As missiles today reached Tel Aviv, over 4.5 million Israeli civilians are within range and their lives are threatened with every launch. Missiles also struck a residence in Ashdod and a school in Ofakim. In 4 days, over 120 unguided missiles were fired at Israel from Gaza (Nov 10-13), after an anti-tank missile struck a military vehicle. Following the launch of Israel's operation Pillar of Defence against terrorist targets in Gaza, missiles from Gaza resumed. As this e-mail is read, 306 rockets have so far hit Israel since November 14th.    Israeli children rush for cover at Kibbutz Sherem Shalom     Magen David Adom tends to casualties in Southern Israel   The free world supports Israel The world's leading democracies are unanimous in their support of Israel's right to self-defense and condemned the violence perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. White House Spokesman Jay Carney said there is "no justification" for the violence perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird condemned'the terrorist group Hamas' and stated that Canada "fundamentally believe[s] that Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens from terrorist threats. The U.K., France and Germany also emphasised their support for Israel. Quick Links... Our Website  Facebook Twitter   Contact Information phone: (415) 844-7504

Expect Respect - A Conversation on Relationships

www.netivotshalom.org

We are Rishon Letziyon. A rocket just landed on all our homes. #prayingforpeace #iloveisrael

Between posts from friends like Rabbi Mauricio Balter and Andy and Emily Shapiro Katz in Be'er Sheva whose children and families are spending every other minute in bomb shelters, as sirens are warning of incoming missiles. Between posts of the arrests of members of Women of the Wall Nashot HaKotel for praying aloud for safety for Israel's south. Between hearing from my sister in Tel Aviv that her coworkers are being called up for Milu'im (reserves). Today is a day of prayers for peace and Jewish unity.

OHDS invites your preschool family....

Kabbalat Shabbat for Preschoolers This Friday, November 16th and 1:00pm Get into the spirit of Shabbat as we put together a Shabbat Bag, filled with handmade candlesticks, a clay braided challah, a decorated challah cover and more! The program includes a visit into the Kindergarten classroom as we see how current Kindergartners get ready for Shabbat.  We hope you can join us for this warm and wonderful Kabbalat Shabbat event. NOTE regarding parking for this Friday:  There is a service road that loops around that entire campus.  Please park along the outer side of the loop, so that the 2pm Berkeley Bus can depart smoothly.  Thank you. OHDS Chanukah event Kindergarten Information Night Wednesday, January 9th at 7:00pm Faculty, administration and current parents & students will be on hand to tell you about the OHDS program and answer your questions.   Personal tours of OHDS: It is important to us that each family have a personal tour of the OHDS campus.  Tours are generally 1.5 - 2 hours.  We will visit and observe classes in session and take the time to answer all of the questions that you have about our school and community.  Please contact the Admissions Office to schedule a time for your tour.  Our doors are always open to you and we welcome you to visit, call and email as much as possible!  We love to hear from you. Admissions Office: Melanie Marcus, 510-531-8600, ext. 26 or mmarcus@ohds.org Contact Melanie Marcus, Admissions Director Oakland Hebrew Day School 5500 Redwood Road Oakland, CA 94619 510-531-8600, ext. 26 mmarcus@ohds.org www.ohds.org Stay Connected "We have not had to give up anything.  My girls receive a strong Jewish education and a strong secular education.  Our girls come home with Jewish songs on their lips.  They know when to sing them and what they mean" ~Joshua Safran