It is almost midnight here, Tuesday, August 1st. We have had two days without sirens, without rockets falling in Haifa. No, the fighting did not stop in the north, on the border and inside Lebanon. There is evidence that Israel intends to extend its ground action futher into Lebanon.
Meanwhile here in Haifa there was more traffic, the stores re-opened, there were people in the restaurants and cafes. I met one of our friends in the long line at the post office--the post office is only open from 8 AM til 1 PM til further notice-- her comment expressed the mood of the day: "It's good to be out".
We continue our practice of engaging folks in discussion about the situation across the dinner table, over a cup of coffee, or wherever the opportunity presents itself. I wonder if people would talk about the situation if we did not initiate the conversation. Everyone recognizes the complexities of the situation; its more than just Hizbollah and Israel. There are forces at work in this part of the world, whose actions have much broader implications for all of us, not just Jews and not just Israel. Notice how difficult it is to get a consensus around a possible UN resolution; notice how few nations are eager to be part of an international force to be stationed on the Lebanon-Israel border. Yet people are eager to put a single human voice or face to the moment.
This evening we had dinner with friends. She is a native Canadian, has been in Israel almost 30 years. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is doing a radio interview with her for the Wednesday morning news show. Her dinner was interrupted when they called to do a preliminary interview in preparation for the live broadcast. Why choose a Canadian? There were Canadians in Lebanon who were caught at the outbreak of hostilities. So, what is life like for Canadians living in Israel? She will share her perspective tomorrow.
Hopefully in the coming days wise heads will prevail and some formula will be agreed upon which will bring to an end the bombing, fighting, and bloodshed.
Wednesday night begins the fast of Tisha B'av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av. Jews fast to recall the destruction of both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem and other tragic events that occurred on that day throughout Jewish history. The Temple was not just a building but a symbol of the existence of an independent Jewish nation. There is a teaching which says that one of the underlying reasons for the destruction of the Temple was baseless hatred. Perhaps this is an opportune moment for all to consider what it would take to change the climate of opinion and action for the benefit of all the humans who seek to live here, both Jew and Arab.
B'shalom, Frank
Meanwhile here in Haifa there was more traffic, the stores re-opened, there were people in the restaurants and cafes. I met one of our friends in the long line at the post office--the post office is only open from 8 AM til 1 PM til further notice-- her comment expressed the mood of the day: "It's good to be out".
We continue our practice of engaging folks in discussion about the situation across the dinner table, over a cup of coffee, or wherever the opportunity presents itself. I wonder if people would talk about the situation if we did not initiate the conversation. Everyone recognizes the complexities of the situation; its more than just Hizbollah and Israel. There are forces at work in this part of the world, whose actions have much broader implications for all of us, not just Jews and not just Israel. Notice how difficult it is to get a consensus around a possible UN resolution; notice how few nations are eager to be part of an international force to be stationed on the Lebanon-Israel border. Yet people are eager to put a single human voice or face to the moment.
This evening we had dinner with friends. She is a native Canadian, has been in Israel almost 30 years. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is doing a radio interview with her for the Wednesday morning news show. Her dinner was interrupted when they called to do a preliminary interview in preparation for the live broadcast. Why choose a Canadian? There were Canadians in Lebanon who were caught at the outbreak of hostilities. So, what is life like for Canadians living in Israel? She will share her perspective tomorrow.
Hopefully in the coming days wise heads will prevail and some formula will be agreed upon which will bring to an end the bombing, fighting, and bloodshed.
Wednesday night begins the fast of Tisha B'av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av. Jews fast to recall the destruction of both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem and other tragic events that occurred on that day throughout Jewish history. The Temple was not just a building but a symbol of the existence of an independent Jewish nation. There is a teaching which says that one of the underlying reasons for the destruction of the Temple was baseless hatred. Perhaps this is an opportune moment for all to consider what it would take to change the climate of opinion and action for the benefit of all the humans who seek to live here, both Jew and Arab.
B'shalom, Frank
posted by Frank and Pat Fischer at 1:54 PM
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