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This week’s Torah reading is [https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0123.htm#1 “Chayei Sarah”] — literally, “Sarah’s life”. At first it seems ironic, because it begins with Sarah’s ''death'' and burial. It seems ironic: but, in fact, it conceals a deep message about us. We celebrate life, even in the face of death. Our toast for every occasion is “L’Chaim” – “to life!”. We’ve been that way for ''literally'' millennia.

The Torah reading two weeks ago included this phrase about Ishmael [https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0116.htm#12 (Gen 16:12)]: “And he shall be a wild ass of a man: his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him…”. As with this week’s portion, this one exposes millennial truths. Can one imagine any more [https://twitter.com/leekern13/status/1722542146446565748 bestial and wild behavior] than that of Ishmael’s descendants, both physical and spiritual?

Our celebration of life over death is apparent by the spate of weddings (and God willing, in short order, births) in the past month. Our enemies thought we would collapse in despair. They failed to realize they’re just one in a long series of nations who thought they would destroy us. <span dir=rtl>עם ישראל חי!</span> — the Jewish People live!

Points of note:
* If you thought you hated the MSM (mainstream media) already, [https://honestreporting.com/photographers-without-borders-ap-reuters-pictures-of-hamas-atrocities-raise-ethical-questions/ you clearly don’t hate them enough].
* “Hanging by a Thread”: [https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/hanging-thread-knitting-community-response-hamas-attack the knitting community’s lack of support] for their Jewish members.
* Pres. Obama: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmu5zrmmbX4 “we’re all to blame”]. No, you smug b@st@rd, we are ''manifestly not'' “all to blame”.
* Imagine [https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1721764689053467110.html telling your daughters to stay quiet]… because terrorists are on the prowl.
* Mallen: electric cars [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKNY94T6R9U face a major roadblock].
* And one of us has a message to the world: [https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/dear-world-i-dont-care/ I don’t care] what you think any longer.

Sarah and Yarin are having the time of their lives in Japan. I’m almost jealous! It’s hard for me to reconcile the images of modern JP with their Imperial past. Were they always like this, but just kept in check by their emperors? Inquiring minds want to know! Anyway, IL has warned [https://www.gov.il/he/departments/news/news_public31 Israelis and Jews in general] to be careful and aware of their surroundings when abroad.

The weather is above average, but should be hot yet tolerable this ''shabbat''. Next week the temperatures will drop 5C or so and we’re supposed to get rain. As always, we’ll see…

This ''shabbat'' our menu includes:
<br>
homemade ''ḥalla'',
vegetable soup,
[https://forward.com/food/454457/harissa-honey-pargiyot-boneless-chicken-thighs/ ''ḥarissa-honey pargiot''],
teriyaki ''pargiot'',
mashed potatoes,
roasted veggies,
various ''salatim'',
and dessert TBD.

Until next time,<br>
''shabbat shalom'' <br>

May God grant strength and victory to our brave troops, and sorely needed wisdom to our leaders, amen!

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