Difference between revisions of "Blog/January 2009/Jan 30th"

Latest revision as of 11:17, 10 July 2009

January 30th (See this week's devar torah)
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Hi again!

For those of you who are still unaware, the Israeli elections for the Knesset are coming up on Feb 10th -- just under two weeks from now. Because there are 34 parties running, it can be difficult to figure out which one is the "best match" for one's positions. Therefore, one of the biggest papers in Israel, Yediot Acharonot, in collaboration with the Israel Democracy Institute, came up with an "electoral compass" to help you figure out which party is closest to your particular way of thinking. Try it, it's free and very informative.

Israel has some really odd parties. The adage that politics makes strange bedfellows is really true. Here you can take a look at some of the election posters, along with a short translation of the message.

As for me, I'm voting National Union. For the first time in my life, I feel the need to become an activist, because so much is at stake in this election. The current leadership has already announced their "plan" of giving most of the heartland of Israel to the Arab enemy. They should perhaps read about our neighbor and why we have to kill him. I find it absolutely incomprehensible how any person with two brain cells left can believe that if we "just give them land", then "they will stop attacking us". Dhimmy Carter believes that, but then, that supports my point I think. The only party which has come out unequivocally and stated it will not under any circumstances surrender our Land to the Arab invaders, is the National Union. So they get my vote.

Why is it a problem? After all, those parts the various politicians want to give the Arabs are "far away". Yeah. The Arabs here are within bow-and-arrow range of my house, let alone Qassam range. If we allow Hamas to take over there, how long do you think it will be before "Gazan rain" starts inundating my town, and Jerusalem next-door? No bloody way am I going to keep still while that happens.

So why don't I vote for Feiglin? He's in the Likud, and will "keep them honest". According to his reasoning, we need to have people in the position to exert pressure on Netanyahu when he's tempted to bend over for the Americans. I don't think so. First of all, Feiglin has been relegated -- by Netanyahu himself -- to a "non-realistic" position on the list. That means unless the Likud has unprecedented and unexpected success at the polls, Feiglin will remain out of the Knesset, a mere irritation to Netanyahu. And given that's the case, the four years coming up will allow the corrupt politicians (Netanyahu, Liberman, Barak to name just a few) to do their worst -- literally -- and there will be nothing Feiglin can do about it. On the other hand, the National Union will get a few seats -- and they will be "inside" the Knesset and able to at the least make their position heard, and possibly forestall disaster. It's the only thing we can do just now.

As for the Arab enemy, they refused the 18-month cease-fire proposed by Israel (who knows why we offered them a cease-fire?) and insisted on a 12 month cease-fire instead. Of course, because they have only the best interests of the Gazans at heart, they want one-year to rearm and retrain and attack again. But they couldn't even wait that long.

And in the meantime, Gazans suffer destruction and casualties because their leaders are blind with hatred towards Jews. Of course our leaders are also blind with hatred towards Jews... at least that's what one must conclude from their actions and words. Even the EU is tired of the Arab instigation and waste of every penny invested in them by the world community (billions of dollars, in case you missed it).

OK. Enough politics. This is for my dear friend and teacher Rabbi Farkash: rachem! (bet you never saw one like that before). I'm in luck I don't know how to fish. Likewise, a good thing I didn't continue cello lessons!

Last week I gave you a recipe for "hummus". This week you get one recipe for "zchug", the Yemenite hot-pepper condiment which goes well with hummus. It should be noted that everyone has their own recipe, but the common ingredients seem to be hot peppers and garlic. Try my recipe for "red zchug":

In work news, I was co-opted into making three short demo movies. Hopefully they'll help us raise cash. Soon. I got my first paycheck at "minimum wage" (my first ever in my life, actually). It wasn't pretty -- it's actually less than I can collect from unemployment insurance, so I'm anxious for us to get re-funded. If you want to offset my financial losses (sure you do, don't you?) you can just PayPal me some funds... (that's a joke, friends). But this isn't a joke: there are thousands of Jews in Israel who haven't got enough to eat. If you send me tsedaka funds I will contribute the funds on your behalf to organizations which feed the hungry here. I will donate 100% of what I receive (after PayPal takes its share and the banks theirs) ; and I will try to get a tax-receipt for you as well, though I'm not sure you'll be able to use an Israeli tax receipt outside of Israel.

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!

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 Hi again!
+For those of you who are still unaware, the Israeli elections for the {{wiki|Knesset}} are coming up on Feb 10th -- just under two weeks from now.  Because there are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_legislative_election,_2009 34 parties] running, it can be difficult to figure out which one is the "best match" for one's positions.  Therefore, one of the biggest papers in Israel, [http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3083,00.html Yediot Acharonot], in collaboration with the [http://www.idi.org.il/sites/english/Pages/homepage.aspx Israel Democracy Institute], came up with an "[http://israel.kieskompas.nl electoral compass]" to help you figure out which party is closest to your particular way of thinking.  Try it, it's free and very informative.
-In a stroke of true idiocy , our feckless leaders unilaterally [http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSLI52680720090118 declared a cease-fire].  Of course, the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232100172625&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull immediate response] was all too predictable.  Hizbullah's bizarre rantings [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/159557 about war casualties] make me wonder how much hashish they've been smoking.
+Israel has some really ''odd'' parties.  The adage that [http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2009/01/holocaust-survivors-with-green-leaf.html politics makes strange bedfellows] is ''really'' true.  Here you can take a look at some of the [http://info.jpost.com/C008/Supplements/IsraelElections2009/stickers1.html election posters], along with a short translation of the message.
-For some reason, we seem to misunderstand our enemies' [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292907998&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull concepts of mercy].  It is incredible to me that we could possibly misunderstand them, when they [http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=19070&only make it explicitly clear] what they think.  Are we really so stupid?  Given that the Israeli courts are allowing the Arab parties (banned last week by the Central Election Committee) [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129551 to run after all], I think the answer is "yes"...
+As for me, I'm voting [http://www.leumi.org.il/english/ National Union].  For the first time in my life, I feel the need to [[media:nu.jpeg|become an activist]], because so much is at stake in this election.  The current leadership has already announced their "plan" of giving most of the heartland of Israel to the Arab enemy.  They should perhaps read about [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/our-neighbor-and-why-we-have-to-kill-him/ our neighbor and why we have to kill him].  I find it absolutely incomprehensible how any person with two brain cells left can believe that if we "just give them land", then "they will stop attacking us".  [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232643757420&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Dhimmy Carter] believes that, but then, that supports my point I think.  The only party which has come out unequivocally and stated it will ''not under any circumstances'' surrender our Land to the Arab invaders, is the National Union.  So they get my vote.
-Since the Arab media thinks "human shield" is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY50cktUKbA something humorous], it's good to see an [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129468 eye for an eye] has literal meaning.  As does [http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/19/Report_Plague_killing_al-Qaida_terrorists/UPI-88691232390982/ divine justice]!  Doubtless they'll blame the Mossad.
+Why is it a problem?  After all, those parts the various politicians want to give the Arabs are "far away".  Yeah.  [[media:enemy.jpeg|The Arabs here]] are within bow-and-arrow range of my house, let alone Qassam range.  If we allow Hamas to take over there, how long do you think it will be before "Gazan rain" starts inundating my town, and Jerusalem next-door?  No bloody way am I going to keep still while that happens.
-::A cowboy, an Indian, and an Ay-rab were sitting in a bar.
+So why don't I vote for [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/8538 Feiglin]?  He's in the Likud, and will "keep them honest".  According to his reasoning, we need to have people in the position to exert pressure on Netanyahu when he's tempted to bend over for the Americans.  I don't think so.  First of all, Feiglin has been relegated -- by Netanyahu himself -- to a "non-realistic" position on the list.  That means unless the Likud has unprecedented and unexpected success at the polls, Feiglin will remain out of the Knesset, a mere irritation to Netanyahu.  And given that's the case, the four years coming up will allow the corrupt politicians (Netanyahu, Liberman, Barak to name just a few) to do their worst -- literally -- and there will be nothing Feiglin can do about it.  On the other hand, the National Union will get a few seats -- and they will be "inside" the Knesset and able to ''at the least'' make their position heard, and possibly forestall disaster.  It's the only thing we can do just now.
-::The Indian said: "Once upon a time, my people were very many; today we are very few".
-::The Ay-rab said: "Walla, once my beoble were very few, today we are very many".
-::The cowboy said: "Yup, that's 'cos we ain't played cowboys and Ay-rabs yet".
-The USA got a new president this week, but I didn't see any miracles from [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Mzg2N2E5YTRhNmNjMTlmZTc4YjdmMGE4MWQ0MjU0NGQ= Saint Obama] just yet.  Maybe I'm naive, but I find it difficult to understand how he intends to [http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/11/07/will-obamas-stimulus-plan-work.aspx fund his programs].  Oh, and if you were working for the evil Microsoft (which despite ''many'' years of record-breaking profits, just let 5,000 employees go) you [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/2009/01/22/the_pink_slip_special_deals_fo.html might consider the pink-slip special].  "Boo, hiss!" to Microsoft.
+As for the Arab enemy, they refused the 18-month cease-fire proposed by Israel (who knows why we offered them a cease-fire?) and insisted on a [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232643746219&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull 12 month cease-fire] instead.  Of course, because they have [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050211857&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull only the best interests] of the Gazans at heart, they want one-year to [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/160048 rearm] and retrain and attack again.  But they couldn't even [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129672 wait that long].
-In job-search news: I had an interview in Tel Aviv this week, which was ok... but I don't really want to drive to T"A every day (it would be about an hour and a half commute from Maaleh Adummim each way, by car -- more, by bus).  What was interesting was just how different T"A is from Jerusalem.  I don't get out much ... and I never did like Tel Aviv much, but seeing it "up close" is an eye-opener.  It's almost as if it's a different country altogether (which I suppose it is, in a way).  However,  most of the jobs in "high tech" are in the coastal-plain, where T"A is (or north of there).  Our CEO is still struggling to find investors who are willing to sign on the dotted-line, before the end of February.  However, I think most of us "line personnel" are not holding out great hopes of success.  Sad but true.
+And in the meantime, Gazans suffer [http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/19-2009.html destruction] and [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/159854 casualties] because their leaders are blind with hatred towards Jews.  Of course our leaders are also blind with hatred towards Jews... at least that's what one must conclude from their actions and words.  Even the EU is [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232643751651&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull tired of the Arab instigation] and waste of every penny invested in them by the world community (billions of dollars, in case you missed it).
-True story: going to check out at the supermarket.  I look for the "express line", which has a sign posted over it: "Fast lane - 10 or fewer items only".  I see there are only two people in line there, so I get in line.  Ask the lady in front of me if the lane actually ''is'' fast, and she replies, ''yes, if you have ten or less items''.  She had a lot more than 10 items ... I assume she was being a smart-ass.  So I went to the next lane over, which was a "normal" one, and got out before her.
+OK.  Enough politics.  This is for my dear friend and teacher Rabbi Farkash: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o3tQxvYDhM rachem!] (bet you never saw one like that before).  I'm in luck I don't [http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1983 know how to fish].  Likewise, a good thing I didn't continue [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/28/uk.cello.scrotum.hoax/index.html cello lessons]!
-I love {{wiki|hummus}}, I really do.  I use it instead of mayonnaise or other spreads.  Paired with {{wiki|zchug}}, it's a real meal.  In the US I used to make my own, but when we made [[aliyah]], I preferred to be lazy and buy it.  Nevertheless, it's not hard to make, and my family actually likes my recipe... so without further ado, here's the hummus I made today ''lichvod shabbat'':
+Last week I gave you a recipe for "hummus".  This week you get one recipe for "zchug", the Yemenite hot-pepper condiment which goes well with hummus.  It should be noted that everyone has their own recipe, but the common ingredients seem to be hot peppers and garlic.  Try my recipe for "[[Recipes/Red Zchug|red zchug]]":
-Put "some" uncooked (dry) {{wiki|chickpeas}} in a pot (enough to cover the bottom of the pot, or more if you want more -- quantities are not too important).  Rinse them, and cover with water so there is at least as much water above them as there are chickpeas.  That is, if you have a 1cm layer of chickpeas, put in 2cm of water.  Bring to a boil and cover the pot, turn off the heat and let them sit an hour, covered.
-Get your food-processor out, and put the chickpeas in (do not get rid of the cooking water).  Add a teaspoon of salt, a tablespoon of {{wiki|cumin}}, juice of half a lemon, and enough of the cooking water so that when you turn on the food-processor, you end up with a moist coarse paste (not a soup, and not dry).  Add a couple cloves of garlic, and some raw {{wiki|tehina}} (to taste), as well as a few tablespoons of olive oil.  Let the processor grind 'em up for a couple minutes, stopping every so often to push escaping chickpeas back into the soon-to-be-yummy mixture.
+In work news, I was co-opted into making [http://classifeye.com/ViewDemos/tabid/82/Default.aspx three short demo movies].  Hopefully they'll help us raise cash.  Soon.  I got my first paycheck at "minimum wage" (my first ever in my life, actually).  It wasn't pretty -- it's actually less than I can collect from unemployment insurance, so I'm anxious for us to get re-funded.   If you want to offset my financial losses (sure you do, don't you?) you can just [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2875940 PayPal me some funds]... (that's a joke, friends).  But this isn't a joke: there are thousands of Jews in Israel who haven't got enough to eat.  If you  [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2876433 send me tsedaka funds] I will contribute the funds on your behalf to organizations which feed the hungry here.  I will donate 100% of what I receive (after PayPal takes its share and the banks theirs) ; and I will try to get a tax-receipt for you as well, though I'm not sure you'll be able to use an Israeli tax receipt outside of Israel.
-Now is the critical step: correcting the flavor.  Mix the mixture around with your spatula, and take a taste.  Add: salt, garlic, lemon juice or tehina  as you think the mixture needs.  Is the mixture too thick?  Add more cooking water.  Too loose?  Well, not much you can do about that!  Why did you put so much water in, didn't I tell you to be careful?!?  Anyway, now you have got the taste the way you want it, continue processing until the texture is how you want it.  Remember, the mixture will thicken a bit as it sits; so better to be a little bit looser than you ultimately want it.
-Your homemade hummus will be coarser-grained than the commercial kind, but you won't have any unknown or unpronounceable ingredients in it.  Enjoy!
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 Shabbat shalom!
-{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/January 2009/Jan 16th|Jan 16th||}}
+{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/January 2009/Jan 23rd|Jan 23rd|Blog/February 2009/Feb 6th|Feb 6th}}

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