Isolated Rural and Unaffiliated Jews

Death penalty now a possibility in alleged Mississippi hate killing

2011-08-18T22:51:00.001-05:00

Death penalty now a possibility in alleged Mississippi hate killing

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By Drew Griffin and Scott Bronstein, CNN Special Investigations

August 18, 2011 8:56 p.m. EDT

Hate crime? Killing caught on video

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Charge against teen suspect Deryl Dedmon upgraded from murder to capital murder
Justice Department investigating alleged hate crime killing of black man by white teen driver
James Craig Anderson, 49, was run over and killed on June 26
Authorities say white teens targeted Anderson because he was black

Editor's note: The following story contains language some readers may consider offensive.

Jackson, Mississippi (CNN) -- The prosecutor investigating the hit-and-run killing of a black man in Jackson, Mississippi, announced he has upgraded the charge against suspect Deryl Dedmon from murder to capital murder. This makes the white 19-year-old suspect eligible for a possible death sentence if convicted.

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith released a statement that said the upgrade to capital murder was made after new evidence was discovered that supported the allegation that Dedmon committed the crime of robbery during the commission of the killing of James Craig Anderson.

"It does not change the theory of the case," Shuler Smith told CNN. "It is still a hate crime."

The killing -- which sparked national attention after CNN obtained and aired exclusive surveillance video that shows the attack as it took place -- is also being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department, federal and Mississippi officials tell CNN.

Anderson, 49, was first beaten by the group of teens as he stood in a hotel parking lot early on the morning of June 26, according to some of the teens who were interviewed by police.

After the beating, a group of the teens drove a large Ford pickup truck over Anderson, according to witnesses and officials. Anderson died from his injuries later the same day.

Deryl Dedmon Jr., right, could face the death penalty in the case. John Aaron Rice has been charged with simple assault.

Federal investigators are in Jackson at the request of Smith, who says he will be seeking indictments against some or all of the white teens in coming weeks.

"This was a racially motivated murder, committed because the victim was black. We want to prosecute and bring justice in this case to the fullest extent of the law," said Smith, explaining that he called Justice Department officials and asked for more investigators to come to Mississippi to help interview witnesses and pursue leads in the crime.

Under federal law, authorities can pursue further charges and punishment if it is determined that a crime was racially motivated. Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed to CNN that "the department has an ongoing investigation."

Opinion: Hate crimes are a national problem

RELATED TOPICS

The group of teens that night was led by Dedmon of Brandon, Mississippi, according to police and officials in the DA's office. Dedmon is being held in Jackson.

Another teen, John Aaron Rice, was also charged with murder at first, until a judge reduced his charges because Rice was not believed to be driving the vehicle used to kill Anderson.

Smith and officials in the Hinds County District Attorney's office say they plan to indict both Dedmon and Rice for murder and a hate crime.

Attorneys for Dedmon and Rice did not return CNN's calls.

During a bond hearing, Dedmon's attorney told the court he saw nothing to back up the "racial allegations."

Neither teen has pleaded yet, and none of the other teens has been charged.

But Hinds and officials from the DA's office say they hope to bring indictments against not only Dedmon and Rice, but also other teens who were in their cars and part of the attack that early morning.

DA: Video shows white teens driving over, killing black man

Dedmon led and instigated the attack, according to officials; he took part in and led the beating of Anderson, and Dedmon was also the driver of the Ford 250 truck that served as the murder weapon, according to officials.

Before the murder, as the teens were partying and drinking miles away from Jackson that night, in largely white Rankin County, Dedmon told friends they should leave, saying, "Let's go fuck with some niggers," according to law enforcement officials.

Then the gang of teens climbed into Dedmon's green truck and a white SUV Cherokee and drove 16 miles down Interstate 20 to the western edge of Jackson, a predominantly black area.

The teens would have seen Anderson immediately as they exited the highway, because the parking lot where he was standing is just beside the exit ramp.

"This is the first business that you get to coming off the highway and so that was the first person that was out here and vulnerable," said Smith.

On the videotape, obtained and reviewed by CNN, a truck is seen pulling into the parking lot and stopping where Anderson is standing, though he is just off camera and not visible.

Teens can then be seen going back and forth between their cars and Anderson.

Watch the video (contains graphic images; discretion advised)

Witnesses told law enforcement officials this is when the repeated beatings of Anderson took place. Dedmon pummeled Anderson repeatedly as he crumpled to the street, according to officials, though this is not visible in the videotape.

After the beating, some of the teens left and some got into the truck.

At this moment on the video, Anderson becomes visible, as he staggers into view and walks toward the headlights of the truck. The truck suddenly surges ahead, running over Anderson, then continues at high speed away from the scene.

Shortly after he allegedly drove the truck over Anderson, Dedmon allegedly boasted and laughed about the killing, according to the testimony of police detectives who interviewed the teens.

"I ran that nigger over," Dedmon allegedly said in a phone conversation to the teens in the other car. He repeated the racial language in subsequent conversations, according to the law enforcement officials.

"He was not remorseful. He was laughing, laughing about the killing," said district attorney Smith.

pipeline that supplies gas from Egypt to Israel exploded

2011-07-04T03:22:00.000-05:00

Cairo (CNN) -- A pipeline that supplies gas from Egypt to Israel exploded Monday in the northern Sinai Peninsula near Bir el-Adb, an Egyptian security official said.

The explosion appears to be an act of sabotage, saidGen. Saleh al-Masri, the head of security in Egypt's northern Sinai Peninsula.

"Itis an act of sabotage, but the army and members of Egyptian Natural Gas Company are on the scene trying to understand what happened," al-Masri said.

The explosion has shut off the flow of gas to Israel and Jordan, said Ayman Jahin, a general manager at the gas company.

It is the third such attack on Egyptian pipeline infrastructure since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's government earlier in the year. The first two attacks resulted in a halt in the flow of gas to Israel, which receives about 40% of its natural gas from Egypt.

The army cordoned off the area around the explosion, asking onlookers to return home," Mohamed Sabry, a freelance journalist at the scene, told CNN.

He said flames could be seen shooting into the sky hours after the explosion. Firefighters were working to contain the fire, he said.

Delivery of Egyptian gas to Israel came to a halt after an April attack on a pipeline in the Sinai Peninsula. The flow of gas through the pipeline to Israel was restored in early June.

In February, a gas pipeline in El Arish that sent natural gas to Jordan was set on fire, shutting off the flow of gas to not only Israel but but Syria, Jordan and Lebanon as well.

The issue of gas sales to Israel has become highly controversial in Egypt with various allegations circulating that Israel received below market prices for the gas and that Egyptian government officials enriched themselves on the deal.

The Israeli government and Israeli investors in the pipeline have categorically denied below market pricing for the gas and last month one of the major investors released a statement expressing public frustration that the Egyptian government was not moving more quickly to get the gas flowing again and threatened to pursue legal action.

The pipeline between Egypt and Israel became operational in 2008 and the arrangement represents one of the major economic agreements between the two countries.

CNN's Mohamed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report.

A Dream or Premonition

2011-06-02T11:21:00.003-05:00

Today I was awakened by a dream or premonition that might come to fruition. There was a great war between Israel, Gaza(Hamas-Fatah) and Lebanon(Hezbullah). The Palestinians went to the United Nations and sought recognition to exist as the Nation State of Palestine. Almost all the Nations agreed to the resolution, while others obstained from voting but the United States Of America voted "no". The State Of Palestine was born anyway. The Palestinians had be smuggling weapons into Gaza from Egypt before and after its statehood was granted. Hamas and Fatah having joined together fought for the city of Jerusalem to be their capitol. They wanted the Jews living there to be removed and the entire city and all Jewish historic and religious sites on Palestinian land, to be turned over to the Palestinian state. Israel refused their demands and a great war was launched against Israel by Hamas/Fatah in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Palestinians from neighboring countries also joined in the fight. The empathy of the world was with the Palestinians not Israelis. The Palestinians over ran the UNFIL peace keeping observers and attacked Israel with rockets and missiles they had acquired from Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other anti-Israel Nations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Israel did not have the man and woman power in it military to push back the invading forces. The United States was committed militarly in Afghanistan and other insurrections across the world by other anti-Israeli, anti-American terrorist groups and could not come to the aid of Israel. Israel soon realized it could not hold Jerusalem, its Jewish holy and historical sites. She began to use low yield nuclear battlefield weapons against the attacking forces. I recalled being killed and buried in a pine coffin with the Israeli flag draped over my coffin. I also recalled the Palestinians captured my partner Makedah. Because she was blind, they killed her without torturing or raping her. I woke up from the dream.

Micaiah

Each moment we exist is one minute less we have to live.

2011-05-01T00:15:00.001-05:00

Each moment we exist is one minute less we have to live.

Micaiah Ben Malachi

Makedah Bat Leah

My partner Makedah Bat Leah is the best partner there could ever be

She helps groom me and dress me

She is blind and yet her fingers see more than those with eyes can see

She makes my medical appointments and make sure I am there on time

She helps me in and out of the tub and dry my body

She is there to cuddle and comfort me when I breakdown in tears

Reminding me we are but poor ass Niggers in everyone's eyes

We do not live day- to- day but exist from day- to- day

Micaiah Ben Malachi is the kindest partner there could ever be

He is there to give me advice and watch my back

He protect me from those who seek to harm me and from myself

He loves me for me and not my body but all I can be if given a chance

He loves me unconditionally and never betray my trust

He holds and cradle me in his arms when I am frightened

Even if he knows the odds are against us making it in this world

He gets up and try anyway

He knows if we exist from day-to-day then death is knocking on our door

RE: Website URL Chabad Bombing

2011-04-12T03:15:00.000-05:00

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/04/10/3086795/police-seek-suspect-in-santa-monica-chabad-house-bomb-attack

FYI

2011-04-12T03:13:00.000-05:00

Police eye suspect in Chabad House bomb attack

April 10, 2011

LOS ANGELES (JTA) -- Police are seeking a 60-year-old man who is suspected of being responsible for an explosion next to the Chabad House in Santa Monica, Calif.

Santa Monica Police identified the suspect as Ron Hirsch, also known as Israel Fisher, The Los Angeles Times reported. A photo of Hirsch, released by police, showed a heavy-set man with a bushy brown beard and green eyes.

The April 7 blast, believed to be deliberately set after initially being classified by police as an industrial accident, forced the evacuation of the Jewish center and synagogue during early morning prayers. It raised security concerns at Los Angeles-area synagogues and Jewish institutions.

Hirsch is known to frequent synagogues and Jewish community centers seeking charity from patrons, according to the police bulletin, which warned that Hirsch, a transient, should be considered "extremely dangerous."

The explosion launched a 300-pound metal pipe encased in concrete, which smashed through the roof of a home next door to the Chabad House.

Initial reports attributed the blast to hazardous construction material stored in an alley near the Chabad House, but further investigation by police, the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms found evidence that the blast was caused purposely by an explosive device.

Items found near the site were linked to Hirsch, who is being sought on state charges of possessing a destructive device and additional charges.

On Friday, Amanda Susskind, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, issued a security alert to Jewish institutions and houses of worship in the Los Angeles area urging residents to be on the lookout for the apparently disturbed man.

Our Passover Message

2011-04-05T01:26:00.000-05:00

Our Passover Message

Micaiah Ben Malachi

Makedah Bat Leah

Most non-Jews and some Jews think of Moses played by Charleston Hesston in Ceil B. DeMills's The Ten Commandments when thinking of the Passover story. Some Jews think of the horrific suffering and deaths of the Holocaust era 1930 to 1946. Both are correct and both are wrong. It is true we suffered four hundred and thirty years before we were permitted to leave Egypt. We left in the middle of the night. So fast did our ancestors leave the Land of the Pharaohs, their bread did not have time to rise and to this day for seven days and nights we are commanded to have no leaven. We are descendents of disgruntle, distrusting and ungrateful people. A loosely disorganized people of all skin colors and nationalities who took their first steps into freedom in the darkness, following one man and he was following a cloud that pointed their way. Moses lead them to Mount Sinai and they became a people named the Israelites ancestors of the modern era Jews.

World Jewry has continually suffered and habitually been murdered in mass killings called "pogroms" by non-Jews. The world only knew of European Jewry's murders because of the invention of printing press and populations that learn how to read the printed word. This invention and the education was denied largely to non-Europeans therefore, the assumption all Jews are either Ashkenazim or Sephardim are held as fact. The real fact is Jews were dispersed to every known and unknown land in the world. The most documented and best known of the pogroms is what is called the Holocaust. Know one can know the number of Jews and non-Jews who perished in this fit of societal hatred. German and Gestapo soldiers killed Jews, Gypsies, Mentally ill, African-German offspring, captured Jewish Allied soldiers and Black soldiers. Many of these people were killed on the spot and so no records were kept. We only know of the mass bodies in the camps, those that were so malnourished they died in the camps and those murdered when they attempted to return to their places of origin.

Even today the Nation of Israel is in a constant state of war with the Palestinians. Jews have been killed defending the only place left on earth for Jews to flee persecution. But Passover is not about the numbers of Jews killed. It is not about the rituals we are commanded to perform each year at this season. It is about character. It is about why we were chosen from all the world's people to be those whom G*d made a covenant with. We were chosen because of the promise G*d made with Abraham. We were told to put lamb's blood over our doorposts so the Angel Of Death would "Passover" our home the night in which the first born of Egypt was slaughtered. The mere act of marking our doorposts set us apart from the Egyptians. Why? Why were we to remain separate? We were to do so in that G*d would know his/her and their children from those of the evil ones that rule the hearts and minds of mankind.

The Jews of Europe and Eastern Europe became so intermixed with Europeans, they began to think, act and believe they were Europeans. They practiced the same racial prejudices, elitism, idolatries, bigotry and religious intolerance their European host nations did in order to fit in. Every land the Europeans and European Jews as well stepped upon, they enslaved, dehumanized and cause those populations to because just as idolatrous as they were. Instead of leading non-Jews to the G*d of Abraham, they caused them to despised the "white-skinned" G*d.

Passover is about Jews individually and Jews as a people. Do we have the courage to stand out apart from this world individually and as a people and proclaim the truth and message of the one and only true G*d? We all are made in their image. Do we have the will to reach out to other Jews who do not look like us, whose custom may not mirror our own but are equally valid? Are we willing to open wide the doors to our congregations and community centers and welcome all who seek to be apart of our Jewish community and families, both in the communal sense and also literally.

. Passover is not only remembering the past but the hundreds and millions of people who suffer in this world now. It is about the countless generations that pass never knowing freedom but hoping their children may one day have what they never had. When we as an individual and as a people proclaim our inheritance this Passover, let us not only remember those who died a physical death because they were identified as Jews, but also realize and accept not every Jew willingly step up to the axe man's chopping block and die because they were Jews. There were many then, as is the case today, who would betray their own Jewish mother, father, brothers and sisters if it meant saving their life or that of a lover. We should recall also the million of other Jews seeking inclusion and non-Jews seeking sincere conversion but who were turned away to wonder as strangers because they did not look like Jews do or they did not have the income and education most European and Euro-American Jews were fortunate to possess. Lastly, let us not forget those seekers who pedigree did not have Jewish sounding names but were probably more a Jew than those standing in judgment of who shall be allowed in the door and those who will be turned away.

Passover is about life, living, hoping and blind faith in that which we cannot prove. Passover is about the millions who have died but the millions left alive to tell the story.

Passover is about You and Me

Purim

2011-03-20T04:27:00.000-05:00

Purim

Micaiah Ben Malachi

Almost every Jew knows of the story of Purim. I say almost because many Jews know the words of the story but never lived the story. I have been a live five and one half decades. I was born during a time when my people fled the Upper and Lower South in America. They came North, above the Mason Dixon line in search of better jobs, better housing, better schools for their children and freedom from Jim Crow. My paternal grandmother knew nothing but hard work as a sharecropper. She knew Black Americans and African American children could expect nothing else for their future unless she acted. It was not an easy decision to make. My grandmother left her young son in the care of her aging father and went North. In 1941, she stepped off the train in Illinois. This Esther did not know if her move would cost her everything or be a promise of freedom for herself and her son. My grandmama traded her life of a sharecropper to be a housekeeper for an ill white lady. Eventually, Grandmama found a job working for a hotel as a maid. Little did she know Adonai was guiding her steps in this polite but never the less racist northern South. This courageous and outspoken woman worked her way to become a floor supervisor of the maids and met many of the permanent residents of the hotel. Many of the residents were former soldiers of World War II. Among these men was a comical and loving White Jewish man. He and my grandmother became close friends and their friendship lead to her meeting some of the most wealthy and influential and Jewish people in the community. Over the years she was offered and bought a house in which she lived in before her death at age 95. This house set upon a hill and was visible from a long way and had an open door policy. Race, religion and gender did not matter; there was always room to stay with her while people traveled on to their next stop. About seven years passed and she sent for her son to come live with her. He did for a while but returned to the South. He could not forgive the hurt he suffered at the hands of White people before and after her absence.

In the 1940's, a young Black former soldier living in the State of Louisiana return from the war with two Jewish children from a Displaced Persons Camp in Europe. The children were from a German concentration camp. The children were raised as his and they left home to begin their lives elsewhere. This Black man was nicknamed by the Whites as Jew Boy. A White man was contracted to install a septic tank. However, he did an unsatisfactory job and the Black man told him, he would not be paid until the job was complete. The White man cursed at him and swung at him. The former Black soldier knocked the White man to the floor. The White man rose to his feet and declared to the Black man, he had better be out of town before sundown or he would not see another one. Haman was reborn in the form of this White man. The Deep and Upper South was full of the sons and daughters of this deceitful, lying, racist patriarch.

The former Black soldier called some of old war buddies who lived in Illinois and told them about the threat. They sent a White Esther to save the life of a Black man. He was placed under the floorboard of the car and the woman drove all night until he was in Illinois and out of the Southern Klu Klux Klan area. When he arrived they provided him clothing, a place to sleep and hired him as a grounds keeper so his pride was not hurt. Eventually, the Black man was introduced to my Grandmama and he became my Grandfather. The point of my story is to point out reading the mere words of the Book of Esther cannot convey the true fear and persecution the Jews suffered and the real danger they faced if Haman got his way. Today, there are many children of Haman. Their hatred is boundless. They can be found in every race, every religion, every country, every town and yes, in every family. Purim is not about what happened yesterday long ago, but rather a warning to Jews and non- Jews alike of what evil lurks in the hearts of men and women who are Haman's descendents. Esther placed herself second and her people first when it came to saving them from utter annihilation. We owe her so much. We also owe all those who shoulders held our weight so we could climb over the high walls of hatred.

The Storm Is Near

2011-02-17T14:32:00.001-06:00

The Storm Is Near

Micaiah Ben Malachi

Monday, January 24, 2011

Let those with eyes read my words

The Days of Reckoning is soon upon us.

the seeds of racial prejudice and xenophobia,

religious intolerance and ethnocentrism

have begun to grow up out of the Earth.

They were like tiny plants but growing stronger and taller.

Many will walk over them hardly taking notice of them,

yet a select few of us will see and recognize these poisonous sprouts.

Already they have begun to change humankind.

Nations do not trust one another while pretending they do,

But behind closed doors they are building and acquire lethal weapons.

They lie to their citizens of their undertakings.

Evil men, women and children walk this big blue marble.

Their aim is to create mistrust, self-doubt and fear of everyone,

there is no respect for authority, the clergy, our leaders or family privacy.

Fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers do not trust one another,

while institutions have become our children's trust companions.

America, Europe, and Scandinavia you were singled out amongst the Nations.

Your posterity and technology was to be a beacon piercing the darkness of idolatry, hate, hunger,desperation and destitution in this world.

Yet, your hands drip with the blood of millions and

you exported your racism, elitism, greed, vanity and weapons of war to allow those without hope to wage war against one another, while you set untouched and uncaring.

The world's children have now become adults and grandparents, they tell

tales of your misdeeds heaped upon them and their ancestors.

Today there is no where you, your children or your children's children welcome.

Soon your light will disappear and the world plunged into genocide and war.

Freedom, joy, happiness will be replaced with fear and foreboding.

Yisrael, you are the flower that blooms in the desert, but

like your big sistersin Europe, you were created by the Light to be a Light.

You were offered the best fruit of the harvest and still

you rejected the best for the worst.

Have you forgotten the many years you were estranged from your homeland? Have you forgot being hungry and wondering in the desert?

When you were in need of a place to lay your head your sisters locked their doors.

Their heart were cold, insensitive and even denied being your relatives.

But now you pattern yourself after them so as to fit in.

Turn back to the Light and be that which you were created.

Already in distant lands they prepare for a Great War.

Your sisters again will reject you but this time you must stand your ground;

For there is no place for you to escape to.

There will be no angels come to defend you as in time gone by.

Change the linen on your bed and open wide the windows in the room,

welcome your children from the four corners of the world.

Give them no reasons to doubt they are your relatives,

For they must die defending your right to exist.

Only they shall come forth to your rescue.

23 arrested over German neo-Nazi radio station

2010-11-04T12:48:00.000-05:00

23 arrested over German neo-Nazi radio station

By Melissa Gray, CNN

November 4, 2010 -- Updated 0922 GMT (1722 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

They are arrested after 22 raids around the country
Accused of operating an online radio station that played neo-Nazi songs
Some of those arrested are appearing in court Thursday

RELATED TOPICS

Germany

(CNN) -- German authorities have arrested 23 people from around the country suspected of being involved in a right-wing extremist radio station that played neo-Nazi songs, Federal Criminal Police said Thursday.

They were arrested after raids of 22 homes in 10 German states, police said. Some 270 officials were involved in the searches, most of which were in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine Westphalia, along Germany's western border, police said.

Some of those arrested were appearing in court Thursday, but a spokeswoman for the Federal Criminal Police would not specify the charges they face.

Police said those arrested are between the ages of 20 and 37. They operated an online station called Widerstand-Radio (Resistance Radio) that played music by skinhead bands about killing people and broadcast racist and hate-filled comments.

It is illegal in Germany to play Nazi songs, said the police spokeswoman, who asked not to be named in line with policy.

Where Are Our Fellow Jews

2010-10-26T06:12:00.001-05:00

Almost every week Makedah and I are bombarded with mailings for donations, requests to pay for tickets to attend this or that conference, gala event, Jewish summer camps, hungry Jewish children and seniors in Israel and political or other social causes. The problem is we do not fit the typical Jewish profile. Yes, we both have a college education, but never had a job; yes, we are both physically disabled. But, it is also true we do not have well paying employment, so we cannot afford temple or synagogue membership dues. In fact, we have never had jobs in our fields of study. If it were not for the good graces of Adonai, including guidance and miracles we could not live in this town. Our mere existence in this semi-rural community irritates our Christian White Euro-American neighbors and many businesses in our "red neck" community. One of the most uncomfortable questions we are asked is " Do you two go to synagogue or temple?" Another question is, "Where do you go to temple?" When we say no, and our Rabbi is in Florida, people doubt we are real Jews.

These are difficult questions to answer because we have never step foot in a synagogue or temple. We have never been invited and even if we were invited, we can never save the forty-eight thousand dollars to purchase a handicapped equipped van to drive the one hundred miles to get to Minneapolis or St. Paul Minnesota area temples or synagogue. None of these Jewish communities or houses of worship has sought out us or addressed any of our needs. We must beg and play the "pity game" just to get our lawn cut every two weeks. I had to suffer being marginalized by these Euro-American men and their sexual advances towards Makedah. If I ask for help, it hits deaf ears. When Makedah ask, it is usually done for free, but at cost for me.

Where are our fellow Jews? Large sums are spent sending young people and young adults to Israel to experience our history first hand. Yet, who has offered a free trip, free meals and tour for disabled Jews, Jews over forty? Our rabbi asked us to take an oath to defend a country we may never see, at the time when we converted. We have only one Jewish friend. He is from Canada. He has helped us financially, come to our home and shared a meal. We speak to him almost weekly over the Internet. We are so thankful to him. This Jew made us feel not only Jewish but included with world Jewry.

Our dreams are to afford a Jewish Internet Radio Station. It would provide a call in so people can share ideas with other Jews and get feedback. Story time for children and adults. It would play all types of music including Jewish artists who speak English as we and most isolated Jews do not speak, write or understand Hebrew. Also discussing weekly parasha on the open Internet, which will compete with Israel National Radio, which does not speak for non-Orthodox Jews. We would like to get a large Braille Embosser Printer to provide free of charge prayers and celebrations, for the blind Jewish communities. Instead of requesting money from us, how about sending us money so we are not dependent on pity or the not so good will of strangers.

Fw: CNN---because they are Roma, or gypsies

2010-06-25T11:15:00.000-05:00

Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 11:03

Subject: CNN---because they are Roma, or gypsies

Vitkov, Czech Republic (CNN) -- Natalka Kudrikova is a bright-eyed, three-year-old girl recovering from the severe burns she suffered when far-right extremists threw a Molotov cocktail into her home.

Her family and authorities say she was targeted because they are Roma, or gypsies. Natalka lost 80 percent of her skin, two fingers (a third was later amputated) and spent months lying in an induced coma following the attack last year in Vitkov, in the Czech Republic. She is still recuperating after 14 major surgeries.

In May, Natalka returned to Ostrava Hospital for rehabilitation sessions so that one day she may be able to get around without support. "I'd rather not take her back to the hospital," said her mother, Anna Sivakova, "but if she must return, my dream is that she learns how to walk without any help."

The very next day, four young men accused of attacking Natalka, filed into Ostrava District Court to hear the indictment: a racially motivated attempted murder.

According to the prosecutor, the attack was planned for the 120th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth. Court experts confirmed swastikas and other Nazi memorabilia were found in the defendants' homes.

Video: Hate attack scarred Roma girl

Video: Wall segregates Roma settlements

Video: Czech Roma student faces discrimination

Who are the Roma?

Europeans with Indian roots
Term encompasses gypsies, travellers, manouches, ashkali, sinti
Biggest ethnic minority in Europe; population about 11 million
Romani language is an Indian-Aryan mix
Source: EU

In court, Ivo Muller and Vaclav Cojocaru described their coordinated Molotov cocktail attack. Their only excuse -- they said they thought they were attacking an empty storehouse of stolen goods.

Under cross-examination, Muller and Cojocaru admitted attending anti-Roma demonstrations organized by right wing extremists.

The other defendants, Jaromir Lukes and David Vaculik, did not take the stand. Lukes is accused of being the ringleader, a claim his defense counsel strongly denies although he concedes Lukes drove the getaway car. His lawyer also vehemently denies there was any racial motivation to the attack.

An anti-fascist website published a photo of Lukes walking next to the leader of the far-right Workers' Party. Another photo showed Vaculik wearing the armband of the Workers' Party, the public face of the Czech far right.

The leader of the now banned Workers' Party, Tomas Vandas, denied any involvement.

"Yes, we may have used those people as organizers of our public meetings but how could we know they would commit a crime?" said Vandas. "I hope Natalka gets better soon," he added.

Miroslav Mares, from Masaryk University in Brno, is the leading academic specialist on Czech extremist groups.

He thinks it's unlikely that the Workers' Party was directly involved in the arson attack, but he says they were responsible "for inflaming anti-Roma sentiment."

"Maybe some youngsters from the neo-Nazi scene said to themselves, 'If the whole population is against Romas we are justified in carrying out such attacks,'" he said.

And surveys do show anti-Roma sentiment is widespread. The European Union EURoma website says Czech Romas endure extremely high unemployment rates, low educational standards, isolation, and the prejudices of the majority population.

"In regions with high unemployment and poor social conditions, the rise of extremism is popular with unemployed young men but we can see more and more women on the neo-Nazi scene," Marek said.

Lucie Slegrova, 20, is a flag-waving militant of the now renamed Workers' Social Justice Party. She denies her party is inspired by Hitler's Nazi ideology.

Instead, she says, they follow their own nationalist ideas. "The Czech Republic should be for people who know how to behave. If the gypsies don't want to follow the rules, they're free to leave," she said.

Only one percent of Czech voters supported the Workers' Social Justice Party in the last elections, but Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer worries that 7 percent of Czech students voted for the far-right party, according to an unofficial nationwide poll.

"A lot of people are frustrated with politicians, and have troubles due to the crisis and recession. My message to them is please think it over and don't believe these very bad prophets," Fischer said.

The far-right movement has made bigger gains in neighboring Hungary where 17 percent of voters chose the Jobbik party in the last elections.

Violence has been much worse as well. In the last two years, nine Roma have been killed in Hungary in unprovoked night-time attacks, according to the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC).

Roma bashing also became an issue in the Slovakian election campaign. The far right Slovak National Party commissioned billboards showing a dark-skinned man with tattoos and an inflammatory message: "Vote SNS so we don't feed those who don't want to work."

In eastern Slovakia many Roma live in segregated communities like the village of Ostrovany where municipal authorities spent some $16,000 to build a wall separating the Roma from their white neighbors, because of fears of "alleged Roma crime," said Stanislav Daniel from ERRC.

"To me the wall is a symbol of segregation because public finances were used to target a stereotype, not what's real," Daniel said.

The wall separates a tidy town from a rural slum. Roma, living right next to the wall, have no sewage or garbage collection and there's just one tap with drinking water for dozens of families.

Back in the Czech Republic, Natalka's father, Pavel Kudrik, has chosen to stay in the region and rebuild a comfortable home for his wife and four daughters.

After police asserted that Natalka's family were victims of a racist attack, many Czechs opened their wallets and their hearts.

Prime Minister Fischer's wife and son spearheaded a nationwide campaign to help them -- a move that led to the Fischer family having full-time police protection after they received anonymous death threats.

But the current climate is not the only reason Fischer wants to clamp down on right wing extremism.

Everyone in his family died in the Holocaust except for his father and grandmother. "Sixty-five years after WWII, the societal memory is getting weak," he said.

And Roma activists complain that recognition of their sacrifices under the Nazis has never been properly acknowledged.

Half-a-million Roma perished in what they call the "Devouring" -- Hitler's campaign to eliminate them as a people.

Last May, several hundred Czech Roma gathered at a memorial for the victims of the Lety concentration camp. Hundreds of Czech Roma children died there and are buried nearby in a mass grave.

Jan Vrba is one of the camp's last survivors. He was born there. His sister perished there.

"What happened in Vitkov made me cry", said Jan. "Little Natalka reminded me of my sister who died in this camp."

Planet Earth & Earth Song

2010-04-22T10:04:00.005-05:00

Planet Earth (poem)

Michael Jackson

Planet Earth, my home, my place

A capricious anomaly in the sea of space

Planet Earth are you just

Floating by, a cloud of dust

A minor globe, about to bust

A piece of metal bound to rust

A speck of matter in a mindless void

A lonely spaceship, a large asteroid

Cold as a rock without a hue

Held together with a bit of glue

Something tells me this isn't true

You are my swweetheart soft and blue

Do you care, have you a part

In the deepest emotions of my own heart

Tender with breezes caressing and whole

Alive with music, haunting my soul.

In my veins I've felt the mystery

Of corridors of time, books of history

Life songs of ages throbbing in my blood

Have danced the rhythm of the tide and flood

Your misty clouds, your electric storm

Were turbulent tempests in my own form

I've licked the salt, the bitter, the sweet

Of every encounter, of passion, of heat

Your riotous color, your fragrance, your taste

Have thrilled my senses beyond all haste

In your beauty, I've known the how

Of timeless bliss, this moment of now

Planet Earth are you just

Floating by, a cloud of dust

A minor globe, about to bust

A piece of metal bound to rust

A speck of matter in a mindless void

A lonely spaceship, a large asteroid

Cold as a rock without a hue

Held together with a bit of glue

Something tells me this isn't true

You are my swweetheart gentle and blue

Do you care, have you a part

In the deepest emotions of my own heart

Tender with breezes caressing and whole

Alive with music, haunting my soul.

Planet Earth, gentle and blue

With all my heart, I love you

---

Earth Song

Michael Jackson

What about sunrise

What about rain

What about all the things

That you said we were to gain.. .

What about killing fields

Is there a time

What about all the things

That you said was yours and mine...

Did you ever stop to notice

All the blood we've shed before

Did you ever stop to notice

The crying Earth the weeping shores?

Aaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah

What have we done to the world

Look what we've done

What about all the peace

That you pledge your only son...

What about flowering fields

Is there a time

What about all the dreams

That you said was yours and mine...

Did you ever stop to notice

All the children dead from war

Did you ever stop to notice

The crying Earth the weeping shores

Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaah

I used to dream

I used to glance beyond the stars

Now I don't know where we are

Although I know we've drifted far

Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaaah

Hey, what about yesterday

(What about us)

What about the seas

(What about us)

The heavens are falling down

(What about us)

I can't even breathe

(What about us)

What about the bleeding Earth

(What about us)

Can't we feel its wounds

(What about us)

What about nature's worth

(ooo,ooo)

It's our planet's womb

(What about us)

What about animals

(What about it)

We've turned kingdoms to dust

(What about us)

What about elephants

(What about us)

Have we lost their trust

(What about us)

What about crying whales

(What about us)

We're ravaging the seas

(What about us)

What about forest trails

(ooo, ooo)

Burnt despite our pleas

(What about us)

What about the holy land

(What about it)

Torn apart by creed

(What about us)

What about the common man

(What about us)

Can't we set him free

(What about us)

What about children dying

(What about us)

Can't you hear them cry

(What about us)

Where did we go wrong

(ooo, ooo)

Someone tell me why

(What about us)

What about babies

(What about it)

What about the days

(What about us)

What about all their joy

(What about us)

What about the man

(What about us)

What about the crying man

(What about us)

What about Abraham

(What was us)

What about death again

(ooo, ooo)

Do we give a damn

Earth Day

2010-04-22T09:31:00.013-05:00

Earth Day was started in 1970 by then U.S. Senator of Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson. He proposed the first nationwide environmental protest, addressing such related issues as endangered species and pollution. On April 22, twenty million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

As I sit here and write what Earth Day means to me, I am reminded of a poem and a song Michael Jackson wrote--Planet Earth and Earth Song. The video to Earth Song illustrates well what Earth Day is all about, as it shows the various ways Earth has been destroyed and the affects of the destruction. The words to his poem and song will follow. For me, Earth Day is not only a day to commemorate addressing environmental issues and the establishment of environmental organizations. It is also a day to thank G*d for our planet and to remind us how we should appreciate and take care of what G*d has given us--trees and plants, animals, water, air, and soil, and each other--rather than just take all these for granted. We all need each other and all these things around us to survive.

In the small community that I live in in south central Minnesota, there are people who are trying to make a difference, such as the use of wind power and solar power. For example, solar powered street signs are being installed. The streets are also cleaned on a regular basis to remove the litter, dust, and other debris. Every spring, I look forward to hearing the birds as they return from the south. Micaiah and I always have a bowl of water and bird food scattered in our yard. We have counted at least ten or more species of birds who come to partake of our generosity. It is amazing when we forget to put food and water out. The birds peck at our screen and chirp loudly until we respond. They even seem to know what room in our house we are in at the time. Geese also fly overhead, and we see the older geese teach their young. Every summer, Micaiah and I always walked to the dam, which is two blocks from our house, to watch the fish swim and watch people fishing. On Rosh Hashanah, we performed our ceremony at the dam. However, instead of throwing the fish back into the water, like the fishers used to, people started leaving the fish they caught on the grass to die. Micaiah and I started seeing an increase of dead fish. Then, last year, the dam was turned off, leaving the water to remain stagnant instead of free flowing with the waterfall created by the dam. We enjoyed going to the dam because listening to the waterfall was like being in a different world. Now, that "different world" seems to be out of our reach.

Earth Day is not only for demonstrations and speeches, but it is also for Tikk olam, which is Hebrew for "making the world a better place". We can make the world a better place in numerous ways--planting more trees and other plants, picking up litter in your yard and the streets, teaching people about the different kinds of birds they hear in their backyards so that they know what they are, etc. As The Late Michael Jackson said, "make a better place for you and for me." (Heal The World)

Makedah bat Leah.

Passover/Pesach 1476 B.C.E. & 2010 C.E.

2010-04-10T04:44:00.000-05:00

Passover/Pesach 1476 B.C.E. & 2010 C.E.

Moses returns to Egypt, where God again says his name to Moses. God instructs Moses to appear before the pharaoh and inform him of God's demand that he let God's people go. Moses and his brother Aaron do so, but pharaoh refuses. God causes a series of plagues to strike Egypt, but whenever pharaoh begins to relent God "hardens his heart". God instructs Moses to institute the Passover sacrifice among the Israelites, and kills all the firstborn children and livestock throughout Egypt. The pharaoh then agrees to let the Israelites go. Moses explains the meaning of the Passover: it is for Israel's salvation from Egypt, so that the Israelites will not be required to sacrifice their own sons, but to redeem them. [1]

Moses advised the Hebrew slaves to sacrifice unblemished lambs and then painted the their door post with the lamb's blood so that the Angel of Death would passed over the homes of the Hebrews and kill the First Born of Egypt. Whether they were members of the royal family or a lowly servant, first born and not living in a house with lamb's blood on their door post, they were not spared the raft of G*d's avenging Angel. It was the tenth and final plague that broke the resistance of Pharaoh and he let the Hebrews go. Passover is our holiday to remember we were "passed over" by the Angel of Death and we were slaves in Egypt. When the Hebrew slaves left Egypt they did so in great haste before Pharaoh could change his mind. This is why we are commanded to eat only unleavened bread for seven days. In "Exodus12:37 refers to 600,000 adult Israelite men leaving Egypt with Moses, plus an unspecified but apparently large "mixed multitude" of non-Israelites; Numbers 1:46 gives a more precise total of 603,550. The number of Hebrews and non-Hebrews who fled Egypt is not what is important but their reason for leaving was. For generations they suffered under the Egyptian's inhumane and cruel bondage. They were slaves as were their ancestors and if Pharaoh had been allowed to have his way; their future descendents would have also been slaves. Our Deliverance has been celebrated by Jews ever since.

This Passover 2010 C.E., Makedah and I had our grandchildren. We were giving our daughter a break. The three boys are eighteen months, three years and six years old. They are being raised as Christians. We introduce them to the meaning of Passover. Before the three boys came, Makedah and I were informed there is strong evidence two of the boys could have Autism. This revelation did not really hit home until I began thinking about Passover. Makedah and I are both minorities in a country, state, county and community that are overwhelmingly white (European), Christian, Anti-Semitic, xenophobic and racist. Just as the Egyptians feared the increase in Hebrews could one day lead to an uprising and the over throw of their society. This same fear is resurfacing and growing among many whites here in America. The election of a Black man to be President looks good on the world stage but nothing has changed on "Main Street". Our grandchildren will have to endure the same social isolation, racism, segregation and unequal treatment as Makedah and I do now. They will have to accept this yoke of oppression as their ancestors have for centuries, with no certain hope of an end to their social and economic slavery. The iron chains may have been removed from our wrists, ankles, and or necks however, newer, stronger and invisible chains have taken the iron ones place and they are even more restrictive. The two of us already know from personal experience these invisible chains use social pressure and social isolation on White American who dares to want interracial sex, interracial dating, and interracial families. Non-whites already earn less than their white counterparts, live in slum like conditions and die long before their time.

Passover comes and goes each year. But, the memories of slavery remain fresh in the minds and collective conscience of most non-White Americans. Our grandchildren will have no Moses to lead them out of bondage. All of our most respected and trusted leaders have been killed or disgraced; our institutions and community support systems have been all but eliminated. The brown, yellow, red and black communities have been played on off one and the other, until they cannot or will not unite for the betterment of all. If our grandchildren are to make it to The Promised Land, we cannot wait on another Moses. Makedah and I are determined our children will not suffer as our ancestors did and as we do now. We do not paint lamb's blood on our doorpost, but we do fly the Magen Star flag outside our home. It is probably the only one for one hundred or more miles. But when the Spirit of G*d Passover our home, it will know we are His & Her children and all are welcome join our Caravan of Love. We do not have to imagine servitude in ancient Egypt; we live it each day of our lives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Exodus

Micaiah & Makedah’s Conversion Story

2010-03-22T05:32:00.000-05:00

Micaiah & Makedah's Conversion Story

Faribault, Minnesota U.S.A.

On the 7^th day, in the Jewish month of Av, the Jewish calendar year of 5765 (Friday, August 12, 2005 on the Gregorian calendar) in St. Paul, Minnesota, a very special and deserving couple accepted the yoke of the Jewish People. Behind them, lay nearly five years of individual study, many hours of soul searching, social and personal isolation from most Jewish clergy and Jewish communities, subvert and overt racism from other Jews, elitism within the Jewish communities, their disabilities and other barriers had been placed in their way to hinder their conversion to Judaism. The couple completed their conversion studies with the help and guidance of Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn. What made them special? Micaiah ben Malachi (formerly John) was a forty-nine-year-old Black and Native American male and quadriplegic. His life partner, Makedah bat Leah (formerly Linda) was a thirty-five-year-old Asian American female and blind. Micaiah is the eyes for Makedah and Makedah is the legs for Micaiah. The two said, "We make up one complete person". They are a team. Each of them sought out Judaism before knowing one another and decided to continue their journey together. This Black man and Asian female turned their backs on their families, cultures and people they had known all their lives; to assume a religion, culture and to struggle with a "people" who largely appear not to want them in their synagogues or communities as members. They took an oath of allegiance to support and protect the Jewish people and Israel first, not their own people and country. Special, unique, inspiring are some words used to describe this pair. However, they describe themselves as "Jews".

"We Are The World 25"--Commentary

2010-02-25T22:20:00.000-06:00

The original We Are The World was written by Lionel Richie and the Late Michael Jackson, and was produced by Quincy Jones. It came out in 1985. Some of the many artists featured were Kenny Loggins, Diana Ross, Cindy Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, The Late Ray Charles and The Late Michael Jackson. In Response to the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 and its victims, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie thought it would be a great idea to release a new version of We Are The World, entitled We Are The World 25. Though the lyrics have not changed, all new artists, such as Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban and Will.I.Am are featured in this new version. In the same way proceeds of the sales of We Are The World were to go towards fighting famine in Ethiopia, the proceeds from sales of We Are The World 25 are to help the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Two weeks ago, Micaiah and I were watching the winter Olympics opening ceremony. During a commercial break, an abridged version of the video to We Are The World 25 was aired. The tempo was the same, but the drums thumped out a hip-hop beat. In the first refrain, saying, "We are the world, We are the children…," the original track from the original version in which Michael Jackson was singing was spliced in. That was, then, followed by the new artists singing the rest of the song. In addition, there were brand-new lines inserted by rap singers to serve as extra verses of the song. Having heard the original We Are The World numerous times, and now having heard the new version, there is nothing that can ever compare to the original We Are The World. Not only did the original grab our attention and held it there, but the solo parts backed up by the choir made-up of many other artists gave it a heavenly quality. The way it was composed gave the audience assurance that the production was well-thought out before it was recorded. To this day, We Are The World maintains the same quality and feelings to those who heard it many times when it was originally released as well as to the younger crowd who were not born yet or were too young to understand at the time of its release. We Are The World 25, on the other hand, made the song sound like a composition that was put together adhoc.

I believe that inserting Michael Jackson singing, "We are the World, We are the children" may be to remind people that Michael Jackson co-wrote the song With Lionel Richie as well as to honor The Late Michael Jackson. I thought it was tactless and insensitive to the public feelings of respect for the late singer. In addition, it also did not take into account the feelings of his children. The Hip-Hop beat and the rap singers who added their own verses dramatically changed the integrity of the song. The new versus and beat may have been to make the song more contemporary with the times. However, the changes took away the awe-inspiring feeling the original version evoked.

Makedah bat Leah

PS.: Below is the complete information about the two versions.

------

"We Are the World"

Single by USA for Africa

Released

March 7, 1985

Recorded

January 28, 1985

Label

Columbia Records

Writer(s)

Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie

Producer(s)

Quincy Jones

Chart positions

#1 (US Hot 100)

#1 (UK Singles Chart)

"We Are the World" is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and conducted by Quincy Jones and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa. The charity single was intended to raise funds to help famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.

Harry Belafonte initiated the idea for a fundraising effort. His manager, Ken Kragen, suggested the multi-artist approach, inspired by the success of the British supergroup Band Aid and their 1984 fundraising single "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

The performers gathered at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, on January 28, 1985. Kragen selected the night of the American Music Awards to ensure as many artists as possible could attend. Jones famously advised them, in his written invitation, to "check your egos at the door." In all, 45 musicians attended the recording session, including Bob Geldof, who had arranged the Band Aid effort in the United Kingdom. Lead vocals were rotated among 21 of the performers, including Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Steve Perry, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

Columbia Records donated their manufacturing and distribution costs to the effort. "We Are the World" hit stores on Tuesday, March 7, 1985, and all 800,000 copies sold out before the end of the weekend. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number twenty-one. On April 5 (Good Friday in that year), more than 5,000 radio stations played the song at the same time. It became the United States' number one single on April 13 and held the position for four weeks.

The song went on to win 1985 Grammys for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.

Ultimately, the single sold 7.5 million copies in the US. It was released on an album, We Are the World, which sold over three million copies. In addition to "We Are the World," the album included previously unreleased songs by Prince, Springsteen, Rogers, Turner and other artists. It also included another famine relief fundraising song, "Tears Are Not Enough", which was performed by Canadian supergroup Northern Lights.

Including revenues from the single, the album, the video and related merchandise, "We Are the World" raised about $50 million for famine relief.

On November 15, 2006 Michael Jackson performed the song in the World Music Awards.[[1]] Kenny Rogers has also performed a solo version of the song, which is featured on a 1986 concert video at Texas stadium.

Dan Aykroyd

Harry Belafonte

Lindsey Buckingham

Kim Carnes

Ray Charles

Bob Dylan

Sheila E.

Bob Geldof

Hall and Oates

James Ingram

Jackie Jackson

LaToya Jackson

Marlon Jackson

Michael Jackson

Randy Jackson

Tito Jackson

Al Jarreau

Waylon Jennings

Billy Joel

Cyndi Lauper

Huey Lewis and the News

Kenny Loggins

Bette Midler

Willie Nelson

Jeffrey Osborne

Steve Perry

The Pointer Sisters

Lionel Richie

Smokey Robinson

Kenny Rogers

Diana Ross

Paul Simon

Bruce Springsteen

Tina Turner

Dionne Warwick

Stevie Wonder

The group name U.S.A. for Africa actually stands for United Support of Artists for Africa.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../w/e/_/We_Are_the_World_ef64.html"

the 2010 version will be headlined by Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban and Will.I.Am. It features a newly penned hip-hop break written by the Black Eyed Peas leader that makes reference to the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, the victims of which will benefit from the song's proceeds. Among the rap artists making the cut for "We Are the World — 25 for Haiti" are T-Pain, Kanye West, Bizzy Bone, Kid Cudi, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Mann, Nipsey Hussle, Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz. The sessions did feature a number of current stars such as Miley Cyrus, Keri Hilson and Best New Artist Grammy winner Zac Brown. There were the requisite classic artists who pitched in, including Barbra Streisand; Carlos Santana; Natalie Cole; BeBe Winans; the members of Heart; Freda Payne; Harry Connick Jr.; Earth, Wind & Fire; the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and Al Jardine; Tony Bennett; "Slumdog Millionaire" film score composer A.R. Rahman; "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson; Patti Austin; Celine Dion and Gladys Knight. A few actors were in the studio (Jeff Bridges and Vince Vaughn), as well as the offspring of co-producers Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, Nicole Richie and "Parks and Recreation" star Rashida Jones, and the members of 3T (the sons of Tito Jackson), Taj, Taryll and TJ Jackson. Joel and Benji Madden were on hand, as were Akon, Brandy, Melanie Fiona, Mya, Musiq Soulchild, Katharine McPhee, Trey Songz, Faith Evans, "Heroes" actor Jimmy Jean-Louis ("the Haitian") and former Michael Jackson guitarist Orianthi. Also pitching in according to a press statement from organizers were the members of Sugarland, Jennifer Hudson, Jason Mraz, India.Arie, Mary Mary, Tyrese Gibson, Raphael Saadiq, Pink, Jordin Sparks, Rob Thomas, Usher, the Fray's Isaac Slade, child prodigy pianist Ethan Bortnick, Enrique Iglesias, Robin Thicke, Jamie Foxx, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, the Jonas Brothers, Nicole Scherzinger and Julianne Hough.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631021/20100202/west_kanye.jhtml

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

2010-02-08T12:23:00.000-06:00

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Micaiah Ben Malachi

Makedah and I post our thoughts on issues, which are directly Jewish related. However, there are times non-Jewish issues, events and subjects cause us to be moved and we must speak. Makedah posted her thoughts and feelings about the new Michael Jackson DVD, "This Is It". Before that, in our private blog, she wrote her book review on "The Michael Jackson Tapes". What does Michael Jackson have to do with Jews beyond the reported story that Michael's older children " Prince and Paris" have a Jewish mother? Two words come to mind, "social change". Michael not only sung about change but put it into action in his public and private life. There are a group of words and phrases that describe man who dared rewrite his story and thereby history. They are compassion, generosity, sensitivity to others feelings and unconformity. Although Michael Jackson was not Jewish whether by birth or conversion, he demonstrated the core values of Judaism better than almost any Jew I have met to date. I say "almost" because there are two other Jews who come to mind. I wished I could say their names, but I know they would be embarrassed. They are selfless individuals, who reached out to Makedah and myself with no regard as to whether we looked Jewish or not or whether we had white enough skin to pass the "whites only" religious test that so many minorities and poor white perspective converts to Judaism have and still encounter. In addition, there are those who are adopted and those have one or both parents being Jewish, that come for inclusion.

One of these individuals reached into their meager purse and gave to us when we could not do for ourselves. Neither of them expected us to come to them for inclusion, they came to us. In some of our worst days when we did not think we could go on, one got behind us and pushed, while the other pulled us up that steep mountain pass. Being Jewish, is not a label to us it is our identity. It is our reason to fight. We are in a constant battle for our and other Jews recognition, by fellow Jews. All of us are Jews regardless of our skin color(s), ethnicities, nationalities and branches of Judaism we are affiliated with. Our existence as Jews is directly based on how we accept or reject our Jewish brothers and sisters.

Acceptance and recognition alone will not forge a strong defense against an anti-Semitic world. Compassion, generosity, sensitive to others feelings, charity, social responsibility and social change are the very shields that will sustain our faith and our people. Peoplehood is not merely attending religious services, serving on various committees, donating to various Jewish causes. Peoplehood is an oneness that is inclusive of "all" Jews. It is not only reaching out to those who belong to our Jewish communities and congregations but those that do not. We do not have to attempt to change this world in one sweeping motion. But we should not allow our communities and congregations to be satisfied with the status quo either. A wall is strong not because of the bricks but the mortar as well. Our Jewish communities and houses of worship may appear strong. But, they are only strong as the people within them. How many times do we see the same names on mailings? Usually, they are the socially connected, financially well off, higher educated and conservative among our communities and houses of worship. These people are not the Jewish community. They are but a small part of it. Social change cannot occur if it is being carried on the back of one person or a small group of people. Unfortunately, for all his efforts, the late Michael Jackson learned he alone could not change the whole world. Without you and me, nothing can happen. If we focus on only those Jews who can afford to be Jewish, on those that look Jewish, on those with Jewish sounding last names and those who meet our expectations of a Jew; we will miss those Jews who are able to help us change our communities from those dying to those that are revitalized. In conclusion, the late Michael Jackson's song "Man In The Mirror" illustrate the path our Jewish people, our Jewish houses of worship and our Jewish communities must follow, if we are to save our faith for those who come after us.

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror,

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change

You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time

Cause When You Close Your Heart

You Close Your . . .Your Mind!

The Grammies & This Is It movie

2010-02-03T05:37:00.000-06:00

I normally don't watch the Grammies. At least, that's been the case for the last twenty-five years. But, I watched it last Sunday night because I knew that there was going to be a tribute segment to Michael Jackson. The Grammies was held at Staple Stadium in Los Angeles, California, where Michael Jackson was last rehearsing before he died on June 25, 2009. As those nominated for Best Pop Male Vocalist, Song of the Year, Album of the year, etc. came up to receive their awards, I thought of the many categories Michael Jackson was nominated for and the many times he kept appearing up on stage all in one Grammies ceremony. Yes, I saw some promising musicians, like Taylor Swift and Beyonce, that I normally don't listen to, but I found myself caught up with emotion inwardly as I watched and reflected back to the Grammies in 1984. When Taylor Swift came up to receive her Album of the Year award, my mind flashbacked to when Michael Jackson got the same award in 1984 for his album, Thriller. I wanted to cry. Though Taylor Swift is not the greatest singer in my opinion, I'm still happy that she got some awards, especially in lieu of what rap singer, Kanye West, did to her. In September, or October, of last year, I believe that MTV was holding their awards. (I don't watch that channel anymore.) Taylor got some kind of award. When she stepped up to receive it, Kanye West grabbed the microphone, saying that Beyonce should've gotten the award instead. Though he was saying what many were thinking or chatting about on the Internet, it still didn't give Kanye the right to steal the limelight from Taylor Swift, especially being that she's a new upstart of eighteen years old who wrote all of her songs. In the tribute segment to Michael Jackson, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion and Beyonce sang along to Earth Song with scenes from the movie, This Is It, on a video screen behind them. The scenes were that of the forest and various kinds of environmental destruction by mankind as shown in the movie when Michael was actually performing Earth Song in the movie. Celine Dion and Beyonce were the only ones who could reach Michael's high notes. Usher did what he could in his range with improvisations, but Smokey Robinson sounded like a dog trying to howl. While I was amazed with Celine Dion and Beyonce's part because of how beautifully their voices blended in with Michael's or highlighted his voice, I couldn't help but start laughing when Usher and Smokey Robinson sang their parts. I, probably, shouldn't have laughed, but I couldn't help myself. After that performance, Lionel Richie appeared onstage to present the Lifetime Achievement award to Michael Jackson, which was given to Michael's children. I imagine that Blanket was there, but Prince and Paris were the two who were up onstage. Blanket is only seven or eight years old, and to expect him to be able to sit still for three hours is a lot for that age. Anyway, Prince spoke first with his well-rehearsed lines, thanking everyone for supporting his father and how much his father loved his fans. Of course, Prince started tearing up, and, thus, forgot the remaining rehearsed lines. So, he concluded with thanking everyone. Then, Paris stepped up. I'm not sure whether she meant to say it the way she did, but her words shyly came out saying that her dad was going to perform at the Grammies but couldn't because he couldn't perform last year. Either way, all she could do was thank the audience, as she, too, was starting to tear up. Of course, the audience gave them a standing ovation not only because of their courage to talk to the public, but also because of all that they've been through over the last seven months. Like Prince and Paris, I, too, started to tear up. My mind flashbacked to the memorial service, which was held there at Staple Stadium. The last time Paris was up on that stage was at the conclusion of the service, when she attempted to tell everyone that Michael was the best daddy she'd ever had and then started to cry. When Paris attempted to give her speech that day, the audience applauded her for her courage. Once again, when I saw the children this time at the Grammies, I wanted to hug them, and I, especially, wanted to hold Paris and rock her in my arms. For them to reappear at Staple Stadium and for me to see them seven months later was like Deja Vou; thus, making Michael Jackson's death seem like yesterday all over again. Of course, I cried my eyes out later that Sunday night while Micaiah held me. I feel the pain they're still feeling even after seven months not only because of Michael Jackson's death, but because of the children's great loss of their father, who they loved dearly.

I finally bought the movie, This Is It, last Monday and watched it last night with Micaiah. As most people likely know, the movie is made-up of the rehearsal sessions for the This Is It tour that was to take place in England. Of course, the dancing and the choreography were great, but I felt that there was more to the movie than that. As one who watches movies to be entertained as well as to learn something or examine critically, I look beyond the superficial. Then, I think about what I saw and heard while sleeping, or trying to sleep, before putting my thoughts on paper. Most of us have heard Michael Jackson singing lead with the Jackson Five in such songs as The Love You Save and I'll Be There. Back then, he was a kid with a very high voice. The above two songs were included among the list of songs he was going to sing on the This Is It tour. Though he no longer had that high kid's voice to sing it as was done forty years ago, it still sounded beautiful and more mature. I loved how mature-sounding it was that I wished there was an audio file of it to put on CD so that I didn't have to pull out the movie just to hear him sing those two songs. The other part I liked was when they were rehearsing for the performance of Smooth Criminal. There was some point at the beginning of the song in which Michael was supposed to turn a certain way in his dance move, but his back was to the electronic billboard that displayed the song title. The director of the session asked Michael how he would know when to turn since he wasn't facing the billboard. Michael replied that he would go by feel and timing, which is how blind people like me function on a daily basis. Though Michael was a perfectionist, he was very patient with the dancers and musicians as everyone worked together to get things to sound and look satisfactory. Unlike most perfectionists I've personally met, Michael openly admitted when he made a mistake. I cannot remember what song they were practicing, but he thought that there were two verses when there was only one. He apologized to the band and then everyone backtracked to work on the song as if nothing happened. However, there were two things that caused me concern if the tour had actually started. The first was his voice, one comment he made here and there throughout a few of the rehearsal sessions was that he had to save his voice. Unlike when he was younger and could sing for hours on end without a break, he wasn't able to do that now. The second was his stamina and physical ability to be precise at all times. A couple times that he was dancing, one of his feet slightly dragged as he was shifting from one foot to the other or turning. Unless you look closely, you wouldn't notice that. Then, there was a dance move in which he quickly shifted from a standing position to a lying down position on the stage with his feet up in the air. Not only was he breathing heavy as he tried to catch his breath and got back up, but he was overheating. The director noticed that he was getting dehydrated and needed to get something to drink. The two months of rehearsing before his death were draining Michael Jackson mentally and physically. He knew, like most people who followed Michael Jackson over the years or watched the movie as critically as John and I did, that a fifty-date tour was impossible for him to meet. He would've been hoarse by the time one performance was over and, probably, would've still been somewhat hoarse the next day for the next performance. He was also suffering from chronic back pain, which greatly limits one's endurance. In turn, the person is often breathing heavily to catch their breath as they seek to regain their composure to continue on. Speaking from personal experience of currently suffering from chronic back pain, even with painkillers, the physical stamina needed for the subsequent performances wouldn't have been there as it was in the first performance. Twelve to twenty-four hours is not enough time to recuperate, but the scheduled performances were one day after another. As one gets older, their voice is not as crisp, nor can they sing as long as when they were younger. Their physical ability to dance the way they did when they were younger is not there anymore because the body is not as elastic as it used to be. Michael Jackson was fifty years old, not twenty-five or thirty-five years old. So, to expect him to fulfill a fifty-date tour was like expecting someone to literally jump over the moon. Yet, he was forced to do the This Is It tour so that he could pay his debts off. Yes, it was sad the tour never took place for Prince and Paris to attend and see what their daddy did for a living. It was also sad that all the hard work the musicians and dancers put in during the rehearsals was as if it was all for nothing. But, based on the two things that concerned me, his voice and physical stamina to withstand the harsh and demanding schedule would have, probably, done more irreparable harm to his body. Michael Jackson fulfilled his two greatest desires, that being never to grow old and never to be forgotten. He has, in deed, created his own history and left a legacy to his children and his fans.

Makedah bat Leah

The Ingathering Of World Jewry

2010-02-02T03:46:00.000-06:00

Genesis 17:4-9

As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations.
Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
And God said unto Abraham: And as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou and thy seed after thee throughout their generations.

The Ingathering Of World Jewry

Micaiah Ben Malachi & Makedah Bat Leah

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Reform Jew, Conservative Jew, Orthodox Jew, Reconstructionist Jew, Ashkenazi Jew, Sephardi Jew, Mizrahi Jew, Soviet Jew, American Jew, Israeli Jew, Ethiopian Jew, Caucasus Jew, India Jew, Black Jew, African Jew, White Jew, Asian Jew, Indian Jew, Native American Jew, Jew By Choice, Chabad Jew, Converted Jew, Birth Jew, Secular Jew, Observant Jew. We are all the descendents of Abraham.

According to the estimates for 2007 of the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, the world population of Jews is 13.2 million.^[1] Adherents.com cites figures ranging from 12 to 18 million Jews.^[2] These statistics incorporate both practicing Jews affiliated with synagogues and the Jewish community, and approximately 4.5 million unaffiliated and secular Jews. (1)

Many of us came to Judaism because we were drawn to it, like a magnet is drawn to steel. Judaism has given us a sense of Peoplehood, even if many of us have little or no contact with other Jews, attend a house of worship or able to participate in a Jewish community. Makedah and I came to Judaism because we are able to investigate, discuss, ask questions and agree or disagree with one another or other Jews interpretation of various Jewish text, culture or ideas.

Unfortunately, even within such an open and diverse religion, we as Jews, have preconceived notions of what a "true" Jew should looks like, how a "true"Jew should behave, dress and their worship etiquette, even circumcision. There are also many Jews among us who base their recognition of another Jew by skin color, hair color, hair texture, last name and or what branch of Judaism they are affiliated with. Likewise, the Goyim also make the same distinction when deciding who is White enough to be accepted as marriage partners, head most of the Fortune 500 corporations here in America, be their neighbors and even what their grandchildren should look like. There are many false misconceptions about Jews. Some examples are, we have a large "hooked nose", dark curly thick textured hair, olive colored skin, Jewish sounding last names, are dressed in a long black coat which is below the knees and black felt hat and two braids, that young women wear scarves, have lots of money or rich, wearing the Magen Star jewelry; all are supposed to be outward ways of recognizing a Jew in the Goyim world.

The "true" Jews are as diverse as the stars in the night sky. We come from every racial group and nearly every corner of this blue globe we live on. There are those whose have never been inside a synagogue or shul and would not know proper etiquette, which last names might be Campbell, Brown, Johnson or Jones, whose hair might be kinky, wiry, straight or curly. Yes, they might have ivory, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, yellowish skin and any combination of hues that G*d or Grandfather might chose to create. Some of the real or true Jews could have doctorate degrees, bachelor degrees, and high school or GED diplomas. They could be doctors, lawyers, nurses, politicians, social workers, advocates, and cashiers at Wal-Mart, McDonalds or unemployed. But they are all Jews. They have always been Jews since the beginning of time. It was man who chose to separate himself from his brothers and sisters of a different hue, not G*d or Grandfather. It was not G*d or Grandfather that caused them to be used as slaves in the past and economic slaves today. There is little we Jews can do about the world of the Goyim. But there is a lot we can do within our own house.

We must embrace those who come to our communities and sincerely wish to be accepted and cherished as members of our communities and houses of worship. We must strip our communities, houses of worship and even leaders of the inherited racism and other "isms" that hinder our growth and respectability. How can we lead the Goyim world, if we are blinded by our own shortcomings? Our Jewish communities are similar to a child. They begin small but constantly grow over time. Like a child, we must continually learn and evolve. Colorful toys not single color toys keep a child's attention. Yes, there have been many Jewish families adopting interracially and transracially. However, what will happen to these children when they grow up and seek a Jewish partner, a Jewish homelife? Will the doors of acceptance be slammed in their face? Will they become disillusioned because everyone is one hue and they were born another? Will they be made to feel less Jewish because they facially do not resemble the culturally accepted norms of what a Jew is to look like? Will they feel ashamed of the texture and or color of their hair? If we are to continue to survive as a "people", then we must stop classifying and begin unifying. Both the narrow-minded Jews and Goyim are wrong in what a Jew looks like physically, their manner of dress, their educational level, their income, their knowledge of worship etiquette or whether they are circumcised.

When the next holocaust comes, the killers will not be concerned with outer appearance as before, but rather our public declaration of being Jews. It will not matter if you are a Reform Jew, Conservative Jew, Orthodox Jew, Reconstructionist Jew, Ashkenazi Jew, Sephardi Jew, Mizrahi Jew, Soviet Jew, American Jew, Israeli Jew, Ethiopian Jew, Caucasus Jew, Indian Jew, Black Jew, African Jew, Euro-American Jew, European Jew, Asian Jew, Indian Jew, Native American Jew, Jew By Choice, Chabad Jew, Converted Jew, Born Jew, Secular Jew, Observant Jew or have relatives who are or were Jewish. If we refuse to accept our Jewish brothers and sister at a time of peace, then whom do we depend on in time of war?

Micaiah Ben Malachi

Makedah Bat Leah

Foot Notes

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population

Michael Jackson's kids to honor father at Grammys

2010-01-31T13:41:00.001-06:00

Michael Jackson's kids to honor father at Grammys

By Alan Duke, CNN

January 31, 2010 -- Updated 0938 GMT (1738 HKT)

Paris Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson will pay tribute to their late father's at Sunday's Grammys.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Michael Jackson's two eldest children to pay tribute to father at Grammy Awards
Children had been expected to receive father's lifetime achievement award
Prince Michael, Paris Katherine Jackson were last seen publicly at father's public memorial

RELATED TOPICS

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's two eldest children will appear on stage Sunday night during the Grammy show tribute to their father, Jackson's father and others confirmed.

It would be the first public appearance for Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11, since their dramatic appearance at the memorial service 12 days after their father's death last summer.

The children were to appear at a much smaller Grammy event Saturday night to accept their father's Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, but Katherine Jackson -- their grandmother and legal guardian -- agreed to the change, a spokesman for the pop star's father said.

Instead, former Jackson manager Frank Dileo made the Saturday night appearance. He also told CNN the Jackson children would be at the Sunday night tribute.

No family members had been invited to take part in either of the Grammy tributes to Michael Jackson until last week when the Jacksons complained, a family source said.

"However, there has been some recent rumors that I am displeased with the idea that Michael's children are accepting the award on my son's behalf," Joe Jackson said in a statement to CNN. "On the contrary, I am very proud of my grandchildren. Katherine and I are the ones who initiated their participation."

The youngest of the three, 7-year-old Blanket, is not expected to attend the show, although that could change, a family source said.

Jackson's oldest son is expected to read a statement on behalf of the family during the Grammy tribute, the source said.

The children will not enter the Los Angeles Convention Center through the media-lined red carpet, the family source said. Instead, they will be escorted backstage by Katherine Jackson, the family source said.

When Paris Katherine Jackson delivered a spontaneous speech at the massive memorial in July, it was the first time the public had heard from the children. They were often hidden by veils or blankets when seen with their father.

"Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," she said. "And I just want to say that I love him so much."

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow, who oversees the Grammy show, said Sunday night's Jackson tribute will be "an extraordinarily emotional, moving and fitting tribute."

Singers Carrie Underwood and Smokey Robinson are among several stars who will take part in the musical tribute.

A segment of a 3-D video produced by Jackson shortly before his death will be shown. It was based on his pro-environment "Earth Song" for use in his "This Is It" tour.

Michael Jackson was 50 years old when he died June 25, 2009, just two weeks before he was to begin a long series of comeback shows in London.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled his death a homicide resulting from a combination of drugs, primarily Propofol and Lorazepam.

A criminal investigation has focused on Dr. Conrad Murray, his personal physician who was with him when he died, although no charges have been filed.

Aid to Haiti

2010-01-23T22:28:00.001-06:00

Like many people around the world, Micaiah ben Malachi and I have been glued to the television, following the news coverage ever since the earthquake occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010 at 4:53 PM Eastern time. We also watched the Hope For Haiti program last night, which was televised on many networks around the world and was the largest charity program ever in history.

As everyone knows, the first five to six days was spent with rescue efforts from the rubble only to find more dead bodies than there were people who were still alive. Bodies were buried in mass-graves and old crypts that were other people's tombs while those who were rescued alive had difficulty getting to the makeshift hospitals that were being set up one by one because many roads were blocked and/or messages to be relayed to the makeshift hospitals to pick up the rescued were not getting there. Until last Monday or Tuesday, airplanes and helicopters that were carrying food and water were being accepted at the airport while medical supplies were being turned away. Though the food and water were equally important as medical supplies were, the lack of medical supplies were hindering doctors' abilities to treat the many patients. Two to three days after the earthquake occurred, Dr. sanjay Gupta was working with the United Nations doctors at a makeshift hospital when the supervisor overseeing the doctors began to feel that there was a security issue. Doctors were ordered to leave with their supplies to move to another site, but Dr. Sanjay Gupta remained at the hospital overnight, caring for the patients with the minimal supplies that were left. The doctors did return the next day, though, because of CNN's reports from Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Then, six to seven days after the earthquake, a seventy-year-old woman was rescued alive from the rubble, but there was nobody available to bring her to the hospital. As a result, CNN's Anderson Cooper and his news crew took her to a hospital in their pick-up truck. As if this wasn't enough, two to three days ago, two Haitian police officers were controlling a crowd of people who were trying to cause a riot for food and water by shooting their guns up in the air. Even though the crowd remained in control for the most part, a twelve-year-old boy was hit in the head by a rock someone threw. Nobody from the crowd came to rescue the boy, so Anderson Cooper intervened, getting blood all over himself. Why did news crew have to intervene when there main reason for being there was to report the news?

When the United Nations personnel arrived, they sought to give the public the notion that the Haitian government was still in control but that the United Nations was only there to help out. Meanwhile, the United States stood back, allowing for the United Nations to coordinate the rescue effort and assign the tasks even though many doctors and other personnel were sent by planes and ships upon President Obama's command. The lack of coordination along with medical supplies being turned away at the air port instead of being accepted in conjunction with the food and water contributed to the problems mentioned above. Yes, people like Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta meant well, but if the United Nations and the United States started on the tasks they knew they would be faced with upon arrival instead of deciding who was going to work at what site, then more people would've probably been rescued alive and probably not as many people would've died before arriving to the makeshift hospitals or while waiting in the hospital to be treated. If the Israeli Defense Force is able to assemble their makeshift hospital structures and equipment within minutes, and if those from Bolivia can control food lines by having people enter through one side and exiting the other with their food rations, then everyone around the world, including the United Nations, could've achieve their rescue goals efficiently. All it takes is the kind of training the Israeli Defense Force underwent and the repeated exercise strategies they often perform periodically.

Those orphans whose adoption process was completed before the earthquake were speedily flown out of Haiti, a few people have been rescued alive even eight to ten days after the earthquake, which is by G*d's grace, and medical supplies are now finally arriving in the groves. however, there are still many more orphans, including the new group of children whose relatives died during and after the earthquake, who have no home to return to. The orphanages they are now at are not structurally sound, and the staff is not equipped financially or with the necessities. Those people who were rescued alive will also still be living in abject poverty. In addition, many of the antibiotics that arrived are to be administered in doses for adults, not for children, and most of the I.V. needles are to be used in adults with large veins, not for children with small veins. Moreover, there are no prosthetic limbs available. Even many of those who did receive medical care will require follow-up surgery and other medical attention. What's wrong with countries lifting their adoption restrictions or nation quotas? What's wrong with bringing people needing follow-up medical care to places like the United States so that they can receive the care they need? What's wrong with hospitals donating their many supplies, personnel, and prosthetics to Haiti so that the injured can receive the medical attention immediately?

As we watched the continuous news coverage, I could see The Late Michael Jackson in my mind. He would've donated all that he could financially, cried and wanted to adopt as many of the orphans as he could, and traveled to Haiti to meet with the people to give them hope. When the Hope For Haiti program was aired last night, I envisioned that Michael Jackson would've been one of the many people helping out to put the program together as well as performing. Yes, it's sad that Michael Jackson's no longer physically here with us, but he actually still is with us in spirit. Even though people, like George Clooney, were pushing for donations to different charity programs before Michael Jackson's death, George Clooney's now carrying on Michael Jackson's torch of giving. Likewise, Micaiah and I received an e-mail from our rabbi, Rabbi Celso Kukierkorn, about two days after the earthquake, asking for donations so that the Jewish organizations could buy food, water, and other supplies for survival and medical care. We donated some money. When we clicked onto his website to make our donation, there was a video clip of Rabbi Kukierkorn and his daughter handing out bags of necessities to the poor in his area of residence. One of the recipients said that she was a Christian, not a Jew. Rabbi Kukierkorn replied, assuring the recipient that religion didn't matter. The recipients race, creed or color didn't matter to Michael Jackson, either. So, if we all carry on the late Michael Jackson's belief in unconditional love and giving, then the goal to heal the world and make this world a better place will, eventually, be achieved.

Makedah bat Leah.

Book Review by Makedah bat Leah and Micaiah ben Malachi

2010-01-21T01:44:00.000-06:00

Micaiah ben Malachi and I recently read the book, The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul and Intimate Conversation by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. Because the book was not due to be recorded in audio format for the blind and physically handicapped anytime soon, Micaiah offered to read it to me since I'm blind. The reading public is led to believe that this book would be a tell-all book about the private life of Michael Jackson. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's interview was about Michael Jackson growing up as a child star and his music career.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach presented himself to Michael Jackson as a good friend. Shmuley approached Michael to be an ambassador for the rights of children. However, he, eventually, talked Michael into financially endorsing his family initiative projects. In his capacity as a Rabbi and family therapist, Shmuley used his counseling skills to manipulate Michael into answering questions with answers that Michael may not have thought about their long-range implications on his personal and public life.

For example, he asked Michael about his relationship with his father, Joe Jackson. Michael spoke about the times when he and his sister, Janet, would play games, imagining their father being dead in a coffin and not feeling guilty about it. When asked about what it was like to be a child star, Michael spoke about his feelings of loneliness and isolation because he couldn't play with the other neighborhood children. When asked about the reason for his love for children and his closeness to them, Michael explained that his experiences as a child are what made him feel the need to reach out to children because he didn't want them to suffer the way he did. Michael didn't realize that, on the surface, the questions about his childhood were not what they seemed. In fact, they allowed Shmuley to convince Michael that he genuinely cared about Michael Jackson, the man. In 1993 and in 2003, Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation. Shmuley convinced Michael that, in order to clear his name, Michael should, with Shmuley's assistance, go around the world, giving speeches that endorse family values. However, Shmuley went on to tell the reading public that he didn't allow his own children to be alone with Michael. Thus, reinforcing the public's belief that Michael actually was a pedophile.

Another example was when Shmuley addressed Michael's sexual orientation. Michael spoke about his female dates and his marriages to Lisa Marie Pressley and Debby Rowe. He explained that the painful divorces were because the women didn't like his lifestyle. They felt that he should be at home all the time instead of out on tours. On the surface, Shmuley supported the argument that Michael was not gay by telling the reader that he didn't see Michael display anything that indicated that he was gay. But, he did say that he also couldn't refute that he might be gay because of Michael's closeness mainly to little boys, thereby, leading the reader to believe Michael was not only gay, but also a gay pedophile who was attracted to boys.

In the section entitled, "The fall Of An Icon", Shmuley told the reader that Michael Jackson's fall was due to his belief that he was the Messiah who came to the earth to save the world from itself. However, Michael said that he never saw himself as the Messiah or Savior. Rather, he saw himself as an individual with a duty to help his fellow mankind. Through his music, Michael attempted to teach others to see and know that they had an important place in this world, and that to neglect it would be a disservice to themselves and mankind. If anything, Michael Jackson was a Universalist. He sought to express the belief that we are all one global family.

On the surface, the book, The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul and Intimate Conversation by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, was a tell-all book for those readers who never knew anything about Michael Jackson. The topics discussed in the book were already public knowledge. Having listened to his music and few interviews here and there for over thirty years, I had a strong sense that Michael Jackson's life was not all rose-colored glasses. Reading Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's book only confirmed what I suspected all along. Having heard Michael Jackson's voice in past interviews, including the snippets played on NBC's Dateline and CNN's Larry King Live, I could hear Michael's voice in times of laughter and pain as Micaiah and I read Michael's answers to Shmuley's questions. Shmuley treated Michael like he was a pedophile and that Michael had a Messiah Complex. He continually insisted that Michael discard his music career and lead a normal life as a father to Prince and Paris,, and now Blanket. Shmuley also proposed that Michael allow his children to walk in public unveiled and to be socialized with other children. To insist that Michael discard his music career is equivalent to Shmuley discarding his own career as a Rabbi and family counselor. Michael's livelihood was his music career and helping children. These two things gave Michael a reason to live. As for Michael Jackson's children walking unveiled and being socialized with other children, Michael wanted his children to be treated as any other child and not the children of a Superstar. He wanted them to be compassionate, tender, honest, and affectionate people. He didn't want them to grow up with the media constantly reminding them of who their father was. Would we recommend this book to anybody? No. It was very long, drawn-out unnecessarily, and biased. We expected an unbiased approach to answering the question, "Who was Michael Jackson?" We also found it rather disturbing that he published this book after the death of Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson is not here to defend himself or lend more understanding to the answers of the questions that Shmuley quoted from. We think that Shmuley is no different than attorneys who chase after ambulance patients to get work. Shmuley made his career on living on the suffering of vulnerable people, like a vulture that sits on the side, waiting for a person to die so that it may pick the flesh from the bones of the dead.

Makedah bat Leah & Micaiah ben Malachi

The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul and Intimate Conversation by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach; Vanguard Press, New York, 2009

2010-01-17T12:44:00.003-06:00

Makedah and I have been glued to our television on CNN. We are filled with anger, disgust and frustration. The footage shown on CNN is wonderful. It is showing the world this island nation in the Caribbean, along with all the Caribbean has been largely the "playground" for the well-to-do white and black middle class. I must point out there are some whites working with the Haitian people to establish and run such places as day cares,orphanages, schools and clinics. While many are Christian faith based missions and missionaries, they provide the backbone of social services on the Island of Hispaniola. However, the loss of life and property falls largely on the Haitians whom are the majority of the poor. My friend Avner told me of his daughter's school taking up donations to send to Haiti. Yes, Avner, it is a catastrophic failure which could have been lessened. The world attention is now on this tiny nation as we see hours of coverage on the capitol city, Port-Au-Prince. Why did it take a major earthquake, the loss of thousands of lives and the press to open the eyes of political leaders and the general public? The impoverish conditions among the population has existed since the coming of the Europeans in the 1600's. They largely are the descendants of slaves who fought and obtained their freedom from foreign domination. However, the freedom is bittersweet. While they were no longer literally in chains, the iron leggings were replaced with economic chains. Again, they were not the equals to whites but rather their inferiors. Makedah and I watched as a little girl of eleven was pulled from the rubble. She was absolutely beautiful. Like most viewers we were elated. Only later to learn this child and others died. They died because of the neglect of their own government and the developed world governments who permitted this nation to be among the "forgotten". As a Jew and a Black American, I am very aware of how most whites and even other "honorary whites" view my mere existence. The world stood by and allowed 10 million "inferior whites" die in the concentration camps of Europe. It stood by, watched and in many cases assisted in the enslavement and inhumane treatment of African Blacks. It largely watched the Japanese slaughter,rape and enslave Asian nations during WWII. It watched Native American Indians be almost brought to extinction. While the donations coming from the public is in the millions, it does not mean after the press no longer is focused on Haiti, that the white developed nations will continue to assist and lift up the Afro-Caribbeans to their similar social and political status. Our own American history proved before the Obama Administration, we will not come to the aid of the Black, Yellow or Red people of this world unless shamed into action. The Europeans, Cubans, Israelis and other nations outside of America came swiftly to the aid of Blacks and other poor people in New Orleans after being hits by Hurricane Katrina. I believe the world must begin to realize it cannot continue to mistreat and disrespect the poor nations of this world. When I say " the world", I mean the greater white countries. They cannot afford to continue it racist policies. Eventually, what they sow, they shall reap. I think the late Michael Jackson said it better in this song "History". "Every day create your history. Every path you take you're leaving your legacy. How many people have to cry. The song of pain and grief across the land. And how many children have to die. Before we stand to lend a healing hand..."

Micaiah b. Malachi

My Comments On Article, "Earth To Lou: It Didn't Have To End This Way

2009-11-19T16:00:00.001-06:00

Micaiah ben Malachi and I, too, have watched parts of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on CNN, and have heard him made numerous racist statements about illegal immigrants being to blame for the social and economic problems here in the United States. Of course, as people of color--I being Asian and Micaiah being Black and Native-American--we were offended, and, thus, stopped watching the show altogether. While it is good that Lou Dobbs was forced to resign, he is not the only one to make racial statements publicly on major radio and television networks. Like Lou Dobbs, Paul Harvey (who is now deceased) and Rush Limbaugh ranted and raved about "the browning of America" in reference to Hispanic immigrants as well as the intermixing of Whites with people of color in marriage relationships, and creating mixed-race offspring. In addition, just recently, Lynn Samuels, who has her own talk show on Sirius-XM Radio, has jumped on the band wagon with Lou Dobbs, stating that President Barack Obama should publicly present his birth certificate that is filed at the courthouse in the town he was born in to prove the authenticity of his American citizenship. Since President Barack Obama has not done that, they feel that he should be fired from his position. Since when did a US president have to prove the authenticity of their American citizenship? All the previous presidents were not required to do this, and the public did not demand it. But, because President Barack Obama is Black (mixed African and White to be precise), he has been under more public scrutiny than the previous presidents have been. The world has had higher expectations of him than they had of previous presidents. Like Lou Dobbs, people like Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh and Lynne Samuels, have been, or are currently, publicly stating what the general public really feels about illegal immigrants, people of color who are American natives, and about having a Black president. They fear the "browning of America".

To illustrate, when Micaiah was a university student in Wisconsin nearly thirty years ago, he was constantly asked for his ID because he was assumed to be a foreign exchange student. Because he did not fit the stereotypical Black who dressed slouchy, spoke with the same urban Black accent or was into sports, he was assumed to be a foreigner who talked proper English like a White person. Then, a few years ago, one of our neighbors was talking to us . He said, "The problem with the United States is that all the dumb Niggers were let in while all the smart Niggers were kept back in Africa." He went onto say directly to Micaiah, "But you are different from all the dumb Niggers." This neighbor was just as brazen and outspoken as the few mentioned above, yet this is how the general public, who are mostly silent, truly feel.

The fact is that the economic and social problems plaguing the United States has nothing to do with the legal or illegal immigrants coming in. These problems have been in existence for many years previous. As for jobs supposedly being taken away from Americans by immigrants, those jobs were ones Americans did not want to do, so the immigrants were either forced to take those jobs, or they chose those jobs willingly. In short, those blaming the legal and illegal immigrants only have their own selves to blame. As for President Barack Obama being required to publicly present his birth certificate that is filed at the courthouse in the town he was born in to prove the authenticity of his American citizenship, he has not done that because no other president has had to do that. Why should he have to because he's Black? If President Barack Obama is going to be required to present his birth certificate, then the future presidents, regardless of race, creed or color, should also be required to do the same.

Makedah bat Leah.

Earth To Lou: It Could Have Been Different

2009-11-19T14:36:00.000-06:00

Earth To Lou: It Could Have Been Different

Posted in Anti-Immigrant by Mark Potok on November 12, 2009

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It didn't have to end this way for Lou Dobbs. He could have been a contender.

But Dobbs, a supremely self-confident man who often mentions his Harvard education in private conversation, just wouldn't listen. Time after time, as the "Lou Dobbs Tonight" show he has hosted on CNN since 2003 grew more rabidly critical of undocumented immigrants, he was warned of the kind of people he was putting on his show. He was told that many of the "facts" he was presenting just weren't so. At first, he was gently called out for his defamations of Latino immigrants, then, as his tone grew sharper still, he was subjected to all kinds of public criticism from human rights groups, the journalism trade press, even a leading New York Times financial columnist. Instead of righting his course, or even slightly moderating his tone, Dobbs called his critics "commies" and "fascists." He fudged facts, defended earlier falsehoods, and promoted racist conspiracy theories. He fumed.

It all ended last night, when Dobbs announced on his program that he was resigning from CNN effective immediately. In a moment of supreme irony, he complained that public political debate was now overtaken with "partisanship and ideology," and promised to use "the most honest and direct language possible" in whatever future role he plays in public life. For once, he did not attack his critics.

My colleagues at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and I were some of those critics, and early ones at that. I began speaking to Lou Dobbs in 2004, not many months after he started airing virtually nightly segments entitled "Broken Borders." By that time, he had already run "reports" complaining about "illegal aliens" getting free medical care, educating their children in public schools, committing sex crimes, getting breaks on college tuition, filling the prisons and spreading diseases.

To my surprise, Dobbs answered my very first call immediately. He was interested in what I had to say, he said, and responded to my warning that an upcoming guest had ties to white supremacy by canceling the appearance. He asked that I keep him apprised of any similar situations. He said he was all in favor of multiculturalism.

That kind of back-and-forth culminated in Dobbs sending a five-person team from his show to the Montgomery, Ala., headquarters of the SPLC, in November 2004, after we contacted Dobbs about a guest who promoted the "Aztlan" conspiracy theory alleging a Mexican plot to "reconquer" the American Southwest. After much of our staff and I spent most of the day briefing Dobbs' people, they left saying that Dobbs planned a three-part series on extremism in America, and another on racism within the immigration restriction movement. And for a short time, Dobbs seemed open to hearing our criticisms and warnings. But that all came to end on his July 29, 2005, show, when he erupted over an SPLC report exposing racist elements in the Minuteman vigilante movement. Dobbs called us "despicable" and "reprehensible," although he did not dispute any of the facts we reported.

From there, things went south. That winter, we ran a story detailing members of extremist groups who Dobbs had put on his show. A few months later, we pointed out that in discussing the Aztlan conspiracy on the air, Dobbs used a map of the area Mexico supposedly coveted, explicitly attributed to the Council of Conservative Citizens — a group that has described black people as "a retrograde species of humanity." Then, on March 6, 2007, I was quoted on NPR saying that Dobbs was helping to mainstream conspiracy theories and propaganda that originated in white supremacist hate groups. Enraged, Dobbs called me a few days later to say that the SPLC and I had no integrity, and that, henceforth, we would be "adversaries." A couple of weeks later, I went on Dobbs' show to point out that Chris Simcox — the original founder of the Minuteman movement and a guest Dobbs had had on his air at least 17 times at that point — had told his followers that he had personally seen Chinese Red Army troops maneuvering on the U.S./Mexican border in preparation for an invasion. Dobbs seemed to find that funny, but he didn't repudiate Simcox.

Then, on May 6, 2007, I was quoted in a "60 Minutes" profile of Dobbs. CBS' Lesley Stahl pointed out in the piece that Dobbs had claimed in 2005 that "an invasion of illegal aliens" was "threatening the health of many Americans" and followed that up with a report claiming that 7,000 new cases of leprosy had been identified in America in the prior three years. (The truth is that there were about 400 new cases in the years in question, that leprosy is now an easily treatable disease, and that no one knew what role immigrants may have had in any leprosy case.) I criticized Dobbs' "journalism" in the piece, which sent Dobbs into a rage the next day on his own CNN show. He said he stood "100%" behind his bogus report, and he had his reporter re-identify the source of her allegations — a right-wing fanatic named Madeleine Cosman, who the SPLC had earlier documented telling an audience that "most" Latino immigrant men "molest girls under 12, although some specialize in boys and some in nuns." Cosman had no expertise in immigration or medicine.

The last time I was on Dobbs' show was on May 16 of that year, along with my boss, SPLC President Richard Cohen. (Our appearance followed by a day the printing of SPLC ads in The New York Times and USA Today calling on CNN President Jonathan Klein to retract Dobbs' false leprosy claim, as Dobbs himself refused to do so.) Our interview was preceded by a setup piece containing a completely new set of claims about leprosy. Now, Dobbs claimed that new cases of leprosy had "risen" to 166 in 2005. Nothing was said about the supposed 7,000 cases, and Dobbs never conceded any error at all. The mail we got after the show from Dobbs' supporters was memorable. "You people disgust me and I hope you burn in Hell," wrote one. "In memory of your appearance on Lou Dobbs, I will make a GENEROUS donation to a well known hate group in YOUR NAME." Another put it like this: "You can shove tolerance up your ass as far as possible. Hate is alive and growing!" And a third wrote to regret that cowboy days were over, otherwise "you and your associates would be hanging by a rope."

We fared a little better with The New York Times, where David Leonhardt wrote a long column concluding that "Mr. Dobbs has a somewhat flexible relationship with reality." Around the same time, the Columbia Journalism Review wrote that Dobbs was "tamper[ing] with facts" and "pretending the confusion was someone else's fault." Dobbs' response to all of this was to attack SPLC and the Times, informing his CNN audience that he would tell them "who's really telling the truth and who the commies are and who the fascists are who have the temerity to attack me."

In the years since, SPLC has regularly written about Dobbs, documenting the real truth about his various claims and pointing out his role in poisoning the debate about immigration in the United States. Our point was never to stop a robust debate about immigration — quite the contrary, we were all in favor of such a debate, but felt that it should be based on facts, not racist propaganda or conspiracy theories. Finally, in late July of this year, after Dobbs seemed to suggest that President Obama was not a U.S. citizen, SPLC President Cohen wrote CNN's Jonathan Klein to ask that Dobbs be fired. "Respectable news organizations should not employ reporters willing to peddle racist conspiracy theories and false propaganda," Cohen wrote. "It's time for CNN to remove Mr. Dobbs from the airwaves." The letter set off a chorus of similar demands from other human rights groups, and a movement by many of them to press that demand grew quickly. It concluded yesterday with Dobbs' departure.

Did it have to happen this way? Obviously not. But Dobbs never could hear anyone whose opinions varied from his own. When he was confronted by Stahl in the "60 Minutes" piece about his leprosy error, Dobbs' response was typical. "Well, I can tell you this," he told Stahl. "If we reported it, it's a fact."

Stahl replied, "You can't tell me that. You did report it."

Dobbs: "Well, no, I just did."

Stahl: "How can you guarantee that to me?"

And then, this gem from Dobbs: "Because I'm the managing editor, and that's the way we do business. We don't make up numbers, Lesley, do we?"

As it turns out, he did. No longer, however, at CNN, "The Most Trusted in Name in News." Not any more. But it didn't have to be this way.

Commentary On Article from AIsh.com

2009-11-02T00:37:00.000-06:00

I read Gideon Silverstone's commentary about the Michael Jackson Movie, "This Is It", which is the rehearsal he was doing for what would've been his upcoming "This Is It" tour in London. I have not yet seen the movie, but I'm waiting until it's out on DVD. Not only is it easier to watch movies on DVD so that Micaiah ben Malachi can describe the scenes to me without other viewers in the theater complaining about Micaiah talking to me in my ear, but we do not have to worry about the bus route and schedule of our local city bus to get to the theater and back home. Another reason for waiting until this particular movie's out on DVD is because Michael Jackson's death is still very painful for me to deal with. It's not that I'm focused on his death instead of the message in his songs, as it is the reverse. It is taking the big step of letting go that is difficult for me. Unlike many who idolized him as a performer and entertainer who danced and sang, I loved Michael Jackson for who he was as a human being with feelings. Not only did the lyrics in his songs convey messages of making individual changes to make the world a better place, but his songs about love, the pain of being mistreated, and feeling sad and alone showed that there was more to him than the dancer with all the wonderful dance moves and the singer with all the squeaks and squeals. Having been picked on and humiliated by adopted family members and classmates as a child, I could easily relate to what he sang about; such as the song, "Childhood". The more negative things people said about Michael, the more I was drawn to him. In fact, there were times when I got defensive at the utterance of a negative statement that I got angry. I was so drawn to him through his music that he felt like a close friend or relative to me. So, when he died, I felt like a part of me went with him. When Micaiah told me a few weeks ago about this new movie coming out soon, it made me cry. As much as I keep wanting to hold onto Michael Jackson, the idea of the movie was another reminder to me that this would be the last recorded performance ever and that I had to learn to let go. I have to stand on my own two feet and help carry on Michael's messages instead of keep looking back for Michael's physical existence. Yes, his spirit is still alive and can be our guide, but we all have to learn to let go of the physical and hold onto the spiritual. That is what I have been trying to work on since Michael's death.

About a week ago, Micaiah told me that he read on the Internet that Michael had recorded two new songs that he would be performing in his "This Is It" tour. When Michael Jackson, himself, announced that the upcoming tour was it, he said, "this is it". So, I, naturally, thought that the phrase meant that this was the last tour he was ever going to do, or this was the tour that his fans have been waiting for for fifteen years. This is it. Well, about five days ago, I was channel surfing on Sirius-XM Radio when I heard the beginning of a song I'd never heard before. Curious about the song, I listened. The song was "This Is It" by Michael Jackson. It is always nice to hear new material from Michael Jackson, yet hearing the song left me feeling sad and empty. Not only was there that reminder of his physical absence, but the usual power of energy in his music was duller. Yes, I strongly feel that he put his all into the song, but there was no more extra energy left in him to put in that drive that was in his past songs. Sure, he was older and it had been eight years since his last album, "Invincible", but the various problems he had over the many years and, in particular, the last six years, had taken a toll on him mentally and physically. The mental drain from his personal problems, in turn, drained him of his physical energy. I have since heard the song three or four more times and just found out before writing this blog entry that there will also be an album, which is the companion to the movie. To hear the song go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQichHlV_-4

Below is the lyrics.

Makedah bat Leah.

---

This Is It

Michael Jackson

This is it, here I stand
I'm the light of the world, I feel grand
Got this love, I can feel
And I know yes for sure, it is real

And it feels as though I've seen your face a thousand times
And you said you really know me too yourself
And I know that you have got addicted with your eyes
But you say you gonna live it for yourself

Oh

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby just understand

This is it, I can say,
I'm the light of the world, run away
We can feel, this is real
Every time I'm in love, that I feel

And I feel as though I've known you since a thousand years
And you tell me that you've seen my face before
And you said to me you don't want me hanging round
Many times wanna do it here before

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan

I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby just understand

This is it, I can feel
I'm the light of the world, this is real
Feel my song, we can say
And I tell you feel that way

And I feel as though I've known you for a thousand years
And you said you want some of this yourself
And you said you want to go with me all the while
And I know that it's really true myself

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on please baby understand

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby please understand

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan

This Is It!

This Is It

2009-11-01T22:47:00.000-06:00

This Is It?

Aish.com

http://www.aish.com/ci/a/68177057.html

This Is It?
by
Gideon Silverstone

Michael Jackson's farewell movie is a hit, but it also provokes some difficult questions.

When I was ten years old, during recess the kids in my class would hover around a ghetto blaster playing Michael Jackson's "Beat It" and we would break
dance. Thirty white kids at a Jewish school spending all of our spare time perfecting our respective moonwalks. Such is the power of fame.
Block quote start
One dancer reveals that he's searching for something to believe in, to make his life better – and this is it.
Block quote end

Nowhere is this clearer than while watching "This is It," the new movie which documents the final weeks of Michael Jackson's life with behind the scenes
footage of what was to be his farewell tour. Indeed the movie opens with interviews of various hopefuls who are trying out for a spot in Jackson's dance
troupe. Each of them explains why they want in so badly and their reasons are somewhat startling: this will be the best experience of their lives; Jackson
means so much to them; this is all they ever wanted to do and so on.

But one dancer reveals even more. He admits that his life is difficult. He's hit rock bottom. He's searching for something to believe in, something to make
his life better -- and this is it.

"This is it."

There's something sad in this revelation, and I suspect he's speaking for many of us fans. Why was Jackson so important to us? Because he was a great dancer?
A talented singer? An excellent performer?

Jackson was indeed all of these things, and this is abundantly evident watching the movie. He can still dance, and can still sing. At 50, it's quite remarkable.

"This Is It" will no doubt please Jackson fans for those reasons. It also contains most of Jackson's best known hits, and even features a remarkable new
Thriller video. One can't help but feel that this would have been a fantastic farewell tour. It's a shame.
Block quote start
I think Jackson himself was aware of the danger lurking behind the cult of celebrity.
Block quote end

But this isn't the only shame. The reverence with which Jackson is treated in the movie, and during his lifetime, is troubling. There are moments when those
watching Jackson's performances during the movie are what one should expect: singing along, enjoying the return of a talented performer. But there are
times when the people watching whip themselves into such a frenzy of dancing and cheering that it borders on worship. In fact, at one point Kenny Ortega,
the director of both the film and the entire tour, says "It's like a church in here. The church of rock 'n roll." And therein lies the problem.

When did we as a society begin worshipping singers, actors, athletes, or any human beings really? Why can't we restrain ourselves and enjoy someone's talent
without elevating him to a superhuman level? Clearly Jackson's personal life demonstrated that he had his fair share of problems. So why do we pretend
otherwise?

The cult of celebrity has become such a potent force that it borders on dangerous and I think Jackson himself may have even known this. While he loved performing
for his fans -- the movie makes this clear -- he did not enjoy the severe public scrutiny. And we fans are partly to blame for this. Perhaps if we had
treated him as a performer rather than a prophet, things would have ended differently for him.

I think one of Jackson's songs even alludes to his wish that people look inwards instead of outward to a "savior." "This Is It" ends on this note, with
Jackson's popular song "Man in the Mirror:"

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Perhaps on this one we should all take Jackson's advice.

This article can also be read at:
http://www.aish.com/ci/a/68177057.html

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Shooting In California

2009-10-31T16:25:00.003-05:00

The recent shooting in California of two Jewish men on there way to morning prayers is a great concern. The police detain but at this time has not arrested the suspect of the shooting who is Black. Three months ago a White man shot a Black security guard at the Holocaust Memorial in Washington. There have been incidents of violence against Jews all over the world, not just the United States of America. Makedah and I worry because we live in a community in which the people are Christians and Muslims. Since moving here, we have yet to meet any other Jews. There is a old saying " there is safety in numbers". However, we have no such safe haven to retreat to should someone wish to harm one or both of us. There are people in this world who are filled with hate and bitterness. Instead of welcoming diversity, they run away from it. My mother used to tell me, "it is so easy to hate and so hard to love in this world". It saddens us to know people have chosen to cause Jews to fear for our personal safety. These haters have so many misconceptions about what Judaism is about. It is doubtful they have ever had a relationship with Jews. They only know what they have been told and heard from others who are antisemitic. No one should be fearful of gathering to worship G*d nor those who live outwardly as Jews.

Micaiah b. Malachi

Halloween

2009-10-31T15:03:00.005-05:00

Well tonight is Halloween. A night when children dress up in costumes of varies super heroes and other persons, going door to door and getting lots of candy and other treats. While Makedah and I have no children between us, we plan to give candy to others people's children who come to our door. However, in the 8 years or more of us living in this house, we have yet to have even one trick or treater. Even though we are nice to everyone we meet, our efforts usually are met with being ignored or racist stares. It is difficult to live in a community which does not welcome Blacks, Hispanics or Asians. Neither does they welcome non-christians. Unfortunately for us we are a Jewish couple and one Black man and Asian female. It is hard to see all the little children and know we will never be able to get close to them, without having lots of trouble with their parents, other family members such as uncles, aunts,grandparents and their friends. We know these people are aware their isolation, racist attitudes and their disgust for disabled people hurt us. We also know they do not care. It seems their families, their homes and their jobs are closed systems to people like us. Many of these white families object to having mixed raced children, non-white son and or daughter-n-laws. They object to their children investigating and or converting to other religions. Makedah and I have met many open-minded children since moving here. We see them wondering the streets looking for unconditional love and unconditional acceptance from strangers, who are often children like them or adults. I have not wrote much since the death of Michael Jackson. I really respected him and his message of unconditional love and unconditional ac ceptance. There are many in this world who feared him. They feared his message. They were angered when this Black man wanted "white" children and went around the racist roadblocks put in his way. They were jealous and afraid of the respect and adoring fans he had amassed. I agree with Michael Jackson. Change must begin at home and in the home. We must change our conceptions about what makes up a family. Why can't a family be composed of a White man and Black woman and a family composed of White and or Black children whether by adoption or natural birth? Why can't a Black man and an Asian woman like Makedah and I have white and mixed race children in the same family? Why must a family be composed of a man and female? Gay and lesbian couples can raise a good family as any male and female could. The fact is this world is greedy, selfish, racist and evil. Halloween maybe a holiday in which children get candy, but it is also a day for children to be taught to be just as greedy, selfish and racist, sexist as their parents. I would like to see these children learn more about humility, sharing and caring. People who are unable to having children should not be shut out or made to feel bitter because they cannot share in the excited feeling of watching children have fun. Children are our future. Without them, there is no way we can change this world for good.

Micaiah b. Malachi

Memories Shared & Personal Memories

2009-08-27T04:06:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone and those who read our blog:

first, I wanted to mention that this Saturday would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday, thus, the previous posting called "We Have Something In Common". I'd meant to mention this in that posting but forgot in my excitement <giggle>. Second, I would like to share some recent memories people shared with me or that I, myself, was a part of, over the last two months.

As I shared with people my memories of Michael Jackson--that I was thirteen when he did his infamous Moon Walk and how that was the talk all over the junior high school I was attending, how some friends of mine and I sang "We Are The world" for a talent show, etc.--people shared their memories with me. A few days after Michael Jackson's death, my oldest daughter (stepdaughter) and Micaiah ben Malachi's ex came down to visit us for a day. As we listened to Michael's music on Sirius Radio and watched his videos on MTV and VH1, our daughter, who is now twenty-six years old, told me that, whenever she hears the song "Remember The Time", she always remembers the video of it. The video came out in 1993. Whenever that video was on MTV or VH1, she, her younger sister and Micaiah always happened to be watching it together. It became one of their favorite videos. At that time, she was ten and her sister was seven years old. A few days later, Micaiah and I were talking to a neighbor acquaintance. She was telling us that her daughter was about three or four years old during the popularity of Michael's "Thriller" days. I cannot remember if our acquaintance said that one of Michael's videos was on TV or if one of his songs was on the radio. Anyway, when one or the other was playing, her daughter proclaimed that, when she grew up, she was going to Mary Michael Jackson. I had to roar with laughter over that one because even for a three-or four-year-old, Michael Jackson was a girl's dreamlover or husband. This brings me to something I personally remembered.

I was thirteen years old at the time of Michael's "Thriller" popularity days. My adopted parents had been divorced for three years by this time, but I always visited my adopted dad on weekends and during the summers. My adopted dad had been renting out the upstairs bedrooms to a single mother who had a daughter. When I was thirteen, the mother's daughter was three years old. I was playing my "Thriller" cassette day and night repeatedly, so the mother and daughter became just as familiar with the music as my adopted dad did. Ten years later, I happened to drop into visit with my adopted dad and his new family when I learned that there was going to be a Sabbath dinner and that some guests were coming over. Not only was I invited at the last minute, but I was told that the single mother who was renting the upstairs was coming over with her thirteen-year-old daughter. Since I hadn't seen the mother and the daughter for over eight years, I wasn't sure how much the daughter would remember about me. One of the first things she told me as we were all chatting while eating was, "I remember you used to like Michael Jackson. You used to play his songs all the time." Until that moment, I'd forgotten all about those days, as many things had happened in my life from late 1983 to 1993. I don't remember what I said to her, but I remember being amazed over how clearly she remembered those days. First impressions, those that she could clearly remember, make lasting impressions. Sixteen years have passed since then. Micaiah and I were listening to Michael's music in our living room the day after his death when the memory of that young girl came back to me. I just had to laugh as I related the stories to Micaiah because it took a girl who was ten years younger than me to remind me of something that would otherwise have been dead in my bundle of memories I'd long forgotten. That would've been sad, especially since I'd made quite a lasting impression in a little girl's mind who was looking up to me like I was her big sister, entertaining her with Michael Jackson's music.

A few weeks after recalling that memory and relating it to Micaiah, Micaiah's ex and our two older grandsons came down for an all-day visit and barbecue. The older child is five years old and the other is two and a half years old. There was a little bit of wind blowing that day, so smoke and some ashes from the grill blew in our direction. Since Micaiah was cooking, he was in the direct line of fire. Noticing the ashes on Micaiah's arm, his ex jokingly commented that his skin was turning white. I replied that I hoped that he wasn't trying to be like Michael Jackson. The five-year-old, who I thought was further out in the backyard, quickly turned around, saying that he could dance like Michael Jackson. Thinking that he was joking, I had him demonstrate. While he could only do the basic motions of the Moon Walk, he did excellent wit the spin as if he'd been doing it for many years. It nearly brought tears to my eyes as I watched. Upon asking him where he saw Michael Jackson dance, he explained that he watched it on MTV. I told our grandson that it was "many years ago when Michael Jackson first danced like that; way before he (our grandson) was conceived or even thought of." It shocked Micaiah and I that a five-year-old could be so quickly influenced by anything, but then I had to remember how I'd once left an impression on a three-year-old's mind for her to recall and relate that to me when she was thirteen and I was twenty-three. The following week after the barbecue with our grandsons and Micaiah's ex, they returned and went with us to our local county fair. Thrilled over his new skill of dancing like Michael Jackson, he decided to try dancing at the same time of walking down the sidewalk. It was quite a hilarious thought, but I had to keep my laughter inside so that our grandson wouldn't think that I was endorsing the idea. In fact, Micaiah's ex even asked our grandson, "What is with this sudden Michael Jackson frenzy?" Upon returning from the county fair and relaxing for a little while from walking around all day, I fulfilled my promise to our grandson that I would play a couple Michael Jackson songs for him to dance to. I started out with "Heal The World". I got the impression that he hadn't heard any slow songs by Michael, as he said, "That's not Michael Jackson." It wasn't until he heard Michael's voice that he finally believed me. We followed that song with "Remember The Time", which he enjoyed more because the tempo was upbeat. Micaiah sang as our five- and two-and-a-half-year-old danced. Being that two-and-a-half-year-olds repeat everything they hear, our younger grandson tried singing along as well.

Finally, About a month ago, Micaiah and I were talking to the librarian that helps us find Jewish books and music. I made a joke about how the initials of her first and middle name matched Michael Jackson's. Not only did that get her laughing, but it prompted her to relate a recent incident. One of her grandchildren came into the room with a leather Superman glove and red cape. Unlike most of such leather gloves, this one had a silver-color-tinted thread woven through it to hold it together, which made the glove looked like it was sequenced like Michael Jackson's. The red cape, too, resembled Michael's red jacket. The first thing our friend thought of when she saw her grandson enter the room with the glove and red cape was Michael Jackson's attire, so she quickly reacted, saying something like, "Lose the glove." Confused with what was going on, her grandson looked at her as if to ask, "What did I do wrong." The little boy wasn't setting out to try to dress like Michael Jackson, just super man, but the first thought that flashed across our friend's mind was Michael Jackson. Thus, she was reacting to that thought. I had to laugh over that story, though, as I could just picture it being that her grandson was close to the same age as our five-year-old grandson, who likes to do his "Michael Jackson dance" as our grandson calls it.

Makedah bat Leah.

We Have Something In common!!!

2009-08-26T03:41:00.001-05:00

I mentioned in one of my previous blog entries that Micaiah and Michael Jackson had a lot in common--lifestyle, family upbringing, the area of the United States they grew up in, the kind of parents they had, etc. Well, as my way to cope with the pain and sadness over Michael's death, I'd been writing little tribute things or things that I remembered in the past with my friends and I. That's helped me cheer up. Well, a few days ago, I started thinking about Chinese zodiac signs out of the blue, and started looking up all of my friends and relations' signs. Micaiah and one of our grandsons were born during the year of the sheep, another relation was born the year of the ox, etc. Michael Jackson and I were born the year of the dog. I had to laugh at the irony of this when I looked up the years of the dog being that Michael's role in the Thriller video was the werewolf. Here are our characteristics as the dog. Not only do I agree with the description, but I've found the Chinese zodiac to be more accurate than other ones.

Makedah bat Leah

---

Dog:

Feb. 18, 1958 to Feb. 07, 1959

Feb. 06, 1970 to Jan. 26, 1971

Dogs are honest,straightforward,and friendly. They are extremely protective of themselves and their loved ones. With a passion for fair play and justice, they never fail to rescue you time after time. They may rant and rave, but they never rest until they right the wrong. They are true humanitarians and suffer with the world. In spite of their concern for others,social graces and fancy parties do not impress them. Having sharp eyes, they will see through people's motives. They are quite private about their personal lives and someone prying into their affairs make them secretive and withdrawn. Once you gain their confidence, they open up freely.

Once Dogs classify you, they rarely change their minds. There are few in-betweens. Dogs perceive things either in black or white. You are either friend or enemy. Luckily, they are good judges of character and have superb insight into human nature. Dogs are tolerant of their friends. Before they approve of you, the friendship must develop slowly with a variety of meetings and conversations. If they look you over and decide they can trust you, you remain in their hearts forever. If you need them, Dogs will be there.

When the time is right, Dogs work long and hard, but they know how to relax, and enjoy their home and loved ones. The Dogs have playful moods and a great sense of humor. They have quick emotions and if you offend them, they will snarl and insult you with expertise. They forgive with the same speed. Dogs are intelligent and well-balanced. With their stable minds, they make good counselors or psychologists. They endure during any crisis situation. They are trustworthy people and know how to keep a secret. Being efficient and very diplomatic, they can hide their prejudices well. Most Dogs have a comfortable home and do well. Dogs always defend what is theirs and have a high sense of value. Home and family come first,and Dogs will work to see that they have the best!

Only The Good Die Young?

2009-08-25T04:28:00.000-05:00

The toxicology report from the L.A. Coroner's office in the investigation of the cause of Michael Jackson's death was finally released to the public yesterday. According to the Associated Press, various drugs to help Michael Jackson sleep were found in his body. Basically, when one drug didn't work, the doctor gave Michael another drug. When the second drug didn't work, another drug was given. In the end, Michael was given a drug called Dipravan by I.V., which is only given in hospitals before surgery. According to the doctor, he checked on Michael Jackson about a half hour after he administered the Dipravan only to discover that Michael wasn't breathing. That's when he tried to resuscitate Michael to no avail. Now, with the toxicology results and the various raids on the doctor's properties, it's said that there's a possibility that the doctor will be charged with murder. As to whether he'll be charged with Second Degree or Manslaughter, that's not yet known.

I wasn't at all shocked over the news. Some people wondered whether Michael Jackson had committed suicide, but he wouldn't do that, especially knowing that he had children that depended on him. He didn't want to hurt his children by committing suicide. One thing I've noticed from reading history and now experiencing history is that it seems like those who have done all they could to do the right thing by addressing the social problems that plague our world end up dying young. Why is that?

When Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land, many of those who left with him complained about the hardships in the wilderness. They started questioning God (G*D). The many little miracles--the parting of the Red Sea, the Egyptians drowning in the Red Sea in their chariots, etc.--that Moses pointed out as these events unfolded, didn't seem to matter to the people. All they saw was that Moses was leading them out of familiar territory into the unknown to be stranded. Yet, many years after Moses's death, he's now remembered by Jews for being the best leader; the one who, with G*D's guidance, led us out of Egypt. When Jesus was carrying the message of the Torah to the common people, they were drawn to him. His messages spoke of brotherhood and treating "others as you would want to be treated". He also made G*D into a personal G*D. However, the Sanhedrin, who had power over the common Jews, saw Jesus as a political threat because this meant that the Sanhedrin could no longer control the common people. As a result, he was crucified. Jesus' message of universal brotherhood didn't die with him, though. His message still endures to this day. During the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. went to many cities throughout the southern part of the United States and spoke of equality for all regardless of race, creed or color. Even though such bills as the Voting Rights Act, which gave Blacks the right to vote, and the Civil Rights Act, which declared that people couldn't be denied services based on race or religion, were passed, there were still many Whites who felt threatened by Martin Luther King Jr. and his message. As a result, he was assassinated, but his message still lives on to this day. Not only have many more public places become desegregated since the 1960s, but we now have a Black president named Barack Obama. There are many others like the afore mentioned, but I don't want to bore the reader. Finally, Michael Jackson started out singing bubblegum music when he was part of the Jackson Five/The Jacksons. Then, in the mid 1980s, he started singing songs about "we", as a people on this earth, "are the world", affecting social change by starting with the "man in the mirror", and healing the world so that this "world can be a better place". (We Are The World by U.S.A. for Africa, Man In The Mirror by Michael Jackson, Heal The World by Michael Jackson) He also had White children not only because that's what he wanted, but also to state the fact that, if White people can have Black children, then Black people can have White children as well. As he stated in a song, "It don't matter if you're Black or White". (Black Or White) There were many who didn't like the fact that Michael had White children. As a result, various allegations were made against him for child molestation and sleeping with children. In an interview on a CBS program called Sixty Minutes, regarding these allegations, Michael said, "Jesus said to love all always". He went onto say that he saw God in the children's faces. The alleged charges were dropped, but bad publicity portraying Michael Jackson as a pervert in tabloids and news media prevailed. The next thing everyone learned on June 25, 2009 was that Michael Jackson was found dead at the age of fifty years in his rented mansion. Two months later, we now learn that he was murdered. All Michael Jackson was doing was carrying out the messages of love, universal brotherhood, and equality for all, which Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr. and many others not listed in my writing here carried out in their lifetime.

Though Moses was old when he died, everyone else mentioned here in my writing died very young. Why is that? Micaiah and I were discussing the answer to this question yesterday in my grief and anger over Michael Jackson's death. As I reflected more on Micaiah's answer during some quiet time, his answer made a lot of sense. Micaiah's answer to my question was that people who are evil feel threatened by those trying to affect social change. Those who work to affect social change shine a light on those who are unwilling to make changes. Those who are unwilling to make changes don't want to be told by others that they need to look at themselves in the mirror and make that change because this world is very ill and needs healing. They are happy with the world and their lives as it is. Thus, the evil people kill the messenger. As a result, it seems like the evil people live till they're old while the good die young. Moses, Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr. and the many others were messengers, but their messages are still alive. In turn, their spirits still live on. If we continue to carry Michael Jackson's message by living as an example, then all that Michael Jackson and those before him tried to do will not die. Like Moses, Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr. and others, Michael Jackson's spirit will also live on.

Makedah bat Leah.

The Orphan

2009-08-06T00:57:00.000-05:00

I am an orphan. But my parents are alive and well.

I haven't spoken to my mother in over ten years. And I might as well not be speaking to my father, who I call (he never calls me) every six months for an always disjointed, awkward five minute conversation.

My close friends are comfortable with me calling myself an orphan. Some of them have confessed that hearing about my childhood has scarred them. It's the acquaintances, the new people who pop into my life, who laugh nervously when they hear me call myself one. "Are your parents dead?" I shake my head. "Then how can you be an orphan?" And they look slightly tremulous as they wait for my answer.

For a moment, I think about not answering, just letting it go, letting them stay in their perfect, pristine plastic bubbles where parents are supportive, kind, there-for-you. Most of my observant Jewish friends have grown up in happy, healthy two-parent homes. How can I tell them about the kind of parents I've had?I stopped loving my mother when I was eight. It was a defense mechanism.

I stopped loving my mother when I was eight. It was a defense mechanism. I knew if I continued loving her, it would kill me. Over the years, the older I got, the more violent my mother became. The mental illness warping her mind caused her to lash out in horrifying, unexpected rages. A hug turned into a slap. A calm conversation led her to throw knives at my head. Compliments became death threats.

On the last day I spoke to my mother, she held me down after her latest attack and covered my mouth to muffle my screams. I was 17. I ran away the next day and didn't look back until I was 21, when I came back to rescue my sisters. For the three years that followed, I fought my mother for custody of one sister before I finally won.

My father ran away when I was four. While I watched, my infant sister cradled my arms, my mother broke a ceramic platter over his head because he had been cheating on her. (I still have recurring nightmares.) At the hospital, the doctor told my father if it had been glass, he would have died.

My father moved out soon after. When I was 21, after 10 years of not speaking, I asked my father how he could have abandoned us with her. He told me, "I grew up without a father. I turned out fine."

Evicted

When my little sister recently moved back to New York City with her new husband, she couldn't find an apartment. Though they had saved up money for the move, landlords were skeptical about renting a $1000-a-month apartment to young working-class folks who didn't make more than $20,000 a year.

At every place my sister and I looked at together, we heard the same questions. "Don't you have parents who can cosign a lease? Don't you have parents than can act as guarantors?" Don't you have parents? Every single time, we were reminded of having no safety net, no parents to fall back on, no family to take us in when there's no place to go, no parents to fix seemingly unfixable situations. "We don't have parents," we said.

My sister ended up moving into an apartment with a stranger looking for roommates. She answered the least shady, online ad that she could find and finally, she and her husband moved in. But a week later, U.S. Marshalls broke into the apartment and evicted everyone, including the roommate who hadn't paid $20,000 in back rent. My sister explained this to me in throaty sobs over the phone. It wasn't the first time she'd been homeless. But now, it was her, her husband and a cat with no place to go.

We talked about giving the cat up for adoption (I'm deathly allergic) so they could move into the one-bedroom apartment I share with my husband. But my sister couldn't. "The cat is family," she explained. I felt overwhelmed by my helplessness. I was the older sister. I had always been the pseudo-parent who fixed things. But I had no idea how to fix things this time.Within minutes, I was inundated with offers from friends who were willing to open their homes.

I did what I have always done to cope with impossible situations, I wrote about it. I even posted something on Facebook. Within minutes, I was inundated with messages, emails and phone calls from friends who were willing to open their homes to my sister, her husband and maybe even the cat.

I converted to Judaism because I spent a childhood fervently praying to God but never feeling comfortable in my parents' Catholicism. At 14, I first read about Judaism and was shocked to discover all my thoughts about religion in one slim "Introduction to Judaism" book. When I finally converted at 26, I wasn't looking for a new community or even a new family.

But that is exactly what I found.

Within an hour of being evicted, my sister and her husband were moving into a new place. As soon as they were settled, my sister called again. She wanted to know if she could borrow some books. "What kind of books?" I asked. "You know, books on keeping kosher, books on keeping the Sabbath," she replied. She didn't want to offend the religious Jews who had taken her in.

I let go of my biological parents long before my conversion. I was more than happy to replace my birth parents with Abraham and Sarah, even if they were only my parents in spirit. That was already more of a connection, a deeper one, than I'd ever had.

But I never expected that when Abraham and Sarah adopted me, the Jewish community would become my safety net, there for me -- and my non-Jewish sister -- if I needed it.

Published: Sunday, August 02, 2009

About the Author

Aliza Hausman

Aliza Hausman is a Latina Orthodox Jewish convert, freelance writer, blogger and speaker. Currently working on a memoir, she lives in New York with her husband who is pursuing rabbinical ordination.

Reaction to "The "Unfathomable" Arrest Of A Black Scholar"

2009-07-23T03:58:00.000-05:00

I read the article Micaiah sent to everyone and posted on our blog about the Black scholar who was arrested. He was arrested because he was reported to have been breaking into someone's home. When the police arrived was when they finally learned that the so-called burglar was the home-owner. Even though he had a key to get into the house, the White lady who called the police figured that he, probably, stole the keys from the home-owner and used it to break in. As was stated in the article, non-Whites are often portrayed to be dangerous, and, thus, end up behind bars for crimes they've never committed. Even when alleged charges are dropped, as was the case with Michael Jackson, and the prisoner's released, non-Whites are marked for life for the crime they were alleged to have committed. The family and/or the public treat that victim as if he/she was the criminal. In turn, his/her career is affected. They're fired from their jobs, or, in Michael's case, are badly publicized to the point that the public and/or family turns on them. Such alienation doesn't stop with the victim, however. Their immediate and extended families, and descendants are affected as well. they are mistreated and are told horror stories about their dad or mother, aunt or uncle, sister or brother, grandma or grandpa, etc. It gets to the point that everyone wants to believe the lie rather than the truth.

I remember an incident four years ago here at our home. It was about 9:00 at night when Micaiah and I heard a family altercation taking place at our next-door neighbor's house. The sound of shouting and swearing finally ceased an hour later, so we thought that the altercation had been resolved or dropped altogether for awhile. The next thing we knew, we heard a man's voice say to someone else, "I'm gonna get you, Bitch" as they proceeded to run down the sidewalk past our house. Fearing that the man was preparing to hurt the person, Micaiah retrieved his Beebe gun, which looks like a real pistol, while I retrieved my cell phone to call 911. Micaiah stood at our front entryway with the screen door closed with gun in hand while reporting the incident outside our house to 911 dispatch. Meanwhile, we saw the couple trace their way back to their house, passing our house once again. Suddenly, the line went dead. We figured that 911 wrote down our report, so we decided to pour ourselves some coffee while waiting for the police to arrive. The next thing we knew, Micaiah saw some bright spotlights shining on our house and I heard strange whispering outside our back door. I figured that the police had gotten the wrong address, so I offered to walk with Micaiah down to where the squad cars were located. As soon as Micaiah returned to the front entryway, he heard someone say, "there he is" followed by commands to come out of our house with our hands up in the air. Our house was entirely surrounded with a SWAT team. Confused with what was going on, I followed the instructions while they allowed Micaiah to drive his wheelchair slowly and carefully out onto our front porch. As we were exiting, the female cop recognized us, acknowledging that she had stopped traffic for us numerous times before. At that, the SWAT team lowered their guns while the female cop searched us thoroughly. Apparently, the woman who was being chased called 911 while we were on the phone with 911, stating that they saw a "Black man with a gun standing in the entryway" and that she was fearing for her and her son's safety. When the line went dead while Micaiah was on the phone, Dispatch wrote down the woman's report and disregarded ours altogether. So, when the police responded, they were going by what Dispatch told them. What it boiled down to was that we were portrayed to be dangerous, not ones who were out to protect someone and hold a perpetrator at bay until the police arrived. Since the female cop instructed us to not use our gun unless the perpetrator is coming into our house, we now don't react when we hear someone sounding like they're threatening to hurt someone.

A few weeks after that incident, one of our neighbors called the police to report a burglary. The neighbor must have insinuated that Micaiah and I may have been the culprits because the cop who responded came to our house to ask us some questions. We didn't know anything about the attempted burglary, as it had happened in the middle of the night and the force of entry was in the rear of our neighbor's house. Since the cop who responded was the same one on duty when we were almost arrested, he believed us when we told them that the neighbor often had many people over on weekends for drinking parties and that some of those people could've been the culprit.

what it all boils down to in the end is that Micaiah and I watch what we do and say. We also don't get involved with anybody personally or superficially unless they are close friends of ours.

Makedah bat Leah.

Someone In The Dark--Commentary & Lyrics

2009-07-23T01:21:00.000-05:00

A few years ago, someone gave me copies of some Michael Jackson CD's she had. One of the albums was "Thriller", but the edition I was given also had a brief interview of Quincy Jones, producer of the Thriller album. It also contained other songs that Michael did with Quincy Jones that weren't released on any of Michael's albums. One of the songs was called "Someone In The Dark", which can be found on an audio album called "The ET Storybook". That album was for those who'd never seen the movie, ET. Not only is the song very beautiful in it's instrumentation, but the lyrics are beautiful in that it reminds me of when I watched the movie and when Micaiah and I met. I wasn't too sure about this ET creature at the beginning of the movie, but I soon fell in love with him and wished that there was such a creature for me to meet and be friends with.

When people think of ET, people think of some kind of space alien. However, ET can also be viewed as someone who's here on earth by the way they're treated or feared because they're scared of what that person looks like or are intimidated by that person's intelligence. People of color are often treated like a bunch of ET's. Micaiah and I are people of color, and have been treated like we're different or something out of this world because of our talents and intelligence. We met in the early evening of November 16, 1995. It was dark by then here in the northern US. It wasn't until much later in our relationship and having watched the movie again and heard "Someone In The Dark" that I realized that the relationship between Micaiah and I was similar to the relationship between the boy in the movie and ET. Everywhere the boy went, ET was there.

Makedah bat Leah.

---

Someone In The Dark

Michael Jackson

All alone wishing on stars

Waiting for you to find me

One sweet night I knew I would see

A stranger who'd be my friend

When someone in the dark reaches out to you

And touches off a spark that comes shining through

It tells you never be afraid

Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow

A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow

Like it was written in the stars I knew

My friend, my someone in the dark was you

Promise me we'll always be

Walking the world together

Hand in hand where dreams never end

My star secret friend and me

When someone in the dark reaches out to you

And touches off a spark that comes shining through

It tells you never be afraid

Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow

A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow

Look for the rainbow in the sky

I believe you and I

Could never really say goodbye

Wherever you may be

I'll look up and see

Someone in the dark for me

Wherever you may be

I'll look up and see

Someone in the dark for me

Though you're gone star far away

Each time I see a rainbow

I'll remember being with you

Smiles coming through my tears

When someone in the dark reaches out for you

And touches off a spark that comes shining through

It tells you never be afraid

Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow

A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow

Look for the rainbow in the sky

I believe you and I

Could never really say goodbye

Wherever you may be

I'll look up and see

Someone in the dark for me

Wherever you may be

I'll look up and see

Someone in the dark for me

About Michael Jackson's Memorial Service, Reflection & Moving On

2009-07-13T01:04:00.000-05:00

I felt it necessary to do this to provide that closure to the last two and a half weeks. Though I wrote about it in my personal journal that Tuesday evening after Michael Jackson's memorial service, I never got around to editing it for our blog so as to eliminate wordiness until now, as I was still raw with deep emotion.

As I said, Michael Jackson's memorial service was on Tuesday, July 7. Micaiah and I watched it on CNN. The service was held at Staple Stadium, where, come to find out, Michael's last rehearsal for the London Tour took place the night before he died. The service began with an old Black spiritual being sung as Michael Jackson's coffin was being brought to the front of Staple Stadium. I don't remember the name of the song, but it was went something like "The King is coming". It was so beautiful and fitting that I almost started to cry. Of course, my eyes welled up with tears when his coffin was finally placed in front of the stage because it was the moment of finality. There were various speeches and performances. One particular speech was the one Reverend Al Sharpton made. To Michael's children, Al said something like, "The public said that your daddy was strange, but it was what your daddy had to deal with from the public that was strange." Yes, Reverend Al Sharpton did join in on making negative statements about Michael during Michael's trial, but what he said at his memorial service was perfect and couldn't have been said better. As the audience clapped, I stretched my arms out as if to hug Al. Marriah Carey performed I'll Be There at the beginning after the first speech following the placement of Michael's coffin. Because she was so choked up, she could barely get her voice to carry, but she got through it and her voice got better as she sang. The outstanding performance was Jennifer Hudson singing Will You Be There, which was a song from the Free Willie soundtrack. There's nobody who can do it as well as Michael did, but Jennifer was as close as you could get in her expressing the energy Michael did in the actual song. Then, there was a performance done by a little boy who was about ten or twelve years old. Not only did he sound like a Michael Jackson reborn, but come to find out at the conclusion of the service, the youngster was scheduled to appear with Michael in the London Tour. As this youngster sang, I could hear, feel and see Michael's spirit in him. There'll never be another Michael Jackson, but this youngster, though White, was as close as you could get. Hip-hop singer Usher also performed a song that he wrote in tribute to Michael. Unfortunately, Usher couldn't sing the whole song because he fell apart in tears. It was really heart-wrenching. Other performances and speeches were by Lionel Richie, Queen Latifa, and a Congresswoman who was part of the Black caucuses. The black Caucus is trying to push through a resolution in honor of Michael Jackson, which, unfortunately, has to be discussed on the House floor. Since the House is primarily made-up of White conservatives, pushing Resolution 600 may be a hurdle. If it does pass, it'll only be out of sympathy and public outcry from fans who know or hear about Resolution 600. At the conclusion of the service, before the pastor's concluding speech and prayer, the artists who performed sang We Are The World with Lionel Richie in the lead. Of course, the performance could never be repeated exactly in the same manner as the original performance back in 1985, but they did well with it. The performance of We Are The World was followed with children up on stage singing Heal The World. I remember when I first heard that song back in 1993 as if it was just yesterday or today. I had my radio playing while I was cleaning my apartment when Heal The World came on. I hadn't planned to pay much attention to the song, as the radio station was playing a bunch of garbage beforehand. Then I heard that Michael Jackson was singing. The next thing I knew, I was listening to every word. I'd never heard it before, but it touched my heart in the same way We Are The World did that I cried. In fact, the song reminded me of We Are The World. I knew that I couldn't afford the album it was on, but I was determined that I was going to, at least, buy the single. When I heard Heal The World, it had been eight years since I'd heard something as beautiful, like We Are The World. To this day, I cry a little from time to time when I hear Heal The World, but that Tuesday, July 7, I cried like never before when they performed it. I was crying so uncontrollably that I couldn't focus on just listening to the performance. I knew the words by heart, but I could barely hear them through my uncontrollable sobbing. Not only does the song touch my heart every time, but the true reality of the Michael Jackson era having ended--all the humanitarian things he did through his music and action, which was above and beyond what everyone else has done--finally sunk into my core. In fact, a few days after Michael's death, Micaiah and I happened to be talking to somebody who also loved Michael Jackson as much as we do. We exchanged our favorite things about Michael. Micaiah said that he liked everything about Michael; the person we were talking to said that her favorite was his dancing; and I, not really knowing what to pick since I, too, loved everything about him, picked the humanitarian things he did through his music and actions as my favorite part about Michael. I went onto talking about how there are so many who sing about fixing the world and address the social problems that plague our world in their songs but don't actually go out there to do anything about it. Bono of U2 is one such case. He addressed the problems but didn't go to the places affected. Michael, on the other hand, not only addressed the problems in his songs, but he actually went to the various places that were plagued by the various problems and gave money to help those places. Who could ask for more than what Michael did? Anyway, in my mind, Heal The World is like a We Are The World Part II, so it was fitting that both songs were performed back-to-back at Michael's memorial service. I had regained most of my composure by the time the children's performance ended, but I fell apart when Paris, Michael's daughter, stepped up to the microphone and tried to talk to the public. The most she was able to say was, "I just wanted to say that Michael was the best daddy I've ever had" before she broke into uncontrollable sobbing. She wanted to say a lot more, but she couldn't seem to gather herself together enough to talk. I wanted so much to hold her in my arms. I pictured myself holding her while she and I cried together until we couldn't cry anymore. Sometimes, you can cry yourself out so much to the point that you fall off to sleep. I envisioned me holding her while we cried, both of us falling off to sleep, and me holding her while she slept even if I awoke before she did. I guess you could say that I saw a little bit of me in her--that feeling of being abandoned or being alone in this world with nobody to depend on. Once the service ended and the two-minute interview of Larry King, who was sitting in the third row behind the Jackson family, ended, John stopped recording and we turned off the TV. I was going to play music while John made dinner, but I changed my mind. After the ordeal I went through, I needed it quiet and time to clear my head from all thoughts and emotions.

People cope with loss in different ways. While I seemed to wear my feelings on my sleeves, Micaiah didn't. He felt the same way as I did, but he wasn't' showing it. The other day, we were listening to Michael's songs when John commented on the fact that, on the one hand, it hurt to hear Michael's voice, yet playing his music keeps his spirit alive. He thought that he wasn't making sense, but I fully understood where he was coming from. As long as people like Micaiah and I continue to play his music, he's still alive in our hearts and minds. Not only would his voice still be heard, but his messages would still continue to live and be carried to other people's ears. For two and a half weeks, I've had many sleepless nights, thinking about the end of an era and shedding many tears, and hoping that the many who are currently saying good things about him continue to keep his spirit alive in that way. Yet, I continued to go on daily with business as usual--attending doctor's appointments with Micaiah and doing work around the house or on the computer. When we learned on CNN last Sunday about when Michael Jackson's memorial service would be, Micaiah and I debated on whether or not we really wanted to watch it. We were so pained by the loss that we really weren't sure whether we could take anymore of it. In the end, we decided to watch it. In my case, since we couldn't be there in person, watching it on TV was the next best thing. It also provided a sense of closure for me. I also knew that I would've felt terrible about myself for not having watched it. I'm glad now that we did and that we recorded it. Not only were there the speeches and performances, but there were video clips played to highlight. I don't know when the recording was made or where it came from, but at the end of Jennifer Hudson's performance of Will You Be There, a recording of Michael praying to God was dubbed in. At first, I didn't know who was speaking. As I listened closer, I realized that it was Michael's voice. Needless to say, that sent chills down my spine. Now that the closure has been made via the memorial service, it's now a matter of me accepting that God (G*d) probably took Michael at the right time. Micaiah said a week ago that he felt that G*D took Michael at the right time. I know cognitively that it was the right time, as Michael did all that he could do and all that God put him on this earth to do. Emotionally, on the other hand, it's hard for me to accept that. As many others have put it, he's "gone too soon." Yet, he would've still been enduring the pain and heartache from all the insults being hurled at him left and right and gossip surrounding him if he were still alive. As someone put it in their speech at the memorial service, "He's now in a place where "there's no hurt or sorrow"".

Since Michael Jackson's memorial service, I've already personally seen one instance in which Michael's spirit hasn't died. Just the other day, our two older grandsons and Micaiah's ex came down to visit us for the afternoon and for a barbecue. I don't know how it got started, but we were talking about something and I made a reference to Michael Jackson. I didn't realize that my eldest grandson, who is five years old, had heard me. The next thing I knew, he told Micaiah and I excitedly that he could do a Michael Jackson dance. He started walking backwards, which is one of the basic moves of the Moon Walk, and then spun and jumped around. I didn't know at that moment whether to laugh or cry, as I was remembering that I was only thirteen years old when Michael Jackson did that. It's been many years now, but it's as if it just happened yesterday. I've told a few other people who were twenty years younger than me about those "Thriller" moments. Like our five-year-old grandson, they didn't quite understand what those moments were like as I relived the moments through my stories. Still, it's fun to tell my stories. In fact, I even told our grandson that he and I would have to sit down someday and listen to Michael Jackson while I told him my stories. Whether that opportunity will arise or not, I don't know, but telling him that sounded good to me. I'm sure that there'll be many more like our grandson who will imitate Michael's singing and/or dancing in years to come. AT least, I hope so.

Linda (Makedah bat Leah).

Swim club president denies racism in pool controversy

2009-07-12T04:20:00.000-05:00

Swim club president denies racism in pool controversy

Story Highlights
Swim club president John Duesler: "It was never our intention to offend anyone"
"He knows what happened at the pool that day," day care director counters
Duesler: Club is "very diverse," and had reached out because area pools had closed
Duesler says club's board has yet to decide whether to reinstate center's contract

updated 8:05 p.m. EDT, Sat July 11, 2009

From Susan Candiotti and Jean Shin
CNN

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- The president of The Valley Swim Club on Friday strongly denied charges of racism after his club canceled the swimming privileges of a nearby day care center whose children are predominantly African-American.

John Duesler said he underestimated the number of swimmers who would come to swim at the club.

"It was never our intention to offend anyone," said John Duesler. "This thing has been blown out of proportion."

Duesler said his club -- which he called "very diverse" -- invited camps in the Philadelphia area to use his facility because of the number of pools in the region closed due to budget cuts this summer. He said he underestimated the amount of children who would participate, and the club's capacity to take on the groups was not up to the task.

"It was a safety issue," he said.

The Creative Steps Day Care children -- who are in kindergarten through seventh grade -- went to The Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley on June 29 after the center's director, Alethea Wright, had contracted to use the club once a week.

During their first visit, some children said they heard club members asking why African-American children were there. One youngster told a Philadelphia television station a woman there said she feared the children "might do something" to her child.

Days later, the day care center's $1,950 check was returned without explanation, Wright said.

She was dismissive of Duesler's comments Friday.

"He knows what happened at the pool that day," Wright told CNN in a telephone interview. "I was embarrassed and humiliated."

She called it an "unfortunate situation," adding, "I know what happened; the members know what happened and a higher power knows what happened."

After news reports of the incident, the office of Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pennsylvania) said Specter sent a letter to the club president asking him to reinstate the contract with Creative Steps, saying, "I think that you would agree that there is no place for racism in America today."

Duesler said he appreciates the senator's concern, but the club's board has yet to make a decision of how it will proceed.

"If we're going to revise our policies here, we need to make it so for all the camps," he said. "I just don't think we're prepared for that."

Duesler earlier in the week told two Philadelphia television stations the children had changed "the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club, a comment that protesters outside the facility Thursday said showed that racism was involved.

Bernice Duesler, John Duesler's wife, called the negative response her husband has faced since the incident "unbearable."

"He's not one of the good guys -- he's one of the great guys," she said, holding back tears. "He doesn't deserve this."

She added, "If there really was a racial issue that happened, my husband and I would be the first one[s] picketing."

Jim Flynn, who said he was one of the club members who made a complaint against the children, told CNN this week it was not racially motivated.

"There were a lot of children in the pool and not enough lifeguards," he said. "As general members we were not told that they were coming. If we knew, we could decide to not come when the pool was crowded or come anyway. We could have had an option."He also said invitations to two other day care centers, neither of which contained minority children, had previously been withdrawn.

Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school, told CNN on Thursday it would offer Creative Steps Day Care use of its facilities this summer.

From Ordination to Conversion- Rabbi Alysa Stanton

2009-07-07T00:03:00.000-05:00

On June 6 of this year, Alysa Stanton was ordained the first African-American female rabbi and is scheduled to take the pulpit at Bayt Shalom in Greenville, North Carolina this August. JDate President Greg Liberman got the chance to sit down with Rabbi Stanton to congratulate her on her wonderful achievement and discuss the conversion process, interfaith marriage, relationships and more!

At the time, I was naïve; I didn't know I'd be the first African-American woman rabbi. I didn't know until after I was accepted and the story broke. But, if I was the 50,000th, I would still be doing it.

Greg Liberman: There are some members of our site who are not yet Jewish, who talk about their willingness to convert and their desire be part of the Jewish community. What initially drew you towards Judaism?

Rabbi Stanton: I wish I could say it was one specific moment, because it wasn't. I look back on my life now, Greg, and I unabashedly believe in G-d, and I see the puzzle pieces. My first six years were spent in Cleveland, Ohio and then we moved into Cleveland Heights, a Jewish neighborhood. The residents had Mezuzot on their doors and we didn't know what they were. My uncle, who was a devout Catholic, attended synagogue and wore a yarmulke, gave me my first Hebrew grammar book when I was 10 years old.

I was a seeker and as an adult I studied in England for a year during my undergraduate program. During that time, during one of the breaks, I had this urge to go work on a kibbutz, but I chickened out at the last minute. People ask me if I was born Jewish, and I say 'Yes, but not to a Jewish womb.' I had to make it legal, so I converted in my early 20s. But it wasn't one certain event; I didn't wake up one day, scratch my head and say, 'I think I'll become a Jew. What can I do to make life more complicated? I'll become a rabbi.' It wasn't like that at all.

Greg: At what point did you decide to head down the path of becoming a rabbi?

Rabbi Stanton: I was very involved in the Denver Jewish community. I didn't start out as a Reform Jew, so when I first walked into Temple Emanuel in Denver, heads turned. But, it wasn't 'What are you doing here?' Instead, it was 'Oh, another new face.' And so, I came back but I was leery about Reformers until I learned that Reform Judaism was about a choice, an informed choice.

I think the turning point was when we hired our first cantor who was a woman, Regina Heit, and she taught me trope. And the first time I attended Torah, it was literally like something stirred within the depths of my being. I had a hunger, a thirst to learn more. I was already teaching religious school and music, and then I became a cantorial soloist and then a prayer chaplain. People along the way were saying, 'You should go to rabbinical school, you should go to cantorial school,' but I thought I was too old and didn't have the means to uproot me and my child's lives..

The last sign of inspiration for me was a 53-year-old man who was seeking a Melton course in Judaic studies. He was a lawyer and packed up his family and went to a Conservative seminary. At that point, it was like, Okay, open the door and point the way. So, I went to my rabbi and I got his blessing and applied. At the time, I was naïve; I didn't know I'd be the first African-American woman rabbi. I didn't know until after I was accepted and the story broke. But, if I was the 50,000th, I would still be doing it.

Greg: You mentioned that you adopted your daughter before starting this process. What are her thoughts on your ordination and the attention it has received?

Rabbi Stanton: She's an old soul and she's an amazing young woman. She's now 14 years old. She had a traditional conversion before the ink was dry on the adoption papers because I didn't want any questions regarding her status as a Jew. Having a rabbi as a mom has taught her to live in a fishbowl with grace.

Greg: I was sitting down with our rabbi a couple of weeks ago and he explained the regimented process in which synagogues interview people from rabbinical school. I went to law school and it sounds very similar to that interview process. At what point did Bayt Shalom become the congregation that most interested you?

Rabbi Stanton: Well, as you said, there's a rigorous interviewing process that's called placement where all congregations seeking rabbis and all rabbis seeking congregations converge on one campus during a 4 or 5-day period and it's brutal. But as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Luckily, I was Bayt Shalom's first choice and they were mine.

Greg: I saw that Bayt Shalom is both a Conservative and a Reform congregation. Is that the case?

Rabbi Stanton: Yes, it is duly affiliated. It was a Conservative congregation and it joined the Reform movement a couple of years ago. I'm their first Reform rabbi.

Greg: So, the Conservative members attend different services than the Reform members?

Rabbi Stanton: Hopefully we have a happy medium; we'll have to explore. You know I come from a traditional background, so I'm able to do both and we'll see what happens. We'll use a little creativity.

Greg: As an African American, how do you think your unique cultural perspective will benefit you as a rabbi and your congregation?

It's easy to like someone or love someone when they're being good to you, but when the rubber meets the road, when things are difficult, and when there's a crossroad or a crisis, that's what really defines a relationship.

Rabbi Stanton: I haven't been asked that. Good job. I'm a rabbi first and foremost, who happens to be an African-American female. I'm not an African-American female who happens to be a rabbi, and they're not mutually exclusive. So, I don't come from that perspective. I'm coming as a rabbi and hopefully as holistically as I can.

I happen to believe in a power greater than myself that I choose to call G-d. I had one congregant who was an atheist. His spiritual power outside of himself became a doorknob because he had to trust that the knob would turn to open the door each time he exited the room and enter into a world of spirit. So, I guess I have a kind of a unique perspective there.

Greg: In talking with folks who've converted to Judaism, it seems that oftentimes their families aren't as supportive as yours have been.

Rabbi Stanton: I would be remiss to say that they weren't surprised. I think they thought it was a phase and that I was exploring Judaism as I had explored other religions. I think by the time I got to my beth din and the mikvah, they kind of figured this is the real deal. It took some time, but they are now amazing and very supportive. In fact, I had been planning the ordination service for a long time and I bought a tallis in Israel that was very special to me. I had people come from 13 states and Canada to witness my ordination. Before the ceremony, my Pentecostal sister called me into a room and presented me with a tallis. She had worked with my rabbi and my cantor and picked one out for me.

Greg: As a rabbi and a former therapist, what advice can you give to JDaters when it comes to looking for a soul mate?

Rabbi Stanton: I believe in beshert but, I believe there is no magic when it comes to soul mates and every relationship takes work. I believe that we grow into love; not fall in love and I believe that any relationship worthwhile takes time and takes work, hard work.

Greg: What type of advice have you given people on how to foster meaningful relationships?

I shot up in bed, literally in the middle of night, and I said 'Who am I to judge? Who am I to say someone's union is less sacred, less holy because they are not Jewish?'

Rabbi Stanton: It's easy to like someone or love someone when they're being good to you, but when the rubber meets the road, when things are difficult, and when there's a crossroad or a crisis, that's what really defines a relationship. I encourage couples to work hard through their issues and to realize that a relationship is like fine wine or a violin; it takes time to nurture and to grow.

Greg: I've read that you were one of the first responders to the Columbine incident when you were a therapist.

Rabbi Stanton: Yes. Not at the high school though. What people didn't realize is that the event had such a ricochet effect. The siblings of the students who were there and friends and family, it just went on spiraling.

Greg: What are your thoughts on interfaith marriages? Since you've converted yourself, I'm interested to hear your perspective.

Rabbi Stanton: I was raised in a city where there was an understanding among rabbis that no interfaith marriage would be allowed. When I came to rabbinical school, I just assumed that was how it was all over America. In Cincinnati, interfaith marriages is not only condoned, it's encouraged and I struggled. I struggled 'til I think it was January or February and I shot up in bed, literally in the middle of night, and I said 'Who am I to judge? Who am I to say someone's union is less sacred, less holy because they are not Jewish?' It was at that moment, I decided that I would perform interfaith marriages under certain conditions. There will be guidelines. While I believe our tradition is rich and strong, we have to acknowledge the demographics and the changes that have been happening within Judaism. I would rather embrace a couple than have them leave the synagogue and our faith because they were rejected because they grew to love a non-Jewish spouse.

Greg: Thank you very much for your time. Hopefully you will officiate many JDate weddings in the future.

Rabbi Stanton: Well, thank you. Thank you very much.

My Reaction to Michael Jackson's Sudden Death

2009-06-26T07:15:00.000-05:00

Today is a very sad day for many. First, Farrah Fawcett, one of the leading actresses of the TV show, Charlie's Angels, died yesterday of anal cancer. That show was one of many popular shows during the mid 1970's. I never was into the show, but my adopted family was. Still, for many Farrah Fawcett fans who admired her, the news of her death, though expected, is hard to take. Second, the King of Pop named Michael Jackson also died yesterday of cardiac arrest. Nobody expected this, as this was sudden. Everyone was publicly told that Michael Jackson was fine and that he was preparing for his tour in London, which was to start in two weeks.

I hadn't planned to watch the evening CBS news but decided on it at the last minute. The first headline bulletin that flashed across the screen at the beginning of the news was the death of Farrah Fawcett. However, before Katie launched into that headline, she began with the news of Michael Jackson's death, which CBS had just received within minutes of going on the air. Michael died at 2:26 PM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), so it was 4:26 CDT (Central Daylight Time) here. An hour had passed before the public officially learned of his death. Of course, when the news anchor first blurted out the words, "Michael Jackson has just died", I initially thought that someone had pulled a terrible trick by putting such a headline up for her to read from the teleprompter to the public. But, as the words seemed to flow out of the news people's mouths like water, I began to realize that nobody had pulled a terrible trick. Then I thought, "am I dreaming all this, or is this real?" After watching the entire evening news and the local news, I decided to switch to CNN in hopes of more coverage about Michael Jackson's death. John and I watched CNN for about three hours as many talked about his popularity, the accusations and alleged charges filed against him for acts of pedophilia, and his recent attempt at making a comeback in his upcoming London tour. Then, we switched back to CBS for their hour-long special on Michael Jackson in which they talked in brief about all the things people reflected on extensively on CNN. So, I'm quite grief stricken, which is why I've been awake since 3:15 AM.

I'm not going to go into a long history lesson here about Michael Jackson's music career, but his career started in 1968 with the Jackson Five. As many pointed out, Michael stole the show and became the lead singer of the Jackson Five through and through. I think I was about five years old when I first heard a song by the Jackson Five. The song was called Ben. Of course, I didn't know until many years later that I was listening to the Jackson Five. It wouldn't be until I came here to the States from the Philippines that I heard many more songs by them over the years. Even when he came out with his Off The Wall album in 1979, I didn't know much about the Jackson Five. I was introduced to his music by the deejay saying, "That was Michael Jackson." I shall confess here that as a nine-year-old, I couldn't understand how a man could sound like a woman. I was taught, and observed from listening to people's voices when they sang or talked, that a man's voice is very deep and a woman's voice is mid-range or very high. So, whenever Michael's name was mentioned after his songs were played, I initially thought that the deejay was, probably, pronouncing the name wrong. Then, I got to thinking that it was possible that the deejay was right and that Michael was a woman with a boy's name. Of course, I never told anybody I was surrounded with at the time about this for fear of looking like an idiot. Still, I loved his singing--the excitement he put into the dance music, and the love and soulful sound in his ballads. As the year of 1979 passed, I soon realized just from listening to the radio and my friends talking about Michael Jackson that he was, in deed, a man. Still, I never asked then or down the road, when I learned about puberty and voice-changes in males, why it was that Michael's never changed. I did wonder but decided to never ask because of many people's negative talk about his voice. Some were saying that his voice never changed because he went through a sex change that failed. Others spoke of him as a faggot, etc. Not liking the negativity and the derogatory ways people made fun of him, I decided to keep my wonders about his voice to myself. It was one thing for people to imitate his singing style or mimic his squeals just because you enjoy his music, but it was another when people did it to poke fun of him pretending to be a girl. Then, there was the inevitable Thriller phase when that album came out at the end of 1982. All through 1983, everyone was blasting that album on their stereos and boob boxes. Whenever one of the songs from that album was playing on the air waves, the stereo, which was playing low, would suddenly boom with sound, filling houses, backyards, cars, etc. That was certainly the case at the Minnesota Academy for the Blind during their summer program. I think that it was later that fall at a Church youth group meeting that we watched the Thriller video. It was like watching a fifteen-minute-long horror movie, so it was scary to me. I wasn't as scared as I normally would've been over a horror movie, though, because I knew who the main character was that was playing the evil monster--Michael Jackson. Perhaps it was his all-around gentle personality and kindness in his voice whenever he sang or talked that made me feel safe, like he would be right beside me to protect me. I know that it's a strange way to explain all this, but it's the best way I know how to in words. Even in 1984, when Prince came out with Purple Rain, Michael Jackson and his music still never left the popularity scene. I think that it was the fall of 1984 when that mishap in which a pyrotechnic act for a Pepsi commercial got out of control and Michael's scalp was burned. I found myself praying at Sunday church the next day for his recovery. Of course, I felt funny about it as I prayed, but I reminded myself that, though he's a popstar, he's still a human being like the rest of us. Even popstars need to be prayed over. In March of 1985, the song and album, We Are The World by U.S.A. for Africa, came out. Someone copied the album for me on cassette, but the recording was very low quality. I hadn't planned on it, but a friend of mine from a recreation group for blind people called me at the beginning of April, suggesting the idea that a bunch of us get together to sing We Are The World at the group's annual talent show that always took place in may. I, too, thought that it was the coolest idea, so I transcribed the lyrics into Braille and print for everyone that was going to be involved, and made copies of the actual song on cassettes while my friend practiced on the piano. For hours on end, we practiced in our own homes and together until we had our solo parts down to a T. Since there wasn't going to be thirty or more people in our group, as was featured on the actual song, each of us had many solo parts that came in at different times throughout the song. Of course, when we got together to do all this, we worked our hardest, but it was for enjoyment, not to win any awards for it. Yet, after we finished singing at that talent show, we got a standing ovation. At the end of each talent show, judges voted on the best three talents, and those three best end up performing at the Old Log Theater, a high-class performance theater. At the talent show in 1985, we won first place. The other two played a musical instrument. Needless to say, my friends and I looked at each other, wondering whether this was for real or just a dream. It wasn't until my adopted mother hugged me and my friends and I were gathered together in a huddle that I realized that I wasn't dreaming. So, we practiced some more for the next two weeks so as to keep ourselves brushed up. We mingled in the lobby for a little bit while the audience was being entertained by other performers before the three best performances from the talent show were scheduled to step up to the plate. While the first two performers did their thing, we mingled quietly backstage. Then, when our group was announced, my name was mentioned as the main one who assembled the group and production work. I gladly took the credit, but the credit was actually to be to my friend. I even told him that, but he didn't say yes or no to it. So, in historical terms, I'm the one who assembled our group and worked on the production. Once again, we got a standing ovation at the Old Log Theater. The fame was nice, but I'm glad that performing never became my career, as I was getting mentally and physically exhausted by this point. I listened to the rest of Michael Jackson's songs that came out in the years that followed 1985, but I also heard many more songs by the Jackson Five, which helped me put all the pieces into place from beginning and on. I liked a lot of songs by the Jackson Five, but there were more songs by Michael Jackson, himself, that I liked more. Rather than writing a long list of all my favorite songs, I'll pick one or two from the 1970's through the 1990's--Off The Wall, The Girl Is Mine, We Are The World, Man In The Mirror, Heal The World and You Are Not Alone. I loved many of the dance club kind of songs, but off The Wall was my favorite one out of all of them. Otherwise, my other favorites that I listed were either ballads or songs that are meant to make one focus in on themselves and how they are contributing to the world, or should be contributing to the world.

As I said, while there was a lot of reflection on Michael Jackson's career and popularity, there was also reflection on his hard times. Yes, the good and bad come together as a package when you reflect on someone's life and the impact they may have made in your own life. However, it seemed like for every good thing that was mentioned about Michael, that was followed by something bad about him. Sure, dangling a baby over the balcony may not have been the wisest thing to do because the infant could've fallen out of his arms, but people made a bigger deal about that than they did about the guy who held his baby near a crocodile's mouth. The crocodile could've easily grabbed the infant out of his arms. To me, there was no difference in the actions. Both are cases of endangering a child's safety. The fact that Michael Jackson's children were White was the underlying issue. It's one thing for a White person to have Black children, but it was another for a Black person to have White children. People are more willing to accept the former but not the latter. What also bothered me were those who talked about him like a dirty dog, like Lisa Marie Presley, suddenly coming out to express how they were confused, were sorry about Michael's death, and were sending their condolences out to his children and family. To me, if you're going to say something good about me, why don't you tell it to my face rather than waiting to say it at a eulogy or put it in writing to be read by a news anchor on some major TV and radio network. If Lisa Marie Presley was so heart-felt about Michael, then she should've told him that upfront while he was alive rather than make the statement now, especially since she was his former wife and had a way to contact him personally. It's quite funny how people do stupid things like that. The irony of Michael's death was that John and I were just talking about Michael and his well-being a few days ago. We feared that we would, one day, read a headline talking about his death and how he "mysteriously died." While it's not a mystery here how he died, people are wondering whether there was a case of drug abuse or reactionary problem with some prescription drugs. Whatever the case be, I believe that it was the stress over the years and the anxiety over the upcoming tour that took it's physical toll on him. A person can only take so much before their body simply cannot take anymore and gives up. The person's spirits may be high, but that doesn't mean that the body is able to handle the stress that can come with whatever comes their way. As I've heard many who were interviewed say, "Michael was anxious about the upcoming London tour." I think that that was due in part to the fact that he hadn't toured in awhile coupled with the bad publicity he's received over the last fifteen years. Who wouldn't be anxious over trying to make a comeback when in that situation? Before commercial breaks, clips of his songs and videos were played. When they played a little bit of We Are The World, it was all I could do to fight back tears as I reflected on the popularity of that song and remembered when my friends and I performed it at the talent show and at the Old Log Theater. A few of the other members of U.S. A. For Africa, like Ray Charles, have already passed, and now Michael Jackson is in that next world with him and others.

Well, I guess I will conclude here. I just hope that people will focus on all the good things that Michael has done to help those in need rather than focus on the bad publicity. He changed the face of pop music, but he also did songs that make one look into themselves and the world around them. Now, he's "The Late Great King of Pop, Michael Jackson", which was a hard thing to write. Not only is it quite a long title, but such a title as "The Late Great" applies to one who's died.

Linda

Minnesota

My Reaction to Shooting in Holocaust Museum

2009-06-19T03:06:00.000-05:00

I know that it's been a week since the incident, but I fell ill and then had to catch up on tasks that had to be put aside as a result. That was unfortunate, as I sincerely wanted to write about it within twenty-four to forty-eight hours of the incident.

The shooting of security Guard, Steven Johns, at the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C by accused assailant, James Von Brunn, occurred on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. James Von Brunn was a White Supremacist while Steven Johns was Black, but there were many tourists inside the museum that included Christians, Jews, men, women, and children. On the one hand, the shooting took me by surprise in that it was a horrific tragedy. On the other hand, I wasn't surprised because I've read, seen, and personally experienced the covert and overt racism from Blacks, Whites, and Jews, and the anti-Semitism from Christians.

My husband, John (Micaiah ben Malachi), is Black and Native-American, and I'm a dark-skinned Asian from the Philippines. Black separatists, like Micaiah's father, have called Micaiah "Uncle Tom" because he emulated White culture and mannerisms. Micaiah was also attacked by some Black gangs in 1994 because of his no-drug policy stance and because he was associating with Whites and Native-Americans instead of with Black people. When my stepdaughter was trying to apply for a job in our small town seven years ago, employers she talked to by phone told her that they were hiring and encouraged her to "come pick up an application". But, when she arrived to these businesses, she was immediately told that they weren't hiring. When we met one-on-one with a rabbi at our home six and a half years ago, we were told that our "situation was too overwhelming for his congregation to undertake". On the surface, he was referring to our disability and our inability to drive. Beneath the surface, however, he was referring to our race as he admitted to us that an Ethiopian guy was attending his synagogue only for the congregants to stare at him like he was some kind of animal and exclude him from the various synagogue functions. Then, five or six years ago, a Christian volunteer group was going to people's houses throughout our small town, doing yardwork and cleaning windows for the disabled and elderly. Someone in the community must have told them about Micaiah and I, so the group came to cut our grass and clean our windows. They also planted some beautiful flowers and vegetables in our flowerbed. We found their work to be admirable, so we decided that we would hire one of the members for pay to continue cutting our grass. However, as time progressed, we realized that nobody from the group was willing to take the job, as nobody called or showed up at our door. We knew that race and class weren't the issue, as they had Mexicans and Blacks in their churches. Thus, we came to the conclusion of anti-Semitism. Unless we were willing to convert back to Christianity, they didn't want anything to do with us socially or otherwise. These are only a few of the countless number of our experiences.

Way before now President Barack Obama started campaigning for the presidency, I'd heard such US radio and television commentators as Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh and Lou Dobbs whine about the "browning of America". They were referring to the high influx of Hispanic and Somali immigrants as well as the intermixing of races between Blacks and Whites through marriage and the offspring that they bore. A few of our White neighbors have told Micaiah ben Malachi and I how they felt that Africa sent all the "dumb Niggers here to the United States while they kept the smart ones back in Africa". During President Barack Obama's campaign last year, many people in the news media were interviewed about how they felt about Barack Obama possibly becoming President. While race was the underlying issue in that they didn't want a Black man for president, they felt, on the surface, that Obama was too "inexperienced" to be a president. We've also had a number of people espouse the same rhetoric to us. Then, about two weeks after President Obama was elected, there was a headline on CNN's website about a White man from Mississippi threatening on various chatrooms to assassinate Obama. At the same time, one of our neighbors, who we had hired to help us with yard work last summer, had started giving us the evil eye every time he saw us because he didn't like the fact that Obama was going to be our next president. People do expect a lot from leaders of their countries, and they criticize them for their policies. Ever since President Obama was inaugurated, I've heard various radio and television commentators say that they hoped that Obama failed as president. Many people did criticize former President George W. Bush for his foreign policies and the war in Iraq, and accused him for the down-spiraling economy. However, it seems that I've heard and personally met more people express their expectations and make their criticisms about Obama more than they have about any of the previous presidents of the United States. Many of their expectations of Obama were unrealistic and the criticisms were nothing but negative. Finally, there was the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, June 10. Some people were publicly and privately outraged either because they couldn't believe that this had happened and that there were still White Supremicists still out here in different countries espousing their rhetoric in various publications on and off the internet, or because it reminded them that racism, Nazism, and anti-Semitism was far from dead but just lurks beneath the surface like a shark constantly waiting for its pray. At the same time, there were those programs, like World Have Your Say on the BBC, who didn't discuss the topic on their call-in show because most of the bloggers on their website wanted to talk about something else altogether. This made me very angry. While the upcoming election in Iran was important on Thursday the 11th and Friday the 12th, and the protests in Iran after the election were important at the beginning of this week, I felt that the shooting at the Holocaust Museum was as equally important.

Two days ago, United States Attorney General, Eric Holder stated that he felt that the United States was a "coward" for not discussing race relations more than they do. Not only do I agree with him, but I feel that his assessment applies to all the countries of the world as a whole. We may not be able to stop all publications and other actions endorsing bigotry and hatred, but we can certainly, and should, discuss these issues more than we do in our homes and in public.

Linda (Makedah bat Leah).

Minnesota

Holocaust museum closed in tribute to slain guard

2009-06-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

Holocaust museum closed in tribute to slain guard

Story Highlights
Museum in Washington remains closed after guard killed, suspect wounded
Stephen Tyrone Johns died "heroically in the line of duty," museum says
Suspect is 88-year-old white supremacist, law enforcement officials say
Question: Should convicted felon von Brunn have been allowed to own weapons?

updated 16 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum remained closed Thursday, its flags lowered to half-staff in tribute to a security guard gunned down by a man authorities identified as a rifle-wielding white supremacist.

Stephen Tyrone Johns was shot and killed while working at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday.

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more photos »

Later in the morning, the Metropolitan Police Department; the D.C. office of the FBI; the U.S. attorney's office and other federal and local officials will hold a news conference to discuss charges against the accused gunman, 88-year-old James von Brunn of Maryland.

The gunman entered Washington's crowded and solemn Holocaust museum on Wednesday afternoon and shot security officer Stephen Tyrone Johns. The man was then shot and wounded by other guards, authorities said.

A six-year veteran of the museum's security staff, Johns later "died heroically in the line of duty," said Sara Bloomfield, director of the museum.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Johns' family," the museum said.

Von Brunn is a Holocaust denier, well-known to human rights groups for decades, who created an anti-Semitic Web site called "The Holy Western Empire." The Southern Poverty Law Center, which focuses on human rights, said von Brunn has "an extremely long history with neo-Nazis and white supremacists."

He has repeatedly claimed "The Diary of Anne Frank," an iconic diary written by a teenage girl who was hiding from Nazis with her family, was a hoax. The man shot the guard on the day the museum was to stage a play based on Anne Frank and two days before what would have been her 80th birthday.

Investigators found a notebook in the suspect's car listing other locations in Washington that he may have targeted, a federal official told CNN.

Von Brunn entered the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday and immediately shot Johns with a rifle, said Chief Cathy Lanier of the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department. Two other security guards returned fire, according to Lanier and the museum statement. Witnesses: 'Panic' inside museum »

Sirens blared as emergency vehicles converged on the area, which is near the Washington Monument and other popular tourist attractions. The museum was full at the time, with a "couple of thousand" people inside, said William Parsons, chief of staff at the museum.

Von Brunn served six years in prison for trying in 1981 to kidnap Federal Reserve Board members because of high interest rates. He blamed his prison term on a "Negro jury, Jew/Negro attorneys" and "a Jew judge," he said on his Web site, "Holy Western Empire."

One of many questions is whether von Brunn, as a convicted felon, should have turned in his weapons or been barred from owning them.

The U.S. Park Police has asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to trace the firearm, an effort that is expected to provide its original sale and ownership.

An FBI official said there was no warning or threat against the museum.

Both Johns and von Brunn were taken to George Washington University Hospital, said D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty. Johns died at the hospital. Von Brunn was in critical condition, Fenty said.

Johns, 40, was a resident of Temple Hills, Maryland, according to a statement issued by Wackenhut Services Inc., which has provided security services at the museum since 2002.

"Obviously there are no words to express our grief and shock over the horrific event that took place at this museum today," Bloomfield, the museum director, said. See where the museum is located »

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, said von Brunn has "an extremely long history with neo-Nazis and white supremacists." Discussion: Is the U.S. too tolerant of hatemongers? »

Witnesses to the shooting described blood on the floor and chaos within the museum's halls.

Visitor Maria Hernandez told CNN she heard five shots and saw the wounded security guard.

"It was definitely a security guard; he was down bleeding on the floor," said Hernandez, 19. "He was face down. His back ... blood was coming out." Watch Hernandez describe what she saw »

"Never take your guard force and security people for granted," he said. "They did exactly what they were supposed to do to protect people in the museum." Watch another museum visitor tell what he saw »

Dave Pearson, a sixth-grade teacher in the Washington area, said he was on the museum's fourth floor when he heard a loud noise.

"At the time, we're visiting and all of a sudden there's like a boom, and all of a sudden they told us to stop where we're at," he told CNN. "Only thing we heard was a boom, and that was it." See more photos from the scene »

The shooting sent shock waves throughout the nation's capital and elsewhere.

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"I am shocked and saddened by today's shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum," said President Obama, who just days earlier had spoken emotionally about the Holocaust when he visited Buchenwald, a former Nazi concentration camp with Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel.

"This outrageous act reminds us that we must remain vigilant against anti-Semitism and prejudice in all its forms," Obama said Wednesday. "No American institution is more important to this effort than the Holocaust museum, and no act of violence will diminish our determination to honor those who were lost by building a more peaceful and tolerant world." Law enforcement analyst talks about how this could have happened »

Israel issued a statement through its embassy, expressing sadness and condemning the attack.

The Anti-Defamation League said the shooting "reminds us in the starkest way where the spread of hatred can lead."

Happening "at the very place that was created to remember and teach about evil in the world," the attack "is an immediate reminder that words of hate matter, that we can never afford to ignore hate because words of hate can easily become acts of hate, no matter the place, no matter the age of the hatemonger."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned "this apparent bias-motivated attack" and said it stands "with the Jewish community and with Americans of all faiths in repudiating the kind of hatred and intolerance that can lead to such disturbing incidents." Watch a discussion of what fuels hate crimes »

The museum canceled a performance scheduled for Wednesday night of a play about racism and anti-Semitism, based on a fictional meeting between Anne Frank and Emmett Till, the teenage victim of a racist killing in the United States.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, were among those planning to attend the play, which was written by Janet Langhart Cohen, the wife of former Defense Secretary and U.S. Sen. William Cohen. Watch the Cohens describe what happened »

Langhart Cohen told CNN that Anne Frank's young life was ended by people filled with hate. She said it was hard to see that same hate manifest itself at this place of remembrance.

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Broken Bridge--Commentary

2009-05-30T04:58:00.000-05:00

Broken Bridge by Lynne Reid Banks is about a fourteen-year-old boy named Glen who had come with his cousin, Nili, to visit Israel. Instead of the wonderful time she envisioned Glen would have, as she had in London when she met with her Uncle Noah and Cousin Glen, Glen is murdered by an Arab within hours of their arrival in Israel. As the story unfolds, the family is already divided. There was Noah's first wife and children. Then, there was his sister and her family, and his parents who all live in Israel. In addition, Noah and his second wife and children were living in Canada. They are divided in their feelings about Israel and the expansion of Israel's borders during the Six-Day War in June 1967. Israel's borders were by conquering land from the Arabs. In the years to follow, Jews and Arabs fought. Whenever the Arabs attacked, the Jews fought back in self-defense to protect Israel's borders. Glen had never been to Israel before, but because of what he had heard and read about in the news, about all the fighting, his vision of Israelis was that they were all Barbarians who did nothing but kill. Nili, on the other hand, felt kinship ties to Israel and its people.

When the news of an Arab attacking an Israeli was broadcast on television, Nat and Miriam, Noah's parents, argued the merits of having expanded Israel's borders in 1967. Nat felt expanding Israel's borders caused problems with Israeli troops retaliating against Israeli demonstrators, but Miriam disagreed. She felt Israeli troops had to defend Israel at all cost. Nili was questioned by police a few days later about Glen's murder, but she refused to identify one of the culprits named Mustapha in a police line- up. Even though Mustapha and his nephew, Feisal, were the assailants, Nili refused to identify Mustapha among the various photos because she believed he had saved her life. Feisal needed to complete a loyalty test in order to belong to the Palestinian resistance. His task was to kill the first Jew who came close to the alley he and his uncle hid in. The first Jew was Glenn. Feisal was crazed with killing and wanted to kill Nili but Mustapha insisted Nili be left unharmed. Yonatan, Noah's son from his first marriage with Donna, had been in the army, fighting Arabs who were shooting and throwing rocks at him and the rest of the Israeli troops. Nimrod, Nili's brother, had heard nothing but bad things about Arabs. Yocheved, Nili's aunt, had contempt for Arabs. Israelis were often killed by Arabs and Yocheved immediately accused an Arab of having committed the murder even before it was confirmed whom the assailant was. An Arab village was located near Yocheved's home. She felt Israel's borders were rightfully expanded. The neighborhood Yocheved lived in was originally occupied by Jordan. Lesley did not feel that expanding Israel's borders was right. Valerie, Noah's second wife, came to Israel with their eight-year-old daughter to meet with Noah and his family and for Glen's burial. Valerie shared Glen's sentiments about Israel and it residents being barbaric. Like the police officers that interviewed Nili, some of her relatives felt Mustapha never saved Nili's life. All they could focus on was the fact that Glen was murdered. In fact, Nimrod was so angry with Nili for refusing to identify Mustapha as the culprit that he refused to speak to Nili for awhile. Nili's other relatives, such as her mother, Lesley, Shalom, Yocheved's son, and Lev, Nimrod's friend, remained neutral in their opinions regarding Nili's decision. They supported her in whatever Nili decided to do. Lesley did not realize one of the killers of Glenn was the Arabic man she had met some twenty-five years ago. At that time, both of them were teenagers. He was a vendor, selling nuts, and she often bought them from him. Despite Mustapha's contempt for Jews, he still talked to her from time to time back then, but they never became close friends. If Lesley felt Mustapha should have been re-arrested, she did not show it because she wanted to be supportive of Nili. Shalom on the other hand, was torn. On the one hand, he understood Israel's right to defend its borders, yet he felt Arabs did not deserve to be shot at or be accused of crimes if they were innocent. After all, he had a coworker and friend named Ali who invited him to his house for dinner. They also did favors for each other. Meanwhile, Lev, Nimrod's friend who had just immigrated from Russia, had not heard anything good or bad about Arabs, therefore, he was not influenced by majority or minority opinion about Nili's decision. In the end, Ali was drunk and trusted his friend Shalom with confidential information. Shalom relayed Ali's story to the authorities. It was about a person hiding in the next-door house acting strange and being the possible murderer. Although Shalom did not want to break Ali's trust, he wanted the mystery solved. He did not want to be accused of treason. He also did not want to carry the guilt of having not told authorities what he knew, especially if the possible person Ali had spoke about might commit another murder. In addition, it was his way of doing what Nili was supposed to have done; that was to identify and convict Mustapha. Feisal, who had been living in house to house was captured, and Mustapha was killed by a land mine while trying to cross over the Jordan River to his old village on the West Bank.

Even though this book was published back in 19942, the war between Israeli troops and Palestinians continue to this day. Likewise, the same issues are debated among Jews and Arabs in the Diaspora. As Micaiah ben Malachi and I were reading this book together, we thought of the same issues outlined in the book, and how it rang home in our personal lives. In 1994, Micaiah was attacked by Black separatist gang members in broad daylight on a street corner in a metropolitan city as he was heading back home from a video rental store. A Muslim man came out of his store and rescued Micaiah, bringing him into the store until the police arrived. Eleven years had passed since then. Micaiah and I had moved from a large town into a quiet, small community. One of our neighbors told us about a store that sold tobacco products much cheaper than the other stores in town. Micaiah and I decided to shop at that store. Upon walking into the store, Micaiah and the clerk who greeted us froze. Naturally, I thought something was terribly wrong only to learn the man Micaiah had been telling me about was the same man running the new store our neighbor referred us to. I became elated and thanked the man for saving Micaiah's life. I did not care that he was an Arab or that he was a Muslim. The fact that he had saved my future husband's life was all that mattered. If the man had not rescued Micaiah, then I would have never met him. Three and a half years have passed and the two of us tried to build a relationship with the Muslim man and his family. His family showed us much warmth and acceptance as people who were strangers as they were in town. We learned over time the family was Israeli Arabs who lived in Jerusalem. Some of his family lives in the United States while others remain in Jerusalem. Still, the fact that he was an Arab and a Muslim did not bother Micaiah or I. The man's generosity and kind personality was foremost in our minds. In the first year of the re-established relationship, I vouched for his children's character at our local public library so that they could get a library card because the clerk viewed them with suspicion and contempt. We also hired his son to help us with work in our yard, we ate meals with him and his family at the store and in our house, and one of his older sons confided to us some things about the family background. However, when Hezullah attacked Israel on July 25, 2006 and war broke out between Hezbullah and Israeli troops, our relationship with the Israeli Arab man became more distant. Despite our efforts not to make the battle an issue, the Arab man remained aloof and mistrusted us. He was still kind to us, but he would not say much whenever we asked him how his relatives in Jerusalem were fairing. All he would say was, "It is very bad." That following school year, an altercation took place at our local high school in which one of the man's sons was accused of attacking a White student for no reason. Upon investigating the situation, police stated the Arabic boy was "out of control" and "he was like an animal". The Arabic boy was defending himself as any street fighter would. It was evident the White student was the instigator. However, none of the White students or teachers defended the Arabic boy. The boy was arrested and had to appear in court. We gave the man legal advice in preparation for the court hearing. No matter how hard we tried to connect with the Arab man through our actions and assurances our religious differences and views about Israel vs. Palestinians was not an issue in our relationship with him, he was still determined to maintain the separation between Micaiah and I as Jews, and he and his family as Muslim Arabs. Needless to say, Micaiah and I were deeply hurt. We felt he and his family were the only ones in this small town we could be close friends with. Micaiah and I stopped at the man's store for a visit while out on our Shabbat walk. The man was gone, but two of his sons were there. We talked and ate. Our conversation was fun and lots of jokes, and other part serious. We learned their father has always hated Jews. The children, on the other hand, had wanted to maintain a friendship relationship with us. We were told we were different from all the other Jews they had encountered when they lived in Israel. Since that meeting, most of the man's children have gone back to Israel. Two of them did return earlier this year and opened a new store. We have seen them in passing, but the closeness we had with the family seem to be no more.

Our relationship with his children was similar to Shalom and Ali's. We were surprised when one of his sons pulled up in his car across the street from us a month ago to greet us. I was so overjoyed I almost ran through traffic just to hug him. Unfortunately, he did not have much time to talk, and I feared being hurt again if he was made to go back to Israel by his father. When Shalom addressed his dilemma in the book, Micaiah and I could not help but think about our relationship with the Arab man and his family. If we suspected or knew that one of his sons had killed another Jew, would we turn the son in, or would we just turn our back simply because we knew the son and saw the good qualities he had before he became a murderer? For me, my decision to turn him in would have nothing to do with whether he was a Jew, Christian, or Muslim. It would be difficult because I knew him before he murdered somebody, but the fact that he committed murder would be enough for me to turn him in. Micaiah differs with me, though. If he gave is word to keep information confidential, it would remain so regardless of the situation. Micaiah would advice the murder to turn himself in rather than break an oath.

Makedah bat Leah.

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"We Are the World"

Single by USA for Africa
Released	March 7, 1985
Recorded	January 28, 1985
Label	Columbia Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones
Chart positions
#1 (US Hot 100) #1 (UK Singles Chart)

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