Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and Photos

Many Americans living in Israel must still have fond memories of that ‘pagan’ festival known to many as Halloween. Originating in Medieval England and Europe, when belief in witchcraft, hobgoblins, and sorcery was the mode, the festival, in which people dress up in strange and often scary costumes, hollow out pumpkins into smiling ‘jack-o-lanterns’, and go around the neighborhood ‘trick or treating’ for sweets and other goodies, is something many of us “Anglos” did when we were young back in our countries of origin. Israelis have never caught on to this idea, although the festival of Purim has some similarities, in which people also dress up in costumes, go to parties, and make loud noises against a devil-like character known as Haman.

Belief in the underworld and in witchcraft is practiced here to some extent, especially by young kids who really have no idea what they are getting themselves involved in; often with disastrous results. Even exorcism against dibbuks and other demons has been practiced in Judaism throughout the ages, although these practices done less in today’s modern world. The fun side of Halloween is something that many people who grew up in countries like America consider as normal to them as eating apple and pumpkin pie. While those large, orange members of the squash family are not found in Israel, a close cousin, the dlaat is readily available here; and those craving real pumpkin pie can easily satisfy their craving by using dlaat pulp instead of pumpkin. Even the American and English version of this ‘witch’s festival’ is not thought of the same anymore; and parents have to be careful when their kids go out ‘treating’ due to some unscrupulous people giving the kids more than what they bargained for; with sometimes real poisoned apples right out of a Snow White tale.

Having this tradition as part of my background in America, my children were able to take part in it as well when we lived briefly in the U.S. in the early 1990’s. Going around the neighborhood with them in suburban Atlanta brought back memories when I used to go out with my friends and try to fill up a pillow case with all kind of stuff that my mom had to sort out on my behalf afterwards. We used pillowcases simply because they were stronger and held more stuff. We also used to do a few ‘tricks’ as well; especially against neighbors who were disliked, including putting dog poop in a paper bag on someone’s porch, lighting it, and then ringing their doorbell. You can imagine what happened when the person tried to stamp out the fire! Throwing eggs and other stuff on doors and windows of houses was great fun as well.

Although this holiday may never really catch on here, some people, including Israelis who lived for a time in America, may throw a Halloween party, with all the imagination they can conjure up for decorations, costumes, and party food and drinks. There are enough problems here and plenty of dibbuks around (some say one just became a government minister) to come to the conclusion that this fall festival occurring at the end of October, is best left to the Americans and the Brits.

A proposal has been put forward to replace the traditional menorah State Seal for Israel. As you see the new state seal will feature a Condom in the center instead of the menorah. The logic is quite simple, this seal is a better representation of Israel’s government policy, and here’s why. The Condom represents the end to productivity and manufacturing, destruction of the next generation, protection for pricks and while doing all that still provides you with a feeling of safety while you’re getting screwed!!

So, has he started packing? You never can tell. For the relatively low amount of €7.5 million, three years after purchase at €35 million, FC Real Madrid is willing to say bye-bye to their famous number 23 Sir David Beckham. At the same time, elsewhere, German newspaper “Frankfurter Neue Presse” reports that the President of Maccabi Netanya Soccer Club, millionaire Daniel Jammer, seems to have a lot of faith in his team, but believes a help from one not-so-anonymous player might get it going even better.

Jammer admits he played with the idea and simply did not object when he was asked if he’d be willing to host the star on the Israeli team. Who wouldn’t? Meanwhile Maccabi Netanya players and followers enjoy a real good laugh, estimating that it might take the new player awhile to get things sorted out and he would have to seat on the bench at first.

The people in the “Frankfurter” took the same news item much more seriously, as it appears. After really thinking it through they came up with interesting insights into the weighty reasons for which most celebrated football player Beckham would reject the offer to play for the Israeli team. First of all, Israel, as we all know, is a terror struck area. Beckham might also not be so tempted to play in the Israeli league for its mediocre level. And let us not forget Mrs. “Posh” Beckham, who would probably not be too enthusiastic as to getting herself and her three young children to leave their current home in Spain for Israel.

But, wait, what’s so bad about living in Netanya, Israel? Wasn’t it just last week that an Aussie tourist declared Netanya women the best looking women in the whole world?

Some people I know from “the old country” had been planning a trip to Israel this fall, but cancelled it, partially due to the “injustice” of the war in Lebanon. The following letter is my reply:

Dear ……,

I’m also very sorry you guys decided to “delay” your trip here. Many tours and private visits were “delayed”, but on the other hand, many more visits have occurred; by non-Jews as well as Jews.

The circumstances which brought all of this about still plague this region and Americans may not have the true picture as most attention is now focused on events in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as with (Daffy Duck loving) Kim Jong Il in North Korea; not to mention Iran.

Israel started the year with the best intentions, including new Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s pledge to begin a withdraw from parts of the West Bank, following the painful August 2005 disengagement from Gaza. This should have made the Palestinians happy. But what did they do? Why they attacked an Israeli patrol, killing several soldiers and capturing Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Israel reciprocated by attacking Gaza to pressure the Hamas-led government there into releasing Shalit. Israel also ‘invited’ several P.A. parliamentarians to be ‘guests’ of the IDF until the release of Shalit.

When all this maneuvering didn’t work, the good Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and the “Hezbollah Friendship Society” did some ‘maneuvering’ of their own by pulling off a similar attack on Israel’s northern border, also killing more soldiers and capturing two more: Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, both reserve soldiers (Goldwasser had only been married 3 months before this incident occurred). About the same time, the Sheikh and Co. launched a bunch of their famous pop bottle rockets into Israel, resulting in Israel attacking them big-time.

Now, bear in mind that the Hezbollah Friendship Society (H.F.S.), because they are so friendly, like to locate themselves in the middle of heavily populated areas (Like the old Jude n’Jody furniture commercials, they love folk). That’s why Israeli Aircraft had so much trouble in ‘rooting’ them out. That’s also why that well publicized incident occurred when that house containing all those poor people was bombed, killing many of them (much less than the erroneous Lebanese and Red Cross information noted, however).

Yes, Lebanon did get bombed a bunch and a lot of innocent folk got killed. A number of innocent Israelis got killed too, though much less. However, we did suffer a significant amount of property damage; and this included more than 10,000 square hectares of agricultural and timberland, much of which will take 50+ years to grow back. With all this said and done, The Sheikh is now a hero, and Israeli leaders including P.M. Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz are castigated as losers, with many crying for their dismissal. Goldwasser, Regev, and Shalit are still captured as well.

I think Bush is mad at Israel for not “stomping a mud-hole” in Hezbollah, as should have been done; but this may still happen, and the good Sheikh knows this all too well. That’s why he still is lying low. Real low!

Despite all those UNIFIL and so-called Lebanese Army troopers patrolling Lebanon’s border, Hezbollah still has another 10,000 or so pop bottle rockets left, plus some bigger stuff. Israelis now feel more vulnerable than ever before, with no effective ‘anti-pop bottle rocket’ defense in hand.

Besides we’re all looking East toward that country run by the Mullahs who aid and bankroll the H.F.S. They and that even friendlier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are conjuring up some even bigger pop bottle rockets with something even more powerful to eventually shoot at Israel. Only one of these going off, and it’s all over.

So, when you talk about peace and justice, the question to ask is peace and justice for whom?

I still think you should eventually plan a trip here, and then you will see all of the facts for yourself. You also need to see where it all began (Christianity), which was also during a very volatile time (the Romans were not nice guys).

Take care and have a happy Thanksgiving.

M

This is another story about the serial killers we have on the roads lately. This 20+ driver was caught driving his BMW (apparently the weapon of choice for reckless drivers) on the new Toll Highway 6 at 204 KM/Hour (close to 130 MPH). The driver from Dimona was stopped by police and was found to have 19 previous traffic convictions.

Drivers that noticed the car called from cell phones to police and reported the reckless driver driving violently at great speeds. The driver had his own version of course, he said there was no way he could have gone this fast. His license was taken from him and he is going before the court soon.

The police have been taking some steps forward in the case against the Israel Train executives. The train accident in Beit Yehusha last year killed 5 and injured 7 passengers. The police has been questioning over 100 train employees. It now believes there is substantial evidence to file charges of death by negligence against several key executives. Train CEO was called into questioning and it is suspected that his negligence was a factor in the accident.

The police reported that 2 days after the accident at the railway intersection a Rader device was installed that should have been there earlier and wasn’t. They suggest that if the device was there prior to the accident it may have been avoided.

This is first case where the police go after the executives. In past cases the charges were brought up against the train operators in the field and not the executive level.

Not so long ago, people around the world believed Israelis ride camels to work. Nowadays, in the globalization era we seem to be living in, you have TV and satellite broadcasts from all over the world, or even Google Earth to tell you exactly how every desolate place on the face of the earth looks like.

The only problem is that for so many people Israel is still in the context of CNN’s “Breaking News: Middle East burning” (so soothing to see absolutely nothing about Israel on their front page these days!). And though Israel is in a sense “where the grass is green and the girls are pretty” and has progressed tremendously and gained very good reputation in the technological and medical fields, the immediate association with Israel is not tranquility and tourism – it is rather hostility and terrorism…

This week the Minister of Tourism Yitzhak Hertzog is calling for an urgent meeting regarding the crisis in the local tourism market, with an alarming 40% decrease of incoming tourists in 2006, mainly due to the recent war. The plan is to run an intense 3-year campaign (at the cost of NIS 50 million per year), targeting mainly North America and Western Europe.

A lot of money-related issues are involved here, of course: whether the campaign really needs that much money, whether the state of Israel shouldn’t try to first heal itself and only then invite tourists in, and whether the real problem is actually the high costs of flights and accommodation…

But tell me something, is New York, for example, less expensive or less dangerous? It’s all about reputation. And thinking of the globalization era again, I sometimes just wish that some day people in other countries will go to a store and the seller will be convincing them by saying: “take this product, trust me, it was made in Israel!”
I LOVE TA.

The Israeli religious establishments curse it, and the secular community loves it; but the reality is that the Tiv-Taam chain of non-Kosher supermarkets is fast on it’s way to becoming the number one supermarket network in Israel. And this is in spite of several very provocative television programs such as the consumer watch dog show ‘Kolboteck’ that revealed substandard poultry products being sold there. Why has this company, whose stores have been in existence for more than five years, managed to become so successful, despite efforts to smear it and even close it down? The answer is class.

Yes, class, that word which is often used to describe someone or something really special; and that is a cut above other entities, despite it being not available to more than 60% of the public who profess to keeping either mildly or strictly Kosher. Keeping to their motto: “there is no type of meat that we don’t sell, these truly up-scale, European style of supermarkets offer everything from pork to rabbit, to ostrich to wild game, and all kinds of sea foods as well. Though in the beginning the first Tiv-Taam stores were heavily patronized by Israel’s Russian speaking population and occasional foreign diplomats, it didn’t take long for the Israeli “Sabra” population to become avid customers as well. Anyone going into a Tiv-Taam branch on a Saturday (that’s right, Saturday) morning will see the store literally full of people, purchasing everything from a few ‘odds and ends’ to the week’s grocery list. Though more expensive than most other supermarkets, the price of one’s shopping foray can be offset by purchasing an annual “minui” or membership, which entitles the card holder to daily discounts on many featured items.

The network also claims to have one of the largest beverage selections, including foreign wines and beer. Items such as Oriental and even Mexican-type foods are available as well, making the chain very useful for people planning parties and other events. Each store also has its own ‘in-house’ bakery, with everything from freshly baked breads to a rich variety of cakes and cookies. As for their dairy department, the network has perhaps the most varied assortment of European cheese available in Israel, with everything from real English cheddar to the best Swiss, Italian and Scandinavian cheeses.

For most of its patrons, the Kolboteck and other programs did not deter them from shopping in these stores, which are open till 8 p.m. on Fridays, and from 10 a.m. on Saturday. Chicken and other poultry products are still sold there, and people still buy. One wonders why other meat items were not dramatized by the media, whose partial intensions (at least by the religious community anyway) may be to close down the highly successful network. Despite this, and having to pay numerous fines for selling ‘treif’ and being open on weekends and religious holidays (expect Yom Kippur), the chain appears to be going from strength to strength, and the chain’s owner and board chairman, Yaakov Tribitch, is laughing all the way to the bank. His corporation, Tiv-Taam Carmel Holding Ltd was listed by Dunsguide’s 100 as the 49th largest corporation in Israel for 2006.

Supermarket chains offering Kosher food products, such as Mega and Supersol, have adopted some of Tiv-Taam’s merchandising layout ideas in order to keep from loosing business from ‘those upstarts’. The bottom line is that people who only purchase Kosher food will never set foot in Tiv-Taam; and that those who relish the chain’s products have them available. As cable TV is now common on Shabbat, and many shopping malls are open as well, so are stores like Tiv-Taam, offering people what they want and when they want it.

The recent days have seen a growing discussion and speculation as to the new 2007 budget. Hell - it’s not a discussion, this Monday a move to substantially increase the Defense budget is on its way and the losers are probably going to be the Welfare cases.

It seems like this little war we had was so bad that the answer now is throwing more money at Defense for the next fee years. Of course it had nothing to do with poor management and the screw ups running the Military budget to start with, no.

In any case it looks like the Ministry of Defense is asking for a 7 Billion Shekel increase to its budget. This past year the budget was 33 Billion and now the proposal being put forward by the ministry is to make that 51 Billion in 2007. Olmert is considering the move favorably (why not, politically it’s the right move). This would be the highest Defense budget in history for Israel. From the 51 Billion, 11 Billion are US aid and 40 Billion are from our own national budget.

Now when we say our own national budget this means that the people who will NO longer have a budget are the poor, the needy, the handicapped, the old and the sick. The Ministry of Social Services or Welfare as its called is going to need Welfare real soon if this budget increase goes through. Always the traditional loser in the budget wars, Welfare is an easy target. WHY you ask? Well.

Did I mention that the Welfare Ministry has no Minister running it? No?
Well, the typical Israeli politician feels like this is a no glory gig and so there is no point in pursuing that position. With all the big talk about social reform, being there to protect the poor and the looking out for the weaker elements in Israeli society, Amir Peretz and the Labour Party (including Shelly Yechimovitz) just never thought it was worth the fight and left that ministry to …… Olmert. It’s also ironic that the social defenders (Labour) are the ones screwing the poor. A far cry from those great campaign promises!

Yes, Mr. Prime Minister is the one looking out for the poor and needy as the reining Minister of Welfare. Unfortunately for them he is also the considering the Defense budget increase as a great idea and so Welfare is well….SCREWED!

Tel Aviv attorney Dr. Avigdor Klagsbald, already the subject of two previous posts, was sentenced Thursday to a 15 months sentence, 10 year license suspension and 10,000 Shekel fine by the Tel Aviv Traffic Court for the April accident which cost the lives of 23 year old Yvgenia Wexler and her 5 year old son, Arthur.

Klagsbald had been found guilty of gross, virtual criminal negligence, when his Volkswagen Touareg 4X4 slammed into the small Fiat Punto car containing Vexler and her son on Tel Aviv’s Namir Blvd. In sentencing Klagsbald, which also included a fine of NS 10,000 and a ten years suspension of the attorney’s driving license; the presiding judge, Yitzhak Garti, said that Klagsbald’s act was of such a nature that he, as a man often appearing in courts of law to defend his clients, should not have been involved in. Judge Garti pointed out specifically that Klagsbald had plenty of time to see the line of cars, including Vexlers, that had stopped before a red traffic light; and even so, did a very dangerous maneuver in an attempt to position himself closer to the intersection by switching lanes. “He increased his negligence by both driving at a high rate of speed, and trying to switch lanes, preventing him from stopping properly” the Judge added.

Wexler’s family and their lawyer appeared to accept the verdict, even though a longer prison sentence, without conditions, as well as a higher fine had been hoped for. “The court restored our faith in the legal process” Zari Hazen, the Wexler family lawyer said afterwards. Klagsbald’s defense lawyers took a different view, however, saying their client “has already been punished by his guilt and deep remorse since the occurrence”. They plan a ‘robust appeal’ against the verdict, including the prison sentence, which they hope to reduce to no more than 10 months. They feel their client was specifically ’singled out’ due to his legal background and prominence.

Organizations involved in road traffic safety felt that Klagsbald should also be required to become active in campaigns against road accidents. Zelda Harris, spokesperson for the Metuna road safety organization, feels that Klagsbald, due to his legal background and prominence, should personally be involved in road safely campaigns, and that he should be constantly reminded of the consequences of his momentary carelessness which cost two beautiful lives.

Making Klagsbald sit in the slammer, even a more minimum security facility, will not be a solution, as he is not really a danger to society, especially in light the he, himself, is aware of what he has done. His 10 year driving license suspension may be the best part of the Court’s sentencing, as it will keep him from being behind the wheel of a motor vehicle for a very long time (legally, that is). Every time he will have to rely on a paid driver, friend, or relative to take him where he needs to go, he will surely recall that day at the intersection of Namir Blvd and Einstein Street, when a thoughtless few seconds resulted in a tragedy that cost him so much.

Literally thousands of drivers in this country are as bad or worse in regards to daily road maneuvers, which is why the rate of accidents is so high in this country. We should all take this sad lesson to heart, the next time we get into our cars, which are, if driven improperly, really lethal weapons.