In Memory of the Munich Eleven, The Israeli Olympians, Z"L

SHALL WE SAY KADDISH - THE MEMORIAL PRAYER FOR THE DEAD -- FOR THE GLORIOUS IDEALS OF THE OLYMPICS?
How ironic that we're reading about the 2012 International Olympic Committee's refusal to allot a minute of silence as a memorial tribute to the eleven slain Olympians who came to Munich, Germany to represent Israel in the 1972 Olympic Games. We're reading about this as the People Israel -- the Jews -- approach Tisha b'Av (which begins with tonight's sunset and extends through Sunday to end at sunset). That means that Tisha b'Av occurs the night after the opening ceremony in London.  Tisha b'Av (which means "the ninth [day] of [the month of] Av") is the date that commemorates the tragic date on which the Temple of Jerusalem was twice destroyed. I don't personally mourn the destruction of the Temple in the elaborate way of my Orthodox and Conservative co-religionists, but, am aware that for Reform Jews this day on the calendar is a day on which to remember many Jewish tragedies that have occurred throughout history, one of the more recent being the murder of the '72 eleven Israeli Olymians along with the despicable event of the IOC's refusal to appropriately acknowledge this significant 40th Yahrzeit, that is, the 40th anniversary of their death. Although no silence was offered in their memory or as a condolence for their families and country and the People Israel or as a sign of mourning for the savage attack on the Olympic ideal of sport for peace, the well known sportscaster, Bob Costas, whose suggestion to offer a minute of airtime didn't materialize, at least raised the issue with NBC and tonight marked the tragedy as the 2012 Israeli Olympians entered the London stadium, saying, "Still, for many, tonight, with the world watching, is the true time and place to remember those who were lost and how and why they died." Maybe Costas as well as viewers 'round that world as NBC went to break. SHALL WE SAY KADDISH - THE MEMORIAL PRAYER FOR THE DEAD -- FOR THE GLORIOUS IDEALS OF THE OLYMPICS? No, I still believe -- although I'm doubtful. Don't confuse belief and doubt. Say Kaddish for the dead. Don't say Kaddish for the ideal of "shalom," that is, "peace and wholeness."  Zichronam l'Vracha -- May the memories of the slain eleven Israeli Olympians be for a blessing -- of inspiration and motivation.  And, dear friends, let us each continue to work in our own personal and communal ways for that day on which the living act as if we are all truly one family, each made "b'tzelem Elohim," that is "in the image of God" and that the lives of all will be equally valued and remembered. In memory of the departed, promise that your acts will bring that day closer.

Will the Dark Knight Rise to Bat Out Gun Violence?

I just saw, "The Dark Knight Rises" the day after the shooting in the movie theater at the premier in Colorado leaving 12 dead after 6,000 rounds of ammunition made this the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. Entertaining? Yes. Motivating?  Sure. Batman cares for Gotham. Let's all of us: Care for our City. Let's write to the producers of "The Dark Knight Rises" asking that they produce a 60-second PSA (=public service announcement) raising awareness about the need for safety education and citizen involvement to advocate for gun control laws that support safety. (For a quickie education, go to www.bradycenter.org website or on FB) Like NYC Mayor Bloomberg, so many are shocked that the two candidates for the presidency offered condolences but no plans because the financially and politically powerful NRA (=National Rifle Association) controls this issue. Why is it that no matter how many people die, gun control doesn't move even when the targets are kids or celebrities or political leaders? <www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/20/why-don-t-mass-shootings-lead-to-gun-control.html> Remember the tobacco lobby? We limited their power to hurt us directly and indirectly. 

Time to put on our collective white hat and take down these smokin' guns. 

Prospective title for the one-minute PSA: "The Dark Knight Rises to Bat Out Gun Violence!" Christopher Nolan, in his 7/20/12 statement, expressed "profound sorrow" at the senseless tragedy" and went on to say that “I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theater is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me.” 

Let's tell Dear Mr. Nolan: The Selina Kyle character line refuting Batman's anti-gun policy would be a good "hook" for the PSA, but, do not let that one movie line quote substitute for your citizen responsibility to make a contribution to this cause. 

Why should you do a PSA? Because you can! I am not charging you with guilt; that would be silly. Rather, I am saying that you should behave like an adult who, when s/he sees a problem that s/he can address, immediately does what s/he can instead of bemoaning the situation and clucking sympathies.

Please, Mr. Producer Director Christopher Nolan, Kind Sir, Use your platform to help protect our shared theater-home by making sure we watch your sympathies turned into responsible social action by urging us to become aware and involved. Protect the City! 

Your film's characters quote Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" in the film to good effect. Let me motivate you with quotes from Mr. Dickens in "A Tale of Two Cities," first, one which did not appear in the movie: A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. Maybe you have the gift of being able to truly care and help and are not even aware of your power respond to the desperate need among your fellow citizens. 

And, then, just like Batman's words read by Commissioner Gordon at the conclusion of the film, you will be able to say about your anti-gun violence initiative that "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done." 

I am sure, that like your caped hero, the words of Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities" will reverberate in your soul, too, celebrating successive successes in your public efforts for meaningful gun violence control as you say to yourself, "I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free [from insane random gun violence}, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time [of capitulation to the NRA] and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out [so that no longer do we have to bury innocents and mutter meaningless condolences]" Amen. 

I thank you, Mr. Nolan, in advance and promise to follow your lead and back you up just as you back up this cause to protect the residents of these United States.

ISRAEL

"Extremists Smash Ancient Synagogue & Smash Jewish Values"

http://oholiav.com/2012/05/ancient-israeli-synagogues-defiled-by-jewish-attackers/

    Monday night, as the holiday of Shavuot (5772 / 2012) came to a happy close and we communally re-accepted Torah and its goal of living as a distinct community, an ancient synagogue in Israel, an archeological treasure was desectrated, not by If only the chief rabbi and other sane Orthodox leaders would use the "bully pulpit" to speak to these nut cases in a language/mode/logic that they can hear and respond to! This rabbi declaims, "Let them not desecrate My Holy name, which they sanctify for me" [Leviticus 22:2]. 

     As a people, we value Kiddush Ha-Shem (the sanctification of the Divine Name) and are instructed to avoid Hillul Ha-Shem "defamation of the Divine Name." These concepts are core Jewish concepts: the glorification of God and the diminution of His honor. (Although rabbinic terms, they are sourced in Torah, specifically, Leviticus, the third Book of the Torah's Five Books). These concepts are included among the 613 commandments and the entire people are subject to them. Each of those who desecrates and defiles wears, I'm sure, a tallit (prayer shawl) with tzitzit (i.e., fringes) on the four corners tied with a total of 613 knots in order to accept the mitzvot (i.e., commandments) and remember and do them. 
  
     Deplorably, these destroyers are wearing pneumonic article of clothing to remind them NOT to do the very thing which they are commanded to remember to avoid doing. Cognitive dissonance. 

     Please, oh hierarchy of Israeli rabbinate, sanction strongly these people and give them a way back to Kiddush Ha-Shem, a return to the way of Sanctification of the Name of God in order to glorify God and the Jewish People. 

     Let us not continue to be shamed and suffer the religious tantrums and frenzied fits of the misguided. Let us not refuse to exercise our discipline and protect our Shem Tov (i.e., reputation; good name) and our Yichus (i.e., our inheritance and archeological treasures bequeathed us by our ancestors and studied with reverence and expertise by our contemporary scholars to be admired by us and all peoples as an source of inspiration and understanding, indeed, as Light unto the Nations.