More Reporting from the ‘Real America’
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Mickve Israel synagogue in Savannah, GA.
Photo Credit: Dave's Travel Corner
This is my first visit to Atlanta, GA. It’s actually my second visit to the old south. In my first year at Stern College, Y.U. for Women, 1967, I spent Yom Kippur with a close friend’s family in Danville, VA. The Orthodox Jewish community at the time had been dwindling to the point that on an ordinary Shabbat, young men from other cities would volunteer to spend it there to make a minyan. There were enough locals on Yom Kippur. I’m pretty sure that was the first time I had eaten homemade challah. In New York or even Connecticut you could buy it in a bakery.
Now, when I’ve shopped in N.Y. or even Phoenix, the salespeople in their spiel ask where I’m from when I decline their offers to join their stores “frequent shopper clubs.” I say I live abroad, and they ask what country and I answer Israel and usually get sincere seeming replies, including a yearning to visit. I haven’t gotten that here. But I have ridden on Jimmy Carter Blvd or Street. I guess it’s Jimmy Carter country.
I’ll be spending Shabbat with the Orthodox Jewish community here and from the looks of it, I’ll be having fun. So far we’ve eaten out in two kosher restaurants and we haven’t sampled them all. There seems to be lots of kosher food available and in those areas I saw lots of frum people wandering about, sort of like Kew Garden Hills, N.Y.
Please don’t ask me about what’s happening in Israel. I haven’t a clue. It doesn’t seem to be very newsworthy here.
Lots of Israelis live in this fantasy world thinking that the United States of America, politicians and ordinary citizens are very concerned with Israel. Sorry, but it’s not true. Here and there there are pockets of caring people and some of them wouldn’t mind if we were pushed into the sea, G-d forbid. Most Americans care more about who’s going to win the Super Bowl. That’s the truth. Very few Americans care about the security and continued existence of Israel. They are more concerned about finding the closest Sears Outlet for the best deal on a new washing machine.
So Israeli citizens, we must do what’s best for us and not pay and not pay attention to the U.S.A. That’s the only way we’ll get respect and be left alone.
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tell a friendAbout the Author: Batya Medad blogs at Shiloh Musings.
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Fantasy? What other country's PM got to address the US congress, to a standing ovation at that? What other country sends Israel $3 BILLION annually? What other country has a controversy over the appointment of SecDef because he may have made anti-Israel statements? I hate to say this but Israel better care what America thinks. Most people walking the streets may not think about Israel (heck, they live in America!) but their tax money is paying for your military, whether they know it or not. Have some hakarat hatov and stop thinking Israel can go it alone.
Two way street. And maybe the Israelis will stop telling us who to vote for and how we should live our lives and what kind of Jews we are and what is best for us. Now how's that for a deal?
I totally disagree. I have many American Christian friends who not only support Israel but donate to many of the Jewish charities. It is the secularists and the hypocrite atheists who in the shadows of government are those who would destroy Israel and Jewishness all about the world under some falsehood.
I totally disagree. I have many American Christian friends who not only support Israel but donate to many of the Jewish charities. It is the secularists and the hypocrite atheists who in the shadows of government are those who would destroy Israel and Jewishness all about the world under some falsehood.
Sad, but probably true.