The Scribbler

You will no doubt be delighted to read that I won’t be posting for a few days as I’m going on a mini break with my mother and the three eldest kids. We will be staying in a nice little seaside resort called Bournemouth (anyone English reading this will know this as being THE place that Jews go to, to get away from it all). I don’t think that it’s a bad thing that I’m taking a break from posting, granted that I’ve been pretty prolific in the last few weeks…and I’m sure you won’t mind enjoying life a little more, without my ranting to go and spoil your day. I expect to add my next post on Thursday, which will be the Fast of the Ninth of Av …so I can’t promise to be too joyous (in view of the fact that it’s the saddest day in the Jewish calendar). Don’t miss me too much, because, as the saying goes: I’ll be back. Hasta Lavista friends!

This video shows why Israel had no choice but to bomb Kfar Qana - albeit with tragic results. Incident in Qana 30 Jul 2006 (Communicated by the IDF Spokesman) This morning, July 30, 2006, the IAF attacked missile launch sites in the area of the village of Qana, an area from which hundreds of missiles were launched towards the city of Nahariya and the communities in the western Galilee. The IDF will defend the citizens of Israel from attacks by the Hizbullah and the responsibility for any civilian casualties rests with the Hizbullah who have turned the suburbs of Lebanon into a war front by firing missiles from within civilian areas. Residents in this region and specifically the residents of Qana were warned several days in advance to leave the village. Eighteen Israeli civilians have been killed and over 400 have been wounded by these rocket attacks which have disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of Israeli citizens. IDF warned Lebanese citizens to evacuate villages (July 25): ...

There is a Latin saying “In Vino Veritas”, lit. in wine, there is truth. This is particularly apt in the case of a drunken Mel Gibson, who allegedly (according to TMZ.com ) when arrested on Thursday night, unleashed a barrage of anti-semitic and sexist rhetoric at the attending police officers. I don’t know whether this story is true or not but if it were, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit. Mr Gibson’s controversial filming of The Passion last year was almost universally panned by Jewish leaders and Rabbis as being an anti-semitic reading of the Gospels and it is well known that Mr Gibson’s father is an acknowledged denier of the Holocaust . As the saying goes, the apple never falls far from the tree. I have very little time for someone of the ilk of Mel Gibson. I have seen his films and have been pretty unimpressed by his glorification of violence and penchant for “gritty realism”. Whether or not this story is true, Mr Gibson’s statement that “I acted like a person completely out of c...

I’ve just watched a fascinating interview on Israel TV (Channel 10 news) between the presenters of the show and two Israeli Arab journalists. The topic of discussion revolved around the continued bombings of cities such as Haifa, Nazareth and Acre and how the joint Jewish-Arab populations in those areas, were finding themselves sharing bomb shelters – both facing the very same threat from Nasrallah and his murderers. This is a subject that I have yet to see discussed on the BBC, SKY or CNN. After all, as the journalists emphasised, a Katyusha doesn’t differentiate between Jew and Arab. How refreshing to note the sense of unity felt by both parties. Yes, there are those in Northern Israel who support Hezbollah and many Arabs do feel dual loyalties between both Israel and Lebanon, as their relatives are also caught up in the conflict in the latter. However, what came through, at least to me was the strange irony of Hezbollah, through its psychotic dream of destroying Israel, actually bei...

Musical Fun This is one of the pop videos we shot at Alton Towers. I hope you enjoy it!

Here’s something to help Kofi digest his breakfast: From the Ynet website : “Six days before he was killed in an Israel Air Force bombing of a United Nations post in southern Lebanon, Canadian observer Major Paeta Hess-von Kruendener sent an email to his former commander in the Canadian army, in which he said that Hizbullah fighters were "running around" near the UN post struck by the Israel Defense Forces and that they were using the post as a sort of "shield" against Israel's strikes. The former commander, Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, who served as a UN commander in Bosnia, spoke about the email in a Canadian radio show. He said that Hess-von Kruendener wrote that the IDF strikes near the post had "not been deliberate targeting, but rather due to tactical necessity." "That would mean Hizbullah was purposely setting up near the UN post," he added. "It's a tactic." ...Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that he did not...

After Kofi Annan ludicrously claimed that Israel had deliberately targeted the UN post in Lebanon, this is my message to him. Kofi, you are a moron. If you honestly believe that Israel is going around targeting your colleagues, you really don’t have a grasp on what is actually going on in the Middle East. You have amply demonstrated once again that you are totally out of your depth. Why don’t you do us all a favour and hand your job over to someone who demonstrates a modicum of understanding of the situation? Finally, Kofi, mate, if you’re wondering whether these comments are accidental, please know that they are in fact deliberately aimed at showing you up as the hapless, gormless imbecile that you are.

I’m exhausted! We took the kids to the wonderful Alton Towers Theme Park, a mere 128 miles away. We left early (after a few…ahem…hiccups) and got there at around 10.30 – only an hour after the park had opened. Alton Towers, for those who don’t know, is probably the best amusement park in the country (of course, it pales into insignificance when you compare it to the Disney parks, which I’ve been to, both in Florida and California) in that it’s huge and the rides are pretty cool. We managed to get through quite a few of the rides but the highlight definitely had to be the kiosk where you could make your own pop DVD.  You sat against a green screen, wearing a green cloak, which made everything invisible on camera – yes, I had that Harry Potter moment - and your head was superimposed onto cartoon bodies, who were dancing along to pop songs. Dassi, Tali and I chose “La Bamba”, whilst Dana, Shira (who sat beautifully) and Michal (who was very funny throughout) lip synched to “I Wil...

Notes from Zachary Taylor a soldier in the Nachal Haredi Unit, sent by his mother. People jump to conclusions about the Israeli leadership and their strategies concerning Gaza and Lebanon. First of all, do not believe anything you read in a foreign newspaper or even half of the Israeli ones about this current situation. For example, just a few months ago an Arab Family in Gaza was killed on a beach. The Palestinians said the Israelis did the killing, as did international media. After research it was shown that in no way whatsovever was it an Israeli bomb that murdered that family, but a bomb that was left by HAMAS. However, by then, we lost the sympathies of world media, and Olmert apologized prematurely for something that Israel did not even do. In Lebanon, you must understan that Hizbollah is not a "faction" it is part of the government. As we have seen lately as the puppet Lebonese government has come out and declared itself as defenseless aganist Hizbollah. However, t...

Quantas Airlines Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane but only a high school diploma to fix one. After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet," which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems; document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident. P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement. S: Almost replaced left inside main tire. P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough. S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft. P: Something loose in cockpit S: Something tightened in cockpit. P: Dead bugs on windshield. S: Live bugs on back-order. P: Au...

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(TheBlueState.com) Bush too concerned with his pig dinner This is quite funny

Here’s a short straw poll. Is the Iranian President… a) just plain stupid? b) extraordinarily stupid? c) really clever but pretending to be stupid? d) really stupid and not clever enough to pretend to be stupid? e) neither of the above. He’s just a moron with a lot of power? Feel free to add any additional comments (he wouldn’t understand them anyway).

I want to use this post to debunk some of the distortions that are appearing in the world's media (particularly the BBC) right now: Israel's response is disproportionate Let's consider the situation. Israel is the only democracy in a sea of twenty two Arab dictatorships. She left Lebanon six years ago and Gaza, last August. She has no issue with either Lebanon and Gaza. Yet, terrorists from Gaza have spent the last eleven months shelling the residents of Sderot (and lately Ashkelon) with thousands of Qassam missiles. These are not the "crude" devices depicted by the media, but deadly flying bombs. The fact that but a few people have thankfully been killed in attacks, does not minimise how dangerous the missiles really are. Despite the constant provocation, Israel (until very recently) did very little to fight back. If anything is disproportionate, it is Hamas almost ceaseless firing of these missiles from Gaza onto the citizens of Sderot and the damage these so ca...

I've just come back from a rally, where an estimated 7,000 people, mostly British Jews like me, showed solidarity with our brethren, the people of Israel (I'm on the left in the picture, with my very good friend A. on the right). Although the speeches were stirring, with the message that we want peace but not at the price of terror, the definite highlight was a live video link with members of a number of Jewish communities whom we saw sitting in a bomb shelter in Shlomi, Northern Israel. We waved at the children and they waved at back at us. At one point, we all sang a song together and for just a few minutes, we too were there in Israel, facing the very same threats and fears from the skies above. For me, the most important part of being there was showing those kids and their parents that although they felt very much alone, we fellow Jews, 2000 or so miles away were there to support them and give chizuk (strength) to get through this terrible period. Life for these folk who ...

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I received this from here : "IRAN PLANNED HIZBULLAH STRIKE WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Iran spent more than six months training and planning Hizbullah to prepare for its current war with Israel. Western intelligence sources said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps held a series of exercises with Hizbullah on the use of new weapons and techniques. The sources said IRGC also prepared arsenals of medium-range rockets and missiles in the Bekaa Valley and Syria to sustain any war with Israel. "Iran's IRGC planned this war carefully throughout 2006," an intelligence source who monitors Iran said. "IRGC sent weapons and hundreds of volunteers through Damascus in a war designed to contain several stages." The sources said Western intelligence agencies detected a high level of IRGC-Hizbullah coordination as early as April 2006. They said the Hizbullah conflict was planned in cooperation with Damascus, which agreed to the emergency deployment of Iranian troops in Syria. ...

Dana has very kindly suggested that I take a few days for myself over the holiday (we broke up on Thursday….way-hay!!!) and so I’ve decided to go somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for a very long time – the City of Liverpool. Yup, my friend S. and I are going on a Beatles’ themed trip to the famed city in the third week of August. So far, I’ve booked accommodation, two tickets for the two hour long Magical Mystery Tour coach extragavanza and I’m waiting to get places on the National Trust trip to John and Paul’s respective houses. I’m so excited! Additionally, we will have to ensure that we take a ferry (a)cross the Mersey, as well as visiting all the other places (the rebuilt Cavern for example). I’ve told S. that this is going to be a seriously ‘Beatley’ few days…I just hope that he won’t come back absolutely hating the fab four. We love you yeah yeah yeah!

A little joke to lighten the mood somewhat... It was bitter cold outside and flu season had kicked in. The Rabbi was not happy with the constant coughing disturbing his sermons, so he decided to call on old Abe to help him solve the problem. Comes the next Saturday morning, the Rabbi gave old Abe a bowl of cough drops and instructions to give a cough drop to any congregation member who began coughing. So following his Rabbi's orders, every time a member coughed, old Abe walked over and gave them a cough drop. The Rabbi noticed that each time he did this, the member then stood up and walked out on the sermon. At the end of the service, half of the members were gone. After services the Rabbi calls old Abe at home and asked what he said to the members that made them leave the building. Old Abe says, "So vat did I say ? ... All that I said wuz, 'the Rabbi said for cough!'"

I was sent this email and had to share it with you. I don’t know who wrote it, but I wish it had been me as it expresses exactly how I feel about the reaction of many people (including some I’ve spoken to) to the current situation: “AN OPEN LETTER TO THE WORLD Dear World, I understand that you are upset by us, here in Israel. Indeed, it appears that you are quite upset, even angry. (Outraged?) Indeed, every few years you seem to become upset by us. Today, it is the "brutal repression of the Palestinians"; yesterday it was Lebanon; before that it was the bombing of the nuclear reactor in Baghdad and the Yom Kippur War and the Sinai campaign. It appears that Jews who triumph and who, therefore, live, upset you most extraordinarily. Of course, dear world, long before there was an Israel, we - the Jewish people - upset you. We upset a German people who elected Hitler and upset an Austrian people who cheered his entry into Vienna and we upset a whole slew of Slavic nations - Poles...

School has finally broken up for the summer and I have now taught for three full terms. As I drove away this afternoon, I thought about the fact that today is my very last as an NQT (newly qualified teacher). How does it feel? Bloody marvellous because I have finished my initial teacher training (we never stop training!). The course that I began back in September 2004 is now finally, finally over. I know that this is only the beginning of my career, but it feels pretty damn good to have passed both stages of my training successfully. When I go back to school in September, I will be a teacher who is starting his second year in the profession. I know that more will be expected of me and I'm fine with that, but it is so satisfying to know that there is no longer a chance ( as remote as it seemed) that I could fail to qualify as a professional teacher. I've done it. I have satisfied the Government's requirements and met the standards expected by the body who determines my entry...

I am someone who cares deeply about people. I couldn’t work as a teacher if I felt ambivalent about my fellow human beings. When I teach, the only thing I care about is the overall success of my students. I honestly don’t care whether they are white, black, brown, green, yellow, purple or blue (well, that’s not quite true. If they were either purple or blue, I’d get medical help ASAP). I teach kids whose religions and cultural background are derived from the four corners of the globe. It matters not a jot whether a child is Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Rastafarian or even atheist. I judge them on the attitude they present to their work and the behaviour they display in my classroom and throughout the rest of the school. I write this because there are some of you who might be wondering how I feel about the deaths of numerous Lebanese civilians are as result of Israeli bombing. As an a person who has a strong belief in G-d and an innate sense of justice, I am aghast at the...

It’s been a long, tough, sweltering day. Temperatures outside have been 31 degrees (that’s 90 F to you Yanks) and I would imagine they were at least a degree hotter in the computer rooms where I taught on my most challenging day of the week - all five periods without a single free lesson. The kids, knowing that they were two days away from the summer break were all over the place. Saying that, I did get some work out of them and learning did take place, so I really shouldn’t complain. Another one-and-a-half school days and it’s all over and then, I look forward to enjoying the heat… …dressed in only a pair of shorts and a vest!

If the Arabs had no guns, there would be no war. If the Israelis had no guns, there would be no Israel.

This is a little request I’d like to ask of you. Could you spend three minutes to send a letter of support to the young (and sometimes not so young) Israeli boys and girls who are risking their lives to protect their fellow citizens - Jews, Christians and Muslims. 1. Click on this link: http://www.supportben.com/ 2. Write a brief message of support 3. Know that someone in a difficult situation will benefit greatly fromyour words of support Thank you so much.

Getting the terrorists to stop bombing Israel…..difficult but feasible Solving this current crisis…..challenging but possible Hearing George W Bush saying that the solution will be found by getting (the UN to pressure) 'Syria to get Hizbullah to stop doing this shit'... PRICELESS!

Thanks to a recommendation from my good friend, J, I’ve come across a fascinating website which explains the Middle East conflict using startling (flash) animations. To get there, please click here .

Further to my last posting, I point you to this website which sheds some more light on Iran’s involvement in this latest flare-up.

I couldn't face the prospect of being cut off from hearing the latest developments during the twenty-five hour period that comprised of Shabbat. What to do as Jewish law prohibits me from operating an electronic device (such as a computer) on the Sabbath. I decided to think laterally and streamed Israel Army Radio (Galei Tzahal) through the speakers, with my screen switched off. The computer therefore took on the role of a radio - there is no prohibition in listening to the radio on the Sabbath. I heard the latest news reports and although my mastery of Hebrew is not 100%, I understood enough to get the gist of what was going on. I also made sure that my dictionary was close at hand, though virtually every word I looked up and learned was connected with the concept of war! I am now firmly of the opinion that this whole episode (starting with the abduction of Cpl. Shalit) was engineered by Iran to take the world's attention off the nuclear issue. If you follow the Gaza/Lebanese ...

A while back I trumpeted my success at having finally completed my NQT (newly qualified teacher) year, however, I didn't realise that I had in fact only passed the second stage of the process. Today, I received the paperwork, signed by the Head, confirming that I have now successfully completed the third and final assessment period of the "NQT Induction Assessment". The comment at the bottom of the sheet reads: "Recommendation: The school recommends that the above named teacher has met the requirements for the satisfactory completion of the induction period". So, thanks again for the previous comments...and I can set the record straight as I really am an officially fully qualified teacher!

Reading the latest entries on this site, you could be forgiven for wondering whether I've been doing any teaching. The answer is yes I have, but somehow, with all the terrible news emanating from Israel - the country which is home to my heart and mind, teaching seems all that more unimportant in the overall scheme of things. I've just heard that Haifa, the third largest city has been struck by two Katyusha rockets. This is yet another milestone in the escalation of the situation. I expect that Israel's response will be to start shelling Damascus, which is only 40 km away from the Israeli border. Assad will then have the choice of either reining in the terrorists and get our boys released or facing the wrath of really really pissed Israel. Today, places that I have visited and grown to love, like Tzfat, have endured rocket attacks. It breaks my heart to see my country under siege and I sincerely hope Israel gives a response that reminds the Arab world of who they are starti...

The situation in Israel has now escalated to an extremely precarious level. The country is being attacked on two fronts, with terrorist operations no doubt sourced in Syria. The two problematic territories that Israel left (Lebanon and Gaza) are coming back to haunt her as terrorists are entering the country and kidnapping her citizens. Israel must deal with the situation at hand immediately . I’m afraid that innocent civilians will no doubt be killed, but unless drastic action is taken to sort this situation out, Hamas/Hezbollah/Islamic Jihad/Al Qaeda et al will continue with a very dangerous development in their quest to kill off as many people as they can Keep in mind the simple fact that whatever starts in Israel is replicated around the globe. In the same way that airplane hijackings and suicide bombings have spread around the world in the last thirty years or so, so I fear it will be the case with kidnappings. It is therefore in the interests of every human being who values his o...

I’m delighted to report that your vibes must have done the trick because Dana was back home last night, looking great (albeit with a rather painful jaw). In short, the operation was a complete success and my nerves are beginning to re-connect.

Dana's having her lower wisdom teeth removed and so I'm off work for two days, to take care of the kids (when they're not in school!) She's going to be sedated, which can't be fun, but I know that with her temperament, she'll bounce back ASAP. So if you're reading this around lunchtime (GMT) on Tuesday 11th July, please send her some scorchingly hot vibes to help soothe what will undoubtably be a pretty unpleasant experience.

Back in 1998, I had a date with Billy Joel. At the time, he was doubling up with Elton John on a joint tour of two piano men doing their thing. I turned up, expecting to hear the Man, but he failed to show, citing a particularly nasty chest infection. I obviously didn't exactly hold it against him, granted that I was treated to three hours of what could be arguably cited as being Elton's best concert in twenty-five years - but Mr Joel was certainly missed. Elton did sing Piano Man , but, hey, it just wasn't the same without Bill. Tonight, I turned up for our second date and thankfully, this time, he made it. He apologised to the crowd for not keeping their date either (damn, he must have been cheating on me) but certainly made up for the wait with an absolutely blinding concert. Where can I begin piling on the plaudits? His renditions of Just The Way You Are , Innocent Man , She's Always A Woman , Scenes From An Italian Restaurant were note perfect and dreamlike. He ro...

I’ve just watched a fascinating debate on an Israeli breakfast show. The participants consisted of the presenters and two members of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, a Jew and an Arab. The topic of discussion centred on the allegations that another Arab member of parliament advised the Hamas terrorists to kidnap Israeli soldiers instead of civilians. I am not going to comment on whether or not I believe these allegations to be true, however, one thing that did strike me was the fact that in the State of Israel, irrespective of your religion and background, you are never barred from becoming a member of the country’s parliament. I have yet to see a similar debate in any Arab country, where Jews are forbidden from taking public office (if they are allowed to live in the country at all). Yet, despite all of the above, there are still a considerable number of people out there, who have the nerve to accuse Israel of being an Apartheid state. Judging from what I saw this morning, nothing...

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss! It's also probably best that we don't try to understand what was going through Zidane's mind in that unforgettable moment. Disgraceful behaviour, to say the very least.

The World Cup Final is virtually upon us and my hopes are firmly nailed on the Italians beating the French by whatever score it takes. I will back any country that gives the bloody French a good licking. I fear though that les francais will win in the end and use it as yet another excuse to display their obnoxious arrogance to the rest of the world. Then again, you never know... Go Italia...go!!!

Congratulations to my brother/sister in-law on the birth of a baby son, Noah, this morning. Finally my in-laws have a grandson (it takes the heat off of us for a while).

You might have noticed that I’ve been unusually tight-lipped about the ongoing situation in Gaza. For those of you who’ve been visiting the site for a while, you will know that I’m not one to withhold my views on Israel. So why the reticence to comment? I think that I’ll put it down to gaining wisdom over the years. A cursory glance at the media shows me that too many journalists are all too happy to go around like a bull in a china shop and pretend that they understand what is going on in the Middle East. The minute Israel raises her head, they are in there, criticizing and in my opinion, demonstrating that they don’t have the foggiest notion of what is actually going on in the region. In the past, I too have fallen into that trap…hence my tardiness, if you would have in, in adding my two cents, for what it’s worth. Looking at the situation, calmly and with reason, I have come to a number of conclusions: Israel is 100% right to do what she is doing. This is not just about the kidnappi...

It was my mother’s birthday on 26th June and as she was away for a few days and impossible to contact, neither Dana, I, nor the kids sent her a card. This wasn’t because we don’t love or value her, it’s just that we believed it didn’t make sense to send her something that she would only get when she returned – nearly a week after her birthday.   We spoke before she left to wish her a happy birthday but since she’s returned, it’s been mentioned a few times that she is disappointed at not having received a card. We know you read this mum, and we’re very sorry for upsetting you. You shouldn’t need a birthday card to realise how much we love you and appreciate everything you do for us on a continuous basis. We’re sorry we didn’t send you a birthday card but it doesn’t mean that we weren’t thinking of you on that day or any other. We sincerely love you very very much. We should have sent you a card and we won’t forget next year.

If you are a citizen of the second greatest country in the world (after Israel)….Happy Independence Day!

I was back in school and the network was down. It therefore allowed me to experience the sensation of teaching by the seat of your pants, or as I called it this afternoon, “teaching on the fly”. This is the way it works: You walk into a classroom; look at twenty five eager students; metaphorically shit yourself worrying how you’re going to fill the next fifty-eight minutes and think fast. Very, very fast. In the end, I got them to design a logo on a piece of paper that I told them should be a representation of one of their attributes/character traits. When they’d done that (I was seriously making this up as I went along), they had to swap their designs with their neighbour and find out whether that person could work out who they were, from the logo. I then went around the class and asked each person to describe his/her neighbour using the logo. I don’t know how educational it was, but it took up much of the lesson, even though the kids had lost interest by the third student. It was boi...

I'm really not quite sure how to prepare for tomorrow's return to teaching: The classes will be new. My timetable is completely different. I don't know how many computers are working. I have no idea whether there will be enough computers for the kids I'll be teaching. Maybe, I should just close my eyes and go with the flow, because the alternative really doesn't bear thinking about.