On the other hand
Signs of the approaching Holy days are to be seen everywhere.
Last-minute shopping for food, visitors arriving from overseas and advertisements for Arba Minim (the four species used on Succot).
Schools, having just commenced, are about to close for the Chagim, and the season is slowly changing as we transition into autumn.
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
There have been many times in our past history when observing Judaism was fraught with danger and lethal consequences.
One of the miracles of Israel today is the return of generations of “lost” Jews who, in increasing numbers, are making their way back to their brethren. Whether descendants of the Anusim targeted by the Inquisition or remnants of the lost tribes, these modern-day returnees are proof that despite millennia of persecution and dispersion, the flame of Jewish identity cannot be vanquished.
Here is a most interesting video detailing how even in the depths of despair, secret Jews managed to cling to one of the important symbols of Rosh Hashanah.
LOVE FROM JAPAN
Listening to the venom spewing forth at the United Nations, one could be forgiven for thinking that nobody loves us.
Israel, however, does have genuine friends in Japan who take every opportunity when they visit us to openly demonstrate their affection and support.
