Reflections from Netanyahu’s Speech at the UN

Posted by Sigal Mendelson on October 6, 2009 under News, People, Personal stories | 2 Comments to Read

Benjamin Netanyahu is indeed gifted when it comes to the rhetorical arts. This talent was demonstrated last week at his speech at the United Nations. That organization which has the mission to resolve conflicts peacefully has recently caused much headache to Israel by the controversial Goldstone report and a number of stand-up performances by the new “Zorer”, of Achmadinigan, President of Iran. The United Nations proved that it is incapable of being neutral.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu
Picture courtesy of he.wikipedia.org

Netanyahu did great in this speech putting the facts in the open. One could almost hear the victims’ cry when he presented the plans and drawing of the Nazi “Final Solution”. His words represent not only the people of Israel, Holocaust survivors who lost their families and dignity as human beings. His words stand for every Jew in the world. Netanyahu did well rebuking the UN representatives for sitting and listening during Ahmadinejad’s speech repeating his incitements against the “Zionist entity”, that maintains a state for 61 years. That Iranian President ran into Iranians demonstrators at the entrance to the UN building, protesting against him abusing the human rights of his own people. This man is purporting to be the saver of the Palestinian people in Gaza?, the person to expose the lie if the holocaust? Netanyahu was right defining Ahmadinejad’s speech and room it received on the UN agenda as “shameful”.

Shame on those representatives who remained in their seats while Ahmadinejad went on inciting. Their choice to stay in their chairs is taken as agreement with the speaker. There is nothing new here, yet Netanyahu skilled to convey the picture in a very simple and open manner. Here, at the “stage of the world” are sitting the representatives of those countries who maintained silent to the suffering of the holocaust Jews. Some dare practicing similar silence as a new goon and dictator makes similar statements and threatens the world peace with nuclear weapons.

In that speech, Benjamin Netanyahu represented the national interests of the state of Israel as well as the interests of Jews across the globe, descendants of the holocaust survivors. Watching Netanyahu’s speech at the UN is was possible to feel our isolation in the world. It is doubtful if we would have make it though our struggle to survive without our long-lasting ally, the United States.

Benjamin Netanyahu, whom I did not choose in the last elections, became my Prime Minister overnight.

Sigal Mendelson

Links to the entire Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44HkjBDQz_k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofIwsB7xDm8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gkjEUjK4as

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPEdIWa5H9k

E-H Dictionary

English	How pronounced	Hebrew
Speech	Ne’um	נאום
Representative(s)	Natzig / Netzigim	נציג / נציגים
Incitement	Hasatah	הסתה
Isolation	Bidud	בידוד
Purporting	Mitkhazeh	מתחזה

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Irena Sendler, Righteous Among the Nations – An Extraordinary Story of Courage and Humanitarian Principles

Posted by Sigal Mendelson on August 27, 2009 under Israel history, Personal stories | 4 Comments to Read

Irena Sendler, passed away on 12 May 2008, age 98 years. In 1965 Sendler was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous among the Nations. In 1991 Sendler was awarded Citizenship-of-Honor by the state of Israel.

In 2007 considerable publicity accompanied Sendler’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.^[12] While failed nominations for the award have not been officially announced by the Nobel organization for 50 years, the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, reported in 2007 that Irena Sendler’s nominator had made the nomination public. Regardless of its legitimacy, talk of the nomination focused a spotlight on Sendler and her wartime achievements. The 2007 award instead went to Al Gore, a former Vice President of the United States, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.About Irena Sendler’s deeds:

Living on the “German” side of occupies Warsaw, Irena new the destiny the Germans had planned for Jews. She was a Catholic social worker, and during World-War II risked all that she had to save Jewish children from Warsaw Ghetto. She managed to receive permission to work in Warsaw Ghetto as a pluming expert.

Irena smuggled out infants in her truck, using a double-bottom toolbox. She used large Utah bags to hide the elder children. She used to keep a dog at the back of her truck. The dog was trained to bark each time she came in or out the Ghetto gates. The soldiers hated that annoying barking dog, making passage quicker. The dogs barking also covered somewhat in the case a child cried.

2,500 infants and children were saved before Irena was caught in 1943. The Nazis broke her arms and legs, tortured and interrogated her for the names of children she smuggled. She didn’t break and was sentenced to death with 39 other women prisoners. She was rescued by a guard who was paid by her friends in the resistance. Her name was added to the executed list and she spent the rest of the war with the underground.

Irena Sendler kept all records of the children she rescued hidden in a jar buried in her back yard.

After the war, Sendler attempted to locate the parents who’s children she rescued. Most of them were exterminated in the gas chambers, and their children were adopted by foster families.

On the right: Nazi German poster in German and Polish (Warsaw, 1942) threatening death to any Pole who aided Jews (click for large image). Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Irena Sendler,

Irena Sendler, younger

born 15 February 1910
Warsaw, Poland

Died 12 May 2008 (aged 98)
Warsaw, Poland

Occupation
Social worker, humanitarian

E-H Dictionary

English	How pronounced	Hebrew
War	Milhama	מלחמה
Child/Children	Yeled / Yeladim	ילד/ילדה
Infant/s	Pahot/Pehotot	פעוט/פעוטות
to Smuggle	Le’Havriach	להבריח
to Rescue	Le’Hatzil	להציל

http://www.hebrewonline.com/ads/?cid=553

My Trip to Israel – Personal Story

Posted by Sigal Mendelson on August 26, 2009 under Personal stories, Traveling in Israel, Vacations in Israel | Be the First to Comment

Thank you so much for this month’s Hebrew Online Blog Post – reading about the beauty of the Dan Reserve – brought tears to my eyes as I recalled so fondly my trip to Israel November of 2008.

By Hope JammesWhile I was a guest in your great nation, God opened up the Old Testament to me in ways that I cannot explain – words are insufficient. I walked where the prophets walked. I stood on battleground where King David fought. I looked at caves where David may very well have sought refuge from Saul, or the Philistines, where he may very well have written one of his psalms of love. Is stood atop of Masada.

The picture I have attached was taken at the Dan Reserve, I believe the river is the Tal River. I felt so at peace while I was there that I just had to capture in a photo.

Our last day in your great country we spent at Yad Vashem. As I write, tears stream down my cheeks. I learned about the Holocaust in school. I’ve read about it and I’ve watched documentaries about it, but never, never could anything have prepared me for what I experienced during our visit.

My heart was felt as if it had been cut open as I cried for the atrocities that have been committed against the Jewish people. It was as if God gave me a new heart, a heart for Israel. Though I am back in Canada, there is a part of me – a part of my heart – that remains in Israel.

This trip is what inspired me to learn Hebrew. I know He has a plan for me and I know that somehow that it involves your nation. I will be back to Israel this coming November and I will speaking Hebrew (perhaps not very well, but nevertheless). My teacher, Ronit, is so kind and patient with us. There are times when I feel downright stupid, but she is very encouraging and it is perhaps because of her encouragement that I persevere.

Thank you so much for your blog. Thank you so much for the history and geography lessons that teach us new words while telling us stories – for the teaching of the Hebrew culture and customs.

Hope Jammes

E-H Dictionary