I'm doing it, committing to extra care in my berachot, and dedicating merit to Gilo. If the project appeals to you, please join me.
Showing posts with label Israel: Security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Israel: Security. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
#BeTheWall for Israel
This campaign is something my Beit Midrash developed with our local Bnei Akiva chapter, and it's been spreading on Facebook. The idea, which is based on The Shmira Project, is simple: Take on a mitzvah practice for Kislev, and dedicate the merit to a community in Israel.
I'm doing it, committing to extra care in my berachot, and dedicating merit to Gilo. If the project appeals to you, please join me.
I'm doing it, committing to extra care in my berachot, and dedicating merit to Gilo. If the project appeals to you, please join me.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Fun with Israeli Security
As I sit in Ben Gurion waiting on a delayed flight – which will cause me to miss my European connection – which may cause me to miss my Tzibburology shiur tonight – I can at least reflect on two pleasing interactions with Israeli security on this trip.
First: When our Air Canada flight approached Israeli airspace on Sunday, the pilot got on the loudspeaker and admonished people to use the washroom, put all of their bags away, and generally take care of any needs they might imagine having, because no one would be permitted to leave their seats for the last half-hour or so of the flight. He stressed it and repeated it, as did various flight attendants and members of the crew, with more seriousness than I have ever heard a flight crew use.
Why? Because, as he explained and the crew reiterated multiple times, “This is an Israeli security measure.” [I understand that El Al does not do this, of course.]
They said it with such awe and reverence, it could only remind me of that scene in Dragnet (audio here):
Joe Friday, of the LAPD: And you've forgotten you're facing the single finest fighting force ever assembled!
The Villian: The Israelis?
And, of course, it also reminded me of this CNN.com-hosted article on Israel's air security, one of many such articles to appear in North American media in the past two weeks.
And the second moment, when I arrived at a hotel for a meeting and the security guard asked, אתה חמוש אדוני? (“Are you carrying a weapon, sir?”)
I was very impressed with myself; it’s like when you’re studying in Israel after high school and, for the first time, someone on the street mistakes you for an Israeli and starts asking for directions. Wow, they think someone would trust me with a weapon!
I was tempted to answer, “Only my wits, ma’am.” If I were Jack, I probably would have said that. Instead I just smiled, which was probably the right thing to do, because she was serious even if I wasn’t.
I shouldn’t be that pleased, anyway; someone at my meeting noted that it could just be I have “the settler look.” Ah, well.
First: When our Air Canada flight approached Israeli airspace on Sunday, the pilot got on the loudspeaker and admonished people to use the washroom, put all of their bags away, and generally take care of any needs they might imagine having, because no one would be permitted to leave their seats for the last half-hour or so of the flight. He stressed it and repeated it, as did various flight attendants and members of the crew, with more seriousness than I have ever heard a flight crew use.
Why? Because, as he explained and the crew reiterated multiple times, “This is an Israeli security measure.” [I understand that El Al does not do this, of course.]
They said it with such awe and reverence, it could only remind me of that scene in Dragnet (audio here):
Joe Friday, of the LAPD: And you've forgotten you're facing the single finest fighting force ever assembled!
The Villian: The Israelis?
And, of course, it also reminded me of this CNN.com-hosted article on Israel's air security, one of many such articles to appear in North American media in the past two weeks.
And the second moment, when I arrived at a hotel for a meeting and the security guard asked, אתה חמוש אדוני? (“Are you carrying a weapon, sir?”)
I was very impressed with myself; it’s like when you’re studying in Israel after high school and, for the first time, someone on the street mistakes you for an Israeli and starts asking for directions. Wow, they think someone would trust me with a weapon!
I was tempted to answer, “Only my wits, ma’am.” If I were Jack, I probably would have said that. Instead I just smiled, which was probably the right thing to do, because she was serious even if I wasn’t.
I shouldn’t be that pleased, anyway; someone at my meeting noted that it could just be I have “the settler look.” Ah, well.
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