Ynet Lifestyle: Hamantaschen, a healthier alternative

In honor of Purim, here's a great recipe for holiday's traditional treat

Shalom Life culture staff Published: 02.28.10, 14:53 / Israel Culture

Purim's here, so we thought we'd give you a healthier alternative for this holiday's traditional treat - Hamantaschen!

Cookie:
4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1-1/4 cups sucanat
16 tbsp. canola spread
4 eggs (or substitute)
A little vanilla

Filling:
Chopped apricots (or prunes)
Honey
Sucanat

Method:
Mix together dry ingredients and add canola spread, mix really, really well. Add vanilla to beaten eggs and add to rest of mixture and knead.

Cook filling ingredients together with some water.

Roll out dough and cut into circles (with glass or better yet a tuna can with both the top and the bottom removed) stuff with filling and bake on parchment-lined sheet for most even baking) at 325°F on middle rack until brown.

With the use of unrefined sugar and flour, canola oil and egg substitute, there is no need to feel guilty enjoying this tradition fare. And, to make you feel even better, they are high in fiber and low in fat and cholesterol – unlike traditional recipes.

Tip:
Feel free to replace sucanat, with using unrefined turbinado sugar (raw sugar) only.

Reprinted with permission from Shalom Life

Manggis: For my love of Malaysia, A reply to "D"

Assalamualaikum,
Dear D,

Ok, I agree to disagree with you on the interpretation of Tun Dr. M’s speech.

But I stand firm to my believe Tun Dr. M does not hate Jews. He is not a racist and does not hate the Chinese or Indians of this country. Whatever, so called rhetoric speeches he has made were only meant to defend the underdogs, which nowadays, include Palestinians in the mid-east crisis, Malay and Bumiputra in Malaysia. There were and are still many poor and less capable Bumiputras and during his ruling (for 22 years), he managed to make this little correction. With the right balance in races and moderate temperaments of its people, Malaysia achieves its peace and stability.

I stand firm to my believe that Malaysia and its people, will not stage a “holocaust” to the Jews or any race. It is foolish, for anyone to do so or even to think so. The race composition in Malaysia (with very2 few Jews), and the nature of its people, would not allow such horrendous act to be committed. Alhamdullilah, I have lived in this country all my life (minus some significant years abroad) without ever witnessing any war or serious destabilization in the country.

Some foreigners tried to destabilize our country (remember operation lalang?) and recently in 1997/98 (remember how well Al- Gore behaved during his speech in KL?), but by the maturity of the Malaysian people, we were able to diffuse the effect. Malaysia is not a perfect society, but we manage to solve our racial problems. Moreover, where on earth can you find a perfect society?

Those Malaysians who live abroad quietly admit to me they remain being foreigners and could not easily make friends with the white people even in the great USA where “equal opportunity” is but only a slogan and a lip service. I am not sure of Canada where you live perhaps the situation there is better. These Malaysians are for the monetary gain; and this is OK and I have no problem with this since the grass is always greener on the other side.

On the brain drain issue, it is not as bad as that being portrayed in that link you gave me. Trust me, I am in the business of “brain gain”, I know very well the issues of brain gain and brain drain. If these Malaysians go away, we can always get talents from other countries. Foreigners love to come here. One Swedish professional told me his friends have come to Malaysia 18 times within the last 5 years.

We may not pay these professionals and experts well, but Malaysia has other charms to offer. To start with, it was said (by the Australian Expatriate Magazine) Malaysia has more pretty girls per sq feet in the world. Our pretty girls are being snatched away by so many foreigners and these days we read this in the newspaper everyday. Oh, I can write a long list of things Malaysian can offer but you will think I am bragging. If you have talent and brain write to me, I can find a place to fit you, for a short visit or a long term contract. Malaysia is an interesting place, and but you need to experience to know and love it. Where on earth people enjoy public holidays, every now and then?

On the problem of kaum pendatang etc…let me rebut by an anecdote from my own experience.

As I was slowly backing my car from a parking space in Air Keroh R&R (the North-South Highway rest area near Malacca), I accidentally hit the bumper of a car. The driver, a Chinese man came out and started shouting rudely and loudly to me demanding to pay for the damage, which in my assessment only a small dent and could be patch with simple spray. His rudeness and unreasonable demand just induced me to speak rudely back to him. This is not my nature. He was with his family and I was alone, by myself. Since I was alone, the commotion started to draw a few Malays to see what happen. They did not interfere and trust that since I am a physically big person I can handle the situation. And this Chinese man started to use racial prejudice issue. He called the police, and I agreed. But the police never came because the accident is really not worth recording. We went on for nearly 3-4 hours, (by the car parking space), from quarreling to near fist fighting, to negotiating, to politely ending the situation by settlement and eventually we made friend with each other during the last 30 min. At the end I paid what he asked simply because he became polite to me. He even asked for my name card, but of course I did not give since I like to remain anonymous like now in this blog.

Now, the reason why the Chinese (2nd 3rd generations) get such a treatment sometime (as you complained), is because they are usually impolite and make unreasonable demand. Jangan kurang ajar. In the Malay psychic, nothing is more important than beradab sopan. “Biar mati anak, jangan mati adat”. Adat Melayu, mesti bersopan santun. Protocol is very important. The elders must be respected and Jangan kurang ajar. Let’s hope after this the next generation (i.e. 4th ) will improve.

So it is not the Malays want to or purposely treat the Chinese as “kaum pendatang”, but when anger rages, it is easy to slip your tongue. Remember when Malaysia was formed, over one million citizenships were given to the non-Malays including Chinese. Thanks to the founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first and wisest Prime Minister of Malaysia.

I suspect the impolite Chinese are those mainly less educated, and likewise the impolite Malays are less educated. So it boils down to bringing up the level of education and nurturing these people (both sides) with the right values.

Our education system over the 50 years since independence has to some extent being able to raise the level, if not to the world class or European standard, but significantly higher than that from the pre-independent period. I am definitely cleverer than my mother and father, both of whom could not read and write.

The Malays are really wonderful people.
The Malaysian Federal Constitution article 160(2) defines Malay as someone who is a Muslim, speaks fluent Malay and practices the Malay custom or a descendent of all of these.

By this simple definition, anyone can become Malay including many Han people. You must have come across those fair skin slanted eyed Malays. In Malaysia, Malay is not genetically defined. Even our former PM Tun Abdullah is a mixed Chinese Malay. Hence as has been long predicted by Hang Tuah, the great Malay warrior, the phrase Tidak Melayu hilang di bumi, is very aptly, because what defines Malayness is a cauldron of growing genetic varieties as the world become more globalised and which can never be destroyed.

Anthropologically, they originated from those aborigines (mainly Orang Asli) who live along the coast line of the Malaya peninsular and came into contact with foreigners, the Indians, Chinese, Thais, Arabs traders and so on. These aborigines welcomed and embraced foreigners and their cultures easily. The fusion between these aborigines and foreigners made up the Malays. Of course this process happened over thousands of years. The Malay language is full or foreign words (including Hebrew). What is important to note how easy the Malays mixed with foreigners? How welcoming and compromising the Malays are.

Until these days, try talking to a Malay, he will naturally imitate the dialect of the foreigner who try to speak Malay and not the other way round. Hence, we develop bahasa Melayu pasar, the market Malay language.

Bahasa Melayu pasar is not the official Malaysia language but the latter is base on Bahasa Melayu Johor-Riau. As you probably recalls Johor-Riau was an empire established after the fall of the Melaka when the Portuguese invaded and colonized Melaka. The Sultan fled to Muar and started his new dominion. So the main Malay language and culture are very much influenced by Johor-Riau Sultanate, the palace language and culture. In contrast, the Indonesian language also Malay like is very much more rough (kasar), because of the influence of the market. The Malays in Malaysia will normally use “saya, kami, kita, awak, mereka ”, while the Indonesian will use “aku, engkau, gua, lu” instead. Once I communicated by email with a French who wanted to come to Malaysia. He has learned Indonesian language. He wrote to me in Indonesian language, although I understand him, I feel his language construct was rough (kasar) almost to rudeness. It was this incident that has made me to reflect on the background I describe to you above.

Of course, in Malaysia the different states have their own dialect, some I do not understand, like the Kelantanese and Sabahan etc… I am a Johorean (was born in Singapore) and very proud of my background. Actually, the great Johor-Riau Empire included Singapore and naturally, I studied the history of these places well.

Do you know the Sultan of Johor (Sultan Mahmud) passed away (mangkat) recently?

The new Sultan i.e. his son is actually another mixed blood, his mother is an English lady. So there you are, we have a half English Sultan in Johor. I like the new Sultan Ibrahim and his wife Her Royal Highness Sultanah Zarith Sofiah who is the Patron of Red Crescent and also a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.

What is the simple Palestinian cause? Well only to have a place to stay in peace and dignified. Is this so difficult to fulfill?

Thank you for reading my long reply, my dear D.

p.s.
I will comment on the meeting with Yeshua later.

Manggis

Documentary: The story of the Indonesian Jews

As I'm very interested to know the history of the SE Asian Jewry it was very interesting for me to watch the video documentary about the Indonesian Jews. A friend asked me to pay attention to that video.

All those small SE Asian Jewish communities were almost unknown and not much information left behind. That video spots a light on the Indonesian Jews during WW2 times and their life afterwards making "Aliya" (pilgrimage emigration) to Israel.

I want to share with you that very authentic and special documentary and spare about 1 hour to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvGcIWG4XlY

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Hanan.

Ynet News: Jewish women of Bollywood cinema

Many of Indian cinema's stars came from families of Baghdadi Jewish descent who had been living in country for decades

Ilan Mester Published: 02.24.10, 07:51 / Israel Jewish Scene

Movie goers from Bombay to Bangalore were star stuck over Bollywood’s Sulochana during the golden age of Indian cinema. At the time, most of them were unaware that Sulochana was Jewish and that her real name was Ruby Myers.

But Myers wasn’t the only actress to light up the silver screen in India during the 1920’s and ‘30s. Rose Ezra and Farhat Ezekiel Nadira shared the Bollywood limelight along with other Jewish actors. They came from Indian families of Baghdadi Jewish descent who had been living in India for decades.

At the time, many Hindu and Muslim women weren’t allowed, for modesty’s sake, to appear in movies, according to documentarian Eric Molinksy. However, Jewish women were able to pursue careers as actresses in India.

They were able to play diverse roles. For example, Nadira was known for playing the “bad girl” and, for her strong screen presence. Most of the Jewish Bollywood stars reached their peak in the 1920s and 30s. However, many continued acting throughout their lives. Sulochana held her last film role in 1980, three years before she past away.

Reprinted with permission from Shalom Life

AP: Archaeologist sees proof for Bible in ancient wall

By MATTI FRIEDMAN, Associated Press Writer Matti Friedman, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 22, 8:07 pm ET

JERUSALEM – An Israeli archaeologist said Monday that ancient fortifications recently excavated in Jerusalem date back 3,000 years to the time of King Solomon and support the biblical narrative about the era.

If the age of the wall is correct, the finding would be an indication that Jerusalem was home to a strong central government that had the resources and manpower needed to build massive fortifications in the 10th century B.C.

That's a key point of dispute among scholars, because it would match the Bible's account that the Hebrew kings David and Solomon ruled from Jerusalem around that time.

While some Holy Land archaeologists support that version of history — including the archaeologist behind the dig, Eilat Mazar — others posit that David's monarchy was largely mythical and that there was no strong government to speak of in that era.

Speaking to reporters at the site Monday, Mazar, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, called her find "the most significant construction we have from First Temple days in Israel."

"It means that at that time, the 10th century, in Jerusalem there was a regime capable of carrying out such construction," she said.

Based on what she believes to be the age of the fortifications and their location, she suggested it was built by Solomon, David's son, and mentioned in the Book of Kings.

The fortifications, including a monumental gatehouse and a 77-yard (70-meter) long section of an ancient wall, are located just outside the present-day walls of Jerusalem's Old City, next to the holy compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. According to the Old Testament, it was Solomon who built the first Jewish Temple on the site.

That temple was destroyed by Babylonians, rebuilt, renovated by King Herod 2,000 years ago and then destroyed again by Roman legions in 70 A.D. The compound now houses two important Islamic buildings, the golden-capped Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Archaeologists have excavated the fortifications in the past, first in the 1860s and most recently in the 1980s. But Mazar claimed her dig was the first complete excavation and the first to turn up strong evidence for the wall's age: a large number of pottery shards, which archaeologists often use to figure out the age of findings.

Aren Maeir, an archaeology professor at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, said he has yet to see evidence that the fortifications are as old as Mazar claims. There are remains from the 10th century in Jerusalem, he said, but proof of a strong, centralized kingdom at that time remains "tenuous."

While some see the biblical account of the kingdom of David and Solomon as accurate and others reject it entirely, Maeir said the truth was likely somewhere in the middle.

"There's a kernel of historicity in the story of the kingdom of David," he said.

Ynet News: Ancient Arabic inscription found in Jerusalem

Home renovation in Old City yields rare 1,100-year-old plaque offering insight into capital's history under Muslim rule

Associated Press Published: 02.22.10, 08:15 / Israel Travel

A home renovation in Jerusalem's Old City has yielded a rare Arabic inscription offering insight into the city's history under Muslim rule, Israeli archaeologists said Wednesday.

The fragment of a 1,100-year-old plaque is thought to have been made by an army veteran to express his thanks for a land grant from the Caliph al-Muqtadir, whom the inscription calls "Emir of the Faithful."

Dating from a time when Jerusalem was ruled from Baghdad by the Abbasid empire, the plaque shows how rulers rewarded their troops and ensured their loyalty, archaeologists said.

Fragment of marble plaque bearing inscription

(Photo: Clara Amit, courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority)

The Abbasids conquered Jerusalem after numerous wars with the Fatimid empire in Egypt. The Abbasid caliphs valued Jerusalem as an Islamic holy site.

"The caliph probably granted estates as part of his effort to strengthen his hold over the territories within his control, including Jerusalem, just as other rulers did in different periods," said excavation director Annette Nagar.

The white marble plaque measures four inches by four inches (10x10 centimeters) and was found approximately five feet (1.5 meters) beneath the floor of a home in the Old City's Jewish Quarter.

The house's owner planned a renovation and – as required by law – brought archaeologists to carry out a salvage dig meant to prevent harm to valuable antiquities. The plaque has been removed from the site and is now in the hands of Israel's Antiquities Authority.

The writing was deciphered by Hebrew University professor Moshe Sharon, who traced it to 910, during the early part of al-Muqtadir's 24-year rule.

The finding will help scholars better understand 10th-century Jerusalem, populated by Muslims, Christians and Jews, and the methods used by Muslim rulers to solidify their control.

Dr. Nasoha Saabin: WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF ISLAM?

Allah has ordered the Muslim to deliver the Great Kalimah to those who has not accepted and recited the Great Kalimah. Allah has given this noble work to all Prophets and to the followers of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Although the followers of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w are not Prophets but Allah has given this noble work to them. Allah has greatly honored the followers of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w by giving them the work of Prophets. When the followers of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w do the work of Prophets like the Prophets do then Allah will give them the worry like Prophets and the love towards humankind as Prophets. Allah has filled the heart of all Prophets with love towards humankind and with these love all the Prophets call people to Allah. Qualities of Prophets will come to the Muslims only when the Muslims do the work of Prophets. Until the Muslims do the work of Prophets, Allah would not give the qualities of Prophets to the Muslims. The first order that Allah gives to a person upon the reciting the Great Kalimah, I bear witness there is no God except Allah and Muhammad is the Prophets of Allah is to convey the Great Kalimah to the non-Muslims. The order is only to convey the Great Kalimah and not to convince the non-Muslims to embrace Islam. The work of conveying the Great Kalimah to others is call as the work of Tabligh or Dakwah.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w said in the meaning whoever do not perform solat has destroyed Islam. When Muslims disobey Allah by not performing solat then Muslims have practically becomes the enemies of Islam. When Muslim disobeys the great commandments of Allah like solat then Muslims are destroying Islam. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w did not say that the non-Muslims are the enemies of Islam, as many Muslims tend to believe. Allah says the real enemies of men are the syaitan or the devils. Devils or syaitan are not only the enemies of Muslims but they are the enemies of the whole humankind. Syaitan or devils have only one work that is to make all men to disobey the orders of Allah. Syaitan will make all plans and tricks so that men disobey the orders of Allah. When Muslims disobey the great orders of Allah like Dakwah and Solat then Muslims themselves are destroying Islam. The first order of Allah is Dakwah and the second order of Allah is five times daily solat. Allah gives these great orders to the Prophets and his followers while they were still in Mecca and Allah gives all other orders in Medinah. When Prophet s.a.w said that when a Muslims do not perform five times solat which is the second order of Allah they are destroying Islam, what will happen to Islam when Muslims do not do the work of Dakwah, which is the first order of Allah. When Muslims are not doing the work of dakwah or the work of conveying the Great Kalimah to the non-Muslims then Muslims is not only destroying Islam but also destroying Islam to the ground. The enemies of Islam are Muslims who are not practicing the orders of Allah. The non-Muslims can kill Muslims but non-Muslims cannot destroy Islam. The non-Muslims who are under the control of the devils can become the enemies of Muslims but they are not the enemies of Islam. The enemies of Islam are the Muslims who are not practicing Islam particularly those Muslims who do not do the work of dakwah and perform five times daily solat with congregation in the mosque.

The Jews who kill the Muslims can be the enemies of Muslims but they are not the enemies of Islam. The Hindus who kill the Muslims can be the enemies of Muslims but they are not the enemies of Islam. When non-Muslims kill a Muslim because the Muslims believe in Allah and Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah, the Muslims will die as martyrs and he or she will enter Paradise. When Muslim dies while disobeying Allah, he or she will enter hellfire. A true Muslim will say I am ready to die in order to make Islam alive but I am not ready to live while letting Islam to die. This was the words uttered by Abu Bakar may Allah be pleased with him when he was trying to encourage the Muslims to go to war just after the demise of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. The non-Muslims are not the enemies of Islam and they are not the enemies of Muslims. The non-Muslims will only become the enemies of Muslims when they co-operates with the devils and syaitan to stop the work of dakwah or the work of conveying the Great Kalimah to the entire humankind. The Muslims who disobey Allah and who try to stop the work of dakwah are the real enemies of Islam. The hypocrites who try to stop the work of dakwah are the real enemies of Islam. Allah cursed the hypocrites more than the non-Muslims because the hypocrites are trying to deceive Allah and the Muslims. The hypocrites are not only imposter but they are at the same times trying to stop the work of dakwah. In the day of judgments, Allah will put the hypocrites in the lowest level of hellfire. If you are lazy in doing dakwah and performing solat you may takes treatments and contact Shahrul Nizam 0126267945

Dr Nasoha Saabin

My nome de plume is “Manggis Malaysia”. Why?

That essay is written by a very close friend which I'm so thankful of the special friendship. It is exactly one year since the frienship with Manggis Malaysia started and I'm very pleased and honored to publish what Manggis Malaysia composed to celebrate our friendship first year anniversary.
Thank you my dear friend Manggis Malaysia.

My nome de plume is “Manggis Malaysia”. Why?

Manggis is a very special variety of fruit in Malaysia. If durian is the “king of fruit”, Manggis is the “queen of fruit”. Both of these fruits are not allowed to be brought into hotels in Malaysia. Durian is prohibited in hotels because of its typical smell, although for durian lovers durian smell is gorgeous. Manggis, on the other hand, has no unpleasant smell, but its prohibition is because of its natural yellow glue/gum may stain the clothing an unforgivable stain.

I love both these fruits, but I love Manggis (or the English call this mangosteen) more for its deceiving characters. Manggis is dark reddish black colour on the outside, but its edible flesh inside is pure white. Its white flesh may look pale, but is more succulent than grapes, tastes tangier than oranges, and sweeter definitely than strawberries. Tasting Manggis for the first time will give you a heighten sense and delightful surprises and I am sure you will want to taste more.

If you ever come to Malaysia, make sure you look for this fruit. Manggis is seasonal and not so plentiful. Unfortunately, the current Manggis variety is not suitable for export. May be in the future we shall produce a better variety for export so that more people in the world can taste our Malaysian Manggis.

That is why I choose Manggis as my nome de plume.

Hanan has requested me to write under a nome de plume, but I could not think of any “pen-name”, until today when I was driving home from work and Manggis just inspires me to write in his blog which tries to bridge between two estranged people… and enemies.

Of course, after writing to Hanan for one year, we are hardly enemy, we have, during these months, make a small achievement by turning each other from enemy to friend. This is a small achievement indeed.

When I sent my first email to Hanan, it was really driven by my curiosity, to know the conflict between Israel-Palestine from ground level. I have heard from Palestinian sides and now I want to know from the opposite. It is no good reading from published materials, since both sides are biased. To me, to experience is better. InshaAllah, one day, I will go to this troubled land and witnessed the conflict myself.

I wish I can tell the Israelis and the Palestinians to stop the war once and for all. Too much blood has been spilt, too many has died, too much suffering and what do you achieve? I am sure, putting the politics and bad people aside, there are many good honest people from both side wanting peace.

In this short note, I like to disclose some of our early communications, and show how our friendship began. As you can see this “Friendship prior peace” blog is the inspiration fruit of our friendship. I even helped him in its logo design and I drew the objectives together with him. “Friendship prior peace” is really Hanan’s idea, but my complementing idea is “making friend with your enemy”.

It is easy to make friends with your friends or someone you do not know. It is very difficult to make friends with your enemy, what more to a sworn enemy for time immemorial, like the Jews and Muslims. But I always question this notion. Are we (the Jews and Muslims) really enemies? Why do we (Muslims) hate them (Jews)? Wait a minute, is this really true? Why are people telling me so? What are their motives?

It was through these questioning that I began to search for the answers by contacting my “enemy” (i.e. Hanan), and from my communications, I form my own conclusion.

May be we should allow the friendship ball starts rolling, and collect more and more friends along the way. This is what the “friendship prior peace” blog aims to do.

We (Hanan and I) hope in time to come, when friendship flourished throughout the world, all the wars and fighting becomes irrelevant and non-issue.

Will you be my friend, my dear enemy?

This is my first email to Hanan….

From Manggis Malaysia Thu Feb 19 08:44:48 2009

Dear Hanan,
I found your address from Tun Dr. M blog.

I am a Muslim and of course fully sympathetic of what is going on in Gaza and the Palestinian. Of course, I was angry by your first comment which really showed how ignorant you are. And m fully supporting Tun M's comments. But your subsequent comments made me think twice about you. I think you are a good person. Keep writing and "enlighten" our people your side of the story. The brutalities have been going on for too long. I hope there will be some peace in the Middle East. Sometimes, I do feel the Arabs has to be blamed as well.

I hope we can find some middle of the road solution to this conflict.

Salam.
Manggis Malaysia

From HANAN LESHNOVOLSKY Fri Feb 20 05:55:44 2009

Dear Manggis Malaysia,
Salam Alaikum, Shalom and Grace.

First, I apologize for my delayed reply.
Thank you for your e-mail. It is really enthusiasm during any argument or e-mail exchange. The way of dialog must sustain because I think that this is the only way to find the proper solution for both sides.
I understand very much your brotherhood support to the Palestinians. I know they are suffering. It is just because our bloody (Palestinian and Israeli) history is based on misunderstanding followed by fatal mistakes. The greatest mistake was using the force of violence instead using the force of the spoken words or written words.
The second mistake is for both sides to think how much I can gain (get) from the other side instead of being generous and think how much can I give to the other side.
I'm not ignorant of anything and I'm aware of the suffering of both peoples because I live here and know the events from first source. My first commenet was more so called aggressive in order to capture the attention of Dr. Mahathir and all bloggers. I would not comment upon myself as good or bad person since the judgment is for the others. What I can say is that I don't have many (I cannot find even a single) enemies and I'm a friend to everyone. You probably read in one of my comments that I was mentoring three Malaysian students in their studies. It was done mainly by e-mailing and I met them once or twice (not as a group since I mentored them one by one). I would do it with everyone no matter he/she is not a Jew or Israeli.
Maybe my side (the Israeli and Jewish) is not complying your vision as same the opposite which is related to us. We'll probably would not be able to convince each other with the justice each of us understands. But, we can talk to each other. Time and patient can do miracles. Instantaneous solutions based on anger cannot be achieved and "cannot hold even water".
I wish and hope that peace can be in the Middle East one day same as you wish. No one likes war and more dead.
You may keep writing to me whenever you like. Feel free to do it and I promise to answer.

Salam, Shalom.

Hanan,
Israel

From Manggis Malaysia Tue Feb 24 16:39:09 2009
Assalamualaikum
Dear Hanan,

I first know about the Jewish race during a school play (The Merchant of Venice), I played the role of the merchant Shylock. Unfortunately for me, I was only in the support team, so although I did all the practises, but did not have the opportunity display my talent since the first team did well. My second and real encounter with a Jew, was when I worked in a factory in Britain. He was my floor supervisor. We did not have much to say to each other, but I did sense some arrogance in him. And of course, subsequently, in my adulthood life, my knowledge of the jewish people comes from the usual media and its bias. Of course, I must have a few jewish friends or acquaintances but I know them only by their european or american identities during our professional exchanges. Some of them are exceedingly kind. However, I do sense an invisible curtain of mistrust, real or imaginary. Allah hualam. Only God's knows. We never talk about religion or the mid east conflict.

The Middle East conflict is too complicated for me to understand. Why after the WW2, the British must take some land from the palestinian and give it to the migrating european jews to establish the state of Israel, I do not understand.(please answer this from your point of view). After so many years, I become sensitize with the conflict and began not to bother about it, since I am too remote from the conflict physically, as well as temporally. By temporally, I mean, I do not carry the memory of hatred between the Muslim and the Jews. In some sense, I feel, the the fight is probably over the wealth (oil) in the middle east. US wants to have control over the region. It must destablize the area by creating wars. The Israel state is only working as its proxy of threat. The war in the middle east has nothing to do with religion. It is a war of greed. Do you agree? Let me know your view.

The Jews and the Muslims share the same traditional religious practises, worship the same God (the only ONE) and respect the same line of prophets. Except that two are trapped in a syndrome of inherited pride and prejudice. The jews with its inherited pride and arrogance and the muslims with its inherited prejudices.

But the recent Gaza genocides with many bloody pictures such as a child head's severed from his/her body amongst the rubbles and ruins, are too much for me to see. Of course, I gave some donations to alleviate the pain of the these victims. But the amount which I gave must be too small to be of any effect other than to serve my conscience. I think the neighbouring Arab countries could do more to help these people. I do not understand why they are reluctant to help. Do you?

I hope you also visit the site which call to criminalize war founded by Tun Dr.M. I hope you can give some comment to this.

It is nice to know someone from the Zionist State. This is my first real encounter with a Zionist from Israel. I want to understand.

Wassalamu Alaikum. May God's peace be with you.

Manggis Malaysia

From HANAN LESHNOVOLSKY Wed Feb 25 11:17:23 2009

Dear Manggis Malaysia,
Salam Alaikum, Shalom and Grace.

Thank you for your continuation of writing to me privately. It is really showing that you do care about a dialog despite the long distance, different culture, different religion and from other aspects. This is something I'm also striving to achieve. This is the main reason of my participation in Dr. Mahathir blog.

It looks like both of us are about the same age, so our understanding of life and experience is about the same. I assume you have a family to care about as same as me. Luckily, I believe your family is facing a much better life than the Palestinian families.

I'll try not to answer your all issues in order not to have any influence upon your mindset and opinion. I would like you to make your judgment by yourself. I'll prefer to ask you questions about what you wrote me. I'm doing it only because I think that self convincing about truth is much stronger than if some one is trying to convince you. I don't want you to support my vision just because I convinced you that I'm right. This is from two aspects. One - When it is self convincing, it will be protected strongly and have firm pillars. Two - If someday we become friends and you'll find that what I tried to convince you as truth is false and you believed me, then you may think I fooled you. How can you then be my friend if you think I fooled you? I hope you understand my point.

Regarding the school play "The Merchant of Venice" I have for you several questions:
1) What do you think about the story, is it a true or a fantasy story?
2) Why did you choose to play Shylock?
3) Why do you think the school management brought that story to create a drama play?
4) What are Malay Muslims thinking about that story and how is that story is biasing their opinion on Jews?

Regarding the Jewish supervisor during your work in Britain. It may be that he was arrogant, but can it be that you interpreted his behavior wrongly. Please try to answer the questions as honest as you can. You must not answer them to me if you feel not comfortable to do so, but at least try to answer it to yourself.
1) You said he was arrogant. Was he arrogant because of his being a Jew?
2) Was he arrogant because he was a manager?
3) Did that arrogance affect your biased opinion on Jews?
4) If yes, how many Jews you knew before him that was as same?
5) Is arrogance related to a religious behavior or personality of people?
6) Did you meet any Christians, Muslims or any other religious people that were arrogant?
7) What in his character made you thinking that he is arrogant?

About so called the biased knowledge about Jews in the media.
1) What is the most and frequent media you are exposed to?
2) Is that media a free opinion media?
3) Is that media including TV as well clerics speeches in Mosque?
4) What is a ratio between the reports about what happens on the Palestinian side and on the Israeli side?
5) Do you feel that the media has an intention to be pro one side all the time?

About the other Jewish friends (European and American).
1) Why do think or feel that there is a curtain between them and you?
2) Why didn't you spoke about the "conflict" with them?
3) How do you know they are kind? Can't it be they are not so kind and just pretending to be polite to you?
4) Do you have any contact with them these days?
5) Do you think you are able to establish with them a friendship not related to the professional relations?
6) When you have been with them, was it you that were a single among many of them, or vice versa?
7) Do you think that if you talk with them about religion, will it affect the relations badly?

The Middle East conflict is very complicated. I doubt that it can be solved easily and in a short time. The Balfour Statement about the home for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel was much earlier than WW2 even started. But this is not the point. If I need to answer you from my point of view it may not comply with the facts and knowledge you are aware of. The Jewish people, including me, along the generations of their existence are chained to the Land of Israel as their promised land as God promised to our fathers Abraham, Issac and Jacob. In many of our prayers we end with "Next year in the rebuilt Jerusalem". Those are my national and Jewish roots. That desire of the Jews is not acceptable by the Palestinians and Muslims abroad. The problem is not the belief of each side that it is right and the other is wrong. We cannot convince each other because the right or wrong is widely gaped. We can (both sides) go through the history and find facts in thousands pro and against and we never agree because everyone thinks that he is right and his history is the truth.

We have three options to solve that problem. One - Israel will win the "war" and defeat the Palestinians totally. Two - The Palestinians will win that "war" and defeat Israel and banish all Jews from the land. Three - Both sides can find a solution, as difficult it is and have two independent states side by side. There is a fourth option which is not a solution, but a "time bomb" - one state for both peoples. Imagine one of the sides is a majority and the other is a minority. Than there will not be fairness and independence of one side. Imagine that the Malaysian Chinese are now 65% of Malayisia. Would you accept it that they will govern you? Would Malay, Bumiputra or any native accept it?

We must think about a logical solution with dignity for both peoples. Both peoples deserve to live "boring" life. Each side must understand the desire of the other side and must accept a compromise from a willing stand point and not as an outcome of enforcement. Each side must be ready to sacrifice something or many things. This is the only obligatory solution.

The conflict is more complicated than the oil manipulations. Assume Israel lives in peace with all its Arab neighbors. What a bad impact can it have on the oil politics and control? The conflict is much deeper than that. Dr. Mahathir calls it a territorial conflict. It is a territorial but also a religious one. If it would be just a territorial, it couldn't be that all Muslim world is against the Israeli policy against the Palestinians. It is so called the Muslim brotherhood. The Muslims are afraid that the Jews are intending to destroy the Al Aqsa mosque and rebuild the Baitulmaqdis. This is also a major part of the conflict and related to the religious aspect. As far as I'm aware and know it from Judaism and the Israeli politics, this is not going to happen. to assure that it will not happen, in order to avoid extreme people to ignite that flame, a solution must be found. After the solution is established - it will be an insurance policy to freeze the status of all holy places. Just keep in mind that after the 1967 war when we captured back the old city of Jerusalem, we could demolish the Mosque and rebuild our Baitulmaqdis and we didn't. Isn't it proving something?
The conflict is very emotional. An emotional conflict tends to be a religious if both sides are from different roots of belief even it is about a territory. That's why it is combined and difficult to solve.

I agree with you that both, Islam and Judaism are pretty much the same. But Islam demonized Jews since prophet Mohammad's times. They have been tagged as not trusty and arrogant. Muslims are called not to have the Jews as friends. Among Muslims, aren't arrogant and not trusty people. Isn't the same among Christians or Idol worship people? Demonizing people based on their religion is not right. Assume I'll think all Muslims are terrorists because Al Qaeda is a Muslim terror organization. Just assume I'm a "prophet" and writing now a holy book (which I'm not and will never be) and demonizing Islam and Muslims as blood thirsty terrorists. Is it logical?
I'm not going to argue about the religious aspects as you are familiar with and I respect very much your belief. Assuming some of the Jews are arrogant and not trusty, does it mean all Jews are alike?
We must "forget" yesterday's events and think about the present day as a new born day. We must respect every person from the first moment as trustful and humble without any bias. If that person is a bad one - it is not the nature of religion, but his personal sin. We (the Jews) believe God chose us as His superior nation among nations, but He is not guiding us to be arrogant or false. In every group of people you may find good and bad people.
I'm writing to you because my initial impression about you is that you are an honest man, respectful and thinking using your brain and feeling using your heart. I'm not thinking that you are a terrorist. I don't know even how you look like and I trust you. This is something that is not happening between the Israelis and Palestinians. They don't trust each other and this one of greatest obstacles to have a solution for the problem.

I really honor your generosity to donate for the suffering Palestinians. We really don't want them to suffer. I wish they could live in a relaxed life like you. Any donation, a single coin or a million RM is equal if it comes from the heart and with love. Let me ask you something "provocative". Would you donate for the Jews as same if the situation was opposite (I tend to believe, you would do it, because generosity is not related to a religion)? Did you know about the help Israel provided Turkey a few years ago during two earthquakes happened there? Within hours we sent out our special rescue teams with the most sophisticated equipment and superior trained dogs to find survivors? Was that shown in the Malaysian media? When the Tsunami hit SE Asia and Malaysia-Penang, Israel was ready to send any required aid to you and Indonesia. The Malaysian government refused it at once as well the Indonesian government. Finally the desperate Indonesians with a very high toll of lost lives accepted the Israeli aid but insisted to remove any identification signs that it comes from Israel. I'm sorry to say it, but it is a kind of arrogance of governments. During disaster times, conflicts should be put aside, this a basic human expectation.

I visited Dr. Mahathir's web site to criminalize war. I have one objection regarding the definition. He should include the terror actions whatever they are to be criminalized. I hope that one day will come and will not need that initiation since there will be no wars. I have very much respect to Dr. Mahathir and I'm following him for several years. He is an interesting person. I don't agree with his very biased out speaking against Israel and against the Jews in some cases. But this is his right to think as he likes. Even we don't agree, I think we could be two good friends. Don't you have friends that you are thinking different from them? As long as our arguments are non violent and not humiliating we can still remain friends. Do you think Dr. Mahathir can admit mistakes or do you know if he did it once in the past? I have an impression that he cannot admit mistakes, but may be I'm wrong (may be I don't know him so well).

Dear Manggis Malaysia, please forgive me if my expressions were somehow offending mistakenly, which was not my intention. I wanted to summarize my vision as you asked for it. I hope you find it interesting and enlightening, even you may not agree with them. I hope it is not demonstrating any arrogance.

May God bless you with peace wasallam ala kululalam, Shalom,

Hanan,
Israel

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Manggis Malaysia

Ynet News: NY Times presents: Israeli cuisine course

Prestigious newspaper's online university introduces course on emerging Israeli cuisine in its study program

Sarit Sardas-Trotino Published: 02.19.10, 08:21 / Israel Culture

As part of an online project orchestrated by the New York Times, web surfers will now be able to educate themselves on the principles of the new emerging Israeli cuisine.

The New York Times Knowledge Network commissions journalists and academics from around the world to give paid online courses for the public on a variety of topics such as art, law, politics and science. The idea of introducing an Israeli culinary course was initiated by the Israeli Consulate in New York and constitutes the first culinary course in the newspaper's online university program.

For a sum of $145 students can take part in a three-part historical and cultural journey through the evolution of Israeli cuisine from ancient times until the present day. The course will address the unique confluence of cultures in Israeli cuisine, and will introduce, for example, couscous cooking methods and the recent gastronomical trends in Tel Aviv.

"This study program is part of a growing interest that the world and especially the US has been showing recently in our cuisine," says chief editor of Al Hashulchan (“On the Table") magazine Janna Gur who constructed the course.

"Sometimes I visit culinary schools in the US and at first the young chefs don't understand why they need to learn about the food in this faraway place called Israel. I explain to them that Israel is a fascinating case where one can observe in real time how a cuisine is born."

Gur also explained that Israeli cuisine is the result of the fusion of over 60 cultures. "We have a synthesis of flavors – chopped liver and Kneidlach have been mixed in with Mediterranean flavors together with local ingredients and international seasoning," she said.

'Israel a vegetarian heaven'

According to Gur, the Israeli cuisine has undergone tremendous changes over the last thee decades. "Our cuisine is very relevant for the present day since most of it is based on vegetables and vegetarianism is the new bon ton.

"Did you know that Israelis are the only people to eat vegetable salad in the morning? Indians consider Israel a vegetarian heaven."

Students of the online course will also get a chance to view Israeli star chef Haim Cohen prepare a meal based on signature Israeli dishes. "I'm glad that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is promoting the country through food. Maybe if people saw we have this type of culture their hostility towards us would be diminished," he said.

Cohen also noted, "Israeli food is also based on the Arab cuisine. If we can't achieve comprehensive peace, at least we can have culinary co-existence."

Ynet News: Peer rolls into Dubai semis

Israeli tennis star continues superb performance, set to meet Venus Williams next

Associated Press Published: 02.18.10, 21:20 / Israel Culture

A year after she was stopped from playing in the Dubai Championships, Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer is proving unstoppable in reaching the semifinals on Thursday.

Unseeded Peer beat her third seed in four matches when No. 8 Li Na, the Australian Open semifinalist, retired with back spasms. Peer was leading 7-5, 3-0.

Peer, who has also beaten No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 13 Yanina Wickmayer, will meet defending champion Venus Williams.

"I'm beating so many good players," Peer said. "It's really good and I'm happy by the way I'm playing. I think I'm playing very, very good, and everything is coming together. So I just hope to keep going."

'She's so brave'

Peer, who was been surrounded by security and played only on the most secure court at Aviation Club, earned the admiration of Williams.

"She's so brave and she's got so much character. I can't imagine being in her shoes," Williams said.

"I can't imagine playing so well with this kind of circumstance. I don't think anyone else on tour could do what she's doing."

Last year, Peer's visa was denied by the United Arab Emirates for security reasons, so the WTA Tour punished the tournament organizers with a heavy fine.

She's into at least the semifinals for the third time this year.

Ynet News: Peer beats Wozniacki to make Dubai quarterfinals

Israeli tennis star wins in Dubai Open upset against top-ranked Danish player, moves on to quarterfinals. Match court swapped out of security concerns

Associated Press Published: 02.17.10, 14:12 / Israel Culture

Shahar Peer upset top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Demark 6-2, 7-5 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championship, a year after she was refused a visa to play in the tournament by the government.

The Israeli had at least one break opportunity on each of Wozniacki's 10 service games. She had never previously even taken a set off the 2009 US Open finalist in three previous matches.

Peer closed it out on her fifth match point in a second set that contained seven breaks. The third-ranked Wozniacki held serve only twice in the match.

"She played really well," Wozniacki said. "She kept changing the rhythm all the time. I had a few unforced errors early in the match and never managed to put her under pressure."

Last year, the organizers were fined $300,000 by the WTA for Peer being unable to play in the event after a visa was denied by the United Arab Emirates government, citing security reasons.

Wednesday's match was moved to Court No. 1 at the Aviation Club as it is the most secure, a decision Wozniacki agreed with even though she said the court speed was different.

"If there is a threat to her, there is a threat to me as well. So I completely agree with the fact that the match was scheduled on Court No. 1. I'd rather be safe than sorry," Wozniacki said. "The change of court did create a bit of a problem, since it was a little faster than the Center Court. But the conditions were the same for both of us and I really can't complain."

Both players traded breaks in the opening set before the 22nd-ranked Peer broke decisively to lead 4-1.

Wozniacki won 42 percent points on first serve and 37 percent on second.

Ynet News: Life of 6-year-old from Haiti in danger

Woodley Elysee, who landed in Israel together with IDF aid mission to Haiti, undergoes surgery to repair heart defect, however sudden hemorrhage leaves him in critical condition. Doctors from all fields turn up in effort to save his life

Meital Yasur-Beit Or Published: 02.16.10, 23:50 / Israel News

After nearly 14 hours in the operating room six-year-old Woodley Elysee was transferred back Tuesday to the Intensive Care Unit at the Edith Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. He is in critical condition and his life is in danger.

Woodley arrived in Israel from Haiti last month together with the IDF aid mission and his aunt Judith in order to undergo a heart surgery on a congenital heart defect he suffers from.

The heart defect has left Woodley unable to function as a normal child and his life was forever in danger.

He entered the operating room in Holon Tuesday for what was meant to last several hours, however during the surgery his condition began to deteriorate. "The surgery itself ended in the afternoon, but Woodley developed a hemorrhage in his left lung," Dr. Zion Huri, the Children's ICU manager told Ynet.

"We spent the entire afternoon trying to stop the bleeding. At one point we even considered removing part of the lung. Had it not been for the complication, Woodley would have been fine by now."

Many doctors arrived at the OR throughout the day including heart surgeons, lung experts, cardiologists and ICU specialists. They all rallied in an effort to stop the bleeding which put Woodley's life in danger.

'Condition may change'

After the hemorrhage was successfully stopped Woodley was attached to an ECMO machine which provides cardiac and respiratory support oxygen. "He is in critical condition but right now he's the most stable he's been throughout the day. However, the condition may yet change," Dr. Huri said.

Outside the OR, Woodley's aunt Judith sat waiting all day long. "I hope that she will be able to see him soon and then we'll try to talk her into going to sleep for a while since she has a rough day head of her tomorrow," Dr. Huri noted.

The operation was funded by the Save A Child's Heart foundation which has facilitated the surgeries of thousands of children with heart defects from around the world, some of them from countries with which Israel does not have diplomatic relations.

Ynet News: Peer makes winning start to Dubai event

Israeli tennis star beats Belgian opponent in opening match at Dubai championships year after being denied visa to United Arab Emirates

Associated Press Published: 02.15.10, 20:55 / Israel Culture

Shahar Peer rallied to beat 15th-ranked Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in her opening match at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday, a year after the Israeli player had been denied a visa to the Emirates.

Authorities had cited safety reasons for preventing Peer from playing last year, with tournament organizers saying they feared fan anger over Israel's three-week military offensive in Gaza. Organizers were fined $300,000 by the WTA after denying her the opportunity to play.

Peer made a faltering start on Monday, being dominated by the Belgian’s power game from the baseline and twisting her ankle, before recovering in front of a small and courteous crowd at court No. 1 of the Aviation Club.

"There are a lot of emotions coming after this win. It's more than beating Yanina, it's more of me handling all the stuff around and able to put everything on the side and just play tennis, and just concentrate on the (match) and not the politics," Peer said.

"It was a lot of emotions for me and a really tough first round and I am so happy I was able to win this."

Police security was tight during the match, with several plainclothes policemen mingling with the crowd. Captain Eesa, head of security of the Championship, was personally present in the stand during the match.

Spectators had to pass through metal detectors and physical screening before making it to the court.

However, there were no untoward incidents during the match and although Wickmayer had better support, Peer received polite applause whenever she won points.

"I think the treatment I get from the people here is amazing, including the security. They are really kind, they are doing everything for me. Of course, there are a few restrictions," Peer said.

"But I am really enjoying my time here, and they take care nicely of me. It is fun for me, and whatever they do, they do it for my safety."

As for the early stages of the match, Peer admitted: "I started pretty bad. I was very frozen and I didn't move. I twisted my ankle on the second point and I was like 'oh my god, I don’t need this. Finally I’m here and on the second point I might go home'.

"I really wanted to win this match, not only because of tennis, but because I want to make a statement that politics and sport should not be involved."

Wickmayer, who had won both her previous matches against Peer, got off to a brilliant start as she raced into a 3-0 lead. But Wickmayer’s biggest weapon her serve failed her repeatedly after she closed the first set at 6-3 in 40 minutes and the momentum promptly swung Peer's way.

Taking on France next

Peer's next opponent will be France’s Virginie Razzano, who is two places below her in the rankings.

Peer also won her first round doubles match later in the day. Partnering Gelina Voskoboeva, she was involved in another tight match as they beat Anabel Medina Garrigues and Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 4-6, 10-5.

The biggest upset of the day was Italian Tathiana Garbin’s three-set victory over ninth seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia. Garbin ranked 42 places below the world No.12, needed two hours and 21 minutes to win 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4).

Also making a quick exit was the 15th seeded Nadia Petrova. The Russian slumped to a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) loss to Swiss wildcard entrant Stefanie Voegele.

Ynet News: Israeli Arab group protests for Shalit

Foundation for Arab-Israeli co-existence, Palestinian group co-initiate demonstration calling for release of kidnapped soldier, Palestinian prisoners. 'Our goal is to pressure decision makers, who regretfully are more preoccupied with whether or not to travel first class,' says head of foundation

Shmulik Hadad Published: 02.11.10, 16:41 / Israel News

Unusual initiative: More than 100 Israeli Arabs arrived Thursday morning at the Erez crossing and called for the release of Kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit and Palestinian prisoners.

Malik Faraj of the Arab village Kafr Qasim founded the "Ner LeShalom ve Ahva" (a candle for peace and harmony) foundation that initiated the event. Faraj said that the foundation was established following the October 2000 riots and acts to promote co-existence between Arabs and Jews, and also helps weak sectors of society by giving student scholarships among other things.

According to Faraj, the foundation decided to initiate the event after realizing that the negotiations to release Shalit have come to a standstill. "Politicians are simply doing nothing to promote the matter and have completely neglected the issue of releasing Gilad Shalit and the Palestinian prisoners. That's why we decided to go out and protest."

The group's visit to Erez crossing was co-initiated with another group from the Gaza Strip, whose members were waiting on the other side of the road. Throughout the demonstrations, the two groups held phone conversations and encouraged one another.

"Our goal is to pressure decision makers and members of Knesset who regretfully are more preoccupied with whether or not to travel first class, and (Foreign Minister Avigdor)Lieberman who is trying to inflame our relationship with Turkey or Syria but does nothing for Gilad Shalit," said Faraj.

"We received many positive feedbacks on our initiative and hope it will help promote the matter," he added.

Ynet News: Rabin Museum: A fascinating history lesson

New exhibition provides visitors with impressive documentation of State of Israel's development and slain prime minister's biography, but requires a lot of patience and concentration

Sandy Livak-Furmanski Published: 02.08.10, 15:18 / Israel Culture

The Israeli Museum at the Yitzhak Rabin Center has opened to the general public, offering visitors a fascinating documentation of the State of Israel's history, interwoven into the story of the slain prime minister's life.

The museum focuses on historic milestones in Yitzhak Rabin's life and connects them to turning points in the State's development.

Upon their arrival, visitors receive individual audio devices – offered in Hebrew, English and Arabic – allowing them to tour the exhibition at their own pace and view dozens of short films.

The tour begins in a round hallway with a three-minute clip of the night Rabin was murdered. Visitors then enter an inner corridor built on a downward spiral, which presents Rabin's biography, and can walk through rooms along the way presenting the State's history up to the assassination on November 4, 1995.

The exhibition ends in another spiral hall with several screens presenting short clips from the announcement of Rabin's murder, through the reactions of the Israeli public and international leaders, to the funeral and eulogies.

The museum is built in a way which makes it difficult to miss any of the exhibits, and visitors can spend over three hours exploring more than 180 documentary films and 1,500 photographs, as well as hundreds of memorabilia.

One of the most unique exhibits is Rabin's study at his Tel Aviv home, which was moved to the museum intact, just the way it was before he left for the peace rally in which he was murdered, including a TV broadcasting the same soccer match the prime minister was watching that day.

Saying that the museum glorifies Rabin would be an understatement. A large part of the exhibition is devoted to his second term as prime minister and includes a wall filled with television screens documenting the economic growth and educational reform which took place during that period, as well as quotes from citizens praising the changes in Israel's road system.

It should be noted, however, that the academic team appointed to determine the museum's content did not ignore the not-so-pleasant chapters in Rabin's biography, like his 24-hour collapse when he served as IDF chief of staff during the Six-Day War and his decision to resign during his first term as prime minister due to his wife's illegal US dollar account.

A visit to the Yitzhak Rabin Center's museum is an interesting experience, but the exhibits are often overwhelming due to the large number of items and require a great deal of patience (and a comfortable pair of shoes). The audio devices are an integral part of the visit, but the massive amount of short films is somewhat confusing.

Despite its shortcomings, this impressive exhibition provides an important history lesson for Israelis and foreign visitors alike.
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The Israeli Museum at the Yitzhak Rabin Center, 14 Chaim Levanon Street, Tel Aviv.

Opening hours: Sunday, Monday, Thursday – 9 am–5 pm; Tuesday – 9 am-7pm; Friday – 9 am-2 pm

To schedule a visit, dial 972-3-7453358

THE LOVE AND PEACE- ISRAEL PALESTENIANS WAR (By Dr. Nasoha Saabin)

I want to thank from the depth of my heart to Dr. Nasoha Saabin for the article. It is a great honor for me to publish that special and dedicated article in my web blog. Dr. Nasoha Saabin owns a personal web blog where you can find more interesting srticles.
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THE LOVE AND PEACE- ISRAEL PALESTENIANS WAR

Peace is the outcomes of love. When peoples love each other, there will be peace between them. Love is the outcomes of positive attitudes towards others. When a person has positive attitudes towards other peoples, they will have love between them. Because they have love between them, they have peace. When people have negative attitude towards other people they will have hatred between them. Because they have hatred, they have war between them. All wars begin with negative mental outlook. Negative mental outlook leads to hatred and hatred leads to war. In order to stop war we have to begin with the work of changing the people negative mental outlook to a positive mental outlook. Negative mental outlook is the result of wrong belief. The wars between Israel and Palestinians have gone for more than six decades because of negative mental outlook. Many peace plans were proposed but none of them seems to work. The entire peace plan is working towards the establishment of Israel and Palestinians as separate nations. I think the Jews believe that there should be only Israel and Palestinians live as a citizen of Israel. On the other hands, the Palestinians believe that they should have a separate nation of their own. Wars continue for decades and many dies because of the war.

Both the Jews and Palestinians believe and mental outlook have to be changed. They should believe that all of them are descendent of the same ancestors and that they have the same God. Both Jews and the Muslims believe in one God and both believe that Moses is the Prophets of God. At least on this basis the Jews and the Muslims should be able to love each other and to live cordially between them. The Muslims should regard the Jews as their brothers and sisters who has different believe and not as their enemies. Similarly, the Jews should regard the Muslims as their brothers and sisters who have embraced Islam and not as their enemies. It is unreasonable that we should hates those who have different believe or views from us. We are all different and we are free to chose our own believe. No one can forced us to believe on anything and every one of us is responsible on whatever we believe .It is unreasonable for a Muslims to hates someone because he or she is a Jews and similarly it is unreasonable for a Jews to hates someone because he or she is an Arabs or Muslims. In my opinion, the Israel and Palestinians war that has gone on for more than six decades are not because they are Jews and Muslims but because of their greed for power and wealth that both Jews and Muslims have. Greed for power and wealth are the causes of the war between Israel and Palestine that has lasted this long.

In order to stop the war both sides have to sacrifice their greed. Both the Palestinians and the Jews have to reduce their greed over lands and power to a level acceptable to both of them. When they can reduce their greed over wealth and power then only they can sit down in the same tables to outlines the terms of the peace treaty. When neither the Jews nor the Palestinians are able to reduce their greed then peace is not achievable. In case, the Jews cannot reduce their greed than the Muslims should be able to reduce their greed. As a Muslims, the Palestinians should want peace more than the Jews do. Islam means peace and the Muslims Palestinians should be able to even sacrifice their greed completely in order to achieved peace.

To have peace are more valuable than to have lands without peace. What is the values of lands when compare with the values of being able to live in peace and to practice the orders of Allah. In my opinion, Muslims Palestinians should choose to live with the Jews as brothers and sisters and mingle with them with respect and love. As a Muslims, the Palestinians should love and mingle with the Jews and convey to the Jews the Great Kalimah that Allah has given to the Muslims. We are born Jews and Arabs so that we can know each other. None of us has the choice to be either Jews or Arabs. Allah orders us to live in peace with the Jews although the Jews do not believe in Muhammad s.a.w as Prophets of Allah. Our work as a Muslims is only to convey the Great Kalimah to them and there is no compulsion in religion. As a Muslims, we can only convey the Great Kalimah to the Jews when we can live in peace with them. Without peace, the work of conveying the Great Kalimah to the Jews will not be possible.

Muslims Palestinians should want peace more than the Jews do. With peace, the Muslim can convey the Great Kalimah to the Jews with love and respect and without compulsion. When the Muslims do the work of conveying the Great Kalimah to the Jews their iman will increase, their greed will reduced and they will start to looks towards the Jews with love and sympathy. Both Muslims and the Jews should stop talking over past events that had taken place between the Jews and the Muslims. We have to forget the past, we have to forgive each other, and we have to start a new dimension based on mutual respect and love.

Dr Nasoha Saabin

Ynet News: Israeli school set up among Haiti's ruins

Excited Haitian children manage to locate education material among wreckage

Oshrat Nagar-Levitt Published: 02.04.10, 07:20 / Israel Activism

Though the Israeli search-and-rescue team has left Haiti, the Israeli spirit continues to waft through the devastated country. An Israeli delegation to the island country set up a provisional school among the earthquake wreckage.

The school, which is located in a large tent in Port-au-Prince, was established in coordination with the government of Haiti and neighboring Dominican Republic. Hundreds of children in the city will arrive on Monday for the first day of school in the makeshift school. Some 800 pupils will study there.

Upon hearing of the school's launch, many children started searching the rubble for school supplies. Among the items they found were chalk boards, books, and notebooks.

"We are locating education figures and dominant people within the camps. Through them, we are recruiting additional key figures," said Dr. Moshe Farhi on Saturday. Farhi is heading up the Israeli delegation that left for the country from the organization Natan Israeli Coalition for International Humanitarian Aid, named for Israeli activist Abie Natan.

Dr. Farhi, who is also a trauma and stress expert teaching at Tel Hai Academic College, said excitedly that teachers have been trained in how to treat traumas children have undergone.

The delegation is slated to remain in Haiti for half a year.

The Yad Sarah volunteer medical organization, together with the Foreign Ministry, will donate three tons of medical equipment to Haiti. Israeli Ambassador to Haiti Amos Radian was asked to coordinate the aid shipment.

Itamar Eichner contributed to this report

Ynet News: Nazi's daughter helps Shoah survivors

After learning of father's past as SS officer at age 18, Didi Henke of Germany visits Israel, later moves to Jewish state to dedicate her life to helping Holocaust survivors. Now, some 20 years later, she is honored by Social Affairs Ministry

David Regev Published: 01.31.10, 08:09 / Israel Activism

"Suddenly, at the age of 18, my life was turned upside down. To learn, out of nowhere, that your father was a Nazi officer – it's hard to describe the shock." The 67-year-old Didi Henke still finds it difficult to speak of the moment she learned that her father was a senior SS officer.

Following the earth-shattering discovery, Henke decided to move to Israel and dedicate her life to the State and the wellbeing of Holocaust survivors.

Henke learned of her father's past by chance, during her studies at university in Germany. "In one of the courses we were asked to learn about the history of our cities," she recounted.

"I searched information sources in the university's archives, and all of a sudden, I found out that my father was an SS officer, who, among other things, was in charge of energy in the city. I was shocked. It felt horrible. I went to talk to him, but both he and my mother refused to cooperate."

The fact that her father showed no remorse for his actions led Henke to cut ties with him: "I took him out of my heart and I decided to dedicate the rest of my life to Holocaust survivors, in hopes of rectifying what my father did."

Fell in love with Israel at first sight
Henke made her first visit to Israel in 1978. She fell in love with the country and returned to it 52 times. In 1987, when she retired, she decided to move to the Jewish state. At the time, her parents had already passed away, and her siblings, who remained true to their father's Nazi upbringing, barely kept in touch.

Since 1990, Henke has been a volunteer at the Yad Sarah organization and has been aiding Holocaust survivors. "Some of them had a hard time with my German accent, but with time, we created good relations, and I even have friends who are Holocaust survivors," she said in the fluent Hebrew she has acquired over the years.

Henke currently lives in Jerusalem. She says life in Israel and her volunteer work give her much joy. "I belong to the second generation of Germans. We should also be held responsible for what happened there," she said.

On Tuesday the Ministry of Social Affairs held a ceremony honoring Henke and 1,500 other foreigners who arrived in Israel this year to carry out volunteer work. The volunteers, many youths coming from Germany, Holland and Italy, have been living in Israel for several months now and have been volunteering in various fields.

Speaking at the ceremony, Welfare and Social Services Minister Yitzhak Herzog said: "At the end of their stay in Israel, the volunteers become loyal ambassadors of the State of Israel."

Ynet News: Poll: 60% think Israel should take in Haitian families

Ynet-Yesodot survey shows most Israelis believe State should absorb devastated families from quake-stricken Caribbean country, 47% show willingness to adopt Haitian children

Ynet Published: 01.31.10, 15:05 / Israel Jewish Scene

After the closing of the Israeli field hospital in devastated Haiti and the imminent return of the aid mission - what is Israel's next step? The majority of the Israeli public believes that citizens should not adopt children who lost their parents in the earthquake as long as there are Jewish or Israeli orphans without a home.

However, most Israelis think that the State should take in devastated families, a joint Ynet-Yesodot poll suggests.

The poll was conducted by Panels Institute on a sample representative of the adult Jewish population in Israel of 522 respondents. The maximum sampling error is 4.3%±.

According to the data, 94% of the public believe that the decision to send a rescue mission to Haiti was important. The majority based their answer on Israel's duty to save lives - 72%, while 22% explained it with the need to improve the State's international image.

Only 6% said that the decision was a mistake and explained this by asserting that Israel must take care of its own needy first.

Asked in case they were interested in adoption, whether they would consider adopting a Haitian orphan 53% replied negatively, 15% answered positively on condition of conversion to Judaism, whereas 32% replied an unconditional "yes."

Analyzing the responses according to religious affiliation shows that the ultra-Orthodox, religious and traditionalists on the whole ruled out any option of adopting children from Haiti (93%, 77% and 51% respectively) while 52% of seculars answered that they would regard it possible.

On the survey's third section participants were asked whether Israel, as a Jewish state, should take in families who have lost everything in the earthquake. Some 60% replied yes (44% unconditionally and 16% in a partial way so as to promote Israel's image) while the remaining 40% replied negatively.

Some 24% claimed that Israel must take care of its own poor first and 16% feared that the Jewish majority in the country would be compromised. The poll indicated that seculars and traditionalists were more inclined to answer positively (66% and 57% respectively) while the haredim and religious opposed (86% and 63% respectively).

'No distinction among sectors'

Yesodot director Shoshi Becker commented on the survey's findings and said, "The situation in Haiti is perceived as a catastrophe and we all, as Jews and as human beings, see the importance in offering aid. I am glad there is no distinction among the different sectors on this point.

On the other hand, it appears that the issue of conversion is troubling the public. It does not completely prevent the willingness to adopt Haitian orphans but people definitely want to see a solution - also on the national level – which would make it easy for them to take that humane step.

"I would expect a statement from the Chief Rabbinate or other rabbinical elements on this issue – a call to mitigate conversion terms or any statement regarding the refugees' halachic status in this special situation".