Our latest reality

Just when you thought terrorism hit its scariest point, the strangers among us come out to play. We have been struck with a new reality, in my opinion even scarier than our previous one.

Since 1995, we have been plagued with regular bombings and more so with suicide bombings, AKA terrorism. Although we have had periods of more terrorism and periods of less terrorism, terrorism itself is always a reality in this country.

But now, terror had changed its form. Anything can be turned into a weapon, anyone can be a terrorist. This new trend is scary. In the past three months, we have been attacked by lone terrorists…to our knowledge not belonging to any specific terror organization, and taking orders from no one but themselves.

Two of the attacks were by ordinary workers, driving tractors. I don’t remember the number of deaths in the attacks, but how can I forget the huge tractor using its lift to turn a bus on its side, run over anything or anybody in its path, or the single baby, who was thrown from the car, just as the tractor crushed the entire vehicle and orphaned the baby?

And now, a man, driving a Mercedes Benz, saw a group of soldiers, smiled at them, and stepped on the gas. At least this time the only death was the terrorist himself. Fourteen soldiers were hospitalized.

This is a scary reality. At least with suicide terrorism, we knew to expect bombings on public transportation and in crowded areas (more or less), so we could rationalize ways to avoid these areas if we wanted. But this, this is different. This is scary. We can never know when the next person will just snap and go on a murderous rampage. Luckily for the rest of the country, so far all of the attacks have been in Jerusalem, by Palestinian Israelis from East Jerusalem.

There is no doubt in my mind that this trend is not going to stick to Jerusalem alone. We have Palestinian Israelis living all over the country. Just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean Tel Aviv and Haifa are safe. Now ordinary people are picking up on the fact that they too can do extraordinary things…anybody can kill the Zionists these days, all they need is a weapon that will do the proper damage before they themselves get killed in defense.

Did I mention that we are celebrating today 30 years of a cold peace with Egypt? The festivities just keep on rockin’.

Home is (definitely) where the heart is

I would like to share my "awakening" for the day. As you all know, sometimes I get really annoyed with this country. Of course I love it, but who of you hasn't heard of my impatience with the corruption of the politicians or the drivers that I swear got into their cars that day in order to run a person over (we are number two in the world for killing pedestrians with cars) or the fact that I have to fight…just to keep my place in line…

Anyways, as I was driving home from a very long day at work, I started enjoying the miracle of a bright African orange sun setting against the beautiful greenery of the orchards, and a song came on the radio. This song was taken from a Hebrew prayer:

עושה שלום במרומיו
הוא יעשה שלום עלינו
ועל כל ישראל
ואימרו אמן

I cant exactly translate, but something along the lines of:

Make a high peace (ie for Him)
He will make peace upon us
And on all of Israel
And We say Amen

As the song came on, with the glorious sunset in the background, I started feeling the feelings that had overcome me for so many years. I'm home, this is my home, and these are my people. Then came the killer, right there in front of me was a bunch of Israel flags softly waving in the air. I teared up, and for a split second, forgot about the corruption, drivers, lines, hate, terror.

I thought of only one thing. I am home, this is where I belong.

Then I realized, that clearness…that is the sane Safra talking. I always know that this is the only State where Jews will always be welcome (I hope, Abba), and I always remember that I am home, but I get jaded sometimes…people are just so silly, but I am home, and there is not better feeling in the world, than to remember that. I am home.

My amazing husband!

I am a proud wife! My husband has reminded me of yet another reason why I love him so much, and I would like to share it with you.

Last week, Idan called me and told me that there was a domesticated rabbit living at the house that his company was working on, which the previous owners had left behind, and the new owners didn’t want. The new owners told him that he could catch it and take it.

Of course, we have absolutely no need for another animal in the house, and if anything, could do with one or two less. Nonetheless, he decided to try to catch it and bring it home. On Thursday, he couldn’t, so we returned on Friday, but I guess the owners were having a pool party (What right does anyone in Israel have to own an individual pool when we are already below the black line and the pump levels in the Sea of Galilee??!! But that’s a whole other rant, and coming from the hypocrite who enjoyed one of her rich friend’s pool a few months ago, but still...)

So, come Sunday, and I decided not to bring it up. Later in the morning he told me I had something to play with when I came home…my mind immediately jumped to…other things, and after a few minutes of messing with me, he told me that he managed to catch the rabbit. Imagine two grown men chasing a little thumper all around a yard. It makes me laugh.

And I got the pleasure of coming home yesterday to a new, though hopefully not permanent, member of our little happy family. I am the proud wife of a softie, who will not let an animal in distress suffer alone. I am so lucky! AND, now I can use it against him when I bring home the random crows, pigeons or critters…

So, I am really proud of my baby for doing what a lot of people would not do, and he didn’t even consider the other option.

You Slackers!

One of my new favorite quotes. I started cracking up hysterically when I finished reading it…even the second and third time. Granted, you may need to have a special sense of humor to appreciate it, but for those of you Rina's out there…I know your gonna, at the very least, be attempting to cover up a smirk.

Quick background. The quote is from the Muslim Brotherhood (a huge international Muslim religious organization). In comparison to Al Qaida, they are considered pretty moderate, but believe you me, they're not, they just kill fewer people and work behind the scenes a lot. Most other Muslim terror organization use the Muslim Brotherhood's vision as their own and just add their own flair, as that vision is the lowest common denominator of religious Muslim organizations.

Kay, so this statement was taken out of the Muslim Brotherhood's strategic goal for North America. They were busted for using another organization as a front for them in the US of A; I think it was called the Holy Land Fund. And it's only the Muslim Brotherhood…can you imagine all of the Al Qaida front orgs and Hamas front org's in the USA and around the world???

Finally, before showing the statement, I want to make it perfectly clear, just in case someone who doesn't know me reads this. I have utmost respect for Islam, as much as I do for any other religion in the world; however, I have no respect for people and organizations that disrespect/ inflict harm on others, their beliefs or their religion.

Enjoy the quote, may it amuse you as much as it did me…
"The process of settlement [of Islam in the United States] is a "Civilization-Jihadist" process with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that all their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and "sabotaging" their miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all religions. Without this level of understanding, we are not up to this challenge and have not prepared ourselves for Jihad yet. It is a Muslim's destiny to perform Jihad and work wherever he is and wherever he lands until the final hour comes, and there is no escape from that destiny except for those who choose to slack."