REMARKS BY MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST TERROR ATTACKS 

Following are the Mayor's remarks today delivered in Rockefeller Center 

"I just wanted to say that I feel very strongly that Israel really does have a right, in fact an obligation, to defend itself against terrorist attacks.  New Yorkers certainly know what it's like to be targeted by terrorists and we also know the importance of fighting back, and I really do want to strongly condemn the repeated attacks on Israel and Hamas's decision to break last summer's ceasefire.  I think we all had great hopes last summer that people could live together in peace and that, unfortunately, at the moment is not the case. 

"The last time I was in Israel I did see the effect of those attacks on the Israeli people.  I visited Sderot where the mayor showed me what daily life is under a constant barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza, and, I saw and I heard during that visit, and it's come back to me time and time again over the last few weeks just as the holiday season shared this year by Jews and Muslims and Christians was shattered when Hamas broke the ceasefire and launched rocket attacks against - and mortar attacks - against Israel.  I think both the Bush Administration and the Obama team have been clear that Hamas must end its terrorist attacks, and I stand firmly behind Israel and all we can do is pray for a more peaceful 2009. 

"Everybody should have a right to live their lives without worrying about their safety, whether it's safety on the streets from criminals or attacks by terrorists coming in from the air or suicide bombers or anything else.  We just have to find a way in 2009 to stop killing each other, which, unfortunately, terrorists seem determined to continue to do."

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2008b/pr503-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

Still no comments from upcoming President Obama. Do I think we should be worried? Absolutely.

Israel News:

Since the end of the 6 month ceasefire with Gaza last week, Hamas has fired over 200 rockets into southern Israel, targeting civilian centers such as Ashdod. On Saturday, Israel began a retaliation mission (Code named: Operation Cast Lead) aimed at disarming Hamas and according to Israel authorities it has been going very well. 

CNN is reporting 275 dead in Gaza, with Israel reporting the majority hit have been terrorists and that civilian deaths have been minimal. 

The Bush republican party has come out in full support of Israel as usual. (Thank God).

"These people are nothing but thugs, and so Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said at George W Bush's Texas ranch.

"If Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel, then Israel would not have a need for strikes in Gaza," Mr Johndroe added. "What we've got to see is Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel."

Obama has come out with absolutely NO STANCE on the situation as of yet.

Note that the world said nothing last week when Hamas fired 200 rockets, but now that Israel has retaliated it is front page news. Hopefully this will be a very succesful operation where both Israel and the Palestinian people come out ahead by getting rid of Hamas. 

And I miss yet another excellent secular holiday! Geeze, Israel really didn't think through its vacation schedule well enough. We really need our holidays spread out more. I think first day of pesach should be about now.

Israel Unemployment: Lowest in 20 years!

Most of this unemployment is frictional unemployment, which includes: “people quitting jobs, getting fired, moving, just graduating from school, reentering the workforce after having children, and so on.”

Israeli economy will be strong in 2008

“The bank estimates that the dollar will trade at 3.75 NIS by the end of 2008, and that this exchange rate will hold steady for 2009 as well.”

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3483257,00.html

Today I called a friend of mine that I haven't spoken to in several months to see how he was doing. He got married within a year ago and the last time I saw him was probably at his wedding. He is a very intelligent, hard-working, friendly, ben-Torah who I always considered to be one of my more zionistic friends and I always thought he would definitely make Aliyah. Unfortunately, he shocked me today by informing me that his wife and her parents can't live apart - so essentially his Aliyah dream is dead.

Rav Shachter gave a shiur some year ago at Mt. Sinai (I believe it is on Torahweb.org) where he says Aliyah aspirations should not be among the pre-date questions. When I first heard the shiur I agreed with him wholeheartedly, and even advised some friends to follow that advice, but after today I gave it some thought and I think he is wrong. (I know some consider me disrespectful for disagreeing with HaRav but I am confident that he would only encourage me to voice my dissenting opinion.)

The location of where you want to live and raise your family is a vital issue and should clearly be addressed before getting married. Why not get it out of the way at the beginning like genetic testing? Why waste time dating someone that doesn't want to raise their family in the Holy Land, regardless of their reason? Where you raise your family will have a major impact on your progeny and what your legacy in this world will be.

Obviously personality, midot, hashkafa are important, but let's be frank, doesn't a commitment to Eretz Yisroel say a lot about one's devotion to religion? As much as we like to joke about how Bnei Akiva is only focused on Israel at the expense of Torah, doesn't Israel and Torah go hand in hand? Wasn't Bnei Yisroel punished for not returning to Eretz Yisroel during Ezra and Nechemia - regardless of their reason? (And I am sure many used the Torah, family/friends and parnassa cards.)

If Rav Shachter would agree that asking whether a guy or girl is a ben/bat torah is an appropriate question, then asking if someone plans on leaving his homeland, the place he was born, his parents home to live in the land God chose should be just as valid.

(I for one am glad that I am not dating in the U.S. right now so I don't have to ask the silly question: "Do you plan on making Aliyah?" To which the answer is almost always yes, even though most have not given it a bit of real thought yet - but know the correct in vogue answer is a wholehearted yes. )

I am constantly troubled by people that say they want to make Aliyah but then don't. Are these people lying through their teeth? Just don't think before they speak? Live in a fantasy world? On drugs?

If you want to make Aliyah - DO IT!

I am very impressed with my friends the Erdfarbs that recently made Aliyah. He left a very good job at a very prestigious firm because his plan when they got married was to go to Israel within 3 years and that is exactly what they did. I find it very rare that people actually follow through with these declarations. (My joke was always that I have a 10-year plan on making Aliyah - no matter how many years went by it was always a 10-year plan.)

I am reminded of Al Pacino's remarkable speech in Scent of a Woman when he says, "Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? Because it's too damn hard. Now here's Charlie; he's come to the crossroads. And he's chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle, that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey."

I believe most people do generally know what is right and what is wrong, but they choose the easy path. It is easier to stay in the same place than move to another so that is what they do.

I understand my friends issues, and I wish he never would have gotten into this sort of problem. But now that he is there, I hope anyways that someday him and his wife will be able to realize his dream.

(And yes I realize I have not made Aliyah - but at least I'm giving it a try, tough guy.)

The Israel economy is is rocking: According this Article :

"Economic growth is forecast to reach 5.2 per cent this year, fuelled by rising consumer spending, buoyant corporate investment and strong exports. Unemployment has fallen steadily, and now stands at just 7.8 per cent – down from almost 11 per cent four years ago...

Investment banks such as Morgan Stanley forecast that not even a slowdown in the US will stop the Israeli economy from “growing at a reasonably robust pace."

This article is about a year old but I imagine they are seeing similar trends now:

"Headhunter Minna Felig once told corporate lawyers that Israeli firms hired one or two months out of the year. That was three years ago. Now, she is swamped with job openings all year long.
"Every law firm I work with is incredibly understaffed," she says. "I can't keep up with it. The workload has increased twofold.""

And for anecdotal evidence, 3 people have been hired at my firm in the last two weeks and today a firm wide email was sent out for someone to fill a higher level position.

People: If you are serious about moving to Israel NOW is the time to do it. You should be able to find a job in this environment.

There are obviously people in Israel missing out on this robust economy: Article Article 2

A new Israeli survey reveals that 70 percent of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have opted for religious study instead of joining the country's workforce, the Haaretz newspaper said on Sunday.
The survey, carried out by the trade, industry and labour ministry and two private organisations, found that 50 percent of ultra-Orthodox women were similarly unemployed due to lack of skills and the burden of child-rearing.

But that was their choice.

Realize when you read that 20% of Israel lives under the poverty line, these are people that do so willingly. If you are educated you can get a job in this country.

(Obviously jobs are not just given to people - it's like America. There is strong competition for every position. Different fields are hiring more than others too.)

I arrived to Israel on Wednesday Oct. 10th - sorry if I haven't spoken with any of you but I've just been so busy getting things in order.


I spent Wednesday mainly unpacking, sleeping and getting lost in Givat Shmuel. It's amazing, no matter how small the town I still can't seem to figure it out.

The food situation is a bit crazy since its a shmita year. I learned all about the halachot/politics of otzar beit din, badatz, heter mechira... I still have not made up my mind on what to do. Glatt meat will also be an issue... Overall, the first day was pretty low key.

Thursday I woke up at 6 AM which was amazing - I've never been a morning person but I'm considering becoming one. I went to minyan, where I went unnoticed (or at least no one said hello...), which I took as a compliment that I don't look like that much like a tourist.

I went rollerblading through town to learn the area better which was fun. Not too many hills which is great for convenience but terrible for the fun factor. No 190th/Overlook hill anymore. My electric scooter actually would have served me decently here, but it's usually more convenience to cut through grassy areas than go on the streets.

I opened a bank account which took 2 hours (!) but I did it all in Hebrew so I was very proud after. The woman even presumed that I would want all my statements to be sent to me in Hebrew - to which I insisted I really need them to be in English as I have no idea what you have been saying for the last two hours and I have just been nodding yes to everything. (I wish Morah Dafna could see me now...) I was most probably taken for a ride as I will not be getting interest and will actually be paying the bank to use my money, but supposedly this is how it is done in Israel. This is really very depressing and I think says a lot about the state of the economy.

I then went to J'lem which takes an hour :( where I purchased a cell phone finally. Once again I had to make do entirely in Hebrew. Here I felt I was once again taken advantage of as I spent over 600 shekel ($150 - I converted for less than 4:1 yesterday!) for a phone they used in the stone age. Once again, my friends ensured me that this is the way it is done in Israel. The whole thing is a bit ridiculous - I also needed a bank account before being able to buy a cell phone and I couldn't even get international calling as I need an Israeli credit card for that. Crazy crazy country.

I then went to yeshiva and was glad to see a bunch of people I knew. I love that no matter how many years out there are always people still there. It was fun visiting rabbanim as well. Max was in America though - so I will have to catch up with him at a later date.

For shabbos I will be with my cousins (Jay and Daniel) in J'lem who are here studying for the year. Should be excellent.

Few notes:

(Some) of the food here is incredible. I have always heard Burgers bar was good but I was always skeptical - it's just a hamburger... But when I had it in the tachanat hamercazi in J'lem I was blown away - WOW! I can't explain it. I don't know what they feed those cows but boy are they tasty. It may have had to do with the sauces they put on it. I noticed the 3 people ahead of me on line all got chimichuri (?) on their burgers so I followed though. America must get this chimichuri and manufacture it in mass quantities. (I will send a sample via FedEx to whomever would like to taste if you cover charges.)

I also tried to order an ice coffee today from Aroma and ordered something on the menu in Hebrew that I thought meant Iced Coffee but most definitely was not. It was really excellent though.

People have told me the cost of living in Israel is cheaper but I have yet to see this... For some prices on things I have bought...
28 NIS deoderant
9 NIS 4 bars of soap
600 NIS cell phone
100 NIS + per month for phone plan
20 NIS shampoo
16 NIS Iced Coffee (or whatever it was...)

Rent is cheaper but the rooms are not quite American living standards (even Wash. Heights). It feels like Yeshiva.

Well that is enough from me today - there are obviously hundreds of stories and insights from the last few days that I will hopefully share with y'all in the future, but I don't feel like typing them now.

Have a good shabbos!