Posted on 05/17/2004 2:10:56 PM PDT by SJackson
This morning, I paid a shiva call to Sara and Michael Newman's house, the parents who lost their wonderful son Eitan when his tank went over a bomb in the Gaza Strip last week. They buried him last Thursday, after his comrades, under constant fire from terrorists, combed the dangerous streets to bring his holy remains and those of his comrades home.
As I neared the Newman home, I saw army men standing in small circles, talking quietly. Some wore beards and knitted skullcaps. Friends, religious and non-religious, came and went in and out of the Newman home, fulfilling one of Judaism's most honored rituals of comforting mourners for seven days after the funeral.
Sara and her husband sat on low chairs, as is the custom, surrounded by friends. I introduced myself.
"I want to talk to you..." Sara said softly.
I pulled up a chair.
"I understand that you write to many people around the world. And this is what I would like you to please tell them for me. Many people have asked what they can do, how can they help. Please tell them to go out and buy something that was made in Israel. That's all. Just help us, we are going through such hard times. Everybody can do that."
I felt quick tears come to my eyes, wondering at this woman who sat clear-eyed and full of courage and faith, her mind focused on what else she could do to help the country she loved, a woman who had just given her country and her people her handsome, bright, intelligent, wonderful young son.
Who had given her son.
I nodded, wordlessly.
I told her about a conversation I had just had with my own son, who is being drafted in November.
"Maybe you could go into anti-aircraft," I urged him. "Your brother did that, and your father."
There was a slight pause at the other end of the line. "Look Mom," he said patiently, "I might as well tell you the truth. I'm not going into the army to strike a pose. I'm going because I want to do something, protect people from getting killed by terrorists. And the only way to do that is to be a foot soldier." He wanted to go into Givati, he said. The same unit as Eitan Newman.
"This is how we brought them up," I told Sara Newman. "I'm very proud of him. And I'm terrified."
She put her hand over mine. "When my son died, he was surrounded by people he loved and respected and trusted. He was on his way back from a mission he'd successfully completed. He died instantly, with no pain. I would rather he went that way then stabbed in the back by some skinhead far away from home."
Would I please, she urged me, send out her message?
When I left the Newman home, I walked up the winding stone staircase that one finds in Jerusalem's hilly neighborhoods. A cool wind was blowing, and the sky seemed strangely cloudy for spring. As I reached the top, I saw a friend coming down the road. She too was on her way to the Newmans. I hugged her, and both of us wept.
And now I am home at my computer, doing what Sara Newman asked me to do. I'm asking you to please go out a buy something from Israel. If you can't find it in your stores, you can find it on-line, I'm sure.
And if you'd like to send Sara and Michael some words of comfort, please send it to msnewman@netvision.net.il.
Thank you.
Oh for the love of pete. Baptists are one of the largest denominations in the US. What if she had said Catholic, or Episcopalean? This thread is too important for someone to stop by and start nitpicking. Hush!
With all do respect, this thread is too important to start picking on Christians, never mind Baptists. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's see. My kids and I are RC, my SIL's family is Hindu, my bf is Jewish(reformed). Bella wasn't trying to be insensitive. She was unlucky enough to pick your denomination out of the air. Just stop it now.
Really. I'm not a Baptist. I'm Lutheran. She just happened to suggest that Christians are not worthy, IMHO.
Out of curiousity....who or what is a "chosen" person? Thanks in advance.
Clueless, yet?
Exodus 6
7I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Exodus 7
5The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them."
Some Israel online shopping sites:
http://www.israeldirect.com
http://www.jerusalemgifts.com
http://www.israelexports.org
http://www.judaica.org.il
http://www.jewishsites.org/Shopping/Judaica/
http://www.isragift.co.il
http://www.holylandmall.net
http://www.shorshim.net
http://www.ahava.com
http://masada-spa.com
http://jewishartshop.com
http://solidjewelry.com
Thanks for the links. I didn't realize there were so many sites. I'll browse through them.
Yes, it is. That doesn't square with the poster bemoaning everyone not doing things the same way.
No, I didn't. If saying that I would not want to adopt Christian traditions and leave my Jewish traditions is somehow disrespectful, then you are in for a nasty shock, because most people do not want to leave their religious traditions.
Last time I checked these operations were still up & running.
In these troubled times, people around the world are looking for tangible ways to share their feelings with our Israeli soldiers. Our site gives you the opportunity to send Pizza and Soda* to active duty soldiers who are fighting terror and protecting the Jewish people. This includes soldiers on regular military service as well as those who have left their families, homes and jobs to serve the Jewish people as Miluim (Reserve Duty) fighters.
____________________________________________________________
Delight our soldiers out in the field with a Hamburger & Cola and your good wishes!
Share your feelings with them at this difficult time in a very tangible way.
____________________________________________________________
Send IDF Personnel an Ice Cream treat too!
____________________________________________________________
At each site you can include, if you wish, your personal message of support and gratitude to our soldiers
When you do this you are also supporting Israeli Restaurants that have been hit by the tourist slump.
All our deliveries are coordinated with the security forces and thus pose no security risk.
Here's a favorite of mine: ShopInIsrael.com
Here are a few personal favorites -- I've either bought from them via the 'net and/or in person at Israeli Vendor Fairs, held by area synagogues:
Silverpoint Judaica
Judaica Jewelry - Elon Moreh
Galilee Silks
Dodo's - The Land of T-Shirts
Gabrieli Hand Weaving
Ahava (also available for sale in select dept. stores)
Moshe Dadon - Microcalligraphy
And if you feel like donating some money to organizations which support Israeli soldiers, here are 2 reputable ones:
She was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1993, and did our ketubah for us.
bump
Bun Bun rules!
March of Cambreadth: How many of them can we make die?
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