Thoughts from the Holy Land

Rain:

Rain has descended on the Middle East (actually, I can't speak for the entire Middle East, but at least it has descended on Jerusalem). One of the more remarkable aspects of rain in Israel is that right after sukkot (the holiday that ended two weeks ago) we switch our prayers to ask for rain. The day after we switched the prayers it rained. How you like them apples?????

The other thing about rain is that it turns the roads into a total mess. The drivers in J-town are bad enough, but rain really messes with them, accidents galore. It also is starting to get very cold, not winter cold outside, but in J-town inside is a similar tempature to outside, so we end up walking around with hoodies on even in the house.

Football:

Am on two flag football teams. You know you're playing in Israel when three guys on your team, are named Chaim (i kid you not). Even our quarterback is named Chaim. On the team I go by Jack, try to add a little gentile into the Israeli league and hope it strikes fear into some of our opponents. My friend on the team is named Colby, he converted to Judaism a few years ago --- obviously he's the best player.

Presidential Problems

As you may or may not have heard, Israel's president Moshe Katsav is in a world of trouble. It's a story that's been in the news for a few months, but it appears that Katsav has harrassed, (and possibly even abused or raped) a number of women that came under his contact.

It's important to realize that being President of Israel isn't an elected position and it holds very little power in the Coutnry. President is primarily a cerimonial position and people in Israel often compare it to being Queen of England. I hate it when people compare it to the Queen of England, I can't imagine that they have very much in common whatsoever.

Anyhow, Katsav has been under intense scrutiny since July and despite police investigations, numerous allegations, rumors of fraud, wiretapping, obstruction he still is the President of Israel. The hunch is that the indictments of Katsav will come any day and he has said that if he is indicted, he will resign.

I have met not a person who thinks Katsav is anything but guilty and his names has turned into something of a joke in the country. It's shocking he's endured this long without resigning. Israeli politics is notorious for scandals, some legit others fabricated, but this one has got to be one of the most embarrassing and probably the most serious. Numerous government leaders refuse to be seen with him and the press he gathers is so intense, you'd think he's a congressman from Florida.

Season is starting

A basketball focused post from me:

Basketball is about to start and I want to do an Israeli league fantasy team, will anybody join me?

Maccabi Tel Aviv, (the best team and a perennial European powerhouse) also Doron's home team for many years, is now doing a tour of North America and has games against The Cavs and the Raptors. They recently lost to the 76ers in a European tournament and often play other NBA teams during the preseason. They beat the Raptors last year in Toronto during a preseason game, beating the Raptors last year was hardly impressive, but nevertheless, I'm impressed. My pick up team could beat the Knicks.

Maccabi's big name player from last year, Anthony Parker is now on the Raptors (a good late round pick in Fantasy Drafts ... you heard it hear first) and the Americans on Maccabi current the team (each team is allowed 3 non-nationals) are: former NJ Net Rodney Buford, GA Tech point guard Will Bynum (who played very well in a trip to NCAA finals a few years ago where the Jackets lost to UCONN) and a guy I've never heard of of, but who I guess had a cup of coffee with the Supersonics last year Noel Felix.

The stars of Maccabi may be two kids named Tal Burnstein and Yaniv Green, both of whom may sniff the NBA someday and probably the best Israeli young talent playing today.

The season is a little weird, it's a lot like European soccer where the best teams, (Think Arsenal or Barcelona) play in both the country's league as well as the European League. More than one season plays at the same time, so Maccabi will play against a team from Haifa and one from Rome in the same week.

More to come on Maccabi Basketball --

Still Waiting for Guffman

Ever see Waiting for Guffman? If not go out and rent it right away.

It is one of those movies that you pick up something every time you see it and most recently I realized that Dr. Alan Pearl (Eugene Levy) and his wife are the two most sterotypical Jews in the entire midwest. Not that one could ever mistake Eugene Levy for any thing but Jewish (hell if he was wearing a headdress and wielding a tomahawk I'd think he was a Jewish Indian) but until recenlty I never thought that there would be any Jews in Blaine. Blaine just doesn't seem like a town where there are Jews.

In one scene, Dr. Pearl's wife is wearing a Chai (backwards no less) as she talks to the camera about the remakable talent of her husband. It is important to remember, that at the end Dr. Pearl does end up movie to Florida, to perform for his fellow people.

What am I saying ... don't really know. Sorry if I've wasted your time.

Bringing it all back home ...

The holy days are done ... well most of them. Rosh Hashana (the Rosh) and Yom Kippor (The Kip) have come and gone. My Muslim brothers are still in the midst of the Holy Month of Ramadan (not being a Muslim I don't want to submit a insensative nickname here -- take heed Benedict). A rather remarkable sight in Israel, to think that Ramadan and The Kip fell on the same day this year. Please correct my math, but this probably happens once every 25 or 30 years based on the varying lunar caledars of Islam and Judaism -- which is quite a scene to think that the most holy day of Islam and Judaism overlapped this year -- and I was in a Holy City for both religions as this occured.

Nevertheless, it meant that yesterday nobody ate, nobody drove, everybody prayed and as the sun went down - Muslim Arabs and Jews began in the ritual known as "gorging out" which is common in most religions -- and is even found in the United States of America on the 4th Thursday in November.

My days of awe were rather nice ... I enjoyed being in J-town on the Kip, at night, thousands of people gathered on one of the main strips of Jerusalem and chatted and told stories and caught up. Kids rode bikes, played soccer and people meandered in the middle of the road. Imagine if all of a sudden one night a year neighbors and guest just decided to spend the night together --- in the middle of Columbus Avenue.

Happy New Year, Gamar Chatima Tova, Ramadan Karrem, May the Force be with You and LETS GO METS.