Remembering the Holocaust: from the Rabbi

In November 2005, the United Nations designated January 27 as a day to honor victims of the Holocaust. This date was chosen for a reason - on January 27, 1945, Russian troops liberated the notorious Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. More than one million people were murdered here during World War II, part of Hitler's evil plan to exterminate the Jewish people.

Stories of the death camps offer evidence of brutality that almost defies description. Survivors and liberators alike tell of dead bodies stacked like cordwood, and of others desperately clinging to their last spark of life, too weary to even express happiness at their liberation.

Dwight Eisenhower, commander of U.S. forces in Europe during World War II, wasn’t present at the liberation of Auschwitz, but he did visit a forced labor camp. He never forgot what he saw there. Several years after the war, he wrote of the experience:

"The same day I saw my first horror camp. It was near the town of Gotha. I have never felt able to describe my emotional reaction when I first came face to face with indisputable evidence of Nazi brutality and ruthless disregard of every shred of decency."

"I visited every nook and cranny of the camp because I felt it my duty to be in a position from then on to testify at firsthand about these things in case there ever grew up at home the belief or assumption that ‘the stories of Nazi brutality were just propaganda.' Some members of the visiting party were unable to go through the ordeal. I not only did so but as soon as I returned to Patton’s headquarters that evening I sent communications to both Washington and London, urging the two governments to send instantly to Germany a random group of newspaper editors and representative groups from the national legislatures. I felt that the evidence should be immediately placed before the American and British publics in a fashion that would leave no room for cynical doubt."

Eisenhower deserves great credit for helping bring to light these atrocities. Incredibly, even today, there are those who claim that "the stories of Nazi brutality were just propaganda." Eisenhower knew that the events he was witnessing were so terrible that some would deny they ever occurred - and that this lack of historical memory would make it that much easier for those responsible to escape justice, and for such horrors to happen again. He was determined that the world would never forget what happened in the camps, just as he could not forget it.

This Sunday on U.N. Holocaust Remembrance Day, take a moment to visit the website of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Here you will find an amazing number of resources to help you understand the impact and scope of the defining event in 20th century world history. And please, take a moment as well to pray for the surviving victims of the Holocaust, and to ask for God's protection for Israel - a state that was formed, we must never forget, in part to provide a haven for European Jews fleeing the horrors of the Holocaust. As we pray, let us take comfort in the biblical assurance that God, who watches over Israel, "neither slumbers nor sleeps."

With prayers for shalom, peace
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Virgie Bell's View: THE Family Feud

Hollywood Great Thinker Hilary Swank: "After all even if we believe in a different God, inside, we all just want to be loved and to love."

I really wish I knew more and could come to some understanding of the crisis that exists in the Middle East. Anyone can go back to the very beginning of civilization and the same thing was always going on. The one thing most of us have learned is to not get embroiled in a family feud and make no mistake; this is exactly what this really is. These different countries have been at it for years and if the Bible is to be believed, it will remain so until the very end of time. I believe the books written by Herman Wouk are an absolute requirement to getting at least a little light shed on the whole situation. Many people refuse to read fiction at all. I have an aunt who feels it a waste of time and I disagree with her assessment.

All things written are just someone else's view and that view belongs to the writer of non-fiction as well. History is just a personal opinion which is recorded. Had the USA lost in World War 2, trust me; English would not be the official language in my country. I would not have been reading books by a Jewish author and I certainly would not be recommending them to others. I would be joining the rest of the world in Jew-bashing. If however, one maintains that the Bible is truly the Word of God, one might be more than a little hesitant to engage in such a practice. Israel is the Promised Land, and as such, it comes complete with a destiny, a beginning, an end.

I can't keep from hitting on my Hollywood Knuckle Heads and the instant wisdom gained with receiving an Academy Award. Hilary Swank is the latest bubble head to be popping-off on something she knows absolutely nothing about, but this does not keep her from becoming an expert on the Middle East dilemma. In a few words, she solves the whole situation, one that has not had any solution in the recorded past or foreseeable future. I refer to her quote: "After all even if we believe in a different God, inside, we all just want to be loved and to love." I think it would be a really good idea for these Hollywood Pin Heads to stay far away from such a statement. How quaint, how incredibly stupid, and why am I even wasting time reviewing anything Ms. Swank has to say about any subject whatsoever. Perhaps it is because I can now relate to ditsy dames who love attention. Dames like Nancy Pelosi. I would like to set the record straight to all of the rest of the world: Ms. Swank, Ms. Pelosi, Ms. Streisand, and even Mr. Streisand, do not represent the view of the American Woman, much less the fact that there is no Different God. If she really believes that little statement, she needs to take it to that tall bearded Taliban Leader hiding in a cave somewhere along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Convince him.... If you come away with your head intact, then I will listen. Until then, I will forever be amazed that all of mankind though out history has failed to grasp this little concept, but then, what else is new? Different Gods? Bite your tongue.

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Newsletter from the Rabbi

I take the liberty of posting the Rabbi's newsletters because I find his information and links valuable on understanding what is going on in Israel, not only for the present day but for all time.

It's my belief we should use the Bible as our point of reference and as our filter. This of course is my belief and doesn't really even have to be shared to appreciate the Rabbi's newsletter, but for scholars or future scholars of the Bible, Jerusalem is the center of the universe. All directions, north, south, east and west divert from this center, this APPLE OF GOD'S EYE. to the Rabbi then.... dm

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What Happens after Annapolis

November 28, 2007

Dear Friend of Israel,

At yesterday's meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders at Annapolis, Maryland, both parties expressed "the determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples" and agreed to "vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations" aimed at ending their age-old conflict.

A wide range of opinion has been expressed about what happened at Annapolis, some of it reservedly optimistic, some harshly critical. In order to help you better understand what happened, we’ve assembled a collection of news, opinion, and official documents. I hope you’ll take some time today to read them, as what happened at Annapolis may well have great impact on Israel’s future.

Read the official documents news, stories, and opinions

Amid the differences of opinion, I believe there are certain principles those of us who love Israel can agree on as prerequisites to lasting peace. Israel must not be forced by the U.S. or any other party to make unwarranted concessions, especially those that could jeopardize her security. Israel must remain the Jewish state, even as she provides freedom and equality for her Arab citizens. Cessation of Palestinian terror attacks against Israel is non-negotiable.

Whether or not the Annapolis conference will lead to a final agreement that respects these requirements and Israel’s need for peace and security remains to be seen. For now, it is our duty to remain informed, and follow the news closely. And, of course, let us continue our fervent prayers for wisdom and strength for Israel’s leaders and for the safety of the Israeli people and, as ever, for the peace of Jerusalem.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

From the Rabbi

This Week with Rabbi Eckstein
November 9, 2007

Dear Friend of Israel,

On November 9-10, 1938, Jews in Germany endured two nights of terror. It was Kristallnacht the "night of broken glass." With the encouragement of the German government, Nazis and their supporters attacked Jews and destroyed synagogues and Jewish-owned homes and businesses. German Jews had suffered under oppressive laws for years. But Kristallnacht was a turning point the beginning in earnest of the Holocaust that ultimately led to the slaughter of millions of European Jews.

The Holocaust was a uniquely horrible chapter in human history. But, as we mark this somber anniversary of Kristallnacht, it is important to note that the hatred of Jews that ultimately resulted in the Holocaust is not a thing of the past. I long for the time when I can say that Jews were no longer in danger simply for being Jews. But, sadly, that time is not now. Across the globe, there appears to be a rise in violence against Jews, hateful anti-Semitic rhetoric, and vandalism against Jewish property. Here are just a few of the most recent incidents:

Last week, in what officials described as arson, a Jewish school in Kiev, Ukraine, burned to the ground. The vandals who perpetrated this act had earlier hurled a rock through the window of the school with a note attached that read "Death to Jews."

In a recent radio address, Alexander Lukashenko, president of the former Soviet republic of Belarus, complained that Jewish residents of the city of Bobruisk turned the city "into a pig sty." Twelve years earlier, he spoke admiringly of the Nazi regime that ruled Germany during World War II, saying that the country "attained its peak under Hitler."

In Wellington, New Zealand, a Jewish cemetery was desecrated for the third time in as many years. Vandals painted anti-Semitic slogans such as "Hitler RIP" and "Terror state Israel burn" across gravestones.

The Jewish community in suburban Melbourne, Australia, is on alert after two attacks by baseball bat-wielding thugs against Jewish teenagers.

While vacationing in Greece last month, a young man from Tel Aviv was beaten by a group of youngsters shouting anti-Semitic slurs.

The incidents above and there have been many more like them in recent months show why those of us who love Israel and are committed to supporting the Jewish people must always be vigilant. What has been called "the longest and deepest hatred of human history" is not just a historic relic. Tragically, it is alive and well around the globe.

Rescuing Jewish people from anti-Semitic oppression is one of the urgent goals of The Fellowship’s On Wings of Eagles program. Since its launch, The Fellowship and its caring partners have helped tens of thousands of Jews return to Israel, the land given to them by God, where they are free to live and openly practice their faith as Jews. On Wings of Eagles also helps them become established as full, productive citizens in Israel.

I thank God for the you and the caring friends of The Fellowship who pray and provide support to help rescue those suffering from the cruel injustice of anti-Semitism through On Wings of Eagles. May you be blessed, as you have blessed His children.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

From Rabbi Eckstein

June 21, 2007

Dear Friend of The Fellowship,

By now, you have all heard that the terrorist group Hamas has solidified its hold over the Gaza Strip. In the past two weeks, the fighting between Hamas and its rival Palestinian faction, Fatah, has reached levels that make the Palestinian-Israeli conflict pale in comparison. And it has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that, despite their efforts to paint Israel as villain, the Palestinians are their own worst enemies.

In fact, fighting between Hamas and Fatah has been continuous since Hamas came to power in January 2006, despite numerous “treaties” and the forming of a Hamas-Fatah “unity government” last February. But last week’s events took the violence to a new level. On June 14, after days of fierce fighting during which over a hundred people were killed, Hamas claimed control of Gaza, declaring, “The era of justice and Islamic rule has arrived.” Violence and chaos erupted, as Hamas sought to wipe out every vestige of Fatah’s power in the area. The offices and homes of Fatah leaders were attacked and looted, and, in some cases, Fatah members were rounded up and shot in front of their wives and children.

Meanwhile, fearing a similar struggle in the West Bank, Fatah rushed to solidify its hold on the area. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, head of Fatah, announced the dissolution of the Palestinian “unity government” which most believe was little more than a sham to begin with and announced the formation of an emergency cabinet. He appointed a new prime minister of the emergency government, rounded up Hamas officials in the West Bank, and paraded heavily armed Fatah fighters throughout the area in a show of power meant to silence opposition.

Obviously, Israel is deeply concerned with these developments. Gaza, a haven for terrorists since Israel left the area in 2005, could turn into a true terrorist state. Rocket attacks from the area targeting Israeli cities like Sderot, which have been going on for years and have grown more frequent recently, could escalate even further. Israel’s im mediate tactic will likely be to support Fatah, seen as the lesser of two evils, against Hamas, which is more rabid in its hatred of Israel. But while this may be necessary in the short term, experience shows it is an extremely risky proposition. Previous efforts to negotiate peace with Fatah have failed, and given its corruption and sponsorship of terrorism, there is little reason to believe it will be a real partner for peace. The lesser of two evils, as one writer recently put it, is still evil.

Meanwhile, for those stuck in Gaza, there is truly no good solution at the moment. Palestinian Christians, in particular, are at great risk we know that, where radical Islam triumphs, Christians suffer. We see it in Saudi Arabia, where public worship by Christians is expressly forbidden by law, and severe persecution is common. We see it in Iraq, where radical Muslim terrorists have given Christians in some regions the option of either converting to Islam, marrying their daughters to terrorists, paying the jizya (an Islamic tax imposed on non-Muslims), or leaving im mediately with only the clothes on their backs. We see it in Iran, where the radical Muslim regime oppresses a tiny Christian population through a combination of harassment and close surveillance. Already we have heard from Gaza stories of churches being attacked, and of violence and intimidation being used against Christians. There is no reason to believe that they will be spared the fate experienced by Christians in other Muslim countries.

In the face of this desperate situation, I ask all of you to pray. Pray for wisdom for Israel’s leaders as they face the difficult task of securing peace and safety for their country, and for Israel’s people seeking to maintain normal lives in these difficult and uncertain times. Pray for Christians in Gaza and throughout the Middle East who live under terrible oppression. And pray that leaders throughout the world will take a stand for Israel against her enemies and those who seek her destruction.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

Manuscript Shows Isaac Newton Calculated Date of Apocalypse

What Goes Up Must Come Down
Famed scientist's biblical calculations placed end of the world in 2060 — or maybe later.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

JERUSALEM — Three-century-old manuscripts by Isaac Newton calculating the exact date of the apocalypse, detailing the precise dimensions of the ancient temple in Jerusalem and interpreting passages of the Bible — exhibited this week for the first time — lay bare the little-known religious intensity of a man many consider history's greatest scientist.

Newton, who died 280 years ago, is known for laying much of the groundwork for modern physics, astronomy, math and optics. But in a new Jerusalem exhibit, he appears as a scholar of deep faith who also found time to write on Jewish law — even penning a few phrases in careful Hebrew letters — and combing the Old Testament's Book of Daniel for clues about the world's end.

The documents, purchased by a Jewish scholar at a Sotheby's auction in London in 1936, have been kept in safes at Israel's national library in Jerusalem since 1969. Available for decades only to a small number of scholars, they have never before been shown to the public.

In one manuscript from the early 1700s, Newton used the cryptic Book of Daniel to calculate the date for the apocalypse, reaching the conclusion that the world would end no earlier than 2060.

"It may end later, but I see no reason for its ending sooner," Newton wrote. However, he added, "This I mention not to assert when the time of the end shall be, but to put a stop to the rash conjectures of fanciful men who are frequently predicting the time of the end, and by doing so bring the sacred prophesies into discredit as often as their predictions fail."

In another document, Newton interpreted biblical prophecies to mean that the Jews would return to the Holy Land before the world ends. The end of days will see "the ruin of the wicked nations, the end of weeping and of all troubles, the return of the Jews captivity and their setting up a flourishing and everlasting Kingdom," he posited.

The exhibit also includes treatises on daily practice in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. In one document, Newton discussed the exact dimensions of the temple — its plans mirrored the arrangement of the cosmos, he believed — and sketched it. Another paper contains words in Hebrew, including a sentence taken from the Jewish prayerbook.

Yemima Ben-Menahem, one of the exhibit's curators, said the papers show Newton's conviction that important knowledge was hiding in ancient texts.

"He believed there was wisdom in the world that got lost. He thought it was coded, and that by studying things like the dimensions of the temple, he could decode it," she said.

The Newton papers, Ben-Menahem said, also complicate the idea that science is diametrically opposed to religion. "These documents show a scientist guided by religious fervor, by a desire to see God's actions in the world," she said.

More prosaic documents on display show Newton keeping track of his income and expenses while a scholar at Cambridge and later, as master of the Royal Mint, negotiating with a group of miners from Devon and Cornwall about the price of the tin they supplied to Queen Anne.

The archives of Hebrew University in Jerusalem include a 1940 letter from Albert Einstein to Abraham Shalom Yahuda, the collector who purchased the papers a year earlier.

Newton's religious writings, Einstein wrote, provide "a variety of sketches and ongoing changes that give us a most interesting look into the mental laboratory of this unique thinker."

FOXNews.com

Virgie Bell's View: Price of Pork Rises

The immigration bill has been put back on the agenda and this time it comes equipped with 4.4 billion in funds in order to shore up our security at the border. It remains to be seen if the money will actually be appropriated to the bill or if it will just be something else promised on paper. No one in the general population gives much credit to the talk coming out of our nation’s capital. I am sure the immigration bill and greenhouse gas issue will be something that we will all regret by the time it is over. It means government growth is going to spiral up through the stratosphere. The movers and shakers are busy right now lining up with friends and relatives who will benefit. All anyone has to do is recite Greenhouse Gas and we (the ignorant public they surely believe us to be!) had better smile and pick up the tab.

We all know the truth. Here is the deal on all the pork you will see brought home to each district. A project in the works need only come up with the money for such, and then the federal government kicks in with matching funds. That means that I have contributed actual money for the famous bridge to nowhere. We are the money and we are going to have to dig deeper and work longer hours just to stay even. Bush is in the final limit of his term and this is how politics plays out. Bill Richardson was in Las Vegas, Nevada and has promised to use the funding for the War on Terror that is wasted on our troops, and use it to see that every child is guaranteed a college education—free. Doesn't mean a blame thing about what all is promised, but clearly the present powers that be see these lucrative deals coming that are just waiting for them to jump on. It was never money for the troops that bothered the Democratic Party. It was the cost of the war. It was not the bloodshed. It was never about the civil war in Iraq. I’ve never seen anything that is government run that didn't cave under corruption from within. If we didn't have a cap on time between votes every two years and every four years, we could not last. Our democracy would crumble.

If I didn't believe in God and His ultimate control over all things that involve our civilization, I would just about give up. If I really had to depend on our representation to fix anything, I would be up salt creek without a paddle. If the Bible is correct, and I believe it is, then we are viewing something pretty historic in the Middle East. Bible prophecy tells us that Israel will be encompassed round about and when we see this, we know the end is near. The Jewish race finally reoccupied Israel after more than 2000 years. This fulfills the prophecy they believed in. They believe it is the Divine Will that this has happened. If it is indeed the fulfillment from God's promise, then it will be up to God to protect it or lay it low. So while all of this is going on, I am supposed to spend every dime I can come up with to protect our planet from us and pay the various lawmakers to see that we do. We have second hand smoke down so far. What about gas for a power mower? What about motorcycles? Now that I have cheered everyone up, guess it is time to …

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From Rabbi Eckstein, President IFCJ

We want to alert you to a very important Israel-related issue that has arisen—and to tell you how you can play a critical role in addressing it.

In 2005, the Association of University Teachers in Britain (AUT) called for a boycott of two leading Israeli universities. And in 2006, another British teachers union, the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE), followed suit.

These two unions merged last year—and, as you might expect, the new organization that was formed, the University and College Union (UCU), is a hotbed of anti-Israel activism. Last week, the UCU passed two motions calling for a boycott of all Israeli academics.

Learn how you can send a message to the UCU today.

What is the UCU's problem with Israel? Israel is, after all, a democratic country where access to education and academic freedom flourish. If the UCU were to single out any nation in the Middle East for criticism, one would think it would be one of Israel's neighbors—the Arab and Muslim countries where freedom and access to education are often greatly restricted and, in some cases, nonexistent, especially for women. But the UCU has not called for a boycott of any other nation in the world—not China, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Iran, Sudan, or any other country where gross violations of human rights occur routinely.

While the UCU is silent about oppression in these countries, it has harsh words for democratic Israel. In these motions it maintains that "Israel's 40-year occupation has seriously damaged the fabric of Palestinian society." No mention is made of the brutal fighting between rival Palestinian factions that has turned Gaza into a war zone. The UCU also maintains that Israel denies Palestinians educational rights through "shootings and arrests of teachers, lecturers and students"—a scurrilous lie so far removed from reality that it can only be explained by a deep-seated anti-Israel prejudice.

Today, we need you to add your voice to the growing chorus of those speaking out against the outrageous, prejudiced actions of the UCU. Your response can make a difference—we saw this in 2005, when public outcry ultimately led the AUT to drop their call for a boycott. We've made it easy for you to send a message to UCU leadership telling them that Israel's friends will not stand by and see her treated unfairly.

Send a message to the UCU today—and take a stand for Israel!
With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

Virgie Bell's View: Masters

One can tell the difference in a really good author, and one that is masterful in his writing. I don't actually know what they call books with lasting appeal except classics. In art it was the Old Masters. I think part of the Old Masters’ art was in the grinding of the pigment and creating their own colors. I am going to call Herman Wouk masterful. He has a way of grinding down an event in life to write about it in a setting in his books that gives it an entirely different look and meaning. I now lack finishing the one he titled Glory and then reading one more before I have read them all. Thus far, it is as though I have traveled though history that covers the pre-World War II era, and when I have finished them it will be right in the thick of things as the Nation of Israel fights against its enemies, which are still the same as they ever were. This little country has been the focus of the international world since the beginning of mankind.

One of the benefits of being a reader is that even reading fiction you become more proficient and much more knowledgeable in history. I turn to my encyclopedias and my different collections of various year-end magazines as well as to the computer for the real historical facts of various books that I read, but with Wouk’s works, it is extensive research in the Bible, which always puts me going as far back as I can in the original translations. He has written one that I want De'on to order for me and that is his work by the title This Is my God. I have come to realize more here lately how accurate the history and traditions are which are symbolized by the Jews. After all, Jesus kept these same traditions. He walked the same walk and followed the same customs and celebrated the same feasts as they do today. If you find it strange the way in which they live their lives, then you will have to admit that you would find Jesus strange. Yet, when it comes to the Savior, it is an accepted fact as the way he was dressed. The robes that are worn by the different Middle East countries signify the dress code from the beginning of time. The difference today is the color of the headdress which identifies the tribe they belong to. The cloth that Moses was wrapped in was Hebrew and he was accepted within royalty in Egypt. The various tribes still wear the headgear, but you will notice the man in the street wears westernized clothes.

Various royalties still wear robes. This book that I am nearly finished with takes place at the time of the Watergate scandals. It is during a war in the Middle East. The Soviet Union was supplying the Arab Nation with military equipment. The United States was supplying Israel. Every once in a while, the author throws in something that puts you right in that period, like the first moon walk. I remember that I looked up in wonder at the moon at that same time. He mentioned a woman wearing white stockings as all the rage at another time. I associated that with the time I lived in Littlefield. When you have read all of his books you will have a good grasp of the national history.


People that are against this war go on about the greed in the oil interest that is within the Middle East. This is a strategic supply to the entire world that has always been fought over. If we ran out of water all over, it would be no different. We will fight for our survival. Mankind will lie on his deathbed and fight for life, even when they are indeed dying. I asked Dr. Chatwell once (an old family physician) if he dreaded dying. He said he did dread the process of dying, not the death. Yesterday we spent a really nice day at Lisa's for Mother’s Day. Harvey, the kids’ dad, was there and in a wheelchair. I had not known about this turn of events. I asked him how he liked it, of course meaning was it comfortable, he replied that yes he liked it for it was really good for going to the doctor. I cringe with these little pleasures. I remember him doing the jitterbug with me. There are atheists that fight among the Israeli military, there is the Zionist, and then there are those without any loyalties, except they are of the blood. During this time Gerald Ford became president when Nixon was forced to resign. But it was Nixon who was the force that supplied the weapons for the people in Israel to survive. The American Jewish population is among the richest and most powerful anywhere. The country of Israel depends on this segment of society. As far as I can tell, the war activists act against the Jewish people. It is a fact that the Jews depend upon God to keep them alive, and it has certainly been the case for us intervening that has helped to bring that small nation through until the present time. We must all remember that we will always be of the priesthood of Melchezidec. That was when God walked with Abraham and promised this land to his descendents.

Al Sharpton said last week that his ancestors were building pyramids while we were living in caves. That may be true, but if so, when we worshiped the one true God, then his ancestors worshiped Pharaoh.

I think everything went pretty well on Mother’s Day. I know it did for me. I know it certainly did for De’on’s newest member, the boss kitten named Cady. SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

Tattoos

Some of you may have received this in your e-mail. For those of you who haven't, I thought it was worth passing on. Thanks Porter Family!

***

Please read the little cartoon carefully, it's powerful. We cannot, we must not, ever forget what happened in Europe over 60 years ago, because it could happen again. Anyone, any group, could be the target. It has been said that those who refuse to study history are doomed to repeat it. In this case, those who are attempting to rewrite history are probably planning to repeat it! The hatred is already there, in place, taught to the children from infancy, with promises of glory and honor to those who carry out the plans.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russia peoples looking the other way!

Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be "a myth," it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because the Islamo-Facists want to do it again.

I hope you can see it okay. Please remember to support those who support the War on Terror. SUPPORT AND PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS AND FOR ISRAEL!

Virgie Bell's View: MEDINATH YISRAEL

Our recollection of history is spotty at best. At least mine is. The book I am reading now titled" The Hope", by Herman Wouk was a little hard for me to understand until I looked up that period in some of my reference books. It turns out that there is a gap in my memory of when the Jew established their homeland. This was accomplished May 15, 1948. Thus I had my 12th birthday ten days before. I don't remember that birthday for Israel or my last year before I became a teenage girl.

I’m sure by this time we did have electricity and an inside bathroom, therefore we had a radio going each morning. I would have loved hearing A Slow Boat to China some time in the morning before school. My brothers and I would have walked a quarter of a mile to catch the school bus in order ride the two and a half miles to the small country school. I would have spent the entire summer hoeing my dad’s cotton. The hours were from daylight to near sundown with an hour off for lunch.

My birthday would have been a week-end celebration. Mama Curry and Papa Curry would have been there and we would have had a freezer full of ice cream to go with the traditional cake. The reason I don't remember is because we would have done so on many such week-ends. I’ve looked up movies and books of that year. I didn't read any of the books that were the best sellers for 1948. We possessed The Holy Bible, the works of Zane Gray, a World Atlas and a dictionary. My folks received the Lubbock paper in the mail around noon each day by a rural route deliverer. So Israel become a nation when I was the most cut off from anything having much of an impact on my world.

I went to the show with my best friend each Saturday. It was the highlight of my life. We bought cherry cokes and comic books and I always bought a little book with the lyrics of the top ten songs of the Hit Parade. At any rate, I wonder does everyone have this little gap in their memory. Is that the reason that we find reading books hard as a nation? I can understand how that could be. I felt sort of lost in the first of this novel. I have made up my mind to check out which books of fiction run through this period. I have on hand the historical account that takes in that period of time. I have a set of encyclopedias which I would not give up for any amount of money. When I discovered this strange case of temporary amnesia I am very thankful for my background with my family. Our little band of gypsies and the period of history in which we traveled with our little caravan; it was our little part of The Greatest Generation.

Before I was a hoe-hand, I lived right across the street from the ocean and fell asleep to the roar of the surf each night. My brothers and I found every kind of shell and every kind of fish and stood back and watched sharks thrash madly and insanely while caught on a pier. We lived at Hanford Nuclear Facility under the strictest security measures the United States of America ever put in place, because this was the Manhattan Project. My world was so entrenched in World War 2. I spent the entire time being raised on a base. My dad helped to weld those ships that fought for my country. I remember the jubilation when Roosevelt won his third term as president. I remember the Christmas lights up in downtown Los Angeles. The floats from the rose parade, blackouts air raid alerts, and then the all clear signal.

When Israel came into being I had learned to gather eggs, and watch pigs and cows and a horse all in my backyard. My closest neighbor was a quarter mile away yet I had lived in a city with a 3,000,000 population. For a twelve year old, I had just about experienced it all, so when I found myself lost in time I discovered something that I want to share with Gunz Up. I hope no one will depend on this internet for learning. It is such a poor substitute for studying done with books. I tried to find my way back over my life in order to find my bearings and couldn't do it properly on the internet. The greatest airlift in all of history was also going on, the devastation of the starving German people after being destroyed by allied bombs and our military victory. Their entire population was completely at our mercy.

This new country that called itself MEDINATH YISRAEL or State of Israel had escaped to become only a few hundred thousand survivors. They had been more than six million but had been exterminated to these few by the German Nazi Party at the bidding of the most evil man in the history of the world ... the mad man, Adolph Hitler. I determined to catch up on my memory for the Birth of a Nation. Mr. Wouk keeps me busy. He makes me study; he makes me stop and think. He helps me grow and he makes me glad that I love to read and so now I do remember 1948.

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