Love of our roots and our home country

FACT:

Jews live all around the world, from different countries, cultures, traditions, and races.

I was born in the former Soviet Union, and I am so grateful that my parents brought us to America to have religious freedom.  I love Russian food and that I speak the language, I love living in the United States where I meet people from all walks of life and can choose the way I want to live my life.  Jewish people love their people, the land of Israel, the country we were born, and the country we live in, and that is how we operate.

Afshine Emrani
I’m disgusted that after years of defending the Iranian people, Muslim Iranians still question my loyalty because I’m a Jew and I stand with Israel. One can do both you know. And some of us juggle all that and remain patriotic Americans still. If you don’t get it, it’s sorta like having three children, being forced to love one and denounce the other two.

Between 1970- 1979, The Shah placed my father, a Jew, in charge of Iran’s coal mining, the second largest industry after oil. He was given blank checks to travel to Russia, France, and Israel and to import the latest innovations and to buy giant machinery from companies like Caterpillar. He built cities, roads, schools, playgrounds, theaters and hospitals all dedicated to mining engineers, technicians, and their families. All his friends and employees were Muslim. I recall when I was just a few years old, my father would come home exhausted having spent days driving in the desert to ensure the safety of the miners. Uncles and friends would come to visit him. I remember eavesdropping on their private conversations. Visitors would beg him: “You are just a government employee. Why don’t you just write a check to yourself or buy yourself a home?” Another would ask “I have a construction company. Take a few bids, then give me the job and I’ll give you a hefty profit.” His answer was always the same: “I was trusted to do my job and I will serve Iran to the best of my capacity and with integrity.” He never stole a dollar, and we escaped Iran as poor Jews. When I was in college, I used to begrudge my dad for not taking his share from a country that sucked out his blood and spat him out. Today, I know I would do exactly the same thing. For some of us, given a decent life of comfort, prestige, and honor, there is no amount of money that can buy a good name and a clear conscience. Good job dad! You make me proud as a Jew and as a Persian man that was once brought to Iran by Cyrus the Great.

 

Besides our birth country and our home country, we are always connected to our roots.

Efrem Goldberg
Rav Elchanan Wasserman Hy”d wrote a letter to Young Israel in 1939 that is recorded in his Kovetz Ma’amarim (p. 68). In it, he quotes his Rebbe the Chafetz Chaim as saying “Darkness is not chased away with sticks, not even with cannons. One simply lights a small candle, and the darkness flees before it.”

Too many are contributing to the darkness by constantly swinging sticks and shooting their cannons.

We just got up from the floor and from marking 3 weeks of darkness. It is time for creating comfort and consolation by putting down the sticks and by bringing the light.

Light a small candle today by doing an act of kindness and help dispel the darkness!

 

Today is Tu B Av, it is the Jewish Valentines day, and here are some fun facts,

 

What I love the most about Israel, is that once you visit, or if you live there, you know how special, beautiful, democratic, free, and what a gift to the world it really is.

Bassem Eid

Today I was in a day tour to Mekong, 20 people were on the bus. The guide ask people from which countries they arrived, Germany, Japan, Philippines, China, when my turn comes in said I arrived from Israel, everybody recognized it. The guide said the the most famous countries in technology in Asia is Japan and Israel. So peaceful country is Vietnam, so safe and secure. To be a Vietnamese is an honor.

 

I couldn’t help but finish with this,

Jewish Pride,

Love of Israel,

Proud of Israel in the Olympics,

Showing honor, respect, and kicking tush!

Shabbat Shalom,

Coach Yulia

 

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