Playwright David Mamet on world opinion of Israel

David Mamet

Practical aid for Israeli soldiers

"Following the escalation of tensions on Israel's borders, Table to Table will be distributing gift packages to soldiers defending our northern and southern borders.

For a donation of $18, Table to Table will purchase, process, and deliver a gift basket to our soldiers. Credit card donations may be made by clicking here. Specify that your donation is for Soldiers' Gift Baskets. Donations may be made in U.S. Dollars, Canadian Dollars, or British Pounds, and are fully tax deductible in the United States, Canada, and in the U.K.

Whether or not you're able to donate products or purchase gift baskets, Table to Table will be happy to pass on a message to the soldiers when we deliver the packages. Include your note in your package or write a message when you fill out the donation form. You can also send an email to soldiers@tabletotable.org.il. Every good word lets our soldiers know that we are standing by them, as they fight for us.



For more information, please contact call Table to Table at 011 972 9-744-1757.

Go there and help them. You know you want to.

(Hat tip to Daledamos)

A brief timeout for sanity... (Original Jerusalem photos)

(Photo: Dave Bender)

Well. Well. Well. Ain't we just havin'a grand freakin' ole' time over here...

Fed up to the gills with trying to keep on top of the news today, I took a break and rode my bicycle into town, and back to Gilo.

On the way back, I spotted a little girl herding goats, on Hebron Road. I imagine she was from nearby Beit Safafa.

The warm, late afternoon light, ruins of a stone structure where they stopped to graze among the olive trees, tawny wildflowers and grasses made for nice images. Enjoy.

(Photo: Dave Bender)

And now back to our regularly scheduled mayhem.

Map showing range of Hizbullah missiles within Israel

Israeli-American mother's moving words on aliyah and terrorism (Exclusive audio)

Miri Eisen

KING: We’re back on LARRY KING LIVE. Let’s go to Tel Aviv and Miri Eisin. She is the Israeli government spokesperson, retired colonel with the Israeli military intelligence. What’s your reaction to what Mr. Mousawi of the Hezbollah just had to say?

MIRI EISIN, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON: I find it very interesting that the editor of Al-Manar TV talks only about things which have nothing to do with what’s happening. Almost seven days ago already Hezbollah crossed the border, an internationally recognized border, into Israeli territory, kidnapped two soldiers and at the same time, and this he failed to mention, opened fire with rockets on all of the northern villages of Israel.

Read it all.

Miri Eisen is very impressive in putting Israel's case across via the media, and even more so in person. This I know personally:

Eisen, who is a veteran immigrant from California, addressed a 2004 memorial ceremony for fallen North American immigrants who died in the line of duty and in terror attacks, held annually by the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel.

Here are her moving words, as, repeatedly choking back tears, she talks about her parents brave decision to make "aliyah" (immigration to Israel), and her decision put down roots here, and proudly raise a family in the face of terror and tyranny.

Her simple, evocative words about raising children here, by choice, resonate more than ever in these trying days of battle.

A bio page is here.

(Hat tip to Jewlicious)

JerusalemOnline news update: 00:00, July 19th (Video - Channel 2 TV)

• One dead in rocket attack on Nahariya
• Dozens of rockets blast the North
• Diplomatic process for ceasefire gets underway