Carol and I attended an Israel Solidarity event sponsored by our Temple Sinai of North Dade and “Friends of Israel Defense Forces”.  It was for Northern Dade County and the Sanctuary and the Social Hall were packed.

What was disturbing and unexpected (why should I NOT be surprised?) was the tight security in order to get into the building.  Parking was very difficult because we arrived a bit late and parking spaces near the entrances were all gone.  But, when we walked quite a distance and were directed to the main entrance to Temple Sinai we found we had to sign in and prove who we were and if we did indeed pay an entrance fee. Seats up front were $36.00 a person and the cheap folding chairs back in the Social Hall were $18.00 a person.  The prices were significant in that they were a play on the numerical value of “chai” or “life”.

I was interested in the display of symbols of the various agencies and organizations who were sponsoring the evening which was entertainment by 7 singers in the Israeli Armed Forces – 5 women and 2 men plus a backup guitarist and other technical people to make the sound system (terrible from where we were seated) work.  The number of Jewish organizations that represent a rainbow of differences of backgrounds, countries of origin and fealty to Israel and Zionism was impressive.  It was interesting to me that this event, in order to raise money for the Israeli cause for survival in the midst of enemy nations, was a pointed reference to the solidarity of Carol and myself and all other Jews from all over the country taking their turn to see and hear speeches about the abducted Israeli soldiers who are still imprisoned somewhere and to see and hear these young performers who sang their hearts out for they were doing their part in the survival of Israel.

This is in quite stark contrast to the governments of the surrounding Muslim non-democratic nations who have adopted “Palestine” as their rational for making war on the Jewish State – a war fueled by Oil-rich countries.  A word here, too, is a note about the anti-Semitic “democratic” nations who applaud the dance that Israelis must do in order to survive.  This includes the intellectuals who damn Israel for existing and back the “Palestinian” claim to the land of Israel and its Capitol, Jerusalem.  The UN gave them their “half” but they never worked to create a state.

The Jews of the Diaspora, who are not Israelis, support Israel partly because of “NEVER AGAIN” but jointly today on the third night of Chanukah which is celebrated in the same way all over the world by lighting candles. In a way this was a reenactment of the Maccabees 2000 years earlier freeing the Temple from Syrian occupation. I was not happy to be frisked by Security and have someone inspect my pocket knife – they were looking for bombs -but, hey:  Happy Chanukah.