Comics have a lot to offer, besides their entertainment value. For someone who is learning a foreign language, they have the benefit of being short and to the point, as well as having lots of pictures to help explain the writer's message. Comics are also a great way to begin to understand what matters to a culture.
"How great! Finally, good news!"
"The Kinneret rose 8.5 centimeters"
"That's great, but Israel is still too dry."
"Right -- eight and a half centimeters is really not enough!"
"Need to save the Kinneret!"
"I need the ruler just for a minute..."
"Where is the number... Here it is -- I found it!"
"I have something important to send to the Kinneret! What's the address?"
This is a country of people who watch the level of a lake, because it's success is ours. This is a nation filled with lots of people who pray for rain when we haven't had as much as we hoped for. This is the only place I've ever lived where little children, partying teenagers, and workers for whom it is inconvenient are unbelievably grateful when it rains. They may gripe a little... but they also say "Baruch Hashem."
"You who listen to prayer, grant dew and rain on the face of the earth, satisfying the whole universe from Your goodness... Spare us and have compassion on us and on all our produce and fruit, blessing us with bounteous rain."
We live in a region beset by justifiable paranoia. I can only speak from my side of the argument, as I cannot possibly see inside of the other guy's head.
There is no way for a Jewish Israeli to know which of his Arab neighbors: A) likes him as a human being; B) hates him because he is a Jew; or C) is indifferent to him, and just wants to make a living and raise his kids. So it is easy to paint with a single brush the entire people as The Enemy, and very hard (and historically sometimes dangerous) to give the benefit of the doubt.
Once in a while, a story comes along that reminds me that it's okay to believe that there are individuals within the greater Arab world who don't go along with the more outspoken masses.
Bedouin Sheikh Salam Hozeil, weeping at the vandalism of his protest tent
Such a story was broadcast on the most recent IBA News program.
"A protest tent for abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was defaced [yesterday] in the early morning hours by spray-painted swastikas and the Palestinian flag.
"The tent was built and maintained by Bedouin sheikh Salam Hozeil at Beit Kama [Junction] in the Northern Negev two years ago. According to Arutz Sheva, Hozeil witnessed what he believes to be young members of his tribe fleeing after committing the vandalism.
Hozeil being comforted
"Local police are investigating the incident, and say that the vandals also defaced photographs of Shalit at the tent. Hozeil said that despite continued death threats from locals, which he believes are associated with Islamic Jihad, he will continue his advocacy until Gilad Shalit has been released from his Hamas captors."
Let's not forget the beauty of the Israeli newsman comforting the Arab!
When I am permitted to see the human face of the individual, I am reminded that we might actually all be related, and there may be hope for us yet.
One of the trickiest things about parenting is not only to avoid having favorites among your children, but making sure they never think you have favorites.
"Mom always loved you best."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did NOT!"
So the Dearly Beloved and I have worked very hard over the years to point out each boys' special attributes, so that it would be clear to each of them that not only is no one boy favored over any other -- in fact, each boy is our favorite son. Baruch Hashem, it has been easy for us to feel this way, as each of these guys is such a flaming individual that there is little competition on common ground.
However, things always get a little dicey as you move down the sibling food chain. There are a million photos of the first born... quite a few of number two... at least some pics of the third kid... but by the time the "baby" is ten years old, he notices something missing from the walls of the mansion flat.
At this point in their lives, each of our creative geniuses (puh-puh-puh) has created some sort of brilliant video or audio. Soldier Boy has recorded a few of his beautiful songs, and had an impressive bit-part in a Gidon Orman production for One Israel Fund. Yeshiva Bochur put together a hoppin' reggae band (much to his long-suffering rosh yeshiva's chagrin), and cut a professional recording. Stunt Man made a couple of classy short movies under the tutelage of the great Yaron Shane.
But Sports Guy had yet to attain audio or video stardom.
Until now.
Thanks to young filmmaker Yaakov Myers of Ramat Bet Shemesh, Sports Guy (aka "Peyos") has finally made the big time. Yaakov's and Peyos' good friend, Avi Schamroth -- besides acting in the film, pretending to be a "so-so" basketball player (the only unbelievable part of this film) -- has a professional filmmaker as a cousin. Dovi Schamroth at Momento Media took this fun short video, set it to hero music that would rival "Rocky," and did a wonderful editing job. (By the way, Dovi is so humble, you can't find his name on his website. His work speaks for itself.) Dovi was kind enough to edit out the scene where Sports Guy misjudges the distance, and propels himself from a trampoline head-first into a wall. (We're negotiating to get our hands on the "blooper reel.")
When you are a guest in our home these days, you are imprisoned by the proud papa until you sit through the video of Sports Guy. (Consider this fair warning to anybody who plans to spend an afternoon or overnight at Chez Mizrachi.)
As a beloved guest of this blog, I invite you to enjoy a few minutes of the only white Jewish Harlem Globetrotter, complete with peyos. Thanks for having a little fun with us, and sharing a bit of nachas.
Baltimore homies alert: Be sure to check out the third Schamroth star of our show, being interviewed by Yishai and Malkah Fleisher on Israel National Radio. The whole program is a pleasure; but Yehudis' interview begins approximately 30 minutes into the recording. Yehudis speaks well, as always, and does the Baltimore kehilla proud. Can you imagine having 40 relatives in walking distance of your apartment? Kein yirbu! Yishai and Malkah get an answer to the burning question, "What is the difference between an anesthetist and an anesthesiologist?" And Yishai gives free advertising to Dr. Julian Schamroth, his dermatologist, and Yehudis' brother-in-law.
(If anyone doesn't understand how this Ki Yachol Nuchal! episode got its name, please feel free to call our toll-free number.)
