September 11:

Yesterday, much of the world commemorated the destruction of the World Trade Center and the attacks on the Pentagon. A significant number probably celebrated and marked the anniversary as a victory in their battle against the West. It is sad that in a way, so little has changed in the last few years and the West still doesn't get that we are involved in a war. That appeasement and attempts to "address their greivances" is going to solve thier problem. We are dealing with an enemey who has a different worldview and who views the west as an enemy. It is pretty sad that just about the only world leaders who believe this and who are still struggling to convince the rest of the west that this is so is George Bush and Tony Blair. Within the next year Bush will be by himself. God help us all after that happens.

We all remember where we were on that fateful morning. I was still living in Miami Beach and working for Young Judaea as their regional director for Florida and Puerto Rico. I remember I was driving north on I-95 heading towards Ft. Lauderdale. I was on my way to check out a couple of open air amphetheatures to see if they were appropriate for Pro Israel Rally we were organizing. I was listening to NPR and at first, after I initially heard the report, I thought that a piper cub or some small plane had somehow wandered into Manhatten and accidentally crashed. The morning wore on. I went to see one of the amphitheatures and then began to get calls on my cell phone. From my Mother about what was happening, asking if I had seen the TV. From Janet, my Office Manager.

I decided to go straight to the office and that is when I heard that the plane was a commercial liner and that a second one had crashed into the second World Trade Center Tower. By the time I got to my office and saw for the first time what was happening on the TV the plane had crashed into the Pentagon.

My Mother called and said that my sister Debbie had gone to the Donna Klein Jewish Day School in Boca to pick up her son. I decided to go pick up my children and go home. I told Janet that she could go home also. I closed the office. By the time I picked up my children and went to my parents house it was about 12:30-1:00 PM. The full horror of that day was more than apparent. All calls to New York went unanswered.

Yesterday, I watched the origonal CNN broadcast from that morning and was transported back in time. The world was never the same after that. I just wonder if we are doing right today, fighting the war the way we should.

Back To School

The first week of school past very quickly without any major incidents. In the picture you see Adar and Nadav just before they left for thier first day of class.
No beginning school year in Israel would be complete without the prerequisite threat of strike from the teachers union. Much to the relief of millions of parents, it was avoided at the last minute and millions of children reported to the first day of school.

One of the great things about Reut is that the elementary, middle and high school are all here. We are very pleased with the quality of the elementary school and the high school is one of the top in the country.

The school is close enough that Adar and Nadav can walk to and from. Adar, a big kid now in the third grade, insisted on riding his bike to school, which he did several times during the week.

At least we are returning to a sense of normalcy after what was a very trying summer.
At least for the adults. Adar, Nadav, and Zoe had a really fun summer.

Back To School

The first week of school past very quickly without any major incidents. In the picture you see Adar and Nadav just before they left for thier first day of class.
No beginning school year in Israel would be complete without the prerequisite threat of strike from the teachers union. Much to the relief of millions of parents, it was avoided at the last minute and millions of children reported to the first day of school.

One of the great things about Reut is that the elementary, middle and high school are all here. We are very pleased with the quality of the elementary school and the high school is one of the top in the country.

The school is close enough that Adar and Nadav can walk to and from. Adar, a big kid now in the third grade, insisted on riding his bike to school, which he did several times during the week.

At least we are returning to a sense of normalcy after what was a very trying summer.
At least for the adults. Adar, Nadav, and Zoe had a really fun summer.