To my dearest children, grandchildren, family, friends, neighbors, and just passing by, shalom & hello. 

Hard to believe, in two weeks I will be returning to NYC after a three month stay in Israel.  As usual, politics is BIG in this small country. Again an election is coming up, with all the bickering, name calling, mud throwing, and empty "bottles" rolling. I am saddened for the money waste, when there are people who are unable to  "finish" the month on their meager salary, while twenty six parties are fighting for a seat in the coveted Knesset. 

And one more paragraph, about a personal opinion, regarding Netanyahu's upcoming speech to the American Senate & Congress.  I am sure, you are familiar with the turmoil the invitation to speak did, all same here. Pro and against, lies & fiction, true and dishonesty. As a citizen of both great places, and one who share her life almost equally between, I say : Go BIBI Go !

The small Israel is fighting for her life, for her existence.  And there , within a distance of about

900 miles between Jerusalem and Teheran , shorter then the distance between NYC and Milwaukee, a nuclear bomb will be developed.  So what ? you will say, the what is the threat that comes from Iran, the promise to  destroy Israel. The Iranian are saying this for some times,

loud and clear, and  the world is keeping a deaf ear.  I think, Netanyahu must convey this message to the American people before it is too late and a deal is signed. 

Last week I was privileged to attend an event by a non for profit organization name OMETZ.

In Hebrew translation, Courage.  The Hebrew letters of the name reads as: "Citizens for Proper

Administration, Social, and Judicial Justice. I am a proud member of this organization and my friend Arieh Avneri is its chairman.     Ometz decorated Doctors, Institutions, Programs and plain Citizens, in the fields of Medicine and Science. Ten recipients in total received the decoration. 

An organization close to my heart, the Hospice of the Galilee was one of the recipients. A couple in retirement, immigrants from Argentina, gave me a sense of joy and exhilaration. Every Friday, the couple visits adult / nursing home, dressed in clown outfits, were they sing and dance and just bring smile and happiness . 

A Doctor, who is one of the world specialist in the field of Oncology, left a promising position 

about 30 years ago in Haifa, to open the first Oncology unit in Be'er Sheva, Negev region, Soroka Hospital. From zero he built one of the best equipped, center for research  teaching, treating, healing,   and the cor for Cancer care in the entire south part of Israel. 

There were  others to receive a decoration, but the one that held my breath was Professor  

( not an American title. Given to PhD, MD, in Europe and Israel. Kind of a post doctorate). Riyad Agbariya.  A Bedouin from the Negev, who was a simple brick layer, completed his high school education, studied Pharmacology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, completed his master program and PhD, and return to his Bedouin outpost .   From non existent  professionals in the field of Medicine, Pharmacology, and science in the Bedouin society, Professor Agbariya was instrumental in developing the project called : "Desert Medicine Buds". Today,  more the 100 graduate, in the field of medicine, including six Female MD, serve the area. About 400 Arab student from the Bedouin community attending higher learning institutes to become professionals in the field of Medicine and pharmacology. Most, attending the Negev University, or as it is called The University of Be'er Sheva, Soroka.  

The event took place in Museum "Eretz-Israel", to a full capacity 800 seat auditorium. 

It was a evening of knowing, there is  beauty in Israel. 

Only in Israel.

I send my love, see you soon.

Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, me, Esther