"A Blessing on your head"

As promised from last week, the name of our newest sweet granddaughter is Yehudit Hadar Raviv and we are sticking with Yuli as the nickname.  The biblical Yehudit was a strong heroine who saved the Jewish people and Hadar means Glory and Grace in Hebrew. She is also named after her father's aunt and her mother's grandfather. May Yehudit grow in strength and health as we are truly blessed and thrilled with her arrival.

"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in"

What Yuli and all our future generations need is a society where families need not worry about health care costs for themselves or their loved ones.  Since the passage of ObamaCare, the opposition has attempted to repeal it dozens of unsuccessful times, including this week when more Senators downed their thumbs at the newest repeal incarnation.  If Congress would focus more on their job description and less on political maneuvering, than instead of a Repeal there would be a Repair.  The ACA isn't perfect, but it could be improved with bipartisan cooperation which, sadly, is an anomaly in DC right now. 

"Don't stop Believing" 

"Stuck in the middle with you"

Condolences to the family and friends of 2 young Druze Israelis murdered last week as they were protecting the Temple Mount. Sadly, terrorist attacks on innocent souls is their evil MO (Modus Operandi).  While we still struggle to prevent these attacks, Metal Detectors are a common measure of deterrence and were installed at the Temple Mount entrance.  Of course, those who visit the Dome of the Rock al-Aksa Mosque (built on top of the ancient Jewish Temple Mount) are protesting the "inconvenience" of being scanned before entering their holy site. They claim Israel is asserting sovereignty over the Temple Mount (False!) with these Metal Detectors and it is an attempt to humiliate them (More BS). 

"Those hateful words he uses"

Bravo to the talented and creative Jack Johnson on his new catchy music video about the absurdities of our (hopefully short-term POTUS). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3REipDpxNQ   Jack created this video on his cell phone using an animation app and his kids blocks and he envisioned this song and the album it is on as he was sailing in the North Atlantic seas working on a documentary which spotlights the plastic pollution in our oceans.   Did you know Plastic Bags are not recyclable?  How many of you put them in your recycling bins?  They actually mess up the conveyor belt and damage the recycling system. Bravo to States who have banned them but we are still producing, using and tossing immense amounts of this menace into our environment. For more detailed on this dirty story, check out this week's NYT article: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/climate/plastic-pollution-study-science-advances.html?emc=edit_th_20170720&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=69613202

Bonus music.  Cat Stevens has a new album coming out in September.  Here is an article about that album and a sample of his new single "See what love did to me"

http://rol.st/2gOlamD

Wishing you and your family a 

Sweet and Peaceful Shabbat Shalom 

Lisa

lisashabbatshalom.com

Postscript:

Here is an informative, creative, humorous and interesting video about the current lack of equal prayer space which Bibi promised to provide but caved at the last minute.  http://bit.ly/2vCY3xO

Mazel Tov

Mazel Tov to (bonus) brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Lisa Ross on the birth of their newest granddaughter Abagail Josie Brown born July 20th in Amsterdam.  Welcome to the family. Looking forward to meeting you with hugs. 

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Condolences

Our JCC's beautiful art gallery is named in memory of Janice Charach z"l the daughter of Manuel "Manny" Charach z"l (92) who passed away this week. May his spirit and legacy bring comfort to those who mourn his death as he was a blessing unto his family and community. 

Condolences to Bob and Anita Naftaly and their family on the passing of Anita's beloved mother, Sylvia Katz Pomerantz z"l (age 99). May her love and spirit bring comfort to her family and friends and may she be a blessing unto all who knew and loved her. 

Hannan's cousin, Yona Rudich z"l (age 77) of Haifa, Israel died this week of pancreatic cancer.  Yona was the mother of Esti Schlosberg and Moti Keydar and a wonderful Savta to several grandchildren.  May her love and spirit help comfort her family during this difficult time of her rapid passing.  

At the young age of 62, widow Lori Drucker z"l passed away this week.  Lori was the mother of Lizzie (our daughter's friend) and twins Michael and Emily Drucker. May Lori's memory and spirit bring comfort to her children and friends. 

I'm prone to mistakes, so if I missed your birthday 

or got the wrong date, please let me know.

Parting Thoughts...