Nov 20, 2012 -- 5:55AM, NahumS wrote:

We're doing ok here in the Holy Land. I spent last Shabbat with my daughter and family in Gush Etzion, and a missile fell near a neighboring community, causing no damage. There was an air raid - but in Shul we heard nothing. Maybe we were singing too loudly. My daughter and family trooped down to their shelter for a few minutes until the all-clear signal. Actually, once you hear the missile fall, and it's not on you, you can go out.

One son was called up to reserves on Shabbat - so I have two boys in the army now. His younger brother, who I thought was up north, was sent south. 

It helps to pray - it certainly helps me, and I hope it helps them. 

Meanwhile, we continue as usual - work, school, and all the rest. Jerusalem is not under fire, so it's calm here.

There's a slogan that I've seen - it's a play on words:

בעז"ה ננצח

If you leave out the quotation marks that makes the word into initials, it means: In Gaza we will prevail

If you read it as initials it means: With G-d's help, we will prevail

Let's all hope that there is a cease fire soon and no need for an invasion - but that Hamas has been sufficiently damaged as to keep it from shooting more missiles.

Shabbat shalom, Nahum. Be assured, we are thinking of you.

Today we celebrated Jerusalem Day - the 46th anniversary of the city's unification. I attended festive prayers that included Hallel, the psalms of praise that we recite on other Jewish festivals. I also went up to the Temple Mount, along with a large group of yeshiva students who  danced in a circle after we finished our visit, singing "Yibane haMikdash" - "May He rebuild the Temple."

I also saw a short film clip that puts the lie to the "Arab East Jerusalem" tale of two cities:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXSvrAe5xEM&feat...