Using the Term, "Cease Fire" Loosely In This War

 Nadene Goldfoot                                         

The holiday of Shavuot, which marks the beginning of the 1. wheat harvest as well as 2. the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, began last Thursday, May 21, 2026. . May we be blessed with health, success and peace. Chag Sameach!  With all the wars enveloping Israel one way or another, such a holiday can get forgotten.  Just what's been going on?                           

 First in line came the Torah, which means "teaching", "law," "the Written  Law." This law was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai together with a detailed oral exposition of the Torah and its commandments.  It includes the entire talmudic literature and commentaries. Yet, once we are freed from the bondage of slavery, we are not fully prepared to stand up as free people.  Rather, we need to undergo a transformative process to spiritually and psychologically prepare and cleanse ourselves. Once we have fully come into our liberated state, we are ready to receive the Torah on Shavout — true wisdom, the divine word, direct experience of revelation. 

According to the biblical narrative, Moses was 80 years old when he led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Torah (including the Ten Commandments) at Mount Sinai. His life is traditionally divided into three distinct 40-year periods: Age 0 to 40: Raised as a prince in the royal court of Pharaoh.Age 40 to 80: Lived as a shepherd in the land of Midian.  Age 80 to 120: Led the Israelites through the wilderness, received the Torah, and guided the people until his death at the age of 120. At my age of almost 92 today, 80 seems to me like a young kid.  Yes, he could have done it and could have felt he was full of such knowledge. 

Harvest Festivals in Biblical days such as in Eretz Yisrael (later-Palestine) began immediately after Passover in April or May, especially in the Jordan Valley.  In the coastal plain and hill regions, it continued throughout the summer. 

 First came the gathering-in of barley and wheat, followed by olives and the vintage.  There were 3 harvest-festivals:  the Omer festival when the  barley-flour offering was brought to the Temple (Passover) and the counting of 50 days (counting the Omer) ; Counting the Omer is a Jewish commandment to verbally count the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. The practice begins on the second night of Passover and ends the night before Shavuot, linking the physical Exodus from Egypt to the spiritual giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

the first-fruit (Bikkurim) festival 7 weeks later when the wheat ripened (Feast of Weeks);  and the feast of the ingathering (Asiph) marking the end of the entire harvest (Tabernacles).  

Agricultural significance of the festivals has been re-emphasized in modern Israel by special observances, especially in small villages.  

                         Giving the law on Mt. Sinai

In Temple times, they brought 2 loaves to the priests and the offering of first fruits.  After the Temple was destroyed, the tradition was emphasized that Shavuot commemorated the giving of the law on Mt Sinai on Sivan 6 (day of harvesting wheat).  

From the 16th century on, kabbalists have observed the eve of Shavuot by studying from the Torah.  The Book of Ruth, which mentions the barley and wheat harvests, is read in the synagogues on this time.  

 I remember that in Israel, we stayed awake all night long studying and discussing it.  That was the custom.                                               

According to U.S. media reports (including CNN, WSJ, Axios), Prime Minister Netanyahu has been urging President Trump, in several phone calls this week, to resume strikes against Iran, while Trump has been pushing for continuing negotiations. CNN reported that Trump told Netanyahu he wanted to allow several more days for a deal to emerge in order to save lives. The picture being painted is clearly one of Netanyahu trying to "pressure" Trump and drag the U.S. deeper into a war. 

But clearly,  President Trump is running the show and making decisions based on what he feels is best. Israel is following his direction. Yes, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes in southern Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described the attacks as "self-defense strikes" aimed at protecting American troops. The strikes hit Iranian missile launch sites and boats attempting to emplace mines.The action took place in the vicinity of Bandar Abbas, which is Iran's main naval base, located roughly 70km from the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM stated that the military action is being executed while utilizing "restraint" during the ongoing ceasefire. The strikes occurred simultaneously with ongoing ceasefire negotiations, as President Donald Trump recently indicated that talks with Tehran were "proceeding nicely".The United States struck targets in southern Iran on May 25, 2026. CENTCOM stated the action was taken in self-defense to protect American troops. The strikes specifically targeted Iranian missile launch sites and mine-laying boats off the Iranian coast, despite a fragile ceasefire that had been in effect since April.  This is past the time of counting the Omer which ended on Shavuot.  

Israel pounded Lebanon with more than 120 airstrikes in a single day, heavily targeting Hezbollah sites in the southern and eastern regions. The bombardment followed a tense phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations.  President Donald Trump’s stance on Israel's right to defend itself has been heavily shaped by the ongoing regional conflict, including massive joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran that began in February 2026. While the U.S. and Israel have closely coordinated in combat, the administration has also placed certain diplomatic constraints on certain actions. Netanyahu says Israel deepening its operations in Lebanon.  Hezbollah targets Israeli forces with drones, rockets as Israeli strikes intensify.  I think IDF is trying to get as much Hezbollah terrorism destroyed as they can while they have a green light before a cease fire does exist.  

Resource:

Added: 5/27/26

israelAM

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia 

History Of Line Of Jewish People

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

The story in the bible of Jacob and his 12 sons that became the 12 tribes of Israel happens to come out of history itself, names and all.  This one story is surely the base of truth of what the bible relates.  From there, the rabbis could go back in time tracing Jacob's family as well as go forward. Judah is the tribe we get "Jewish" from. People have also heard of Judea and Samaria... This tale showing our early development is my favorite, and was just the right explanation Moses was able to give 4,000 years ago to people without today's knowledge we have stored in our brains.  This they could understand, and we can, too.  "In Jewish tradition, the Patriarch Jacob is a foundational figure whose journey from a shrewd, calculating youth to a mature, spiritual leader (Israel) represents the core ethical evolution of the Jewish people."

                                 Chief Rabbi in Ireland, Hertzog

 Jews use the 5 books of Moses by following it and the rest of scriptures in what is called the "Old Testament."  My personal book is called a Tanach which includes the Torah or 5 books, the prophets, and writings...the 24 books of the Bible translated and annotated.  The annotations are so informative, explaining the setting, often by the Rambam and Rashi, who I have found is one of my distant relatives, rabbis of the Middle Ages.   

There are people who do not believe anything in the bible is of value and is only a fairy tale. Usually they are atheists.  Atheists are individuals who do not believe in the existence of a god or any gods. The term originates from the Greek word atheos, meaning "without God". Rather than being a set of doctrines, it is primarily a single characteristic: the absence of a belief in deities.

DNA is the best way along with the Bible to understand our beginnings.  Middle Eastern Roots: Genome-wide scans show that global Jewish diaspora groups share common ancestral ties to the Middle East, tracing back over 2,000 years. Their ancient DNA frequently shows high affinity with historical populations from the Levant.  Ashkenazi Jewish Profile: For Jews of Central and Eastern European descent, DNA is typically an admixture of roughly \(40\% - 50\%\) Middle Eastern (Levantine) and \(50\% - 60\%\) European ancestry. Paternal lines typically trace back to the Middle East, while maternal lines often show Southern or Eastern European origins.

Autosomal DNA studies show high levels of genetic relatedness among Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Jews, corresponding to a shared Middle Eastern ancestry with variations in regional admixture. Autosomal DNA evidence supports the historical narrative of Jewish populations originating from the ancient Levant, with genetic diversity shaped by migrations, admixture, and isolation over millennia  We can take tests with several companies on our autosomal DNA and go back quite far and find 5th cousins easily today.  Those men with J1 and J2 can see their Jewish line,  which is where the Cohens come from.  

                                       Rabbi Judah haNasi

Population Bottlenecks: Ancient DNA studies (like those examining medieval Ashkenazi remains in Erfurt, Germany) show that today's large Ashkenazi population descended from a very small founding group. This bottleneck amplified specific genetic mutations found within the community.  This is why we are distantly related with 20%-30% connection to our many cousins we didn't know we have.  Supposedly there are 4 women who were our base of origin, but not necessarily our own outstanding women of Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, and Leah.                           

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson born October 5, 1958) is an outstanding American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator, and thinks well of our 5 books explaining the development of man and our planet. An astrophysicist is a scientist who applies the laws of physics and mathematics to understand how the universe works. They study the birth, life, and death of celestial bodies like stars, planets, and galaxies, as well as complex phenomena such as dark matter and black holes.

 He thought, as do I, that our beginning history as shown is a metaphor of the scientific facts.  I found him on You tube being interviewed and he explained his findings.  Though he has a Catholic background, he may not have found Jacob being the anchor to our history.                                   

Thomas Quinn Cahill (March 29, 1940 – October 18, 2022) was an American scholar and writer. He was best known for The Hinges of History series, a prospective seven-volume series in which the author recounts formative moments in Western civilization

Although there is Thomas Cahill's book, The Gifts of the Jews--how a tribe of desert nomads changed the way everyone thinks and feels..which may be talking about the fact that when Judaism, given to Moses, a descendant of Jacob,  came about when the world had gone for polytheism, and Jews staunchly stuck with Judaism and hasn't even accepted Jesus as the son of G-d.  ". He argued that ancient Israelites radically altered the trajectory of human history by introducing concepts like linear time, individual destiny, and ethical responsibility to the powerless.

                                 Rabbi Shnearson 

When asked during a question session at the University at Buffalo if he believed in a higher power, Tyson responded: "Every account of a higher power that I've seen described, of all religions that I've seen, include many statements with regard to the benevolence of that power. When I look at the universe and all the ways the universe wants to kill us, I find it hard to reconcile that with statements of beneficence. Beneficence is the ethical principle of acting in the best interest of others. It involves taking positive steps to prevent harm, remove harm, and improve the welfare of others. The word originates from the Latin benefactum, which literally translates to "good deed."

So here we go.  This happens to be a BIG principle in Judaism, though with the war at hand, Tyson may not accept that, and he may not be alone.  We have the MITZVAH in our belief system of trying to keep all of us from harm, to improve the welfare of others, even those who were our enemy.  We visit the sick, which is a mitzvah, and do many good deeds in our lives.  So does our army.  It so happens that our enemy, Iran and their terrorists of the moment, are fighting in a new way, that of destroying our good reputation.  Being anti-Semitism has been with us since the Hellenistic days, most people are now believing lies about us.  They allow their own people to be victims just to damage our good name.  So such opinions may have come to Tyson as well, and that would be very sad.  

In an interview with Big Think, he said: "So, what people are really after is what is my stance on religion or spirituality or God, and I would say if I find a word that came closest, it would be 'agnostic'... at the end of the day I'd rather not be any category at all." Additionally, in the same interview with Big Think, Tyson mentioned that he edited Wikipedia's entry on him to include the fact that he is an agnostic:   An agnostic is a person who believes that nothing is known (or can be known) about the existence of God. Unlike atheists, who assert that God does not exist, or theists, who believe in God, agnostics suspend judgment because they believe the truth is currently unknown or inherently un

                                Rashi
knowable. 

 So I'm trying to show that in Judaism, there is worth in our story of Creation and development of our tribes that led to Judaism, and that it doesn't have to be believed  word by word....until,....that is, when you get to Jacob. and how he was father of the 12 tribes.    

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson

Texas Woman Running For Congress States Anti-Semitic and Dangerous Decisions To Harm Zionists

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

The most prominent recent incident in Texas involving a woman attacking Zionism and Zionists is the controversy surrounding Maureen Galindo, a Democratic candidate running for Congress in Texas' 35th Congressional District.  Recently in May 2026, Galindo posted on her campaign's social media stating that she would turn the Karnes ICE detention center into a prison for "American Zionists". She also made derogatory remarks linking them to pedophiles and proposed establishing a "castration center, "obviously to put Zionists away.  

Her rhetoric sparked widespread condemnation from both sides of the aisle. Critics, including Democratic leadership and Jewish organizations, condemned the statements as antisemitic and dangerous.  Leading Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, explicitly condemned the remarks. Top Texas Democrats stated they would not campaign with or support her, and other members of Congress threatened to file a motion to expel her from the House if she won.  

When she ran for city council District 1 last year:  I’m Maureen, an advocate for housing justice and participatory democracy. I’ve lived in San Antonio for 10 years — eight years currently and previously when I attended UTSA, graduating in 2010. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in liberation-based psychology, helping individuals and communities heal from systemic harm. I also have a private practice in sex therapy supporting people in developing self-agency over their bodies and heal from trauma. My lived experience getting displaced as a single mom at Soapworks Apartments downtown jump started my housing justice work, showing me firsthand how unstable housing devastates the health of communities. Since then, I’ve fought for policies that protect residents from displacement, hold City Hall and developers accountable, and ensure community voices shape our city’s future.                           

 She wasn't on her "soapbox" then about Zionism, but she's really hateful now.  There's nothing in her write-ups showing anything about Zionism.  Does she know what it is?  Zionism is simply a movement to secure the Jewish return to the Land of Israel, a term coined in 1893 to express the aspirations as  ancient as the Babylonian Exile.  The Babylonian Captivity (or Babylonian Exile) occurred between 597 BCE and 538 BCE. During this period, the Neo-Babylonian Empire forced thousands of Judeans from the Kingdom of Judah into exile in Mesopotamia (today's Iraq).

On May 24, 1991, EL AL set an all-time record by carrying 1,087 passengers on a single Boeing 747 aircraft. This feat was part of Operation Solomon, an extraordinary mission in which Israel airlifted more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to safety. Using 35 aircraft, including specially-modified EL AL planes, this daring rescue fulfilled a generations-long dream of returning to the Jewish homeland for many. This is the period of the Big Return. Many, those from all over the world, even the USA, have been moving back to Israel; mostly escaping attacks for being Jews. Between Passover 2025 and 2026, nearly 19,400 people successfully completed Aliyah to Israel.

Now get this:  Candidate Stance: "Galindo denied that her statements were antisemitic, asserting she is "against Zionist Jews" but not Jewish people in general."  There is more anti-Semitism in the USA today than there had been back in the 1930s from such thinking, and then it was not against Zionism but Jews per se.  Who is she appealing to in Texas?  Are there others there who are just as opinionated towards us as that and would relish what she promises to do ?  

"Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) said in a shared statement on Wednesday that they would motion to expel her from Congress if she wins the election in Texas's 35th Congressional District." I hope that it will find the motion will not be necessary, but if needed, Congress will heed these Senators.  

Resource:

https://www.google.com/search?q=woman+in+Texas+attacking+Zionism&sca_esv=85eb12dc1a1c780b&sxsrf=ANbL-n6X4OZgRiYMX6bLOWnGMuX6KTLaFQ%3A1779755968604&source=hp&ei=wOsUatzlIamp0PEPs43mqQ0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAah

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1290400179881647

https://sanantonioreport.org/profile/maureen-galindo-2025-san-antonio-city-council-district-1-candidate/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity

https://www.facebook.com/ELALIsraelAirlinesUSA/posts/%EF%B8%8F-on-may-24-1991-el-al-set-an-all-time-record-by-carrying-1087-passengers-on-a-s/1174108621428202/

The New Standard Jewish Enyclopedia

https://www.icej.org/blog/against-the-tide-western-jews-return-to-israel-in-record-numbers/

https://www.icej.org/blog/what-does-the-bible-have-to-say-about-the-return-of-the-jews-to-their-homeland/

Why Israel and Lebanon Have Been At War

 Nadene                                                             

                                  Hezbollah Billboard

The Terrorist group of Hezbollah is the reason Israel has had to war with Lebanon since 1982.  Israel is attacking Lebanon in 2026 to target the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, neutralize its military capabilities, and pressure the Lebanese state into disarming it. The renewed conflict reignited after Hezbollah declared support for Tehran amid escalating regional hostilities, leading to intense fighting.                                

Israel is located directly south of Lebanon. Together with Syria to its northeast and Jordan to its east, Israel sits on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, forming a highly contested geopolitical corridor in the Levant. PS, you can hardly see Israel and Lebanon on this map.  

Since the beginning days of the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza, massive rocket barrages and attempted infiltrations from Lebanon forced millions of Israeli civilians in the north into shelters or displacement. 

Hezbollah is funded, armed, and trained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, receiving more than $700 million annually to advance the Iranian regime’s extremist ideology across Lebanon and beyond.

Israel is fighting for Border Security: Israel has pushed for a military buffer zone in southern Lebanon—referred to as the "Yellow Line"—to prevent cross-border attacks, a move strongly rejected by Lebanese authorities. The conflict is closely tied to Israel's simultaneous confrontations with Iran, who has made it clear their intentions to wipe out Israel and makes it their business to arm all their friends and attack Israel.  "Hezbollah’s stated objective is explicit and uncompromising: The destruction of Israel, a goal repeatedly voiced by its leadership and embedded in its ideology."                           

Under longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah has evolved into the world’s most heavily armed terrorist organization, combining military power with political influence inside Lebanon.                                                         

     Rockets From Gaza Into Israel

In April 2026, Israel faced multiple rocket and missile attacks, including major barrages from Iran and Hezbollah. These events generated striking visual evidence of air defense interceptions and the conflict's continued impact,  Cross-border rocket and drone fire by Hezbollah into northern Israel occurred throughout April.

It maintains tens of thousands of fighters and an enormous arsenal of rockets, missiles, and UAVs, many of which have been fired into Israel since October 2023, killing civilians and displacing entire communities.

They must have counted on October 2023 massacre of Israelis to bring down Israel as they have fought Israel since that date from many places.  It keeps popping up.  

 While a fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire was introduced in mid-April, both sides have continued to trade heavy blows, with Hezbollah citing self-defense and the need to halt Israeli military actions.

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iranian_strikes_on_Israel

https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/israel-hezbollah-war/

Deaths Of IDF Soldiers in Last Week Of May

 Nadene Goldfoot                                    

Hezbolah adopts a new wepon: Fiber-optic drones, used widely in the war in Ukraine

Hezbollah tactics have changed.  Now they are down to the cheaper drones instead of bombs or bullets to kill IDF who are guarding their border from attacks.  They are saying that Drones are the future of warfare.  

At least 10 IDF soldiers have been killed in May 2026, primarily during ongoing clashes in southern Lebanon.  Drones are the culprit in most of these deaths.  Two IDF soldiers were reported killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon and near the Lebanese border during the last week of May: 

• Sgt. Nehoray Leizer (19, of Eilat), a combat engineer in the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion, was killed by an exploding drone strike in southern Lebanon.
  
  
  
• Staff Sgt. Noam Hamburger (23, of Atlit), a technology and maintenance soldier in the 401st Armored Brigade, was killed by an explosive drone near the Lebanese border on Israeli soil.  PM: Hamburger fought to defend northern communities.  During the incident in which Hamburger fell, another IDF soldier was severely wounded, and a non-commissioned officer was lightly wounded.
                                 
  
  Israeli soldiers are seen near the Israeli border with Lebanon, northern Israel, May 17, 2026. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)  Buffer Zone Enforcement: The IDF is maintaining an operational area extending several miles into southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from launching direct attacks or carrying out cross-border infiltrations into Israeli territory.  Defensive Posture: Troops are stationed at key hilltops and forward positions to detect threats and intercept incoming rocket or drone fire originating from Lebanese towns and valleys.  In fact, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are heavily present at the border with Lebanon to establish a security buffer zone, conduct targeted ground operations, and protect northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah's ongoing attacks, rocket fire, and drone strikes  
  
         Medic saving the life of a soldier
• You are likely thinking of the profound and famous saying from the Talmud (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5): "Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world; and whoever destroys a single life is considered to have destroyed the whole world."
• War is not something we want or look upon with any relish but a necessary evil to preserve life.  This ancient proverb speaks to the infinite value of human life and emphasizes that every single person represents a complete and entire world of thoughts, relationships, and potential. halakha  (Jewish law) view armed conflict as an avoidable evil, which is only permissible when absolutely necessary for self-defense and survival, and must be fought with ethical restraint and a continual yearning for peace. 
•  It was originally used to remind witnesses in capital cases of the immense gravity of their testimony. It underscores that condemning a defendant to death means destroying an entire universe of potential descendants.  
• Resource:
• https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/soldier-killed-in-battle-in-south-lebanon-idf-says/
• https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897059
• https://crownheights.info/israel/947675/hyd-sergeant-nehoray-leizer-killed-by-explosive-drone-in-lebanon/