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Posts by Janet Hammer

Feb 26, 2024

It Seems Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong - 2/26/24

by Janet Hammer

I was in the right place only at the wrong time. An outdoor dance concert couldn’t help but bring up punishing thoughts about the Nova Festival. Actually I’m not sure there will ever again be a “right” time after October 7.
 
In the mix of a St Pete spring night, the music of The …

Feb 25, 2024

I Write Every Day - 2/25/24

by Janet Hammer

 I am still writing every day.
 
I write every day to communicate  I write every day to ease my anger and frustration. I write every day to make sense of things that can’t make sense.
 
For weeks and months the world has been screaming for a ceasefire. Only the US stood up to them.…

Feb 24, 2024

We are a small group of people but we put out a lot of light - 2/24/24

by Janet Hammer

Writing this blog  has become an essential part of my daily exercise routine. I am working hard at word smithing. And just like muscle memory, the more I exercise communicating the easier it is to have the right words easily accessible when I need to speak up. Over these weeks I am starting…

Feb 23, 2024

Math and the Moral Compass: Always on Target? - 2/23/24

by Janet Hammer

Did you get your math right?
 
Creative math used by Hamas and cease fire negotiators changes the biblical paradigm of an eye for an eye. The ancient equation of parity, of human lives being equal, is upended by the ratio of 1 to 30, as reported in the Wall Street Journal 2/22/24. 
 
…

Feb 22, 2024

Putting out small fires - 2-22-24

by Janet Hammer

My friend Judy asks great questions. Should we be focused on all the small things that keep happening in our community? Are we missing the point when focus on being hyper-alert to local  threats? Can it make a difference if we are vigilant and speak out against antisemitism and anti Israel …

Feb 21, 2024

More Thoughts on Time: Jewish Time, Biblical Time - 2-21-24

by Janet Hammer

Yesterday I wrote about seeing time in a Jewish way. I realized I only scratched the surface of the idea, mentioning for one the general who described the current situation as “Biblical.” Traditional Judaism doesn’t have a problem with seeing things in a biblical perspective. It’s …

Feb 20, 2024

Understanding Time Jewish Style - 2-20-24

by Janet Hammer

This morning Sam and I started to talk about how long the war has been going on, how long the hostages have been in captivity and  how Oct 7th was almost 140 days ago. All measurements of time. But time was been confounding for me since Oct 7th. Has it been only hours that became days and t…

Feb 19, 2024

The Cosplay Enemy - 2/19/24

by Janet Hammer

Read it and weep. 
 
Better yet wipe your tears and see the situation clearly for what it is.
 
The terrorist cowards are playing hide and seek in costume! What creative cosplay they engage in. Or rather, what a destructive game. One day it’s a serial killer on an Israeli highway di…

Feb 18, 2024

OK You Made Me Cry - 2/18/24

by Janet Hammer

OK you made me cry.
 
My tears are not of sadness or despair. These are tears because I recognize the truth that children can express. My tears are also deeply personal because they remind me of a searing trauma that affected my own life. 
 
Please watch this amazing video, which was …

Feb 17, 2024

A “Progressive” Encounter - 2/17/24

by Janet Hammer

When I was in Israel everyone told me I am the one with the hardest job. 
 
They explained….
 
In Israel we know we are dealing with this enemy. 
 
In the US people do not realize a ceasefire and “peace” mean totally different things when one is dealing with jihadists. 
 …

Feb 15, 2024

An Evil City Council Proposal - 2/15/24

by Janet Hammer

At our S Petersburg city council there will be a proposal today to OK a proposition for “peace in ‘Palestine’ and Israel.” It is one of about 70 (so far) resolutions from local governments meant to pressure the Biden Administration into further pressuring Israel for a ceasefire.
 
…

Feb 14, 2024

You And I Can’t Talk? - 2/14/24

by Janet Hammer

That’s OK.
 
You’re stupid as I thought
 
 
 
You reached out to me again for the second time.
 
How’ve you been old friend? It seems like a million years. 
 
 
 
No. It’s been five months. 
 
 
 
Oh I guess I forgot. I wrote to you 
 
on October 8. …

Feb 11, 2024

Feeling Proud and Empowered to Do More - 2/11/24

by Janet Hammer

Today is Day 128
 
My phone is lit up with warnings about Rafah. US media is warning the ‘world’ as seriously as serious can be about Israel’s persistence and tsk tsk “audacity” to continue operations in Rafah. 
 
Really?!
 
What choice does Israel have? 
 
As I read …

Feb 10, 2024

Optimism and Disproportionate Concern - 2/10/24

by Janet Hammer

I feel overwhelming optimism about Israel, something I’ve mentioned in previous posts, and which I will continue to discuss in this ongoing account. Yet when I explain Israel and my optimism for our future, my comments are clouded by doubt. Not my doubt. It’s a doubt that has been plante…

Feb 9, 2024

Keep It Personal. Because I Take It Personally! - 2/9/24

by Janet Hammer

Keep it personal. Three words that mean a lot.
 
I continue to try to share my personal experiences and observations as the war continues into its fifth month and the traumas do not end. These months have been incredible. It’s hard to communicate how bad they’ve felt for me. On Octobe…