Daily Archives: 06/18/2010

(Community Matters) Steven and I were to join Dana Friis-Hansen (AMOA ED) and Mark Holzbach for dinner last night, starting off with a private tour at the Austin Museum of Art.  Have to admit, I was exhausted after a day interviewing candidates for the PeopleFund pres/ceo job and with still lingering jet lag tricking my body into thinking it’s 8 hours later.  Plus Mark wasn’t feeling so well.

So, instead of dinner, Dana gave me & Steven a tour of the Chris Jordan exhibit.  “His work explores the phenomenon of American consumerism.” Steven loved it; I liked it.  We recommend it.

The more I think about it, the more I liked it.  I was just too tired last night to really get into the exhibit.  Think I’ll return.

Chris Jordan website

(Community Matters) Of course, it’s all in the details but I believe easing the blockade is in Israeli’s and Gazan’s best interest – story here

Absolutely there must be strict international monitoring against the import of weapons and fortifying of structures  to defend those who would launch missile strikes from Gaza to northern Israel.

12/08 crater from a Hamas fired missile into Israel (about 23 miles outside Gaza)

(Community Matters) reading this article about Ultra-Orthodox Israeli protests reminds me I intended to write more about my observations and any conclusions from my travel through Israel.

I don’t have a perspective on this particular issue.  What I’ve heard and experienced more broadly which might share insight: 1) there is a social hierarchy subscribed to by some Israelis which places the Ashkenazi ahead of the Sephardic.  And, 2) tensions between the deeply religious and secular Israelis continue to rise.

Because the deeply religious (ultra-orthodox) men do not work – they spend all day studying the Torah, – they don’t have much income (only that of their wives, mostly in low paying jobs) and don’t pay taxes. As (I’m told) most deeply-religious families have heaps of kids (I kept hearing 6, 9, 10, even 15 children each family), the State of Israel subsidizes these families. And, while this segment of Israeli society is the most politically conservative, often advocating military action, their children are exempt from compulsory military service. This isn’t a sustainable situation from perspective of domestic politics.

(Community Matters) such an evolution, such an incredibly gifted man