Bloomhousing Blog

Gardening in Modiin

Now the elections are over, Pesach will soon be upon us and the smell of spring is in the air, its time to wander around the beautiful neighbourhoods of Modiin and enjoy the wonderful  array of beautiful gardens. Modiin home owners seem to take a special pride in their gardens.

It is so wonderful to see such beauty and that was one of the main reasons that I decided to live in Modiin. I spend much of my spare time reading BBC's gardener's world magazines, and dreaming and planning how my garden will eventually develop. For those of you that prefer expert help in creating a special garden, then Jonathan Ya'akobi would probably be your perfect choice. He is listed here on my professional listing page. The picture on the right is an example of his work, and I hope to be posting many pictures of his gardens, so that people from all over the world can enjoy a little of the Modiin gardening experience.

Well its Friday morning, and the clocks have moved forward an hour, so Israel has slept one hour less, and I am going to have my breakfast, sitting in my cosy Modiin garden shaded by our beautiful lemon tree.

Its been a long drawn out week, and last night a murderous terrorist hitched a lift and blew himself up killing four innocent people. That is the life in Israel, that is the price we pay for living in our land.

Lets hope that the singing of birds,  the fragrance of citrus blossom and the dancing of leaves in the breeze of an Israeli spring morning  will spent the thoughts and hatred of those wicked people that have forgotten that peace and dialogue is the only possible way to making our region prosperous, where  people of of all creeds can live together in harmonious unison and contentment.  

Netanyahu

Politics is a dirty game, and many of the major successes of the last Knesset are quickly forgotten or misunderstood because of the red herrings spread by other parties or political rivals. Since Ariel Sharon's term as prime minister, Israel's economy has turned from almost total disaster, to a dynamic  and  thriving one. Tourists are returning, due to the fact that there is a better feeling of  security. Israel's foreign policy has achieved incredible breakthroughs, and most of the world's leaders are on Israel's side.

Lets talk about economics. Binyamin Netanyahu was the catalyst that caused Israel's desperate economy to revert back to a prosperous one. Silvan Shalom was the minister of finance before Netanyahu, and he left office leaving Israel's economy in ashattered almost total loss condition. Netanyahu had to make difficult and unpopular decisions that would lead him into political wilderness, hated by the poor, and used as a scapegoat by the less gifted politicians looking to gain their political fame. I heard Avram Poraz from Shinui party talk on Israel morning TV today, and he himself said that Netanyahu was brave and courageous, and Israeli's have a lot to thank him for saving Israel's economy.

So Binyamin Netanyahu may not be popular with the voters, but I personally want to thank him for what he has achieved for Israel, and I hope that now his party is in opposition, the greedy hands of Peretz, Ishay and Eitan, the leaders of the Labor, Shas and the pensioner party will not milk our healthy growing economy. It may well be that when the next elections comes round,  voters will pray for the skills that Netanyahu has so greatly and heroically shown, but who knows if there will be anybody able to rise to such a mighty challenge.

 

Israel Estate Agent

Need an Israeli real estate agent?

WWW.BLOOMHOUSING.COM

or contact Michael Bloom at michael@bloomhousing.com

 

Israeli Elections - A Zionists Dream

Once I had a dream, that one day I would live in the land of Israel as one of her citizens.

My Dream came true.

Once I had a dream, that belonging to  Israel, I would serve in her army.

My dream came true.

Once I had a dream, that I would get married in my homeland of Israel.

My dream came true.

Once I had a dream, that my family would multiply and my children would be sabras of the land.

I am the father of two young sabras.

Once I had a dream, that on Israeli election day, I would be there to vote.

Today, for the fifth time, I fulfilled my dream

Once I had a dream, that living in Israel, its citizens would be united and respect each other, and Israel would have peaceful neighbours.

Today, I shall pray.

Israel Election Day

Tomorrow at 7.00 am Israelis begins to vote. We seem a nation in which each citizen seems to think he is the greatest expert in the world in his knowledge of Israeli politics. We seem to forget that Israel is a democracy, and that not only does every Israeli citizen have a right to vote, but political parties have  the freedom to present their political opinions. It is sad that many use religion as a way to threaten their voters that if they don't vote for a religious party, they will go to hell or similar, or cursing non religious politicians, and explaining why Ariel Sharon is in a coma. It is terrible that the labour party's leader, Amir Peretz, is using Yizhak Rabin's death as an excuse to attack the Kadima party. It is shocking that a young man should die by climbing an electric pylon to take a Likud banner down, as if by his fatal deed he could have helped the labour party to more votes. Israel is still in its infancy as a state, and only because her wonderful  children have had to grow up and become mighty warriors, Rabin, Sharon, Netanyahu and Ehud Barak are just a tiny example, many thousands are sadly resting in military cemeteries, that we have managed to survive and exist as a legitimate state. Those great heroes of Israel, many religious, many secular, thousands of new immigrants, Ashkenazim and Sephardi, all from diverse backgrounds, each with their own motivations, all these amazing people together, have fought mighty battles, and many sacrificing their lives, so that we can walk proudly  vote for our next Knesset. One can criticize these peoples actions, and we must debate about their actions, and question their decisions, that is the essence of a just democratic society, but how can anybody dare to question our leaders love and patriotism of their country. If Israel is not united, and its factions do not dialogue with each other, and respect each other, we will head for disaster, a country at arms with its own people. The Likud party is an example of how a united party lost the respect of its own leaders, and by the wild actions of its members, the Likud party may well end up as Israel's fourth political party and  soon become irrelevant in Israeli politics. Shinui too, by the actions of its ambitious members, completely destroyed itself. Shas on the other hand has remained united, and will probably do well tomorrow.

So lets hope that the Israeli voters come out in their millions to celebrate Israel's election day, and that Israel's citizens will show that they are not only fierce warriors, but a people with the strength and understanding to respect and listen to each other, and vote so that the best possible politicians will get elected, and Israel will be capable of coping with the tremendous challenges that are looming ahead.

Michael Bloom

Israel's Top Dog Training Site

If you are interested in anything about dog training in Israel, go to:

WWW.DOGILUF.COM

Hashmonaim Real Estate

If you are interested in buying or selling properties in Hashmonaim, please contact michael@bloomhousing.com 

Islamic Terrorist Stopped on Tel Aviv - Jerusalem Highway

Another attempt by religous Muslim fanatics to blow up and murder innocent civilians in Israel. I hope that one day G-d will punish those wicked and abominable low down fiends that mistakenly believe that by such outrageous actions they can unsettle the Israeli way of life . The Israeli people are far stronger than Islamic violent fury, and they will stand firm, determined that the  nasty deeds of these evil terrorists will only increase the Israeli people's steadfast will to remain, multiply and flourish in the land of Israel.

MB

Chicken soup without chicken recipe

See the recipe at:

http://www.bloomhousing.com/myisrael/forums/219/ShowPost.aspx

Dog Training in Israel at Dogiluf.com

I am continually astounded by the way so many people do not see how important it is to educate their dogs. Some dogs live to more than sixteen years old. That's a long time to live with a companion that jumps and growls, or pulls and howls. There are so many problems that can be solved so easily with little effort and not too much expense. A dog training course in Israel costs probably less than one months toddler education, and yet many chose not to invest in something  which  helps so much. Some are against training because they believe it ruins the dogs personality. This is definitely not true if the training is fun and not cruel. Dogs and their owners really enjoy the lessons, and if for some reason a lesson is cancelled they and their owners are often extremely disappointed. Sometimes a few private lessons are needed to solve difficult problems, once again parents would not hesitate to send their children to numerous after school activities and private lessons, and yet to calm a mischievous and problematic dog they  often chose not to invest in a few lessons, and either suffer the problems or throw the dogs into animal rescue shelters. This could be put down to the  numerous dog trainers in Israel looking for quick profits by  offering so many "dog trainer" courses. The Israeli market has been  flooded by hundreds of so called, very inexperienced dog trainers that present themselves as  "professional trainers" and " experts in dog behavior ". This has caused many to lose faith in this special profession, and has damaged the reputation of the truly professional trainers and behaviorists. Owning a dog is a tremendous responsibility, and is not to be taken lightly. I can only hope that those who read this blog and own a dog will contact http://www.dogiluf.com/indexeng.htm and join in our venture of helping dogs and their owners to be rewarded with many happy and enjoyable years together.

Israel Dog Training Site - www.dogiluf.com

If you are interested in anything to do with dogs and Israel, you may well be advised to visit www.dogiluf.com . This site offers different solutions to training your dogs and solving behavioral problems. Great pictures and testimonials, make this a "must visit" site. Dogiluf is written in both English and Hebrew and has many exceptional links about dogs that will keep you busy internetting for many hours.  Dogiluf also offers dog training classes in many parts of Israel.

Happy Purim

WWW.DOGILUF.COM

Brand new site about training dogs and solving behavioral problems.

Every Dog Owner should Visit.

http://www.dogiluf.com/indexeng.htm

Dog Training in Israel

WWW.DOGILUF.COM

Brand new site about dog training in Israel. This site is both in English and Hebrew.

http://www.dogiluf.com/indexeng.htm 

Religious Hatred

We live in a very sad world. Someone writes silly cartoons, and most of the Muslim world is rioting and threatening death to anybody not Muslim. Jews have their own fanatics, but rarely have I seen that they have used violence to spread their religious beliefs. The Christians must never forget the terrible  atrocities committed during the crusader period for example. If I mention that religion can be the core of terrible hatred and violence, I will probably be marked as left wing, radical, atheist, pacifist or idiot. That's the way fanatics put labels on people. Always looking for reasons to justify more hatred and violence. Many wicked  people just take advantage and use religion as a way of inciting others to act violently, even though it is dubious if these people have any religious beliefs at all. Most religious people in all religions if they have respect for other religions are great people, and can offer tremendous warmth and hope to the difficulties and tremendous demands the human race has to continuously cope with. It is in the wake of so much hatred on our planet, that I am not surprised but saddened by the reactions to what happened at the Church in Nazareth last Friday. The people who attacked the church that evening, had no religious hatred in their motivation. These were people were under stress that their baby would be taken away by social workers. Two out of the three were Christians anyway, which destroys the arguments of all those wicked politicians that believed they had finally found enough reason to incite racial and religious animosity. I have lived in Israel for the past 20 years, and I have never heard even once any Jew speaking derogatorily about other religions. In fact it is in England where I have come across antisemitism both from Christians and Muslims. I have heard many racial and antisemitic statements made by Arabs in Hyde Park corner, and have heard from many Christian friends, that at their village churches, the clergy had spoken very negatively (to say the least) about Jews. Jews in Israel, except for a fanatical and outcast few, have always respected other religions, and those that visit Israel know this is true. There is terrible antagonism between Israel and its Palestinian neighbours, but I can also honestly say that hatred from the Jewish side is rare, the Israeli people pray and hope for the day when they can shake the hands of their neighbours, and not have to raise the mighty sword to daily defend their existence. The Hamas on the other hand has mostly used religion as a fuel to incite hatred and to recruit suicide bombers, willing to die in the name of Islam. In Israel I am worried that fanatic religious Jews are using the past confrontations in Amona and the disengagement in Gaza to induce a feeling of hatred between secular and religious Jews, which if the fire is allowed to spread could cause a terrible and frightening civil war in Israel, not only bringing disaster to the Jewish people, about it would be allowing one of the ultimate goals of the Hamas to be achieved.

If we are looking for a better and more promising world, we must learn to be calm and talk and listen to each other, every nation and religion should show respect for each other, and yet fight without remorse or rest, against those who are trying so desperately to spread violence and hatred.

I hope in Israel,  leaders from all religions, political parties and backgrounds will immediately cease their wicked and cynical parley used to incite others in order to gain political momentum, and finally light the fire of dialogue which I hope will bring peace and prosperity to our region, which would be a wonderful example of sanity  that could be copied and used by the whole world .

Michael Bloom  

Yoav Yitzhak's Motives

I wonder why Yoav Yitzhak is so desperate to find sensations about Ehud Olmert. After all Mr. Olmert has been a public figure for such a long time. This unceasing hunt for headlines seems to reek of ominous ends. Is it publicity he is looking for?: or could it be that he is trying to change the opinions of the electorate by spreading inconclusive accusations against the acting prime minister. I believe that the Israeli electorate is wise, and that each citizen will vote for the party that he/she believes will have the best solutions for their particular beliefs. I personally am interested in what each party's mandate is, who are their personalities, and if I believe my vote will have an influence to the future of Israel. I want to vote for a party that can keep us secure against our maniacal neighbours, a party that knows how to deal with world leaders, that will improve our education system, make the correct decisions to improve our economy, to make some real and affective decisions to reduce the carnage on our roads and to know how to diffuse the hatred that has brought the Israeli people to the brink of civil war. I do not want to hear the politicians throw mud at each other, nor do I want dangerous journalists to spread vile rumours in order to gain publicity at the cost of ruining the democratic process. I read many forums, and there is so much hatred about, that I pray that  the post election era will bring a different attitude to our nation, and that we shall stand proud fierce and united against our enemies, and calm and open minded between our own people that the vapours of hatred will turn to handshakes and respect, each individual to their own beliefs. 

Michael Bloom