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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

SUNDAY, MAY 22 BY THE JEWISH CALENDAR WAS LAG B'OMER 5771 AND MARKED DAY 1793 IN THE CAPTIVITY OF GILAD SHALIT.

This traditional Jewish Holiday marking relief from suffering -- which did not mark a day of relief from suffering for Gilad Shalit -- did mark a day of relief for myself; indeed on this day of Lag B'Omer I was discharged from hospital care, having healed adequately to return home after two major surgeries, the first, double-bypass heart surgery, and the second, clot-busting surgery due to a "saddle" embolism.

I marvel at my own good fortune, while I despair and pray for Gilad Shalit. On my birthday two days before Pesach I was admitted to hospital; on the first day of Chol Moed Pesach I underwent a double-bypass operation; less than two weeks later I underwent clot-busting surgery; a week before Lag B'Omer I gained strength to walk prodigiously; on Lag B'Omer I returned home. I "should" have been dead twice; HaShem took me "Between the Straits" on dry land!

May Gilad Shalit be free this Shavuoth!

DAY 1800 IN THE CAPTIVITY OF GILAD SHALIT MARKED ON SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2011;

TODAY IS DAY 1803....

Fifty Israeli's on motorcycles joined the now traditional Memorial Day Weekend Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally in Washington, DC - a rally calling attention to the plight of MIA soldiers - in order to remind the world about the captivity of Israeli MIA Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Arab terrorists in June, 2006. Rally's in Israel and around the world called for Gilad Shalit's release by Hamas.

We, who are free today in the USA this Memorial Day weekend, owe our freedom to many. While we remember American soldiers, who gave the full measure of their devotion in order that we remain free, we owe it to the world to remember that there are many from other nations, who gave that same full measure for the same reason, and that includes the sacrifices of many Israelis, who have given far more than the world knows or recognized for the sake of peace and freedom.