Let me quickly rip on Chabad. I tried to learn with a Chabad fellow here in the Chabad house of West Hartford. The rabbi here has impeccable credentials and I have attended prayers, so I figured I'd learn a bit. Well, after being schooled in Religious-Zionism, which is modern Orthodoxy's ideological wing, I can no longer respect ultra-Orthodox Jews in the way that I used to. As great as it is that someone with years in yeshiva can remember which commentators are connected to which sources, the theological foundation that has been the thrust of Jewish learning since the destruction of the 2nd Temple cannot be cast aside by a belief in the holiness of the Rebbe's interpretations. His interpretations are an opinion of one sub-sect of the ultra-Orthodox world, a world which has, in the past 100 years, created a warped version of 19th century Eastern European shtetl life and has built a Jewish philosophy that denies modern-day Israel. It is no wonder to me why the 5 million Israeli Jews who don't wear black hats dislike, or even hate, the half a million Israeli Jews who do. The ultra-orthodox are aggressively propogating an anti-Zionist message and undermining the State. This is all premised on the misguided belief that Moshiach will come and take care of everything as long as they pray hard enough, and nothing else matters. Prayer gives strength and Torah learning allows us to understand the ways of the world. But these two practices don't directly cause Moshiach's coming. What they do directly affect is our ability as Jews to build a successful 3rd state, a 3rd Temple and a society based on Torah law. That's the whole f*#%-ing point of Judaism. I can't learn Torah with someone who doesn't accept 2,000 years of Orthodox Jewish scholarship, but does enjoy cute feel-good sayings by cult-like leaders. Yes, we all like Chassidut, but it's not a substitute for the fundamentals of Judaism.

Jews have to realize that we have the power to change things because we can act in the Land of Israel like no one else can. In Eretz Israel, we have amazing powers. The world obsesses over us because they know that we are the vanguard. One positive act in Israel revertebrates around the world with greater effect than if it had been performed anywhere else. A negative act can have the same disproportionate effect. If being an intelligent observer of current events isn't enough to convince one of that, refer to the Bible. This is why it is imperative for Jews to build the kind of government and society in Israel that the Torah demands. And pretending like it's 19th century Poland, while scamming money off the government and dodging the draft is not helping in achieving that goal. I don't understand how people can read the sacred texts, pervert their meaning and then get away with presenting themselves as Torah-true Jews. These people are an embarrassment to Israel. And their fellow black-hatters in the Diaspora... well, it's clear what I feel, so I can stop writing.

After some quality time on the beaches of Long Island Sound, I am ready for the sights and sounds of NYC, my former home. Is there any place like it?

With the "war" being "over" the IDF is gearing up for a bigger conflict to come. Congratulations Olmert and your group of special friends. You sucked up to the French and their sleazy partners ("partners" indeed) and you have gained nothing diplomatically or security-wise for Israel. You did allow Netanyahu to get some quality appearances and to start to rebuild the strength and confidence of the Right. For that, all Israelis should be thankful. Now, demented socialist policies are even less likely to be implemented and not even those on the fence will allow Avoda (Israel's main left-wing party) to wreck the economy. However, you did mismanage the war, you tied the hands of the IDF at every turn, and you sacrificed 120 soldiers for a meaningless ceasefire. But there's more afoot than that.

There is serious upheaval in the IDF, as the reservists cite the unpreparedness, the confusion about how to use the reserve units in battle, and the mismanagement of the refresher courses. Everything is being dealt with as a result of the scuffle with Hizbollah. Meanwhile, the politicians are trying to stay low, hoping the people don't notice who the real criminals are. The Israeli voter may have been swayed in the past by the left-wing media and by illogical populist rhetoric, but a war reminds those with common sense that they should use reason and logic when they vote. And not the kind of crypto-Marxist, internationalist hogwash propogated by the looney leftist elites. Rather, voters will choose the view points of the nationalist and religious-nationalist leaders, for whom Zionism and basic Jewish patriotism are core values. Of course, Likud, Israel Beiteinu, and Mafdal-National Union have to unite and stop splitting up the solid right-wing majority with ther incessant bickering.

The chattering classes scorn the very ideas that built Israel, that are continuing to build it and that work day and night to keep Israel secure and strong. The post-modern, nihilistic, pleasure-oriented emotional ride that characterizes the trendy fools of today's empty secularism has completely missed the essence of what is actually going on in Israel and the world at large.

There's a struggle between Judeo-Christian values and Islamic values. Secularists and atheists, as well-meaning as they are, can only disrupt the West's efforts. There are still plenty of Westerners who know that our way is right, and Ahmadinejad and company are wrong. If only we can push the the weakening forces aside, the West will contain and diminish the enemy, and we will continue to lead the world. But due to our inner desire for personal pleasure and total denial of that which is meaningful, there is, sadly, a chance that we will fold and Islamofascists will gradually deplete our resources until we fall to our knees. In that eventuality, I will flee to a remote log cabin in the Canadian Rockies and hope that it all blows over.

Cease-fire. There are some skirmishes but it seems to be holding thus far. Of course, the root issues of the conflict between Hizbollah and Israel have not been resolved. Syria and Iran have been left unpunished for their ongoing support for Hizbollah, and Hizbollah is as insistent on its ultimate goal of destroying Israel as ever before. In a day, a week, a month, a year the conflict will resume. I doubt Olmert's government will hold together for very long after the internal politics start dissecting the aftermath of this past month.

On a personal note, I will be starting my job in October. There's 95% certainty of this, I just have one little bit of paperwork to do when I get back, and it will be settled. Public relations. Baruch Hashem.

In the past week, I've spent lots of time with family and friends, including a wonderful wedding on Saturday night. Unfortunately, I can only enjoy myself when I compartmentalize reality. Because for me the reality is that my Jewish brothers are falling in combat. I am in deep pain. But there's little that can be done to alter the reality of having a large, well-armed, well-trained enemy force, supported by Syria and Iran, fighting for the destruction of Israel. They have their goals and they have clearly stated them over the years. "The Zionist entity will be destroyed." This is their call, their belief and they are not backing down. They brought the war to us and now we have to defend ourselves.

I can only enjoy being with friends and family when I set aside the reality of life in Israel. My heart and soul are there, and I can't wait to get back. My prayers don't have the same effect here as they do in Israel. In Israel, I am closer to the source. The essence of Jewish belief places Israel in the center of all observance and prayer.

Most Jews in the US don't care. They live in denial of Israel's spiritual power. And if they do care and do realize what Israel means to Judaism as a religion and to the Jews as a people, then they are unwilling to put the proverbial money where their mouth is. I know that not all Jews are supposed to come back to Israel. Many are meant to remain in the Diaspora, where they will either assimilate or give birth to children who will do what their parents couldn't. But I cannot be happy or content with their lack of desire, lack of Zionism. Without Zionism, Judaism is an empty shell, with empty rituals. I try to practice Ahavat Israel - the love of all Jews, but I know deep inside that I may never master this one trait. Other believing Jews, who can understand the significance of every Jew, will have to pick up Ahavat Israel one extra notch to make up for the likes of me. But I can never look at the unfair distribution of Jewish responsibility and say that there's a purpose to it. The hardcore Zionists win the argument in my mind.

I may make nasty comments about left-wingers in Israel, but they are closer to me and to my spirituality than the most learned Orthodox in the US. The secular, tatooed, left-wing Tel-Aviv club-goer is my dearest brother. The fully observant, Torah-knowledgable American Jew is a distant cousin, on a low spiritual level. When a secular Israeli tells me that he doesn't need to observe Shabbat because he lives in Israel and that's enough of an expression of his Judaism, I cannot say that he is completely wrong. The greatest Brooklyn rebbe cannot be compared to the secular kibbutznik who risks his life for Israel. I believe this absolutely.

You have all read about Israel's war with Hizbollah, no need to rehash. 10 reservists were killed today by a rocket strike, z"l, a heavy blow for the IDF. I have made a lot of harsh statements about the Israeli government in this blog, blaming them for not running the war properly. I still feel that they need to stand up to the UN and to the US by doing whatever it is that will make Israel safe. The only people who know how to do that are IDF generals. The politicians should just lay low and let the military obliterate the enemy without sending out mixed messages. Every time an Israeli politician says "ceasefire" or "international peacekeeping force," they are undermining IDF morale. The IDF is revved up and ready to win, and if only they would be left out of the political bickering, win they shall. But I fear that politics will constrain the IDF, as has been the case for the past three weeks. Who really knows what is at stake in the back rooms of international diplomacy?

In my own little world - I got new running shoes, Nike Huaraches. A bit retro, but they are light and feel great. It's neutral shoe, which means that it doesn't have any support for someone with overpronating issues. Turns out that my feet don't pronate, but they do supinate moderately. They don't make shoes that help supinators, so I am best served with a shoe that is neutral and doesn't have any variances in its construction. I ran for three weeks, took a week off (which is recommended in the beginning of a program), and now I am back on track.

I don't have a set system of running, I just do whatever I feel like doing, three times a week. I have found that I like to do one long run, one fartlek run and one sprint session. I precede each session with a 10 minute jog and 10 minutes of stretching to warm up. The long run session is, as of now, 2.5-3 miles. I intend to build it up to 6 miles. This run is basically to condition your lower legs and to develop an endurance foundation by getting your body used to the build-up of lactic acid. It should be done at a comfortable pace. The fartlek run - "fartlek" means speedplay in Finnish and is a continuous run where you alternate jogging with higher speed portions. How often you speed up, for how long, and to what velocity is up to you. This alternation of slow and fast confuses your cardiorespiratory system, and this shock causes the body to adapt by improving stamina. The sprint session is generally a series of 400s with a minute and a half rest in between. This type of workout builds the ability to maintain a decent level of speed over longer distances. Of course "sprinting" for 400 meters is not actually sprinting, it's more like a 80% effort run.

In order to get faster, I need to also cut some fat. Apparently, assuming stamina and speed parameters remain constant, every pound equals 2 extra seconds in one's mile pace. My momma's cooking is good, that's one of the key advantages of visiting home, but I have to cut back so I could become the speedster I was meant to be. Muscle mass is also a hinderance. I used to lift in my glory days, and although I haven't touched a weight since April 2005, I am still carrying too much muscle for my frame. My pectorals, as anyone who knows me can attest, are freakishly strong. Maybe not like they used to be when I benched 225 lbs for 7 reps, but still too big. My latissimus dorsi are also oversized - I used to do nearly the entire stack on the lat pull and the seated cable row. According to the exercise physiologists, for someone with my impressive height of 5 feet 7.5 inches, I have to weigh about 135 lbs if I want to be the best runner I can be in the 1 to 2 mile distances. I am currently 149 lbs, so if I could get to 145 by Labor Day, I would be happy as a clam. Which, by the way, is not kosher.

Of course, I don't intend toget down to 135 lbs. Becoming that light would mean getting rid of too much upper body muscle mass. If I could do a 5:30 mile and a 20:00 5km by about November, I'd be totally satisfied. Considering how fat and out of shape your average Ameircan male is, I'd be a rare specimen if I could run at those speeds. But I want to be an OK runner, not a serious one. After all, serious runners are too scrawny-looking. Speaking of your average American male aged 18-35, he is 5'9.5", weighs 180 lbs, and has 25% bodyfat. That means the lean body mass is just 135 lbs, so an ideal weight would be 150 lbs, which would mean 10% bodyfat. Clearly the average male needs to lose 30 lbs of fat and put on some muscle. There is lots of variation off the mean, but these are telling statistics nonetheless. People need to get their body fat checked and start running and doing calisthenics. Fitness clubs are a total waste of money. Heed my advice people.

As is evident to anyone paying attention, the IDF operations in Lebanon are expanding on a daily basis. There are now over 10,000 troops on the other side of the border, and more and more villages are being cleared of Hizbollah. 36 IDF soldiers have now lost their lives battling the enemies of the Jewish State, z"l, but great progress has been made. A daring special forces raid deep into Northeastern Lebanon yielded 10 dead and 5 captured Hizbollah operatives. Hopefully, the information gleaned from these prisoners can be useful in battling our wily enemy. So far, the IDF estimates 300-400 Hizbollah fighters have been killed. This is a good start, but much more needs to be done.

I am currently on a visit to the US and I find it extremely lonely and depressing to be here. There are many people whom I love, but the place itself, and virtually everyone in it, lives on what might as well be a different planet. Israel is a world that is completely misunderstood by people who get their information from TV and news sties. Israel is a complex, rich life with infinite aspects that no one outside of the Land is privy to. The possibilities for Jewish spiritual growth dwarf every other place on Earth, and the ability to put one's Judaism into action is truly powerful.

The American Jewish community is a spiritually weak, slowly deteriorating population that cannot help but be influenced by the non-Jewish forces that dominate all aspects of American life. Judaism in America is a feel-good hobby that can be practiced to different degrees based on an individual's preferences. That makes Judaism hardly more meaningful that long-term hiking trips and Buddhist meditation. Secular American Jews don't know Torah, so I can only have limited ill-will towards them. But Orthodox American Jews, who learn Torah, who pray regularly, who know what Judaism says about Israel, are consciously avoiding the basic essentials of Jewish belief by continuing to live in New York and Chicago and other places. They hold to the idea that Torah is great no matter where you are and you can lead a Jewish life anywhere. They continue to live under the same philosophy that sustained the Jews BEFORE the reality of Israel's existence. But now, with G-d clearly setting up what He outlines in the Torah as the crucial stage in Jewish life, with the clearly outlined "ingathering of the exiles" taking place before our very eyes, with Israeli Jewry growing by leaps and bounds while Jewry elsewhere is stagnating and decreasing, with physical and spiritual advances happening in Israel that cannot occur in the Diaspora, how can believing Jews still assert that being dispersed is a legitimate way to be Jewish?

Read the Torah, read any commentator who has withstood the test of time, and you will see that Zionism is the essence of Judaism and Judaism is an empty shell without it. Before Israel was a possibility, Zionist thought existed only in prayers and Torah and Talmud classes. Today, Zionism is being realized in both the physical and spiritual reality. The sooner Diaspora Jews wake up and smell the coffee, the quicker will Israel's growth and development be. Israeli Jewry is growing, already at 5.35 million and going strong with high birthrates and a net positive immigration balance. 51% of first and second graders are in religious schools, and soon, Torah-true Jewish life will be the reality for the majority of adult Israelis as well. Secular Zionism is slowly coming together with religious Zionism and Am Israel is only strengthened by the ongoing military situations. You have to be there to believe it. The Israeli economy is growing despite the war, investments are strong, and the stock market is solid. Our enemies cannot destroy Israel in any way.

What about demography? Read www.pademographics.com for how the Arabs have been fooling us with their clever mathematics and to learn about the true demographic picture.

Am Israel is moving forward, and the obstacles do not impede the grand strategic progress. American Jews must wake up and join in, or else they will be relegated to the dustbin of Jewish history.