When we did our filming in Israel we filmed a music segment on Masada, in light of current events I thought I would publish this on our blog I wrote this as a close to the segment but because of time we were not able to film this closing, here is the written copy.
Never Again
It is very fitting that we end our discovery of Israel at this place called Masada.
This was the scene where the state of Israel came to an end for a period of 1900 years. Now we stand on this rock with the acknowledgment that Israel is now reborn and is a very young country with a very old history.
Masada is where Israeli soldiers have given their oath of “Never Again.” It is also a national symbol to the people of Israel of the cost of freedom. 960 men women and children held back the powerful Roman army for three years.
Elizar Ben Yair said to his followers the night before the final invasion, “we have within our power to die bravely in a state of freedom.” These amazing people chose to commit and act of self sacrifice depriving there enemies of a sure victory they chose death over slavery for the men and prostitution for the women.
The symbol is clear upon this rock we will choose to pay a high price for freedom. We are surrounded by our enemies but they cannot take away God’s most precious gift the gift of freedom…
I have traveled this country from one end to the other and I have asked the question to myself — what is it that makes this land and this people so unique?
The answer: it’s all to do with a promise of freedom. It is the idea that one day from around the world a people would be called home. Called to a place surrounded by enemies but like the psalmist David put it , even thou I walk through the shadow of death I will fear no Evil for you are with me.
I asked one of my close friends to put write a song as a gift from North America to Israel, the song Colin Wiebe wrote works for all mankind but it is extremely relevant for Israel… it is called Never Again…
This to me sums up the attitude and the spirit of the Israeli people. I would rather die than give up our land and our freedom…and we stand on the Rock of God’s promises and embrace our freedom for all eternity.
And I will choose not to live in fear but I will live with dignity and with great anticipation for the future. I am Israeli… I am Israel.
Prime Minister Netenyahu makes a fantastic speech. It is long, but well worth watching all the way through.
This morning I stumbled upon a list of 7 solar technologies, that were developed in Israel and that have the potential to change the world we live in today in a massive way.
I think this may originally have been published on Israel21c.org but I have not been able to locate it there.
The Israeli companies that have developed each of these technologies are definitely going to be attracting the attention of some large investors, as perusing this list, you can definitely see that there is potential for making a significant impact on world dependence on fossil fuels.
Lauren Kramer wrote this wonderful review of The Original Promise on Canada’s Israel.
Doug Kooy is a Canadian filmmaker who believes Canadians need to know the real story of life in Israel, not the story of war, bombs and fighting that the media portrays. He made it his business to try and tell that story of everyday life, spending $800,000 to produce The Original Promise, a documentary that premiered in March 2009.
Since the demographics of Israel are young, Kooy knew he needed to partner with someone from the younger generation, preferably someone Jewish who was coming to terms with their religious identity. He found that partner in Farrah Aviva, 25, a Jewish actress from Kelowna, BC with bright eyes and a spirit open to adventure and exploration.
It was an uncommon partnership; Kooy, 62, a preacher’s son and Aviva, a fashion designer-turned-actress whose high school friends had called her “Jew.” The two traveled to the Holy Land for 21 days in 2008, without accepting sponsorship from anyone. They interviewed some 12 citizens of the country, including a rabbi, an inventor, several entrepreneurs, a comedian, a mayor and a hip hop artist. The Original Promise is a series of interviews with these people, offering their perspectives on Israel and snapshots of daily life. It’s a compelling 125 minutes of screen time, that’s for sure.
“This is the Israel that’s not being reported in the media,” Kooy says earnestly. “In North America we say we support Israel, but what do we really know about it? It’s so politically charged the way it’s portrayed in the newspaper.”
While spending time in Israel, Kooy was struck by the values Israelis share with Canadians, particularly the country’s democratic nature, its women’s rights and its freedom of religion. “We heard a Jewish cantor singing on the Mount of Olives while Muslims were observing Ramadan and Christians were praying nearby,” he recalls. “That’s not something you’d ever see in Iraq.”
While he admits there’s no such thing as an unbiased documentary, Kooy and Aviva tried their utmost to stay away from hot political issues. “We didn’t want to get into the Palestinian question,” Kooy admits. “But I felt someone non-Jewish needed to take a stand for Israel. In spite of what the world thinks, Israel is making huge contributions in science, medicine and high tech. Why is that not being mentioned?”