Positive steps and warming the heart

On December 31, after Israel released Palesinian prisoners, BBC reported , "U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the prisoner release was a 'positive step forward'".
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/31/us-palestinians-israel-idUSBRE9BU00J20131231


Fast forward to February 13. Below is an excerpt from a BBC article.


Sixty-five detainees have been released from Afghanistan's high security Bagram detention centre, a move condemned by the US as "deeply regrettable".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26166949


Speaking of double standards, click here to read about Israel's attitude towards free speech.

The New York Times apparently feels being Jewish means eating lox as evidenced by the title of an article about a Jewish dating site, "Laying the Lox on Thick, a Dating Site Focuses on Jewish Humor."


AMONG married Jews, the intermarriage rate of those wed since 2000 is 58 percent, well above the rate of those wed before 1970, when just 17 percent tied the knot with non-Jews, according to a 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. Now the Jewish dating website JDate is introducing an advertising campaign that hopes to help buck the trend, with ads that may strike a chord with Jews but leave others scratching their heads.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/business/media/laying-the-lox-on-thick-a-dating-site-focuses-on-jewish-humor.html?_r=0


A giant message in the snow from a teenage boy to his sick mom is warming hearts across the country.
Will Hart, 14, wrote, "Hi Mom, God bless you" on top of a Chicago medical center's parking garage.
Read more and see the message over here.


Finally, I received a message from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation which I thought I would share with those inconvenienced by the snow.

As we prepare for the coming snow, I want to take this opportunity to point out, that while we will be presented with challenges (parking, ice, dismissal, cancellations, etc.) that are inherent with storms like this, let's remember to be patient and understanding with each other.

Some drivers  will drive or park carelessly, people will be late, tempers will flare, and unfortunately, things can be said and done that are normally unlike us. 

 
Let me assure you - the snow will melt, our lives will quickly return to normal and this storm will be forgotten.
 
But a word, action, or even a gesture, will be remembered long after by your friends and neighbors.