January 17, 2012 | 2:09 pm

A Beautiful Jewish/Israeli Christmas Mitzvah

Posted by LiAmi Lawrence

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“Kol ha olam kulo -gesher tzar meod”- “All the world is a narrow bridge”

Usually I write sarcastic and controversial blogs, today however I will write my first blog of the New Year on a beautiful thing that the Jewish/Israeli community did for the mostly Latino and African American kids of East Los Angeles and Watts. This story deserves to be told and unfortunately because of a serious car accident and resulting injury I couldn’t write about it until now. This is the story of the beautiful Jewish/Israeli Community in Los Angeles that I am proud to be a part of and a story rarely told.

I am the Public Relations Director of Circle of Help Foundation, a non-profit that works with at risk needy teenagers in high schools in some of the poorest neighborhoods of LA. Many of the teenagers we work with come from broken families and have had trouble with drugs, gangs, pregnancy, etc. and our amazing counselors try to turn the lives around by showing them that there is another way.

I know it is hard to believe but many of these teenagers come from such poverty that they go without eating, don’t have enough clothes, or even a dollar in their pocket. Yes, right here in Los Angeles, we have such dire poverty and most of us have no idea.
When I heard from the counselors that these kids will probably not receive anything for Christmas from their families I decided to step in and make Christmas happen.

I organized 3 parties for about 200 teenagers, the first one at the Dorothy Johnson High School in Watts. With the blessings of the Principal Kenyatta Stiger Jr, a caring, fearless man from the neighborhood we gave these kids a party they will never forget.

I started putting out the word via Facebook and calling Israeli friends who have clothing companies for donations. One by one, Israeli friends stepped up to the plate donating thousands of dollars in clothing and merchandise for my teenagers. The Consulate General of Israel-my former employer- donated 200 backpacks that say “You have a friend in Israel” to the cause with Deputy Consul Gil Artzyeli coming to Watts to speak to these teenagers about Israel. The backpacks which were stuffed with new clothes, jewelry, CD’s, notebooks etc were given to these kids who’s happy faces said everything.

This was one a the most beautiful things that I have ever been a part of. The generosity of our community that gave thousands of dollars in merchandise to make Christmas happen for teenagers another world away in East LA and Watts will never be forgotten. In today’s society when most people care only for themselves, “our community” needs to be commended for proving the world is just a narrow bridge.

LiAmi with kids

Principal Stiger with kids

Deputy Consul General Gil Artzyeli talking to the school

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December 4, 2011 | 3:10 pm

Another Israeli PR Fiasco- We Won’t Be Coming Home For Christmas

Posted by LiAmi Lawrence

Earlier this week the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Absorption Ministry pulled the plug on an arrogant, ill –conceived, disgusting and demeaning billboard campaign to bring the estimated 750,000 Israelis living in America home.  The campaign was heavily criticized by American Jewish groups as well as American government officials in Washington.  First off, I am in totally agreement that Israel needs to reach out to their expatriates to get them to return.  However, insulting Americans and American Jews was not the way to do it.

The campaign using billboards in heavily Israeli neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Miami and New York as well as magazine advertisements and YouTube videos in Hebrew, implored Israelis to return to Israel before “aba becomes daddy” and “Chanukah becomes Christmas”.  The arrogance of the Absorption Ministry to put billboards up in a foreign country America, telling Israelis to basically “keep away from American Jews and Americans because your children will assimilate”.  Imagine the State Department putting up billboards in China, Mexico or Nigeria and telling the Americans there not to associate with the people of those countries.  The YouTube video of Israeli grandparents rolling their eyes at the thought of Christmas was downright insulting to every American.

The campaign was lambasted by the ADL and other Jewish leaders and caught the attention of some members of Congress and was featured on CNN.  The $650,000 campaign was the epitome of Israeli arrogance and chutzpah.  The government of Israel quickly disassociated itself from it and blamed the absorption ministry. It is hard to believe that the Foreign Ministry had no knowledge of this campaign. More of the blame game.

The $650,000 could have been better spent on Israeli education, affordable housing for young Israeli families and newly released soldiers than on this fiasco.  Why is everything the Israeli Foreign Ministry touches a PR nightmare?  How incompetent are they?  Having been the Director of Media at the Consulate in Los Angeles I will give no comment, suffice to say that when they are ready to call me to come back to work my agent will tell them “that they can’t afford me”.

Neither myself, or any of my friends after seeing these ads are packing our bags because of these ads so if there is an El Al jet waiting for us, it needs to keep its engines running a bit longer because we won’t be coming home for Christmas.

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September 20, 2011 | 11:39 am

I ain’t no Uncle Tomer

Posted by LiAmi Lawrence

I aint no ” Uncle Tomer” (Jewish equivlent of Uncle Tom)- I as a Jew wont vote for President Obama.  I am or was a liberal Democrat all my life.  I voted for this man and I cried tears of happiness when he was elected.  What a disappointment he turned out to be.  Obama, the inept and uncaring president has made Jimmy Carter look like a genuis.  Not since Jimmy Carter has the Jews turned against a Democratic president in such numbers.

Firstl, this man has spent more than $10 million on vacations while millions of people are unemployed ,losing their houses and don’t have money for the basic things in life like condoms, cigarettes and alcohol. lol   Why is he not vacationing on the unemployment line in a big city,  vacationing at a homeless shelter acting like a leader, a man of the people.  There are so many of us here in Pico-Robertson in the heart of “our communitay”  who are playing with our “matzah balls ” cause we ain’t got a job.  Where is our leader?  I know, we all must be “lazy and shiftless Jews”  cause we all be unemployed. 

Now lets talk about his treatment of Israel.  The man simply doesn’ t care. From the Reverend Wright fiasco, to the mysterious missing tape that the LA Times has of him honoring a Hamas supporter, to the actual reality of his actions as president.  It don’t look to good for us Jews.  His treatment of the Israeli Prme Minister, his statements on Israel.  “But yes, LiAmi, Bibi is a stubborn right winger and is impossible to deal with and Obama help rescue the Israeli diplomats in Cairo last week, when a mob attacked the embassy.”  “YIDDLE PLEASE”

Obama’s policies have created a nightmare for Israel.  Because the strongest world leader doesn’t stand up for Israel we have the mess that is going on in Egypt, Turkey and the UN.  Obama’s moral equivlency of the actions of Israelis to Palestinians is wrong.  Over 80% of the Jewish community voted for him and not since the Titanic has so many people jumped ship.  So now, Obama’s advisors (his Jews -these Uncle Tomer’s)  are telling him he must kiss some “Jewish tuchus”  if he is to get reelected. 

Now lets see Obama kiss some Jewish ass.  He gonna have to kiss ass real good cause many Jewish donors are not coming forward with their “shekels” for this man.  So my question to the rich Jews in our community-yes I am talking to you all the Berg’s ,Witz and Stein’s out there are you gonna be an “Uncle Tomer ”  and donate money to reelect this man or have some pride in yourself and support someone else.  Anyone else! 

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August 2, 2011 | 3:48 pm

Solidarity Tent Protest with the people of Israel in Woodley Park on Sunday

Posted by LiAmi Lawrence

Shalom,
We call upon you, the friends of Israel to join with the Israeli people in a tent protest in Woodley Park.  Be a part of it on Sunday August 7,2011 12pm-6pm at Woodley Park, where we will be joining in solidarity with the protests that have sprung up in Israel in the past two weeks. We want to say to our brothers and sisters protesting in Israel say: “You are not alone”.

Israelis in the hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets across all political spectrums to voice their frustrations towards the government because of the cost of living and the lack of affordable housing in Israel. The focus of these protests have been on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, where tents are now set up across the Boulevard of fancy stores and cafes.

It is important for the more than 200,000 Israelis living in Southern California and their American Jewish friends who support the people of Israel to show solidarity with the suffering Israeli public. We need to stand as one people “Am Echad"and let our voices be heard.

This is a unique opportunity to show the Israeli public that “we care and stand with them” We invite you to come with your family and friends and invite you to express yourself freely by bringing tents, signs, guitars etc.

Please share this message and information with your friends and family and see you Sunday!
LiAmi

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July 27, 2011 | 2:23 pm

Free Jonathan Pollard

Posted by LiAmi Lawrence

This is a very touchy subject for the American Jewish community.  Just the mention of his name is an embarrassing subject.  It envokes the images of dual loyalty and makes makes the tuchus’ of Jews across America very uncomfortable.

Jonathan Pollard is a convicted spy.  This American Jew’s crime was spying for Israel.  Jonathan Pollard despite pleading guilty without a trial, was sentenced to life in prison.  He has spent the last 26 years behind bars in prison.  It’s time he is released.

For everyone involved the case was devastingly embarrassing.  For Israel spying on its closest ally, for American Jews what would the American public say. Would we be accused of dual loyalty?  Banned from certain high level jobs in the government?  Everyone was quick to condemn the man. I was one of those people who thought that they should lock him up and throw away the key.  He gave the Israeli government tens of thousands of classified documents and caused harmful damage to American security interests.

However, I believe that after 26 years which is one of the longest served sentence for convicted spies in recent history, its time to release him.
The Israeli government has bestowed citizenship on him and Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren visited him earlier in the week.  Over 70 Knesset Members have signed a bill urging his release. Many prominent Americans and politicians have also called for his release.  I join the chorus. -LL

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July 19, 2011 | 10:04 am

Fly “Judenfrei” Delta Airlines to Saudi Arabia

Posted by LiAmi Lawrence

A few weeks ago it was announced that Delta Airlines entered into a partnership code sharing agreement with Saudi Arabian Airlines.  By making this choice and entering into this decision, Delta is becoming an enforcer of Saudi Arabian law which bans Israelis and Jews from entering the kingdom unless needed and invited by Royal officials. 

So Delta has become a partner in Judenfrei flights to Saudi Arabia.
NO JEWS ALLOWED! Now how do they know who is Jewish?  I smell gelfite fish here?  Do they look at people’s last names or look for a JEW Face?
Do they make you drop trou?  Do they look for the loud mouths on board?
How do they know who is a bagel eating “member of the tribe”?  I wont take any chance with my “Jewface”.  I just wont fly Delta.

My Yiddles and Yiddletes, if Delta thinks that becoming the Gestapo agents for the Royal family (“America’s best friends”-lol) and becoming a partner in this racist BS then we need to boycott.  Imagine if Israel refused entry of Arabs into Israel.  Imagine the uproar that would happen.  Boycotts, condemnation at the UN , more D list rock stars cancelling their Israeli concerts.  The fact is over 60,000 Palestinian visitors are expected to visit Israel this year.  Okay they may have been strip searched and inspected with dental floss by Israeli security -lol- but still they are welcomed.

Delta has received some flack for this decision and the story quickly faded from the headlines. I called Delta 3x and was told such things like “If we were racist we wouldn’t fly to Israel” and we are just following the law of the hosts country” and Delta doesn’t fly to Saudi Arabia -it’s partners do.”  Now Delta seems to be saying this is all misinformation and a misunderstanding.  Misinformation my “Tuchus”.  This is called backtracking and Delta should be ashamed.

I won’t fly Delta anymore and I hope you don’t as well until they apologize.  Racism has no part in American society and I will have no part of DELTA.  Delta owes the Jewish community an apology.

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July 8, 2011 | 11:23 am

The Head Jew

Posted by LiAmi Lawrence

Shalom and welcome to my blog.  This is my blog where I speak my mind on current issues and events in the Jewish and Israeli world and in our community.  I am an out of the box thinker and look at life differently than most.  Some of my views are controversial.  You may find yourself nodding your head and agreeing with me or yelling, screaming and throwing voodoo pins at me.  Either way you will be challenged and inspired in a thought provoking manner.  Enjoy and feel free to comment.

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