Catch Me Bloggin'

jakeglaser:

On November 26, 2008 all across Mumbai horror struck as terrorist from Pakistan swarmed different building including two hospitals, a cinema, a hotel, and a Orthodox Jewish owned Nariman house. These attacks lasted for three days and left at least 173 dead. Two of the people found dead was a rabbi by the name of Gavriel  Holtzberg and his wife Rivka Holtzberg. The two were living in Mumbai running a peaceful Jewish center for all. The center did nothing, but offer religious advice for Jews, serve food, and helped those in needs. Though this story is tragic, look close enough and there is a hero to be found.

The Holtzberg’s were also living in Mumbai with their two-year-old son, Moshe. Moshe too would have perished in the attacks if it weren’t for the brave heart of one lady.Sandra Samuel a kitchen worker at the center ran Moshe out of the building during the attacks. As she exited the building the horrified toddler was screaming “Imma, Imma (mother, mother)” This child, who just turned two, was now an orphan.

I don’t tell this story to worry or upset people, but to convey a message. I message that I firmly believe in is the message of light. The idea that everyone has a life and that life contains a light. This light is the only indestructible thing about humans. We can have a feelings hurt and our heart broken, but what you leave on this earth is here to stay. This light that each of us carry around with us can be used to brighten the darkness or it can be used to illuminate the bad.

I started really thinking about this concept today when I heard people discussing the 3^rd world vs. the 1^st. This idea just sounds so unnatural to me. The fact that we can separate where we are from the country next to us by the use of the word “world” is just odd. Last time I looked at the globe we were all on the same planet. To alienate someone just because of his or her class or status seems so wrong when you think about it. Now, I know these words are just a term, but I think as soon as we start thinking about this world as one the better. We all live the same life and we all have the same amount of life (and love to offer). To better a 3^rd world country would be to better the world.

We have all seen how so little can go so far in a person’s life. Today, I was talking to a 20 year old rickshaw driver who was asking me about the States. You could tell he just wanted to know about a place that he will probably never get to go. As we talked I got out a one-dollar bill and handed it to him. After much debate, he finally accepted it with a huge smile. He shook my hand then brought his hand over his heart with a smile and a bow. I was once again amazed at what little I had to do to make this man’s day. When I really thought about it though, I realized I was exactly the same.

See, before I picked up the rickshaw I was walking around the Lotus Temple when a family stopped three of us. The mother came up to us and through broken English asked if we would be in a picture with her daughter. You could tell that the daughter was too shy to ask her self and when we agreed her eyes instantly lit up. That moment right there made my day. For the rest of the day I thought about that girl’s smile and how a group of strangers shared a day-making moment.

Your light can be a volunteer trip in India, or a fundraiser. Your light can be a U.S. dollar, or a friendly smile. Your light can be anything, just please don’t make it bad.

ANOTHER HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT-

Now I know none of you readers are using your light for bad, but we don’t want that light to be neutral either! So here’s the assignment! Make someone’s day by choosing one or all of the following.

1- Ask someone how you can make his or her day and then make that happen! Whatever they ask for, you’re doing it.

2- Talk to two people you haven’t talked too much, be it at school, work, the gym, wherever. Just go talk to them and learn about their life.

3- Go somewhere and ask to get your picture taken with them. If they look good, fun, pretty, or have good clothes tell them! Say that is why you want a photo with them, it’ll make them happy I promise.

4- Just do something goofy for people to see. Dance in the mall, go to school or work is a costume, be creative!

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROJECT IS TO…… TELL ABOUT YOUR EXPERIMENT HERE! SEND A PHOTO, TELL THE STORY, JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW YOU USED YOUR LIGHT TODAY.

I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS DO THIS, PLEASE! BE APART OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL!

(if you guys have trouble adding comments, just email me what you got at fusedotnet@fuse.net, I will put it up).

To help fuel your inspiration I have added a song about light here. This song is actually by Matisyahu who was a friend of the Holtzberg family.Listen to it and get out there! Thanks and much love!

JAKE

I will be Light- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0_u_vxsQxE

The Lyrics.

Sit back 
And in these days 
Remember my ways 
Oh will i get out of my cage? 
Yes i am a slave 

Searching for some freedom 
Searching for some freedom 

So intend to sing them 
Songs to spark, memories 
What is a man with no history? 
Where am i ? 
Who am i ? 
What is this place?, 
We’re just spinning in space 

I will be light 
I will be light 
I will be light 
I will be light 

Time will continue without you 
So in the end 
Its not about you 
But, 
What did you do? 
Who do you love besides you 
Beside you, many died in the name of vanity 
Many die,in their mind’s eye, for justice 
We die for you 
And still do 
So i say to you 
This is nothing new 

I will be light 
I will be light 
I will be light 
I will be light 

Its/In one tiny moment in time 
For life to shine, to shine 
Burn away the darkness 

You’ve got one tiny moment in time 
x7 For life to shine, to shine 
To burn away the darkness 

I will be light 
I will be light 
I will be light 
I will be light light light light 
I will be light 
I will be light light light light

The weary moon stuck high in the sky

I turn my head and prefix my eyes

The devil of sin he grabs me by the head

And sends me off to bed

The stars look down as if they’re praying too

Singing what the hells the sun gonna do

I hope you’re here when this whole ship sinks

Cause your all I really got to hold on to

When will tomorrow come and what will it bring

It seems like every town I go to has nothing left in it

Or maybe they’re just holding out on me

Pack your bags, put them on a one-way train

We aren’t ever gonna see those problems again

Black smoke and a breeze from above

Whisk away my hate for love

When will tomorrow come and what will it bring

It seems like every town I go to has nothing left in it

Or maybe they’re just holding out on me

It’s always interested me how simply being away from something for a certain amount of time forces you to see things from a different perspective.  I wonder if that is because I change, it changes, or just because I’ve forgotten what it’s like. This walk back from the office through the woods was no different. The tree leaves falling in a storm of cool wind as I am surrounded by the colors of dirt and fire. The river to my side flowing over rocks and roots persistently with the rolling sound of movement seemed to guide me home. As I left the crocked archways of the trees I was dumped on the edge of a familiar white fence that commonly greeted me with a chance to recap while watching the horses on the other side. This time, like many of the others, I wait as one of the horses walks up with a face that seems to ask what it’s like to be on the other side, to be able to explore the woods and take a wrong turn. I look at its hooves thinking about what really happened in the woods and conclude that maybe the horse is better off. As I pat the horse and say my goodbyes I remember why I ever wanted to become a writer. It was the beauty; the ability and power to explain even twist if need be; It was the right to speak without being interrupted. This small town is only twenty minutes from the big city; twenty minutes from anything bad you could possible think of. It seemed impossible to have the two side by side, like the perfect child next to her greedy parents. Someone needed to see this to believe it. I’d live here; I’ve dreamed here, hell, I’d even die here.