Fleet Week, terrorist plots and Yom Yerushalayim

New York City's annual Fleet Week began yesterday, May 20, and will continue until May 27. Click here for a schedule of events. I visited the Intrepid Museum and spoke with some of the sailors. Like soldiers who fought in Vietnam a generation ago, they are being demonized by the media and the liberal elite, and can benefit from hizzuk from ordinary New Yorkers who are still mad as hell at the butchers who attacked us on 9/11. Too many of us have grown complacent. Here is a wake-up call for them. Authorities have just foiled a plot by homegrown Muslim terrorists to attack two Jewish facilities in Riverdale and shoot down American planes with Stinger missiles in upstate New York. We cannot afford to let our guard down; complancency is just what our enemies are looking to exploit.
Two nights ago I ran a race in Lower Manhattan that passed by the hole in the ground that once held the majestic Twin Towers; eight years later and all we have is that big hole in the ground. Wearing my "REBUILD" running top, I shouted "Build 'em both and build 'em high" as I passed and flashed the "V for Victory" sign. Fellow runners reacted as if I was crazy. People are forgetting, they have become apathetic, they just don't want to be bothered. It is therefore all the more important to show hakarat hatov to the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to keep America free. And we have to put our money where our mouths are - donate to the U.S.O., the Jewish War Veterans and such.
Of course, we've been through this before. בכל דור ודור עומדים עלנו לכלותנו. In every generation enemies rise against us and, with God's help, we fight and defeat them. One of those victories occurred 42 years ago Friday, and so on Thursday night and Friday, 28 Iyar, we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim. Ma'ariv begins with Barkhu (no v'hu rahum) and is chanted with the Yom Tov melody. We end hashkivenu with hapores sukat shalom as on Yom Tov. During Shaharit we say the long psukei d'zimra as on Yom Tov, along with Hallel. All this is according to the prescription of the Israeli Rabbanut. I also make a practice of saying the Shir Shel Yom for Monday, . . .גדול ה' ומהלל מאד בעיר אלקינו , after the one for the appropriate day. Hag Sameah.

Be happy. Be vigilant. Be grateful. Stay strong.