Reflections on Tomorrow 2012

 Facing Tomorrow – the fourth Israeli Presidential Conference

was held at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem last week.

4500 participants came from around the world to attend and 

dozens of press releases and blogs have been written on this mega-event.

Tiny 84-year-old Dr. Ruth Westheimer was a big hit with audiences.

 One could say that Dr. Ruth, whose feet have trouble reaching the floor,  

was even bigger and better than last year.

International guest panelists spoke of the future.

Retired Chief-of-Staff Gabi Ashkenazi was one of the few speakers

who spoke in Hebrew and was a popular presenter.

The session rooms were overcrowded and I could not get inside,

so I spent a lot of time walking the halls.

I spotted Abe Foxman, National Director of ADL giving an interview

and Natan Sharansky on his way to speak at a session.

During an opening plenary session, Ayaan Hirsi-Ali

shared some of her impressive life story and experiences of Islam.

In her talk she mentioned her age as 42; she smiled when I told her  

that someone in the crowd tweeted that she looks more like 24.

Stanley Fisher (right), Governor of the Bank of Israel, is always popular.

The convention center was full of important people with important ideas.

But, due to his recent leg injury, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

did not speak at the closing session on Thursday.

There were three special sessions on Thursday for bloggers,

one was a question and answer session with President Shimon Peres.

Finally I had a chance to get in a session and have a good a seat.

But I did not attend the last day of Facing Tomorrow 2012.

Wednesday night I got the dreaded, but expected call

that my mother-in-law had passed away.

Ruth Brooks Spanglet z”l was born in America 89 1/2 years ago.

 She never went to college,

but her two children earned post graduate degrees.

Her legacy includes twelve devoted grandchildren and

 twenty-six great-grandchildren (with more on the way),

all of whom now must face a tomorrow without Bubby.

A friend of mine wrote a wonderful piece on what she found missing

at this conference of big names and creative ideas – the mention of family.

Families like Bubby’s are the real tomorrow and the hope for the future.

May all the mourners of Zion be comforted soon.

.



22 thoughts on “Reflections on Tomorrow 2012

  • June 26, 2012 at 6:20 am
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    Wishing you all much comfort in your wonderful memories of Bubby Ruth. Her name will always be such a blessing to you all…thank you for sharing this with us…

    Reply
  • June 26, 2012 at 6:30 am
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    HaMakom yenachem…
    I’m glad we met up. You could have flashed your colorcoded name tag to get in. That’s what I did.

    Reply
    • June 26, 2012 at 6:51 am
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      NOPE last year I got passed every line and into every session. This year the security blocked me at every door. But I loved meeting and talking with everyone in the halls. What a hard edit this time, cutting out so many names and photos.

      Reply
  • June 26, 2012 at 8:07 am
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    Thanks for sharing the photo-view of the conference. And your personal touch is appreciated… Baruch Dayan Haemet.

    We didn’t actually get to meet… hopefully soon!

    Reply
  • June 26, 2012 at 9:22 am
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    Great coverage of the event and what a BEAUTIFUL photo of your family!

    Reply
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  • June 26, 2012 at 10:17 am
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    May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion.

    I knew your mother-in-law when I lived in Be’er Sheva. She was a lovely lady.

    Reply
  • June 26, 2012 at 1:55 pm
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    Amen, Amen to your last 3 lines. Bubby has left
    quite a legacy for tomorrow in the smiling faces of your last photo. Beautiful tribute to a lovely lady!

    Reply
  • June 26, 2012 at 3:45 pm
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    So sorry to hear about your mother-in-law, Bubby Ruth. Baruch Dayan Emet. We were thinking about you here in Silver Spring.

    Reply
  • June 29, 2012 at 4:14 pm
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    Great ideas depend on great people. When we look back at our lives, very few will say “I wish I had spent more time at work!” Family, family, family. That is where the satisfaction comes from.

    Hamakom yenachem etchem.

    Reply
  • July 1, 2012 at 3:36 pm
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    In South Africa, we alway say, to the bereaved family, on the passing of a blessed soul “we wish you long life” and so I wish you and your beautiful family, long life. I really don’t know why we say this, maybe one of your South African bloggers can tell me.

    Reply
  • September 4, 2012 at 10:11 am
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    Hi, I read all your posts – I think that I have gone through a bit of depression at the situation and decided that I was actually addicted to u-tube and the digusting fights and insults. I found that any reaching out and defending Israel on my side, was met with rudeness by flat-lined brains who refused to even try to see any of our truth. I decided to take a break from all the filth, to cleanse my soul am trying to send only messages of tolerance and understanding. Not working, but am trying. I do appreciate that you ask how I am. Bless you!

    Reply
    • September 4, 2012 at 10:16 am
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      What good timing for the month of Elul, “messages of tolerance and understanding” is what everyone should be concerned with! Shanah tovah!

      Reply
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