Copilot

Who gave you permission to protest and scorn,
To ridicule those from the moment they’re born?
For I am a Jew, I am Black, I am Chinese, too,
I am Arab, Russian, Ukrainian, through and through.
I am Mexican, I am fat, I am old, I stand apart,
I am different from you, but I have the same heart.
Why do people hate us? What did we do?
We’re all trying to live in harmony, me and you.
Some thrive on hate, it’s true, they start a war,
Have you lost someone? It cuts to the core.
We all hurt, it’s a universal score,
It starts with a death, greed, or something more.
Someone’s different, believes not like you,
Crosses a line, and conflict ensues.
Rage replaces reason, maniacal views step in,
Seeking to punish, to hurt, to pin.
Get even, they say, hurt them, kill, exterminate,
But come on, we’re human, let’s not berate.
Why not try to understand, to communicate?
Why not solve our differences before it’s too late?
Let’s love each other, let’s give it a chance,
In the dance of life, let’s learn a new dance.
Where understanding blooms, and kindness can enhance,
A world where love and peace get more than a glance.

Thoughts Last

I think of all the places I’ve seen
The wonders and beauty, the chaos and peace
The mountains and oceans, the forests, and fields
The cities and villages, the cultures, and beliefs
I think of all the lessons I’ve learned
The wisdom and folly, the grace and sin
The courage and fear, the faith and doubt
The kindness and cruelty, the silence and sound
I think of all the moments I’ve shared
The happiness and sadness, the calmness and stress
The birth and death, the love and hate
The friendship and betrayal, the fate and choice
I think of all these things and more
And wonder if I’ve lived enough
If I’ve given enough, received enough
If I’ve fulfilled my purpose, my dreams
I think of all these things and sigh
And feel a tear roll down my eye
I wish I had more time to live
But I know this is the end of it
I close my eyes and say goodbye
To all the things that made me alive
I thank them for being part of me
And hope they’ll remember me fondly
I close my eyes and drift away
Into the darkness, into the light
I don’t know what awaits me there
But I hope it’s something beautiful.

An Outline of My Ted-like Talk—Connecting Thirty-Six Jewish Dots From the Past, to the Present to the Future:

1. Who is Mort Laitner to give such a presentation?—A short 75-year history.
2. Anti-Semitism Now and Then—Everything is Relative—We seem to be able to forget the horrors of past—Neo-Nazis on our streets—Why Are They So Quiet?—The Internet;
3. Netanyahu’s Obama’s History, Biden (Self-fulfilling prophecies) and Trump;
4. The Pro-Palestinian Student Protesters—A long history, Goals—BDS, cutting off arms shipment, From the River to the Sea;
5. Miracles: Israel, Pre-statehood, Statehood the Present Day—The Glass is More than Half Full—Zionism, Herzl, Turkish Expulsion, Balfour, 1920 Riots,1929 Riots, Nazis, the Palestine Economy, 1939 White, British Lies, The German Army in Egypt, 1948 UN partition, Four Wars 1949,1967,1973, 2023;
6. A Glance at America’s Right and Left Wing—A Golda Meir—A Socialist Story;
7. The Shoah Clock—Never Again—1933 to 2024;
8. Israel and the Bomb—Three stories, Ben Gurion 1950, The Sinai War 1956 and Yom Kipper War 1973;
9. Five Countries—Iran, Russia, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon—Seeing the Big and Little Picture;
10. The Israel/Gaza War—A Bunch of Fatal Mistakes—Lessons Learned—The Battle For Stalingrad—Economic—Tourism, Inflation, Psychological, How long will it go on? Definition of Victory— Security, The Settlers—The Media— The Propaganda Wars;
11. The Jewish Renaissance in America, Northern Exposure;
12. Existential versus Non-Existential Threats—Define as relates to–American Jews—Israel;
13. All things can be used for good or evil (Emmanuel Kant)—All events can lead to good or evil (Nazi pre-war expulsion of Jews from Germany economic policy—-Holocaust—Israel)
14. Readings: A Seder Speech for 2024, The Last Jew in Vinnitsa On A Tee Shirt; The End of the Jewish Renaissance in America, When Fascism Comes to America—A Poem; Hamas What the Fuck were you Thinking.
15. Q&A Session

Jewish American Heritage Month Lecture: – Being Jewish in 2024–As Seen Through the Eyes of a Blogger

Thursday, May 30: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

 Davie/Cooper City Branch – Multipurpose Room

AGE GROUP:   ADULTS

EVENT TYPE:  SPEAKER, DISCUSSION/LECTURE, ARTS & CULTURAL

Mort Laitner, local author and speaker, will talk about being Jewish in today’s world. Refreshments and snacks will be provided, and registration is required.

Save the Date: For these are interesting times for American Jews

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Jewish American Heritage Month Lecture:

Being Jewish in 2024–As Seen Through the Eyes of a Times of Israel Blogger

Thursday, May 30
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Add to Calendar

Davie/Cooper City Branch 4600 SW 82nd Avenue Davie, Fl

Multipurpose Room

Mort Laitner, local author and speaker, will talk about being Jewish in today’s world. Refreshments and snacks will be provided, and registration is required.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Speaker | Discussion/Lecture | Arts & Cultural |

TAGS: | Jewish American Heritage Month |

Davie/Cooper City Branch

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mort laitner is Florida’s Jewish short-story writer. He blogs for the Times of Israel. He is a passionate speaker, a film producer and a retired attorney. He has authored, “A Hebraic Obsession”, “The Hanukkah Bunny” and “The Greatest Gift.” He produced an award-winning short film entitled, “The Stairs”. Movie can be viewed online. ChatGPT says, Mort is known for his works that often explore themes of love, loss, and the human connection. Laitner has published several books , including “A Hebraic Obsession.” His writing style is characterized by its emotional depth and introspection. Laitner’s works have garnered praise for their heartfelt expression and keen insight into the human experience. Mort is the president of the South Florida Writers Association. He was a correspondent for the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Jewish Journal