Head coverings are a normal part of life in Asian, North Africa & The Middle East... They can be practical, religious, political and even socio-economic.  One thing Americans tend to be insensitive to is the differences between turbans and their owners.  These differences are vast!  I thought it would be helpful to post the following descriptions and illustrations for people to see the different types of turbans you may or may not come accross in the US or while traveling.  Oh, and it doesn't matter which culture it is - the term "towel-head" is NEVER appropriate!

Sikh men commonly wear a peaked turban that serves partly to cover their long hair, which is never cut out of respect for God's creation. Devout Sikhs also do not cut their beards, so many Sikh men comb out their facial hair and then twist and tuck it up into their turbans along with the hair from their heads. Sikhism originated in northern India and Pakistan in the 15th century and is one of the youngest of the world's monotheistic religions. There are an estimated 18 million Sikhs in the world, with some 2 million spread throughout North America, Western Europe and the former British colonies.

Iranian leaders wear black or white turbans wrapped in the flat, circular style shown in this image of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The word turban is thought to have originated among Persians living in the area now known as Iran, who called the headgear a dulband.

Afghan men wear a variety of turbans, and even within the Taliban, the strict Islamic government that controls much of the country, there are differences in the way men cover their heads. This Taliban member, for example, is wearing a very long turban — perhaps two twined together — with one end hanging loose over his shoulder. The Taliban ambassador to Afghanistan, on the other hand, favors a solid black turban tied above his forehead. And some men in Afghanistan do not wear turbans at all, but rather a distinctive Afghan hat

Muslim religious elders, like this man from Yemen, often wear a turban wrapped around a cap known in Arabic as a kalansuwa. These caps can be spherical or conical, colorful or solid white, and their styles vary widely from region to region. Likewise, the color of the turban wrapped around the kalansuwa varies. White is thought by some Muslims to be the holiest turban color, based on legends that the prophet Mohammed wore a white turban. Green, held to be the color of paradise, is also favored by some. Not all Muslims wear turbans. In fact, few wear them in the West, and in major cosmopolitan centers around the Muslim world, turbans are seen by some as passé.

Desert peoples have long used the turban to keep sand out of their faces, as this man from Africa is likely doing. Members of nomadic tribes have also used turbans to disguise themselves. And sometimes, the color of a person's turban can be used to identify his tribal affiliation from a distance across the dunes. This man's turban is a very light blue. In some parts of North Africa, blue is thought to be a good color to wear in the desert because of its association with cool water.

The kaffiyeh is not technically a turban. It is really a rectangular piece of cloth, folded diagonally and then draped over the head — not wound like a turban. Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, has made the kaffiyeh famous in recent times. However, the kaffiyeh is not solely Palestinian. Men in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Arab Persian Gulf states wear kaffiyehs in colors and styles that are particular to their region. Jordanians, for example, wear a red and white kaffiyeh, while Palestinians wear a black and white one. And a man from Saudi Arabia would likely drape his kaffiyeh differently than a man from Jordan. The black cord that holds the kaffiyeh on one's head is called an ekal.

Indian men sometimes wear turbans to signify their class, caste, profession or religious affiliation — and, as this man shows, turbans in India can be very elaborate. However, turbans made out of fancy woven cloths and festooned with jewels are not unique to India. As far away as Turkey, men have used the headgear to demonstrate their wealth and power.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY PAUL SCHMID / ARTICLE BY THE SEATTLE TIMES

 
 

Tonight I went to a very interesting lecture by Professor Bernard Lewis of Princeton, who is also a Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University.
He was discussing the Zoroastrian/Iranian themes of good and evil, of grace and oppression which he believes are recognizable in the the Jewish Bible, personified as King Cyrus (almost viewed as a messianic figure, according to Lewis), and Haman (viewed as the evil Jew hater in the book of Esther).  
He went on to say that this dichotomy or divide between themes of good vs. evil is present today in the Islamic Revolution of Iran which has spread to other Islamic societies and factions, including Hezbollah and Hamas.  Evil is exemplified (to them) as America and American power centers such as Israel, and Good is exemplified by Islamic Republics such as Iran.  
He referred to the cold war in which he said the West and the Soviet Union were effectively deterred from pursuing the destruction of the other because of MAD - Mutual Assured Destruction, but this is not the case with Iran, says Lewis.  For Iran's leaders, as Islamic Revolutionaries, maintain an End-of-Days scenario, where they believe, like the Zoroastrians, that there will be an Apocalyptic battle between Good and Evil, and that those who perish as martyrs, fighting for the cause of Good (Shiite Islam), would have a free pass to the "Great brothel in the sky" (as Lewis put it)!
It was incredibly interesting to hear his perspectives, and though I don't agree that Judaism, and then Christianity are copy-cat religions of Zoroastrianism, I do think that the Muslim extremists have a more dangerous mentality than what has threatened the west before.
One thing I went away with that was refreshing, was the concept of (rather than immediately attacking Iran militarily), creating a war of ideas in Iran through media and propaganda, and create disunity among the Iranians.  A house divided cannot stand!  Professor Lewis hit the nail on the head.  If Israel or America attacks Iran right now, Iran has no reason to hold back - on the contrary, they will feel like it is their chance to fight to the bitter end, and there would be a terrible loss of civilians - but if the West and Israel can create factions in Iran, which could lead to the collapse of the current regime and Coup, then the West and Israel would be more victorious.  BUT - Bernard Lewis and I both agree that military force cannot be ruled out (because it may be too late for the former to effectively work).

 
 

A family-friend from Sacramento, Yvonne Turner, is teaching english in Bet Jala (near Bethlehem) in the West Bank.  She arrived on Tuesday, and we planned to get together in Jerusalem after she arrived.  Well, today was the day, and we had a fabulous time.  We met at the Damascus gate, and we walked all over the Old City.  We even passed by the entrance to the Temple Mount and asked the guards if we could take a picture of the Dome of the Rock.  They said it was fine... SO... we did!  Afterward, we walked to the Western Wall, and I was able to pray briefly at the wall... Then we enjoyed a mediocre shwarma at a restaurant in the Jewish Quarter.  It was a great day, and it was so nice to have an friend from Sacramento in Israel with me.  

 
 

This week, my History of Islam professor brought us to North Israel on a field trip to visit the Crusader Fortress in Akko (Arco).  It was so fascinating to study that period in history, when the Europeans tried to set up a Fiefdom in Eastern Mediterranean.  Akko was their capital. The fortress is undergoing a major renovation, but it is already incredibly preserved.  We had a wonderful time exploring the Tunnels, Arches, Hospitals, Halls, and all then had a chance to visit the Shuk (market).  I asked if I could have an anti-Israel propaganda poster which was posted on the wall, and a store owner ripped it off and gave it to me after giving me a 7 minute lecture on how bad Israel was and how good Hamas was.  BUT - I got the poster (I obvously don't agree with what it says, but I felt it would be cool to have a piece of palestinian propaganda).  
After the fieldtrip, I realized I was only 3 km's from my cousin Clarissa's house.  It just happened to be her husbands birthday, and I stayed the night there - we stayed up late talking and she loaded me up with a dozen avocados and sent me on my way after breakfast in the morning.

 
 

"Israel and the United States want to eliminate the Palestinian cause….to turn it into a humanitarian issue, but it's an issue of national liberation," said MK Ibrahim Sarsour (UAL-Ta'al), who is head of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement.   What exactly is this Palestinian cause, however - Mr. Sarsour? If the goal of the so-called Palestinian cause is the wholesale destruction of the State of Israel, whose legitimacy is not recognized - and the utter disregard for the lives of innocent men, women and children... then you bet!  Israel won't tolerate such a cause, but look at the Justice Israel uses, even in war.  If the State of Israel wanted to eliminate the Palestinians, it has the ability to do that, through WMD's - but this is only something Hamas, Iran or Hezbollah would dream of using on Israel - NOT ViCE-VERSA!  Also, notice Israel isn't fighting on two fronts (Gaza & the West Bank), rather only one - and is being mindful of food, water & medical shortage.  Let's revisit Sarsour's statement.  He seems to feel this is a glorious revolution, but because he is endorsing Hamas' actions - I don't believe the world - let alone the Israeli Government can take him seriously!

 
 

Tonight I'm going to a dinner party in honor of Tzachi and Sarah.  Tzachi (my roommate) proposed to Sarah, and she accepted.  They are getting married in June but wanted to celeb

 
 

OK, it's time to talk.  I was recently asked about my perspective on the war israel is fighting against Hamas, the Islamic regime in Gaza.  I have had a couple of weeks to think it over, and here is my response.  Understand this first: I am a Jewish-American residing in Israel, which has definitely influenced my opinion of the war.  I don't LOVE war and I do HATE death, but sometimes it is a necessity.  

MY 12 POINTS:
1 - Hamas is a terrorist organization, existing to reinstate an Islamic-Republic in the region and religious homogeny (they want everyone to be a Muslim extremist), and all others don't have the right to exist (Druze, Atheists, Christians, Jews & the State of Israel).
2 - The palestinians of Gaza ELECTED Hamas (in a psuedo-democratic fashion) to be their government, believing it would lead to a better life for them.
3 - Hamas had previously shot over 6000 rockets at Israel without Israel retaliating.  
4 - Israel retaliated after Hamas killed Israelis during Chanukah 2008.  
5 - Hamas is now using its own people as a shield to try to prevent Israel from destroying them (believing that Israel's weakness is her respect for human life).  
6 - The people of Gaza have done nothing (they have had plenty of opportunities to form a Coup and overthrow Hamas.
7 - This is not a military OFFENSIVE, it is a military DEFENSIVE (and I am someone being defended).  
8 - Their is support for Israel's actions from both National & International governing bodies, Including from Egypt - an Arab State.
9 - The US Congress has overwhelmingly expressed support for Israel and her right to defend herself.
10 - Israel is treating the women and Children of Gaza with respect and kindness when it is possible.  
11 - Israelis are very supportive of this action, and are proud of their soldiers.
12 - I AGREE WITH THE ACTION & PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM (and all of Israel)


Below: An interesting 2 minute summary of the history of the Middle East - funny but 

Below: A 10-minute informational history video (from the perspective of the Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Post, David Horovitz).  

Below: A clip of Hamas admitting to using Human Shields.

 
New Years Party 01/05/2009
 

I took part in a really nice, yet paradigm-shifting New Year's Party.  First we were with probably over 100 young adults at the Congregation for a Pizza Party and singing with the live band.  It was alot of fun, and afterward, several of us went to a restaurant/tavern for some more fellowship.  I didn't get back until 3:45am... needless to say, I didn't make it to class in time, but it was worth it.  We had a fun time - and the best part is we all remember it!

 
 

My parents (and siblings) are awesome.  Here's one of many reasons why:  They spent $37 to send me a package from the States (which I am adamantly opposed to usually, but I graciously accepted this time)... actually it made me really happy.  It got here on the last day of Chanukkah, much to my mother's delight.  I opened the nine gifts on skype so  they could watch - there was one for each day of Chanukkah, individually wrapped and numbered - plus an extra special gift... a framed picture of me with the president of Israel (click my Shalom tab above to see the photo).  It was really fun to open something.  I had an amazing holiday season, and I felt very loved!

 
 

My cousin Ofek Kfir, who lives in North Tel Aviv, just turned 7 and he insisted that I come with him and the family to one of his favorite places: Luna Park.  It is a children's amusement park not far from my school.  We had a wonderful time.  There was also a great view of Tel Aviv from one of the rides.  I've posted some photos.