Daniel Lubetzky

One of the joys of planting vegetables is that you can show kids the magic of nature – how a little seed can germinate and then yield flowers and fruits is truly a magical experience for your kids.  And, frankly, for us adults too.

Another benefit is that you can learn how things look like in nature! I’ve written before about how most of us have been so disconnected from the growing process that we no longer know what things look like in their original form, or where they come from.  {You can take this quiz to see if you can answer where things come from.}

But another thing I’ve gained even more appreciation for lately is how smart plants are.  It is truly outstanding.  These living organisms are far more complex than I ever imagined.

Just a couple of examples I’ve learned about recently:

· Cucumbers self-regulate themselves to bear fruits at the pace they know they can handle, based on the conditions of the environment they are in: some may yield many cucumbers at the same time, if the soil, water, and space conditions permit, while others will pace themselves and allow some to mature faster than others.

· Radishes (and many other vegetables and roots do this also) can judge if the conditions will permit them to bear fruit (not sure I am using the right term here, but whether to form radishes); if the conditions are not right, they can opt to skip that step and instead focus on building themselves into plants that will yield seeds so that their energy and growth are not wasted on a failed journey.

Check out this unbelievable video of Emmanuel Kelly stealing the show on the X Factor.  The only thing more compelling than his performance is his story.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

According to an article in Foreign Policy, Former President Bill Clinton blames PM Netanyahu for the lack of peace process progress.  Clinton specifically pointed to Netanyahu’s Administration for failing to accept the Camp David terms, as well as a change in Israeli demographic, making Israeli’s less open to peace.  As Clinton argues in this article, the peace process would benefit immensely from Netanyahu’s administration being more amenable to compromise. 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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This great article in the New York Times illustrates the importance of occasional failure and the fortified character that it can build when accompanied by introspection.  This story of two high school principles (one, of a privileged school in Riverdale, and the other from KIPP) and their quest for placing as much importance on character excellence and grit as academic excellence, is an inspiring one.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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I received this email from Gidi Grinstein, who I consider to be one of the brightest people I’ve ever met, and certainly one of the most  widely respected Israeli thinkers.  His Reut Institute firmly supports a two-state solution, and yet he has come to believe that can only come about through coordinated unilateralism because both the Israeli and Palestinian governments have structural, constitutional, and leadership impediments to pass through what would be necessary on either side to achieve a negotiated agreement.  Read his entire note:

Dear friends and supporters,

This email introduces Reut’s most recent strategic framework on the diplomatic and political opportunity that faces Israel in the United Nations this week, as an outcome of the Palestinian motion to recognize the Palestinian Authority as a state and accept it as a full member-state of the United Nations (Click here).

The Reut team, and specifically Roy Keidar, Reut’s new CEO and former Legal Advisor of the Israel’s National Security Council, and I, have been working hard behind the scenes for the past months, weeks and days, to introduce these ideas to top decision-makers, as well as to prepare for the aftermath of this Palestinian UN motion, which may include renewed efforts to de-legitimize Israel. We are now in NYC in part for this reason.

In a nutshell, we believe that Israel can leverage the Palestinian motion and pin down the principle of two-states-for-two-people, which has been a central objective of present and past Israeli governments. This will allow Israel to manage the process of establishing a Palestinian state in optimal conditions that not only address its major security and diplomatic concerns, but also allow for diluting Palestinian refugeeism and strengthening the status of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. These achievements are conditioned on Israel making a credible win-win offer to the Palestinians so that they too have historic achievements. These ideas are detailed in our paper.

For the past five years and since Hamas electoral victory in January 2006, Reut has consistently argued that ‘constructive and coordinated unilateralism’ is the only viable path for political progress between Israelis and Palestinians toward security and coexistence, and that all attempts to negotiate comprehensive agreements are unfortunately doomed to fail, as the case has been.

Therefore, we concluded a few years ago that the establishment of a Palestinian state would have to be through an act of declaration and recognition, which is exactly what is unfolding in the United Nations. Hence, Israel’s opportunity this week to create a political breakthrough, which is a win-win and good for the Palestinians as well.

It is no coincidence that de-legitimizing groups such as the Electronic Intifada are quoting Reut in their fight against the Palestinian motion in the UN (click here), as they principally oppose the Two-State Solution or any motion that explicitly or implicitly recognizes the right of the Jewish people to self-determination.

In the coming few days, we will send you a more comprehensive overview of the recent history that led to this milestone, covering Reut’s different efforts for the past seven years.

With best wishes of Shana Tova,

Gidi

Daniel’s good friend pointed us towards an important cause: America is currently facing an education crisis, where 1/3 of current eighth grade students will not graduate college, and one of the biggest causes is that kids lack fundamental Algebra skills.  Sylvan, a learning center for kids of all ages, has stepped up to the challenge with the Algebra Fitness Challenge, a free Algebra test that kids can take to identify their strengths and weaknesses in the subject.  This tool hopes to begin to solve the extant algebra problem, and can be taken at Fit 4 Algebra.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

OneVoice was busy on the Hill this week, as Youth Leaders Eyal and Obada discussed their work to support a two state solution.  Ambassador Philip Wilcox moderated the panel as they moved to discuss the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, and the event was covered by C-Span.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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This article dissects  the mixed emotions attached to the upcoming UN Vote for Palestinian Statehood, as described by Uri Avnery, and lays out the potential that this vote can achieve. 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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This article is worth reading as it delineates the seven main threats that Israel is currently facing, according to former National Security Council anti-terrorism chief Richard Clarke, foiled by Efraim Halevy’s view that with compromise, Israel will be able to achieve many of her goals despite the abounding threats. 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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A recent report from Phil Lempert reveals that whole grains are one of the top 5 “brain foods,” meaning that they improve concentration and provide ample energy throughout the day.  Whole grains are especially crucial for children, to help them get through a school day, and are equally useful for adults as whole grains are said to enhance memory.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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