Cody Decker of Team Israel fondly discusses the team's mascot, the Mensch, and how they are both ready for the World Baseball Classic

Yesterday, as I am sure by now you all know, a minister of Israel died of a rare blood disease. Uri Orbach of Habayit Hayehudi.

I had no personal connection to him, and will not eulogize him, but I would like to point out one thing.

Since his death, actually even before it as he was in the hospital and asking people to pray for him but much more so after death, it has come to light how well-liked he was, how good of a person he was.

What I find impressive is not that he was a good person, BH we have plenty of those. Not even that he was a good person in the Knesset - we have some of those as well.

He was just a good person. He was a mentsch. What impressed me is how everybody, from right to left, from religious to not religious to anti-religious, from every type of news media on the spectrum in both print media and on the airwaves, they all talk about how good he was, how much of a mentsch, how despite their differences in ideology and belief he gave everyone respect, had a smile, a kind word, a witty comment, a way to make them smile and laugh.

Bar none.

I have not seen any news media, and I explicitly heard from reps all the way to Meretz and Labor, and on the far right, and from the haredim, and everyone else, how they felt connected to him, how good he was.

Someone who can make such a strong impression - not by being aggressive or pushy or looking for ways to "lick up" to others, but just by being nice and respectful.. we need more people like that.

New Public Service Announcement Series Begins Airing on Keshet 

Through a new public service announcement airing this month, the Be A Mensch Foundation urges the public to create a new reality based on acceptance and unity.

Jerusalem, Israel
On May 1, the first of a series of new public service announcements (PSA) began airing on Keshet. The Be A Mensch Foundation has taken on the task of bringing Israeli society together and infusing into it the positive values that are key to personal and societal success.

The PSA is a 40 second long video consisting of 15 individuals ranging from old to young, Ethiopian to Arab, Charedi to Secular, Dati to Traditionalist. These individuals are not actors but Israelis who are pushing for social acceptance for all and practice the message of the foundation. Na’ama Margolese, an 8 year old Beit Shemesh resident at the center of the community tensions, ends the video with a message of hope.

The PSA encourages the public to make a pledge:

“I pledge not to judge anyone by his/her appearance, style of dress, or affiliation with a specific group.  I will be careful not to make generalizations and will always try to see the person behind the outside appearance.  I will judge everyone favorably and will always try to see the good in every person and to focus on the good.  Let’s create a new Israeli reality - one of acceptance, brotherhood and unity. Together we can."

Shoshanna Jaskoll, Director of Programming, said,“The next issue we tackle will be the environment. We really want to get the message across – everyone can do the right thing in EVERY situation and doing so will not only make you a happier, more successful person, but will lead to a healthier, happier more tolerant society.”

The PSA may be seen on Keshet, YouTube or the foundation's website. The PSA is available in Hebrew and with English subtitles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YyPC41Cl9c (and right here:


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Being a mensch adds years to your life and joy to your days. It is the key to success in health, love, relationships, at work, at home, and in life. Mensches are happy, content, prosperous and well liked. Best of all, being a mensch is contagious! Just watch and see the changes you make in yourself and those around you just by being honest, courteous and considerate. We, at Be A Mensch, are dedicated to healing the rifts in Israeli society- one mensch at a time. www.beamensch.com


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Be A Mensch

This is a project I have recently become involved in. The first stage is releasing public service announcements, like this one (below). There might be more of these in the future, as well as other programs in this vein... These PSAs are intended for distribution via social media, blogs and via television as well..

I think the message of the video speaks for itself and needs no further clarification or explanation.



Now that you have seen the video, you can go check out the "Be A Mensch" website, and add your own words of what being a mensch means..

The program created by the Be A Mensch Foundation for working towards tolerance in Bet Shemesh was one of four initiatives to recently win an award from the Jewish Agency for the purpose of encouraging dialog and coexistence in Bet Shemesh.

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