More Antisemitism

I just shared with you information about the antisemitic church sermon on Sunday.  I opened my daily email from the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA) and I read that an American tourist in Belgium was refused service in a restaurant for being Jewish.  He was reportedly told, “We’re not serving Jews here, get out.” [Read more here.]

What is going on in our world?

Church Sponsored AntiSemitism - “Almost a Pogrom”

This Sunday in Krakow (also spelled Cracow) Poland, a Bishop preached a sermon against “the kikes.”  n case you are unaware, kike is a horrible antisemitic slur akin (but not the same as) the n-word.  I find it quite disturbing that the church a significant figure in a church (edited on 2/17 after reading comments below) is once again preaching hateful antisemitism.

Here is an excerpt from an article by Ha’aretz:

“This was not a pogrom, but it was close. Sunday’s incident in Krakow at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was rife with overtones of hatred. “The Jews are attacking us! We need to defend ourselves,” shouted Prof. Bogoslav Wolniewicz, to stormy applause.

“About 1,000 people gathered for special services Sunday at the church, organized by the Committee Against Defamation of the Church and For Polishness, along with the anti-Semitic Radio Maryja. Local residents were informed of the service by posters that proclaimed: “The kikes will not continue to spit on us.”

“The huge church was packed. People sat on the stairs and stood in the aisles. The service opened, as usual, with prayer and song, but after about half an hour, the 91-year-old bishop of Krakow, Albin Malysiak, began inflaming the crowd with his sermon.” [Click here to read full article.]

Much of the vitriol was spewed against Jan Gross, a scholar and Polish-American who grew up in post-war Poland.  He has published a number of works, including  “Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland After Auschwitz” for which there are a number of reviews, including one by Publisher’s Weekly.

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. [Signature]Reviewed by Deborah E. LipstadtRarely does a small book force a country to confront some of the more sordid aspects of its history. Jan T. Gross’s Neighbors did precisely that. Gross exposed how in 1941 half the Polish inhabitants of the town of Jedwabne brutally clubbed, burned and dismembered the town’s 1,600 Jews, killing all but seven.The book was greeted with a terrible outcry in Poland. A government commission determined that not only did Gross get the story right but that many other cities had done precisely the same thing. Now Gross has written Fear, an even more substantial study of postwar Polish anti-Semitism. This book tells a wartime horror story that should force Poles to confront an untold—and profoundly terrifying—aspect of their history. FearFear, the next time I hear someone say the Poles were as bad as the Germans, I will probably still challenge that charge —after all the damage wrought by the Germans cannot be compared to what the Poles did—but my challenge will be far less forceful. I may even keep silent. 8 pages of photos. (July 4)Lipstadt is director of the Rabbi Donald Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University and the author of History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. –This text refers to the Hardcover edition. 

Here is what two other blogs are saying about this hateful sermon:

YidWithLid (viaJBlog Central)

OlehGirl

What do you think?

Perfected like Ann Coulter…..

Remember a few weeks ago when Ann Coulter taught the world that all would be perfect if Jews accepted Jesus and became “perfected” and if everything was like the Republican National Convention in NY in ‘04?

Leah Kaufman, a senior at Temple University, wrote a funny song about Ann Coulter. Take a look at it on this you tube clip. Learn more about Leah here.
[hat tip to Unsealed Room]

Olmert on Annapolis, Rabin (z”l) and Sharon

Ehud Olmert made a speech yesterday in which he remembered Rabin on the secular calendar’s 12th anniversary of his assasination, set goals for Annapolis, and spoke of his teacher Ariel Sharon.

Read the text of the speech here, at the Ministry website.

Back…Happy New Year…G’mar Tov…..Hag Sukkot Smeach

I’m back.  Wishing you and yours a belated Happy 5768, wishing that you and yours be sealed in the Book of Life and a Happy Sukkot.

I can’t believe how long it has been since I posted.  I have been working working, working and working some more.  The only days I haven’t spent working (on the computer and paperwork side) are the Holy Days when I’ve been doing the rabbinic work.  As my wonderful, late friend LN (z”l) said - for rabbis there is nothing mar about Heshvan.  The month after Tishrei (our month with holidays from the 1st through the 24th) is called Heshvan.  It has no holidays and thus the rabbis called it mar or “bitter” Heshvan. I love our holidays, especially Sukkot, but I can’t wait for a non-mar Heshvan.

May your Sukkot be joyous

Movie to see - “Paperclips”

This afternoon I watched the documentary “Paperclips” about a Holocaust education project in Whitwell, Tennessee. The teachers, students and administrators of Whitwell Middle School are to be commended for their decision to teach about tolerance via the Holocaust. If you have not seen this movie - see it. You can even check it out of your local library as I did.

If you would like information on the project, go to the following websites:

PaperClips Movie Website

Wikkipedia on the PaperClips project 

The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and the PaperClips Movie (and curriculum materials)

See the movie and/or use it as a tool to teach others!

Shameful and ?antisemitic? behavior by the VA against a Jewish Navy veteran

While researching a memorial day sermon, I came across a blog post by the NJDC Blog, titled “A disturbing report of mistreatment toward Jewish veterans.” (The blog referenced an article in the JTA.)

The JTA reports,

A Jewish Navy veteran accused a Veterans Administration hospital of denying him kosher meals and trying to convert him to Christianity.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that David Miller, 46, was hospitalized at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City three times in the past two years for kidney treatment. Miller, an Orthodox Jew, said he went hungry because the hospital refused to provide kosher meals or allow him to contact his rabbi, who would have brought them.

I am appalled at the lack of respect, courtesy and common decency of the VA in Iowa City.
I am a former Navy Chaplain and the Navy Chaplain’s motto includes “facilitating for others” - meaning at the very least providing for kosher food, sabbath observance and such.  The Navy is breaking its own rules!!

Unfortunately, this falls right in line with the proselytizing that is occurring throughout the military.  The Navy should be ashamed of itself.

Thought-Inspiring Television

I’ve watched some insightful, challenging, enjoyable television lately. I recommend the following programs:

Bill Moyer’s Journal, especially this week’s segments on: Regent University (or as some call it, G-d’s University) and the Costs of the Iraq War.

Secret Files of the Inquisition, a PBS series on the history up to and the time of the Inquisition (12th century forward). This series is based on Vatican archives of the time first opened to some in 1998. Apparently some find this series controversial. Some sites on the series are: a Catholic forum, Jerusalem Post introductory article, a blogger called “Mission Territory.”

What do you think?

New layout - Ein Gedi

I’m trying another new layout (thanks Word Press for making it so easy.) The picture at the top is from Ein Gedi nature reserve, the third waterfall on the hike.  I took it in December.  Enjoy.

Israeli Ingenuity Does It Again - Turning Rocks into OIL!

Yes, you read that correctly - Israeli scientists have figured out a way to turn rocks, specifically shale, into oil. Read all about it on Israel21c by Stuart Winer.

Here is a brief excerpt from the article:

Haifa-based A.F.S.K Hom Tov recently demonstrated its patented method of extracting high quality oil and natural gas from a mixture of bitumen and oil shale rock. Bitumen - or asphalt - is the residue obtained by distillation of crude oil.

Experts predict the process will return oil at just $25 dollars a barrel and the additional natural gas produced would further boost the financial feasibility. With crude oil prices currently floating over the $50 a barrel mark, this proposed method is generating interest around the world.    [Read the entire article!]

Teddy Kollek z”l

Teddy Kollek, long-time (former) mayor of Jerusalem has died at age 95.   He was a well-respected, dedicated and popular mayor.  I once met him and found him kind.  May his memory be a blessing and may his family find comfort from G-d at this difficult time.

Coverage (including articles and analysis on his life):

Ha’aretz

Jerusalem Post 

Walla (Hebrew) 

Ynet

Upcoming Book to Read

Michael Oren has a new book coming out soon,

Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East 1776 to the Present (W. W. Norton & Company, January 15, 2007) “The first comprehensive history of America’s military, political, and intellectual involvement
in the Middle East from George Washington to George W. Bush.

Oren’s website has summaries, comments of reviewers and more.  Go and check it out.

Aharon at Blogs of Zion opens a post about it by saying,

I got my hands on an advance copy of Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East 1776 to the Present, historian and Shalem Center senior researcher Michael Oren’s new book, and I have to tell you, it is great. The research will boggle your mind, and it is just so interesting that you have a jaw dropping experience every paragraph or two.

I’ve pre-ordered at Amazon and I look forward to getting a copy.

Citing Shmuley Boteach on the Pope

Greetings and salutations on this secular New Year day.

Today’s Jerusalem Post has an interesting article on some of the recent actions and statements by the Pope.   Boteach speaks of the Pope’s recent “warm greetings” for Ahmadinajab of Iran, the recent Holocaust denier’s conference there and the Pope’s condemnation of the execution of Sadaam Hussein.

See if you agree with Boteach in the following excerpt from the article,

Last week, the church broke ranks with nearly every moral voice and came out publicly against Saddam’s execution. But if that were not enough, Pope Benedict XVI granted a private audience to a delegation of Iranian officials, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki, whose ministry sponsored the recent Holocaust denial conference in Teheran.

The pope is the foremost spiritual leader on earth. It shocks every moral sensibility that he would choose to legitimize a wretch like this. More troubling yet, the pope conveyed warm greetings to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad through the delegation.

Warm greetings? Ahmadinejad is calling virtually every week for Israel’s annihilation. Does the pope have anything to share with this man aside from his contempt? One would hope that a pope who witnessed the Holocaust and the destruction of the Jewish people would practice extra caution before hanging out with those who wish to renew Hitler’s efforts.

LET’S NOT finesse this. Ahmadinejad is an international abomination who can lay strong claim to being the single most hate-filled man alive. Surely the pope can find more worthy recipients of his time and graciousness?…   (keep reading)

Yes, it is a bit unusual for me to cite Rabbi Boteach, but on this point, I agree.  How about you?

Shavuah tov

Shavuah tov  - a good week to you and yours.  This week we read parashat Vayishlach, a portion continuing the story of Jacob and his family.  Here are some net resources on the portion:

Read the text in Hebrew, hear it chanted, and see what it looks like in the Torah scroll itself (thanks to World ORT)

Summary of the portion (Torah from Dixie) 

Commentary on the reunion kiss between Jacob & Esau (JAFI)

Rabbi Shefa Gold on Vayishlach - a spiritual commentary 

Take a quiz about Vayishlach from Paredes 

Wikipedia on the portion and many links to other commentaries 

Read, learn, reflect and connect with the text.

Enjoy and may you have a week of blessing!

Wow! Same-Sex Marriages to Be Recognized in Israel!

Wow! A red letter day of the good kind. According to Yuval Yoaz in Haaretz,

“In a precedent-setting ruling, the High Court of Justice on Tuesday ruled that five gay couples wedded outside of Israel can be registered as married couples, Army Radio reported. A sweeping majority of six Justices in favor and one against ruled that the common-law marriages of five gay couples obtained in Toronto, Canada, can appear as married on the population registry. The gay petitioners sought to force the state to give equal recognition to common law marriages of heterosexual couples to those of gay marriages, which can be performed in certain countries.”   Another reason to have pride in Israel!!! (Now if only there were leagal marriages in American that Israel could recognize…)

Thoughts on the election…so far

Sitting on my couch and listening to NPR report election results (and cheering more than moaning - thank G-d) my hope for this country is increasing a tad. Maybe this will be real change. Maybe not.

What is Jewish about this post? What is Jewish about caring about elections?   Many things, in my opinion.

First, on voting - Jews have been prohibited from voting and participating in government in many of the countries in which we have lived. Voting is a privelege and, in America, Canada, Israel and other  countries it is a right.  I believe that voting is a right which all Americans (and etc) are obliged to take seriously.  This obligation is even heavier for Jews - for those who were never permitted to vote and for the principle of tikkun olam (the obligation to repair the world).

Tikkun olam appears throughout our texts - we must care about the world around us and we must  take part in making the world a better place.

Using the voices we have in the American government - voting, writing/talking to congressional personnel is our obligation and our right!

Important YouTube Video

Watch this important YouTube video before you vote on Tuesday!!

Remembering Rabin z”l

Yesterday was the 11th anniversary of Prime Minister Rabin’s assassination at the hands of Yigal Amir. 11 years since an act of extreme hatred and murder that change the course of the history of Israel and her relationship with herself and her neighbors. A great warrior had turned peace maker and a murderer stopped his life. My heart still cries with sadness, with pain, with shock. Part of me still can’t believe that it happened. I wonder where things would be today had he not been assassinated?

With sadness…

Some websites on the anniversary:

YNet on the Tel Aviv memorial

Israeli Government site on the memorial (note, the site says that 11/2 was the anniversary - that is the anniversary date on the Jewish calendar, 11/4 on the secular calendar)

Knesset Memorial Website (also available in Hebrew and Arabic)

Rabin Center for Israel Studies

Site on the grieving country and world, including information from the funeral, children’s drawings and more.

Author David Grossman’s powerful words at the memorial (David Grossman’s son was killed in the Hizballah war this summer.)

Shavuah tov

Shavuah tov, a good new week to you. I hope that your Shabbat was a good one.

This week is parashat Lech-lecha, including the Holy One’s famous call to Avram,

Lech lecha mei’artzecha, mee’molad’techa, u’mee’beit avich… Go forth from your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s land…and go to a land that I will show you.

G-d challenges Avram with an enormous challenge, one that changed his life, his family’s life and the life of our people. Avram and Sarai reached within themselves and risked everything to follow G-d’s call and our people’s life began.

There are times when the challenges before us can seem immense. Perhaps remembering the ability of our ancestors to find the courage, strength and faith for their lives will help us find the same.

Naomichana’s take on the muppets

Yes, the muppets.  Naomichana of Baraita (always an interesting and enjoyable read) looked at the muppet characters in Sesame Street and casted the muppets in Tanach roles.  For example,

“Adam: Aloysius “Snuffy” Snuffleupagus [This is not random: Snuffy does embarrassed better than anyone else in the cast, and he has a large enough body to be animated by two actors, lending credence to the primordial-hermaphrodite theory of Midrash. But please try not to think about whether this makes Big Bird God or Lilith.]
“Eve: Alice Snuffleupagus [Yes, that's Snuffy's baby sister. And Eve was related to Adam how again?]
“The Serpent: Slimey the Worm [Typecasting. Sorry.]
“Noah: Forgetful Jones [Since Sesame Street lacks an openly alcoholic Muppet, we are going with a more subtle choice. This presumably makes Clementine Noah's long-suffering wife.]“

Read her entire post here.

I grew up in the 70s & 80s.  During the early years I watched a lot of Public Television, including Sesame Street, the Electric Company (I was very sad when it went off the air) and Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.  These shows helped me learn to read and more.   Naomichana’s finding of paralles between muppet characters and aspects of Tanach characters brings a smile to my face. Perhaps it will to your too.  Read and enjoy.