What we could not do then...
We will do now...
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Friday, July 14, 2006
What Goes 'Round
"Now the detestable bastard is rumored to have lost an arm and a leg and while he lays in some hospital bed with a catheter up his penis and a collector catching his blood oozing from his stapled sutures, he will look up to the ceiling with his one remaining eye and will know - firsthand - how Israelis suffer when demented Islamo-Nazi homicide bombers blow up Jews at pizzerias, weddings, and shopping malls. For those poor Jews who do not perish in the Muslim homicide bombings, they instead suffer as cripples and paraplegics, paralyzed and deformed"
I found these words posted by Smooth Stone not long ago, written about Mohammed Deif, a known Hamas killer who was wounded by an Israeli attack.
Harsh words, yet I can not escape their truth. When you live a life of violence, violence will likely find you. How many people will suffer before this sick culture will build rather than destroy?
I found these words posted by Smooth Stone not long ago, written about Mohammed Deif, a known Hamas killer who was wounded by an Israeli attack.
Harsh words, yet I can not escape their truth. When you live a life of violence, violence will likely find you. How many people will suffer before this sick culture will build rather than destroy?
Restraint
There are nations that are urging Israel to practice restraint in protecting herself from her enemies. My question to you is: In whose interest is this call for restraint? Is it in Israel's benefit to show restraint at this time, or is it really in the interest of other nations with nothing to lose to call for restraint? Certainly no nation should have to (or would) sacrifice the security of her citizens for the interests of another nation.
And speaking of nations calling for restraint, I have some questions for Russia and China:
How much restraint was shown in Tienamin square?
How much restraint was shown in fighting Chechen rebels?
It is easy to call for restraint when you don't have much to lose. It's like being generous with someone else's money.
And speaking of nations calling for restraint, I have some questions for Russia and China:
How much restraint was shown in Tienamin square?
How much restraint was shown in fighting Chechen rebels?
It is easy to call for restraint when you don't have much to lose. It's like being generous with someone else's money.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Prayer For Members Of The Israel Defense Force
He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Arabah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea. May Hashem cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor. May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you. Now let us respond: Amen.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
A Terrible Loss
First Lt. Yehuda Bassel was killed in a gun battle during an IDF raid in Beit Lahia on Thursday.
" Yehuda thou art he whom thy bretheren shall praise: thy hand shall be on the neck of thy enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Yehuda is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?"
HaMakom Yinachem...
" Yehuda thou art he whom thy bretheren shall praise: thy hand shall be on the neck of thy enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Yehuda is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?"
HaMakom Yinachem...
Monday, July 03, 2006
The Jewish Heart
The Jewish heart aches.
The Jewish soul yearns.
The Jewish prayer screams.
The Jewish warrior fights.
The Jewish voice cries.
The Jewish tears flow.
The Jewish heart aches for its son.
The Jewish soul yearns.
The Jewish prayer screams.
The Jewish warrior fights.
The Jewish voice cries.
The Jewish tears flow.
The Jewish heart aches for its son.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
The Ark Of G-d Was Taken
"And the one who had reported the news, answered and said: Israel fled before the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people, and also your two sons perished, and the Ark of G-d was taken".
Every Israeli soldier is as precious as the Ark of G-d itself. May Gilad Shalit be returned safely to us.
Every Israeli soldier is as precious as the Ark of G-d itself. May Gilad Shalit be returned safely to us.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Folly Of Political Dogma
Inspired by the good folks at Just Another Jewish Conspiracy, and the always entertaining DovBear, I have decided to share with you this amazing story:
According to very reliable sources, Al Gore has discovered the sinister Bush racist weather machine in the basement of the White House. Built by evil Zionist scientists and financed by evil corporate greed (as a result of tax cuts to only the richest Americans, and Bush-sponsored price gouging by the oil industry), this is a truly remarkable piece of equipment. Tested first on New Orleans last year, causing only minorities to get wet, the purpose of this machine is to hasten the coming of the rapure to White America by eliminating minority needs, so all funding can go directly to the evil imperialist Zionist regime who will rebuild the Temple and bring about the end of days. Also, since we know that wet minorities are not allowed to vote in America's heartland, we can expect yet another stolen election in 2008.
As a part of the world zionist conspiracy, I am privy to the details of this amazing technology. I know that I risk my life by sharing this information, but my journalistic creed impells me to report this to the world:
Somehow, the hot air generated by Noam Chomsky, the shrill frequencies of Hillary's voice, and the toxic alcohol-induced fumes emitted from the various orifices of Ted Kennedy are combined in a secret process and released into the atmosphere to cause global warming. Then, in a process that only Al Gore and all of the world's scientists understand, hurricanes of unusual intensity are released upon the minority populations of the United States. This machine has also been suspected as the cause of the recent Tsunami disaster, but that is only speculation. It is not currently known how a weather machine could cause an earthquake-related Tsunami, but with Zionists and corporations behind it, anything is possible. In fact, a prominent member of the Bush administration was overheard by Michael Moore saying " Who cares about Tsunami victims? there are no rich christian white men living in that part of the world".
The good news is that we don't have to take it! This administration has been a part of one conspiracy after another. From the shooting of JFK, to the 9-11 conspiracy, we say enough is enough! Let's impeach this president and put in the real winner of the 2004 elections, a man of real integrity, and a man who will promise to dismantle the Bush racist weather machine - Ralph Nader.
Up next: How Bush's drilling in ANWR will endanger the Moonbat.
According to very reliable sources, Al Gore has discovered the sinister Bush racist weather machine in the basement of the White House. Built by evil Zionist scientists and financed by evil corporate greed (as a result of tax cuts to only the richest Americans, and Bush-sponsored price gouging by the oil industry), this is a truly remarkable piece of equipment. Tested first on New Orleans last year, causing only minorities to get wet, the purpose of this machine is to hasten the coming of the rapure to White America by eliminating minority needs, so all funding can go directly to the evil imperialist Zionist regime who will rebuild the Temple and bring about the end of days. Also, since we know that wet minorities are not allowed to vote in America's heartland, we can expect yet another stolen election in 2008.
As a part of the world zionist conspiracy, I am privy to the details of this amazing technology. I know that I risk my life by sharing this information, but my journalistic creed impells me to report this to the world:
Somehow, the hot air generated by Noam Chomsky, the shrill frequencies of Hillary's voice, and the toxic alcohol-induced fumes emitted from the various orifices of Ted Kennedy are combined in a secret process and released into the atmosphere to cause global warming. Then, in a process that only Al Gore and all of the world's scientists understand, hurricanes of unusual intensity are released upon the minority populations of the United States. This machine has also been suspected as the cause of the recent Tsunami disaster, but that is only speculation. It is not currently known how a weather machine could cause an earthquake-related Tsunami, but with Zionists and corporations behind it, anything is possible. In fact, a prominent member of the Bush administration was overheard by Michael Moore saying " Who cares about Tsunami victims? there are no rich christian white men living in that part of the world".
The good news is that we don't have to take it! This administration has been a part of one conspiracy after another. From the shooting of JFK, to the 9-11 conspiracy, we say enough is enough! Let's impeach this president and put in the real winner of the 2004 elections, a man of real integrity, and a man who will promise to dismantle the Bush racist weather machine - Ralph Nader.
Up next: How Bush's drilling in ANWR will endanger the Moonbat.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell
A quote from the book "We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell" by S. J. Greenstein:
"At nine years old, I was playing with my neighbors in their back yard and their mother called me over and read to me the following passage from the book of Isaiah:
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
(The word "virgin" is a deliberate christian mistranslation of the original Hebrew word "almah" which means young woman - JF)
She said that Immanuel was referring to jesus and that because my family and I did not believe in jesus, we were going to burn in Hell. Although this was my first such experience, it was certainly not my last. When my children were young and they were playing with their christian friends, it made me realize what a horrific thing this woman did to me. I would never have entertained the thought of telling any of these children that jesus was not God and that they and their families were going to burn in Hell for practicing idolatry."
"At nine years old, I was playing with my neighbors in their back yard and their mother called me over and read to me the following passage from the book of Isaiah:
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
(The word "virgin" is a deliberate christian mistranslation of the original Hebrew word "almah" which means young woman - JF)
She said that Immanuel was referring to jesus and that because my family and I did not believe in jesus, we were going to burn in Hell. Although this was my first such experience, it was certainly not my last. When my children were young and they were playing with their christian friends, it made me realize what a horrific thing this woman did to me. I would never have entertained the thought of telling any of these children that jesus was not God and that they and their families were going to burn in Hell for practicing idolatry."
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The Religion Is Gone, But The Prejudice Remains
In an otherwise good post by JE Holman, contributor on Debunking Christianity I found the following objectionable statement:
"I'm afraid of our nation having to one day face greater difficulties because of religiously influenced leaders and commanders who feel compelled to put our soldiers in harm's way out of the Christian compulsion to keep helping the Jews fight their wars, while it costs the lives of our boys in green."
To which I replied:
"You may not realize it, but your charge of the US fighting wars for the Jews is highly offensive. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this is the last place I expected to see a typical anti-semetic blood libel. If you are the open-minded skeptic that you claim to be, you wouldn't believe all of the claims you hear from the left without investigation."
I was rather surprised at the answer that I recieved from Mr. Holman. Instead of a honest quest for knowledge and clarification, I got a very defensive diatribe full of christian prejudice.
The following is his response, with my own thoughts interspersed in blue.
First, I am no leftist. I'm not a rightist either. I am a staunch independent. Second, I have a decent grasp of political knowledge, nothing to brag about, but decent.
This is true, if decent means almost no knowledge of middle east politics.
I research everything I write before I write it. If I am found to be wrong, I'll gladly stand corrected.
Good, I'll look forward to your retraction.
The reference you are taking offense to was a small side point in my article, and a summation of a fact about what motivates America -- Christian religion. Christianity was being faulted, not Judaism.
I never claimed that Judaism was being faulted, only that you make an unfounded accusation of the Jewish people.
Whether it's in the past or present, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam end up creating factions and wars. Always has been this way.The very reason you are taking issue with this is because your people are in a religious holy war over land and religion.
Obviouly, you understand nothing about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel is a secular democracy, not a theocratic state. Its founders were mostly secular Jews. The secular government of Israel has no religious agenda, it has only the security of its citizens in mind. Israel has demonstrated in the past that it has been willing to give up land for peace.
It should sicken you.
What sickens me is the venomous hatred and callous disregard for life of the Arab/Islamic terrorists.
Third, I am no where close to anti-semitic.
I'll bet that some of your best friends are Jewish.
It's just that you guys tend to see everything as anti-semitic.
"You guys"? I've heard that before.
It sounds like a classic projection of the old Persecution Complex. You know, in this stupid, paranoid day and age, even if you don't like rap, you're basically a racist! Get off persecution and racism claims. They've lost their power because everyone has abused them.
Perhaps you are right. Just because a third of my people were mudered just 60 years ago, and Iran is currently threatening six million Jews in Israel today is no cause for alarm. I guess I am just too sensitive.
Fourth, the US is fighting Jewish wars for them in some very real ways. At least, that's what it amounts to. By talking about fighting the Jew's wars for them, I was talking about the US's Christian compulsion to support and help Jewish causes because of Jesus and their belief that he is returning to re-establish the Kingdom on Earth, save the Jewish people...the throne of David...etc. Just listen to John Hagee, who represents most of orthodox Christianity on this.
Silly me, I thought that the US was fighting wars to protect itself from terrorism.
I catch the Dennis Prager and Michael Medved shows quite often, and callers call in vouching for the need to bless and help Israel financially and otherwise.
Dennis Prager and Michael Medved are christian ass-kissers. Their views do not represent the majority of Jews. They are pandering to a christian audience.
I heard a commercial about this very subject just the other day. Tons of campaigns are being run with these goals in mind.
It must be the vast Jewish conspiracy at work again.
You can't even turn on TBN without all those religious commercials about cruises to the Holy Land with Pastor so-and-so. You don't think all this influences American thought and war motives, especially when some profit is involved (aka "oil")??? You don't think Bush's "God told me to invade Iraq" thinking had something to do with this??? Think again, my friend.
No sir, it is you that needs to think again. If the US was really fighting a war for Israel, why didn't it fight Iran which is a much greater threat to Israel, or the palestinian terrorists which are the most immediate threat?
I once published an article by an Orthodox Jew when I was editor of the College Hill Counselor on how much Christians have done for Judaism, and that's why, he said, all Jews should praise the US's efforts.This obsession saturates our leadership and filters down into their decisions. We've done so much in those holy land disputes, I couldn't list it all here. Israel and the US are superclose allies for obvious religious reasons.
Yet another myth perpetrated by the anti-semitic left.
Israel and the US are allies because Israel is the only stable democratic state in the region that guarantees rights for all its citizens regardless of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. In fact, it is the only state in the region in which women are not second class citizens, and in which homosexuality is not a criminal offense.
Israel has been a bastion of freedom in the region during the years of the cold war, and today fights for the same freedoms that Americans hold dear (and take for granted).
We are always discussing sanctions and other consequences for totalitarian and human rights abusing nations. Should we not support a nation that has democratic freedoms? Especially in that part of the world?
I think you realize this and only take offense to the part about Israel needing the help to fight off those Islamic savages over there. I cant help that.
Israel has been far more successful than the US in fighting terorism. Except for US soldiers supervising patriot missiles during the first Gulf war, no US soldier has ever fought for Israel. In fact, there have been many instances in which the US has hindered the military progress of Israel.
Aside from basic surveilance to watch for growth of terrorist training camps and weapons of mass destruction (as all nations should be concerned with to a degree), being over there and supporting these efforts is none of our government's business. My nation's leader talking about putting democracy to the savages involves us in a war that has been dressed up to be about a lot of other things than what it really is about: religion and oil. Christianity plays a tremendous part in this and gets many of our people killed. That was my point. Superstition, as it always has done, ends up promoting hatred and war. I wish it weren't so.
It seems like you can take the man out of the church, but it is harder to take the church out of the man. Many of your prejudices about Jews come from the same church that you have so noisily rejected. Israel is not full of Sadducees and Pharisees running around in robes, and Jews are by no means monolithic in their opinions regarding Israel, religion or anything else. Many non-religious Jews are very nationalistic, and there are many ultra-orthodox religious Jews that vehemently oppose the state of Israel. If you read my writing you will see that I am no great fan of christianity, and I don't care for any type of religious fundamentalism. On this we agree. My point is this: to say that the US is fighting and dying for Jewish interests is irresponsible and dangerous. Our people have been killed in the past for far lesser claims.
Addendum: Shortly after I published this post, Mr. Holman wrote a comment apologizing for any offense. It would seem that Mr. Holman is a man of integrity with a truly open mind. While we don't need to agree on everything, Mr. Holman has demonstrated that his ego does not stand in the way of his knowledge, and that is very impressive indeed.
"I'm afraid of our nation having to one day face greater difficulties because of religiously influenced leaders and commanders who feel compelled to put our soldiers in harm's way out of the Christian compulsion to keep helping the Jews fight their wars, while it costs the lives of our boys in green."
To which I replied:
"You may not realize it, but your charge of the US fighting wars for the Jews is highly offensive. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this is the last place I expected to see a typical anti-semetic blood libel. If you are the open-minded skeptic that you claim to be, you wouldn't believe all of the claims you hear from the left without investigation."
I was rather surprised at the answer that I recieved from Mr. Holman. Instead of a honest quest for knowledge and clarification, I got a very defensive diatribe full of christian prejudice.
The following is his response, with my own thoughts interspersed in blue.
First, I am no leftist. I'm not a rightist either. I am a staunch independent. Second, I have a decent grasp of political knowledge, nothing to brag about, but decent.
This is true, if decent means almost no knowledge of middle east politics.
I research everything I write before I write it. If I am found to be wrong, I'll gladly stand corrected.
Good, I'll look forward to your retraction.
The reference you are taking offense to was a small side point in my article, and a summation of a fact about what motivates America -- Christian religion. Christianity was being faulted, not Judaism.
I never claimed that Judaism was being faulted, only that you make an unfounded accusation of the Jewish people.
Whether it's in the past or present, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam end up creating factions and wars. Always has been this way.The very reason you are taking issue with this is because your people are in a religious holy war over land and religion.
Obviouly, you understand nothing about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel is a secular democracy, not a theocratic state. Its founders were mostly secular Jews. The secular government of Israel has no religious agenda, it has only the security of its citizens in mind. Israel has demonstrated in the past that it has been willing to give up land for peace.
It should sicken you.
What sickens me is the venomous hatred and callous disregard for life of the Arab/Islamic terrorists.
Third, I am no where close to anti-semitic.
I'll bet that some of your best friends are Jewish.
It's just that you guys tend to see everything as anti-semitic.
"You guys"? I've heard that before.
It sounds like a classic projection of the old Persecution Complex. You know, in this stupid, paranoid day and age, even if you don't like rap, you're basically a racist! Get off persecution and racism claims. They've lost their power because everyone has abused them.
Perhaps you are right. Just because a third of my people were mudered just 60 years ago, and Iran is currently threatening six million Jews in Israel today is no cause for alarm. I guess I am just too sensitive.
Fourth, the US is fighting Jewish wars for them in some very real ways. At least, that's what it amounts to. By talking about fighting the Jew's wars for them, I was talking about the US's Christian compulsion to support and help Jewish causes because of Jesus and their belief that he is returning to re-establish the Kingdom on Earth, save the Jewish people...the throne of David...etc. Just listen to John Hagee, who represents most of orthodox Christianity on this.
Silly me, I thought that the US was fighting wars to protect itself from terrorism.
I catch the Dennis Prager and Michael Medved shows quite often, and callers call in vouching for the need to bless and help Israel financially and otherwise.
Dennis Prager and Michael Medved are christian ass-kissers. Their views do not represent the majority of Jews. They are pandering to a christian audience.
I heard a commercial about this very subject just the other day. Tons of campaigns are being run with these goals in mind.
It must be the vast Jewish conspiracy at work again.
You can't even turn on TBN without all those religious commercials about cruises to the Holy Land with Pastor so-and-so. You don't think all this influences American thought and war motives, especially when some profit is involved (aka "oil")??? You don't think Bush's "God told me to invade Iraq" thinking had something to do with this??? Think again, my friend.
No sir, it is you that needs to think again. If the US was really fighting a war for Israel, why didn't it fight Iran which is a much greater threat to Israel, or the palestinian terrorists which are the most immediate threat?
I once published an article by an Orthodox Jew when I was editor of the College Hill Counselor on how much Christians have done for Judaism, and that's why, he said, all Jews should praise the US's efforts.This obsession saturates our leadership and filters down into their decisions. We've done so much in those holy land disputes, I couldn't list it all here. Israel and the US are superclose allies for obvious religious reasons.
Yet another myth perpetrated by the anti-semitic left.
Israel and the US are allies because Israel is the only stable democratic state in the region that guarantees rights for all its citizens regardless of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. In fact, it is the only state in the region in which women are not second class citizens, and in which homosexuality is not a criminal offense.
Israel has been a bastion of freedom in the region during the years of the cold war, and today fights for the same freedoms that Americans hold dear (and take for granted).
We are always discussing sanctions and other consequences for totalitarian and human rights abusing nations. Should we not support a nation that has democratic freedoms? Especially in that part of the world?
I think you realize this and only take offense to the part about Israel needing the help to fight off those Islamic savages over there. I cant help that.
Israel has been far more successful than the US in fighting terorism. Except for US soldiers supervising patriot missiles during the first Gulf war, no US soldier has ever fought for Israel. In fact, there have been many instances in which the US has hindered the military progress of Israel.
Aside from basic surveilance to watch for growth of terrorist training camps and weapons of mass destruction (as all nations should be concerned with to a degree), being over there and supporting these efforts is none of our government's business. My nation's leader talking about putting democracy to the savages involves us in a war that has been dressed up to be about a lot of other things than what it really is about: religion and oil. Christianity plays a tremendous part in this and gets many of our people killed. That was my point. Superstition, as it always has done, ends up promoting hatred and war. I wish it weren't so.
It seems like you can take the man out of the church, but it is harder to take the church out of the man. Many of your prejudices about Jews come from the same church that you have so noisily rejected. Israel is not full of Sadducees and Pharisees running around in robes, and Jews are by no means monolithic in their opinions regarding Israel, religion or anything else. Many non-religious Jews are very nationalistic, and there are many ultra-orthodox religious Jews that vehemently oppose the state of Israel. If you read my writing you will see that I am no great fan of christianity, and I don't care for any type of religious fundamentalism. On this we agree. My point is this: to say that the US is fighting and dying for Jewish interests is irresponsible and dangerous. Our people have been killed in the past for far lesser claims.
Addendum: Shortly after I published this post, Mr. Holman wrote a comment apologizing for any offense. It would seem that Mr. Holman is a man of integrity with a truly open mind. While we don't need to agree on everything, Mr. Holman has demonstrated that his ego does not stand in the way of his knowledge, and that is very impressive indeed.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Does Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism?
In the past several years I have heard the same nauseating complaint over and over again:
"If I criticize the State of Israel, I am automatically accused of anti-semitism"
This claim has been made by many, including Arabs, Europeans, Leftists, and even some Jews!
For those who are suddenly so concerned about being labeled an anti-semite, simply ask yourself the following question: Do you in any way criticize Israel's right to defend her citizens? If you do then you are an anti-semite, plain and simple.
"If I criticize the State of Israel, I am automatically accused of anti-semitism"
This claim has been made by many, including Arabs, Europeans, Leftists, and even some Jews!
For those who are suddenly so concerned about being labeled an anti-semite, simply ask yourself the following question: Do you in any way criticize Israel's right to defend her citizens? If you do then you are an anti-semite, plain and simple.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Rememberence Day Was Tuesday April 25
Every day six million murdered Jews speak to me. Some days they scream. Tuesday they screamed. "Do you appreciate the gift of life?" they ask. "Do you make the most of your life?" Are you living to your potential?". Sometimes they even have the nerve to ask if I am enjoying my life! "Well, I guess I enjoy my life overall" I answer meekly. "But you know, some days work is frustrating, and some days the kids are difficult - those days are very trying".
The response is harsh - " My job was taken from me, and my children were ripped from my arms and killed right in front of me" say my murdered brothers and sisters. "I wish I had a job to be frustrated about, you see a man does not feel like a man without a job". "And I long for the days when my kids were difficult, that is part of life - the life that was stolen from us". "A man who is robbed of the ability to provide for and protect his own family, one who sees the corpses of his children in front of him is dead even before his soul leaves his body".
They don't stop there either. "What do you do with the life that you have, with the opportunities you have been given?" "Do you do what is right and good?" "Do you use your good fortune to help others?" "Do you comfort those in need?" "Do you stand up for the oppressed?" "Do you take a stand against evil?"
"And what of us?" "How can you, with your comfortable life, safeguard our heritage?" " Will you sacrifice any of your comforts to protect your own people?" " Will you work to right the wrongs of a world that ignored our cries?" " A world that sacrificed us to the idols of indifference and outright hatred?" " Even now your people are being murdered for the very same reason we were - because they are Jews". "What are you going to do about it?"
It's that last question that stings the most - "What are you going to do about it?"
What can I do about it? What do they want from me? I am only one person. Do I need to speak out more against the murder of innocent Jews? Should I volunteer my time? Should I donate my money?
I don't know what they want, but the question still rings in my ears - "What are you going to do about it?"
The response is harsh - " My job was taken from me, and my children were ripped from my arms and killed right in front of me" say my murdered brothers and sisters. "I wish I had a job to be frustrated about, you see a man does not feel like a man without a job". "And I long for the days when my kids were difficult, that is part of life - the life that was stolen from us". "A man who is robbed of the ability to provide for and protect his own family, one who sees the corpses of his children in front of him is dead even before his soul leaves his body".
They don't stop there either. "What do you do with the life that you have, with the opportunities you have been given?" "Do you do what is right and good?" "Do you use your good fortune to help others?" "Do you comfort those in need?" "Do you stand up for the oppressed?" "Do you take a stand against evil?"
"And what of us?" "How can you, with your comfortable life, safeguard our heritage?" " Will you sacrifice any of your comforts to protect your own people?" " Will you work to right the wrongs of a world that ignored our cries?" " A world that sacrificed us to the idols of indifference and outright hatred?" " Even now your people are being murdered for the very same reason we were - because they are Jews". "What are you going to do about it?"
It's that last question that stings the most - "What are you going to do about it?"
What can I do about it? What do they want from me? I am only one person. Do I need to speak out more against the murder of innocent Jews? Should I volunteer my time? Should I donate my money?
I don't know what they want, but the question still rings in my ears - "What are you going to do about it?"
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
More thoughts on Purim
"And Haman went out on that day, happy and with a cheerful heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and he neither rose nor stirred because of him, Haman was filled with wrath against Mordecai".
There have been times in our history when our bodies were forced to bow before men, but the heart of a Jew will bow for no man.
I wish you all a happy Purim.
There have been times in our history when our bodies were forced to bow before men, but the heart of a Jew will bow for no man.
I wish you all a happy Purim.
Some Thoughts on Purim
The Book Of Esther is the prototypical story of the Jews in exile throughout the centuries. As you read through it you will find themes that are painfully familiar to us.
"And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered and separate among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, and their ways differ from those of every people, and they do not keep the king's ways; it is therefore no use for the king to let them be. If it pleases the king, let it be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out ten thousand silver talents into the hands of those who perform the work, to bring it in to the king's treasuries".
Haman represents the individual, (or small group) that hates moral ideals so much that he can not tolerate the existence of the people who represent those ideals.
"And the king took his ring off his hand and gave it to Haman...the adversary of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you and the people - to do to them as it pleases you".
The king represents all people who stand by, or even give tacit approval while the haters of morality carry out their evil plans.
It is interesting to note that in this story, the king is not as evil as Haman, but his attachment to morality is tenuous, and that is exactly what Haman is counting on. and precisely what is needed to bring his evil plans to fruition.
Without those like the king giving tacit approval or even just looking the other way, Haman would be just another marginalized extremist; another frustrated megalomaniac vainly seeking expression. It is my sincere wish that all people of the world learn this valuable lesson and take it to heart.
"And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered and separate among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, and their ways differ from those of every people, and they do not keep the king's ways; it is therefore no use for the king to let them be. If it pleases the king, let it be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out ten thousand silver talents into the hands of those who perform the work, to bring it in to the king's treasuries".
Haman represents the individual, (or small group) that hates moral ideals so much that he can not tolerate the existence of the people who represent those ideals.
"And the king took his ring off his hand and gave it to Haman...the adversary of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you and the people - to do to them as it pleases you".
The king represents all people who stand by, or even give tacit approval while the haters of morality carry out their evil plans.
It is interesting to note that in this story, the king is not as evil as Haman, but his attachment to morality is tenuous, and that is exactly what Haman is counting on. and precisely what is needed to bring his evil plans to fruition.
Without those like the king giving tacit approval or even just looking the other way, Haman would be just another marginalized extremist; another frustrated megalomaniac vainly seeking expression. It is my sincere wish that all people of the world learn this valuable lesson and take it to heart.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Quote in Honor of Purim
"And Haman told Zeresh his wife, and all of his friends everything that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, If Mordecai before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, then thou shalt not prevail against him, but thou shalt surely fall before him." - The Book of Esther, 6:13.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
I Am a Jew
I am a Jew.
I sat and wept by the rivers of Babylon.
I rebuilt with Nehemiah.
I fought the Greeks and was victorious.
I watched with disbelief as the walls of the Temple fell.
I saw rivers of blood at Beitar.
I died at Masada.
I watched in horror as Rabbi Akiva was martyred.
I studied at Yavneh.
I learned philosophy at the feet of Maimonides.
I witnessed in fear, the debate at Barcelona.
I experienced the disappointment in Shabbetai Zvi.
I marvelled at the Vilna Gaon.
I was outraged at the Dreyfus trial.
I had my wife and children torn from my arms in a death camp in Poland.
I heard Nazi guards sing christmas carols the day before my death.
I could not believe my eyes when the Germans retreated from the Warsaw Ghetto.
I helped build the atom bomb.
I followed the voice of Ben Gurion to the promised land.
I fought alongside Ariel Sharon.
I cried at Maalot.
I shocked the world in 1967.
I paid for my arrogance in 1973.
I was rescued by Jewish soldiers at Entebbe, and it felt like G-d himself took us home.
I saw smiles in Oslo, tears in Israel.
I said goodbye to Gaza, hello to Hamas.
I am a Jew. I am every Jew that ever lived. I brought morality to the world. I rejoiced at Einstein's Nobel Prize. I took pride in our great thinkers. I was shamed by every scandal. I cried after every attack. I comforted the survivors. I have died and I rose up from the ashes.
I am a Jew.
I sat and wept by the rivers of Babylon.
I rebuilt with Nehemiah.
I fought the Greeks and was victorious.
I watched with disbelief as the walls of the Temple fell.
I saw rivers of blood at Beitar.
I died at Masada.
I watched in horror as Rabbi Akiva was martyred.
I studied at Yavneh.
I learned philosophy at the feet of Maimonides.
I witnessed in fear, the debate at Barcelona.
I experienced the disappointment in Shabbetai Zvi.
I marvelled at the Vilna Gaon.
I was outraged at the Dreyfus trial.
I had my wife and children torn from my arms in a death camp in Poland.
I heard Nazi guards sing christmas carols the day before my death.
I could not believe my eyes when the Germans retreated from the Warsaw Ghetto.
I helped build the atom bomb.
I followed the voice of Ben Gurion to the promised land.
I fought alongside Ariel Sharon.
I cried at Maalot.
I shocked the world in 1967.
I paid for my arrogance in 1973.
I was rescued by Jewish soldiers at Entebbe, and it felt like G-d himself took us home.
I saw smiles in Oslo, tears in Israel.
I said goodbye to Gaza, hello to Hamas.
I am a Jew. I am every Jew that ever lived. I brought morality to the world. I rejoiced at Einstein's Nobel Prize. I took pride in our great thinkers. I was shamed by every scandal. I cried after every attack. I comforted the survivors. I have died and I rose up from the ashes.
I am a Jew.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Beautiful Words In The Hebrew Bible
The Book of our people contains some beautiful poetic verses:
(translation from the original Hebrew is my own - JF)
"And Moses alighted to G-d, and G-d called to him from the mountain saying, So shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell to the children of Israel. You have seen that which I did to Egypt; I carried you on the wings of eagles and I brought you to Me. And now, If you will indeed hearken to My voice and keep my covenant then you will be a treasure to Me from among all the nations, for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be a nation of princes, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
(translation from the original Hebrew is my own - JF)
"And Moses alighted to G-d, and G-d called to him from the mountain saying, So shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell to the children of Israel. You have seen that which I did to Egypt; I carried you on the wings of eagles and I brought you to Me. And now, If you will indeed hearken to My voice and keep my covenant then you will be a treasure to Me from among all the nations, for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be a nation of princes, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Desecration of the Name of God
In Judaism we have a concept called "chillul Hashem" which is loosely translated as "desecration of the name of G-d". In practical terms this means that if a Jew does something wrong in the public arena he has caused the Jewish people, the Jewish religion , and ultimately G-d, to be viewed in a negative light. Since the Jews are supposed to be a "light unto the nations" this is obviously a very serious infraction.
It occurs to me that this concept is entirely absent in the muslim world. They act like uncivilized barbarians worldwide as a result of some cartoons, with absolutely no sense of shame. Who could possibly be attracted to Islam after witnessing this shameful display?
It occurs to me that this concept is entirely absent in the muslim world. They act like uncivilized barbarians worldwide as a result of some cartoons, with absolutely no sense of shame. Who could possibly be attracted to Islam after witnessing this shameful display?
Monday, February 13, 2006
A Jewish Perspective on Christianity
As a result of my post on the disgraceful Michael L. Brown, the Atheologist suggested that religion has divided people far more than it has united them. While I agree wholeheartedly with the Atheologist's assessment, I would like to clarify that the intention of my post was not to be divisive.
First of all, this blog has thus far been written mostly from a cultural perspective, and not a religious one. My intention is to celebrate the proud heritage that is Judaism. To that end, anyone who seeks to humiliate, denigrate, assimilate, or exterminate the Jewish people earns a demerit in my book. No one rightly accuses the Black civil rights movement of the 1960's as divisive. It is instead seen as corrective. So please consider that what I am about to say comes from the perspective of a man whose people have only recently crawled out of the crematoria of christian Europe and have begun to make their way onto the world stage.
The Jewish people see christians first and foremost as persecutors and torturers.
History is stained with the blood of my ancestors at the hands of "loving" christians. Inqusitions, book burnings, forced debates, forced conversions, pogroms, forced conscriptions, forced baptisms, forced sermons, forced expultions, and numerous other tragedies have been perpetrated against the Jews by christians in the name of jesus christ for close to two millenia. Martin Luther, the great reformer and church father laid out the blueprint of the holocaust in his great work of christian theology entitled "On the Jews and Their Lies". His vision was ultimately carried out during the second world war by the members of the denomination that bears his very name - the Lutherans.
Jews also view christians as deceitful evangelizers. Judaism does not actively seek converts. We believe that all people can be righteous in the eyes of G-d. Christians on the other hand, have used any and all means deemed neccesary to add numbers to their ranks. After all, this precedent was set by the most famous of the self-hating traitorous Jews, the apostle Paul. He stated: "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law...that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some". In other words, he will evangelize, truth be damned. The King James Bible (as well as most other christian versions) is replete with gross mistranslations of the original Hebrew text in order to twist and distort the message from one of personal responsibility to a message of a dying god-man who takes away personal responsibility. The book of our people, The Hebrew Bible, has been hijacked and deliberately tampered with by christians. Are my gentile readers aware that the Jewish interpretation of the Bible permits divorce, and allows for abortion in certain cases? That "An eye for an eye" means monetary compensation, or that the standard of proof in court is so stringent that according to one rabbinic opinion the death penalty was invoked only once in seventy years? And most importantly, that the people of all nations do not have to convert to the Jewish religion to be "saved" (there is no concept of salvation in Judaism, but that is a discusion for another time)? You probably have never heard of these ideas because your christian leaders keep them from you. You are presented with the bible that they want you to see, not the original in its original language. After all, If you don't need christ, you don't need the church, and the christian leadership are out of a job.
The spiritual heirs of the apostle Paul are in full swing today trying to eliminate the Jewish people through conversion. They will use any tactic at their disposal (except for honesty) to entice Jews away from their heritage. I have seen missionary training literature, and it is very detailed, from the targets chosen (uneducated and lonely Jews) to the very words used ("don't say christian, say bible believer"). I believe in the right of christians to evangelize, I only ask that they keep it honest.
For those who say that christianity has evolved into a tolerant religion, I would argue that it is only the power of government that separates fundamentalist christians from their Muslim counterparts. Do you imagine for one minute that fundamentalist christians would not try to control your life if they had the power of government behind them?
In summary , as I stated earlier, my purpose is not to be divisive. I only ask that the world stop trying to convert us. After two thousand years of subjugation, we have earned the right to be left alone.
First of all, this blog has thus far been written mostly from a cultural perspective, and not a religious one. My intention is to celebrate the proud heritage that is Judaism. To that end, anyone who seeks to humiliate, denigrate, assimilate, or exterminate the Jewish people earns a demerit in my book. No one rightly accuses the Black civil rights movement of the 1960's as divisive. It is instead seen as corrective. So please consider that what I am about to say comes from the perspective of a man whose people have only recently crawled out of the crematoria of christian Europe and have begun to make their way onto the world stage.
The Jewish people see christians first and foremost as persecutors and torturers.
History is stained with the blood of my ancestors at the hands of "loving" christians. Inqusitions, book burnings, forced debates, forced conversions, pogroms, forced conscriptions, forced baptisms, forced sermons, forced expultions, and numerous other tragedies have been perpetrated against the Jews by christians in the name of jesus christ for close to two millenia. Martin Luther, the great reformer and church father laid out the blueprint of the holocaust in his great work of christian theology entitled "On the Jews and Their Lies". His vision was ultimately carried out during the second world war by the members of the denomination that bears his very name - the Lutherans.
Jews also view christians as deceitful evangelizers. Judaism does not actively seek converts. We believe that all people can be righteous in the eyes of G-d. Christians on the other hand, have used any and all means deemed neccesary to add numbers to their ranks. After all, this precedent was set by the most famous of the self-hating traitorous Jews, the apostle Paul. He stated: "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law...that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some". In other words, he will evangelize, truth be damned. The King James Bible (as well as most other christian versions) is replete with gross mistranslations of the original Hebrew text in order to twist and distort the message from one of personal responsibility to a message of a dying god-man who takes away personal responsibility. The book of our people, The Hebrew Bible, has been hijacked and deliberately tampered with by christians. Are my gentile readers aware that the Jewish interpretation of the Bible permits divorce, and allows for abortion in certain cases? That "An eye for an eye" means monetary compensation, or that the standard of proof in court is so stringent that according to one rabbinic opinion the death penalty was invoked only once in seventy years? And most importantly, that the people of all nations do not have to convert to the Jewish religion to be "saved" (there is no concept of salvation in Judaism, but that is a discusion for another time)? You probably have never heard of these ideas because your christian leaders keep them from you. You are presented with the bible that they want you to see, not the original in its original language. After all, If you don't need christ, you don't need the church, and the christian leadership are out of a job.
The spiritual heirs of the apostle Paul are in full swing today trying to eliminate the Jewish people through conversion. They will use any tactic at their disposal (except for honesty) to entice Jews away from their heritage. I have seen missionary training literature, and it is very detailed, from the targets chosen (uneducated and lonely Jews) to the very words used ("don't say christian, say bible believer"). I believe in the right of christians to evangelize, I only ask that they keep it honest.
For those who say that christianity has evolved into a tolerant religion, I would argue that it is only the power of government that separates fundamentalist christians from their Muslim counterparts. Do you imagine for one minute that fundamentalist christians would not try to control your life if they had the power of government behind them?
In summary , as I stated earlier, my purpose is not to be divisive. I only ask that the world stop trying to convert us. After two thousand years of subjugation, we have earned the right to be left alone.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Quote of the Day
"The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, an almost fanatical love of justice and the desire for personal independance - these are the features of the Jewish tradition which make me thank my lucky stars that I belong to it" - Albert Einstein.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Shvantz Of The Week
This week's award goes to Michael L. Brown. Michael Brown is a traitor to his people. He was born a Jew, but converted to christianity as a teenager after a bout with drug addiction. It was not enough for Brown to insult his heritage by converting to the faith that has tortured the Jews like no other, he has also dedicated his life to convincing other Jews to follow in his twisted footsteps. He has written a series of three books with the title "Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus". These books are written solely to confuse the uneducated Jew. Any Jew who understands his history and tradition will find these books to be a cruel joke.
What's worse is that he has also written a book called "Our Hands Are Stained With Blood". This book is supposed to show with brutal honesty the unrivaled bloodshed and humiliation that the Jews suffered at the hands of the Christians. Even the Jewish reviewers said as much. I however, was very deeply disappointed after reading this book. It is nothing but excuses and moral distortion. There is no admission of guilt, and no attribution of cruelty to christian dogma, or to christians themselves ("real christians would never act this way").
I would ask christians in general , and Michael L. Brown in particular, to remember the words of the new testament - your bible. It says you can tell the quality of a tree by the fruit that it bears. The tree of christianity has borne rotten fruit for centuries, don't you think that it's time for some real soul-searching?
What's worse is that he has also written a book called "Our Hands Are Stained With Blood". This book is supposed to show with brutal honesty the unrivaled bloodshed and humiliation that the Jews suffered at the hands of the Christians. Even the Jewish reviewers said as much. I however, was very deeply disappointed after reading this book. It is nothing but excuses and moral distortion. There is no admission of guilt, and no attribution of cruelty to christian dogma, or to christians themselves ("real christians would never act this way").
I would ask christians in general , and Michael L. Brown in particular, to remember the words of the new testament - your bible. It says you can tell the quality of a tree by the fruit that it bears. The tree of christianity has borne rotten fruit for centuries, don't you think that it's time for some real soul-searching?
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Shvantz Of The Week
This week's award goes to anyone who ever said that the majority of Palestinians are moderates who really want peace. What an incredible self-delusion! Recent events have shown the world the true colors of our Palestinian neighbors. Given the opportunity, they elected as their government one of the most bloodthirsty organizations of modern times (and their thirst is quenched primarily with the blood of our Jewish brothers and sisters), Hamas. Is anyone aware that this word means "corruption" in Hebrew? A prophetic name indeed.
Please don't tell me that they were elected because of their social service programs. Everyone knows the true agenda of Hamas, and they themselves feel no need in keeping it a secret. Every Palestinian who voted knew that it was a vote to spill innocent Jewish blood. Apparently the Palestinian "morality" has no problem with accepting benefits from murderers, but as for the decent people of the world, we don't care for our bread to be served by bloody hands.
Please don't tell me that they were elected because of their social service programs. Everyone knows the true agenda of Hamas, and they themselves feel no need in keeping it a secret. Every Palestinian who voted knew that it was a vote to spill innocent Jewish blood. Apparently the Palestinian "morality" has no problem with accepting benefits from murderers, but as for the decent people of the world, we don't care for our bread to be served by bloody hands.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
On Love And Hate
In response to my post on Mohammed Atta (may his evil name be erased) I encountered some comments in opposition to my idea that hate may have some positive value. In particular, Freethoughtmom states: "The hate of someone like Atta cannot be stopped by more hate." The idea that love is always good, and hate is always bad is a christian one. In fact you will not find this idea anywhere in the Hebrew Bible. I have noticed that skeptics who are former christians, have been so steeped in christian culture that their ideas continue to be affected by christian thought and they are not even aware of it (sorry FTM). So when is love good and when is hate bad? Perhaps we need to take a closer look at these emotions to answer this question.
Anyone who has been in a relationship knows that the opposite of love is not hate - it is indifference. So how did hate get such a bad rap as the "anti-love"? Shouldn't indifference be the subject of our denigration as being the furthest from love? It seems clear that love and hate are two different expressions of a common idea. When one is passionate about something, they either love it or they hate it.
Cognitive psychologists tell us that emotion follows cognition. In other words, first we have a thought, then we have a feeling. So therefore, hate (or any feeling for that matter) can't be good or bad - it just is. This is all common sense. We don't go about our daily lives choosing how we feel. If that were so, then sadness and pain would be absent from the world. So if I hate Mohammed Atta (which I do), am I a bad person? Can I help how I feel? Can I change my hate for him anymore than I can change my love for my family? You see, it's not emotions that determine what kind of people we are, it's the thoughts behind those emotions that determine what kind of people we are. We love what deem most important to us, and we hate that which threatens those things. Anyone who claims not to hate is either indifferent to everything, or loves nothing (or is lying to themselves).
Anyone who has been in a relationship knows that the opposite of love is not hate - it is indifference. So how did hate get such a bad rap as the "anti-love"? Shouldn't indifference be the subject of our denigration as being the furthest from love? It seems clear that love and hate are two different expressions of a common idea. When one is passionate about something, they either love it or they hate it.
Cognitive psychologists tell us that emotion follows cognition. In other words, first we have a thought, then we have a feeling. So therefore, hate (or any feeling for that matter) can't be good or bad - it just is. This is all common sense. We don't go about our daily lives choosing how we feel. If that were so, then sadness and pain would be absent from the world. So if I hate Mohammed Atta (which I do), am I a bad person? Can I help how I feel? Can I change my hate for him anymore than I can change my love for my family? You see, it's not emotions that determine what kind of people we are, it's the thoughts behind those emotions that determine what kind of people we are. We love what deem most important to us, and we hate that which threatens those things. Anyone who claims not to hate is either indifferent to everything, or loves nothing (or is lying to themselves).
What about women who fall in love with cruel murderers who are in prison for life? Is that love good? Would you recommend it to your daughters? Would anyone who truly values human life love someone who brutally disregards it? Certainly that love can only come from someone who cares nothing for the lives of others . It is a love that is borne of a selfish narccicistic value system that states: "My emotional and physical gratification is more important than the lives of innocent people". Only a person who has that thought, that value system, could form an emotional attatchment to a cruel killer.
Do you hate suffering, or injustice, or oppression, or poverty? Would you ever say that hatred of suffering is bad? Would you ever say that the hatred of suffering can not stop suffering? Obviously no one would say that because nothing would ever be done to alleviate suffering if we remained indifferent to it. The very first step in alleviating suffering is the hatred of suffering. And as for those who would say: "I only hate suffering, not the people who cause it" I would say that this argument only makes sense if you believe that people are not the cause of their own actions (another christian idea - evil is the devil's doing). But certainly we are the cause of our own actions; you can not separate the suffering from the one who caused it. And for anyone who disagrees with that I would recommend that you tell it to the judge in traffic court, and you will soon find out that he (or she) believes otherwise.So to answer the original objection "The hate of someone like Atta can not be stopped by more hate" makes no sense to me. People like Atta will never be stopped unless we are passionate enough about the value of human life to feel hatred for the one who wishes to destroy it.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Shvantz Of The Week
This week's award is shared by the Agudath Israel of America and the Catholic Church, who are both working to undermine a NY State law that would require parochial schools to report abusive teachers.
Granted, that there is a far worse abuse problem in the Catholic Church than there is in religious Jewish institutions, nevertheless, I am embarassed to say that the Jewish institutions have failed just as miserably as their Catholic counterparts at self-policing, and self-correcting abuse in their respective educational systems. Any sane person would agree that this type of legislation would be unnecessary had these institutions acted with greater prudence and transparency.
All organizations have limited time, money, and manpower. One wonders, given these limitations, why are these organizations engaging the government about this particular issue, when so much good could be accomplished by putting these resources toward the goal of actually helping people? These organizations are to be seen as self-serving, rather than as community-serving.
Hat tip: Dovbear
Granted, that there is a far worse abuse problem in the Catholic Church than there is in religious Jewish institutions, nevertheless, I am embarassed to say that the Jewish institutions have failed just as miserably as their Catholic counterparts at self-policing, and self-correcting abuse in their respective educational systems. Any sane person would agree that this type of legislation would be unnecessary had these institutions acted with greater prudence and transparency.
All organizations have limited time, money, and manpower. One wonders, given these limitations, why are these organizations engaging the government about this particular issue, when so much good could be accomplished by putting these resources toward the goal of actually helping people? These organizations are to be seen as self-serving, rather than as community-serving.
Hat tip: Dovbear
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Four Things
The Jewish Freak has been tagged by Stacey (a fine Jew) for this meme, so here goes:
4 jobs I've had:
1. Assistant baker
2 .Construction
3. Musician
4. White collar professional (current)
4 movies I could watch over and over:
1. The Blues Brothers (The original)
2 .Devil's Advocate (Great insight into human nature)
3. The Shawshank Redemption
4. The Graduate
4 places I've lived:
1. A suburb of New York City
2. Israel (In yeshiva one year)
3. Current residence
4. No others, that's it
4 TV shows I love to watch:
1. Seinfeld
2. Curb your enthusiasm
3. The King of Queens
4. Nova
4 places I've been on vacation:
1. Boston
2. New Hampshire
3. Los Angeles
4. Israel
4 websites I visit daily:
1. All of the Fine Jews listed in my sidebar are visited daily.
4 Favorite Foods:
1. Hot pastrami sandwich
2. Potato Kugel
3. Doughnuts
4. Hot Dogs - Just because I like these 4 things doesn't mean that I eat them. I want to live to see my grandchildren.
4 places I'd rather be:
1. In Israel
2. Anywhere, playing a musical instrument or reading
3. At work, on a good day
4. With my beloved
4 books I could read over and over:
1. The Hebrew Bible
2. Apology, Crito, Republic, by Plato (I know that's really 3)
3. Guide For The Perplexed by Moses Maimonides
4. The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
4 people I'm tagging: (I don't know if these people have been tagged already)
1. abbagav
2. happywithhislot
3. ben avuyah
4. beyond Lomdus
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Remembering The Dead Part ll
The following are the remainder of the victims of terrorist attacks in Israel in 2005 as listed inThe Jewish Week. They were murdered simply for being in the Jewish homeland. I will list their names and ages:
Dov Kol-58, Rachel Kol-53, Shmuel Mett-21, Sasson Nuriel-55, Lt. Ariel Buda-21, Kineret Mandel-23, Matat Adler-21, Oz (Yisroel) Ben-Meir-15, Jamil Qa'adan-48, Michael Kaufman-68, Pirhiya Machlouf-53, Sabiha Nissim-66, Ya'acov Rahmani-68, St.-Sgt. Yonatan Evron-20, Genia Poleis-66, Alexandra Garmitzky-65, Daniel Golani-45, Elia Rosen-38, Keinan Tsuami-20, Haim Amram-26, Sgt. Nir Kahane-20, Yossi Shok-35, Lt. Ori Binamo-21.
To all the mourners Jew and Gentile alike, I offer the traditional Jewish blessing of the mourners: "May The Lord comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem".
Dov Kol-58, Rachel Kol-53, Shmuel Mett-21, Sasson Nuriel-55, Lt. Ariel Buda-21, Kineret Mandel-23, Matat Adler-21, Oz (Yisroel) Ben-Meir-15, Jamil Qa'adan-48, Michael Kaufman-68, Pirhiya Machlouf-53, Sabiha Nissim-66, Ya'acov Rahmani-68, St.-Sgt. Yonatan Evron-20, Genia Poleis-66, Alexandra Garmitzky-65, Daniel Golani-45, Elia Rosen-38, Keinan Tsuami-20, Haim Amram-26, Sgt. Nir Kahane-20, Yossi Shok-35, Lt. Ori Binamo-21.
To all the mourners Jew and Gentile alike, I offer the traditional Jewish blessing of the mourners: "May The Lord comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem".
Shvantz Of The Week
This week's award goes to the ultimate Jewish self-hater, Moshe (Moishe) Rosen, the founder of Jews for jesus.He is deserving of this award on so many counts:
First of all, he disgraces our long tradition and our mission to demonstrate to the world that G-d has NO physical representation, or said another way, that G-d is not a man.
Second, he is pushing for to Jews to accept a theology in which nazi christian "believers" go to heaven, while their innocent Jewish victims are damned to hell.
Thirdly, he is asking us to dumb ourselves down, and ignore centuries of critical thinking skills honed by talmud study, science and philosophy, and accept a very implausable message designed for mass appeal. Our Patriarch Abraham taught us not to be swayed by beliefs of the masses.
Fourth, his wish to convert all Jews is really a wish to bring the Jewish nation to an end. It is clear to anyone with any sense that "Jewish" christians will assimilate into the mainstream christian world and will disappear off the Jewish map forever.
Lastly, his most recent article, "Christmas is a Jewish Holiday" just plain old pisses me off.
First of all, he disgraces our long tradition and our mission to demonstrate to the world that G-d has NO physical representation, or said another way, that G-d is not a man.
Second, he is pushing for to Jews to accept a theology in which nazi christian "believers" go to heaven, while their innocent Jewish victims are damned to hell.
Thirdly, he is asking us to dumb ourselves down, and ignore centuries of critical thinking skills honed by talmud study, science and philosophy, and accept a very implausable message designed for mass appeal. Our Patriarch Abraham taught us not to be swayed by beliefs of the masses.
Fourth, his wish to convert all Jews is really a wish to bring the Jewish nation to an end. It is clear to anyone with any sense that "Jewish" christians will assimilate into the mainstream christian world and will disappear off the Jewish map forever.
Lastly, his most recent article, "Christmas is a Jewish Holiday" just plain old pisses me off.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Quote Of The Day
"I have written this book primarily for my own people, lest the Jew forget again - as he so disastrously forgot in the past - this simple truth: that there are things more precious than life, and more horrible than death."
-From "The Revolt" by Menachem Begin
-From "The Revolt" by Menachem Begin
Monday, January 09, 2006
RE: What Would You Do?
I will give my answer to my previous post with an explanation. Thank you Jewish Atheist and Stacey for your input.
I started this blog with the intention of expressing my rational, intellectual side. What I noticed, however, is that my emotions seem to have control of my fingers as I type. It occurs to me that this is the only avenue available to me to freely express my love for the Jewish people - my family. In person, among the people I know, my feelings may not be welcome, but in this virtual world, I can share my feelings freely, and people who are so inclined can share with me the pride, joy, grief, and sadness that I feel on a daily basis toward our Jewish brothers and sisters.
And so, on to the question. What would I do? I hate Mohammed Atta (may his evil name be erased). I am a good Jewish boy, squeamish about killing and violence, but I don't think that I would have a moment's hesitation in pulling that trigger.
I feel good about hating the evil Atta. No guilt, no soul-searching, no hand wringing. Do you know why I feel good about my hate? Because what we love and what we hate betrays our most basic values.
I hate evil. Not the christian evil. Not a dark unseen force in the world. I hate the evil that is the sum of a man's actions. A man is the cause of his own actions, and so evil actions make the evil man.
This evil man, used his G-d given intelligence, his divine capacity for understanding, in the service of egotistical maniacal hatred. He used it to destroy G-d's crowning achievement - men and women who use their abilities for good; who work and provide services for others; who take care of their families. He used it to destroy those who give charity, and who volunteer their time for others. He used it to destroy immigrants who work hard to send money to their families abroad. He used it to destroy the innocent lives of the citizens of this great country.
And don't think for a minute that his evil actions were separate from his hatred of the Jews. Jews attract the most evil of every generation. They hate our goodness, our compassion, our self-restraint, and most of all, they hate our absolute devotion to basic human values. The United States was attacked not because it provides a haven for us, but because it shares our values.
Mohammed Atta hated Jews so much, he could not stand the idea of a country as great and powerful as this that shares these values. He needed to destroy the greatest manifestation of goodness in this world, because the mere existence of goodness would expose his life as a lie.
I started this blog with the intention of expressing my rational, intellectual side. What I noticed, however, is that my emotions seem to have control of my fingers as I type. It occurs to me that this is the only avenue available to me to freely express my love for the Jewish people - my family. In person, among the people I know, my feelings may not be welcome, but in this virtual world, I can share my feelings freely, and people who are so inclined can share with me the pride, joy, grief, and sadness that I feel on a daily basis toward our Jewish brothers and sisters.
And so, on to the question. What would I do? I hate Mohammed Atta (may his evil name be erased). I am a good Jewish boy, squeamish about killing and violence, but I don't think that I would have a moment's hesitation in pulling that trigger.
I feel good about hating the evil Atta. No guilt, no soul-searching, no hand wringing. Do you know why I feel good about my hate? Because what we love and what we hate betrays our most basic values.
I hate evil. Not the christian evil. Not a dark unseen force in the world. I hate the evil that is the sum of a man's actions. A man is the cause of his own actions, and so evil actions make the evil man.
This evil man, used his G-d given intelligence, his divine capacity for understanding, in the service of egotistical maniacal hatred. He used it to destroy G-d's crowning achievement - men and women who use their abilities for good; who work and provide services for others; who take care of their families. He used it to destroy those who give charity, and who volunteer their time for others. He used it to destroy immigrants who work hard to send money to their families abroad. He used it to destroy the innocent lives of the citizens of this great country.
And don't think for a minute that his evil actions were separate from his hatred of the Jews. Jews attract the most evil of every generation. They hate our goodness, our compassion, our self-restraint, and most of all, they hate our absolute devotion to basic human values. The United States was attacked not because it provides a haven for us, but because it shares our values.
Mohammed Atta hated Jews so much, he could not stand the idea of a country as great and powerful as this that shares these values. He needed to destroy the greatest manifestation of goodness in this world, because the mere existence of goodness would expose his life as a lie.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
What Would You Do?
If you could go back in time to Septmber 10, 2001, and put a bullet in the head of Mohammed Atta, and not get caught, would you?
Remembering The Dead
The Jewish Week has published portraits of Israelis murdered by Jew-hating terrorists in 2005. It is the first in a two-part series. Not all of the victims are Jews, but all paid the price for being in the Jewish homeland. I will list their names and ages:
Staff Sgt. Yosef Atia-21, Nissim Arbiv-26, Gideon Rivlin-50, Dror Girizi-30, Hertzl Shlomo-51, Ibrahim Kahili-46, Ivan Shmilov-53, Munam Abu Sabia-33, Ofer Tiri-23, Oded Sharon-36, Ayala-Haya Abukasis-17, Aryeh Nagar-37, Ronen Reuvenov-30, Yael Orbach-28, Yitzhak Buaglo-40, Odelia Hubara-26, Staff Sgt. Dan Talasnikov-21, Bi Shude-46, Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi-(young, but no age given), Yevgeny Reider-28, Avihai Levy-17, Aviad Mansour-16, Julia Voloshin-31, Cpl. Moshe Maor-(young, but no age given), Nofar Horowitz-16, Rachel Ben Abu-16, Anya Lifshitz-50, Dana Galkowicz-22.
Reading this article brought tears to my eyes. How many of you have children that are these ages, or spouses, or brothers or sisters? Will they ever stop killing us? It seems not.
If anyone knows the families of any of these victims please send them my condolences.
I will post part 2 next week.
Staff Sgt. Yosef Atia-21, Nissim Arbiv-26, Gideon Rivlin-50, Dror Girizi-30, Hertzl Shlomo-51, Ibrahim Kahili-46, Ivan Shmilov-53, Munam Abu Sabia-33, Ofer Tiri-23, Oded Sharon-36, Ayala-Haya Abukasis-17, Aryeh Nagar-37, Ronen Reuvenov-30, Yael Orbach-28, Yitzhak Buaglo-40, Odelia Hubara-26, Staff Sgt. Dan Talasnikov-21, Bi Shude-46, Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi-(young, but no age given), Yevgeny Reider-28, Avihai Levy-17, Aviad Mansour-16, Julia Voloshin-31, Cpl. Moshe Maor-(young, but no age given), Nofar Horowitz-16, Rachel Ben Abu-16, Anya Lifshitz-50, Dana Galkowicz-22.
Reading this article brought tears to my eyes. How many of you have children that are these ages, or spouses, or brothers or sisters? Will they ever stop killing us? It seems not.
If anyone knows the families of any of these victims please send them my condolences.
I will post part 2 next week.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Shvantz Of The Week
This week's award is a tie! The honor is shared by the president of Iran - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Pat Robertson.
The president of Jew-hatred, I mean Iran, said that he is happy about Ariel Sharon's stroke. He is still somehow angry with Sharon because arabs killed arabs in 1982. I also suspect that he does not like Jews who hold arab murderers accountable.
Pat Robertson states that Sharon had his stroke because he "divided God's land". I have two things to say to Pat Robertson:
1. Keep your christian nose out of Jewish business. You don't live in Israel, it is NOT your homeland, and you're not and will never be a small fraction of the man Sharon is.
2. If Sharon had a stroke because he divided God's land, please explain to us why Billy Graham has Parkinson's disease.
The president of Jew-hatred, I mean Iran, said that he is happy about Ariel Sharon's stroke. He is still somehow angry with Sharon because arabs killed arabs in 1982. I also suspect that he does not like Jews who hold arab murderers accountable.
Pat Robertson states that Sharon had his stroke because he "divided God's land". I have two things to say to Pat Robertson:
1. Keep your christian nose out of Jewish business. You don't live in Israel, it is NOT your homeland, and you're not and will never be a small fraction of the man Sharon is.
2. If Sharon had a stroke because he divided God's land, please explain to us why Billy Graham has Parkinson's disease.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Fellow Jews - Be Proud!
The following article was printed in The Gazette Telegraph of Colorado (I don't know the date):
"Jews Go Home"
By William Eiken
"Jews Go Home!" - Well, now this is nothing new. Never in the past have you taken this gentle suggestion to move on. But heaven forbid, suppose just this once, you thought that this expression of a few sick people actually expressed the conviction of all the people in this wonderful land of ours, and all of you started to pack your bags and leave for parts unknown.
"Jews go home, we don't want Jews, we want oil!" But before you leave, could you do me a favor? Would you leave behind your formula for the Salk vaccine with me before you leave? You wouldn't be so heartless as to let my children contract polio?
And would you leave your knack for government and politics, and persuasion and literature and your good food. And would you please leave me with the secret of your desire to succeed?
And please have pity on us. Please show us the secret of how to develop such geniuses as Einstein and Steinmetz and so many others who have helped us all. After all, we owe you a lot for the atomic bomb, most of our rocket research, and perhaps the fact that we are alive today. Instead, we could have been looking up from our chains and from our graves at Hitler, old but glad, driving slowly by in one of our cadillacs had he succeeded in reaching the atom bomb and not us.
On your way out, Jews, will you do me another favor? Will you please drop by my house and pick me up too? I'm sure I could not live in a land where you were not to be found. For if ever you were to leave, love goes with you, democracy and morality goes with you, everything me and my buddies fought for in World War II goes with you.
Just pull up in front of my house, slow down and honk because so help me, I'm going with you too.
Yours sincerely,
William Eiken.
Fellow Jews: Be proud of your heritage. Never apologize for who you are or where you came from. - JF
"Jews Go Home"
By William Eiken
"Jews Go Home!" - Well, now this is nothing new. Never in the past have you taken this gentle suggestion to move on. But heaven forbid, suppose just this once, you thought that this expression of a few sick people actually expressed the conviction of all the people in this wonderful land of ours, and all of you started to pack your bags and leave for parts unknown.
"Jews go home, we don't want Jews, we want oil!" But before you leave, could you do me a favor? Would you leave behind your formula for the Salk vaccine with me before you leave? You wouldn't be so heartless as to let my children contract polio?
And would you leave your knack for government and politics, and persuasion and literature and your good food. And would you please leave me with the secret of your desire to succeed?
And please have pity on us. Please show us the secret of how to develop such geniuses as Einstein and Steinmetz and so many others who have helped us all. After all, we owe you a lot for the atomic bomb, most of our rocket research, and perhaps the fact that we are alive today. Instead, we could have been looking up from our chains and from our graves at Hitler, old but glad, driving slowly by in one of our cadillacs had he succeeded in reaching the atom bomb and not us.
On your way out, Jews, will you do me another favor? Will you please drop by my house and pick me up too? I'm sure I could not live in a land where you were not to be found. For if ever you were to leave, love goes with you, democracy and morality goes with you, everything me and my buddies fought for in World War II goes with you.
Just pull up in front of my house, slow down and honk because so help me, I'm going with you too.
Yours sincerely,
William Eiken.
Fellow Jews: Be proud of your heritage. Never apologize for who you are or where you came from. - JF
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