Tunisia: Islamists Demonstrate Against Jews
This is the other side of Middle Eastern protests and freedom movements:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQHdxYDTH_Y
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4030359,00.html
“Abbas’s Intifada: Isolating Israel and Unilateral Steps”
The strategy of Abbas is not violence, but the diplomatic isolation of Israel and the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, with borders and parameters not to be determined by negotiation, but by fiat.
http://www.hudson-ny.org/1899/abbas-intifada
British Trade Union Movement, Israel, and Boycotts
The British Trade Union Movement has been co-opted by anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian activists, committed to ending the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.
Israel Transit Ads War on US Buses
This reflects increasing polarization in our country and more aggressive anti-Israel campaigning.
Another Thought on Israel-Palestinian Peace Negotiations
Recently a New York times articles explained how close Israel and the Palestinian Authority were to completing a peace treaty under Israel’s Prime Minister Olmert. Upon further reflection, I have some doubts. It is in the interests of both Abbas and Olmert to exaggerate the proximity of a deal. Olmert wants to contrast himself with Netanyahu and present himself as great Israeli leader. Abbas wants the West to think how great he is for giving up so much to the Israelis.
But the question is twofold: Is Abbas ready to give up the right of return for millions of Palestinians (which is the only way for Israel to remain a Jewish state), to reject the demands of militant members of Fatah, to accept Israeli authority over some Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, to acknowledge that Jews have some rights on the Temple Mount (which is also the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock), and to stop engaging in antisemitic rhetoric, particularly in its schools? Is Israel ready to take a risk on a Palestinian Authority that has had a history of corruption and not following through on its commitments, to remove settlers who may well respond violently against the Israeli military, to remove its authority from sites and places that have a centuries-long Jewish presence, to surrender military and security advantages, and to allow East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital?
I am not sure that either side is prepared to act at this time. The biggest challenge for both will be the militant, violent opponents of peace and reconciliation: some Jewish settlers, as well as militant members of Fatah and Islamist Hamas. I don’t believe that either Israel or the PA has confidence in taking that risk without substantial support from the U.S. And even with it, the Palestinians may need to continue their economic and political development to a point where Palestinian political leaders can face down militant ideologies and where Israel can have confidence and trust in taking a substantial risk– both internally with some potentially violent settlers and externally with a group that has historically hated Israel and wished to annihilate it.
Still everyone knows the outlines of a deal. While the recent tectonic shifts in the Middle East could usher in a period of instability and tension, they also have a real possibility of producing authentic democratic, free societies, capable of dealing with a Jewish state. This could therefore be a time out of which a meaningful agreement might emerge. We shall see.
http://mysticscholar.org/2011/02/11/israel-palestinian-peace-treaty-so-close/
Iran’s Nuclear Mining Deals with Ecuador and Venezuela
Iran attempts to gain access to uranium in South America.
http://shadow.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/15/irans_man_in_ecuador
Bahrain and Iran
An excellent analysis of this potential social and religious powder keg, where ethnic and religious conflict lies just beneath the surface. US policy has glossed over much of this, but the chickens are coming home to roost. Now is the time to encourage peaceful, democratic change in order to avoid an extremist religious Shiite takeover.
http://jerusalemcenter.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/could-the-kingdom-of-bahrain-become-an-iranian-pearl-harbor/
Economics and Our Op-Ed
Some doubt has been cast on the importance of Israel to the US economy and jobs. However, many underestimate the importance of Israel in global technology, especially in computers, health care and agriculture. It is large. We live in an interconnected world, and our economic relations with other countries (including foreign aid) have an economic impact on our own economy. We cannot go it alone. No one can.
See http://mysticscholar.org/2011/02/22/aid-to-israel-protects-us-interests/
Drones and Our Israel Op-Ed
Apparently drones bring forth a lot of emotion and strong opinion. Here is my response to some of those who have questioned the drone example in the Lexington Herald-Leader op-ed.
Many drones are used for surveillance purposes, but drones are also used for attacks: e.g. General Atomics MQ-1 Predators with Hellfire missiles (which have successfully killed a number of al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives, among others); and now the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. I think that these weapons are just the beginning, and war will be fought increasingly virtually. No question that this presents moral problems, but we cannot avoid questions by just saying “No.” That’s not going to happen, nor should it. In my view, drones save lives. Strategic, tactical, and fighter bombers have a much greater likelihood of dropping their loads in the wrong places (in spite of major improvements in accuracy). Ballistic missiles and artillery are not better. Infantry operations can be even more dangerous for civilians.
The larger question is: When military action is necessary, how do we have successful operations and minimize the killing of civilians? The emotions that drones induce have more do with symbolism and PR than with actual facts on the ground.
I believe that drone technology is helpful overall, because it saves US and Coalition lives and because killing of civilians is less likely (even though it still tragically occurs). War has always been characterized by awful, hideous events. Drones are not the reason they happen. Nor do drones fuel insurgencies in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen. Problems existed in those countries long before drones. Americans seem to think that we have this great influence on the world and that we are the main drivers of events–it’s a kind of imperialism that exists on both the right and the left. But people all over the world have their own motivations and reasons for doing what they do that have nothing to do with the US or with Israel. There are independent actors, and we don’t pull everybody’s strings.
Drone technology is simply one concrete illustration of military cooperation and research. However, one could also pint to other military items that the Israelis have developed (or helped to develop) that the US employs: Python missiles, Gabriel missiles, SMAW anti-tank guided missiles, Simon breach grenades, Samson Remote Control Weapons Stations, etc. Of course, Israel also uses US weapons: F15s and F16s, transport planes, Apache attack helicopters, transport helicopters, howitzers, missiles (including Hellfire, Maverick, Sidewinder, and Stinger) and now the Arrow Missile Defense System, among others. The US military clearly understands Israeli weapons research as a major strategic advantage for the US, and the Israelis naturally know the importance of US weapons for them. The relationship is symbiotic and a part of our economy–even though I would love to see a time when the need for this is greatly reduced.
The question is not drones. The question is military action in general. I agree that not every time is a military option the best option. In my view, both the US and Israel have sometimes forgotten this. Still military elements are a crucial part of self-defense. Without them, Israel would be annihilated and Jews slaughtered. In other locations, projecting military strength is required (even though the US might sometimes overplay its hand). Having weapons is often more powerful than using them, but that is only the case when at least occasionally we do use them.
UPDATE: On March 1, 2011, the IDF employed a new, defensive weapon, called the Trophy active protection system, designed to protect tanks from missiles. This is a significant upgrade for tank and armored car protection. During the Lebanon war, Israeli tanks suffered damage from hand-held, rocket-propelled grenades. The Israelis designed this system, and it will undoubtedly become important for the U.S. military as well. There is further similar technology in the pipeline as well.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=210540
See our op-ed: http://mysticscholar.org/2011/02/22/aid-to-israel-protects-us-interests/
Aid to Israel Protects US Interests
AID TO ISRAEL PROTECTS US INTERESTS
Lexington Herald Leader Op-Ed
By Linda Ravvin, Laurence H. Kant and Mike Grossman
Posted: 12:00am on Feb 18, 2011; Modified: 7:45am on Feb 18, 2011
Sen. Rand Paul recently stated that not only does he advocate cutting off U.S. aid to Israel, but he sees that aid as fueling a Middle Eastern arms race.
As a proportion of the total budget, aid to Israel is negligible. The Israeli military has been purchasing American military hardware for many years, and an elimination of this money would cost the U.S. many manufacturing jobs.
Additionally, Israel has been at the forefront of developing military technology, and U.S. military aid funds joint projects that the American military has taken advantage of in Iraq and Afghanistan. This includes drone technology, which has saved countless American and coalition lives.
It is safe to say that Israeli technological achievements (which are at least partially funded by U.S. military aid) have helped keep American troops safer.
Israel is the only full-fledged democracy in the region. Tiny as it is, with only 7 million people, its presence serves as a model for the development of other democracies and free-market societies in the region.
Its own Arab population (including Muslims, Christians and Druze) has more freedom, legal rights, social mobility and economic opportunity than the vast majority of Arabs elsewhere in the Middle East. Many Arabs (Palestinians and others) seek to enter Israel because of the work opportunities afforded by its vibrant, high-tech economy.
Per capita, Israel has the highest level of technological entrepreneurship in the world, supported by a deep commitment to education. U.S. military aid to Israel allows Israel to continue its leadership in this (in spite of Israel’s own large military budget) and work as a partner with the U.S. in creating a global high tech economy. This means jobs for U.S. citizens as well.
Israel’s neighbors dwarf it in both population and geographical size. Many of these neighbors are sworn to Israel’s destruction. While Israel will never have a quantitative edge militarily, Israel does have a qualitative edge, and it is this edge (partially due to U.S. military aid) that has prevented its destruction.
If Israel were to lose that qualitative edge, its enemies would certainly become emboldened, and the likelihood of a new and destructive war in the Middle East would substantially increase. Given our continued dependence on oil and our other strategic interests, this would almost certainly mean a much heavier financial and military U.S. investment in the Middle East than currently exists.
U.S. military support for Israel actually increases the likelihood for peace. Israel’s qualitative military advantage makes it significantly more likely that it will take the risks necessary for a comprehensive peace agreement with the Palestinians (and the Syrians as well). Should Israel lose U.S. military support, it would certainly not be willing to withdraw from any militarily strategic positions it currently controls, negating the land-for-peace formula of United Nations resolutions.
The main backer of state terrorism and global jihad is Iran, and a decrease in Israel’s military advantage (which would certainly occur should aid be reduced) would cause Iran to further fund anti-Israel and anti-American militias throughout the region.
Israel has been on the front line of the global war on terror for many years. Unfortunately, it appears that Israel will be forced to fight this war for many years to come.
Given the burgeoning grass-roots movements for freedom and democracy in the Arab/Muslim world (especially in Tunisia and Egypt), U.S. involvement in the Middle East and commitment to Israel are more important than ever. When a region reaches a turning point that has profound implications for the world and for America’s own interests, the U.S. should not retreat, but stay engaged.
Nobody disputes that fiscal responsibility is a vitally important goal for our nation and that we will have to make painful budgetary sacrifices. Aid to Israel is in the interest of the U.S. from a financial, strategic and moral standpoint. We encourage Paul to reconsider his stance on this issue and to support fully funding our commitments to Israel.
Linda Ravvin is president of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass; Laurence H. Kant is chair and Mike Grossman is co-chair of the Jewish Community Relations Committee.
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/02/18/1640058/aid-to-israel-protects-us-interests.html#more
Jews Take 5 of Top 6 Spots in Annual List of Top Jewish Givers
Because of their engagement with the world and importance Jews place on repairing the world, Jews have consistently ranked at the top end of philanthropic giving.
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/02/08/2742903/jews-show-well-on-annual-list-of-top-givers
Benny Morris on Crossing Mandelbaum’s Gate
This provides an excellent review of history over the past century and provides an analysis of anti-Israel revisionist history.
http://www.tnr.com/print/book/review/kai-bird-mandelbaums-gate
The Golan Heights: Beautiful and Strategic
How do Israel and Syria make peace? The beauty, harmony, and strategic importance of this region show the complexity of this question.
http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2011/02/13/so_beautiful____so_strategic/?page=full
Mixed Assessments on Iran and Nuclear Weapons
Iran appears, at least in part, to have recovered from the Stuxnet worm attack. The Iranians have replaced the hardware, but it is unclear whether they have control over the software.
On the other hand, the New Intelligence Estimate suggests that the Stuxnet worm has had considerable impact. Just as important, the sanctions seem to be having an impact on some Iranian leaders, who question the wisdom of developing a nuclear weapons program given the economic impact of sanctions.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703373404576148581167010572.html
“Palestine, an Obsession of Radical West, Not Arabs”
This essay is impressive. Brendan O’Neil absolutely nails it. This is all about victims and who is the biggest victim.
Back when Israelis looked like victims in the fifties and sixties, the same lefties loved Israelis and Jews (by the way, I’m no conservative either). Israelis and Jews were good victims then too. Until Israel won wars in 1967 and 1973, the Israelis and Jews (because of the Holocaust experience) were the favored victims. Many Jews were glad to have their support, but now I realize what that support actually meant. Jews are fine for these protesters as long as they remain victims: holocaust survivors, victims of anti-semitism, and poor Israelis facing massive odds against far more populous Arabs. However, God forbid that they should defend themselves and emerge victorious. Like the Palestinians, Jews were a tribe that middle-class empathizers could “coo” over. We’re still a tribe. Only we’ve made the mistake of forming a prosperous, democratic county and protecting ourselves.
There’s no question that Israel has done things that are problematic, especially the settlement policy. Israelis have also fallen into the trap of responding to every Palestinian provocation with force. There’s racism against Arabs that is prevalent in Israel.
Still this is a democratic society (the only full-fledged democracy in the Middle East) that is under siege from surrounding countries who want to annihilate it and to remove all Jews from the Middle East. Israel’s own Arab citizens have more economic opportunity, mobility, and freedom than the vast majority of other Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East. It is a diverse society that has women serving in the military, gay pride parades, as well as Arab and Ethiopian Jews.
In the end, whether you are Israeli/Jewish or Palestinian, most in the West look at you as a symbol, a trope. Not many really give a hoot about you, except in so far as you conform to some preconceptions that elicit feelings of tenderness or revulsion. It’s not just liberals, but conservatives, as well, especially some fundamentalist Christians. The latter see Palestinians as Muslim allies of the Anti-Christ ready to destroy Christianity, while Jews are ancient witnesses to Christ whose presence in the “Holy Land” will help usher in the Second Coming. Of course, in this scenario, the returned Christ will pretty much kill all of us, Muslim and Jew alike, unless we convert.
It would be nice if people could look at us, both Jews and our Palestinian cousins, as fellow human beings. Perhaps that’s too much to ask.
New Egyptian Poll from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Very interesting. Only 15% approve of the Muslim Brotherhood, while a mere 1% would support a Muslim Brotherhood candidate. Elbaradei has very little popular support, unlike Amr Mousa. Even more surprising, a plurality of Egyptians support the peace treaty with Israel (37% pro vs. 27% con). All in all, this is good news.
http://washingtoninstitute.org/templateC11.php?CID=543
Israel-Palestinian Peace Treaty So Close
So agonizingly close–still.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/magazine/13Israel-t.html?pagewanted=1&hp
“God”
Instead of using a word for “God,” perhaps we should simply form an out breath–a glottal stop, like the Hebrew letter, “alef.” When you want to say “God,” just speak with an exhalation.
A Petition To Endorse The Statement of 41 Nobel Laureates on the Issue of Academic Boycotts Divestments and Sanctions (Scholars for Peace in the Middle East)
If you are opposed to academic boycotts and divestment (now frequently aimed at Israel) , please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.
http://www.spme.net/cgi-bin/display_petitions.cgi?ID=21
http://spme.net/cgi-bin/display_petitions.cgi?ID=9&Action=View
Glenn Beck and Antisemitism
Many have spoken on the rise of antisemitism on the left in recent years, but antisemitism is alive and well on the right as well, even among those who ostensibly support Israel.
This is article is now archived. See instead the op-ed by Dana Milbank for the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2011/04/06/AFNEgnqC_story.html
Liberal Support For Middle East Dictators
Many commentators (including me) have noted conservative support for Arab/Islamic dictatorships in the Middle East. But this is no less true of the left who have readily defended tyranny in Iran and other places while condemning Israel, which is a democratic state. Here is an essay on this by Alan Dershowitz.
I find it intriguing that ideologues (whether conservative or liberal) are much more likely than non-ideologues to shelve their supposed principles when an article of their ideology is under threat. Here the left shelves democracy in order to affirm underdog Arab/Muslim societies and to condemn bully Israel. Some on the right do the same by supporting dictatorships in Egypt and Saudi Arabia (for example), claiming that stability trumps democracy–except when the US invaded Iraq.
http://www.hudson-ny.org/1860/hard-left-arab-despotism
Anger Transformed
Anger transformed can repair a world and heal a universe.
US Conservatives Split on Democracy in Egypt
Very interesting. I don’t think Michelle Goldberg is correct on Israel–that they are opposed to democracy in the Middle East because Israel has found it easier to deal with dictators and because stability trumps freedom. Yes, there are many Israelis who take this position. But in general Israelis are divided between those who believe that democracy will ultimately promote peace in region and those who fear that calls for democracy will lead to Islamic dictatorships and instability. Of course, Israelis have good reason to more anxious than us. They have violence and the threat of annihilation at their doorstep. Nevertheless, Israelis have a diversity of views on this, especially because of their own democratic traditions.
As for myself, I am deeply Jewish and Zionist. As a Jew and a Zionist, I support the aspirations of all people for freedom, no matter where they are. How can I not do so? That includes Egyptians, Iranians, and anyone else. I strongly believe that free, open, democratic societies are not only a human right and a step forward in human consciousness, but are a gateway to peace and reconciliation in the long run. No doubt there will be short- and mid-term challenges, but democratic societies are much less likely to engage in war with their neighbors, and that includes the Middle East.
By the way, I know that there are Egyptians who are worried about the image of their society in the world. I realize you are concerned about chaos, violence, and instability and the negative image that the world will see. My comments may not carry much weight with you, but as a Jew and a supporter of Israel, I am deeply moved by these demonstrations. I see nobility, honor, courage, and dignity. The chaos is not the fault of Egyptians, but the fault of a government that has lost its legitimacy. I have always been impressed by Egypt, its culture, and its magnificent, rich, long history. The events of recent days have only served to increase my admiration and respect. I keep the Egyptian people in my prayers every day.
We Are All Adam
We are all Adam, part of the same cosmic body, reaching out from one end of the universe to the other.
Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt
I don’t agree with Religion Link’s description (http://www.religionlink.com/topic_110131.php) of the Muslim Brotherhood as “not simply a religion, but a way of life.” Indeed, the Muslim Brotherhood believes that. Yet, even though the Muslim Brotherhood is not monolithic, it also believes that Egypt should be an Islamic state, as should other Muslim countries in the Middle East. It does not historically affirm freedom, openness, an entrepreneurial economy, or secular democratic values such as a free press, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. Unlike Iranian Shi’ites, the Mujhadeen, and Jihadists generally, the Muslim Brotherhood is not wedded to intimidation and violence as the primary means of achieving its goals, but it is willing to use violence when it sees fit. For example, members assassinated King Abdullah I in Jordan in 1951, tried to assassinate Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1954, were implicated in the assassination of Anwar El Sadat in 1981, assassinated a number of moderate Arab leaders in the 1950’s, and perpetrated other terrorist attacks including the Hebron massacre of Jews in1929. Since the 1970’s and 80’s, it has renounced violence and has spoken of Islamic democracy, but given its history and its hostility to generally accepted democratic values, it would not be unreasonable to view its democratic advocacy very skeptically. Further, Hamas (which rules Gaza) is part of the Muslim Brotherhood, and it has consistently used violence against both Israelis and Palestinians as an important tactical component. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood views Israel as the enemy of Arabs and Muslims. The Muslim Brotherhood has also had a long-standing, well-documented admiration of, and support, for Nazi ideology. In general, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt now uses moderate tactics, but its goal is still an Islamic state. And, remember, calling for Islam to be a part of government is not the same as calling for an Islamic State, with Sharia law and all its accoutrements. There’s certainly the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood has changed and will continue to evolve into a democratic movement, but there will have to be more evidence to trust that.
Here is a link from Juan Cole, suggesting that a takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is unlikely. Many Egyptians who are religious and who oppose the current government also have democratic, secular values. And there is a long tradition of secular politics in Egypt. There is also widespread support for Islamic values, but not necessarily for an Islamic state: http://www.juancole.com/2011/02/why-egypt-2011-is-not-iran-1979.html . I hope Cole is right.
That said, in the final analysis, prosperity and peace in the Middle East depend upon Muslim/Arab societies developing democratic traditions and cultures of openness, That will be good for everyone, including the US and Israel, in the long run. Of course, the “long run” can take a long time, and there can be a lot of turbulence and suffering in-between.
Nick Popaditch, Violent Rhetoric, and Antisemitism
Antisemitism is on the rise. That’s not a surprise in hard times, but it gets a little disturbing when an election night loser (Republican Nick Popaditch, known as Gunny Pop on Facebook) takes a mob of his supporters and corners the winner (Democrat Bob Filner) at his victory celebration on November 2 (2010). Using physical intimidation and lots of nasty language, including shouting “Jew” at Filner and his wife, the bullies get their chance to intimidate someone who is “liberal” (whatever that means) and Jewish. Wonder if that bears any resemblance to the . . . 1930’s.
In any case, this is just one of many examples of violent rhetoric run amok. We all need to take a hard line against over-the-top language and posturing, whether on the left or the right. People have a right to speak wherever and however they want, but we have a right to ask them to stop when they step over the line, not to listen to them when they continue, and to prevent physical intimidation. Otherwise, we enter a gateway into tyranny and authoritarianism.
http://lastblogonearth.com/2010/11/03/nick-popaditchs-last-stand/ (particularly the second video at the bottom of the page)
http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/4690
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOeRGjkC42g&feature=player_embedded
Chaos
Chaos is always lurking behind sturdy structures, offering the possibility of change and thus transformation. This is the story of Genesis and of our world today.
Jewish Humor
I have today added a number of jokes to the Jewish humor section, including Woody Allen’s classic “Sacrifice of Isaac” and “The Pope and the Jews” (a wonderful story that I use in multifaith gatherings to illustrate the importance of understanding how two different people can size up a situation completely differently). Take a look: http://mysticscholar.org/category/5jewish-quarter/humor-jewish-quarter/
The Sacrifice of Isaac (Jewish humor from Woody Allen)
This is classic, all over the web. Take a look at William Novak and Moshe Waldoks (ed. and annotated by), The Big Book of Jewish Humor (New York: Harper & Row, 1981), p. 220
WOODY ALLEN ON ABRAHAM AND ISAAC
The Sacrifice of Isaac
And Abraham awoke in the middle of the night and said to his only son, Isaac, “I have had a dream where the voice of the Lord sayeth that I must sacrifice my only son, so put your pants on.”
And Isaac trembled and said, “So what did you say? I mean when He brought this whole thing up?”
“What am I going to say?” Abraham said. “I’m standing there at two A.M. I’m in my underwear with the Creator of the Universe. Should I argue?”
“Well, did he say why he wants me sacrificed?” Isaac asked his father.
But Abraham said, “The faithful do not question. Now let’s go because I have a heavy day tomorrow.”
And Sarah who heard Abraham’s plan grew vexed and said, “How doth thou know it was the Lord and not, say, thy friend who loveth practical jokes, for the Lord hateth practical jokes and whosoever shall pull one shall be delivered into the hands of his enemies whether they pay the delivery charge or not.”
And Abraham answered, “Because I know it was the Lord. It was a deep, resonant voice, well modulated, and nobody in the desert can get a rumble in it like that.”
And Sarah said, “And thou art willing to carry out this senseless act?” But Abraham told her, “Frankly yes, for to question the Lord’s word is one of the worst things a person can do, particularly with the economy in the state it’s in.”
And so he took Isaac to a certain place and prepared to sacrifice him but at the last minute the Lord stayed Abraham’s hand and said, “How could thou doest such a thing?”
And Abraham said, “But thou said —”
“Never mind what I said,” the Lord spake. “Doth thou listen to every crazy idea that comes thy way?” And Abraham grew ashamed. “Er – not really … no.”
“I jokingly suggest thou sacrifice Isaac and thou immediately runs out to do it.”
And Abraham fell to his knees, “See, I never know when you’re kidding.”
And the Lord thundered, “No sense of humor. I can’t believe it.”
“But doth this not prove I love thee, that I was willing to donate mine only son on thy whim?”
And the Lord said, “It proves that some men will follow any order no matter how asinine as long as it comes from a resonant, well-modulated voice.”
And with that, the Lord bid Abraham get some rest and check with him tomorrow.
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For more on the this story in the Bible: see AqedahPart1a and AqedahPart2a.
The Pope and the Jews (Jewish humor)
This is a well-known Jewish Joke and can be found on many sites on the web. It;s a wonderful story that I use in multifaith gatherings to illustrate the importance of understanding how two different people can size up a situation completely differently. In other words, we may be looking at the same objects, but we don’t necessarily see them in the same way.
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THE POPE AND THE JEWS
Several centuries ago, the Pope decided that all the Jews had to leave Rome. Naturally there was a big uproar from the Jewish community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate with a member of the Jewish community. If the Jew won, the Jews could stay. If the Pope won, the Jews would leave. The Jews realized that they had no choice. They looked around for a champion who could defend their faith, but no one wanted to volunteer. It was too risky.
So they finally picked an old man named Moishe, who had spent his life sweeping up after people, to represent them. Being old and poor, he had the least to lose, so he agreed. He asked only for one condition to the debate. Not being used to speaking very much as he cleaned up around the settlement, he asked that neither side be allowed to talk. The pope agreed.
The day of the great debate came. Moishe and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Moishe looked back at him and raised one finger. The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Moishe pointed to the ground where he sat. The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. Moishe pulled out an apple. The Pope stood up and said, “I give up. This man is too good. The Jews can stay.”
An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what happened. The Pope said: “First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity.” “He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger around me to show him, that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground, showing that God was also right here with us.” “I pulled out the wine and the wafer to show that Jesus absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?”
Meanwhile, the Jewish community had crowded around Moishe, amazed that this old, almost feeble-minded man had done what all their scholars had insisted was impossible! “What happened?” they asked. “Well,” said Moishe, “First he said to me that the Jews had three days to get out of here. I told him that not one of us was leaving. Then he told me that this whole city would be cleared of Jews. I let him know that we were staying right here.” “And then?” asked a woman.
“I don’t know,” said Moishe. “He took out his lunch and I took out mine.”
Marooned (Jewish humor)
Marooned
A ship goes down in the ocean and Benny is the only survivor. He manages to swim to an uninhabited island.
Many year’s later, when a search party finally comes to rescue him, they see that he has constructed two synagogues on his tiny island.
“Why the two synagogues?” the leader asks Benny.
Benny points to the nearest one and replies, “That’s the one I go to every Saturday. The other one, I wouldn’t go inside if you paid me!”
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Via Lowell Nigoff.
This actually reminds me of a real story of the last two Jews in Kabul (Afghanistan) who did not get along at all with each other. See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1364310/The-last-two-Jews-in-Kabul-fight-like-cat-and-dog.html.
Four Men in the Desert (Jewish humor)
Four Men in the Desert
Four men are wandering in the desert. The German man says: “I am tired and thirsty. I must have a beer.” The Frenchman says: “I am tired and thirsty. I must have a glass of wine.” The Mexican says: “I am tired and thirsty. I must have a shot of tequila.” The Jewish man says: “I am tired and thirsty. I must have diabetes.”
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(From Hanna S. who found it on the web site of the Jewish Diabetes Association, via Lowell Nigoff)
The New Pope (Jewish humor)
The New Pope
Every time a new Pope is elected, there are many rituals in accordance with tradition but there is one tradition very few people know about.
Shortly after the new Pope is enthroned, the Chief Rabbi of Rome seeks an audience. He is shown into the Pope’s presence, whereupon he presents the Pope with a silver tray bearing a velvet cushion. On top of the cushion is an ancient, shriveled envelope. The Pope symbolically stretches out his arm in a gesture of rejection.
The Chief Rabbi then retires, taking the envelope with him and does not return until the next Pope is elected.
The new Pope was intrigued by this ritual, and that its origins were unknown to him. He instructed the best scholars of the Vatican to research it, but they came up with nothing. When the time came and the Chief Rabbi was shown into his presence, they faithfully enacted the ritual rejection but, as the Chief Rabbi turned to leave, His Holiness called him back.
“My brother,” the Pope whispers, “I must confess that we Catholics are ignorant of the meaning of this ritual enacted for many centuries between us and you, the representative of the Jewish people. I have to ask you, what is it all about?”
The Chief Rabbi shrugs and replies: “But we have no more idea than you do. The origin of the ceremony is lost in the traditions of ancient history.” The Pope said: “Let’s retire to my chambers and then open the envelope and discover the secret at last.” The Chief Rabbi agrees.
Fortified in their resolve they gingerly pried open the curling parchment envelope and with trembling fingers, the Chief Rabbi reached inside and extracted a folded sheet of similarly ancient paper.
As the Pope peered over his shoulder, he slowly opened the envelope. They both gasped with shock –
It is a bill for the Last Supper from “Moishe Cohen’s Catering and Deli”.
This joke comes from Tzvi M. from Israel and via Lowell Nigoff of Lexington, Kentucky
Translations of Genesis
These are examples of my new translations of two small portions of Genesis: © 2007 Laurence H. Kant: http://mysticscholar.org/talkspubs/translations-of-genesis/
A Personal View of Kashrut (Kosher)
See Laurence H. Kant, “A Personal View of Kashrut,” Opinion, Shalom, September, 2010, p. 11: Kashrut2
Who Are We, You and I: Meditations on Death and Afterlife
See my talk: Laurence H. Kant, “Who Are We, You and I: Meditations on Death and Afterlife”: Late Life Concerns: The Final Miles, Newman Center, Lexington, Kentucky, August, 2010: © 2010, Laurence H. Kant, All rights reserved: Who Are We
Aqedah (Genesis 22): Binding of Abraham and Isaac
See Laurence H. Kant, “Some Restorative Thoughts on an Agonizing Text: Abraham’s Binding of Isaac and the Horror on Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22)”: “Part 1,”Lexington Theological Quarterly 38 (2003) 77-109; “Part 2, Lexington Theological Quarterly 38 (2003) 161- 94: AqedahPart1a andAqedahPart2a
See also Laurence H. Kant, “Arguing with God and Tiqqun Olam: A Response to Andre LaCocque on the Aqedah,” Lexington Theological Quarterly 40 (2005) 203-19 (this was a response to an article by André Lacocque, “About the ‘Akedah’ in Genesis 22: A Response to Laurence H. Kant,”Lexington Theological Quarterly 40 (2005) 191-201): AqedahResponseToLacocque
Antisemitism on Rise in West
See Laurence H. Kant, “Anti-Semitism on Rise in West,” op-ed, Lexington Herald Leader, January 8, 2007: Antisemitism1
Jewish Inscriptions in Greek and Latin
See Laurence H. Kant, “Jewish Inscription in Greek and Latin,” in Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, 2.20.2:671-713. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1987 at the following two links: JewishInscriptions1; JewishInscriptions2
Ancient Synagogues in Jewish Inscriptions
See my talk: Laurence H. Kant, “Early Jewish Synagogues in Epigraphic Evidence,” Archaeology of the New Testament World Group, American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Francisco, November, 1992: © 1992, Laurence H. Kant, All rights reserved: SynagogueTalk1
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