2. Matrilineal Descent - In Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, a child is considered Jewish if their mother is Jewish - known as matrilineal descent. In Reform Judaism, a child is considered Jewish if either parent is Jewish. In Matrilineality is still best for Jewish identity, the opinion is expressed that the matrilineal stance is best.
By the way, the Nazis adopted a complex theory as to who they considered Jewish. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website, "[T]he Nuremberg Laws, as they became known, did not define a "Jew" as someone with particular religious beliefs. Instead, anyone who had three or four Jewish grandparents was defined as a Jew, regardless of whether that individual identified himself or herself as a Jew or belonged to the Jewish religious community. Many Germans who had not practiced Judaism for years found themselves caught in the grip of Nazi terror. Even people with Jewish grandparents who had converted to Christianity were defined as Jews. More detail about his complex subject can be found here.
It is my understanding that the ultimate version of the Israeli Law of Return (which has been amended since its initial passage) provides sanctuary to anyone covered by the definition under the Nuremberg Laws, but does not automatically presume that the person is halakhicly Jewish for the purposes of laws governing personal status.
I hope that I have not misstated or overstated these important concepts, but if I have, please correct me.
And as for the Right of Return as it relates to Lebanese returnees from Israel, here is the considered and compassionate position of the humanitarians from Hezbollah. Give 'em a state!
3. Settlements and the Art of the Deal - There is a report that the United States and Israel have negotiated a compromise of the settlements issue that allows both sides to save face. Which is better than.....
4. Shouldn't Someone Be Making Sure This Doesn't Happen? - A tightly run organization would not allow this to happen except for out and out incompetence or a total lack of concern. Imagine if AIPAC's annual meeting had an Islamophobic exhibition? And to then put it on the White House website? Wow.....
I mean - according to the story linked to above, during one panel, Imam Warith Deen Umar, former head of the New York state prison chaplain program managed to:
- Argue that key Obama aides are "Israeli," proving Jews "have control of the world."
- Malign the motives of Jews active in the Civil Rights movement.
- Portray the Holocaust as punishment of Jews for being "serially disobedient to Allah."
- Insinuate that Hurricane Katrina was a result of tolerance for homosexuality.
The same author has a website that promotes a book (Judaiology) that contains material such as:
"Jews, he wrote, are "an amazing people who can steal you blind as you watch. If you discover the theft, they can put you to sleep. If you wake up to them, they can put you back to sleep with mind games, tricks of fancy, smoke screens, and magic. Henry Ford almost uncovered them."
To be completely disgusted, go to this link. These are exactly the people that Barack Obama needs to cuddle up to - no doubt about it!
5. Chinese Unrest - Here is an update on this story. There cannot be a Jewish angle - I mean - China, Uighurs, Han Chinese, etc. - but no - someone has figured it out. Maybe instead of worrying about Israeli or American misdeeds, one could just worry about Muslim misdeeds - Iran and Sudan more or less leap to mind.....
6. Burqas - The debate rages. Recently, Paul Schneidereit of the Halifax Herald wrote this column, prompting this response. Wednesday's edition of the Herald was full of comments - here and here.
7. Bernie Ecclestone Redux - Gee, Bernie - I'm not really sure that this helps. Why not just admit you were an idiot who said an idiotic thing?
8. Paul McCartney - Hey Jude!! It's going to be A Hard Day's Night!! Sir Paul appears in Halifax - yes, Halifax - this Saturday for his only Canadian date this year. Here's a post-Beatles teaser:
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