Saturday, October 16, 2010 Motzei Shabbat

Preamble - Good News Department - All 33 Chilean Miners Rescued!



1. Some Canadian Stuff - I do not normally deal with Canadian issues unless they relate to Israel, but this week, there were a variety of things that came up that I think should be mentioned.

First, Canada was unsuccessful in its bid to become a member of the United Nations Security Council. The New York Sun said that Support for Israel Costs Canada Seat on U.N. Security Council. David Frum queries Why America did not support Canada at the UN | Full Comment | National Post. But perhaps the best comment comes from the redoubtable Rex Murphy - An institution that accepts North Korea and Iran has nothing over us | Full Comment | National Post.

Second is the case of Omar Khadr, who holds a Canadian passport. Khadr was the youngest person ever held at Guantanamo Bay and is the only Westerner still in detention there. It is alleged that while in Afghanistan in 2002 with his father (more on him later), Khadr threw a hand grenade that killed a United States Army medic. It is also alleged that he helped build and plant roadside IEDs.


His case has elicited great controversy given his age, the validity and veracity of his confession, the role Canada has/has not played in the whole affair, and the general fall-out regarding detainees at Guantanamo Bay and the level of "justice" that such detainees should be entitled to receive. The story was back in the new as Khadr's military trial is scheduled to start on October 25 amidst rumors of a pending plea bargain.


On the nature of the Khadr father, I refer you to Sins of the Father: 'Ahmed Khadr was very close to bin Laden'.

"With his charity CRF, Mr. Fadil moved on to Iraq and, when the tsunami struck Southeast Asia, to Indonesia. He returned to Canada last year and now runs a Dubai-based medical equipment company, but it bothers him when he meets Canadians who still hold Mr. Khadr in high regard.

He blames Mr. Khadr and his al-Qaeda associates for the tragedy that has befallen Afghanistan. He said they abused the hospitality of the Taliban to settle scores with the West.

“All the sufferings would not have happened if al-Qaeda would not have betrayed their host in the first place by using Afghanistan as a base to attack the U.S.,” he said. “No young Muslim in Canada should be fooled by Khadr and his friends’ legacy.”

The third issue relates to Robert Semrau, an officer in the Canadian military recently discharged from the military after being acquitted of murdering a Taliban fighter, but being found guilty of disgraceful conduct nonetheless. This link gives the basic background. The verdict has attracted controversy - perhaps best summed up by the first two letters in the following link - Today’s letters: I stand guilty with Capt. Semrau | Full Comment | National Post - if you follow the link, you will also find some interesting opinions on the Khadr matter.


Lastly, I wonder if this story is a perfect illustration of "not being able to see the forest for the trees" - George Jonas: Mullahs happily walk through doors Canadian feminists hold open | Full Comment | National Post


2. Some Jewish Stuff - This week's Torah portion was Lech Lecha - in which G-d instructs Abram (soon to be Abraham) to leave his native land for a land that G-d would show him. The parsha contains many other important events, not the least of which is the story of Hagar and Ishmael, as well as the circumcision commandment. Here is a link to an article by Rabbi Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom - Chief Rabbi - Lech Lecha 5771 - asserting that Abraham is the most influential man who ever lived. As well, here is a link to an article that picks up on the theme of Abraham as the original outsider - The Enabler - by Liel Leibovitz Tablet Magazine - A New Read on Jewish Life.







7. An Interview With David Hazony - Michael Totten » On the Bleeding Edge of the West

8. The New Loyalty Pledge - a variety of perspectives - The Citizenship Law amendment: Racist, just, or stupid?

9. Bill O'Reilly And The View - I avoid watching the morning female talk show "The View" for any number of reasons. This past week, conservative personality Bill O'Reilly appeared on the show and in a discussion about the Ground Zero Mosque stated that "Muslims killed us on 9/11". What was already a heated debate became explosive as two of the co-hosts, Whoopi Goldberg (of whom I am not especially fond) and Joy Behar, walked off the set in response. Here are some thoughts on the narrow issue regarding the comment that O'Reilly made - Commentary » Blog Archive » Bill O’Reilly Isn’t a Bigot. But He Is Wrong., Commentary » Blog Archive » A Voice of Moderation in the Fray, and on a related note - Conrad Black: Court moderate Muslims, but treat the extremists for what they are | Full Comment | National Post.


10. Sports Broadcasting - if you follow sports, you probably have a favorite announcer or analyst (as well as the ones you cannot stand). You probably also remember certain "calls" as being especially noteworthy. Here is one man's list - Joe Posnanski » Posts Thirty-Two Great Calls «. Which is your favorite? For a variety of reasons, of the "calls" on the list, I am partial to the one below:


though I think that my ultimate favorite is this (it is a long clip, but the good stuff (assuming you are a Canadian hockey fan starts at the 2:21 mark of the clip) :


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Saturday, October 9, 2010 - Motzei Shabbat

1. From Playwright David Mamet - How not to be a stranger in a strange land | Opinion | Jewish Journal - I am not sure where he gets the Rudyard Kipling reference (though I did read at one site that Kipling had some Jewish roots) - but whatever the degree of your Judaism, and I will be the first to admit that there are lots of gaps in mine, his basic advice is good. Sometimes Jews just need some time to be together with other Jews;
Where can we be among ourselves as Jews? That’s right. Come to the shul. You don’t even have to go into the prayer service; sit in the courtyard and drink tea among the alter-Yidden. What could be better?

The shul needs us, and we need the shul. We work too hard, and we live in a hostile environment. As we always have. That’s all right, but we need a rest.

Indulge yourselves. Interfaith panels and outreach and so on are all well and good when the TV is broken, but the time for letters to the editor is long past. It’s time to do something for the Jews, for the Jewish people and for yourselves as Jews. Build a shul.


2. The New Battlefield - many people who know of my passion for Israel advocacy often ask me - "Why doesn't Israel do a better job at getting its message out?" There is no simple answer, but this article Theater of War - by Amy Zalman Tablet Magazine - A New Read on Jewish Life - may offer some responses and some ideas.

3. Never-Ending - about a week ago Jews celebrated the holiday of Simchat Torah - celebration of the Torah. Among many very nice customs is the one that once the last words of V'Zot HaBerachah, the last parsha of Devarim (Deuteronomy) are read:


10. And there was no other prophet who arose in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

11. as manifested by all the signs and wonders, which the Lord had sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and all his servants, and to all his land,

12. and all the strong hand, and all the great awe, which Moses performed before the eyes of all Israel.
and that Torah is properly put away, we immediately take out a Torah that is set to Bereshit, the first parsha of Bereshit (Genesis) and read the opening lines of that parsha which recounts the creation of the world.

I had been taught as a child that one of the reasons for this was to show that the Torah is never-ending, and that to do so demonstrates the continuity of the Jewish people and their devotion to Torah.

Here is another explanation which I found quite interesting and touching - In a Loop - by Esther Schor Tablet Magazine - A New Read on Jewish Life.

4. This Link Is Not For Everyone - Shalom Auslander is a Jewish author with a unique approach to Judaism. This may be demonstrated simply by referring to one of his books entitled "Foreskin's Lament". So be forewarned - you may not like or even be offended what he writes in this article - Getting Along - by Shalom Auslander Tablet Magazine - A New Read on Jewish Life - which addresses the question - why isn't a Jew allowed to hate a fellow Jew?


5. And Another Provocative Article - when do you "play the antSemitism card", or perhaps more aptly "allege antiSemitism"? Consider this - The Jews who cried ‘anti-Semite!’ | Hollywood Jew | Jewish Journal - I think that the last line of the article (though you should read the whole thing) is quite wise.

6. The Druze - During a 2009 trip to Israel, our group drove more or less along the northern Israeli border from the Valley of Tears on the Golan to the Galil Winery in the Galilee, passing through some Druze villages. Later, we also had the pleasure of being hosted by a Druze family near Haifa. Here is an article about these fascinating people and the world they inhabit - Michael Totten » The Tower of the Sun.


7. Speaking Of the North Of Israel (and the South of Lebanon) - Commentary » Blog Archive » Hezbollah: A Bigger Menace than Ever

8. And Speaking Of Groups Like Hezbollah - Israel’s Strange “Peace Partners” | FrontPage Magazine


10. Hockey 2010-11 - OK - so Toronto beat Montreal in the season-opener - who cares? To get you ready for the new NHL season, here is CBC's video farewell to last year's exciting playoffs.


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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

1. Sombre Anniversary - Today marks the 37th anniversary (on the Gregorian calendar) of the start of the Yom Kippur War. On October 6, 1973, Arab military forces led by Egypt and Syria attacked Israel on what was Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year. After severe initial losses in men and materiel and the need to adapt to new Soviet supplied/taught tactics and weapons, Israel was eventually able to reverse the Arab onslaught. The war ended on October 25 with Israeli forces across the Suez Canal 101 kilometres from Cairo, encircling the Egyptian Third Army in the Sinai Peninsula, and occupying positions a mere 40 kilometres from Damascus. The war also came very close to bringing the superpowers into direct confrontation.


There are various views about the effects of the war. Common themes include:
  • after the wild success of the Six Day War of 1967, the Yom Kippur War shattered any thought of Israeli invincibility or complacency.
  • the imposition of the Arab oil embargo
  • an enhanced reputation for Anwar Sadat
  • a greater focus by all parties on negotiations for peace, leading ultimately Sadat's historic visit to Jerusalem in 1977, the Camp David Accords, and peace between Israel and Egypt (even if it is a very cool one).


Israel's human losses were extremely heavy - estimated at almost 3,000 killed and as many as 8,000 wounded. The IDF fought with incredible bravery and skill against very long odds, but we should always remember the terrible human cost.


2. Are Worms Kosher? and is Israel responsible? Is it a double-edged sword? Lots of questions!! Caroline Glick :: The lessons of Stuxnet


3. The Other Existential Threat - The Other Existential Threat



5, This Will Get Someone Into Trouble - Under the gun: how the people of Gaza feel about Hamas

6. Which Side Are They On?J Street Co-Founder: Israel's Creation 'An Act That Was Wrong' | Jewish News From WorldJewishDaily.com - and this is a group that has this on its web-site:
"J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans to advocate for vigorous U.S. leadership to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to broaden debate around Israel and the Middle East in national politics and the American Jewish community."
After recent stories regarding the true role of George Soros in funding JStreet and JStreet's role in shepherding Richard Goldstone (yes, that Richard Goldstone) around Capitol Hill, maybe it is just time for these guys to pack it in.



8. We Made The Post! Almost everyone I know has sent me this link, but here it is anyway - The Jewish heritage of ‘New Scotland’




10. Basketball Season Is Almost Here - yes, so is hockey season!


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Motzei Shabbat - September 25, 2010

I hope that "my" Jewish readers enjoyed the first 2 days of Sukkot followed by a restful Shabbat, and that "my" non-Jewish readers had a good week.

1. Here's Something You Don't See Everyday - Secret Jewish heritage converts neo-Nazi - CNN.com



3. The Peace Process - a big deal is being made over whether to continue the moratorium on new Israeli construction in Judea/Samaria - Commentary » Blog Archive » Settlement Freeze: An Unacceptable Veto. Everyone on the Palestinian side says that to do so is vital for the talks to continue and would constitute a major Israeli concession indicating her willingness to make peace. Well, it would be nice for the Palestinians to make some gestures of their own - like doing something about this - PA affirms death penalty for land sales to Israelis (this would be a good, albeit very minor, beginning). How about the Arab backers of the Palestinians doing something concrete about this - I am a refugee. Or this? - Arab politics; Palestinians suffering.


Fayyad (supposedly a moderate - my insertion) canceled a scheduled subsequent press conference with Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon in New York on Tuesday, after Ayalon refused to approve a summary of the meeting which said "two states" but did not include the words "two states for two peoples."

"What I say is that if the Palestinians are not willing to talk about two states for two peoples, let alone a Jewish state for Israel, then there's nothing to talk about," Ayalon told the Post in a telephone interview. "And also, I said if the Palestinians mean, at the end of the process, to have one Palestinian state and one bi-national state, this will not happen."
It ain't just semantics, folks.




7. Fall In NYC - and the nuts come to town for the UN General Assembly, including our favorite nut, the President of Iran. Here are some reflections:


9. Sometimes, What Goes Around Does Come Around - love it - Zombie » Sirhan Sirhan dedication backfires on Bill Ayers 36 years later

11. A Chilling Read - even if it concerns the death of Adolf Eichmann - The Executioner


12. Falafel Guy - not my favorite food,but watch this guy go!

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I'm back after a break over the Yomim Noraim - the Days of Awe - between the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). I hope that "my" Jewish readers have been inscribed in the Book of Life for a happy, healthy and prosperous 5771, and, of course, I wish all the best to "my" non-Jewish readers.

1. Death Of A Leader - I am sad to report on the death of Irving Schwartz, of Sydney, Nova Scotia, a man I had the privilege to meet briefly many, many years ago. I doubt that my words could describe him well, so I will simply link to his obituary - SCHWARTZ Irving Schwartz 81 years, New Waterford SCHWARTZ, Irving ... | Jobspress and Prominent N.S. entrepreneur dies at 81.

May the family be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

2. Time Magazine - you know - "Time" as in "Grime", "Slime" and "Crime".

Many years ago, when introducing then Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the magazine's editors referred to him as "Begin" as in "Fagin" - the hook-nosed shyster from Oliver Twist. Truly a lack of editorial sensitivity, even for the 1970s. Since then, Time has had the reputation of being antisemitic/anti-Israel or both.

In any event, the latest controversy arose with the publication of an issue coinciding with the start of the recent Israel-Palestinian peace talks. Look at the cover:


I think that the title of the article is a gross indecency deliberately calculated to delegitimize and discredit Israel in the eyes of the world at a very sensitive time. The content of the article also follows traditional antisemitic themes such as focusing on an alleged obsession with money.

I also believe that Israelis (of all political stripes) want peace - secure, tangible, meaningful and lasting peace - with their neighbors, more than anyone can describe.

I might have had more sympathy if the article presented a story to the effect that despite the unwillingness of the Palestinians to make any meaningful concessions toward achieving a lasting peace, that despite thousands of terrorist attacks on innocent civilians, rampant incitement against Jews and Israelis in the Palestinian and Arabic education system and entertainment industries, and unwarranted international isolation on a prodigious scale, Israelis have somehow been able to build a stable, relatively safe and economically successful country. I would have understood a story about skepticism about the likelihood of success. But that is not what was presented.

Here are links to some of the fallout from the whole fiasco (read the 2nd link in particular):
3. I Have An Idea - How about a Time magazine issue dedicated to why the Palestinians don't care about peace? It could include:
4. Yom Kippur War - an amazing story of heroism from the 1973 Yom Kippur War - Brik's Wall




6. How I Spent My Summer Vacation - 100,000 children attend radical Hamas summer camps

(Hamas or not Hamas?)

(Hamas or not Hamas?)


8. Ongoing Madness - The ongoing madness. On a separate but related note, you should also read this - The west's bloodstained hands | The Spectator and this - All the News That's Fit to Slant | Jewish News From WorldJewishDaily.com.

9. Collection of Jewish Stories & Themes - interesting stuff.....

11. No Wonder People Want Archives Sealed - MI6 Attacked Jewish Refugee Ships After WWII - The Daily Beast - fast forward to 2010 and compare with the "Freedom Flotilla"


12. Israel Police Band - performs in Moscow:

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