Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is one of those people I truly have ambivalent feelings about. On the one hand I more often agree with him than not. He is a great communicator. And his message is often my message.
On the other hand his fawning over the Lubavitcher Rebbe as though he were the Messiah (No - I don’t think he’s a Meshichist – it’s just an expression) is a big turn off. Nor do I like his fawning all over celebrities. His relationship with Michael Jackson for example was downright embarrassing.
I’m not sure how I feel about his custom of inviting non Jewish celebrities over for Shabbos meals almost every week either. What exactly is he trying to accomplish with that other than buying their affection? How does that enhance his Shabbos table?
His book ‘Kosher Sex’ is an embarrassment as well.
And though I understood his point his fawning praise of Noah Feldman who married out of the faith was grossly out of place.
It is almost as though his life’s goal is self promotion.
But… I have to give Rabbi Boteach his due. When he’s right – he’s usually very right. That is the case in his latest op-ed in the Jerusalem Post. Here are the opening paragraphs:
Come to Israel for Succot and there are many things you’ll see at night on Rehov Ben-Yehuda, Jerusalem’s premiere recreational thoroughfare. You’ll experience outstanding cafés and mouth-watering restaurants, families with strollers and tourists buying souvenirs. Wait till later and you’ll see American teenagers taking over the street, many of them drunk.
You’ll see friends guiding their inebriated colleagues home, navigating broken glass and discarded bottles. But one thing you will likely not see are their yeshiva and program heads, those responsible for their supervision. Yes, the kids are alone, away from mom and dad and away from nearly any kind of responsible supervision.
Welcome to the Israeli-American religious-industrial complex, where a year abroad for many American Jewish youths means enrolling in a program that costs their parents over $20,000 and is supposed to enhance their religious commitment, but in reality is just a year-long opportunity to drink and behave like hooligans.
Let me be fair. There are many American Jewish youths who avail themselves of the opportunity to study the great Jewish texts and immerse themselves in serious study and religious reflection. They emerge immeasurably enriched by the experience, and infinitely more attached to the Jewish state. But for the hundreds who gather nightly on Ben-Yehuda, the idea of spiritual uplift is about as distant as Jerusalem is from Malibu.
I could not agree more.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Apology NOT accepted!
Stone apologized today for his moronic comments about Jewish control of the media and the foolish comments about Hitler and the holocaust.
That's nice. But as one report I saw said in the name of one of the Jewish organizations - I don't recall which one - his words may or may not express true contrition. he said them in a moment of candor. He is now guilty until proven innocent. Frankly I don't believe his apology. If he follows them up with deeds to match his apologetic rhetoric - I will accept them. Until then his apology is meaningless to me.
What kind of deeds? Well... he can start by making a positive movie about Israel and the Jewish people. He can follow that up by donating the proceeds of that film to the Weisenthal Center. After that... we'll see.
That's nice. But as one report I saw said in the name of one of the Jewish organizations - I don't recall which one - his words may or may not express true contrition. he said them in a moment of candor. He is now guilty until proven innocent. Frankly I don't believe his apology. If he follows them up with deeds to match his apologetic rhetoric - I will accept them. Until then his apology is meaningless to me.
What kind of deeds? Well... he can start by making a positive movie about Israel and the Jewish people. He can follow that up by donating the proceeds of that film to the Weisenthal Center. After that... we'll see.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Oliver Stone - Fool!
What a moron!
Ever since his idiotic movie JFK I had always though Oliver Stone had smoked one dubie too many. Hence his last name is Stone. It should have a 'd' placed at the end of it to more accurately reflect his usual state of mind.) Now I'm certain of it. The Jews control the media and therefore there is no open debate about the holocaust? Is he out of his mind?! Either that or he is clearly an anti Semite.
It isn't that some of his comments aren't valid. Of course the holocaust is a lot more complex than blaming the whole thing on one man - Adolf Hitler. But to say that Jews prevent that kind of discussion is as ridiculous as his conclusions about conspiracies everywhere he looks.
Thank God the vast majority of American people see this guy for the idiot that he is. Unfortunately there is a sizable minority that actually listen to morons like this as though they really know something. But as I said they are a small minority. Nonetheless whenever idiotic statements like this come out by prominent figures - they cannot go unchallenged. They have to be put in their proper place - the trashcan!
Ever since his idiotic movie JFK I had always though Oliver Stone had smoked one dubie too many. Hence his last name is Stone. It should have a 'd' placed at the end of it to more accurately reflect his usual state of mind.) Now I'm certain of it. The Jews control the media and therefore there is no open debate about the holocaust? Is he out of his mind?! Either that or he is clearly an anti Semite.
It isn't that some of his comments aren't valid. Of course the holocaust is a lot more complex than blaming the whole thing on one man - Adolf Hitler. But to say that Jews prevent that kind of discussion is as ridiculous as his conclusions about conspiracies everywhere he looks.
Thank God the vast majority of American people see this guy for the idiot that he is. Unfortunately there is a sizable minority that actually listen to morons like this as though they really know something. But as I said they are a small minority. Nonetheless whenever idiotic statements like this come out by prominent figures - they cannot go unchallenged. They have to be put in their proper place - the trashcan!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
America – I Love You!
Why am I so in love with this country? Because of its people.
There has been much discussion recently about eroding support for the Jewish State. The signs are everywhere. Academia - permeated with leftist ideologues- is rife with anti Israel –pro Palestinian sentiment.
Some entertainers have succumbed to pressure to boycott Israel too by left leaning pro-Palestinian groups. Most recently Meg Ryan canceled an appearance there.
And some mainstream Christian Churches have been advocating divestment with Israel too because of the ‘occupation’.
Not to mention the Obama administration’s recent fallout with the Jewish State over settlement issues. (That has been somewhat reversed.)
And the mainstream media forever focuses on the plight of the underdog Palestinians while criticizing Israel.
And then there some of are our own people- like J-Street and the Peter Beinarts of the world - who may as well just join the Palestinian Authority since their views about peace are so closely aligned with theirs.
But the American people are not buying any of it. How do I know? George Gallop told me:
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Support for Israel among Americans is at a near record high, a new poll showed.
According to the Gallup Poll, 63 percent of Americans say their sympathies in the Middle East conflict are with Israel, while 15 percent side with the Palestinians. The rest favor both sides, neither side or have no opinion.
Support for Israel was higher only in 1991, shortly after Israel was hit with Scud missiles during the Gulf War, when it was at 64 percent.
The poll, conducted in early February, was part of Gallup’s annual World Affairs survey in which Americans were asked a series of questions about their opinions of 20 countries or entities, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Israel’s ranking, at 67 percent favorable, was among the highest of the countries surveyed. The Palestinian Authority, at 20 percent, was among the lowest.
Support for Israel increased more among Republicans and independents than Democrats, the poll showed. Since 2001, there has been an increase of 25 points among Republicans and 18 points among independents. Support for Israel among Democrats has stayed about the same.
Asked whether peace eventually will be reached in the Middle East, 67 percent of respondents answered “doubtful” and 30 percent said “there will come a time” when there will be peace.
In a general trend over the past 10 years, Democrats were more optimistic than Republicans about the chances for peace. Thirty-nine percent of Democrats said it will come; 25 percent of Republicans agreed.
Pollsters conducted telephone interviews with a random sampling of 1,025 American adults between Feb. 1 and 3. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error.
There has been much discussion recently about eroding support for the Jewish State. The signs are everywhere. Academia - permeated with leftist ideologues- is rife with anti Israel –pro Palestinian sentiment.
Some entertainers have succumbed to pressure to boycott Israel too by left leaning pro-Palestinian groups. Most recently Meg Ryan canceled an appearance there.
And some mainstream Christian Churches have been advocating divestment with Israel too because of the ‘occupation’.
Not to mention the Obama administration’s recent fallout with the Jewish State over settlement issues. (That has been somewhat reversed.)
And the mainstream media forever focuses on the plight of the underdog Palestinians while criticizing Israel.
And then there some of are our own people- like J-Street and the Peter Beinarts of the world - who may as well just join the Palestinian Authority since their views about peace are so closely aligned with theirs.
But the American people are not buying any of it. How do I know? George Gallop told me:
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Support for Israel among Americans is at a near record high, a new poll showed.
According to the Gallup Poll, 63 percent of Americans say their sympathies in the Middle East conflict are with Israel, while 15 percent side with the Palestinians. The rest favor both sides, neither side or have no opinion.
Support for Israel was higher only in 1991, shortly after Israel was hit with Scud missiles during the Gulf War, when it was at 64 percent.
The poll, conducted in early February, was part of Gallup’s annual World Affairs survey in which Americans were asked a series of questions about their opinions of 20 countries or entities, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Israel’s ranking, at 67 percent favorable, was among the highest of the countries surveyed. The Palestinian Authority, at 20 percent, was among the lowest.
Support for Israel increased more among Republicans and independents than Democrats, the poll showed. Since 2001, there has been an increase of 25 points among Republicans and 18 points among independents. Support for Israel among Democrats has stayed about the same.
Asked whether peace eventually will be reached in the Middle East, 67 percent of respondents answered “doubtful” and 30 percent said “there will come a time” when there will be peace.
In a general trend over the past 10 years, Democrats were more optimistic than Republicans about the chances for peace. Thirty-nine percent of Democrats said it will come; 25 percent of Republicans agreed.
Pollsters conducted telephone interviews with a random sampling of 1,025 American adults between Feb. 1 and 3. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error.
Monday, May 24, 2010
We Will Fill the Jails
Protestors were arrested to the tune of dozens of detainees. Including a Chasidic Rebbe Rav Avraham Chanun Shlita. Their response? “We will fill the jails!” …as if to say we wear these arrests as a badge of honor.
Baruch HaShem. The Chasidim of Meah Shearim are finally co-operating. I firmly believe that we should honor their wishes and arrest as many of these Charedi looking gang members as participate in the disruption of society.
What’s more Edah HaCharedis head HaGaon HaRav Y. T. Weiss Shlita will be leading another protest in Jerusalem. Hopefully he will be arrested too.
Ma Rabu Ma’asecha HaShem!
If all the jails fill up in Israel with these thugs I hear Guantanamo will soon be available. I hope that the Obama administration will have the common decency to offer it to the Israelis.
Baruch HaShem. The Chasidim of Meah Shearim are finally co-operating. I firmly believe that we should honor their wishes and arrest as many of these Charedi looking gang members as participate in the disruption of society.
What’s more Edah HaCharedis head HaGaon HaRav Y. T. Weiss Shlita will be leading another protest in Jerusalem. Hopefully he will be arrested too.
Ma Rabu Ma’asecha HaShem!
If all the jails fill up in Israel with these thugs I hear Guantanamo will soon be available. I hope that the Obama administration will have the common decency to offer it to the Israelis.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Meah Shearim Mob
There is an op-ed in Ha’aretz about the mob violence in Meah Shearim . Nothing really new there. Here is the opening paragraph:
Soldiers patrolling through the streets of Mea She'arim during Passover week found themselves in a situation they generally encounter only on the Palestinian side of the border. Local residents, the hard core of Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community, began hurling stones at them. The soldiers were at a loss. The police were called in and were greeted by similar violence. The assailants explained to the ultra-Orthodox media that the army was using the neighborhood to simulate operations in an inner-city environment, and the Haredim didn't want to let the authorities ruin the holiday atmosphere.
The article goes on to say that there is hardly a week that goes by without some sort of violence these days. And gives examples of other incidents of violence. It then criticizes the police for treating these people with ‘kid gloves’ because of Charedi politics.
Unfortunately this op-ed was written by Shahar Ilan a secular Jew. This means that it will be totally discounted as anti Charedi bias by Charedim. He will be labeled a Rasha – an evil person. But is that fair? Is it fair to call someone a Rasha just because he tells you an unpleasant truth? I don’t think so. He may or may not be a Rasha - but he does speak the truth. I have said virtually the same things he has. And so have some Charedi writers.
This article should be added to the many others that have reported on this issue and it should not be discounted. The truth exists where ever you find it. Even in dark clouds like this one.
But in every cloud there is a silver lining. The increase in violence increases media attention to it. That makes the public more aware. Maybe all this negative publicity will spur action. If not by the Charedi world - then maybe by the police. At least I hope it does.
Soldiers patrolling through the streets of Mea She'arim during Passover week found themselves in a situation they generally encounter only on the Palestinian side of the border. Local residents, the hard core of Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community, began hurling stones at them. The soldiers were at a loss. The police were called in and were greeted by similar violence. The assailants explained to the ultra-Orthodox media that the army was using the neighborhood to simulate operations in an inner-city environment, and the Haredim didn't want to let the authorities ruin the holiday atmosphere.
The article goes on to say that there is hardly a week that goes by without some sort of violence these days. And gives examples of other incidents of violence. It then criticizes the police for treating these people with ‘kid gloves’ because of Charedi politics.
Unfortunately this op-ed was written by Shahar Ilan a secular Jew. This means that it will be totally discounted as anti Charedi bias by Charedim. He will be labeled a Rasha – an evil person. But is that fair? Is it fair to call someone a Rasha just because he tells you an unpleasant truth? I don’t think so. He may or may not be a Rasha - but he does speak the truth. I have said virtually the same things he has. And so have some Charedi writers.
This article should be added to the many others that have reported on this issue and it should not be discounted. The truth exists where ever you find it. Even in dark clouds like this one.
But in every cloud there is a silver lining. The increase in violence increases media attention to it. That makes the public more aware. Maybe all this negative publicity will spur action. If not by the Charedi world - then maybe by the police. At least I hope it does.
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