READY TO GO?

Currently there are two high profile Jewish defendents in the US each receiving quite different treatment.

Bernard Madoff accused of bilking investors including several charities to the tune of $50, 000,000.00 awaits trial under house arrest with a ankle bracelet GPS.

Shalom Rubashkin who is accused of several crimes connected with the Agriprocessorskosher meat plant in Postville Iowa. Despite being willing to post several million $ in bail and agree to house arrest as well as an ankle GPS awaits trial in a Federal Jail Cell why? [The following was posted on www,vosizneias.com ]

"The judge, Jon Scoles, ruled that Rubashkin posed a risk of flight and declined to release him on bail, pointing to evidence that he had a travel bag with cash and travel documents on hand at the time of his arrest. He also noted that two others accused of crimes connected to their work at Agriprocessors are believed to have fled to Israel.

Scoles took note of Israel's Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to Jews."

While the Hon. Judge Scoles may embrace anti-Semitic stereotypes concerning where Jewish loyalties lie. The defense pointed out the Judge's line of reasoning would have the Attorney General of the United States and Two US Supreme Court Justices as unreliable flight risks ready at the drop of a hat go declare their fidelity and loyalty to the State of Israel. Needless to say the Judge upon reconsideration backpeddled a little by suggesting the Defendant’s Counsel was making too much of the issue.

However there may be a far deeper lesson here. Mr. Madoff despite his extensive connections throughout the Jewish community is not recognizable as an Orthodox Jew. His personal observance of ritual is up for debate whereas Rubashkin is. Maybe the unequal treatment translates in to a message simple and yet profound.

The secular Madoff is not seen as a flight risk but the Orthodox Rubashkin is.

It is almost as if Judge Scoles knows a visible Jew’s home is in Israel. Madoff may know this, his appearance does not indicate it but Rubashkin does.

Something to think about during the festival of asserting Jewish Identity in a hostile world.



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TO THE PRESIDENT ELECT RE: MUMBAI

Statement of President-elect Barack Obama
Below is a statement by President-elect Barack Obama
"Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the American citizens who lost their lives in the outrageous terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and with all who have been touched by this terrible tragedy.
"These terrorists who targeted innocent civilians will not defeat India's great democracy, nor shake the will of a global coalition to defeat them. The United States must stand with India and all nations and people who are committed to destroying terrorist networks, and defeating their hate-filled ideology.

"There is one president at a time. I will continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground in Mumbai, and am grateful for the cooperation of the Bush Administration in keeping me and my staff updated. We fully support the Bush Administration's efforts to protect American citizens and assist the government of India during this tragic time," said President-elect Obama.
From www.change.gov

There are three pionts to make ;

1 The outrage should extend to all the victims so brutaly and wantonly murdered, not just the American lives lost. Indeed this series of attacks, their brutality diminish our collective humanity as did the institutional mass murderers like the Nazis or Stalin’s forces ir The Communist Chinese (during their revolution.)
2 The President –elect deserves kudos for calling these murderers Terrorist and not militants or activists as appeared in some news reports.
3 That all terrorist networks need to be destroyed not just in the immedate sense through eliminating operational assests but in a lasting sense through casting their underlying philosophy to humanity’s garbage heap.

During the campagin during the Second debate the President –elect offered that negotiation and dialog being the means for the better results in dispute –resolution between peoples. Mr. President-elect it is my prayer that you and your team recognize that your rule of thumb simply does not apply to all time and certainly not in this incident nor with those who support these terrorists and their philosophy/ideology and methodology.

Just as 9/11 changed how America views the world. Mumbai should remind us who are truly the good guys and who are not. May those who cherish life collectively refuse to accept or tolerate this personification of evil.

OUT OF OPITIONS

Words are unable to contain the combined sense of outrage and saddness in the aftermath of the Holtzbergs' murder. Indeed the whole devastation carried out against civillans in Mumbai India must shock the conscience.

It should serve to remind all those in power that looking at who issued which terrorist which decoder ring is not important. Failing to see those non state or quasi state actors as part of a unified ideology that uses terror as an intrument of policy can not be tolerated in the community of humanity. Any ideology of faith the can condone such behavior has lost its legitmacy.

Where is the Islamic outrage? Where are the declarations of outrage from the Gulf/ from the Saudis/ from Hamas, Fatah, Al Qeka Et Al. I doubt holding one's breath in anticipation would be wise.

To entertain the notion that such actors merit the dignity of discourse is outragous and misguided in its naivate. Maybe just maybe [and yes I enjoy the luxury of not fighting this war on the ground but there is no joy in this suggestion] in dealing such as those who attacked on 9/11, as send rockets to Sedrot and who attcked Mumbai as well as their fellow travelers, supporters and sympathizers on notice that diplomacy is no longer an option. Responsible persons cannot allow these beings who diminish the whole of humanity any refuge save that offered by the grave. To protect decency this pathology must exorcised as was done to Germany some 60+ years ago.

It must stressed no one with a sicntila of humanity wishes

NOWHERE MAN NO MORE !!!!!!!!!!!

This time I hope &,pray I am wrong. Why is anyone asking what would satisfy the Arabs? Everything Israel tried after Yom Kippur 5734 has not worked. In fact instead of satisfying national aspirations every concession only leads to more and more demands each more outrageous than the one before.

The 1949 borders left Israel with a shadow of its ancestral homeland. The overwhelming sense I had in 1967 as a fourth grader was that we have come home-the state is whole. Who could ever imagine an argument could be made that it is in the national interest of the State of Israel to arm forces under Abu Mazen?

The rockets still come from Gaza--and money is transferred to PA coffers, Food and fuel are sent in to Gaza. The official Israeli responses are halfhearted military actions that do not create any deterrence or endless debates and discussion in the cabinet and Knesset with no clear resolve.

The options offered by Kadima , Labor or even Likud all seem to miss the point. The notion embodied by Ms. Livni and mostly echoed by Mr. Barak (Ehud not the President-Elect) to continue to compromise and acquiesce to the whims of Israel’s well meaning but misguided friends to win their approval, regardless whether such acceptance means the abandonment of the nation’s heritage. Similarly Mr. Natanyahu’s approach of coordinated political talks and development of joint economic opportunities shows promise but it underestimates who Israel is dealing with. It seems Bibi cannot understand that no matter how attractive the potential for profit no compromise is possible if agreement means heresy.

Where did the secular leadership of Israel get the idea that the articulation of principle predicated on professions of piety are translated as the parameters for an opening bid to effect a compromise? Some people have principles that are not for sale- even if they are in service of an evil end- the destruction of Israel.

The appeal to Zipi and Bibi is to decide who the Israel is what principles will it embody and champion? Will Israel simply mirror the values of Western Democracies of will Israel’s national persona embrace its history and heritage. Israel is the one slice of the globe allotted by G-D to the Jewish people the present day State of Israel must acknowledge its status the successor to the monarchy of David and Shlomo and commonwealth of Ezra and the Great Assembly. Israel and specifically Jerusalem , Hevron , Teveria and Zafat were the foci of Jewish prayer, charity and national aspiration throughout the nearly two millennium of exile. To face the world as the State of Israel oblivious to these sensibilities or worse yet with a willingness to chuck any or all principles as expedient leaves the leadership as standing for nothing.

The appeal to the nation is to educate your children, Jewry has a history that reaches back much further than 5708/1948. The Land of Israel as a whole has a cherished place the nation’s collective consciousness. Jewry and Israel stand for something.

These values do not ignore Arab sensibilities but rather creates a common language rooted in each community’s history and heritage. In the framework of history and heritage, principle and piety give way to fact over fantasy. When standing with the generations remaining faithful to them and their D-vinely stated values who could dare opposes Israel? Amalek? They never succeeded in the past so . . . Learn Judaism its letter and spirit this is the only solution.

VOTE , PRAY AND DO

As the election cycle winds down in the US and is gearing up in Israel a single question looms large in both places,'What is good for the Jews?"

Both McCain and Obama favor a two state model for resolving the Arab -Israeli/Jewish issue. The national character of Israel is up for grabs its Jewish character to be either merely De Facto or De Jure in nature.

How any leader performs cannot be predicted who would think Mr. Sharon would expell Jews from their homes only to have Hamas swallow up the vacum?

The best advice is of course choose the candidate or party that till now has carried Israel's best interest or at least the one with the fewest Anti-Israel/Zionist/ Semitic advisors, friends, mentors et al.

However the far more important is for Jewry to step up and improove it self through improoving its observance of the Torah and its laws. T o avoid any unseemly behavior to promote morals, civility and decency among people. No, this not Kum By Ya speak but a call to live as Jews preserving the D-vine Image invested in humanity through the A-mighty's desig and humanity's vision as set forth in the Mitzvoth letter and spirit.

As stated during the recent High Holy Days Repentance, Prayer and Charity can anull and reverse a harsh decree.

NATIONAL SELF RESPECT

"The notion of a Greater Israel no longer exists, and anyone who still believes in it is deluding themselves," . . .

I used to believe that everything from the Jordan Riverbank to the Mediterranean Sea was ours. After all, dig anywhere and you'll find Jewish history. But eventually, after great internal conflict, I've realized we have to share this land with the people who dwell here – that is if we don’t want to be a binational state,"

T
hese and other defeatist statements were made by Prime Minister Olmert before the September 14, 2008 cabinet meeting. Commenting on these statements it is important to recall that Moshe Rabbinu despite all Bene Yisrael experienced at the hands of Egypt at the direction of Pharaoh spoke with respect . As this was reported on Israel National News it would seem that the Prime Minister’s words were premised on the apparent erosion of international support for Israel and resulting pressure for a resolution of some type which would take the form of an Israel with an Arab majority and character.

While it is impossible to any person, community or nation to go it alone in isolation, yet at what price does inclusion cost? How can any leader responding to the reality of the moment sacrifice their national heritage?

“ . . .dig anywhere and you'll find Jewish history . . . .” Mr. Prime Minister visit the shrine of the Book and see the pair of Tefilin from Masada. These Tefilin look exactly like the ones worn by Jewry every weekday during the MorninVisit Second Temple era ruins and see the mikvaot used to fulfill the rigorous laws of purity as well as other examples that only emphasize the Jewish history/heritage within Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel.

Mr. Prime Minister certainly at least once in your life you were present at the conclusion of either Yom Kippur services or the Passover Seder when all present intoned “L’Shana HaBah B’Yerushalyim !!!” Next Year in Jerusalem. Even the secular anthem of the State speaks of the yearnings of Two Thousand Years “To be a free people in our land, Zion and Jerusalem”

Mr. Prime Minister how could any person of conscience abandon the national aspirations of the Jewish people? Imagine under what Mr. Olmert perceives as the only way the Zionist visions of the redemption are exchanged for the formation of a new Middle Eastern Pale of Settlement.

Mr. Prime Minister, maybe the concerns and fears expressed are based in a lack of national self respect. Maybe there would be no isolation for Israel if the national stands tall and proud. Not in an arrogant manner but with an aura of self assurance and purpMaybe the Arabs would not seek to encroach on Jewish rule over the land if the Jews treated the Holy Land as their D-vinely ordained inheritance

Mr. Prime Minister, you whoever follows after you must remember that Netzach Yisrael Lo YiShaker” The Destiny of Israel, the Jewish People cannot be denied. Israel lives, Greater Israel lives.

Mr. Prime Minster if one were to walk in the mind set of a scion of Zion the nations would not oppose Israel. If Israel were to conduct itself as G-D has designed in the Torah both written and oral Israel's place at the international table would never be denied nor would anyone challenge Israel's destiny

THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS APPLY, AS TIME GOES BY

Whether intended or not film has a unique quality to capture a snapshot of history. Part of this snapshot is capturing the philosophical/ ideological zeitgeist. Therefore periodic revisiting films especially those dealing with historical events is a significant whether tinseltown’s insights are enduring or part of the passing fancy that is pop culture. The semi-official Hollywood treatment of the Zionist struggle and birth of the modern State of Israel would be the 1960 movie EXODUS.

First the tension between Haganah, the military arm of the Jewish Agency/Zionist Committee, forerunners of Israeli governments until Menchem Begin A’H AND Likud were elected in 1977 and Irgun forerunner of Likud was quite real and persisted till the balance of political power shifted in 1977. Haganah was portrayed as responsible, progressive freedom fighters seeking to forge a new Jewish identity. Irgun were portrayed as part of the Old World steeped in ritual and ideology as well as an unwillingness to play by the nations’ rules.


Next throughout the film the only kipa wearer is a Rabbi supervising the Kitchen in Acre Prison, a far cry from today’s demographics.

The diffrence in attitudes between Pual Newman’s character Ari Ben Canan and John Derek’s Taha is telling. Newman the prototypical sabra straddles the paradox between the beliefs in Eretz Yisrael being Jewry’s ancestral home and post holocaust destiny, which can simultaneously be a democratic state offering equality to both Jews and Arabs. The Israeli it would seem would be willing to hollow the meaning of what exactly would be Jewish in a Jewish state in order to facilitate co0existence.

In fairness it should be noted that the originally proposed borders of Israel before Statehood was viewed by Ben-Gurion et. al. as only a half a loaf but by no means what was preferred or aspired to.

In contrast John Derek’s character Tha the Muktar of the nearby Arab village despite being raised along with Ari Ben Canan cannot align himself with the Jews fully even though he knows the forces opposing new born State of Israel embody evil. Even though he is killed for defying the Mufti’s Ex-Nazi trained thugs he still could not and would not fully sell out or betray his faith or heritage.

Though it is only Hollywood, the fact the two cultures secular and religious speak past each other without communicating without understanding each other remains to this day.

Maybe that is the key to cross cultural dialogue and understanding begins with Jews and Arabs side to believe in and be loyal to one’s own faith and heritage. The common language of faith may not solve the problems but offers a common language that acknowledges a higher authority all are answerable to.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

Timing is everything. Prime Minister Olmert’s potential legal problems must be fairly serious. After all what better way to distract the public then to announce a diplomatic breakthrough [translation: I agreed without asking anyone to give away peoples’ homes, fields, orchards and businesses so that the folks who are pledged to your annihilation can be all that much closer so you can be more clearly in their crosshairs].

What is astonishing is how the nation’s representatives are more committed to remaining in office than acting in the national interest. Especially those MKs who profess their commitment to G-D, Torah, and Jewry are willing to allow a repeat of the Gush Katif disgrace. The continued dilution of the State’s commitment to Jewish education by the current Education Minister has the effect of estranging the State’s youth from their heritage, a legacy intimately connected to the Land of Israel.

Now as the time approaches to receive the Torah, it is time to call out the emperor class’ destructive and delusional behavior and put the brakes on the national slide in to the abyss.

HAPPY 3,280 Israel !!!!!

Birthdays are a time to celebrate one's life, no doubt one should find joy in experiencing the privilege of life. There is a further dimension, birthdays are in the Jewish tradition a time to reflect, assess what can be done better in the future, how can growth be facilitated, how can one be better person within the family, community, country, world and most importantly, before G-D.

Over time circumstances, choices coupled with habits and aspiration may lead one to place never imagined or intended when setting out on life's journey. A Birthday is the day to ask "How did I get here? Is this where I am supposed to be? "

At 60 the State of Israel should collectively ask itself is it comfortable where it is?

Today the debate is over the public sale of Chametz on Pesach or apostate Jews participating in the Bible contest. These are not political /security / issues like aid to Yeshivoth, or the dismantling of settlements or checkpoints etc. Sec. Rice does not care about the Bible Contest or Bread on Pesach. Yet given the opportunity to make a Jewish choice or a democratic one, which one does the government make even when unfettered by foreign influence?

As the birthday of the modern state of Israel approaches maybe the country needs to take a collective look in the mirror. Maybe the first step is to disavow the notion of this being a 60th anniversary. This is the 60 anniversary of the reassertion of Jewish sovereignty over the land of Israel. Jews are in the land , not by the leave of the United Nations but as successors of Ezra and Nechemiah's commonwealth.

f the Zionist vision for a state is for the Jewish People to have a seat at the the international table then sit there, true to our identity, as Jews.

Witha prayer that at the end of this year's S'fira and even before then the nation stands together again united to hear Torah from Mashiach