JooTube.TV

'Obama betrayed America's friend, Israel, to Islamism'- Gov. Mike Huckabee; Sparks infighting among American Jews

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:29:00 +0000

In this exclusive interview, former Presidential candidate, ex-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee denounces President Barack Hussein Obama over his complicity in not stopping Iran's nuclear weaponizing militarily- and straightjacketing of Israel from acting in their own defense.

Atlanta Jewish Times' publisher, Andrew Adler, penned "What Would You Do," an allegory intended to illustrate the security dilemma that President Barack Hussein Obama's pacificism towards apocalyptic Iran poses for the leader responsible for the safety of Jews. (Read editorial below).

As a potential strategy under consideration by Israel's Prime Minister seeking to pre-empt an Iranian initiated nuclear exchange, Mr. Adler references the "almost unfathomable" option of the authorizing the Mossad to neutralize Obama and threaten the Vice President. Members of the Jewish establishment, such as the Jewish Federation of Atlanta, the A.D.L., the A.J.C., and Rabbi Abe Cooper of the Simon Wisenthal Center were quick and harsh to discredit and ostracize Mr. Adler. He was put under investigation by the US Secret Service. The Atlanta Jewish Federation pressured him to resign editiorship and put the paper up for sale. You can see how they broke Mr. Adler's spirit entirely in this pathetic mea culpa video with the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters.

Rabbi Moshe Parry comments (in this exclusive video) that the Jewish "establishment" in North America "served Mr. Adler up" out of fear from perceptions of Jewish dual-allegiance to Israel. He alleges the largely secular Democrat, Jewish establishment prioritized their comfort in America over their Judaic obligations to protect and guarantee Jewish dominion of the Holy Land, Israel.

Text of the controversial column has been removed from the Atlanta Jewish Times website, but is published here on JooTube:

"President Netanyahu: What Would You Do?" by Andy Adler, publisher- January 13, 2012

"You are President Benjamin Netanyahu. You are responsible for 7 million Israeli citizens who comprise the State of Israel. You wake up one morning, and the Israeli Defense Forces' military commander hands you a detailed report regarding what to expect during a major conflict with Hezbollah and Syria five years from today.

The report states that Israel will come under fire from 15,000 rockets and missiles, and that casualties will be in the thousands. That's thousands - not hundreds - thousands.

Simultaneously, another IDF military commander strolls over while you are finishing your first cup of coffee and hands you a report that Iran has reached nuclear launch capabilities.

If that's not enough, an Israeli diplomat informs you that you cannot expect much help from the United States due to its newly implemented military budgets and the administration's never ending "Alice in Wonderland" belief that diplomacy is the answer.

To all the Netanyahus out there, what do you do? Well, here are your "Kobayashi Maru" options. ("Kobayahi Maru" is a term used in "Star Trek: The wrath of Khan" to describe a no-win situation or facing a solution involves redefining the problem).

One, order a pre-emptive strike against both Hezbollah and Hamas knowing that military and civilian casualties will be high, but not as high as they would be in 2017.

Two, go against Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's wishes that Israel take a lethal bullet in the name of preserving a healthy, worldwide economic climate, and order the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities at all costs.

Three, give the go-ahead for U.S.-based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice president to take his place, and forcefully dictate the United States' policy includes its helping the Jewish State obliterate its enemies.

Yes, you read "three" correctly. Order a hit on a president in order to preserve Israel's existence. Think about it. If I have thought of this "Tom-Clancy" type scenario, don't you think that this almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel's most inner circles?

Another way of putting "three" into perspective goes something like this: How far would you go to save a nation comprised of seven million lives ... Jews, Christians and Arabs alike?

You have got to believe, like I do, that all options are on the table.

With this in mind, I again ask you, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, what would you do?"

Zionist shepherd, Avraham Herzlich, tends the flock over the Samarian landscape with devotion to G-d and a wisdom born of pain

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:23:00 +0000

When his daughter Talia was murdered with husband Benjamin Zeev Kahane, Avraham Herzlich, a Brooklyn-born shepherd resettled his flock from the North of Israel down to Kfar Tapuach, to help care for his 6 orphaned grandchildren. Watch his hard-earned perspectives tending his flock of 250 upon the pastures of Samaria- upon the 12th anniversary of their family's (and indeed Israel's) tragic, public sacrifice.

Yaffa Yarkoni, 1925-2012: The voice of Israel in war and peace

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:27:00 +0000

Yaffa Yarkoni, one of Israel's greatest and best-loved singers, passed away Sunday in Tel Aviv at the age of 86, following a battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Lyricist Avi Koren, a close friend of the singer's for 45 years, recalled yesterday that Yarkoni, an Israel Prize laureate, once said to him: "Look how I am fooling the entire world - after all, I have no voice."

"She may not have had a voice, but she was the voice of the country. My mother listened to Yaffa Yarkoni; my grandson listens to Yaffa Yarkoni; and she accompanied us, the members of my generation, all our lives," Koren said yesterday."At the age of four, we sang her children's songs; as teenagers, we danced to the sounds of her ballroom tunes. During the Six-Day War, she came to perform at outposts at which our friends fought. She was there all the time."
Read obituary by Ben Shalem in Ha'aretz
Yaffa Yarkoni sings "Davar Lo Od" ("Nothing More") in this clip from Gil Shani.

Yaffa Yarkoni was known as the singer of the wars, a tradition that began during her own IDF service in the War of Independence.

She was known as the singer of the wars, a sobriquet that she detested, but when Yaffa Yarkoni, Israel’s queen of song who delighted generations of children, soldiers and all audiences died on Sunday only a week after her 86th birthday, she was remembered more for fading out of the limelight.

Read obituary in The Jerusalem Post by Greer Fay Cashman with Herb Keinon

Producer of HBO documentary about his father, Don Rickles, only son Larry Rickles dies at 41

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:59:00 +0000

Larry Rickles earned an Emmy Award for a 2007 documentary about his dad. Larry Rickles, an Emmy Award-winning producer and the son of comedian Don Rickles, died Saturday, December 3rd, in Los Angeles of respiratory failure due to pneumonia. He was 41.

In addition to his father, Rickles is survived by his mother Barbara and his sister Mindy. The family has asked that donations be made to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Don Rickles, 85, is still active in show business. (Mike Barnes in the Hollywood Reporter).

Devoted Jews "Spread the Light" driving in a caravan of menorahs driving through L.A..; Comedic commentary from Howard Stern Show's outrageous Melrose Larry Green

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:02:00 +0000

Dozens of families form caravan carrying large, lit menorahs on their roofs through Los Angeles to communicate the message of Chanukah on the final night of the holiday. Tzvi of Lubavitch Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon describes the second largest menorah parade in America.

(Advance through videos by clicking the Next button, second from the lower left).

Comedian Melrose Larry Green, the outrageous social commentator from the Howard Stern TV Show, provides post-parade, year-end social commentary in the final video on the playlist.

Chanukah kindles message of rededication to upholding responsibility to Torah; Benny Friedman sings with Pardes Jewish Rock

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:29:00 +0000

Rabbi Moshe Parry describes the back-story of the Chanukah (rededication) zealots whom we commemorate with Chanukah; and the parallels between the internecine Jewish competition to maintain torah precepts and responsibilities, then and today.

Religious Jewish students from L.A. rejoice over Chanukah concert, sponsored by Chabad, featuring Benny Friedman and Israeli rockers, Pardes Jewish Rock.

Students from Ohr Elchonon and Jewish Educational Trade School ("JETS") sing and dance and spin like dreidels (carried on shoulders and breakdancing).

Holocaust drama, "Way to Heaven," explores Jewish dilemma

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Norbert Weisser & Talyan Wright

Offered the risk of exposing their Nazi imprisoners for Red Cross help, what should the Jewish inmates do? Theatrical drama, "Way to Heaven," portrays this dilemma at the Odyssey Theater through Dec 18.

"Engrossing and menacing, Way to Heaven is inspired by the true story of the elaborate deception that took place at the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1944 Germany. In order to fool the international Red Cross inspectors, the Nazis constructed a fake village to quell extermination rumors. "A spare and eloquent work. "- NY Times

"Chilling...bracing in it's clarity and moral power." - L.A. Times

"Brilliant performances... a play for the ages." - Park La Brea Press


Norbert Weisser & Bruce Katzman

"Kudos magnificos, in whatever language you choose to translate it, to playwright Juan Mayorga." - Park LaBrea Press

Original video: Newt Gingrich address to RJC: 'Obama lets Islamofascism propagate internationally and domestically'

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:22:00 +0000

Complete raw video of address at the Republican Jewish Coalition Summer Bash in L.A.- with speech transcript highlights.

Speaker Gingrich says Obama Administration's pro-"Palestinian-ism" is endemic of their skewed, ethical compass which facilitates, rather than thwarts, political Islamism's conquest of free-people around the world from the Muslim world, to Israel and America.

Transcript excerpts:

"Thank you for the opportunity to be with you this evening. As we gather this evening, America is in the midst of an economic crisis.

More Americans are without jobs, and for longer periods of time, than at any time in our history since the Great Depression.

I am running for President to lead a movement of Americans who will insist on changing Washington so we can renew America.

To do this, we must insist on dramatic and bold changes in Washington, repeal policies that are killing jobs and stifling growth, and enact policies that will create jobs and prosperity. There is no more important task for the next president.

This is why I was so happy to accept your invitation to be here tonight." . . .
Read the complete transcript at
http://www.newt.org/news/newts-address-republican-jewish-coalition/

"Indeed, both Israel and America are at a dangerous crossroads in which the survival of Israel and the safety of the United States both hang in the balance.

While the United States and her allies have won important victories in the war on terrorism, it is impossible to look at the totality of the world ten years after 9/11 and conclude that we are on the winning path, or that the world is a safer place.

Today the greatest obstacle toward achieving a real and lasting peace is not the strength of the enemy or the unwillingness of Israel to make great sacrifices for the sake of peace, but an inability on the part of the Obama Administration and certain other world leaders to tell the truth about terrorism, be honest about the publicly stated goals of our common enemies, and devise policies appropriate to an honest accounting of reality.

Recall that during Congressional testimony last year, Attorney General Holder was repeatedly asked and yet could not bring himself to say that the ideology of radical Islamism plays a role in motivating Islamic terrorists to carry out their attacks.

Meanwhile, we must readily see the President's policies for what they are: the dangerous accommodation of Middle East dictators, and worse, the accommodation of terrorist groups like Hamas, whose ideology virulently opposes freedom, compromise, and peace, and who view such accommodation as a weakening of U.S. resolve and commitment to Israel's security.

The decision to adopt a policy of accommodation, using the political objectives and code-words of those who wish to drive Israel into the sea, affirms the administration's radicalism in its headlong flight from the legacy of U.S. Presidents from Truman to Bush -- and is leading Israel and the Western democracies toward ever increasing danger.

President Obama's focus on Israel as the obstacle to peace is particularly disturbing considering the existence of a true threat to the peace of the world, and that is the threat from Iran.

What then should America do in the face of these facts?

We first need to acknowledge that 20 years of trying to negotiate peace with evil regimes and organizations dedicated to the destruction of Israel — and in many cases our own destruction — has been a failure, and the time has come to clearly and decisively take the offensive against them.

This begins with a firm and consistent commitment by the United States -- in the Reagan tradition -- to speak plainly and truthfully about the nature of our enemies.

There are nine specific policy proposals I would like to leave with you tonight. . . .

My campaign website newt.org contains a detailed document outlining the other changes that will be necessary to transform the State Department's historic aversion to moral clarity about the difference between terrorism and civilization, which have weakened both the United States and Israel.

... We know that if the forces of terrorism could eliminate Israel today, they would turn toward America tomorrow.

That is why we must reverse the Obama Administration's dangerous policies of incoherence and accommodation and implement instead a foreign policy that is clear about the evil that we face and committed to the actions necessary to overcome it.

America is still the last best hope of mankind on earth."

"The time has come to reaffirm America's commitment to freedom and the rule of law; to stand firmly and courageously against terrorism and evil organizations and dictatorships. It is time to stand firmly with our friends.

Together those of us who believe in freedom will defeat tyranny for the fourth time in a century.

This is our duty. This is our generation's rendezvous with destiny. Thank you!"

Read the complete transcript at
http://www.newt.org/news/newts-address-republican-jewish-coalition/

Amb. John Bolton presents wide-ranging perspectives at reform synagogue in L.A.

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:44:00 +0000

While East Coast Jewish leaders attended the White House Chanukah party scheduled a week and a half early, a politically mixed audience of attended a public conversation between former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton and host of Los Angeles' Stephen Wise Temple, Rabbi David Woznica. Amb. John Bolton spoke intimately on a wide-range of topics as part of Rabbi David Woznica's guest series on December 6, 2011. Running time 71 min. Amb. Bolton tells of his strong affinity for Israel. He takes exception to Pres. Obama's claim to have been the best of White House administrations for Israel, considering them, in practice, the worst in the history of Israel since its independence.

Amb. John Bolton contradicts Obama's claim, calling his "The most anti-Israel administration in history"

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:45:00 +0000

Speaking after remarks delivered at Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles, December 6, 2011.

Anti-Defamation League denounces U.S. Amb to Belgium Gutman remarks attributing Muslim anti-Semitism to Israel-Palestine

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:58:00 +0000

Amb. Howard Gutman (photo: Getty Images via The Forward)

US Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, at a conference hosted by the European Jewish Union (EJU) in Brussels, Belgium, made a statement saying that there were two types of anti-Semitism: traditional anti-Jewish prejudice and a distinct strain stemming from the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The White House quickly clarified that the US condemns all forms of anti-Semitism, and Gutman expressed his regret that his comments had been misinterpreted.

In a letter to Ambassador Howard W. Gutman, Anti-Defamation League's National Director, Abraham H. Foxman called Amb. Gutman's remark "wrongheaded" and said that it "provides an unacceptable rationale for inaction" against anti-Semitism. "This assessment of Muslim anti-Semitism, and your attempt to distinguish it from traditional or classical anti-Semitism, is not only wrongheaded but could undermine the important effort to combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe," wrote Mr. Foxman. "When one tries to attribute this anti-Semitism to outside forces – in this case the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict – one not only misunderstands the role of anti-Semitism in that conflict, but provides an unacceptable rationale for inaction."

Anti-Defamation Leagues' Rabbi Abraham Foxman

Mr. Foxman added, "Anti-Semitism, indeed Muslim anti-Semitism, was alive and well before the creation of Israel. Indeed, the extreme reaction to an independent Jewish state to this day in the Muslim world is connected to anti-Jewish attitudes that persisted for centuries. If the problem was that the Middle East conflict was coming to Europe, then Europe would be seeing attacks on Muslims by Jews, as well as Muslim attacks on Jews. Of course, there are no attacks by Jews against Muslims."

The League said that while it recognized his effort to provide an analysis of the new forms of anti-Semitism and to grapple with an issue close to his heart, the ambassador needed to "avoid characterizations that contradict efforts by the U.S. to dispel the notion that anti-Semitism could be rationalized in any way as an outlet for frustration with Israel or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

In the video (courtesy Jewish News One), Ambassador Gutman says, "What I do see as a growing problem in Europe, as gaining much more attention in the newspaper, among politicians, among communities, among citizens, with a sense of alarm, is a far different phenomenon [...] It is the problem within Europe of tension, hatred, and sometimes even violence, between some members of Muslim communities or Arab immigrant groups and Jews. It's a tension and perhaps even a hatred largely born of and reflecting the tension between Israel, the Palestinian territories, and neighboring Arab states in the Middle East, over the continuing Israeli-Palestinian problem."

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Monday that Gutman would remain in his post. Toner said Gutman spoke as ambassador, yet expressed his own views. He declined to say if the administration disagreed with those views. The White House on Saturday condemned anti-Semitism in all forms. Amb. Gutman did as well.

The ADL hosts its annual Dinner Celebration on Tuesday in Beverly Hills. We will give the ADL the opportunity to provide further information from there.

Israeli Prof. Barry Rubin: 'Why is Obama Administration so supportive of enemies of democracy?'

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:21:00 +0000

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta Shows How the Obama Administration Is Selling Out Israel…And U.S. Interests by Barry Rubin in Pajamas Media

In a major address on U S. Middle East policy to the Brookings Institution U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave us a clear picture of the Obama Administration’s view of the region. When taken along with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent speech on the same subject, we now know the following regarding Obama’s policy:

It is dangerously and absurdly wrong. This administration totally and completely, dangerously and disastrously for U.S. interests misunderstand the Middle East. They are 180 degrees off course, that is heading in the opposite direction of safety.

Despite the satisfactory state of relations on a purely military level, the Obama Administration is not a friend of Israel, even to the extent that it was arguably so in the first two years of this presidency.

It is now an enemy; it is on the other side. Again, the issue is not mainly bilateral relations but the administration’s help and encouragement to those forces that are Israel’s biggest enemies, that want to rekindle war, and that are 100 percent against a two-state solution. And I don’t mean the Palestinian Authority, I mean the Islamists.

And the Obama Administration is also a strategic enemy of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, and Jordan. It is also a strategic enemy to the democratic opposition forces in Iran, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia, and Egypt.

Having analyzed and studied the Middle East for almost four decades I say none of this lightly. And these conclusions arise simply from watching what the administration says and does.

Read original article. . .

These are harsh words about the Obama Administration and for those who don’t understand the current situation in the Middle East they will no doubt seem partisan, extreme, and alarmist.

This is the worst tragedy of all: sadly and regrettably they are quite true.

Rabbi Nachum Shifren challenges Univ of Cal Irvine decision to prohibit Dr. Terry Jones from speaking

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:21:00 +0000

The University of California at Irvine has earned a reputation for the radical, anti-Israel activities of Muslim advocacy groups, particularly the Muslim Student Union. They host an annual anti-Zionist, Israel Apartheid Week. Their conspiracy to disrupt a speech by Israel's Ambassador Michael Oren in 2010 resulted in a convictions and a banning of the MSU on campus for a semester. Events they have organized bring radical Islamists who have incited "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" and contribute to an uncomfortable climate for Jews and Zionists.

A pro-America and Israel "Stand Up America Now" rally organized for Thursday, December 1st by Dr. Terry Jones and Pastor Wayne Sapp was precluded by UCI administration. Jones and Sapp were confronted by the UC Irvine Police Department and, by order of the University Chancellor, threatened with arrest when they arrived for a scheduled interview with journalism Associate Professor Carol Burke in advance of the rally.

The Administration cited safety concerns as the reason to prohibit Dr. Jones from speaking. What's more, police issued both men citations - and warned them that they would be arrested if they would return to the campus within a week.

US Senate candidate Rabbi Nachum Shifren (I-CA) and other supporters of Stand Up America Now were escorted off campus. Parts of the University were shut down in order to prevent the rally (and the scheduled counter-rally) from taking place.

Dr Terry Jones and Wayne Sapp declared their intention to pursue legal action against the University.

Rabbi Nachum Shifren believes that the administration was not incapable of providing adequate security for the conservative speakers, but more like unwilling. In our exclusive video interview, Shifren alleges that the Administration is acting in the interest of Muslim power in the school, in prohibiting Stand Up America Now's criticism of radicalism, Islamism, and jihadism.

A threat to Israel: Iran exploiting Western pacifism

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:07:00 +0000

A CNN/ORC International Poll released Tuesday indicates a Democrats and Republicans don't see eye to eye on foreign policy.

Americans have grown increasingly reluctant to use U.S. military force around the world, but - unlike Democrats and independents - Republicans feel that the U.S. should be ready and willing to take military action. Overall, 53% of all Americans say the U.S. should be very reluctant to use military force, up from 38% in 2002, about a year after the 9/11 attacks. But there is a big partisan divide on that question, with a majority of Democrats and independents expressing reluctance but only four in ten Republicans feeling that way.

A large number of Americans don't think the U.S. should take immediate military action to get Iran to shut down its nuclear program, and on this topic Democrats, independents, and Republicans agree. Overall, only 16% of all Americans support military action now; two-thirds want to see the U.S. use economic and diplomatic efforts against Iran rather than military action. Republicans are slightly more likely to support military action, but even among that group support rises to only 22%.

Syria, Iran and the Balance of Power in the Middle East by George Friedman of Stratfor Global Intelligence, Nov. 22, 2011

U.S. troops are in the process of completing their withdrawal from Iraq by the end-of-2011 deadline. We are now moving toward a reckoning with the consequences. The reckoning concerns the potential for a massive shift in the balance of power in the region, with Iran moving from a fairly marginal power to potentially a dominant power. As the process unfolds, the United States and Israel are making countermoves. We have discussed all of this extensively. Questions remain whether these countermoves will stabilize the region and whether or how far Iran will go in its response.
. . .
The main Iranian threat is not nuclear. It might become so, but even without nuclear weapons, Iran remains a threat. The current escalation originated in the American decision to withdraw from Iraq and was intensified by events in Syria. If Iran abandoned its nuclear program tomorrow, the situation would remain as complex. Iran has the upper hand, and the United States, Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia all are looking at how to turn the tables.
. . .
The United States has three choices. Accept the evolution and try to live with what emerges. Attempt to make a deal with Iran — a very painful and costly one. Or go to war. The first assumes Washington can live with what emerges. The second depends on whether Iran is interested in dealing with the United States. The third depends on having enough power to wage a war and to absorb Iran’s retaliatory strikes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. All are dubious, so toppling al Assad is critical. It changes the game and the momentum. But even that is enormously difficult and laden with risks. We are now in the final act of Iraq, and it is even more painful than imagined. Laying this alongside the European crisis makes the idea of a systemic crisis in the global system very real.

Pro-Palestinian activists push cause within Occupy Wall Street movement

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:36:00 +0000

An Occupy Oakland protester holds a sign on Nov. 2 featuring the slogan
"Occupy Oakland Not Palestine!" and expressing support for
Jewish Voice for Peace. (B. Hartford and J. Strong/Via Creative Commons)

Some Jewish pro-Palestinian groups have tried to tie the Palestinian cause to Occupy Wall Street.

NEW YORK (JTA) -- As the Occupy Wall Street protests continue to spread across America, an internal struggle is percolating over how the movement relates to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Pro-Palestinian activists are trying to insert the issue into the protests and are co-opting the Occupy Wall Street movement’s language to attack Israel. But some left-wing Jewish activists warn that these efforts will give ammunition to the movement’s critics and make it harder to build a big tent in support of Occupy Wall Street’s main economic agenda.

“We are being sidetracked by some in our community and some outside our community who are insisting on integrating this into the Occupy Wall Street platform,” said Daniel Sieradski, the organizer of Occupy Judaism, which has staged Jewish religious services by Occupy Wall Street’s main encampment at New York’s Zuccotti Park and inspired similar efforts at other protest sites.

The warnings of the martyred tzaddik Rav Meir Kahane, ring louder 21-years after his assassination

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:19:00 +0000

Rabbi Meir Kahane was a vigilant defender of the safety of the Jewish people. But he was also a great religious scholar, writer, and leader - many consider the author of "Why Be Jewish" and several other books a tzaddik and prophet.

This National Geographic documentary illustrates the connection between the murderers of Rav Kahane, the first Al Qaeda terror act on American soil, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing - which it is alleged could have been averted had the FBI & NYPD been able to better investigate the radical materials of El Sayid Nosair, who assassinated Rav Kahane and as Debbie Schlussel writes:

Nosair’s trial was a travesty of epic proportions. The moronic O.J. Simpson-style jury acquitted Nosair (defended by Marxist Jewish self-hater William Kunstler) of murder charges, even though it was clear that he planned the murder of Rabbi Kahane and meticulously carried it out in front of a room full of witnesses. Thankfully, the courageous judge overseeing the case, Judge Alvin Schlesinger, said the jury’s acquittal “was against the overwhelming weight of evidence and was devoid of common sense and logic,” and he sentenced Nosair to the maximum number of years possible, under the charges for which he was convicted–seven to 22 years. Sadly, Nosair may soon get out, as he was sentenced in 1992. Even if he does the maximum 22, that means he’ll be out by 2014.

Watch the Los Angeles memorial to Rav Kahane held on the Hebrew calendar anniversary of his martyring.

DemoCast has published several interesting articles commemorating Rav Kahane on his yahrtzeit over the past several years:

Kahane in the Coalmine - Jew-Hatred as an Indicator of Global Threats 2007

Why Be Jewish? _ Rabbi Meir Kahane (Part 1) 2006

'Never Again' or "Ever Again' 'Ignoring the Wickedness Which Targets Jewish People' Nov 09, '06/ 18 Cheshvan 5767 - 2006

Mother's experience during Kristallnacht: a reality check. Author of "Hitler's Willing Executioners," Daniel Goldhagen

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:18:00 +0000

Rabbi Yitzchak Adlerstein retells his mother's experience during Kristallnacht at this ceremony by the Simon Wiesenthal Center at the Museum of Tolerance.

Exclusive video from 2009 ceremony. Museum Executive Director, Liebe Geft, introduces survivors present, prior to presentation by Daniel Goldhagen, author of "Hitler's Willing Executioners."

Alternative Jewish "Unity Pledge" contrasts with AJC & ADL's initiative to mute Jewish voters aganst Obama

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:34:00 +0000

ADL & AJC attempted to quiet Obama's
treatment of Israel as a campaign issue

National Conference for Jewish Affairs, a coalition of Jewish leaders and organizations across America, interprets the ADL & AJC's Call For Israel Pledge, and produced its own pledge:

"The two, towering pygmies of American “organized” Jewish “leadership,” the ADL’s Abe Foxman and David Harris of the AJC, issued a call on October 19th, for Jewish organizations and individuals to join them in signing what they called the “National Pledge for Unity on Israel,” the aim of which was, they said, “to rally bipartisan support for Israel while preventing the Jewish State from becoming a wedge issue in the upcoming campaign season.” After receiving little support but lots of withering criticism, the twins pouted about being misunderstood and their message distorted.   We at the National Conference on Jewish Affairs offer for your viewing pleasure what we think is an accurate translation of their pledge, followed by our own pledge, which we think is pretty clear.

The ADL/AJC Unity Pledge translated (and excerpted):

Abe Foxman's 2010 ADL West Coast
Banquet honored Steven Spielberg

3. We shall be beholden to one political party. 

5. We shall approve of negotiating away the rights of the Jewish People to our Homeland (because we fear being called obstinate more than we fear diminishing our rights). 

6. We shall "dialogue" with people who hate Israel.  

7. We shall invite Jew-haters and Islamists into our synagogues and Jewish centers, but not invite Jews whose opinions we don't like. 

AJC's David Harris publicizes views

8. We shall show anti-Israel films under the guise of "interfaith outreach."

10. We shall let anti-Jewish rioters take over the streets. 

11. We shall have just enough courage, though, to take on Christian-Americans- and Jews with whom we disagree. 

12. We shall fail to educate the Jewish People about the rights of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel. 

13. We will demonize our fellow Jews, at home - and in Israel (especially those dangerous extremists in Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria.) 

14. And we shall defame and punish those who do not toe the party line. 

17. We shall call ourselves "the Jewish leaders" forever, because we know we can rely on the fact that most Jews do not have the guts to call- us-out on our dangerous antics. 

18. We shall promote and sanitize enemies of the Jewish People, America and Israel. 

19. We will make "never again" a meaningless phrase. 

20. And when "again" comes, we will be safe, because we've made friends in all the right places. 

21. We shall try never to insult important people, even when they insult or damage the Jewish People, because we value being “in the room” with those "Important People" more than we value protecting and strengthening the Jewish People. 

22. Our flowery platitudes shall masquerade and replace what should be real action.

Alternate "UNITY PLEDGE" from the National Conference for Jewish Affairs (NCJA):  

Beth Gilinsky, NCJA spokeswoman (left) at NY pro-Israel rally

1. We will never be silenced when speaking the truth regarding the Jewish People, anti-Semitism, Israel or America. 

2. We shall speak clearly and without hesitation when our elected officials or others take positions or actions that we believe are harmful to the safety and security of the Jewish State and the Rights of the Jewish People.  

3. We will not be fooled by manipulative language used to shepherd Jews into signing on to pledges and statements intended to encourage self-censorship or shut down the free exchange of responsible ideas in our community. So-called "Pledges of Unity" and "Civility Statements" are nothing more than attempts to silence us.

4. We will not allow ourselves and our opinions to be controlled by organizations or officials who do not represent us. 

5. We will not financially or morally support Jewish organizations or individuals that attempt to silence us or our opinions. 

6. We will not sit silently by as Jewish officials attempt to mischaracterize us or our ideas as being "extremist" or "intolerant," "inflammatory" or "hateful." 

7. We will stand up against anti-Semitism, anti-Americanism and anti-Israel rhetoric. 

8. We will not be pressured into "outreach" with known bashers of the Jewish People, Israel, or America. We shall, however, enthusiastically reach out to and interact with sincere players and spokespeople. 

9. We will not be told by Jewish officials what to do, what to say, where to say it, how to say it, and to whom to say it.  

10. We shall publicly challenge organizations and individuals that are attempting to undermine the security and safety of Israel or America.

Paul McCartney is converting to Judaism; A Jewish Beatle? Yeah, yeah, yeah!

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:30:00 +0000

According to Mike Walker in The National Enquirer, Paul McCartney is studying Judaism and has promised his new bride, Nancy Shevell, that he'll convert, according to one of his friends.

PAUL MCCARTNEY, baptized Roman Catholic but admittedly never very devout, quietly told pals after his marriage to socialite NANCY SHEVELL – who’s Jewish and takes her religion seriously – that he’s studying Judaism and promised his new bride he’ll convert, reports a friend of the star.

The former Beatle’s first wife, LINDA EASTMAN, came from a prominent Jewish family and McCartney had talked about converting after they married, but just never got around to it.

Paul told pals he’ll complete his conversion studies next year.

Jewish Federation of L.A. mission brings record 400 Los Angelenos to Israel; will dedicate community center at Negev's Ayalim Village; Pres. Shimon Peres will address

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:46:00 +0000

Delegation of more than 400 Jews arrives in Tel Aviv to celebrate 100th anniversary of Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

The delegation represents the largest group of travelers from Los Angeles traveling together on an organized mission. Participants include prominent Jewish community leaders and philanthropists from Los Angeles, as well as congregants of synagogues traveling with their rabbis and spiritual leaders.

Personalized itineraries include tourist destinations as well as visits to numerous human service programs throughout Israel that are funded by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

Highlights include the following: October 25, in Tel Aviv: Cultural celebration including opera, dance, TV, film and art featuring participants in programs of The Jewish Federation’s Tel Aviv/Los Angeles Partnership. Emcee is Chaim Topol; October 27 in Jerusalem; Reciting the Shehechiyanu at the Haas promenade with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat October 28 at the Kotel; Welcome Shabbat as a community October 30 in Ashalim; Dedication of new community center at Ayalim Village funded by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles;

October 31 in Jerusalem: Closing gala with President Shimon Peres and Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky (YNetNews)

Worshipers rejoice upon completing atonement on Sukkot and the reading of the Torah on Simchat Torah holy days

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:13:00 +0000

It's a "mitzvah" (commandment) to be happy on Sukkot and Simchat Torah! At Los Angeles' modern orthodox, Carlebach "Happy" Minyan, impassioned worshipers accompany the Hoshana Rabah worship service by dancing and playing timbrel, shofar, fiddle, guitar, and other acoustic musical instruments.

On Simchat Torah, the celebration of the completion of the annual Torah-reading cycle, the Torahs are danced around the synagogue. The effusion often spills over into the streets of their visibly Jewish neighborhood in Los Angeles.

"We want more Shalits!" Israeli Arabs & Palestinians shout, Palestinian journalist abu-Toameh interprets

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:29:00 +0000

"We Want More Shalits!" by Khaled Abu Toameh in Hudson-NY October 21, 2011

It is clear by now that it is only a matter of time before Hamas or any other Palestinian group try to kidnap another soldier or Israeli civilian in order to copy the Shalit example. The deal has given them a strong incentive to try once again to snatch a soldier or civilian to achieve that goal.

Like the withdrawals from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the prisoner swap has sent the same message not only to the Palestinians, but to the rest of the Arab world: that violence and kidnappings are the only language that Israel understands, and that the violent struggle against Israel must continue because negotiations do not lead to anything.

Sadly, it is hard to find anyone on the Palestinian side who sees the exchange deal as a sign of Israeli flexibility. On the contrary - Israel's concessions are almost always interpreted as a sign of weakness that eventually leads to more violence. The withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 was seen as a sign of Israeli weakness in the face of increased rocket and suicide attacks. The withdrawal from southern Lebanon before that was also viewed as a sign of weakness in the face of Hizbollah's attacks on Israel.

Statements made by many of the released prisoners and several Hamas leaders don't bode well for the future. They view the deal as an Israeli capitulation to their demands and are now calling for the kidnapping of more Israeli soldiers to trade them for the remaining Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

Chanting "We want more Shalits!," thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in the Gaza Strip to greet the released prisoners and call on Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups to hurry up and launch more operations to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Read it all

“Ehr Kumt” (Yiddish for “he’s coming”) pulpit sermon of the century

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:14:00 +0000

FrontPage Magazine published this clarion sermon about Islamic anti-Semitism, delivered by Rabbi Shlomo Lewis of Atlanta on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, 2010, which has been referred to as the “Sermon of the Century.”

“I remember one Shabbos in 1938 when Vladimir Jabotinsky came to the shul” (Jabotinsky was Menachim Begin’s mentor – he was a fiery orator, an unflinching Zionist radical, whose politics were to the far right.) Joe continued “When Jabotinsky came, he delivered the drash on Shabbos morning and I can still hear his words burning in my ears. He climbed up to the shtender, stared at us from the bima, glared at us with eyes full of fire and cried out. ‘EHR KUMT. YIDN FARLAWST AYER SHTETL – He’s coming. Jews abandon your city.’ ”

We thought we were safe in Lithuania from the Nazis, from Hitler. We had lived there, thrived for a thousand years but Jabotinsky was right — his warning prophetic. We got out but most did not.”

Read it all

50,000 Zionists from all around the world participate in annual Jerusalem March for Sukkot

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:52:00 +0000

Israel-lovers from around the world participated Tuesday 18 October in the annual Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles, "Jerusalem March" parade. (Video courtesy http://www.jr.co.il)

Rabbinical perspectives on paying ransom of 1,027 convicted Arab terrorists to free a sole Israeli captive, Gilad Shalit

noreply@blogger.com (DemoCaster) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:18:00 +0000

Israelis celebrate the return of Islamist-held captive Gilad Shalit

Hamas militant Fakhre Barghouti waves in Ramallah,
as one of 1000 Islamist terrorists Israel is trading

Rabbi Zvi Block, of Beis Medrash Toras HaShem, offers a Judaic perspective about paying excessive ransom for releasing a kidnap victim, in the wake of Israel's releasing over 1000 convicted terrorists in exchange for the release of Gilad Shalit.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper is the associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Fox News published his Op/Ed, Gilad Shalit Comes Home -- Tears of Joy Mixed With Bitter Tears of Sorrow.

"Jewish law demands, that a community’s last Torah scroll must be sold off to perform one special deed: Redeeming a Jew from captivity.

The Talmud says captivity is worse than starvation or death. The great Medieval scholar Maimonides, who lived in an era when helpless Jews were too often held for hostage, collected money to redeem them and lashed out at those who refused to help as violating biblical commandments, including "you shall not harden your heart" (Deuteronomy 15:7); "you shall not stand idly by the blood of your brother" (Leviticus 19:16); and "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).

One legal text admonishes that anyone who delays in ransoming a captive is akin to a murderer.
Indeed, 2,000 years ago the Talmud explicitly cautioned that the commandment to redeem the captive ends when the deal upends “ Tikun Olam” -- the good order of the world. Meaning, only make the deal, if "… they [the kidnappers] should not seize more captives".

Tragically, throughout 2,000 years of exile, embattled Jewish leaders, too often found themselves between a rock and a hard place, more often than not, forced to pay high ransoms, with the knowledge they were helpless to stop the next kidnapping.

Even the modern state of Israel has not been immune from this scourge.. Over the last four decades, Jewish scholars have grappled with the phenomenon of terrorist kidnappings-- from the Entebbe skyjacking saga in 1976 to the Shalit affair.

The late former Chief Rabbi Goren, ruled that one must not pay more than the captive's value because it would encourage the kidnappers to kidnap more Jews and endanger the public.

Rabbi Goren’s conclusion: the safety of one or a few Jews in captivity does not take precedence over the safety of the entire public and without doubt, the freeing hundreds or thousands of terrorists in 2011 will definitely increase terrorism and the threat of more kidnappings.

But other scholars disagree since Israel is struggling with a war based on Palestinian nationalism—not money. And so, the price paid for Gilad Shalit's freedom, however painful and lopsided, they argue, will not make any difference to Hamas or Hezbollah, who will continue to try to kidnap Jews regardless of what Israel does.

It will be a bittersweet Simchat Torah this year for us Jews: We celebrate a tradition that cherishes Life and helped repatriate a kidnappedson; while we cast a wary eye on terrorists who leverage our reverence for life to stoke the flames of their culture of death."

Read more