The Circle of Lies

The vote at the UN to grant “Palestine” the status of an observer state is, at the end of the day, meaningless. It does not create a “state” that did not exist before- it is only a political gesture. If anything it is more a step toward the greatest irony that the world could see- the creation of a brand new terrorist state. “Palestine” does not meet any of the requirements of International law to even be considered a candidate for statehood. While that is the reality we can’t ignore the symbolic value of the UN move. The vote does bring the Palestinians one more rung up the ladder of politics (and world sympathy.)

The vital issue that seems to bother no one at the UN is the very request to be considered for statehood puts the Palestinians in breach of the Oslo accords. It was in Oslo that the question of statehood was discussed between Israel and the Palestinians and they signed an accord stating that future statehood questions would be negotiated. Once again we see the real truth about negotiating with the Palestinians. Once again it is a one sided affair- Israel gives and gets nothing in return. That would be reason enough to disdain the recent vote and the UN in general. I don’t know why we continue to spend millions of dollars to host an organization that does not really promote peace or justice. I for one would be glad to let the UN relocate.

In addition to these points I wish all the wise people of the UN would consider this question: while the UN can take all the votes it wants to, will there ever, could there ever, be a Palestinian state? Does that seem like a strange question? Consider the historical truth- there has never been a Palestinian people, there has never been an identifiable national body representing the majority of “citizens.” Even now many critics of the two-state solution are not against the idea of two states. They are simply realizing the fact that there is no comprehensive body that speaks for the Palestinians. The “Authority” represents only a minority of the population. Hamas should never be considered a legitimate body to deal with international issues and, in certain pockets, there are still local leaders who command their own private armies. If the UN wants to wave a magic wand to create a state who do they expect to pop out of the magician’s hat as the leadership? At this point the only thing statehood would grant the Palestinians would be the status to have their own civil war.

The circle of lies continues at the UN. The fact that this body of “international fellowship and justice” continues to entertain and actively support Palestinian statehood only proves that it has no real interest in a lasting and just peace. By putting Israel in a corner from which there is no escape the UN only shows that it agrees with the Palestinians- peace in the Middle East means a Middle East without Israel.

 

The Peace Dance

For the last two weeks our attention has focused on Israel. Images of explosions, young soldiers, and rockets flying through the air have formed the collage of news coming out of Israel. For those of us with friends and families in Israel these have been tense days of constant phone calls and e-mails as we keep asking the rhetorical question: “are you ok?” Maybe we have also paused to wonder the consequences for ourselves: “what will happen if a wider war starts?” If these are questions that we ask with a voice of fear and uncertainty, I would ask you to try to imagine the mood in Israel. Unable to send young children to school, worrying  if older children will be part of a ground campaign into Gaza, or maybe just waiting anxiously for the next siren blast. Between the siren and the sound of the missile hitting must be an unbearable few seconds that seem like a lifetime.

It goes without saying that the worst fear is giving in to fear. Can any of us imagine the bravery it takes to get up in the morning and try to pursue a “normal day” under such circumstances? How many of us could answer that challenge? I remind you, if it need be said at all, that the only thing that keeps Israelis going is their resolve to live in a Jewish homeland. A determination to a cause that is even more precious than life itself- the future of Medina Yisrael. I am afraid that our own commitments to the Jewish future looks very pale when compared to the bravery of an average Israeli who is just trying to get through another day with the hope that it will be one day closer to a ceasefire if not to a real, lasting peace.

When all is said and done what is it that we ask? Just a place to live in security. Just a small piece of land to which we have, as a people, been connected to for the past four thousand years. In the struggle of these past two weeks we can never forget that.  As I write this column Hillary Clinton is in Israel, there is a “secret” envoy from Israel who has gone to Egypt for talks, there have been “ceasefires” that did not last. There has also been a lot of second guessing about why the battle escalates. In the end all of this talk and the attending effort boil down to one question- who really wants peace and who really wants war. Israel wants peace. The Palestinians want Israel. It really is that simple. There is no room for self doubt or ambiguity. Hamas is a group of terrorists fighting to destroy Israel. There is no chance for peace as long as Arab children are taught to murder Jews. There is no peace unless two parties can agree. The Peace Dance is bound to fail under the present circumstances – it takes two to tango and every day the Palestinians make it clearer that they have no desire to be a partner.

A Time for Heroes

 

During these days of Hanukkah our thoughts turn to ancient heroes- the Maccabees. They fought to preserve Judaism and, against all odds, overcame an enemy with much greater numbers. They defied history and came out victorious. I can’t help but think of another set of heroes- survivors of the Holocaust who fought just to survive. I am humbled when I meet them. Their stories of individual survival and their stories of personal loss and tragedy should make each of us realize that every one of them is a hero. If Hanukkah is the time to speak of- re-dedication, I can think of no better time for each of us to pause and rededicate ourselves to honoring both the memory of the six million and the lives of those who survived.

In the past few months I have been fortunate enough to produce the pilot for a new series called Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes. It has been an honor to get to meet so many survivors in the course of producing this first episode. It has also been an experience that confirms to me the importance of telling their stories. Working with Executive Producer Bob Pianka and Jewish Life Television (JLTV. I think that viewer response to the show has demonstrated that there are many stories of the Shoah that still have to be told, many heroes that still have to be recognized, and many aspects of survivors’ lives that still need to be made a part of the public record.

In South Florida we live with the third largest survivor community in the world. We need to tell their stories to the world. That is why I am so passionate about the work we do by producing Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes. I ask you to please join me in hearing their stories. The pilot episode of Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes will re-air during the next few days. Please tune in and show that these heroes will never be forgotten nor will their voices ever be silenced.

Many of you are already familiar with Jewish Life TV. It is the largest Jewish network in the world. JLTV is in over 40 million homes in America and Canada and over 80 million homes in Europe. JLTV can be seen throughout South Florida on Comcast channel 239 and DirecTV 366 and Atlantic Broadband 167. Dish and Xfinity will soon have JLTV as well.  I hope you will watch Reliving the Holocaust Through Their Eyes. Tune in JLTV on the following dates and times to see our pilot : December 17^th at 3:00pm, December 18^th and 8:00 and 11pm, December 19^th at 5:00pm, or December 20^th at 4:00pm.

I wish all my readers the very best for the remaining days of Hannukah and ask that you make these festive days of lights a time to celebrate the heroes of our people.

If He Only Knew

 

A friend recently sent me an e-mail based on a quote from Albert Einstein. The quote was “…while we can communicate better than we ever thought we’d be able to… the cost is the end of personal human interaction!”  I don’t know when he said or wrote that but it had to be at least a half a century ago. Imagine if he saw how we can communicate today.  Einstein’s “cutting edge” technology seems like the Stone Age now. He, however, being a genius, could see where technology would someday take us.

So here we are- in sci-fi land. You can send a text message around the world in a second. You can video phone someone on a device (i-phone) that you can carry in your pocket. Remember the old Dick Tracy cartoons- he had a “video watch” and now even that doesn’t seem far away. But what of Einstein’s basic assertion? It boils down to “more is less”- the more we can use technology the less we really communicate. The rest of the e-mail went on to illustrate the point. It followed with a series of pictures of people who were sitting together but were all focused on their phones sending a text. A group of kids sat at the beach- all texting. People were “out for coffee” together but were all on the phone as they sat there. Perhaps saddest of all was a photo labeled “A day at the museum,” three young people sitting in front of a painting and, yes, they were all texting.

I appreciate technology- I am as addicted to the internet as anyone. Yes, I check my e-mail all the time and, yes, I do most of my news gathering and research on websites. Yes, I believe in the positive power of the internet. I have several websites that I use to communicate with other people. We can learn more and faster than ever before but, when we get so caught up in the new kinds of communication like Face book, Twitter, and texting what do we lose? We lose the human touch! I am very put off by people who will not talk to you on the phone but abruptly say- “send me an e-mail, no time to talk.” I don’t want to send you an e-mail- I want to hear you voice, your reactions, your emotions that mark how you understand my words. That is the essence of communicating. I like to tell you what I mean- e-mails and texting may be handy tools but I am constantly amazed about how often they can be misunderstood. Twitter? If I have something important to tell you I need more than 140 characters. If you can tell me something in that few words it probably isn’t that important.

There was a time when “communication” was a bunch of people sitting around a campfire telling stories- yes, that seems very naive now but think about it- our greatest stories, our most noble goals, our greatest aspirations, - these were first communicated face-to- face. I am not suggesting that we go back to campfires but I am reminding you that real communication comes down to one person touching another person through not only his or her ideas but by the sound of his voice and the sincerity seen in her eyes.

One last quote from Einstein- “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.”  It is that old school, old fashion interaction that allows us to pass on the wisdom we have acquired.  Let’s prove Einstein wrong- let’s make technology a tool to increase human action not a weapon to destroy it.

Just Another Brick In the Wall




The case of Anat Hoffman: arrested at the Kotel for saying the Shema out loud. Arrested for being a Jew who wants to pray at our holiest site. Arrested for being a woman in a man’s world. I have a great respect for all Jews and I respect their right to worship as they wish. From Orthodox to Reform, Jews have many different ways to serve God. What is most important is that we share the same goals- to do Mitzvot and to better the world. As someone who chose to be Jewish I have always cherished the idea that as a religious community we have more in common than the things that divide us into the various modern denominations.

In the last week many people have spoken out against the unfair treatment women receive when they pray at the Kotel. Like many things, this situation will never be resolved until the State of Israel recognizes the pluralistic nature of modern Jewish religious life. That will never happen until there is a coalition government that does not need the support of the religious parties. One of the paradoxes of the State of Israel is that all Jews are welcome but, because of politics, not all kinds of Judaism are welcome.

The arrest of Anat Hoffman is an embarrassment to me. It also makes me feel like a hypocrite- after all the complaining that all of us do about the way Islam treats women as second class people look what we have done. No, I am not comparing the Israeli Rabbinate to Mullahs- Islam could learn from us for a thousand years and still not catch up- but I am comparing the situation that leads to needless unequal treatment. No, Anat Hoffman will not be flogged or put in prison but she did have to agree to stay away from the Kotel for 30 days. Why should any Jew be denied the right to worship there?

Anat Hoffman and the group known as “Women of the Wall” are making an important statement: the Israeli Rabbinate cannot ignore the religious rights of women nor can they exist in a vacuum that ignores the religious sentiments of Diaspora Jewry. Maybe the most positive lesson that we can glean from this situation is to appreciate and praise an overlooked segment of the Israeli population. Perhaps the greatest spiritual heroes are those individuals who, though not Orthodox, choose to live in Israel because of their religious convictions. Conservative and Reform Jews who make aliyah often do so with the “religious” deck stacked against them. Their services will be held in schools and rooms, their “rabbis” will not be sanctioned to perform many life cycle events, yet they go to Israel to fulfill the Mitzvah of Aliyah. Anat Hoffman and many such men and women are the true heroes- fighting to make Medinat Yisrael a place for all Jews.

Israel Must Choose Too

 

The presidential elections are today’s news. We are quickly nearing the day when Americans do what we are lucky to do every four years- weigh in on our hopes for the future. We do that by voting and choosing those who will represent us. From the national races down to the local candidates we have the choice (and obligation) to vote. It is a real mitzvah to participate in the democratic process and I hope that all Americans will take part. There is, however, another election that will occur soon- elections in Israel. While I hope that my readers are focused on going to the polls here, I want to remind you to “stay tuned” for developments in Israel.

In just a couple of weeks the election here will be over and done and political life will return to normal (whatever “normal” is.) The president elect will be making plans and announcing policies for the future. Whoever that president is he will have to address the question of Israel’s security and the turmoil in the Muslim world. Iran will not go away- a magic bullet will not suddenly appear out of nowhere to end the ongoing stalemate. That is why you need to watch the elections in Israel. It is the easiest thing in the world for American Jews and American politicians to sit here and discuss what Israel should do. It is the easiest thing in the world to assume that either the American Jewish community or the American government can decide what is best for Israel.

With the new elections Israelis will decide what is best for Israel. Do they believe in a hard line approach or are they willing to wait and pray? Only they can decide. The polls seem to indicate that at least one third of Israeli voters are behind Netanyahu. By Israeli standards that is an overwhelming mandate for him. It means that Israelis do not want to trust their future to other people no matter how well intentioned.

American Jews have a long and proud history of supporting Israel although sometimes we are divided about how to support her. Do we offer unwavering and loyal support or support that retains the right to criticize? That is a question that we always debate. What we have to do is to respect the decisions that Israel makes about her future. Maybe we don’t agree, maybe we do – in either case the message that is incumbent upon us to communicate to our fellow Americans and our leaders is a simple one. Israel exists this day because of the self-determination of her citizens. If history proves anything it proves that no one outside of Israel has earned the right to second guess the will of the Israeli people.

You will spend election night watching the coverage of our elections. Don’t forget to give the same attention to the results of Israel’s election. The future of Medinat Yisrael is riding on the vote; Israel’s very existence is the agenda.

 

Why Do You Go To Synagogue?

 Last week I asked you to consider the abiding message and meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: to remember that many aspects of our lives change from year to year but our values and beliefs abide as the cornerstones of our Jewish identity. This week I ask you to consider something else, something much more personal, something only you can answer: why do you go to the synagogue? You may think I am kidding but I mean it- why do you attend services on Rosh Hashanah and/or Yom Kippur? For those who attend shul regularly it might not be so important but if you are one of those “three-day-a-year Jews” I ask you to think about that question very seriously.

Don’t make excuses- don’t say someone makes you go; don’t say you will feel guilty if you don’t. Oh, and don’t say it’s the perfect way to spend a day away from work. Joking aside, admit that there is something in your heart and soul that makes you feel that you should be there. Don’t fight that feeling- be proud of it! That feeling is your Jewish “instinct” telling you that it is time to re-connect to Judaism. It is your “inner-Jew” telling you that no matter how crazy the world may be there is a way to put it all in focus. That “magic connection” is the connection that you make sitting in synagogue, the connection you make when you pause to realize that the concept of “modernity” is an ever changing one- what is new today will be old tomorrow. In the face of a world that changes more quickly than we can even notice we need to re-connect with those things that are eternal.

I know many Jews feel uncomfortable in synagogue. The service is too long. They can’t read Hebrew. They feel like hypocrites because they don’t keep all the laws. Yes, there are many excuses to explain why shul can be a real “pain”- not to mention all that sitting in one place. Try this for a change- make up some excuses about why it is so great to be in the synagogue of your choice! Think of the possibilities! Have you ever noticed how easy it is to make excuses about doing something you want to do anyway? Maybe this year you can say (even if it is only to yourself): “I want to go to shul, I am not exactly sure why, but I want to be there.” For many of us that would be a strange confession, but consider it. Go to services this year with an open mind. Yes, there is some reason you want to be there. Yes, there is something that makes it a special day and a special place. Yes, you did go there looking for something.

I wish all of my readers the very best for the new year and hope that this Rosh Hashanah we all discover the reasons that bring us together in prayer and discovery of those things that have made us an eternal people.

The War On Information

As we spent the last couple of weeks pre-occupied with the High Holidays and Sukkot the world has kept on turning. The protests and violence in the Muslim world have continued. America has even prepared for the UN visit of Iran’s President. The furor over the now infamous YouTube movie still has all of us wondering what will be next.

 It was against the background of these events that I noted a news item coming out of Iran. The Iranian government has announced plans to block parts (or all) of the internet. Soon, it seems, Iranians will only be able to access on-line information that their government has approved. The expectation seems to be that the Iranian government will create an “Iran-net” that will filter what can be seen and read on-line.

Do you remember the theory of the “big lie?” Repeat something often enough and it will be believed. How about keeping people shut off from the world and only letting them know what you want them to believe? If Iran blocks the internet Iranians will have no (legal) way to get information. Not only is this an injustice to the population but it makes the Iranian government that much more dangerous. Iranians will not be able to access real news, they will not be able to use social media, and a war against Israel and the West will be that much easier to justify. An uninformed citizenry is a threat to the entire Middle East. Any voice of protest or resistance to the Ayatollah’s rule will have even less chance of mobilizing a democratic movement.

Ignorance is the most effective tool to build hatred. For my readers who are not so computer savvy let me make a comparison: our government outlaws TV and newspapers, your information is limited to word-of-mouth rumors and whatever “news and views” the government chooses to give you. What kind of a society do you think that would create? That is the kind of society that Iranians will face without the internet.

The violence that continues to unfold around the Muslim world is the product of a mob mentality. When thousands of people gather and are motivated by rumors, lies, and fanaticism it can only result in an anger that can be directed by those who want to use the mob to their own ends. Participants become willing to commit any act of anger because they are part of a “mob” that takes on a life of its own. One of the few forces that can combat this mob mentality is information.  It is only when people can hear all sides of a story or situation that they can make a real judgment. I believe there are many people in the Muslim world who are willing to hear the voice of truth and reason. Right now they are helpless and unable to spread their message.

We have seen (as if we needed proof) that it takes very little to set the Muslim world on fire. Any excuse will do. Iran remains a real threat to the world- even other Muslim nations could be the target of Iranian aggression. Having just finished the Holiday season it may be a little chutzpadik to say, but I sure hope that HaShem heard all our prayers for peace. I can’t think of a time when such requests were so needed.

 

 

Things That Will Never Disappear

A friend of mine recently sent me an e-mail like many of us get every day. It is meant to be funny and entertaining yet it reports real facts and gives us a good reason to think about the future. This e-mail was titled “Nine things that will disappear in our lifetime.” It was entertaining and, at the same time, really made me think about how life has changed in the last couple of generations. So what are the things that will disappear according to this message? The Post Office, using checks to pay bills, newspapers, books, and landline telephones are among the casualties of technology’s never-ending advance. What really struck me was how these things are very important parts of our lives and yet, as reported, they are disappearing. We all know the serious financial trouble the Post Office is having- too many e-mails and electronic billing are making “snail-mail” a thing of the past. Banks complain that processing paper checks costs too much money- soon our whole lives (bills and all) will be controlled by little pieces of plastic. Newspapers are struggling- young people who have grown up with the internet expect their news to be instant. Who wants to wait until tomorrow morning to read a story? I love books. I love to hold them and look at them- there is something you can put your trust in if it’s in a book. But, yes, I admit it- they are big and heavy and, yes, they do start to smell a little strange after a number of years! In the new world electronic devices of all sizes and shapes will hold your “books.” You can carry a whole library under your arm and not even feel a strain! Now that nearly everyone carries a cell phone more and more people find that they really don’t need a “house phone.” Now, instead of arguing over who gets the phone next, today’s teenagers just disappear into their rooms and talk and text all night. So here we are- on the brink of a new world in which many of the things that we thought were “essentials” will soon be a part of the past. It should give us reason to pause and reflect. Many of the “things” in our lives that we thought were “essentials” will soon be replaced. The latest technology, the latest fashion or fad, or the “newest” product will cause us to discard things that once seemed precious. As we approach the High Holiday season I urge you to take a little time to think about the things that will never go out of style or become obsolete. Rosh HaShannah celebrates the new year, a new start, a new time filled with possibilities. But all these new opportunities only matter because of the things that we bring from years past. The love that we have for those around us, the time to pray, reflect, and share common hopes with family and friends, and a few quiet moments to reconnect with our tradition, these are the things that do not change or go out of style. Some things come and go but some things are eternal. Those are the things that join us to each other during the High Holidays.

Follow Up On Iran

In last week’s column I shared some thoughts with you about different policies about Iran. As mentioned then, both Americans and Israelis are strongly divided concerning how to answer the threat of Iran’s quest for nuclear power and weapons. One of the strongest barbs in the policy dispute has come from Alan Dershowitz who warned that J Street would “have blood on its hands” because of their attempts to lobby the Obama administration. Dershowitz claim is that J Street has lobbied for the removal of any mention of military action as a part of American policy. This week I follow up with an interview with Dylan Williams, Director of Government Affairs for J Street. Williams has been with J Street for three years. Trained in International law, Williams has also served as a Foreign Policy advisor to Olympia Snowe. I hope that all of my readers will appreciate the importance of understanding all the arguments concerning Iran.

YT: Could you please comment of Dershowitz’s comment on J Street. Will J Street “have blood on its hands?”

DW: J Street has never advocated for or advised the administration to take the military option off the table. To say that is false and a misrepresentation of J Street’s position. J Street believes that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons would pose a very serious threat to American and Israeli interests and to peace and stability in the Middle East and around the world. We therefore lobby for a combination of tough, targeted sanctions and diplomacy to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. We have also set forth the case that it is those like Dershowitz encouraging the U.S. government to rattle sabers and beat the war drums who are undermining President Obama's diplomacy. There is a big difference between leaving all options on the table while pursuing a permanent diplomatic resolution, and actively threatening military action. And while it is prudent for the United States military to prepare under existing authority for a contingency with Iran, as it already has, it is reckless to mistake that contingency for sound strategy.

YT: What is J Street doing that sets it apart from that “old style” of Jewish American advocacy for Israel?

DW: J Street believes that only a two-state solution will preserve the Jewish and the democratic nature of Israel. In the past, other American pro-Israel organizations have advocated for whatever the Israeli government set as policy. J Street reserves the right to differ with the Israeli government on issues of policy that do long-term harm to Israel as a Jewish democracy.

YT: What, then, is the main goal of J Street?

DW: To advocate for the two-state solution. That is the only policy that will insure that Israel remains Jewish and democratic.

YT: Could you explain what you mean?

DW: Without two states, one Jewish and one Palestinian, demographics tell us that the Arabs will soon be the majority population between the Mediterranean and the Jordan. That means that Israel will face a choice: either it will have to give all people living under its rule the same political rights, in which case, Jews will be a voting minority and Israel will cease to Jewish, or Israel will deny full political rights to the non-citizen majority, in which case it will cease to be a democracy. J Street argues that a state that is both Jewish and democratic represent the Zionist dream. Without both of these, the dream fails.

YT: What is the “ideal” outcome to resolve the Iranian situation then?

DW: The ideal outcome would be a negotiated outcome that would allow Iran to retain a civilian nuclear program but with the strongest monitoring possible. This is because permanent Iranian compliance with its nuclear obligations is only likely to come about if it is allowed to exercise its right under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, and because unprecedented monitoring of that program would give us the best assurance that Iran will not be able to develop nuclear weapons.

YT: What, then, is your opinion about the threat of military action against Iran?

DW: J Street contends that war talk is counter-productive in several ways. First, the talk of impending war only tells Iran that they must decide quickly to develop nuclear weapons. Both Israeli and American intelligence agrees that Iran not yet decided whether build a nuclear weapon. Secondly, as I have argued in an article in Foreign Policy, loose talk of war only causes the Iranian people to rally around the government to fight an enemy, strengthening the hand of the mullahs. This undermines the sanctions, which are working by causing terrible inflation in Iran- this causes the people to blame the government. It goes without saying that the threat of war also raises the price of oil. Although Iran is selling less oil than ever the jump in prices will produce a near-record income for Iranian oil this year, which they can apply to their nuclear program.

YT: How, in your view, will these issues with Iran be resolved?

DW: J Street has supported President Obama’s policy—from its outset-- of using a combination of sanctions and diplomacy as the best approach for preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Heeding the President’s warning about loose talk of war, we have joined American and Israeli security experts in combating efforts to ratchet up war talk and tie the President’s hands in dealing with this grave threat to Israeli, U.S. and global security. If cooler heads in Washington and Jerusalem prevail, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran can be halted once and for all, most likely through a staged drawdown of Iran’s illicit nuclear activities in coordination with international partners led by the United States.

Iran: The Need for Consensus

The mostly hotly debated issue in the American-Israeli relationship is one that affects both countries like never before: the threat of a nuclear armed Iran. Yes, the threat to Israel is more direct, but we all understand that Iran is a threat to America as well. If you need to be told this you must be living in a cave- we are all too aware of this issue to ignore it. The real issue is that we all (Israelis, Americans, and politicians from both countries) still have yet to reach a consensus on action. I write this now as a simple call- we need to decide what to do and we need to do it now! In the Jewish community there are, of course, hawks and doves. The fire of public debate was recently turned up in a TV interview that Alan Dershowitz gave. Dershowitz was asked to comment on the situation and used his remarks to criticize the position of “doves” like J Street. (J Street is a liberal advocacy group that favors negotiation on all land for peace and defense issues over military options. For a better understanding of the J Street position read A New Voice For Israel by Jeremy Ben-Ami.) Dershowitz said that J Street has been trying to get the White House to take military action off the list of possible American policies toward Iran. Dershowitz said “J Street will have blood on its hands if it continues this policy of undercutting the Obama administration when the Obama administration has said in no uncertain terms: it is willing to use military action against Iran if Iran is about to develop nuclear weapons… J Street is neither pro-Israel or pro peace.” Dershowitz said that it is vital that Iran believes that America will take action. This is very strong language and shows that American Jewry is divided on the proper course of action. I only wish the situation in Israel was not just as bad. Both Michael Oren and PM Netanyahu have recently stated that a unilateral attack on Iran by Israel would be “worth it” even if it only brought a delay to nuclear development in Iran. That contrasts vividly with a recent statement by Peres that claimed that such an attack would be a mistake. I have no doubt that public opinion in Israel is just as divided as the opinion of her leaders. As I said, we need to reach a consensus- it may soon be too late to do anything- nobody really knows. What we do know is that Iranian leaders continue to make the daily call for the destruction of Israel and they continue to say that America shall be the target of their weapons as well. Debate is great and everyone is welcome to express their opinion but the time comes for agreement and action. We are running out of time with each passing day. We, Israelis and Americans, need to set a course for our safety. Diplomacy is always better than war but diplomacy needs a partner. Saving lives is always better than taking lives but the most important life to save is your own.

More Precious Than Gold

It is the Olympic season- TV, Newspapers, blog sites, and advertising have all been reminding us lately that the games are on! Even if you are not interested in any or all of the competitions, the results are everywhere. The most celebrated headlines are, as always, who won the gold medal, the back-story, the celebration. Yes, silver and bronze do get the occasional mention but in the context of “runners-up.” The Olympics are a wonderful, peaceful way for nations to compete and to celebrate the human quest for excellence. The “games” really can be an inspiration- an example of focus, sacrifice, and dedication to being the best. However, that inspiration comes at a price. We live in a time in which the message is often given that being “the best” is the only acceptable position. Worse than that, our culture has reached a point at which we tell everyone that they are winners. In so many circles real competition is frowned upon- don’t make the “losers” feel bad. Children are told that they are the best and that everyone is a winner. I see it so often- young people who can’t handle “defeat” on any level. I often think that America has raised a generation of real “losers” because we have not taught our children how to handle life’s most common circumstances- coming in second or third or (God forbid) last. Real life teaches us that we will not succeed in everything that we try. It’s true in the workplace, in personal life, and even in our hobbies. I have always wanted to draw or paint but the truth is, as much as I would like to, I have no talent for either! The truth is that all too many of us have never learned to deal with disappointment or “second place.” Joshua Berkowitz has written a new book, Third Base For Life: A Memoir of Fathers, Sons, and Baseball. In the book he tells the story of a school team he coached, The Rashi Rams. Yes, the baseball team from a Jewish Day School. Hmmm… Jewish baseball players, you know how this will end already! The team was not the greatest but the kids loved baseball. Berkowitz managed to get the team invited to a Cooperstown Invitational Series. The book relates the outcome. The Rashi Rams lost every game they played. They came in 96th place out of 69 teams. Were they losers? No, they came away from the experience happier with the game than ever. They had the opportunity to compete, they met new people, and they grew closer as a team. Winning had nothing to do with the outcome. They were there to play for the love of the game. I wish we could teach that message to our children. Winning is not about the gold medal, it is about the chance to do something you love. Winning is about trying and, if you fail, trying again. The most precious lesson any of us can ever learn is not about winning- it is about learning what to do when you don’t when. That is a lesson more precious than gold.

Why Is History Such A Hard Subject?

This Saturday night and Sunday we will observe Tisha B’Av. In last week’s column I gave you some of the background for this day. Tisha B’Av is a fast day recalling, among other events, the destruction of the First Temple in 586BCE and the Second Temple in 70CE. As I explained last week, these were national catastrophes that changed the course of Jewish history and theology in many ways. As we prepare for this day I reflect on a larger question: why do we have such a hard time remembering and understanding history? I take my cues from reports I have heard on the grasp that our young people have on history. Many American children fail questions about American history. Knowledge of such important events like the American Revolution or the Civil War has become too esoteric for many students (and teachers) to worry about. I wonder if other countries have the same problem when it comes to their citizens grasping the history of their own country. It also makes me ask why. Perhaps part of the problem lies in our attitude about the past. That attitude seems to be that only the present matters. “The past” is like a ball of yarn- it is all rolled together and hard to perceive the different lines that wind around each other. I think it is also a part of our modern “vanity.” We think that we are so advanced, so far removed from the mistakes and failures of the past that remembering history is not necessary. The only thing that matters is what we do today. Such an attitude reflects such a superficial understanding of humanity that it betrays the naiveté of its proponents. It is true that we are more technically advanced than our ancestors- even our grandparents for that matter. It is true that science has reshaped the way we live but it has not reshaped the human heart. As a student of history I try to never lose sight of the fact that human beings have not changed- our tools and our toys have changed but the essence of what it means to be human remains constant. Regardless of our new found technology, we still long to connect to each other and to that which is greater than all of us. Sometimes I think if we could remember how much we have in common with our ancestors we would understand ourselves much better. Tisha B’Av is not just about the Temples. It is not just an ancient part of our history. It is about the way our people reacted to and overcame times of crisis and spiritual confusion. These are lessons that would serve us well right now. Our civilization, both religious and secular, face great challenges. Some think the challenge might be too great, that we have arrived at “the point of no return.” The study of history, especially Jewish history, can teach us much. The human spirit is what created triumph and continuity in the face of catastrophe. That’s why it is essential that Jews understand the Jewish past. It is also something needed by all of our neighbors- it is not technology that overcomes crisis. All of the problems that may face us today have been experienced before, what remains to be seen is if we can have the faith, courage, and will that our ancestors had.

Iran's Latest Attack

It is old news. Ahmadinejad condemns Israel, calling it a “cancer” that must be destroyed. We have grown so used to anti-Israel rants coming from Iran that maybe we don’t pay attention any more- another day, another call to wipe Israel off the map. Maybe we have even grown weary of hearing about Iran’s “possible” nuclear program or maybe we have just convinced ourselves that Israel and/or America will take action before it is too late. We have come to depend on the fact that computer viruses and secret bunker-bombs will somehow avert an all out attack on Israel. We have even come to dismiss Iran’s threats to attack “the west.” I understand that we grow weary being in a state of constant alert but in situations like this it is required. I bring to your attention the latest version of Iran’s attack on Israel because it should concern us in an entirely different way. At a conference on drug use in Iran (yes, a big problem) Mohammed Reza Rahimi, Iran’s first vice-president offered a reason for worldwide drug use- the Talmud is to blame. He explained that the Talmud teaches that Jews can do anything to make money and so it is obvious that they are behind the international drug trade. As ridiculous as this sounds representatives of other countries attending the conference sat there and listened to it. Worse than that, the UN often praises Iran for their “war on drugs.” No, it does not surprise me that an Iranian official would make such a claim, nor does it surprise me that other people would sit there and listen as if this charge could be serious. What does get my attention is this- blaming the Talmud for drug use is not just an implicit attack on Israel. It is an explicit attack on Judaism as a religion. It moves the question from politics to culture and religion. It means that there can be no doubt that when Iranians call for the destruction of Israel they have another vision in mind as well- the destruction of all Jews. While Ahmadinejad may talk of destroying Israel, he is really thinking that Iran will succeed in wiping out Judaism. That should make us think twice. If Iran did have the means would it attack Israel? We have to believe it would. (Luckily Germany has provided Israel with some submarines that are a serious deterrent. With these German subs Israel can strike back no matter what happens on land.) As Jews this makes us nervous for Israel but we should also be nervous and alert for ourselves. In the Iranian worldview Jews are to be killed wherever they are because they are Jews. We have to understand that Iran seeks to fulfill Hitler’s vision- a world without Jews. That may be offensive to some but it is the simplest statement of the truth. Don’t ignore the situation. Urge our officials to support Israel. Urge our officials to combat Iran on every front possible. As Jews we have learned that ignoring our enemies does not make them go away. If we are not for ourselves who will be?

Ancient Jewish Proverb Says

What is the latest academic rage in China? Science? Medicine? Computers? How about Jewish Studies! A Center for Jewish Studies recently opened in China offering degrees up to the Ph. D. level and there are already over 200 students. Although there has been a Jewish community in China for centuries with a very complicated history, we don’t tend to think of China as being a place in which Judaism would be a topic of study. All the more surprising that the Jewish Program is well funded and growing rapidly. I think the first thing that we would all like to know is why would China want to grow its own native Judaic scholars? While some of the students might be Jewish, it must be a very small number. So why all this interest in Jewish history, culture, and religion? I think the answer tells us a lot about China and ourselves as well. China is an ancient culture that has a long and interesting history. We learn in High School that, when Europe was still in the Iron Age, China had science, literature, and technology. But the China of today is rapidly changing. It’s not just politics, communism or capitalism; it’s not just culture, east or west, but it is about the basic human values that create a country out of millions and millions of diverse peoples. It is ironic that a country as large as China seeks to takes lessons from our history, the history of a people that has always been a tiny sliver of humanity. You see the Chinese know that as a people they are changing. They sense that the structures that have lasted for centuries are crumbling. The Great Wall was meant to insulate, China but in the age of the internet there is no isolation, there is only change. Many Chinese also know that not all change is for the better that’s why they want to understand one of the most miraculous events in human history- Jewish survival. As many Chinese scholars try to deal with the bigger social issues of change and how to preserve that which is unique in their culture, they realize that it is the history of the Jews that holds the key to preserving a culture in the face of change and challenge. We have and do live all over the globe. We have survived in cultures that were hostile to every value that we hold dear and yet, through it all, we have maintained our culture, faith, and identity. That fact is even more impressive when we consider how very small our nation is. I hope the Chinese learn much about our culture. Maybe it will spark some of us to rediscover it for ourselves. With all the hand-wringing in the Jewish community about Jewish survival it is interesting to note that, at least so far, we still have a lot to teach the world. Now the question is can we appreciate our own culture enough to preserve it? An ancient Jewish proverb says…

On Line and Learning

It was a beautiful day at Citi Field in New York. The 40,000 seats had sold out in advance. A good day for any baseball field these days, but there was no game going on- instead it was a rally against the “dangers” of the internet that was sponsored by a coalition of ultra-right wing Jewish groups. These groups came together to warn the faithful that they should not use the internet or allow their children to use it. I understand that there is much on the internet that is undesirable. It is a double edged sword- the information age can spread knowledge but it can also spread hatred and lies. What I question is the wisdom of gathering 40,000 people together to tell them to ignore the greatest revolution in the history of humanity. We can’t make “evil” disappear by ignoring it. You can put your head in the sand but it won’t change anything. Jews cannot ignore the internet any more than we can ignore any other technology. I don’t think you have to condemn the internet to be a pious Jew, nor do I believe that any technology is intrinsically “evil.” Like every other tool, it depends on the user. You can use a hammer to build a home or you can use it to tear it down. As a student of Judaism I am bewildered that anyone would tell people not to use the internet. The web has made Jewish learning easier than ever both for the beginner and for the scholar. Just consider these innovations: the Dead Sea Scrolls were once hidden away, the “intellectual property” of a very small group of scholars who could not possibly do all the research needed to decode these texts. Today the entire contents of the scrolls have been digitized and are on line for the whole world. This makes scholarship much more of a democracy. Collections of scholarly materials that were once only accessible by travelling to many different countries to physically “see” the books are now accessible on line. Having just moved my personal library I can tell you that books get heavier and heavier the older you get- now you can carry an entire Jewish library on a few disks. Yes, there might be a lot of “dark corners” on the internet, but there is an entire world of learning that can go straight to your computer screen. The group that sponsored the anti-internet rally, The Union of Communities for Purity of the Camp, has made its point- there are bad things out there in cyberspace! But the internet is here to stay in every facet of our lives. People send e-mails, people do business on line, and our children are educated on line. For all the dangers the World Wide Web has made it easier than ever to communicate, to learn, and to save our most precious resource, time.

A Review of "The Horse Adjutant"

“Son, if you survive, tell the story of everything that happened to us. The world must know. .. you will live longer than any of us.” These are the last words that Leon Schagrin’s father ever said to him. It was to be that last that Schagrin would ever hear from his family before they were separated. At age 12 Leon was alone. The rest of the family died in Belzac, the only camp with a single purpose- to kill everyone who arrived. Leon survived thanks to a miraculous series of twists and turns that would allow him to live to see liberation. Leon Shagrin’s story is told in The Horse Adjutant, co-authored by Stephen Shooster, (2011, Shooster Publishing, www. thehorseadjutant.com) A highly personal narrative, Leon tells us of pre-war Poland- the story of his childhood- in the small town of Grybow in which Jews, Christians, Gypsies, and Russians lived side by side. They went to the same schools, they played together, and they went to market day together. Leon was a rambunctious child who would rather wander the hills and forests than go to school. Leon’s narrative of his childhood recalls a peaceful place, a great place with all kinds of secrets to be discovered. By the time that he was old enough to become a Bar Mitzvah that world would be replaced by a hellish limbo filled with unexplained atrocities. As a boy Leon was always ready to find an excuse to get out of helping his father, a self-taught veterinarian who had a special gift for treating horses. Ironically, it would be the little that he did learn about horses that would save him more than once. Being a coach driver for the SS Leon would be able to get a little food. Caring for an officer’s prize steed would keep him from the gas chamber. But his ability to handle horses also forced him to witness the extermination of his neighbors. After the Nazis killed people on the street just to make a point of their cruelty Leon would be ordered to bring a wagon and take the bodies away. Leon’s narrative records his day to day struggle to live and his desperate hope to escape Auschwitz. He hoped to be assigned to a work camp rather than a death camp. His daily fight to ward of starvation, beatings, and selection punctuate the story of how he lived to tell his story. While I think many of us who study the Holocaust try to deal with the “big picture,” a story like The Horse Adjutant reminds us that it is easy to miss the tree as one tries to understand the forest. None of us can ever comprehend the death of six million. As we try to comprehend that number we lose sight of the loss of six million individual lives- the number is just too great and defies our ability to understand. A highly personal narrative, The Horse Adjutant reminds us that sometimes our greatest understanding is found in the details of a single life. Perhaps the individual stories let us begin the task of recovering the individual faces of a world that was destroyed. The Horse Adjutant is a must read. It will not teach you about the great battles of the war. It will not explain how human beings could kill without remorse. It will not tell you why Leon’s world was destroyed. It will tell you how one single boy managed to survive to tell us how beautiful his world once was.

Darwin Knocking

Living in South Florida I get to meet a lot of interesting people. Some of the most interesting are those who have attained a long and eventful life. Through the years I have been lucky to meet several people over one hundred years old. I wish I could share every story that they have told me but suffice it to say that it is always a treat to hear about a life that has spanned the most amazing century in the history of mankind. It is a little humbling to sit with someone who lived through World War 1, the Roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, and along the way witnessed little changes like electricity, flight, and everything else right up to the age of the internet. It is also humbling to realize that all the pride that we have in our “modern” lifestyle will, in another generation, seem as old fashioned as being proud of a princess telephone. It puts the idea of progress in perspective- these last hundred years have produced things undreamed of a century ago and the next hundred will surpass them. When I think of progress, however, I often think of the human side of the story. Are people better than they were a century ago? Yes, we are healthier, we live longer, we are able to protect ourselves better in the face of nature. But are we better? Are we smarter? To my surprise I found a recent study of evolution done by the National Academy of Science. One result shocked me. This study focused on human evolution in recent times (not hundreds of millions but of mere thousands of years) and reports that over the past five thousand years the human brain has grown smaller. How could that be? After all, isn’t modern man the peak of evolution? How could it be that our most vital organ, the one that makes us “human,” has actually grown smaller over the course of human history? I think we would all agree that we are “smarter” than our ancestors. We may not have to know how to hunt an animal or grow crops but there are plenty of things that we need to master to get along in our world. With all that, how could it be that the human brain is growing smaller by the process of natural selection? I can’t explain it but I can make an observation. For all our wisdom we should not be too proud- we may represent the evolution of millions of years but we are still evolving, we are still locked in the same struggles that our more “primitive” ancestors faced. We still need to eat, to sleep, to find security in numbers. We still need to love and be loved. We still need to find meaning of some kind in each day and satisfaction in that meaning at the end of the day. The “amazing shrinking brain” should remind us that we are still very much like our ancestors. Take away our computers, our cell phones, our TVs, and all the other things that fill our lives and you will find that we are only one step ahead of our ancestors (and a small step at that.) I hope that if science is right and our brains are getting smaller than someone will discover that our hearts are getting bigger. This post appeared in the South Florida Jewish Journal and the Atlanta Jewish Times

Interview With Arnold Eisen of JTS

This Segment will air nationally on Jewish Life TV, June 12th, at 8:00pm. In South Florida see Comcast channel 239, nationally on DirectTV on channel 366. For more station information go to JLTV.tv

Sitting Down With Mr. Food

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Art Ginsburg, better known to millions of TV viewers as “Mr. Food.” I interviewed Art for the To Life, L’Chaim Show seen nationally on Jewish Life TV Tuesday nights at 8pm on DirectTV channel 366. When I say it was a pleasure I truly mean it! Off camera Art really is Mr. Food- that same happy, smiling personality you see on TV is the same guy you would meet at the grocery store. While many of us have watched him cook up simple but great meals on the air, I wanted to get to know a little of his personal history. Art was born in an observant Jewish home in Troy, New York. His father came from Europe in 1912 and his mother was first generation American. Art’s father was originally a cattle dealer and then a kosher butcher. Art’s face lit up as he told stories about making the rounds to local farmers to buy cattle but always being sure that he and his father would be home before Shabbos. Jewish food and Jewish holidays were always important in their home. Learning from his father Art became a kosher butcher in Troy and later he and his wife opened a kosher catering business. As much as Art enjoyed food he always had another passion- acting and singing. It was his lead role in “Fiddler” that Art credits for his TV career. The owner of a local store saw him starring as Tevya and asked him to do a local commercial for the store. Art showed up as Teyva for the commercial and it became a hit. After that more commercials followed and his first chance to do a cooking spot. That local success became the basis for what has been a forty year career as “Mr. Food.” Today Art is viewed across the country. Art has written over 50 cookbooks and still works at his test kitchen here in Ft. Lauderdale where he records his episodes. Always looking to reinvent himself and keep up with changes, Ginsburg now has a website, MrFood.com. that has one million daily followers. (Check it out for the best free recipes and tips.) Spending some time with Art I learned that he is very proud to be Jewish and has always maintained close ties to the Jewish community. We even spent a little time talking about how his recipes can easily be adapted for a kosher kitchen. Mr. Food is still a man with a mission- to teach people that great cooking can be easy and done with simple ingredients. He noted that this idea of “great, simple meals” is more important than ever because of the busy pace of life today. Interviewing Art was a real joy because he is a truly joyful person. He gave me a piece of advice: If you are lucky enough to love what you do, you never have to go to work. Art Ginsburg is a lucky man because he loves what he does. He is a joy to be with because he still remembers to be grateful to be able to do it! If you would like to see the entire interview go to youtube.com/tolifelchaim.

Digital God?

Recently a major newspaper ran an article discussing the ways in which houses of worship are using technology to get their message out. Churches, synagogues, and mosques are all using the web to increase their reach. Religion has gone digital and, in some cases, so has worship. The article detailed how several churches use video streaming to include on-line worshippers. I also saw a recent piece about having a “skype minyan” for davening. The truth is that we live in the internet age. You have to have a website if you are in business of any kind. That holds true for congregations of all faiths. The web is now what the yellow pages were in previous generations- the place where you can let your fingers (or mouse) do the walking. Seven out of ten religious organizations have websites and more are moving into the world of facebook and other social media. There is no denying the good to be found in the digital revolution among religious institutions. The internet and digital communication can be a tremendous force for good. Those unable to attend services can be there in cyberspace. Teaching and outreach can take place on line. People with common beliefs can communicate with each other. The web can be used as a giant “support group” for people who want to share their faith. This “virtual” congregation can share in educational and spiritual programs that were before impossible. People across the country or across the globe can share a common experience and interact in real time. It is amazing and it has great potential. I applaud everyone, regardless of faith or belief, who is willing to use every means possible to “increase the peace,” – to spread the message that all religions share- to honor God and to honor one’s fellow human being. The internet is a fact of life- yes, even religious life, but I do have a reservation about the “religious” internet experience. I can only speak about my feelings as a Jew so I will not assume to speak for other religions. The web is a great way to get information to people- it is quickly become the “only” way- regular “physical” snail-mail is disappearing. Phonebooks are being replaced by 411 websites. Even physical media, like newspapers, offer online subscriptions. That is all and good- in every generation technology changes, it reflect human progress. In my opinion religion (or, at least, my religion) is different. We might be able to teach people about Judaism, or Jewish history, or how to read Hebrew by online outreach but we can’t pray in cyberspace. True worship is about the human heart seeking God. For Jews that has always been a communal search. Judaism’s belief in humanity reflects our belief in God. If you want to know God you must know (and share) with your fellow human beings. For all the bad that we do, humanity is still God’s most beautiful creation. No “cyber” experience can replace the feeling of being in a congregation of people who are there physically and spiritually to reach the same goal that you seek. Judaism has no “hermits,” you can’t go off and live in a cave until God speaks to you! God is most likely to speak to you when you hear the chatter of others around you! I urge you to take advantage of all that the internet offers us- unlimited resources for learning and growth. I also remind you that, in the realm of Judaism, the Divine touch and the human touch are experienced as one. This article appeared in the SOuth FLorida Jewish Journal

Passover and Israel's Security

A Roman official named Marcus Ambivius was prefect of Judea (what the Romans called Israel) from 9- 12 CE. As the resident ruler representing the Roman Emperor, Ambivius kept a record of what he saw the Jews of Jerusalem doing. His words concerning Passover are very telling. After reporting on what happened in the Temple for the holiday, the way in which the sacrifices were brought, and the various activities of the Priests, Ambivius comments on an unusual custom in Jerusalem. He reports that during Passover no one in Jerusalem closed or locked their doors at night. He explains that the Jews had this custom “out of respect for the many strangers who had come to celebrate Pesach” and “as a sign that the Jews depended on Divine protection during this time.” This custom reflects the Biblical text that speaks of Passover as “leyal shmurim,” a night of Divine protection. The Torah records that as the Jews left Egypt they were so secure that not even a dog barked at them. The observations made by Ambivius make it clear that our ancestors felt secure and safe as the celebrated Passover- so much so that they had no need to attend to the normal safeguards. What a way to experience the Holiday of Freedom- to feel completely free and secure from all enemies and confident to welcome anyone through your open door. I bring this ancient Roman record of Jewish life to your attention to contrast it with today. Those who are celebrating Passover in Jerusalem at this very moment should feel just as safe as their ancestors did. All of us, however, know that this is not the case. Just a few short days ago the “Global March on Jerusalem” threatens to send thousands to protest the “Judaization” of Jerusalem. Luckily, that “March” proved to be nothing but the basis for it remains in the minds of many- that Israel has no right to make Jerusalem a “Jewish” city! How absurd! Jerusalem was King David’s royal city and has since then remained the capital of Israel. To deny that is to deny history. Such deniers only have in mind the destruction of Israel by denying any legitimate historical ties between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. It is no wonder that Jews can not celebrate Passover in Jerusalem with the same confidence as our ancestors. Israel is in the midst of a complete assault on her existence and can not find comfort in a “Leyal Shmurim.” There is, however, one small step that would help. This step has, so far, been denied. That step is for America to affirm that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Only a few days ago that question was posed to the administration and the response was that “recognizing Jerusalem would prejudice the outcome of current negotiations.” For those of you who don’t speak political double-talk that means that the administration will not affirm that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. That is not acceptable to me. At this time of freedom I would ask you to invest five minutes in the future of Israel- call or write your elected officials and remind them that Jerusalem has always been the capital of Israel and will always remain so.

Enjoy our Passover episode!!

The Longest Story Ever Told

You would think that after three thousand years we would have said just about everything there was to say about Passover, but after countless generations the Exodus story still catches our attention and teaches us new insights into the physical and spiritual existence of our people. Moses was the first to tell the story as he told the Israelites what they were about to experience. God made sure to give the story plenty of press by commanding that each year we recall the events- slavery, plagues, and freedom. It was a story to be told and retold in every generation for as long as the Jewish people existed. It has been the easiest of the mitzvoth to fulfill- families gather around the Seder table and, in their own way, begin, “why is this night different?” The Seder is the longest story that has ever been told and yet it is as fresh as a newly-released novel. Even those who are not Jewish have found inspiration and hope in the story and have tried to understand their own struggles as if they were the Israelite slaves. It is a story of hope and redemption that we have given the world and one in which countless peoples have found the courage to fight for their freedom. In this way we have truly been a “light to the nations” by sharing our story. I believe what is even more telling is that after three millennia the Passover story still inspires us on so many levels. All of us grew up hearing the story around the Seder table and here we are now- as parents and grandparent we tell the story to our children. The Hagadah is the story of both the Jewish past and the Jewish future. Like watching our favorite movie for the twentieth time- we know how it ends but there is something about it that just keeps calling us back. It is amazing that even though a family may not observe other holidays Passover is an occasion for everyone to be together. No, they may not read the Hagadah cover to cover, and Zade may make up his own version of the Seder, they are still together as Jews. The Hagadah was designed to teach every generation about Passover and it has done a great job. So what is the amazing staying power? What is the secret of a three thousand year old book that still makes the Jewish best seller list? I describe the “secret” of the Hagadah this way: the Hagadah recounts one specific event- the Exodus from Egypt, but in that event we see every moment of subsequent Jewish history. All that our people has experienced can somehow be understood against the backdrop of the struggle for freedom. Likewise, many of our individuals struggles in our own lives can be viewed as a struggle not so different that the Exodus. The struggle to be free, to be independent, to be able to feel like we are doing what we were “meant” to do. All of these things that every person faces sometime in life can be compared to our ancient struggle for freedom. It is for that reason that Passover’s textbook, the Hagadah, is also the textbook for life. This article appeared in the South Florida Jewish Journal

Too Much News to Print

It is the end of a long era for all of us who were raised using encyclopedias! Remember in school- the teacher assigned a paper to write and the first thing you did was open an encyclopedia to learn “all about” the subject of your assignment. It made things simple and it made you feel like you “really” knew what you were talking about! That was then- this is now. For the first time since 1768 Encyclopedia Britannica will not print that big, heavy, shelf of books. Britannica will exist in a digital form only. While you might think that this is a step back, it is actually a huge step forward. Physical copies are not being discontinued because of lack of use but rather because a digital copy can be updated constantly in real time. No more buying a set of books that is obsolete by the time it is printed. Not to mention all the wear and tear on your back! As on owner of thousands of books I can’t describe the hassle of moving my personal library. Today I could purchase many of those books on CD rom and move a good deal of my library in a tote bag! As we mark the end of printed encyclopedias consider on real fact- our knowledge is increasing so quickly that we need a data base of knowledge that can be updated with the click of a mouse. If I think of the news stories I have read in the past couple of weeks it is amazing- a fresh water lake below the ice of Antarctica, a tribe of natives that have never had contact with the modern world, two, yes two, new human fossils discovered that shed new light on evolution, new planets discovered, and the list goes on. In the information age there really is “too much news to print.” Children today are taught to access the most current information about our world and that information changes almost daily. So there will not be any encyclopedia salesman coming to your door. They, like many, have been replaced by computers. So what are we to do? Maybe for the first time in human history there really is too much to know. I guess that is why we live in the world of specialists- yes, you remember that if you have a pain in right thumb there is a specialist for that, and so it goes with every field of science and intellectual endeavor. The age of the “renaissance man,” a person who knows about everything is gone. The good news is that he has disappeared because of the great resources that we have. Jews have always cherished knowledge of any kind. Our love for our sacred literature is reflected in our love of secular knowledge. Today it is easier than ever to be a well educated Jew- the internet is a mine of Jewish knowledge as well as knowledge about the world around us. Be a good Jew- log on and learn something new today! This article appeared in the South Florida Jewish Journal and the Atlanta Jewish Times.

We Need A Sense of Humor

This video tells the story of a boy who dreams of winning his dream girl but she thinks his nose is too big! He gets a nose job but doesn't get the girl! It's funny- a punk parody. Dr. Michael Salzhauer hired the Groggers to produce a song for his practise. The video went viral and now the Dr. is facing a storm of opinions claiming that the video is hurtful and plays into anti-Semitic stereotypes. Friends, it's a parody! Watch the video and be the judge! You can watch my interview with Dr. Salzhauer on The L'Chaim Show on Jewish Life TV. The interview will air on Tuesday, April 3rd at 8pm. Check out JLTV.tv to find your local listing. In South Florida you can watch JLTV on Comcast 239, DirecTV 366. Jewish humor has always been a mirror turned inward- this is no different! Laugh, enjoy, and remember that in a world filled with real problems a nose job can still be funny!

Looking Forward to Purim

On March 7^th Jewish communities will gather to begin the festival of Purim. The distinctive mitzvah of Purim is to read (or hear) the Megillah, The Book of Esther. It is the only holiday on which the act of hearing the story fulfills the requirement of observing the holiday. (Yes, I know we read the Hagadah at Pesach but that reading includes the eating of symbolic foods as well as the reading.) Why is it enough to just “read” the story of Purim? Is seems like a very easy and passive action for a holiday that celebrates such a joyous occasion! Obviously, this is more than a simple “reading.”

Reading the Megillah transports us in time a place- we are taken to ancient Iraq at a time in which the fate of a great Jewish community was threatened by an enemy of great power. Haman held the fate of the community in his hands (at least he thought so.) His hatred for Mordechai became a hatred for all Jews, that hatred created a plan to kill all Jews within the vast kingdom of Ahasuerus. The story of Haman is one that has been repeated many times in our history. While that is an important lesson about the history of our people it is one that hardly needs an annual repetition. Modern Jewish history has witnessed a hatred for our people that far overshadows the plan of Haman.

I want to suggest that there is another lesson within the pages of the Megillah that do deserve an annual reminder because it is one that we often forget. As we relearn the story of Purim let us be less concerned with the villains and more concerned with the heroes. Let’s make the story of Purim not a retelling of Haman’s threat but the retelling of the ways in which Esther and Mordechai brought that threat to nothing. Purim is the story of “regular” people. Esther, a young woman and Mordechai, a mature and loving uncle to Esther. Neither of them would have been candidates for being “superheroes” but they were!

We often think that history is made by kings and armies. Purim reminds us that history is more often made by “regular” folks who have to choose what to do in the worst of situations. Esther does not think that she can do anything to help her people, Mordechai challenges her by saying that she can if she but tries. The rest is history… the Jews of Shushan are saved not by a mighty army but by the bravery of one young woman.

This is perhaps the greatest reason to re-read the Megillah every year. We already know how the story ends, what is important is for us to be reminded why it ends well for the Jews of Shushan. We live in an age in which there are far too many Haman types in the world. They are getting stronger and bolder every day. The enduring lesson of the Megillah is that any one of us may be the next hero. In every age Judaism had survived because of the everyday heroes who have fought Haman in every corner of the world. The Mitzvah of reading the Megillah reminds us to be ready because, as the Megillah claims “you never know where redemption will be found.”

The Gift of Jewish Memory


This coming Shabbat has a special name. It is known as Shabbat Zechor (the Shabbat of remembering.) The day takes its name from a passage that is read from a second Torah making mention of the commandment to remember the attack of the Amalikites on the Children of Israel. We are commanded to remember this unprovoked attack on our ancestors and to keep the memory alive. Shabbat Zechor is always timed as the Shabbat before Purim. The rabbis said that Haman (of Purim infamy) was a descendant of the Amalikites and so the connection was made between Shabbat Zechor and Purim. It is another example of how the Jewish past is to inform every future generation.

We often, and correctly, speak of the gift of memory as being the gift that has kept Judaism alive. In many ways this is true- without knowledge of the Jewish past there is no orientation for the Jewish future. It would be as if we were dropped off in a wilderness without knowing which way to go. All too often, however, we find that the gift of memory is a bitter pill to swallow. “Memory” has taken on a very negative connotation. At Purim we remember Haman and the word “remember” has, in the modern period, been permanently joined the memory of the Holocaust. While we need to remember the suffering of our people, and honor the memory of those lost, we cannot lose sight of the other aspect of the Jewish memory.

We, as a people, have suffered at the hands of countless enemies. It was a part of our past and is still a sad part of our present. We would be blind to miss the parallels between the threats to our ancestors and the threats that are all around us today. We, better than any other people, know that to forget the past is a tragic mistake. Just as this Shabbat we are commanded to remember the past, I remind you that we are also commanded to look beyond it. Is the glass half empty or half full? Is the history of our people a long litany of suffering or a glorious record of triumph?

On Purim we not only recall the threat to an ancient community but we also celebrate their redemption, their victory. As a student of Jewish history I am sometimes overwhelmed by the many struggles that we have faced just to exist. Luckily, I can counter that by remembering that Jewish history never came to an end. Every threat was overcome, every defeat followed by a victory. To be a Jew who responds to the command “remember” means to remember everything- not just the bad but the good. Our sense of memory must be more than an instrument for mourning. It should be our inspiration to celebrate.

Published in the Florida Jewish Journal 2/28,12

Watch the L'Chaim Show On Jewish Life TV, Comcast Channel 239, Tuesdays at 8pm

Watch for my up-coming interview with Max Weinberg of the E Street Band and Late Night. Date to be announced. DirecTV 366, Atlantic 167, national cable stations or JLTV.tv

The Importance of One

Recently we have witnessed the rise of many “popular” movements.  The “Occupy” movement, the consumer complaints that have changed corporate policies, and civil uprisings in the Arab world- all of these may be described as “popular” because they came about through the efforts of individuals. For better or worse, with today’s instant global communications an idea really can spread like wildfire if not faster! The obvious dangers are undeniable but so are the blessings. Today, going “viral” means that one person can get a message out to the entire world. The dreams and hopes of an individual can become the common property of millions with just the click of a mouse.

What a paradox it is- in a world that seems so large and fragmented, a world that seems to make an individual feel so helpless in the face of government and corporate policies, we find that the voice of just one person can be heard around the world. A personal injustice suffered can become a cyber cry that soon rallies an army of like minded people. Yes, this is a dangerous thing but it also has great potential. It should also remind us of a very simple truth that is sometimes lost in the whirlwind of modern life: one person really can make a difference. One person communicating an important idea or promoting a worthy cause  can change the world. The reality of mass communication is that any individual really can communicate with the masses!

The individual now has more ability than ever to effect change- no more leaving it to “someone else.” You and I are now the “someone else.”  That  “global” concept  applies to just about every aspect of our lives- take the example of Molly Katchpole. She is the woman who started on-line petitions that would cause Verizon Wireless and Bank of America to cancel new charges that they were about to pass on to consumers. She made a difference, her one voice was joined by others until they were too many to ignore.

 Think of the first Jew, Abraham- one man with a unique and powerful idea that would change the world. Not bad for one guy and he didn’t even have a computer!  If you want to renew your faith in the future of our people, then renew your faith in the power of one and remember that you are the one! There are so many people who make the future of the Jewish people look so bleak- we are disappearing they say, but they are wrong. We have all the tools we need to make the Jewish future brighter than ever- still with just one idea, all we need to do is share it.  It wouldn’t be a bad thing is Judaism went viral- hey I like the sound of that.

This article appeared in The South Florida Jewish Journal and The Atlanta Jewish Times

Of Readers and Responsibility


A recent editorial in The Atlanta Jewish Times caused a storm of public reaction. The paper’s owner and chief-editor, Andrew Adler, wrote a piece concerning the possible policies that Israel could pursue against a nuclear-armed Iran. Among the possible reactions that Adler posited was the idea that Israel should assassinate President Obama. Adler has since resigned and is looking to sell the paper. Adler’s remarks caused a crisis in Atlanta- the Federation and other community agencies distanced themselves from the paper, a stand that they said that they would maintain until his resignation. Beyond this, the entire American Jewish community was embarrassed by these comments and now has to do damage control. As a journalist Adler embarrassed himself and the entire community. While he said that his comments were meant “to get reaction” from his readers, his comments about assassinating the president were irresponsible and, in a word, stupid. A journalist cannot write something like that and think that he is just eliciting reaction. As a journalist and as a Jew I am embarrassed by this episode. Reflecting on Adler’s poor judgment and irresponsible words made me reflect on my own role as a writer and community leader.

As a writer for this paper I feel a double sense of responsibility. As the rabbi of the Sunrise Jewish Center I am always mindful that my comments reflect on my congregation. Whether I am speaking from the pulpit or writing in this paper, I know that my words will be taken as more than just the opinion of one person. As a writer for this paper I am always mindful of the responsibility that I have to the readership and to the community. The Jewish Journal produces 160,000 copies every week. We have readers throughout all of South Florida. That means that the opinions and stories that appear here reach a large community. All of us who are involved with the paper must always realize the impact that our words and ideas can have. As a writer I don’t feel that I have to write something that everyone likes or agrees with but I do have to write an accurate and responsible accounting of my ideas. In the age of internet communication the truth is that anyone can write anything and put it out there for the world. On the internet true and false become relative. It seems like the crazier the idea the more attention it gets! I don’t know what you call that but it is not responsible journalism. The other side of that coin is a community based paper like the Jewish Journal or any other community based Jewish paper. Far from being anonymous like the internet, a community paper represents a specific readership. That is why every journalist needs to be very careful with every story.

It seems obvious that Mr. Adler forgot about his readership and decided to concentrate on the “shock value” of his message. Perhaps he was thinking that an outrageous statement can be good if it sparks a healthy public debate. Whatever the intention was it certainly backfired. A good column should spark debate and the exchange of ideas without a “hook” that creates a crisis. I am always very gratified when someone comes up to me and engages me about something that I wrote. That means they read it! That means they thought about it! A journalist should never, however, be tempted to write something just for a reaction- as we see that can lead to a very bad outcome. I take very seriously the trust that all of my readers put in me by reading my columns and I know that the entire staff at the Journal does as well.

All communication is based on trust- you wouldn’t talk to someone if you felt you could not believe him. You would not read an article that you knew contained less than the truth. That is why I must emphasis the responsibility of speaking (or writing) in the public forum. Mr. Adler’s article was a tragic mistake that touched many lives and hurt a community. The Atlanta Jewish Times will, I am sure, bounce back under new leadership. The damage done is another story. Words, once written or said, remain no matter how many times you apologize. It is the task of anyone who would speak on behalf of the community to always remember the trust the community puts in him or her.


This op-ed appeared in The South Florida Jewish Journal, February 1, 2012

HOLOCAUST RESPONSA




There are currently two collections of Holocaust response available in English. Respona are questions of Jewish law (Halacha) that are submitted to a rabbi- responsa, the response, is the answer to the question. Rabbi Ephraim Oshry, himself a survivor, edited and translated questions that he received in the ghetto of Kovno, Lithuania. His volume is titled Responsa from the Holocaust. The second collection, Rabbinic Responsa from the Holocaust, was edited and translated by Robert Kirschner. This volume contains both responsa from the Holocaust as well as questions that deal with the aftermath of the war as well. Both authors are to be thanked for these important contributions that provide insights into the religious life, bravery, and faith of those who lived and died in the Holocaust.

While these responsa are available in English for the first time, two questions remain: Will people read them and, if they do, what will they understand to be the real message for their own lives? I am unable to answer the first question but I do feel compelled to attempt an answer for the second.

As a Jew I feel obligated to read these volumes carefully. As a human being I feel obligated to read them again. As a rabbi and teacher I feel that I should urge others to read them as well.

I think most readers will immediately perceive (at least to some degree) the human suffering that the responsa reflect, but I think many readers will react by finding the idea behind the responsa completely incredible. Under such circumstances how could anyone be “bothered” to ask a rabbi about ritual and religious obligations? When the world was falling down around them how they could be concerned with minor points of Halacha.

My first answer was “faith.” Yet, as I thought about it, I felt that an appeal to faith was an incomplete answer. Also I knew that a faith that was that strong was something that would demand explanation. How could “faith” serve as an explanation to those who could not imagine a situation in which that faith was the only possession left?

I offer these thoughts in order to share another path toward understanding and teaching these responsa to American Jews. It should be no surprise that I found the answer in the writings of a survivor, Dr. Viktor Frankl. A psychiatrist who survived Auschwitz, Frankl emerged from the Holocaust to found a new school of psychotherapy which he called Logotherapy. Frankl approach stressed the need for meaning in life. From his experience in Auschwitz Frankl made the claim that the individual can endure anything in life and overcome anything in life if, and only if, life itself has meaning. Freud would have predicted that, deprived of food, freedom, and even life itself, any person would abandon “normal” behavior and would do anything to stay alive. The attitude to life demonstrated in the response proves that Frankl’s “will to meaning” was stronger than Freud’s “will to pleasure.” Moreover, it provides us with a key to understanding the responsa as a struggle to maintain meaning through the observance of Jewish law. That key is the concept of “meaning” in Frankl’s sense of the word. Meaning is this sense of purpose in life, a goal higher than life itself.

Those who suffered during the Holocaust were denied everything that we would, under normal circumstances, consider to be meaningful. Every loved one, every possession, every bit of self-worth was robbed by the Nazis. These brave Jewish souls refused to surrender the very meaning of their existence. That meaning was rooted in the observance of Judaism and it stood firm and unyielding even in the face of a planned extinction. The Jewish soul refused to say that life was meaningless, that purpose and hope had been extinguished in the ovens of Auschwitz.

Perhaps the greatest problem confronting the reader of these response is the challenge to understand how and why a person robbed of all but his last breath would inquire into the status of wet matza or the use of tephillan that had not been checked by a scribe. These are the questions asked within these pages that explain why Jewish prisoners could survive with a purpose that could not be destroyed. As long as one could live as a Jew, even in the most unimaginable of conditions, life was ultimately meaningful and, therefore, worth living.

In his work Rabbi Oshry notes that only three cases of suicide occurred in the ghetto of Kovno. Only three Jews were truly conquered by the Nazis by admitting that life had lost meaning and, in Frankl’s terms, was no longer worth living.

We must read the Holocaust responsa not “simply” as documents attesting to punctilious observance of Jewish law (although that in it would be heroic.) Nor can we be satisfied to say that their faith was greater than our (although, no doubt, it was.) It was not the faith but the meaning of that faith that made the difference. There is an important lesson about survival that should not go unnoted. We stand silent trying to understand how anyone survived. We are at a loss to understand the suffering or the miracle of survival. One thing that we can do is to understand that at least one of the keys to survival was the finding of meaning even in a life that might, at any moment, end. Every survivor is a brave soldier who, in the end, defeated Hitler.

We must teach the facts of the Holocaust, but we must also try, in whatever small inadequate way, to explain what it all means. We must not only be shocked, appalled, and angry at the suffering of our people but we must also be inspired by the lives of those who stood against the Nazis without giving in to despair. We can never forget that Jews died because they were Jews, but we should never forget those who survived because they were Jews.

If we read the responsa as documents of meaning we begin to see a new definition of Jewish resistance. So often it is asked, “Why didn’t they fight back?” The truth is that they did fight back. Those who sought to continue living according to Jewish law were fighting back on the battlefield of life’s basic meaning and worth.

It was because of the meaning that life retained that so many survived conditions that would make death a blessing. The Holocaust responsa are treasures not only for what they teach about the Holocaust or about Jewish law. Their real worth is to be measured in what they teach us about what it “means” to be Jewish.

This article first appeared in the South Florida Jewish Journal