Will Israel be Forced to do America’s Dirty Work?

Looks can be deceiving. Relatively calm water can hide great dangers below the surface. While that might be a good weather forecast for hurricane season, it is an even more accurate forecast for conditions in Israel. We have been focused on American problems for months and, since the flotilla confrontation, the news from Israel has not been that alarming. I remind you, however, looks are deceiving. The American press has been under-reporting events in the Middle East to such an extent that we have been lulled into thinking that things are “normal” (What ever that would mean for Israel.) The truth is that tensions are growing every day. Last week Israeli and Lebanese soldiers exchanged fire with deaths on both sides. Recent rocket attacks from Gaza have struck Israel again. Arabs leaders have gathered to urge restraint and ask Turkey to serve as a messenger between Israel and Arab states. Some signs seem to indicate that Turkey may no longer fill that role.
Of course there remains the most dangerous state in the Middle East—Iran. While other Arab states seem to sense that an all out war would be bad for everyone, we have to face the ugly reality that Iran is just waiting for the ability to turn Israel into a mushroom cloud. Likewise there are forces in the Arab world waiting to destabilize Saudi Arabia, poison its oil, and, in that way, bring America to her knees. It is also frightening that our administration is doing little to discourage any of these scenarios. Both to placate the Arab world and the American Left our administration shows little serious intent to confront Iran.
T hese factors seem to be putting all the conditions in play for a real catastrophe- even Time magazine has recently described the current situation as the most dangerous set of circumstances in years despite the “relative calm.” Is this the calm before the storm? Only time will tell but I, for one, will be holding my breath for a quiet holiday season! Netanyahu has already remarked that any attack will be met with immediate and full response. That is code for: should war come, it will be full force and fast. Israel has learned that it can’t afford the luxury of hesitation.
Just one last observation: I think very few of us have been happy with the current support that America gives Israel. Too ambivalent. There has been a recent development you may not have heard about- House Resolution 1553, sponsored by Representative Louie Gohmert (R, Texas) and 46 other US Representatives. Resolution 1553 both condemns Iran’s threats against America and Israel and “supports using all means” for Israel to deal with that threat. This resolution is the “green light” for Israel to strike. While that may be Israel’s only choice at some point, I only hope that this will not amount to Israel having to do America’s “dirty work” at a time in which every decision can ignite a regional conflict. Pray for Israel!

Cordoba House Revisited but not Reconsidered
Several weeks ago I wrote an op-ed piece titled “Chutzpah Redefined” in which I argued against the building of a 13 story mosque/community center adjacent to Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center. I stand by my comments made then and, based upon the feedback I received; I believe I gave voice to what many of my readers believe. You can find the original piece on my blog “yaakovthompson.blogspot.com.”This week I revisit the issue in answer to a recent op-ed in the Miami Herald.
On July 21 Leonard Pitts, a columnist for the Herald, argued against what I had said and quoted passages from my original piece. I have met Mr. Pitts a couple of times and respect his work but I must respond to his criticisms of my position. Mr. Pitts accuses me of opposing the building and “condemning” its supporter. He writes “… the rabbi still demands New York tells them No. In doing so, he blithely legitimizes the idea that tribe is destiny, that you and I are each individually answerable for the crimes of those who merely look like, talk like, or pray like, us.”

To answer Mr. Pitts, my comments did not “condemn “any one. I did not condemn any individual but, rather , what I consider to be a bad idea. I do not consider Muslims to be a “tribe” with corporate guilt- I made it clear that the supporters of Cordoba House are not terrorists—I did not accuse them of anything. My argument is that the building of a mosque at Ground Zero is more “chutzpadik” than common sense can explain. Why create a confrontation that is unnecessary? Mr. Pitts wrote that the new mosque would be “unavoidably painful and provocative.” What? It is avoidable… just don’t build it at Ground Zero! Why would one advocate for an action that is, by his own words, “painful and provocative.” (To quote a phrase, “Just say No!”) In a rhetorical question to me Pitts challenges, “aren’t Muslims Americans too?” Yes they are. But as Americans can we not ask of them some sensitivity and awareness that the planned action would be (avoidably) painful?
Mr . Pitts wrote that he fears “a nation where a rabbi can blandly condemn someone, not for his crimes but for the crimes of his tribesmen. Speaking of tribesmen Mr. Pitts, what does it matter if I am a rabbi or a plumber? Am I not an American either? I am not faulting a tribe as I said before nor am I defending my “tribe.” I am merely asking, as an American, why should we allow/support an action that is simply in-your-face- upsetting to so many? Do we have to build the mosque just to prove what a good, gracious, and loving people we are? I, for one, think that America and her people have demonstrated that many times.
Mr. Pitts concluded his column with the following, “So yes, putting that building in that place might be painful… but it would be a reminder of the very values the terrorists sought to kill.” I don’t think we need a mosque at Ground Zero to affirm American values. I would appeal to the national values, of healing and reconciliation. How can Cordoba House, if built at the proposed site, contribute to those goals?

Anybody Home?

I can’t believe it… Congress finally did something right! My regular readers will know that a statement like that is unusual for me so let me explain: After the hypocritical outrage of the world community following Israel’s flotilla “incident” stories appeared about these reactions. We do not need to recount the self-serving lies of the UN or the President’s total refusal to stand with Israel and affirm her right to self-defense. It was all one more well orchestrated deception to condemn Israel for actions that were legal and moral to anyone willing to look at the facts (and the video!) Nonetheless it became one more chance for Israel’s enemies to appeal for help against the “terrible aggressor.” That was nothing new, the only new element was the lack of support from America. I would like to place that failure on the White House where it belongs. There is one more element to the story that has been tragically under-reported by the media- it has remained so far “below the radar” that it seems many people are not even hearing about it.
Congress has taken a definitive stand in support of Israel by writing a letter to President Obama stating that it is “in our national interest to support Israel at a moment when Israel faces multiple threats from Hamas in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and the current regime in Iran.” This letter was signed by 87 senators. Four days earlier the House sent a similar letter signed by 320 members of the House of Representatives. The House letter included a call to the President to use the veto power of the US in the UN Security Council to block “one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions.”
These numbers indicate that at least three-fourths of American law-makers recognize Israel’s right to protect herself and her on-going importance to American security. That is an important number—it should remind us that most Americans understand the realities of the situation even if they seem to be too hard for the White House to grasp.
Congress has gone on record to support Israel and to call attention to the fact that the flotilla and its sponsor, the IHH, are nothing more than the puppets of organizations that the US government has already identified as terrorist groups. Still the White House prefers to be silent. I applaud and thank the Senate and the House for their support. I am sorry that the story is not getting more coverage. I thank these lawmakers who have sent a “special delivery” message to the White House. I only wonder one thing…. when the mailman came to deliver was anyone home?

Redefining Chutzpah

Remember when chutzpah was a Jewish attribute? Remember when chutzpah was a bad thing as in “how could you have the chutzpah to say such a thing?” I think chutzpah used to be a good thing also- it explains the “nerve” of the Jewish spirit to survive despite all the obstacles that we have faced as a people. Well, I think chutzpah has now been refined by a Muslim named Feisal Abdul Rauf, an Imam from New York. Rauf is the spiritual leader of a group of Muslims who have taken chutzpah to a new level! He and his group are behind the Cordoba House Project, a proposal to build a 13 story Islamic center at ground zero. The development would include a mosque, an auditorium, a swimming pool, restaurant, and bookstore. To put it in simple language- this group wants to build a mosque on the ground on which 3000 Americans died in the World Trade Center! If that isn’t chutzpah I don’t know what is!
As I have been following this story there is only one thing that shocks me more than the project. Mayor Bloomberg has publicly supported the building of Cordoba House. How can the mayor of New York City have the chutzpah to say such a thing? I would like to hear him explain his actions to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11. How can any American endorse covering the scars of 9/11 by the building of an Islamic outreach center? If I didn’t know better I would think that this is just a bad joke.
While I realize that those behind Cordoba House have no connection to terrorism, I do wonder what happened to common sense. How could Mayor Bloomberg be so short sighted in this insult to the victims of 9/11? If this is about “forgiveness,” or “plurism,” or some misguided attempt to show how very inclusive our society can be than I must miss the point. To me this is a shameless, suicidal betrayal of the American people. Beyond this I am angered by the limitless chutzpah of anyone who would even think to suggest this proposal. There comes a time to say no. There comes a time to stand up for yourself. I believe that the building of an Islamic center at ground zero should be seen as an insult to the American people.
While we discuss the new limits of chutzpah I would ask you to consider one new way to express chutzpah. How about a little chutzpah for Americans? How about a little self-respect? How about a little common sense? Americans died at ground zero. Americans continue to be threatened by a hostile minority within the world Muslim community. Yes, I ask you to remember that not all Muslims are terrorists- most are wonderful people who should be free to practice their religion in peace and security. But the other side of that argument is that Americans also deserve peace and security. To me the building of a mosque at ground zero will be a distasteful, insensitive, chutzpadik reminder of the murders of innocent Americans. It is time to say no to Cordoba House.

Oil and Water




As I write I am listening to the latest radio report about the oil spill- it has, unfortunately, become a daily ritual. The latest bad news is that the oil is spreading and may touch Florida’s shores for the first time today. I am sure that all of you share my frustration and bewilderment—why is this still going on? I don’t really want to watch more videos of the oil gushing into the water a mile below the gulf’s surface; I just want to hear that someone has found the answer. The proportions of this accident are so huge I don’t think any of us can really grasp it. The worst part for me is that all I can do is stand by and watch- no matter how much I would like to help there is nothing I can do. It reminds me of that very powerless feeling I get when I know that there is a hurricane coming and all any of us can do is watch, wait, and hope for the best. That sense of “powerlessness” is the worst feeling of all- when you know there is something wrong but you can’t do a single thing to stop or prevent it. We always like to feel that we are “in control” – when events remind us that we are actually very seldom in control the world becomes a hostile, threatening place. We don’t like unpredictable. We don’t like random. We humans seem to prefer a world in which we can makes plans and have some idea of what tomorrow will bring.

I think there is, in this circumstance, a certain irony to the old saying that “water and oil don’t mix.” It reminds us that even the forces of nature sometimes do battle with each other and we stand on the sidelines as observers. That sounds so simple but it is such a profound truth to grasp. Our daily lives are lived in the microcosm of our daily needs – how easy it is to forget that there is a huge world out there! How easy to forget that this huge world runs by its own rules, not by ours!

Faced with these uncertainties there are things that, nonetheless, always remain in our control. First and foremost is our ability to choose how we will react and respond to a world that does not always run the way we would like it to. We can run or we can fight. We can despair or we can hope. How we react to the unexpected is our choice as human beings. As human beings we can never be satisfied merely to observe- every observation should be a call to action. Even when the forces of nature threaten it is our ability to respond to and for each other that can lift humanity above the power of nature itself. Gushing oil is a blind force- it does not choose to flow or stop, to run onto land or into water, to cause harm or provide benefit.

While the world around us works by its own rules, our choices are always our own. While this is a lesson to be learned it comes at a very dear price. Stay tuned- make the right choices- be ready to help.

For Shavuot

Well Worth the Trip!




How often do you plan to go somewhere or plan to attend an event and find yourself wondering if it’s “worth the bother?” That’s what we call a schlep- time and energy to do something about which we aren’t sure. We often feel that way about the trivial things in our lives, the “small” journeys. It is even harder when we start a long journey with mixed feelings. It does, however, happen. We might need to change jobs, or relocate, or make a major decision about our life. We just can’t help but wonder “is it worth it?” or “is it the right thing to do?” That terrible middle-of-the-night feeling that fills us with doubt no matter what we decide. It is a part of human nature. We always tend to wonder “what if…” If it’s any consolation we can at least be assured that we share these little doubts with everyone else. We can also be comforted by remembering that even a luke warm decision is better than no decision at all!

As we read the chapters of the history of our people that began with the exodus we see over and over again our ancestors asked “is it worth it?” How many times did they confront Moses complaining that they would have been better off if he would have left them alone and let them stay in Egypt? In retrospect we can’t imagine how they could have felt that way. It is hard to imagine that anyone would prefer slavery to freedom. I think the truth is that, in those moments of doubt, our ancestors were voicing their fear of the unknown. Better the “security” of slavery than the wide open, empty, uncertain, wilderness that stood between them and the land of promise.

Why was Moses so sure but the people were constantly riddled with doubt? Moses had his eye not on the journey but on the destination- as a leader he knew the trip would be long and hard but he never doubted that it was worth it. To Moses the trip was not just about getting to Israel but rather the trek to Sinai. On Shavuot, May 19th and 20th, we celebrate the greatest journey that any nation has ever made. Leaving slavery, our ancestors arrived at Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. Their doubts would persist but now they would be a nation- a people reshaped by a Divine law. Was the trip worth it? I think Jewish history holds the evidence- thousands of years later we are here still fulfilling the mitzvot, still participating as partners to bring holiness to a world terribly in need. We are still the living link to that unique conversation between man and God. We have given the world a code that has never been superseded- I would say the trip has been more than worth it!

Our journey through history is still a schlep! It is never easy to walk in the footsteps of Sinai. The journey of the Jewish people continues to take us into unknown territory, through hostile places, through the valley of doubts. But keep your eyes upward- on Shavuot we celebrate the destination. Each time we remember who we are and why we are, we stand at Sinai again.

Who Can You Trust?

This week I share some recent poll results that makes me ask, “who can I trust?” An investigation by the Pew Research Center yielded some poll numbers that should make all of us take note. The poll noted: “a perfect storm of conditions associated with distrust of government- a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan based backlash, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials.” With that said I can’t think of much good news. It seems that we, as a nation, have lost confidence in those whom we have elevated to leadership. The Pew poll reveals some shocking news- only 22 percent of American citizens say that they trust the government to do the right thing “just about always or most of the time.” While most of us might react “I could have told you that!” it is a very sad commentary on the current situation. According to this poll we have to conclude that 88 percent of Americans don’t trust the government to do “the right thing.” What should we make of these numbers?

The first thing we have to conclude is simple- there is a wide gap between what the government does and what Americans want. No matter what your political ideas are, it is hard to refute these numbers- we have become a nation that lives in distrust. Those of us who believe that the government should represent the people have become disappointed with our leadership. As a side issue I think that one other fact emerges- we do not trust those who should be watching out for us. We do not believe the constant “spin” that we hear on issues. We do not assume that what we hear or read is true. As sad as this sounds we have a real crisis of trust. It is good to be skeptical but it is not good to live with the knowledge that the vast majority of Americans have no expectation of our leaders “doing the right thing.”

With this said I answer my own question—who can you trust? Trust yourself! It takes a lot of work but trust yourself! Read, think, question! Remember when self reliance was a value that people treasured? Remember when people were willing to be responsible for their actions rather than waiting to be “bailed out?” Remember when debate used to be described as “healthy?” Remember when people used to say “if it’s in the paper it must be true?” Remember when people thought for themselves? All of these things now seem like just “memories.” Sometimes it seems we have become too lazy to think for ourselves but I think it’s time to get “back in shape.”

There are so many issues facing America at this moment: terrorism, the economy, energy, deficit spending, immigration, and the list goes on. Every day the news is just too much to absorb! We are overloaded with challenges and overloaded with people telling us what we should do about them! Take a deep breath…. decide what you think …. trust your own opinion. If we can’t be a nation that trusts its government let’s try to become a nation of people who trust themselves.