Tisha B’Av Prayer Rally

There’s much to pray about on Tisha B’Av, Tuesday, August 5: Israel’s safety under Hamas’s rain of rockets and atomic threats by Iran; vicious attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools and individual Jews in Europe; Ukrainian Jews caught between warring groups; the spreading BDS anti-Israel campaign here and abroad.

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Jewish Press readers care. Please join us for our annual Tisha B’Av public prayer service for Israel and Jews in danger worldwide at 2 p.m. at the Isaiah Wall opposite the UN, First Avenue and 43rd Street, Manhattan, led by Rabbi Avi Weiss.

This is a traditional Minchah, complete with Torah reading. Please bring your siddur; men bring tallis and tefillin. For more information, leave a message at (212) 663-5784 or e-mail [email protected].

Glenn Richter
Amcha-Coalition for Jewish Concerns

One-Sided Demands

Hamas’s demands for stopping what has been a losing war for that terrorist group is representative of the negotiating position of all Palestinian groups, including the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas has not negotiated but rather set as its bottom line that in return for a cease-fire Israel must totally lift the blockade of Gaza (so that Hamas’s missile arsenal can be replenished) and release all Hamas prisoners.

In a similar vein, as a price for a temporary peace Mahmoud Abbas has demanded, without any concessions on his part, the right of return of the descendants of Arabs who left during the 1948 war; withdrawal of Israel to the pre-June 1967 indefensible armistice lines; and the expulsion of 650,000 Israeli Jews from Judea and Samaria as well as Jerusalem.

What chutzpah.

Nelson Marans
Silver Spring, MD

 

Hamas’s Campaign Of Lies

The great significance of public opinion was noted by President Abraham Lincoln when he stated “Public sentiment is everything.” It is especially important during a crisis and even more so during a war.

A recent report by the Middle East Media Research Institute noted that the Hamas Interior Ministry has issued guidelines to Gaza social media users. This is for reporting events and discussing them with outsiders. Clearly, telling the truth takes a backseat to presenting the slanted message Hamas wants publicized. This includes the following:

  • “Anyone killed or martyred is to be called a civilian…. Don’t forget to always add ‘innocent civilian’ or ‘innocent citizen’ in your description of those killed.”
  • “Begin news of resistance actions with the phrase ‘In response to the cruel Israeli attack.’ ”
  • “Avoid publishing pictures of rockets fired into Israel from [Gaza] city centers.”
  • “Avoid entering into a political argument with a Westerner aimed at convincing him that the Holocaust is a lie and deceit; instead, equate it with Israel’s crimes against Palestinian civilians.”

Arthur Horn
East Windsor, NJ

Liberal Churches And Divestment

Some liberal Christian denominations in the U.S. have recently voted to divest their Israel investments.

These Christian leaders should take a good look at what is happening to Christians right now in Iraq. They should also compare the increase in the amount of Christians in Israel with the substantial decrease of Christians in Muslim countries.

In addition, a comparison of the rights of Christians in Israel and the rights of Christians in Muslim countries is further evidence of the flawed reasoning of these divestiture advocates.

If these Christian leaders examine these facts and still insist upon their penalization of Israel, they are not capable of allowing facts to alter their decisions.

William K. Langfan
Palm Beach, FL

Price Of Peace

July 20 – a tough day here in Israel. Yesterday we heard of the first soldier killed in Gaza, then it was five. Today, another thirteen. We all pray they will be the last, but we fear…

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