Why Raoul Wallenberg’s Centennial Matters

Posted on: July 4th, 2012

The Swedish rescuer Raoul Wallenberg was born 100 years ago this summer, and his centennial is being commemorated with events in many cities across Europe and North America. On July 26, a symposium in his memory will be held at Yad Vashem’s International Institute for Holocaust Research in Jerusalem.

Use Every Political Tool Hashem Has Given You

Posted on: July 4th, 2012

I don't need to tell you how important the upcoming US presidential elections are, and you can be a part of that! Don't look at the numbers. Don’t ask: "Will my vote really matter??" Simply register, with no cost involved, and let the powers in America see how many expats voted.

Choosing Shame Over Honor

Posted on: July 4th, 2012

The honor and dignity, if there can be any, goes to the Israeli athletes and to Israel itself; the shame and disgust goes to the Olympic committee. For 60 seconds, the athletes and audience and around the world, 60 seconds of silence could have been a show of triumph over terror, of honor in brotherhood and peace - instead, they will remain, 40 years late and beyond, an endless mark of shame.

Danny Danon: Remembering Shamir – The Integrity of ‘No’

Posted on: July 3rd, 2012

I had the honor of spending an evening with the former Prime Minister. I was enthralled with his stories and life lessons, especially with his core conviction that a leader must truly believe in and be ready to defend his policies. If a leader does so, he told me, there is no need to worry about the criticism that will inevitably follow any brave decision.

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Cosigning for the Devil

Posted on: July 3rd, 2012

Absurd, isn’t it - Israel should take a loan to support an organization that officially considers Jews the offspring of apes and pigs and venerates ‘heroes’ like Samir Kuntar and Dalal Mughrabi whose heroism consisted of murdering Jewish children?

Supermarket Epiphanies in Israel

Posted on: July 3rd, 2012

There I was, in dire gloom, cart frozen well distant from the cash register. I was sorely aggrieved. Until I remembered a flash of soul-searching during my flight when I promised I would try to improve my grumpiness a bit and seek alleged silver linings even in dismal circumstances. What could I do save give my commitment the old college try.

God Bless America: A Response

Posted on: July 3rd, 2012

A short response to Tzvi Fishman's (“Felafel on Rye”) recent blog posts on America and Jewish identity.

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The Bible and the US Constitution Protect the KKK’s Right To ‘Adopt-A-Highway’

Posted on: July 2nd, 2012

When Free Speech Collides with Hate Speech, Truth is the Remedy.

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‘Losing Zuckerberg’ and Reform Judaism’s Opportunity

Posted on: July 2nd, 2012

Had Mark Zuckerberg been told that the Jewish people have a mission to rebuild a Jewish state, and that his creative talents are needed, he may have harnessed his mind in that direction. Had he been offered an opportunity to take part in the most exciting project of the Jewish people in two-thousand years, he probably would have taken it.

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Alcohol And Drugs In The Jewish Community: The Problems Few Can See

Posted on: June 27th, 2012

Disbelief and denial are two words that can describe the alcohol and drug problem in the Jewish community, and that is a problem in itself.

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Stereotypes And Responsibilities: A Ben Torah In Two Worlds

Posted on: June 27th, 2012

I have tried to lead a life in which the core values are Ahavas Torah and Ahavas Yisrael. To the extent I have succeeded I did so by taking an unusual route – one I do not generally recommend. I moved into the Torah world and Torah learning after I already had a sophisticated secular education and a clear path to a wide choice of prestigious professional opportunities.

Abraham Foxman: The Professor Who Wants To Give Iran The Bomb

Posted on: June 27th, 2012

Worried about a nuclear Iran? Do you think such a development would not only threaten Israel's existence but would intimidate the Arab countries of the Gulf, put the radical Islamist regime in position to threaten the West, and lead to unmanageable nuclear proliferation? Have no fear! Kenneth N. Waltz, the highly respected professor of international relations at Columbia University, argues in a recent article of Foreign Affairs magazine that "Iran Should Get the Bomb."

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Romney Would Restore Closer, Warmer U.S.-Israel Ties

Posted on: June 27th, 2012

When Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told the passionately pro-Israel members of the Faith and Freedom Coalition that he would “do the opposite” of the things that President Obama has done regarding Israel, the room erupted in applause. They understood exactly what he meant because they know the Obama administration has not strengthened the U.S.-Israel relationship. President Obama has brought that strategic alliance to its lowest point in decades.

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What In Obama’s Record On Israel Does Romney Oppose?

Posted on: June 27th, 2012

Gov. Mitt Romney has made some outrageous comments and taken some extreme positions in this presidential campaign. But few, if any, are more baffling than his latest statement on his plans for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Asked what he would do to strengthen America’s alliance with Israel, he said, “by and large, you can just look at the things the president has done and do the opposite.”

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White/Black Supremacists Aligning Against the Jews

Posted on: June 26th, 2012

Over the last decade, we've seen the convergence and alliance of Islamism with the far Left (and, with time, the not-so-far Left).  Today, there seems to be another supposedly "impossible" convergence underway:  We are witnessing the beginnings of an alliance between the radical Right (KKK, neo-Nazis, etc.) and the radical black Left (Black Panthers, Farrakhan, etc.) 

One Woman’s Voice and Story – and a Message for Israel

Posted on: June 26th, 2012

At the recent President's Conference in Jerusalem - though Shimon Peres and others spoke about the dearth of women in professional life in Israel, few spoke about the amazing lack of women presenters at the conference. I counted only about a hand-full. One was Ayaan Hirsi-Ali.

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Kol Tzedek: A Proven Tool In Prosecuting Abuse Cases

Posted on: June 20th, 2012

Prior to the creation of the Kol Tzedek program, only a handful of sexual abuse allegations from the Orthodox community were reported to my office each year. Our information was that victims of sexual assault in the community were afraid to come forward and report to secular authorities due to enormous community disapproval and pressure. In an effort to overcome these obstacles and encourage reporting of these heinous crimes, and to ensure the continued cooperation of the victim with the prosecution, my office launched Project Kol Tzedek.

Tal Law And Jewish Law – Is There A Conflict?

Posted on: June 20th, 2012

In February, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled the Tal Law discriminatory and unconstitutional in a vote of six to three. The law, which provides exemptions for young men studying in yeshiva full time, has been the subject of much criticism and controversy.

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How The U.S. Is Being Snookered By Iran

Posted on: June 20th, 2012

The world famous economist John Kenneth Galbraith said it best: “There are few ironclad rules of diplomacy but to one there is no exception. When an official reports that talks were useful, it can safely be concluded that nothing was accomplished.”

Learning From The 1930s

Posted on: June 20th, 2012

Since Oslo we have had some Israeli governments emulate Neville Chamberlain’s foolish position. While the current government has not done so, there certainly is vast room for improvement in the presentation of Israel’s case to the world.