New Kinnos For Tisha B’Av
I would like to comment regarding the recent, very interesting article by Mendi Glik entitled “Eli Tziyon – The Melody Of Tisha B’Av” (Aug. 1) in which he tries to determine the origin of this almost universal melody that is most associated with Tisha B’Av, particularly by Ashkenazic Jews. According to the authoritative source Glik cites, the melody sung to the last Tisha B’Av kinnah of “Eli Tziyon” is about 500 years old and most likely originated in Germany from an unknown composer.
From this kinnah Glik segues to more recent kinnos that have been composed in a similar style as “Eli Tziyon,” including those commemorating the Shoah and the more recent tragedy of the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif that took place just one day after Tisha B’Av in 2005. He memorializes the sheer beauty and the rich Jewish life that flourished in Gush Katif which he visited on several occasions before it was totally destroyed. He laments the most tragic decision made by the Israeli government at the time to forcibly expel all Jewish inhabitants from there and allow the Palestinians to then take total control of the region, which was followed quickly by Hamas rule. Of course, this in turn led to much violence and many battles, culminating in the great massacre of October 7, 2023, about which very recent kinnos have now been composed to mourn that horrific event as well.
In light of all these recent tragedies, I believe it would be very appropriate going forward to include as part of the Tisha B’Av service kinnos commemorating both the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif on Tisha B’Av 2005 as well as the recent massacre of October 7, 2023, one event having directly led to the other. In turn may this create another direct line – to the coming of Mashiach and the final Geulah, may it be speedily in our time.
Josh Rosenthal
Queens, N.Y.
The Key To Defeating Mamdani
Re: “Selective Outrage On The Left” (Aug. 1) by mayoral hopeful Jim Walden:
Folks, the time has come to play hardball. I am not a person who speaks in hyperbole, but believe me when I say that if Mamdani wins New York, the floodgates of hell will be open in America.
First on his hit list? The Jews and Israel. He will attack any group that opposes Islam, and worse, he will make his way, G-d forbid, towards the presidency. He will also stack the entire N.Y. government with Jew-haters like AOC and her squad.
This is exactly how Hitler gained control, with many Jews believing him to be harmless.
Here’s how I would handle this campaign.
- A major strong group must hold a meeting with all three candidates in that room and you must not leave that room until the two weakest candidates drop out of the race. Plain and simple. No debate. Delusions aside, everyone knows this is the only possibility of beating Mamdani.
- Only 39% of the registered voters voted in the last election. You want to get 23% or more of the 61% that did not vote to vote for you. How? As former mayor of Miami Beach, I accomplished that three times for myself and twice for friends. This is done by paying for reps in major residential buildings that did not vote to solicit tenants to sign and vote their absentee ballot. Those not home are left a strong note urging them as to the critical nature of this vote, even offering to pick up voters to vote.
Friends, I know this is difficult work, but quite frankly our country is at stake, as a great deal of the Democratic Party is pro-Hamas and anti-Israel, and this man beneath that evil sinister smile is a danger not only to Jews, but to humanity throughout the world. By his own admission, he is in favor of communism and hopes to eliminate all police protection, and more… Advertising is great, but the key is to get more voters, and that is done by getting representatives to literally attack every residential building where people haven’t voted.
This, along with imploring the other candidates to drop out of the race, is literally a national security issue, and will, in my opinion, be the best, if not the only option to secure a win for anyone but Mamdani.
Judge Norman Ciment
Former Mayor of Miami Beach, 1981-83
Ceasefire Or Continue Fighting?
Virtually from the start of the Gaza War by Hamas on October 7, 2023, there have been continual calls for ceasefires. This has been an intensely emotional issue for Israel because of the hostage situation, and to prevent additional IDF and civilian deaths. The same situation exists in the fighting against Hezbollah and Iran.
During its brief modern history, Israel has been in a War of Independence, the Suez War, the Six-Day War , the Yom Kippur War, numerous intifada and terrorist fights, and now the Gaza, Hezbollah, and Iran Wars. In the past, repeated ceasefires, armistices, and mutual agreement pacts have not resulted in a permanent peace. As we know from bitter experience, these were just more periods in history when Jews have been surrounded by bloodthirsty hordes bent on annihilating them.
As I see it, the major problem is that Israel is a tiny country and no matter how many times it defeats its foes, even when very decisively, it cannot occupy their territory for long and has to eventually retreat as part of an armistice or ceasefire agreement, usually administered under the auspices of a third party like the U.N. This has not gone well, and the defeated nations then rearm and start the next round of fighting.
The notable exception was with Egypt who Israel had devastated in the Six-Day War but came back within just six years, and together with Syria and Jordan, inflicted terrible losses on Israel during the Yom Kippur War before being stopped. Facing complete annihilation of its Third Army, Egypt agreed to a ceasefire and peace treaty which have now held for over 50 years. In that case Israel was denied complete victory, but in its place won a long peace against a powerful foe.
In the current round of fighting, Hezbollah has fortunately been taken out of the equation by the brilliant “exploding pager” campaign of the Mossad. However, Israel still faces a dilemma similar to what it faced with Egypt, except this time against a different major adversary, Iran, as well as its proxy Hamas.
On the one hand, Israel has them by the throat and could likely defeat them, but only after incurring heavy losses along the way, and still facing an uncertain future. It cannot permanently occupy both countries so it must eventually retreat, leaving the path open to more bloodshed in the future.
On the other hand, Israel can agree to some sort of ceasefire administered by a friendly party like the U.S., although definitely not the U.N. or other biased anti-Israel entity. As in the situation with Egypt, this may offer a long term pause in Israel’s constant wars with the Arab nations surrounding it, and also open the way for more Abraham Accord partnerships. Right now, there doesn’t seen to be a permanent solution on the horizon for Israel’s peace, with so many of its neighbors constantly trying to annihilate it, but this may afford the best chance for a longer period of normalcy.
That is the choice Netanyahu and his government must make a decision on. It is a very awesome one that will affect the future of Israel and Jews worldwide. May Hashem give him the wisdom to make the right choice.
Max Wisotsky
Highland Park, N.J.
The Gaza Starvation Slander
Absolutely beyond shocking has been the little-reported, but all too apparent, perfidy of the U.N. World Food Programme in Gaza. It continues to do well, while only pretending to do good. Completely controlled by Hamas, it shares the latter’s antipathy towards the joint American-Israeli Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Hamas fears it as an existential threat to its political control; the U.N. sees it as an unwelcome, incorruptible, competitor in aid distribution whose food boxes can’t be so easily stolen and diverted to feeding and financing Hamas fighters. Thus, the supercharged misinformation campaign about the efficacy and safety of GFH operations. Hamas infiltrates food-seeking crowds at its distribution sites, inciting deadly riots, kills those coming to and going from them, and gravely threatens staffers. Twelve were recently murdered when it ambushed their van.
Hamas and the UNWFP are in collusion in creating any Gaza food crisis. Many trucks that Israel has sent into Gaza have remained by the crossing, the U.N. leaving the undelivered food there to rot. Many of those that do enter further into Gaza are looted by Hamas. Hamas cries bitter tears for the immiseration of its subjects, but has itself caused it, and indeed, seeks to survive by exploiting their suffering, while further greatly magnifying it to gullible Western publics.
Drip by drip flow the claimed atrocities, tales of starving children and emaciated babies. Two notoriously fake photographs recently graced front pages of major newspapers around the world. Both children were not “starving” but had very serious underlying medical conditions. One had a well-fed older brother, cropped from the photo; the other pictured child was actually under treatment in Italy, her passage facilitated by Israel. This is not to deny real suffering in Gaza. Reports about it, though, have been deliberately greatly exaggerated, Hamas’s role in it left almost invisible, and the blame placed on the IDF almost entirely unfounded.
While Hamas cannot best Israel on the battlefield, it has been enormously successful in the field of world public opinion. Israel’s image has been terribly tarnished; Jews everywhere seem under siege. Israelis increasingly are being unwelcomed abroad; antisemitic exclusion, graffiti, and even serious violence are becoming commonplace.
Western governments are joining the piling on. France is poised to recognize an imaginary Palestinian state; the U.K. has threatened to do so too, should Israel not end the war; Canada will do so in expectation of the Palestinians instantly becoming Jeffersonian Democrats. Will Hamas’s poisonous propaganda now tragically prove mightier than the Israeli sword? It’s time to fight back against the spreading slanders. Time to defy the international community. Time for Israel to assert sovereignty over Judea and Samaria!
Richard D. Wilkins
Syracuse, N.Y.
