Singalong: We’re Gonna Tear Hitler Down
My good friend Jonathan Mark posted this video clip on his website on the same day some mad mega-Haredim sprayed Yad Va'Shem with graffiti accusing Zionism of causing the Holocaust. It occurred to me that blues man Leadbelly, who recorded his Hitler tune in 1942, could teach those crazy folks a thing or two about history.
Swing States: Obama Ahead Everywhere but N. Carolina
There's only one bit of good news for the Romney campaign in the all-important swing state polls this weekend.
Paid for by Charles Bronfman, ‘Jewish Stars’ Attack Pro-Settlement Report
They wrote flippantly: "Securing Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state requires diplomatic and political leadership, not legal maneuverings." Legal rights be damned, then?
The Nice Lady Who Destroyed Obama
Miriam Goderich – remember that name, it will go down in history as the woman who brought down a president. But poor Miriam never did anything bad, in fact, what she did happened decades ago and now it could topple President Barack Hussein Obama.
Presidential Conference “Facing Tomorrow” While Facing Away from Observant Jews
Who on those panels has any connection whatsoever to me, to my shul, to our children? What does any of those folks know about the explosion of Torah learning in Israel, about our packed houses of worship, about our proliferation of loan societies, about our irrepressible demographics?
Lubavitch Replicate Another Major Edifice
After moving the Rebbe's home at 770 Eastern Parkway to Israel, Lubavitch now moves the Kotel to America. My advice to you is, fasten the bolts and beams in your house, or one morning you'll wake up to discover Lubavitch has moved you to a new continent…
Gaza – You Won’t Recognize the Old Place…
What do you think of when you hear the name "Gaza?" Gut wrenching misery of a devastated people under siege. Not if you judge by this music video, shot against images of the thriving, beautiful, totally modern city of Gaza, with thousands of folks gathering in a stadium for a celebration, and the obligatory images of armed Hamsniks in training. Everyone looks well fed and quite happy.
Haredim Throw Rocks, Eggs, at ‘Abomination Apartment’
Pashkvils (warning posters) were spread around the neighborhood, criticizing women wearing tight clothes, calling them "animals." According to the website Hadrei Haredim, the woman in question is being accused of luring young Haredi women to her path.
Cartoon Rehab: It’s Miller Time, Sort Of
Today's cartoon is from Al-Watan (Qatar), from way back in May 13, 2003. The U.S. and Israel are shown eating from two sides of an apple that represents “the Arab states.” According to the middle-east-info.org, where we found it, this cartoon is noteworthy because it was published in Qatar, home to the Al Jazeera TV network. Qatar is considered by many in the U.S. State Department to be a U.S. ally and a relatively moderate state.
Kissinger Gets Felt Up by the TSA
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger., who's turning 89 this month (may we suggest holiday in Vietnam?), was spotted last Friday at LaGuardia airport in New York, getting routed to the pat-down line while going through security.
‘Peaceful’ Olive Pickers Stoning Jews on Shabbat
On Saturday, at noon, local Jews out on a walk at the Aner springs west of the village of Neria in Samaria were attacked by dozens of Arabs throwing rocks, Tazpit reported. The official reason for the Arabs to be in the area was the olive harvest. What can be more peaceful than the olive harvest? And yet, despite the peaceful properties assigned to the olive, despite all those olive branches everywhere – those Arab olive pickers put down the olives and picked up the rocks.
The World Is Aghast as 500 Jewish Families Are Promised Homes
The AP has apparently caught the Israeli government red handed on the eve of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the Jewish state.
Two Hamas Terrorists Earn Darwin Awards in August while Caring for Explosives
A member of the military wing of Gaza's ruling terrorist movement Hamas died when a bomb he was securing accidentally exploded, the Hamas Ezzedine al Qassam said on Friday. He and another Hamas terrorist this month joined several other Palestinian terrorists who have been the recipients of the much coveted Darwin Award, which recognizes individuals who contribute to human evolution by self-selecting themselves out of the gene pool.
Righteous Gentiles Honored in Warsaw, But Poland’s Record Remains Abysmal
Unfortunately, as highly as Jews praise the sacrifices made by brave Poles, it is difficult to overlook Poland's abysmal record in caring for its Jewish citizens.
Anatomy of a Jewish Wedding with Natalie Portman and a French Guy
When JTA reports on a Jewish wedding with one of the participants probably not a Jew, shouldn't that merit a comment?
‘Paul Ryan Will Not Be Mitt Romney’s Running Mate’
This is too delicious for words. On Friday, Bruce Bartlett of the Fiscal Times published a column under this very headline. It should obviously be filed under the "Dewey Beats Truman" category.
Jewish Black Youth Wins Third Irish Dance Competition
What's a good Jewish Press Story for the Irish national day of beer and more beer? We've got one for you! It's about Drew Lovejoy, 17, from Greenville, Ohio, who is the son of a black Baptist from Georgia and a white Jewish mother from Iowa. But his fame is international, after winning the all-Ireland dancing championship in Dublin for a third straight year.
‘Ashkenic’ Jews to Celebrate the Passover with Brisket and Kuegel
In Woody Allen's 1973 comic Sci Fi masterpiece "Sleeper," an underground band in the far future is trying to revive Allen's memory by acting out scenes from his childhood in Jewish Brooklyn. One of the men, in the roll of Allen's father, urges him, "Stop whining and eat your shiksa…" That was the feeling that overcame me when I read the article in Monday's Daily Mail of New Baltimore, NY, under the headline "Church brings Jewish traditions to life."
‘Nose Job’ El-Balkimy, Egyptian MP, Loses Parliamentary Immunity
What do you have to do as an Egyptian Member of Parliament to earn the nickname Nose Job? Anwar El-Balkimy, of the Salafist Nour Party (that means he's sooo religious, he has one regular prayer rug and a special one for yomim tovim), told everybody he had been beaten and robbed of LE100,000 by thugs on 29 February. But according to Al Ahram, it was later discovered that his facial injuries were caused by cosmetic surgery on his nose.
Pity: 11 Non-Racist Iranian ‘Wall Street Downfall’ Festival Finalists Were Excellent
The Festival in Tehran awarded first prize to three Jews praying in front of a Western Wall that's been transformed into a Wall Street bank.
German Federation Condemns Fans Who Hitler-Saluted Israeli Player
The German soccer federation condemned an anti-Semitic act involving Kaiserslautern's Israel striker Itay Shechter, 24, and says such abuse has to be "nipped in the bud" and "we must act decisively." Sunday's taunts came the day after his team's 4-0 defeat by Mainz – their fourth straight loss – in which Shechter did not play.
Israeli Media ‘Crucifying’ Windsurfer who Said ‘Shma Israel’ and Lost
She told an Israeli reporter about her plans: "I get on the surfboard, say 'Shma Israel, Hashem Elokeino Hashem Echad' and I go to war."
Poles Unhappy with Obama’s Retraction, as Entire Polish Economy Is at Stake
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk demanded a more "explicit reaction" to Obama's "Polish death camp" comment. Poland fears being sued for billions of dollars worth of property appropriated from Jews.
When Allan Met Lillian and They Were 95 and Asked for a Short Wedding
They didn't want marriage at age 95, but their parents insisted…It's a very old joke which I kept thinking about while watching this video. You absolutely have to, also, or you'll hate yourself afterwards. Seriously, they look so CUTE together, short, wrinkled, with 190 years between them and such sweet love. After their two-minute ceremony in a small room in the county office, the couple ate lunch at a nearby International House of Pancakes and returned to their Palm Springs condominium…
Swing States Today
The first indication of an Obama bump following the DNC convention.
5th Annual New York Peace Film Festival Offers No Attacks on Israel
When a press release from the organizers of the NY Peace Film Festival popped in my email, I naturally braced myself for the usual torrent of anti-Semitic graffiti masked as criticism of Zionism we have learned to expect from any event with the words Peace and Festival in the title. To my very pleasant surprise, someone at the 5th annual festival has decided—imagine!—to dedicate the entire program to films discussing peace efforts around the world.
‘First Jewish Leader of the Labour Party’ Enjoys Yiddish, Chicken Soup, But No Marxism
"I am not religious. But I am Jewish. My relationship with my Jewishness is complex. But whose isn’t?" writes the leader of the Labour Party and of the opposition in parliament, Ed Miliband, in the New Statesman.
Jerusalem Festival of Lights: Exercise in Overselling, Underdelivering
My family and I were certain it was going to be a tasteful, Jerusalem version of some of the better Disneyland rides, like Pirates of the Caribbean: dark, with stunning images and light displays and haunting music.
Monastery Door Set on Fire and Jesus Called ‘Monkey’ – But Are You Sure...
Police said they suspect this is a response to the evacuation of Migron on Sunday. I have my doubts.
Designer Leon Max Is Buying Up Britain
The Sunday Daily Mail features a colorful spread on fashion designer, owner of the Max Studio upmarket fashion chain, Leon Max, or Leonid Maxovitch Rodovinksi, "one of a clutch of rich Russians buying up chunks of Britain." The piece recalls another billionaire, Roman Abramovich, who bought the London Chelsea soccer team. But instead of buying soccer clubs, Max has purchased "a spectacularly beautiful English stately home." Love those Jews and their wonderful money…