‘Just Kidding’: An Israeli for U.S. National Security Advisor?

“I first thought of picking a Russian…among our many, many friends there, starting with Vladi, but the fake media would eat me up alive. They’re already raking my friendships there over the coals.
 
“So I’m looking elsewhere,all over the world, and, trust me, I remembered —  I have so much information to remember, but I’m a very stable genius. So I remembered that people born in Israel are called sabers. Now that tells you something: if you’re named for a sword, you’re a born fighter, and that”s the sort of person we need.”

(When Jared said,”Respectfully, sir, I believe the Hebrew word for a native-born Israeli is ‘sabra’,” Trump  replied, “What’s your point?”)

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Joel H. Cohen, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Was the biblical command to destroy nations cruel?

God commanded the Israelites through Moses to completely blot out the memory of the nation of Amalek. The command is repeated by the prophet Samuel in I Samuel 15. The only voice speaking against this apparent genocide is that of the first Jewish king Saul, who was strongly criticized by Samuel for not killing all of the Amalekite people and who lost his monarchy because of his apparently reasonable behavior.

Philo sidesteps the difficulty of the slaughter of an entire people by interpreting the entire report allegorically. Amalek is not a nation, but a symbol of the impassioned coward who strikes anyone he sees standing in his way. He hides until his enemy has passed him by, no longer looking at him. Then he rises and assaults what he perceives is his opponent’s weakest point. Philo was thus the first to introduce the idea that it is not the people that should be eradicated, but the nefarious self-destructive quality of Amalek that an individual must obliterate from his personality.

Was the biblical command to destroy nations cruel? Read More »

Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

Graphic novel profiles World War II profiteer Joanovici

In the view of the Gestapo stationed in Paris, Joseph Joanovici was a “useful Jew,” because as a scrap metal dealer he could obtain and sell to the Nazis materials needed for the war effort.  At the same time, the French Resistance also thought he was useful because with the money he made as a Nazi collaborator, he was able to help the Resistance obtain weapons.  Additionally, he was able to use his contacts within the Nazi hierarchy to free from prison his employees and his Resistance associates.

Playing both sides, Joanovici had friends among the Nazis and friends among the Resistance.  He also had more than his share of enemies, who would be happy to kill him once he stopped being “useful.”

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History

Hate to rain on Greta’s parade, but I coined ‘cli-fi’

By Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — There are some novels and movies now that tell human stories about what climate change is like (or might be like) in the distant future. The genre is not sci-fi, but rather cli-fi, and it’s on the rise, according to Czech journalist Jaroslav Totusek at the Lidovky newspaper

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, The World We Share, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 14, 2019

Items in this column include:
* Attorney Joe Leventhal becomes a candidate in 5th City Council District
* Georgette Gomez jumps into race to succeed Congresswoman Susan Davis
* Brushing up on your Jewish knowledge with a game of ‘Jew-perdy’
*A Backyard Challah Bake
* Camp Mountain Chai increases summer sessions from three to four
* Three ‘self-compassionate resolutions’ for the New Year
* And Finally, Some Fun With Numbers

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Hounding the Headlines: September 13, 2019

I heard this week that the Golden Deceiver fired John Bolton.  What did he expect when he appointed Bolton?  From my own experience, I don’t want to be near two alpha dogs when they are in the same room.  The biting, the growling, and the marking of territory guarantee that eventually one of them is going to send his rival packing with his legs between his tail or, in Bolton’s case, under his moustache.   

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire

New York City adds an office to fight bias crimes

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — We will learn eventually if New York’s $1.7 million investment to contend with bias-related incidents will work, but the outbreak in attacks against Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn exposes ongoing drawbacks in the system. Deborah Lauter, who heads the newly created Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, hopes

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Bruce Ticker, USA

Netanyahu is THE issue in Israel’s election

Likud means united, and so far party figures have remained firm in their public comments. Bibi is their leader.

As we get closer to the election, and Likud does not pull clearly ahead in the polls, there are reports of individuals in Likud maneuvering for what’ll be after Bibi. 

There are hints of friction between Bibi and Donald Trump, especially in connection with Trump’s efforts to converse with Iranian leaders. For some years, Iran has been at the top of Bibi’s list of antagonists, and any weakening of American resolve would be troubling.

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Victoria, what you’ve ‘learned’ in college about Israel is not true

I learned how Israeli forces slaughtered over 30 children in a protest for Palestinian rights. I read about the closure of the Gaza Strip, and how Palestinians have to apply to work or seek specialty medical care in Israel, and oftentimes have their application denied. And in one night of reeducating myself, I became a pro-Palestinian Jew.

S: Congratulations, another self-hating Jew – and in only one night, without ever visiting the area. Israel hasn’t slaughtered over 30 children. The IDF is second to none in restricting its soldiers’ behavior towards non-combatants. It’s the Palestinian Arabs who don’t hesitate to push their children in front of them, instead of putting themselves in front of the kids for their protection. The parents also allow, even encourage, their teenagers to participate in dangerous riots at the border. This is totally immoral. 

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International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Steve Kramer, USA

Did New York Times intentionally whitewash 9-11?

(I)t is with great surprise—as we recall the attacks upon our nation on September 11, 2001— that The New York Times wrote:

18 Years have passed since airplanes took aim and brought down the World Trade Center. Today, families will once again gather and grieve at the site where more than 2000 people died.

Notice the politically correct nomenclature the writer chose, “airplanes took aim,” and not Jihadi terrorists.

Did New York Times intentionally whitewash 9-11? Read More »

International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Satire: Trump, Putin, Netanyahu, and Kim

Trump (turning to Pompeo): Hey Mike, I know that I am meeting Putin tomorrow, but I would like to have coffee with him, just to chat about the shenanigans that are going on.

Pompeo: Yeah, why not… Oh, look there, Kim Jong Un seems to be having a good time with Netanyahu. I know they never met before, but they seem like real good buddies.

Trump: You know that Netanyahu is a fox and Kim is trickster, totally unreliable but I can outfox them both any time of the day.

Pompeo: Boy, do I know that – uh, I mean it complementarily, sir.

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Alon Ben-Meir, Trivia, Humor & Satire