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Terror in Tehran
I guess this proves that no place in the world is immune. It also makes me second-guess (just a bit) my dismissal of the Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif's NYT op-ed claim that we should all be fighting terrorists together. I can't deny that there is a certain amount of schadenfreude in Iran becoming a terror victim, when that country is responsible for so much terrorism throughout the world, using Hezbollah and other operatives, so that their hands remain "clean". And still, terror is terror, and it all deserves to be condemned. But I am also reminded of Henry Kissinger's quip when discussing the Iran-Iraq war: "It's a pity they both can't lose.' A pity that both Iran and ISIS can't lose.
and in our own backyard...
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Tomorrow Morning at 9:00 a.m.
Mazal Tov to
Ian Gilenson and
Alex Gilenson on their b'nai mitzvah ceremonies - and to their families!
Tomorrow Afternoon/Evening at 8:00 p.m.
We will read Bret Stephens' piece in the NYT, Six Days and 50 Years of War
All this week, the New York Times has been running opinion pieces in appraisal of the 50
th anniversary of the Six-Day War and its lingering aftermath. The first article, while hiding behind what at first blush appears to be a macro analysis, really amounts to little more than Israel bashing. And as usual, the Palestinians and the Arab states, which controlled the pre-1967 territories, are given a pass. It would appear that Mr. Thrall does not even have knowledge of Bill Clinton's and Dennis Ross' accounts of Yasser Arafat's refusal of the "gift" that the Israelis were willing to hand him. And you should also know that the exchange between Golda Meir and Levi Eshkol, while there is much truth in it, was also a product of the giddiness that followed Israel's lightning and total victory. When a subsequent occasion, after touring the West Bank, Golda Meir asked, 'How do we give this back-- and to whom?', reflecting simultaneously the repugnance of ruling over conquered Palestinians, and the breathing room that control over the West Bank gave Israel militarily. As to the billions in US aid to Israel, almost all of that must be spent in the United States. While the claim may be true enough that Israel's withdrawals from conquered territory only came after sustained periods of violence, giving up Gaza was a no-brainer; the same for relinquishing all but military control in parts of the West Bank, but it is unimaginable that Israel would cede the Golan or the enclaves around Jerusalem were there to be another sustained spike in terrorism and violence. These areas are hitting too close to home, and I would imagine that Israel would go in and "re-conquer" the area, much as it did under Ariel Sharon, which brought the intifada to a halt. (And believe me, I have much more to say in critique of this piece by Nathan Thrall, of the International Crisis Group).
The second piece is by Michael Oren. Enough said.
And
The Economist has published a special edition for the occasion. Not surprisingly, it is largely clinical of Israel. In fact, the first piece's title is remarkably reminiscent of the Bret Stephens piece we will read tomorrow afternoon:
Here is CAMERA's critique of one of the Economist's articles:
The Economist's latest edition includes a series of pieces on the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, including one, titled "Right v far right: Politics in Israel no longer offers much of a choice." The piece is one of more egregious examples of the erroneous media narrative that Israeli democracy is eroding. Indeed, with ten different political parties currently holding seats in Israel's Knesset, the claim that there is not "much of a choice" for Israeli voters would likely leave most voters in the two-party American system scratching their heads.
As with most media attacks on Israel, the Economist's nearly 1500 word article on issues such as religion and state, terrorism and interfaith relations all but ignores the actions of Palestinians and Arab Israelis - a denial of agency increasingly becoming indispensable in the popular media narrative about the conflict.
To make its case, the unsigned article relies on misrepresenting individuals, groups, history, and Israeli laws. It misrepresents Jews who want to pray at their religion's holiest site as "zealots," and greatly exaggerates the significance of a few highly controversial groups with marginal influence in Israeli society. It characterizes an Israeli law that mandates nothing more than financial disclosure as undemocratic, and fails to note European and American parallels to other laws deemed objectionable by the Economist's editors. Unsurprisingly, it ignores thousands of years of Jewish history in Jerusalem and whitewashes decades of Arab violence and rejectionism.
I will admit it: I read this next op-ed piece by Hanan Ashrawi with little sympathy and without an open mind. Why? She lost me right at the beginning with her account of the 1967 war: her family home in Ramallah had been shelled. But it wasn't shelled out of the blue! Jordan was warned repeatedly by Israel to stay out of the hostilities. Jordan instigated its war against Israel, and the shelling was a more-than-justified Israeli response. She also describes her difficulty in returning home from Lebanon, where she was a student-and I wonder did it have anything to do with her membership in the outlawed P.L.O.???? Perhaps in a few days I will read her piece again with greater openness:
How the 1967 War Came Home to Me
How Six Days in 1967 Shaped the Modern Middle East
On the war's fiftieth anniversary, five scholars discuss how Israel, the Palestinian territories, and the Arab world were remade.
Guterres' statement doesn't surprise me in the least; it's what an honest and more-or-less neutral official in his position supposed to do. It does not negate his pro-Israel statements or his critiques of the UN Human Rights Council; on the contrary, it means that none of his statements can be discounted:
Among the outcomes: there would be no Palestinian state
U.S. Senate Resolution Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Six-Day War
Whereas June 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War and the reunification of the city of Jerusalem;
Whereas there has been a continuous Jewish presence in Jerusalem for 3 millennia;
Whereas Jerusalem is a holy city and the home for people of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths;
Whereas, for 3,000 years, Jerusalem has been Judaism's holiest city and the focal point of Jewish religious devotion;
Whereas, from 1948 to 1967, Jerusalem was a divided city, and Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jews of all nationalities were denied access to holy sites in eastern Jerusalem, including the Old City, in which the Western Wall is located;
Whereas, in 1967, Jerusalem was reunited by Israel during the conflict known as the Six Day War;
Whereas, since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united city, and persons of all religious faiths have access to holy sites within the city;
Whereas this year marks the 50th year that Jerusalem has been administered as a united city in which the rights of all faiths have been respected and protected;
Whereas the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45), which became law on November 8, 1995, states that Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected; and Whereas it is the longstanding policy of the United States Government that a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved through direct, bilateral negotiations without preconditions for a sustainable two-state solution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate-
(1) recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem and extends its friendship and hopes for peace to the residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel;
(2) reaffirms its support for Israel's commitment to religious freedom and administration of holy sites in Jerusalem;
(3) continues to support strengthening the mutually beneficial American-Israeli relationship;
(4) commends Egypt and Jordan, former combatant states of the Six Day War, who in subsequent years embraced a vision of peace and coexistence with Israel and have continued to uphold their respective peace agreements;
(5) reaffirms that it is the longstanding, bipartisan policy of the United States Government that the permanent status of Jerusalem remains a matter to be decided between the parties through final status negotiations towards a two-state solution; and
(6) reaffirms the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) as United States law, and calls upon the President and all United States officials to abide by its provisions
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From our ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley:
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If it's true - and if it lasts - this campaign did not take all that long to yield some results. But remember: it only affects in Gaza and not the West Bank:
Not surprisingly, this is being walked back:
And/But....
And here are the moderate(!!) results of a poll:
This is interesting; I have no idea what it signifies:
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BDS..or Not
"So long as it cannot be clarified that the BDS movement officially and publicly does not question Israel's right to exist, such events cannot take place in city facilities."
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The Foundation For Preserving The Visual History of The Jewish People held its inaugural gala last month in New York. The event showcased the importance of the organization's mission.
Backache
One of the leading causes of back pain is poor posture - the slumping way we sit and walk.
One Israeli products,
Upright, is trying to help us stand taller and, as a result, feel better. It has developed a unique posture trainer which invisibly attaches to your lower back under your shirt, and corrects when you are not standing or sitting upright. Each time you slouch, it gently vibrates, reminding you to correct your posture.
The gadget - which costs $130 - comes with a mobile app that tracks your progress and offers customizable training programs for better posture. Input your weight, age, and the number of hours usage during the day, and the app will build a plan for you. Once the device is attached, the gentle electrical pulses transferred, and a light vibration is spelled every time you slouch. The vibrations intensity and other features can be adjusted.
In addition, a physical therapist can answer any questions in real time through a chat feature. According to
Upright Technologies founders, Oded Cohen and Ori Fruhauf, the training program can help whether you are wearing the device for five-minutes a-day or four hours.
According to the company, hospitals are now using the device to help their patients, and "raving customer reviews have been gushing in, claiming incredible back pain relief."
While several clinical trials are ongoing in the United States and in Israel,
Upright is pending FDA approval.
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Religion..sort of...
And finally, something of a religious nature... sort of... (actually more of a religious controversy about social commentary)
And another one!
And if I really stretch it, a third!
The founder of Paper magazine takes a junket to the Holyland, where designers are trying to reconcile the competing demands of play and pray
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P
OP CULTURE
I asked my kids to be on the lookout for any Jewish themes in Wonder Woman when they saw it on Monday evening, with a view to finding an excuse to take a group from the synagogue
On the Road with the Rabbi! Besides the rather generic
Tikkun Olam and one against many, it is firmly rooted in Greek mythology. And then I read this article:
So now I'm looking at Thursday afternoon, June 22... I'll keep you posted...
The Olympic gymnast took the 99th spot on the list, which looked at factors such as endorsement deals and social media following.
The jersey is believed to be one of only two known to exist
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June is the best time to be in Jerusalem! Be sure to put the
June 23rd
study day on your itinerary and study with Conservative/Masorti women from around the world!
The Schechter Institutes, Midreshet Schechter and Women's League of Masorti Judaism, with the assistance of the Masorti movement, are proud to present the 18th Annual National Masorti Women's Study Day.
"Chai" Years Exploring Attitudes Towards Women and Other "Others"
Friday,
June 23rd
, 2017 8:30AM
at The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies
4 Avraham Granot St. Jerusalem
Several times a year, 300-400 women unite for a day of study, prayer and social interaction and education programs. Rabbis and lay educators volunteer their time to provide engaging learning opportunities for all who wish increase their understanding of Jewish history, thought and observance. Sessions are offered in four languages: Hebrew, English, Spanish and Russian. Participants range in age from 12-91 and attend from as far north as Adamit on the Lebanese border to Kibbutz Ketura in the South. Join us!
Minimum Donation: 60 NIS, with additional donation, 80 to 100 NIS, new olim 35 NIS. Group transportation available.
For more information and registration: http://www.masorti.org.il/LIMUDNASHIM
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TORAH Page 816
HAFTARAH Page 837
B'HA
·
A LOT'KHA
This week's portion begins with one more instruction for the High Priest: it is his duty to light the menorah. The Levites undergo a final act of purification, and after a formal presentation to the entire community, they now begin to serve in their special role.
The Torah records the observance of the first anniversary of the Exodus from Egypt. In this connection the laws of Pesach Sheni, a "Second Passover" for those prevented or unable to observe Passover on its correct date, are introduced.
The Israelites now depart the Sinai wilderness, and Moses' father-in-law, Jethro (called Chovav here) departs for his home in Midian. The Israelites complain and rebel - first in a general expression of dissatisfaction and a second time complaining about the monotony of manna and the lack of meat. God sends huge flocks of quail to sate their hunger, but appalled by the people's gluttony, smites them with a plague.
These rebellions cause Moses to despair. In response, God causes the prophetic spirit to rest upon the seventy elders as a sign of their authority in assisting Moses with the leadership of the people. Eldad and Medad begin to prophesize as well; Joshua expresses concern about their activity but Moses welcomes their addition to the prophetic ranks.
At the next campsite Miriam and Aaron challenge Moses' leadership role, claiming parity with their brother. God rebukes them for their words; Aaron confesses his error and Miriam is stricken with leprosy. Moses intercedes on Miriam's behalf, and the Children of Israel continue their journey.
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