Community Security Trust v Shtadlanut Shtadlanut, has characterized Jewish diplomacy for thousands of years. Important individual Jews with connections would lobby monarchs, princes, and clergy, who might help alleviate their suffering. The equivalent of what we now call lobbying. Carried out privately, secretly, away from public glare. This was the norm in Jewish diplomacy, everywhere, until recently. And it still divides…
General Topics
Neturei Karta
At demonstrations against Israel in New York, marching with our enemies (as they do at Israel parades) was a small pathetic clique of Chassidim in their distinctive uniforms called Neturei Karta, literally The Protectors of the City in Aramaic. If ever there was irony in a title, this is it! Not protecting is more likely. They can also be seen visiting the Iranian…
About Miracles
I am wary of miracles. Not that amazing, unpredictable, and seemingly miraculous things do not happen all the time. But too often they don’t happen when they should, and I have heard the term miracle applied to events that have perfectly logical explanations. Or to religious figures whom I consider dishonest, corrupt, or mercenary. Like predicting and expecting the Messiah…
Elegy For New York
I made the mistake, once, of thinking New York was the best place for Jews outside Israel. This Shabbat afternoon, at 4 pm a group of several hundred Palestinian supporters marched up Broadway waving banners and flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans past the building in which I live. I can’t begin to describe what emotions it aroused. It was as…
Days of Pain and Joy
We are now in the Jewish month of Elul. In the Northern Hemisphere, we say goodbye to the ‘lazy hazy crazy days of summer’, as the song goes. Pleasure is over, back to business. The religious academies re-open. We blow the shofar every morning and say an extra Psalm as we start preparing for the heavy atmosphere of the Yamim Noraim,…
Sadness and Joy
Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of Av, reminds us of the greatest catastrophes in our history. Yet five days after the fast, we have Tu B’Av, the 15th day of Av (yesterday), which according to the Mishna, together with Yom Kipur were the happiest days of the year. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: There were no days as joyful for the Jewish people…