Commentary about the White House Seder

(White House photo) The White House 2010 Seder. From right to left, Jen Psaki, deputy communications chief; President Obama, Lisa Kohnke, deputy director of White House advance, Eric Lesser, assistant to White House senior advisor David Axelrod; his mother, Joan Lesser, and Joanna Cohen, step-daughter of Susan Sher, chief of staff for First Lady Michelle Obama and White House liaison to the Jewish community. (via Chicago Sun-Times)

Jonathan Tobin writes in 2 articles (redacted here by Joo-Tube) the Jewish World Review "New World's Record for Chutzpah: Obama's Seder":   "This year, along with the conventional four questions of the Passover Seder, some Americans are starting ask themselves "Why is this president different from all other presidents?"

The answer is that Barack Obama has now established opposition to Israel's hold on its capital as a cornerstone of American Middle East policy in a way that is completely new as well as dangerous. Those wondering whether or not this development ought to cause them to re-evaluate their political loyalties might want to remember the closing refrain of Passover Seders down through the centuries: "Next year in Jerusalem."


There will, no doubt, be many American Jews who are still so insecure in their place in American society that they will feel flattered that even a president who has proved himself the most hostile chief executive to Israel in a generation will pay lip service to Judaism in this way. No doubt the planting of this sympathetic story on the front page of the Sunday New York Times is calculated to soften the blow of his Jerusalem policy and his disdain for Israel in the eyes of many of Obama's loyal Jewish supporters.

Can any Jew with a smidgeon of self-respect or affection for Israel think that having a president say "Next year in Jerusalem!" while sitting at a table with matzo and macaroons makes up for policies that treat the 200,000 Jews living in the post-1967 Jewish neighborhoods of their own ancient capital as illegal settlers on stolen land?

Despite that fact that his diplomatic offensive has virtually no chance of success, Obama has still done something that will permanently alter Middle Eastern diplomacy. By treating the Jewish presence in eastern Jerusalem as a vast illegal settlement, the continued growth of which is an alleged impediment to peace, Obama has made it impossible for any Arab leader to ever accept Israel's possession of this part of the city. This not only makes the already near-impossible task of forging peace that much harder, it is a crushing blow to decades of Israeli and American Jewish efforts to force international recognition of a unified Jerusalem.

Perhaps Obama and his coterie of Jewish advisers think they are entitled to expropriate the symbols of Judaism to lend legitimacy to their anti-Israel policies. Of course, if Obama had any real sympathy for the people of Israel or the Jewish people, he might instead spend Monday night reevaluating a policy that appears to concede nuclear weapons to the rabid Jew-haters of Islamist Iran and reinforces the intransigence of the supposedly moderate Palestinian Authority and its allies across the Muslim world."

Jewlicious Blog's The Middle sees Obama's escalating the problem. An anonymous, administration leaker accused White House Middle East strategist, Dennis Ross, of taking Israel’s side over America’s side - thereby calling into question the loyalty of American Jews.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not shocked to be reading this. I’ve read this before. ON ANTISEMITIC WEBSITES. Oh, okay, also on some partisan pro-Palestinian websites. But in this case, the dual loyalty charge being leveled at a Jew is coming from the White House. ...

I worry about what Obama is doing not just to Israel and the prospects of peace, which he is definitely undermining, but to those American Jews who support Israel. He is undermining the ties that bind us all. ...

But not to worry. Tomorrow, some White House person will come out and declare that Israel and America’s bonds are unshakable. Somewhere else, a White House representative – don’t worry, it won’t be Obama because he won’t be caught doing the dirty work – will let a newspaper, a blogger or a congressional committee know that Israel is the undoing of America in the Mid-East and the support of those Americans who advocate for Israel is partly responsible for this.

Mea culpa. I apologize deeply for my support of last election’s Democratic nominee for President. We have brought this horrible situation upon ourselves.

Alan Dershowitz: Israel's greatness, and her troubles

"Israel has saved more Moslem & Arab lives than all of the Moslem & Arab countries - combined!"

George Gilder: Israel, the research lab of the world, is far more precious to humanity than all the oil in Arabia

Does this Chassidic sect's publicity-quest endanger the safety of Jews?

(A new, Joo-Tube original production)  Fundamentalist Jews delegitimizing Israel - are they a rationale for anti-Semites to endanger Zionistic Jews? Neturei Karta sect chief, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, maximizes publicity by antagonizing supporters of Israel outside of the AIPAC Policy Conference 2009.

He believes that their visibility quells anti-Semites by embodying a distinction between Jews and zionistic Jews. But do they actually serve as a tool for haters of Israel to rationalize their antipathies?  Does their overtly public displaying ultimately endanger the safety of Jews in Israel - and their diaspora brethren?

"Obama is planning to impose a solution on Israel" Israpundit's Ted Belman from Jerusalem

During the lead up to his election victory, he surrounded himself with a host of vehemently anti-Israel advisors including Lee Hamilton, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Samantha Power, Susan Rice and General Jim Jones, many of whom advocated imposing a solution on Israel.

He also made common cause with Jewish leftists represented by J Street and Israel Policy Forum who were urging him to increase the pressure on Israel and if that didn’t work, to impose a solution on Israel.

So it was no surprise that he started his term of office by attacking Israel, America’s best and most steadfast ally, declaring that all settlements were illegal and demanding a complete settlement construction freeze east of the greenline including in Jerusalem. He went so far as to repudiate the US commitment set out in the Bush letter ’04 to Sharon, declaring there was no agreement. Elliot Abrams and others involved in the negotiations which led to the letter, testified otherwise.

This letter also affirmed that “as part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and recognized borders, which should emerge from negotiations between the parties in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338.” Pres Bush had always supported a negotiated settlement and this letter did likewise. Noticeably absent was any reference to the Saudi Plan. The letter also contained a commitment, that “the United States will do its utmost to prevent any attempt by anyone to impose any other plan”.

By repudiating this letter as a U.S. commitment, Pres Obama opened the way for a settlement to be imposed according to the Saudi Plan rather than Res 242.

Read it all

Counter-protest haters of Israel demonstration in NYC

Update: Atlas Shrugs filmed, photographed, and links to other chroniclers of this event.

Atlas Shrugs invites all to this counter-protest against antagonists protesting the New York appearance of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces' banquet guest, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazy.

Their particular focus this year is the "horrors" of Operation Cast Lead, of which Ashkenazy was the commanding officer.

They want to shame us?  Let's demonstrate our PRIDE!  WE WILL HAVE A GREAT COUNTER-PROTEST EVENT  SHOWING SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AND OUR IDF! TUESDAY, MARCH 9th from 5 - 7:00 PM ACROSS FROM THE WALDORK ASTORIA HOTEL. WE ARE GOING TO BE on PARK AVE at W. 50th - 51st ST, and the Haters will be at W. 48th - 49th.

In the past, the Haters have turned out in large numbers while those in support of Israel have mostly stayed home.  Come, we will have flags, banners, information, and maybe a few surprises.Be a part of the groundswell in support of Israel - more than a dozen truly pro-Israel organizations and individuals will be there - add your voice, your body, and bring family and friends.

Human-rights activist wonders whether Jews need a different Anti-Defamation League

Frontpage Interview’s guest today is Dr. Charles Jacobs, a columnist for the Boston Jewish Advocate who is concerned about the failure of leadership in America and in the Jewish community to deal with anti-Semitism. He has written a series of columns challenging the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) management for failing to adequately reduce Islamic anti-Semitism. 

Filmmaker Yoav Shamir produced "Defamation," a documentary critical of Rabbi Foxman's Anti-Defamation League - alleging that the group trumps-up anti-Semitism and challenges current management. "Defamation" film was largely funded with Austrian media funding. To view the trailer:
ADL's Director Abe Foxman, counters Charles Jacobs' allegations with this video interview on NewsMax TV, where at 12:45 minutes into the 14-minute interview, he claims that fundmentalist, extremist Islam the greatest threat to democracy, freedom, and our values.

Gallup poll: Support for Israel in U.S. at 63%, near record high; but don't get too comfortable

For the first time since 1991, more than 6 in 10 Americans -- 63% -- say their sympathies in the Middle East situation lie more with the Israelis than with the Palestinians. Fifteen percent side more with the Palestinians, down slightly from recent years, while a combined 23% favor both sides, favor neither side, or have no opinion.

Bottom Line
In the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, a striking 63% of Americans currently say their sympathies lie more with the Israelis, the highest level in nearly 20 years. Support for the Palestinians, at 15%, is about average for the same period. At the same time, Gallup finds Americans' fundamental views of Israel no more favorable than they have been for the past several years. Israel does continue to enjoy a substantial advantage over the Palestinian Authority in its general image, a fact that clearly colors the ways Americans view the conflict.

Americans are no more optimistic today than they were last year that peace can be reached between Israel and the Palestinians -- and they are, in fact, less optimistic than they were toward the end of the Bush administration. This is largely owing to a drop in optimism among independents.

See full poll results and analysis

Jerusalem Conference's Wednesday 17 Feb schedule begins with Livni, concludes with PM Netanyahu

The Jerusalem Conference provides a unique forum for the discussion of Israel's national priorities, social values, and aspirations, as well as the challenges and external threats faced by Israel and the West. Every year the Jerusalem Conference hosts key figures, opinion-molders and policy-makers from Israel and around the world -- all leaders in the political, economic, academic, media, communal, security, military, and rabbinic spheres.

The Jerusalem Conference is dedicated to the promotion of Jewish heritage and values and to Israel’s future as a viable, modern, democratic and Jewish state. The setting for the Jerusalem Conference – Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem – underscores the Conference’s devotion to Israel’s capital city. In the near future the Jerusalem Conference expects to hold additional conferences in other locations in Israel and in key cities in the United States.


Watch Live from Jerusalem through 6:30 pm GMT, 1:30 pm Eastern Standard Time

Palestinians have intentionally killed 125 Jewish infants and children in past decade

(Video by Naama)

What will Limmud L.A. create this year?

LimmudLA organizer Shep Rosenman and pop singer/songwriter Jill Sobule collaborate with participants in this Jewish songwriting workshop 2-years ago. (Photo by Scott)

Joo-Tube covered Israel's national elections last year from Jerusalem, pre-empting our annual coverage of Limmud L.A. When we covered it in 2008, we produced the following videos, which have been viewed by over 11,000 people.

Watch Joo-Tube's original videos from the LimmudLA 2008 President's Day Eve concert. "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy," Debbie Friedman sings her inspiring "Mi shebayrach."

Debbie then breaks into an upbeat medly of "Turn the World Around,""Oseh Shalom," "Miriam," "Hallelu," and "David Melech Yisrael" which moved the sold-out audience of LimmudLA participants to dancing and rejoicing. (Click the second button to navigate the videos' menu).



The Moshav Band (in the 3rd of 3 videos above) performed their inspirational anthem, "Come Back (to Me)" the soundtrack of the famous Nefesh b'Nefesh aliyah documentary.

JTA syndicated this review of Limmud '08 by Sue Fishkoff.

“I knew what I was getting into and I still wanted to come, because I love all Jews,” said Rabbi Moshe Shapoff, who traveled to Limmud LA from his Israeli home in the Jerusalem suburb of Givat Zeev, where he co-founded a vocational school for haredi youth.

“I was literally in tears seeing all those Jews dancing together. At the end of the day, it’s not what we wear, but that one soul touches another,” he said.

That’s a big part of what the British-based, volunteer-driven Limmud is about: Jews of all stripes and ages coming together to study, worship and learn from each other.

Read it all.

Mrs. Deidre and Dr. Richard Sterling were among the LimmudLA participants who appreciated Israeli General (ret.) Shimon Erem explaining his General David ben Gurion's ideology to nurture alliances with gentile friends supportive of the Jewish national refuge.

L.A. Muslim students endeavor to disrupt public discourse with Israeli Ambassador Oren; Exposes Univ of Calif at Irvine administration's complicity tolerating intolerant Muslim movement on campus

Ambassador Michael Oren addressed an overflow audience on US-Israel relationship and global affairs at the Univ of Calif Irvine. He discussed the Zionistic element (support for the return of the people of Israel to their ancestral homeland) within America's founding and maturing, from John Adams, through Abraham Lincoln, to Harry Truman. He discussed Americans' widespread spiritual and social support for democratic Israel, the only land where rule of law guarantees free-speech in the Middle East. He discussed the evolution of the multi-faceted ties between the US and Israel- which strategic relationship began towards the end of the 1967 Six-Day War.

Amb. Oren noted the U.S. and Israel's shared values - spiritual and democratic, and their shared interests- economic and political - from allying to resisting Communism, to resisting Islamic-extremism, today.

He discussed the state of the current relationship between Washington and Jerusalem, vis a vis the Obama's administration's pressure to force the creation of a state of Palestine. He discussed Israel's considerations regarding the conditions of Palestinian sovereignty and prioritizing it over stopping nuclear proliferation within the Islamic world - which would extort the West with threats to leak nuclear-weapons into Islamic-extremists' hands.

U.C. Irvine, with a large Muslim enrollment, has been criticized for fomenting a climate of aggressive anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism through its Muslim Students Union. The M.S.U. organized a stream of students disrupting through the speech, ignoring appeals from Chancellor Paul Drake and Political Science Dept Director Mark Petraca. Police Chief Paul Hensley chose not to position a uniformed police deterrence between the disrupting Muslims' seating sections and the Ambassador at the podium following repeated outbursts- and Muslim students continued to disregard faculty appeals- creating 10 disruptions. At least eleven agitators were arrested. Amb. Oren walked out briefly, but Rabbi David Eliezrie reports that he elected to return on his dedication to the attendees, his Jewish perseverance, and the promise of his hosts to suspend or expel further disruptors.

Shalom Elcott, President and CEO of Jewish Federation Orange County, said the highly-orchestrated disruptions by the President of the Muslim Student Union (MSU) - who was arrested, along with one MSU board member and 10 other student protesters - constituted an embarrassment to the University and an insult to the broader community. “While we had hoped the administration would have been better prepared to thwart groups or individuals trying to harass Ambassador Oren, we do commend the University police for making arrests and taking action to escort the perpetrators out of the room,” says Elcott. “And, we are proud of the Ambassador not letting the disruptions stop him from completing his address. We will intensely monitor what actions the University administration will take in response to this evening’s event and will report our findings to the community,” says Elcott.

Palestinian political refugee, Ghazi Brighith, in the accompanying deplored the Muslim agitators' behavior as un-Islamic.