Limmud LA '11: visiting Israeli band, Aharit Ha'yamim, perform Sephardic celebratory, "Simcha G'dolah Laila"

Israel Matzav: How Iran uses the Arabs

Israel Matzav: How Iran uses the Arabs

A fascinating article in Sunday's New York Times by Iranian Karim Sadjapour provides some insight into how Iran uses Arab Muslims in its war against Israel.

Until now, Iran’s interests have been served by the Arab status quo:
frustrated populations ruled over by emasculated regimes incapable of checking
Israel, and easily dismissed as American co-dependents. A conversation I once
had with a senior Iranian diplomat is instructive.

He complained, justifiably, about Washington’s excessive focus on military
power to solve political problems. I posed a simple hypothetical: What if,
instead of having spent several billion dollars financing Hezbollah, Hamas and
Islamic Jihad over the past three decades, Iran had spent that money educating
tens of thousands of Palestinians and Lebanese Shiites to become doctors,
professors and lawyers? Wouldn’t those communities now be much better off and in
a much stronger position to assert their rights vis-à-vis Israel?“

What good would that have done for Iran?” he responded candidly. (He
himself had a doctorate from a British university.) “Do you think if we sent
them abroad to study they would return to southern Lebanon and Gaza to fight
Israel? Of course not; they would have remained doctors, lawyers and
professors.”

Iran, in essence, understands that it can inspire and champion the region’s
downtrodden and dispossessed, but not the upwardly mobile. Its strategy to
dominate the Middle East hinges less on building nuclear weapons than on the
twin pillars of oil and alienation.

The longer I live here and the more I read, the more convinced I am that it is Islam that is responsible for Israel's dispute with the Arabs.

Talk-radio hostess Janet Parshall honored at NRB '11 for standing with Israel

Mrs. Janet Parshall calls anti-Semitism "a sin, pure and simple";' calls Christians to unite to fight anti-Zionism, anti-Semitism and to defend the Jewish people, in honor by Christian Zionist group, Proclaiming Justice to the Nations group at National Religious Broadcasters confab in Nashville this week.



Radio personality, Janet Parshall, declares anti-Semitism "a sin - pure and simple" in accepting the Christian Zionist PJTN group the Ed McAteer Tree of Life Award from activist group, Proclaiming Justice to the Nations / PJTN.

Founded by Laurie Cardoza-Moore, PJTN named the Tree of Life Award after Ed McAteer, who called on Christians "to honor Israel, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and to express their unconditional love for G-d's ancient people." Ms. Parshall denounces the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions ("B.D.S.") movement and false libels of apartheid in Israel. She implores Christians to "never be silent" regarding the new wave of anti-Israeli, anti-Semitism.

Pope Benedict book repudiates New Testament's Jew-damning interpretations; Daily Show Jon Stewart sends it up

Jewish organizations are hailing Pope Benedict XVI's unequivocal repudiation of the claim that the Jewish people can be held forever responsible for the death of Jesus.

The Vatican already rejected the claim in general terms in 1965 with the landmark Nostra Aetate document issued by the Vatican II Conference, opening the door to formal Catholic-Jewish dialogue. But in a new volume of his book, "Jesus of Nazareth," Benedict employs a detailed scholarly analysis of Catholic teaching to make the point clear.

The Anti-Defamation League called it “an important and historic moment” in Catholic-Jewish relations that would build on Nostra Aetate.

Excerpts of the book, which is due out March 10, were released Wednesday.

"Now we must ask: Who exactly were Jesus' accusers? Who insisted that he be condemned to death?" Benedict writes in a passage regarding Jesus' condemnation to death by Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Noting that the Gospel of St. John states that it was "the Jews," he asks, "How could the whole people have been present at this moment to clamor for Jesus' death?" John's use of the term, he writes, "does not in any way indicate -- as the modern reader might suppose -- the people of Israel in general, even less is it 'racist' in character. After all, John himself was ethnically a Jew, as were Jesus and all his followers."

What John meant by "the Jews", Benedict writes, was the priestly "temple aristocracy."

In another passage, Benedict explicitly rejects the notion that the expression reported in the Gospel that "His blood be on us and on our children" meant an eternal curse against the Jewish people. Instead, the pontiff writes, "It means that we all stand in need of the purifying power of love which is his blood. These words are not a curse, but rather redemption, salvation."

Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, said the pope's book marked "a landmark moment" in Catholic-Jewish relations.  "Pope Benedict's theological repudiation of the deicide charge not only confirms the teachings of Vatican II, which formally rejected collective Jewish guilt, but seals it for a new generation of Catholics," Steinberg said.
- JTA

Jon Stewart sends-up Pope Benedicts decision on "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central:

The Daily Show - The Pardon of the Christ
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Daily Show: The Pardon of the Christ
Pope Benedict XVI lets Jews off the hook for Jesus' death, the 2012 Olympics logo angers Iran, and John Galliano covers Jewish affairs from Paris.

"Son of Hamas" reveals to rabbi: Israel's problem is that Islam hates Jews; Palestinian leaders sacrifice citizens to malign Israel, steal aid

"Son of Hamas" author, Mosab Hassan Yousef, warns a mixed Christian, Jewish and Muslim audience in L.A. that global Islamism's theological enmity for Jews is fueling pan-Arab Palestinian nationalism to destroy the Jewish state of Israel.

A small group of Muslim men vocally expressed their disdain for Mr. Yousef, booing him and disruptively heckling him "You're a scumbag!" - inadvertently confirming the veracity of his public revelations in this conversation with Rabbi David Eliezre of Chabad of Orange County.

Once poised to lead Hamas's political wing, Mosab Hassan Yousef made a dangerous, courageous and heroic decision -- he is now risking everything to expose closely-guarded secrets that have rocked the Middle East.

The appearance of the Christian-convert Mr. Yousef - organized by Rabbi Moshe Bryski of Chabad of Conejo Valley - attracted an audience of over 1,000 people, including a constituency from St. Paschal Baylon's Roman Catholic Church in Thousand Oaks. Filmed live by DemoCast.TV in Westlake Village, California on Feb 21, 2011.

The truth about “the occupation” and “the settlements”

The truth about “the occupation” and “the settlements” by Ted Belman

The pro-Palestinian propaganda machine has succeeded in stigmatizing the
Israeli occupation and the settlements. Time and again we hear about the “brutal
occupation” and the “illegal settlements.” We rarely hear the truth in
opposition to these lies.

Please read it all.

Conveying Israel's story in the face of politically anti-Semitic media

Legendary, Israeli social-commentator, Yakov Kirschen ("Dry Bones" comic strip in the Jerusalem Post) discusses effecting social and political points from outside the front pages in this JooTube-exclusive video presentation. Mr. Kirschen presents this address on his experience utilizing cartoons to effect social and political messages about Israel - from his tour of North America - hosted by CAMERA Los Angeles.

Mr. Kirschen is organizing a new tour of America in May to preach his thesis that anti-Semitism is a "behavioral virus", often virally spread through "secret codes" embedded in political cartoons. He will apply his work as "artist in residence" at YIISA (Yale's Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Antisemitism). This tour is sponsored by Z Street and Young Israel. If your church, synagogue, or organization would be interested in hosting a stop on this Dry Bones cross-country trek, please contact Rabbi Pesach Lerner of Young Israel for details.

Limmud L.A. - learn with top rabbis and teachers; then celebrate Jewish heritage with dance and song

A Jewish festival of life and learning, LimmudLA Conference 2011 offers over 100 presenters and 250 sessions ranging from Talmud to psychology, pop culture to Bible, and drama to Israeli politics. Sprinkled throughout are concerts, films, workshops, yoga, mitzvah projects and opportunities to connect - all organized by teams of dedicated volunteers.

No matter your beliefs or customs, there is a topic in each session block for everyone. LimmudLA attracts some of the most acclaimed Jewish thinkers, artists and activists in the world. It also offers you the opportunity to experience new or undiscovered talent from our own Los Angeles community.

Diversity is more than just a buzzword for us. Jews of every denomination and affiliation (or non-affiliation) attend and present. Different ages, ethnicities, marital statuses, sexual orientations, educational backgrounds and occupations are part of the mix. It is a supremely democratic model of Jewish education.

The format allows you to immerse yourself or dip in as much as you choose. The learning, in all the ways it unfolds, is nonstop, inspiring and invigorating.

The terrific learning with rabbis and other teachers at the annual Limmud L.A. provides a personal and communal enrichment - and gives reason to celebrate each night. Watch JooTube's video highlights from Limmud LA '09-'10. 

Limmud LA reconvenes this weekend, Feb 18-20 in Costa Mesa, California. Check out their website for details.

African-American convert to Judaism writes of journey from street-gangs to 1st, African-American serviceman in Israel Defense Forces

Marcus Hardie appears on L.A. morning TV discuss his journey from street gangs to serving in the Golani Division and Armoured Division as a tank driver.

(Video courtesy MrMongtague)

 His book is "Black & Bulletproof- An African-American warrior in the Israeli Army."

Egyptian Muslim physician admits the primary obstacle to Middle East peace

(Recorded at CPAC 2009 in Washington). Dr. Tawfik Hamid, an Egyptian, former-Islamist-radical, acknowledges that the lack of a sovereign state for Palestinian Arabs is not global Arabs'  difficulty with Israel, but Islam's taught enmity for Jews entirely - and certainly towards a sovereign Jewish state amidst Muslim states. Dr. Hamid admits that the change for peace must come from Muslims.

'IDF Spokespersons Unit addresses blogosphere, social networks'- Lt. Aliza Landes - Herzliya Conference 2011

Born in Boston, Lt. Aliza Landes describes how she in the IDF Spokespersons Unit, regards the significance of the blogosphere and social networks to help counter mainstream media bias in news from and about Israel. Click to view video remarks from the 2011 Herzliya Policy Conference.

Update: 17 Feb 07:15
Yoni Kempinski of Arutz Sheva has produced an original video look inside the IDF Spokesman's New Media Desk. The Desk was founded when two soldiers came-up with the initiative to open a YouTube Channel during Operation Cast Lead.

How will nuclear-weaponizing Iran destabilize world? What should we do? Documentary, "Iranium," U.S.-premieres tonight; watch FREE preview all day today on JooTube

Ottawa-screening organizer, Fred Litwin, President of the Free Thinking Film Society discusses the cancellation of Iranium due to bomb threats. Clip of film director Alex Traiman.

Producer Raphael Shore (Relentless, Obsession, The Third Jihad) went with Alex Traiman over Wayne Kopping, who directed his 3-prior films, to direct Iranium.

Today, Tuesday 8 February, is the final day you may watch the entire movie, free, on JooTube.

Check for tonight's cities and screenings times on Iranium: The Movie website.