What do you think of CNN's Paula Hancocks' rationale of press' selectively negative reporting about Israel - as not constituting anti-Semitism?

(Courtesy Spydat3k)

Kristallnacht: Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein retells his mother's experience of the night that organized hostility against Jewish symbols began

The Simon Wiesenthal Center commemorated the 71's anniversary of 
Germany's "Night of Breaking Glass" or Kristallnacht with an event at 
the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles featuring author of 
"Hitler's Willing Executioners," Harvard Prof. Daniel Goldhagen.
Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, the son of a Holocaust survivor 
(and the Wiesenthal Center's Director of Interfaith Affairs)
began the evening by retelling his mother's testimonial of the events 
of the night of 9 November 1938. He then offered a prayer, in Hebrew, 
to the souls murdered by the Nazi culture, brainwashed against 
the Jews vilified by their society.

Perpetual, political anti-Semitism on Kristallnacht anniversary

"Throughout the Jewish world, commemorations are being held during this period of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, which took place exactly 71 years ago. The murderous violence and destruction of that night, in which 100 Jews were killed, over 250 synagogues were destroyed, and tens of thousands of Jewish businesses vandalized, marked the beginning of the Holocaust."  -  See Walter Bingham, Israel National Radio show-host's article on Arutz 7 



Daniel Goldhagen will speak at Museum of Tolerance on Kristallnacht
Monday, November 9, 2009 at 7:00pm Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance

Kristallnacht Commemoration - Night of Broken Glass

With keynote speaker Daniel Jonah Goldhagen author of the new book "Worse than War: Genocide, Eliminationism, and the Ongoing Assault on Humanity."

Special screening of excerpts from the new PBS documentary, based on his book.

Goldhagen is also the author of the #1 international bestseller, Hitler’s Willing Executioners. A former Associate Professor of Political Science and Social Studies at Harvard University, he is the son of Holocaust Survivor and retired Harvard Professor Erich Goldhagen.

Former U.S. Attorney, John Loftus, author of "The War against the Jews," will be speaking at Daytona Beach-area's Temple Beth-El in Ormond Beach on Tuesday 10 November at 7:30pm.  It is free and open to the public.

Journalist Ray Weiss writes in the News-Journal:

Mr. Loftus worked for U.S. Justice Department and began prosecuting and deporting Nazi war criminals.

Ultimately, he discovered that many former Nazis living in the United States were on the CIA payroll and it was being covered up by the American government -- something he revealed in a "60 Minutes" interview with Mike Wallace in 1982.

"The CIA didn't have a clue," he said in a telephone interview. "They were dumped here by the British, passed off as not really Nazis, but anti-Communist freedom fighters."

He said Kristallnacht really was a "fundraising scheme" created by the SS leadership in the Nazi party, many of whom were lawyers. All insurance money to repair the Jewish businesses was immediately seized by the Nazis.

"They blamed the Jews for starting it," Loftus said of Kristallnacht. "It was a huge windfall for the early Nazis. They were that calculating."

In his speech, Loftus said he will discuss Kristallnacht and the future of the western world, one that he sees as vulnerable as in the 1930s. He says that most Middle Eastern terrorists have roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization founded in 1928 that admired and supported Adolph Hitler.

"To this day, Hamas still gives the Nazi salute," he said.

Mollified by Islamophobia guilt-mongers, Americans suffer another painful lesson on anniversary of Kahane and Rabin assassinations

To those who belittle Muslim hostility towards Jews as being anything less than a challenge to homeland   security ...

19 years (to the day) of America ignoring Muslim assassination of a Jewish leader as a threat to humanity - an American-Muslim soldier massacres gentile Americans - wounding 30, murdering 12.

In this shocking excerpt from "Inside 9/11," broadcast on National Geographic Channel about the rise of bin Laden and the al Qaeda global terror organization, the first victim of al Qaeda on U.S. soil was Jewish Defense League founder, Rabbi Meir Kahane.

This clip shows how his assassination in November 1990 is traced to bin Laden/al Qaeda's Muslim double-agent inside the U.S. military, allegedly protected by the CIA. The investigative prejudice against a vigilant Jew's murder precluded discoveries that could have prevented the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993, and possibly averted the work of al-Qaeda to kill about 3,000 Americans on 9/11/2001




The history of anti-Semitic persecution around the world justifies the need for a sovereign Jewish refuge - and despite the establishment of Israel, the threat endures.

Watch "An open letter to the world" by Rabbi Meir Kahane from Israel:

Documentary- "Conflict: the Power of Propaganda," explores Arab media campaign to de-legitimize Israel

In the new film "Conflict: The Power of Propaganda," director Chris Atkins goes behind the headlines and past the media bias against Israel to present a fair and realistic picture of what is happening in the Islamic conflict to conquer Israel.

The fast-paced documentary exposes rampant Palestinian propaganda and challenges viewers to recognize the calculated deception - and its ties to both extremism and terrorism on a global scale. Executive producer Joe Amaral and his filmmakers go inside the world of the Palestinian media, documenting how Palestinian propaganda seeks to rob the Jewish people of their rich history in the Land of Israel. Alarming video evidence shows how school children are taught and encouraged to aspire to kill Jews and to become suicide bombers.


(Courtesy Joe Israel Productions)

Watch Oriana Fallaci videos about European anti-Semitism

As we approach the 18th anniversary of the assassination of Rabbi Meir Kahane - the first act of Islamic terrorism on U.S. soil - we present the voice of Italian journalist and author, the late Oriana Falacci that anti-Zionism is a manifestation of anti-Semitism.


(Courtesy Anoleable Readers of Italian will find a special treat on that channel).

Delicatessen Nosh-talgia

(Pictured: The Hungry Cabbie, Famous Fat Dave, attempts to sneak-up-from-behind a pastrami sandwich at Harold's Famous NY Deli in Edison, New Jersey)

The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles this week published a cover-story about Toronto-raised author, David Sax, having singled-out L.A. as America's premiere deli city, and Langer's Deli as serving the best pastrami sandwich in the world. But Sax's book, Save the Deli, is neither the first nor definitive exploration of the Jewish delicatessen. Pre-dating it was, among others, San Francisco foodie L. John Harris', "The Deli Book" - excerpted below from his article "Noshtalgia for Pastrami" published in SF's "The Monthly":

I’m a pastrami man. When I go to a Jewish deli, that 100-year-old emporium of Eastern European comfort food, I order a pastrami on rye. Not only do I eat this classic and very fatty sandwich (without guilt), I study it.  This qualifies me as a “maven,” the Yiddish word for expert, or in my case, “obsessive-compulsive deli guy.”  I’m not the only deli maven around, to be sure. Just about every Jew ever born in an American city of any size considers himself or herself a deli maven with childhood memories of particular foods and favorite delis that were part of the fabric of their early lives...

While a Jewish deli must serve the requisite pastrami and corned beef sandwiches and all the other deli classics, it’s still not sufficient to bring in the crowds that delis need to succeed.  So what’s the other essential ingredient? According to Professor Ted Merwin, professor of Jewish Studies at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania (who has just completed a book on New York’s Jewish delicatessens) it’s the emotional draw of nostalgia and the historical function of the deli as a central meeting place: “A place for Jews to rest and refuel after shopping, meet potential mates, relax in a Jewish milieu, reconnect to childhood memories,” says Merwin.

Harris' Deli Book inspired a collaboration with S.F. documentary filmmaker Bill Chayes to produce Divine Food: 100 Years in the Deli Trade

When standing at the Deli counter, do you wonder what makes a good pastrami sandwich kosher? Our film offers a tell-all, behind the scenes look at the Biblically based kosher meat manufacturing process. The film focuses on the immigrant Oscherwitz family, manufacturers of Kosher deli products since the 1880's.

Through interviews, archival photos and film, the Oscherwitz story is told, along with a step-by-step examination of the koshering process. On location at the company plant with a side trip to a classic deli, the film captures the mouth-watering flavors and heart warming memories of the Jewish delicatessen. Divine Food is available on DVD.

The Jewish Channel produced their own news feature on N.Y.C. delis in 2007:

I do credit Save the Deli's publicist with raising awareness about the future of the Jewish Deli.  Special note must be reserved for the neighborhood Jewish deli's that serve as cultural (especially kosher) centers, and preserve our nosh-talgia!

Barry Rubin speech video from Boston: "How Western policies are heading for disaster in the Mid-East"

Solomonia filmed and posted this live presentation from Boston on 14 October:

This is video of the event I attended last Wednesday evening with Prof. Barry Rubin, Director of the Global Research for International Affairs (GLORIA) Center; editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal.

If you've been reading what Rubin has been writing, you know how indispensable he is, and his oral presentation is just as good as his written. I love a guy who can get up on stage and speak without notes, and that's what he does here. Audio quality should be passable. Here is the Question and Answer period following his speech.

Rubin has a realist's view of events and antidotes where the word "realist" actually means something. This is well worth it.

Jews complete 3-weeks of penance on Shemini Atzeret / Hoshana Rabah - exclusive video

Jews around the world observed Hoshana Rabbah on Friday, 9 Oct. The day is known as the day of the final sealing of judgment for the coming year, which began on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, 3-weeks ago.

Prayer services at Los Angeles' Orthodox "Happy Minyan" were filled with pleas for forgiveness and blessing, as begun on Yom Kippur. Hoshana Rabbah marks the final day of the holiday of Sukkot, the Feast of the Tabernacles.

The modern day observance of the rituals of Hoshana Rabbah are reminiscent of the practices that existed in the times of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. During Sukkot, the four species (citron and woven lulav) are taken in a circuit around the synagogue once daily. On Hoshana Rabbah, there are seven circuits.

The priests carried the palm branches or willows in their hands. The entire ceremony is to demonstrate rejoicing and gratitude for a blessed and fruitful year.

Five willow branches are beaten on the ground or other surface to symbolize the elimination of sin. This is also symbolic as a prayer for rain and success in agriculture. According to the Kabbalah, beating the ground with the five willow branches is done to "Sweeten the Five Severities". There is no blessing said for this ritual, but the Aramaic expression "chabit, chabit velah barich" is chanted. This happens to be the oldest known Jewish custom (or Minhag) in Orthodox Judaism. (Source Wikipedia)

Today marks the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret - and tonight and Sunday, the celebration marking the completion of the annual cycle of temple-readings of the Torah - Simkhat Torah begins. Synagogues' Torahs are carried, kissed, and danced around the congregation (and sometimes overflowing into the streets).

The Torah's are scrolled back to the beginning - and the cycle of reading, worship, and study begins anew.

10,000 global Christians demonstrate solidarity with Israel - marching in Jerusalem's Sukkot parade

Thousands of Christians, along with Jews, marched in the annual Sukkot parade in Jerusalem Tuesday, despite the threat of Arab riots, protected by thousands of policemen. No incidents were reported along the parade route, although Arabs rioted in eastern Jerusalem. (Video courtesy Yerushalmit)


Christians interviewed by Israel National News TV all re-iterated their love Israel. “Praise the L-rd and thank the Israeli people for all they do; we love them," said one man with a distinct Southern drawl.

“We want you to know we are standing with you; we bless you and love you,” said another. One marcher from Europe commented, “I come from Austria and we want to show our solidarity for Israel.”

Several Englishwomen draped an American flag over their entire bodies during the march from the area of the Knesset to the Old City, which the Palestinian Authority is demanding as the capital of a new Arab country within Israel’s current borders.


One delegation beat drums for Israel while Asians sang the Hebrew song Shalom Aleichem. Other Christians wore T-shirts stating, “Prepare the Way for the King of Glory,” a proclamation that is typical of those that worry rabbis.

Christian fundamentalists’ support of a Jewish presence in all of Judea and Samaria often is met with skepticism by Jewish activists and rabbis, who fear that their real aim is to convert Jews.

The annual Sukkot march is organized by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem and marks the Biblical passages read in synagogues on Sukkot, which state that all nations will gather in Jerusalem.

The ICEJ promotional material sent to prospective participants in the 2009 event says, "We believe that celebrating the Feast each year honors the Lord in anticipation of the fulfillment of the words spoken by Zechariah (14:16) when 'the nations... shall come up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles."

Despite the Chief Rabbinate's opposition, Chief Rabbi of Efrat Shlomo Riskin, a former American, participated in events sponsored by the Christians. (Source: Israel National News, story by Tzvi ben Gedalyahu, video by Yoni Kempinski).

Who Shall Live . . .

(Courtesy Who Shall Live)

Video: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speech to U.N. on Sept 24th rips UN for Ahmadinejad "disgrace", Goldstone Report

"The U.N.'s most urgent challenge is to prevent Tehran tyrants from acquiring nuclear weapons"

In an impassioned speech to the UN General Assembly Thursday, Sept 24, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the United Nations' most important mission today is to prevent "the tyrants of Tehran" from acquiring nuclear weapons, because the marriage of religious fanaticism and weapons of mass destruction would endanger the world. Holding up the minutes of the Nazi leaders' 1942, decision to annihilate the Jewish people, Netanyahu said the man who called the Holocaust a lie also pledges to wipe out the state of the Jewish people, making a mockery of the UN Charter.

His statement, "We ask the Palestinians to recognize the nation-state of the Jewish people just as we recognize the Palestinian wish for a home of their own," won applause in the chamber. Netanyahu went on to say he believes the two peoples can live side by side in peace, prosperity and dignity, if there is security. Therefore the Palestinian state must be "effectively demilitarized."

The prime minister slammed the UN report which held Israel guilty of war crimes in its Gaza operation last January, accusing its authors of "equating terrorists and their victims." The world body never once condemned Hamas' eight-year rocket offensive against the Israeli population.

Israel must be sure the world body rejects this biased report before embarking on peace talks with the Palestinians, he said. "We must be sure the West Bank will never be another Gaza."

Israel wants peace and believes it is possible with good will and hard work, so long as "the world body fights terrorist forces and their backers and does not accommodate them."  (source DebkaFile)

Here is the video of PM Benjamin Netanyahu's address before the United Nations General Assembly today (in four parts, accessible under the second menu button from the left).


(Video courtesy Israel will stand alone)

The Jerusalem Post: Prime Minister Netanyahu rips UN for Ahmadinejad 'disgrace,' Goldstone report"

What a travesty!" Netanyahu said of the Goldstone Report. "The biased and unjust report provided a clear-cut test to all governments - will you stand with Israel or with the terrorists? We must know the answer to that question now - not later. If Israel is asked to take more risks for peace we must know today that you will stand with us tomorrow," said Netanyahu. "We can take further risks for peace only if we have confidence that we can defend ourselves."

The prime minister stressed that "All of Israel wants peace," noting that Israel made peace with Egypt and Jordan, and vowing that "If the Palestinians truly want peace, we will make peace. But we want a defensible peace, permanent peace."

"We ask the Palestinians to say yes to a Jewish state - as simple, as clear, as elementary as that. We are not foreign conquerors in the land of Israel. We are not strangers to this land - this is our homeland, but as deeply connected as we are to this place, we recognize that the Palestinians also live here and they want a home, we want to live side by side in peace, prosperity and dignity."