Hamas War

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #19: Disgusting Condemnation by Biden and Schumer Expected, Because...Simple Math


Most Israelis are furious about the outrageously chutzpadik words of  US Senator Chuck Schumer, his unabashed interference in internal Israeli politics, which has been given full backing by US President Biden. Prime Minister Netanyahu, among others, are ranting that "we're not a banana republic" and other complaints.

But to be perfectly honest, Bibi's constant consultations with Biden, Blinken and other American officials during this dangerous war for our very survival made us looks weak and dependent. As a long-time Israeli, I felt embarrassed, and I'm not the only one. And worse than embarrassed, I felt endangered and then not surprised, as simple as 1+1=2, when the elected head of a country keeps taking advice from another country, he doesn't look like a strong, competent, sovereign leader, so why should he expect to be treated with respect?

Considering that the USA has never fought a war on its own territory for its very survival against terrorists who rape, decapitate etc, I don't see what expertise they have. And the minute Biden started talking about his plans for establishing "Palestine" sic in Israel after the war, Bibi should have cut off all contact. But that topic is for another war musing.

The truth is that the Democrats don't like Bibi and they never have. The Clintons loved Peres, and Obama couldn't even fake a smile when Bibi was in the same room. Biden has a ready smile, but it's fake. He knows the saying:

"You can get catch more flies with honey than vinegar.."

It makes Biden more dangerous, because people don't expect a knife in the back. And now Bibi got stabbed. 

Biden isn't the first American President to be involved with interfering in Israeli elections. Barack Obama's administration financially supported the "anyone but Bibi" crowd nine years ago. Follow the money... I have no doubt that American money has been supporting all of the anti- Bibi/Likud demonstrations which have plagued Israel for years. They've also been supporting the anti-Judicial Reform movement, even though the present Israeli judicial system goes against every fair proper justice principle American law demands. 

The only American President who has treated Israel with proper respect was Donald Trump, who couldn't/can't understand why American Jews continue to support the Democrats who have always treated Israel so poorly.

It's time for the State of Israel to cut its dependence on the United States. Every "gift" we get has strings attached which are really a noose. We get "shop in America only" shopping coupons. Other countries get actual money to spend wherever. These shopping coupons have weakened Israeli military industries. We could be exporting weapons all over the world. Instead we're begging the USA for more bombs. 

Enough is enough! Let's finally be a fully independent country. That's the only way we'll be safe and win this war. We don't need America! 

In 1967 we had no allies, and we won in six days. I remember it well. That's because Gd helped. Yes, simple math...

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #18: Demand to Force Draft of Chareidim is to Break Coalition

 

I love this set of three mugs which picture/symbolize the range of Jewish Israelis from non-religious old time kibbutznikim to chareidim. Am Yisrael Chai! The People of Israel Lives! Yachad Ninatze'ach! Together Victorious!

One of the most beautiful and encouraging things I've seen in this horrifying war for the State of Israel's very survival has been the involvement of all sectors of Israeli society, and that does include chareidim. 

In the more than half a century I've lived in Israel, there has been a steady, quiet change in the involvement of chareidim with the rest of Israeli society. Today Israelis of all levels of Torah observance enjoy the services of various gmachim like Yad Sarah and first aid services established by chareidim. As strictly Shabbat observant chareidim are, those who are in first aid and emergency services keep their phones on 24/7, so they were among the first to try to rescue the dead and wounded in southern Israel on that nightmarish Simchat Torah on October 7, 2023. This was even before the army had gotten themselves organized. And, yes, if you're wondering, ambulance crews were murdered, too. 

Within days of the start of the war, Hamas trying to destroy Israel, many chareidim made their way to the IDF offices to sign up and join the army. Joining the army is a process, since recruits and volunteers must be assessed to see their abilities to find the most suitable unit. Newspapers and television news showed them lined up waiting their turn for assessment. It certainly made me feel good. And to make it clear, I'm not at all chareidi. It's not my cup of tea.

As this war has dragged on, one of the most comforting thing has been seeing the volunteerism in Israeli society. Yes, that includes chareidim among others coming to the hotels where Israelis who had to leave their homes were staying, and bringing them supplies, toys, doing people's laundry and more. Yachad Ninatzeach UNITED WE WIN!

So why did Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suddenly make a speech demanding an end to the army exemption for yeshiva students*? With his army experience he must certainly know that angry resentful people make for terrible soldiers! And why now, in the middle of a war for the country's survival would he want to shake up Israeli society in such a way?

No doubt Gallant wants to break up the coalition, which simply put is Likud plus dati leumi (national religious) and chareidi parties.

Considering that a sizable portion of Likud MKs are either religious or traditional, I guess Gallant feels like a fish out of water. Has he made a deal with another political party....? Considering Benny Gantz's unauthorized trip to the USA... something stinks for sure.

*Despite the exemption, chareidim do serve in the army in various roles, and numbers have been growing. 

Monday, March 4, 2024

Guest Post: The Intentional Silence re: Crimes Against Jewish Women by Hamas, October, 2023



Subject: The intentional silence of UN Women Geneva regarding the crimes against humanity perpetrated against Jewish women: brutal rapes, torture, kidnapping and murder that happened on Oct 7 2023, and thereafter in Israel and Gaza. 

Dear ladies of the UN Women’s European and Asian Organization and sister organizations,

I am contacting  your organization at the Geneva email address as I could find no other address for you. If you would please forward this letter to your sister organizations, it would kindly be appreciated 

The purpose of this letter is to ask why the EU Women European and Asian Organization, and sister organizations, remained radio silent for nearly two months after the October 7th massacre? Your embarrassingly late response was made on December 2, 2023.

Your international organization represents all women, and underage girls, regardless of race and creed; you are their megaphone for crimes they suffer now, and suffered. 

Your deafening silence, in my humble opinion, is open -in -your -face antisemitism/Jew hatred. I’m not at all surprised, since the UN has been most unfair in their many resolutions against Israel over the decades

I ask you now, where was your collective voice and outrage that day, and the  immediate days to follow? Not a word. No indignation? No concern whatsoever for your fellow sisters? I question your motivations It was, in my humble opinion, not a bureaucratic error. No, it was intentional. Crimes against women and young girls: the human trafficking, raping, murder, child pornography, sex slavery, child endangerment (selling children for sex) and  kidnappings are called crimes against humanity, as defined by the UN. 

Your organization analyzes and makes recommendations to assist female victims of sex crimes, such as those listed above. You have, for decades, addressed these horrific crimes. I must ask why not for Jewish women?

I recently went on your website and found dozens upon dozens of articles and in depth studies pertaining to atrocities suffered by women of all ages from various countries around the world. What I found most interesting , when pursuing one of your websites, was an extensive and detailed study about the effects of the war on Gazan women. There was a substantial collection of colorful photos, all documenting the carnage in northern Gaza. I then searched through many of recent online publications on the UN Women websites. What I discovered was upsetting-that there is not one study or in depth report on the events of Oct 7th, and thereafter 

That these online reports are published monthly gives me pause. The butchery and barbarism that occurred was no where to be found. I must have read 15 articles and websites. I was saddened and at the same time angered to learn that basically the lives of these women just don’t matter in your organization’s opinion. That Jewish women, who had been raped, mutilated, and some brutally murdered, some beheaded, in some cases burned, not addressed at all by your org. Is disturbing and insulting to those women. And to all of us.

Your agency receives hundreds of millions of dollars from the US. Over the past decade, billions have been donated. And it’s my tax dollars paying your salaries

The hostages are still in Gaza. What are your people doing about it? I see you doing zilch. There are still 14 women presently held by Hamas. Negotiations to release them thus far have been fruitless. Where are your demands to have them released? Again, all is quiet on the home front

Only when you were publicly embarrassed, and basically called out on the carpet by the hostage families, PM Netanyahu and President Biden, distinguished Jewish leaders, and hundred of Christian and Jewish communities, did you finally respond. And the statement given was generic and lackluster.   

Some of the hostages are now home with loved ones. But there are grave concerns that some women may have been impregnated. Imagine, if you will, having to make a “Sophie’s Choice” decision, whether to keep the baby or abort? Can you imagine the psychological damages these women now suffer, and the nightmarish memories they will carry for the rest of their lives. What if it had been your daughters, or family members? Imagine. 

I read that your organization has plans to conduct investigations of the women that were held in captivity. That you even question the testimonies of these survivors is disgusting and reprehensible. There have already been several investigations by Israeli and US agencies and journalists. Question: do you doubt their stories. 

As you know, there are hundreds of videos, made by Hamas that were published in the media. One particular Arab “Telegram” channel published the more graphic and grotesque imagery. One was of a woman’s severed breast being tossed about like a ping pong ball. There were photos of women’s bodies with mutilated sex organs. These Hamas monsters were heard laughing in their videos. 

The most widely publicized video clip is of a young woman being shoved into a white van, the back of her pants bloodied. One can only imagine what was done to her. Later, it was discovered she was beheaded. 

I remember, and still see on television, a scene with a beautiful, terrorized young woman, being carried off on a motorcycle to Gaza. I also remember an elderly woman , known as grandma, kidnapped, and riding towards Gaza in a jeep. I’m sure many of you saw these images too. They were reported on all major media ( BBC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, Newsmax, New York Times , Guardian, US News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Jerusalem Post —international edition, and countless other news outlets. And still, you believe it necessary to conduct a separate investigation? Shame on you. 

I am a former member of an internationally recognized womens rights organization, NOW, who still unnervingly remain silent. I became a member way back when, in the early seventies. I have now cancelled my membership, and I will be sending them a similar letter. I will also pursue other notable women like Oprah, Michelle Obama, Barbara Streisand and well known so called women’s rights activists and influencers who have yet to speak out. You would think any decent woman with a heart would have something to say. Right?

I believe it is incumbent upon your organization, in order to redeem your now sullied reputation, to announce publicly your unequivocal support for Israel and their war to totally destroy Hamas and their terror machine. That means no end to the war until the job is finished. That means no ceasefires.

I will make a suggestion: from now on going forward, you will include in your many online journals and reports, the stories of the Jewish women who were brutally victimized, and include the many well established facts on the ground that have been compiled, as to what actually happened Oct. 7th and thereafter.

I do believe, in my heart of hearts, that you will simply laugh at, or ignore this letter. Nevertheless, as a proud Jewish woman and ardent Zionist, I feel it is my obligation and duty to speak up. I will not remain silent in the face of what happened to these women. Silence by the UN is disgraceful. It’s gross dishonesty and is moral bankruptcy. 
Shame on the UN. 

NEVER AGAIN!

Respectfully, 

Deborah Bee 

Deborah Bee: I am a wife, mother, grandmother and freelance writer residing  in the US.  I am an ardent Zionist who firmly believes that Israel and Judea Samaria are the eternal homeland of the Jewish people, and will always be, God willing. 

Friday, March 1, 2024

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #17: Bibi, Who's Minding the Store?

 


Before I get started with this post, I really recommend that you watch listen to Caroline Glick. Here she's exposing important facts/truth about American Politics and some very fishy stuff about American interference in what's happening here in Israel, especially its connections with the Gazan Hamas terrorists and more. Get comfortable and listen, please. 


This morning's bad news, just hours after two innocent Jews were murdered by Arab terrorists a couple of miles from my house, is the shock that convicted Arab terrorists were released from jail. The Jerusalem Post article didn't give a number, but Arutz 7 said "dozens." Of course I have no idea.

What made the biggest impression on me was what was said on the radio that nobody is taking responsibility for the decision, especially Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu. Before the war, scandalous news was that prison directors had been assigning young females to the terrorist wing, and the women were raped. Something definitely stinks in that branch of the prisons, and I'm not talking about the loo.

The decision to release these terrorists is bad enough, but for me the lack of leadership and responsibility from the Prime Minister reminds me of all the stories about how our security forces pooh poohed reports of imminent Gaza Hamas attack, neither raising security, nor consulting with the PM. What's going on? Who's the boss? Something stinks for sure.

Heads should have rolled, as the expression goes. Lots of top "head" people in the defense establishment of Israel should have been fired and replaced with those out of the establishment. Netanyahu has not been acting as a strong leader. That's for sure, and it's very worrying.

Prime Minister Netanyahu's weakness is also apparent with his kowtowing to America's Biden, Blinken and other foreign leaders. 

Israel is all alone. The "advice," or to be more accurate DEMANDS of international leaders and bodies that we treat this war for Israel survival as a sports game. Why haven't we condemned the demands that we protect so-called "innocent" civilians? No doubt that If The WW2 Allies Had Fought Morally, Nazis and Japanese Would have Won... A simple NO! NEVER! would have stopped all the pressure. The "nicer" we are the more the pressure. 

We definitely should have demanded that the International Red Cross take a list of all of our missing and investigate who's alive, dead, injured, ill and missing. Israel should be the one making demands!!! Our Magen David Adom should have demanded to be part of the delegation with full protection. If these things hadn't been done, then we could have been totally justified in condemning the International Red Cross. 

I don't know what's really going on with Bibi, but ever since I heard him, in person, at the International Bloggers Conference in the summer of 2008, I lost my confidence in him. Then he told us that when he returns to the position as Prime Minister, he'd do it as a "centrist," and that's what he has been. Even now in the midst of this dangerous war for Israel's survival, he has sent our IDF soldiers to destroy new Jewish communities, and the army has practiced how to deal with various acts of Jewish terror, as if that's a reasonable possibility. But they weren't prepared for a multi-targeted invasion of southern Israel, which DID HAPPEN!

I don't accept any denials that "Bibi didn't know." Again I ask: Who's the boss?

US President Harry Truman is known to have said: The buck stops here! That's the type of leadership we need ASAP!

What do you think?

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #16 Israel's Victory Sabotaged by The USA-- OF COURSE WE SHOULD JUST SAY NO!

 



Deja Vu!

American interference in Israel's WAR FOR SURVIVAL against Hamas/Gaza is dangerous and deceitful. The USA doesn't want us to win. It wants us to beg and then crumble as the Americans set up an Arab terror state in Israel's historic heartland. 

I find it totally insanely preposterous that the State of Israel thinks that the USA knows more about winning wars than we do. They haven't actually won a war for close to eighty 80 years, and World War Two would have dragged on for many more years -if not longer- if they hadn't dropped the bomb.

The two greatest and most unexpected victories in the twentieth century were Israel's The IDF's, in the 1967 Six Days War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. I'm not exaggerating. And to be honest, Israel almost lost in 1973, because the USA leaders kept lying and misleading Israel. Read Deceit of an Ally and listen to Bruce Brill


During the Yom Kippur War I was a young mother of two living in Jerusalem, and as I listened to the news and read the paper I became convinced that something was wrong. Prime Minister Golda Meir seemed addicted to consulting with America, especially Henry Kissinger who seemed to have too much influence on our -meaning the Israeli- government. I had this awful feeling that Kissinger and Nixon, who had been US President at the time, had envisioned Israel becoming too weak to win and then agree on being a "protectorate" of the USA. Then Kissinger would come to "lead/save" us. 

A couple of decades later I discovered from various sources that my suspicions were pretty close to the truth. America knew about the war well before the first bullet was fired, and they continuously told Israel that they shouldn't go on alert, because the Arabs weren't planning any attack.

Here we are fifty 50 years later, and again it seems obvious that the United States is interfering, trying to sabotage Israel's success in this war for our very survival. Unfortunately in the past half century, we've become more dependent on getting shopping coupons aka "gift cards" tied with noose-like strings for American military equipment. Even some of our own military inventions need parts from the states, which we can't even buy without the American "approval." We must totally wean ourselves from the USA. 

The American State Department has always been against Israel and had recommended to Harry Truman not to vote for Israeli statehood. Truman disagreed and had his ambassador vote "yes" at the United Nations.

More recently, the USA has interfered in Israeli elections by supporting the Leftist parties, and more recently it has been shown that all sorts of foreign money has been supporting the anti-Bibi, anti-judicial reform and get the hostages out NOW movements. Once the USA opened up and stated that they were planning on establishing an Arab country, which they'd call Palestine" in the Heartland of Israel, it became clear that the war was part of the plan. The Americans must have had this planned and knew it could only happen if they weakened Israel first. This is my gut feeling. I can't prove it yet, but it makes sense to me.

The bottom line is that we shouldn't trust America. They speak with "forked tongue" like the bad guys in old cowboy movies.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Nothing's New! אין חדש תחת השמש These Old Buttons Say It Best

Who should be edited in over Yitzchak Rabin*? 

I suggest one of the "NOW" leaders. Basically whoever (among Israelis) is pushing a "deal" with the Hamas/Gazans instead of defeating them, until they beg us to stop. 

We must stop begging!!!!!


Israel's demand re: the hostages, most who have been imprisoned by Hamas/Gaza must be LET MY PEOPLE GO, not LET'S MAKE A DEAL. Negotiation, making a deal just makes danger, bad business and, as we saw with the Gilad Shalit fiasco, more kidnapped Israelis. 

*The Oslo disaster is one of the causes of today's Hamas/Gaza war against Israel.

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Book Review: Brother's Keeper-A Comic Book about an Old War... And a New One


As Israel is in the middle of its most difficult -and long- war since the War for Independence in 1948, I must say that the timing of Brother's Keeper by Arnon Z. Shorr is beyond perfect. 

When I first read it, I knew that I needed to involve children in the review, but then it took me awhile to find the right kids and get their parents' permission.

Brother's Keeper is based on a true story about Shorr's grandfather who had been seriously wounded in the battle for Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and survived. Today Kibbutz Ramat Rachel is a suburb of Jerusalem. Click here for Shorr's story about writing Brother's Keeper.

In many ways, Brother's Keeper reads like a classic short story, which makes it a good book to be used in the classroom for teaching literature in English speaking countries, or English as a foreign language where needed. I'm sure that my yeshiva high school students, during my teaching days, would have enjoyed the story and learned additional English vocabulary at the same time. No doubt many would have shared their own family stories. 

Brother's Keeper is a good history book for youngsters. It should be bought by schools, if not to be used in the classroom, at least available in the library. And of course, it's an excellent gift for children, both boys and girls. As you can see in the sample page, the illustrations aren't childish, and neither is the story.

Definitely, during these difficult times, we all need to read such positive stories. The added bonus is that it's a true story.



The Hebrew version of the book available as an e-book on Amazon

In the US, physical copies can be ordered here: http://tinyurl.com/brotherskeepercomic 

All over the world, the eBook is available here: https://amzn.to/48E6OtJ 

For educators, we’ve prepared an educator’s guide: http://tinyurl.com/brotherskeeperedguide

For more purchase information, click here.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #15 If The WW2 Allies Had Fought Morally, Nazis and Japanese Would have Won..

 If The WW2 Allies Had Fought Morally, The Nazis and Japanese Would have Won The War

Graves in Shiloh Cemetery, not of soldiers killed in
Hamas-Gaza War  5784

Our Soldiers Shouldn't Die in Vain!

There's a major disconnect between our IDF soldiers on the ground, doing the fighting, and the upper echelons making policy, the government and top officers.

Our IDF soldiers are the best in the world. First of all, most are civilians now serving in the reserves. They've left their families, studies, jobs, businesses, and too many have lost their lives. Their successes in battle are future books and movies.

There's only one problem. The government is weak, groveling to foreign countries and worse. With all the rumors of a "break in fighting," as if it's half time in a football game, releasing terrorists, lots and lots of terrorists from Israeli jails to free a few hostages

The State of Israel is also giving fuel, food and other supplies to Gaza. That makes them stronger and more confident fighting against us.

Even more incomprehensible, the State of Israel is warning Gazans before destroying buildings, so "innocent civilians" won't be injured. Now, do you really think the terrorists stay in the buildings to die? A bigger question is: Are there any innocent civilians? They voted in Hamas. They were part of the attack on Israel's south, raping, murdering, stealing valuables. Remember that they were instrumental in giving Hamas all the important information which made the attack so easy. These "innocent civilians" pretended to be friends with the gullible, peace-loving Israelis. Remember that terrorists don't wear uniforms. They look like regular civilians.

Some Israelis, including top army officers and government ministers are proudly bragging that "there was never an army more moral than the IDF."

Moral? 
  • What's moral about endangering our soldiers? 
  • Wasting our ammunition? 
  • Feeding our enemies while battles are still raging? 
  • Giving the enemy time to rearm? 
Yes, no other country has ever done such a thing! But it's bad! It's dangerous! Not only does it endanger our soldiers and civilians, it makes it impossible to win the war. Yes, I've said it!!!

Look at history. Can you imagine if during World War Two the allies had warned the Nazis before bombing? Thrown food packages, rather than bombs on Japan? I know know what would have happened. Today we'd be speaking German and Japanese, because they would have won the war.

Don't let our soldiers die in vain and don't cause the defeat of the State of Israel. The United States wants to rule here, which was their plan in 1973. Yes, it's the truth. I suspected it then and over the years learned that my gut was right. It has been confirmed by a few sources, among them Deceit of an Ally by Bruce Brill. 

US President Biden has been very up front about saying that the USA plans on sponsoring/supporting/establishing a "Palestinian State" in the middle of Israel when the war ends. All the "aid" we get is payment/bribery for this. It's a way of controlling the State of Israel. And if you've been following what's happening in the world you know that "from the river to the sea..." is a popular slogan. People all over the world unabashedly demand that Israel cease to exist! 

The Davidka, Israeli made weapon from our War of Independence 75 years ago

Over the years, Israel gave up the attempt to be self-suffiecnt in producing military equipment arms. Even our own inventions, things we still produce need certain parts from the USA, and we have to follow their rules/policies to buy them. We can't even sell those weapons to a foreign country without American approval. 

Bit by bit we've been giving up our sovereignty. We were stronger when we had no allies. That's how/why Gd joined us in 1967 in the super miraculous, legendary Six Days War!!!

Let's fight to win!

Tell Biden and others to butt out. That's the only way we'll really survive! I have no doubt that when foreign countries see us strong and ignoring them, they will give up. That's the only way we'll win and survive. We have no choice. Right now the terrorists and our other enemies are laughing at us, because we're trying to be nice, instead of fighting to win.

Gd willing our Israeli Government will get WISDOM, STRENGTH and that's how we'll win. 

Monday, January 22, 2024

Guest Post: A Self-Destructive Jewish Majority (Parshat Beshalah) by By JJ Gross

A self-destructive Jewish majority (Parshat Beshalah) 

by By JJ Gross

It was recently discovered that a Brooklyn public school, which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Qatari government, has – for 12 years ­– been featuring a map of the Middle East on which Israel does not exist. The map, which was provided by the Qataris, shows only a country called Palestine. The map was a teaching tool in an “Arab arts class” that is taught by an Arab woman named Rita Lahoud

One can wonder why a New York City public elementary school would have an Arab Arts class in the first place. But then, there is no limit to the extent of the Qatari infiltration of American education. Entire universities have been effectively taken over by Qatari-funded “Near Eastern Studies” departments in a barely disguised, and hugely successful, effort to occupy the minds and agendas of vulnerable college students.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed the result of this Qatari investment, as America’s most prestigious campuses have emerged as hotbeds of virulent antisemitism and vociferous support for Hamas and its murderous rampage of October 7th.

But what is perhaps most horrifying – but hardly surprising – about this ongoing call for Jewish blood and the dismemberment of the Jewish State, is the significant leadership presence of activists who are not only Jewish, but who claim to be acting against Israel BECAUSE they are Jewish.

Indeed there are entire Jewish organizations – all of them well funded by Jewish donors like George Soros – whose sole raison d’etre is to wage war against Israel. These organizations come replete with their own ordained rabbis, men and women who are members in good standing of liberal Jewish synagogue organizations. These include Jewish Voice for Peace, If Not Now, Truah and Bend the Arc – representing tens of thousands of Jews who truly hate Israel and seek its total annihilation.

The cancer of Jewish self-destruction is hardly limited to the college campus and Gens X and Z.

In the case of Public School 261 in Brooklyn, according to the New York Times:

“ ‘It would be devastating if the (Arab Arts) program were cut,’ Lauren Katzman, the mother of a first grader said. Last week, a broad group of parents, teachers and staff members issued a statement calling for protection of a program that honors the “diversity and Arab heritage of the Boerum Hill neighborhood.” More than 240 people had signed it. Ms. Katzman was among 16 Jewish parents who drafted a separate letter a few days later in a similar vein …”

Yes, it was Jewish mothers and fathers who were loudest in the call to protect Arab studies at their children’s public school. Rest assured there is no parallel Jewish studies program in that school, nor any call for one.

What does all this have to do with Parshat Beshalah? Actually everything. Because the situation in Egypt at the time of the Exodus some 3,000 years ago was very much the same as it is today in the western Diaspora.

It is abundantly clear from the text of all the parshiyot from Vayehi through Beshalah, that the idea of Jewish national redemption was anathema to most, if not all, Israelites living in Egypt.

When the Bnei Israel traveled en masse for the burial of Yaakov in Eretz Israel, they returned to Egypt en masse as well. Despite the fact that the famine had ended, and that Yosef’s status was diminishing rapidly, it occurred to none of them to remain in their ancestral home. Egypt was where they wanted to be.

Now, 210 years later, the idea of national redemption had gained little, if any, traction. Even the midrash – and I rarely reference midrash – tells how only 20% of the Israelites followed Moshe, while the rest – 80% of Bnei Israel – chose to remain behind.

One can readily surmise that the 20% who did leave Mitzrayim were hardly the more successful strata of Egyptian-Israelite society. They were not the corporate lawyers, Wall Street executives, successful surgeons, and movie and media elites of Egypt.

And even the lowest rungs of the social ladder needed the manifestation of miracles and plagues to convince them to leave, so thoroughly Egyptianized were they.

I would take it one step further. Not only did the overwhelming majority of Bnei Israel refuse to leave Egypt, they did everything in their power to prevent, persecute and pursue the small minority who did choose to go. The Israelite majority were not merely indifferent to Redemption and national resurgence, they were actively hostile to it – much as so many American Jewish elitists are today.

The Torah says

וְאָמַ֤ר פַּרְעֹה֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְבֻכִ֥ים הֵ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ סָגַ֥ר עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הַמִּדְבָּֽר
And Pharaoh  said to the Bnei Israel, they are lost in the land,
the desert has closed them in
(Shemot 14:3)

I believe Pharaoh was literally speaking TO the majority of Bnei Israel who stayed behind and were goading him against their own people (and not, as Rashi tries to explain, that the ל in לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  mean  “of" rather than "to".) And, no doubt, the most rabid pursuers of the Israelites who were camped at the edge of the Red Sea were the the Israelite majority -- who were so in love with Egyptian culture, so patriotic, and so hostile to their own identity.

As the prophet Yeshayahu famously says:

מִֽהֲר֖וּ בָּנָ֑יִךְ מְהָֽרְסַ֥יִךְ וּמַֽחֲרִיבַ֖יִךְ מִמֵּ֥ךְ יֵצֵֽא
Your children rush; your destroyers and those who lay waste to you will come from you.
(Yeshayahu 49:17)

We have seen this over and over again throughout our history. As the famous cartoon character Pogo says, “ We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

provided by JJ Gross
It is time to wake up and realize that our most dangerous enemy is not Iran, or Hamas, or Hizbullah or the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. It is our own people who have become so alienated from themselves, so ignorant and indifferent to the lessons of Jewish history, so addicted to diaspora culture – Egyptian then, American and British, and French today – that they not only choose to disappear, but they insist on harming the rest of us even as they hasten to demographic oblivion.

JJ Gross- New York born and Jerusalem based,  JJ Gross is a veteran blogger at Times of Israel which refuses to publish this posting.  His focus is primarily, but not exclusively, on the parsha. 

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Letter to Jerusalem Post -Close, but no Cigar- "Five Words for When the War Ends"

In last week's Jerusalem Post, there was an article, Five words for when the war ends, that almost hit the nail on the head, but the writer wanted the head to also hit the nail. That's why the writer, Sherwin Pomerantz doesn't get "the cigar."

On one hand he admits that he and his fellow "dreamers" should admit that they made mistakes in supporting dangerous policies, like Disengagement, trusting the PA to govern properly and the Oslo Accords. Yes, Pomerantz admits that they should say those "five words:" 

"I'm sorry, you were right."

Unfortunately, after that he wants us to say those words, too, for... honestly, I can't figure out what we did wrong. The latest government coalition finally began to act against the judicial dictatorship proposing judicial reform. Pomerantz blames us for causing the demonstrations against the reform, even though he admits in his article that the judicial needed to be reined in:

"On this same subject, the leadership of Israel’s Supreme Court in the years prior to 2022 also needs to say to all of us, “I’m sorry, you were right!” Their arrogating power to themselves to regularly override the prerogative of the elected representatives of the people to make laws was, in itself, a festering wound that culminated in the push by the Right last year to “take the country” back at they liked to say."

Pomerantz claims that the pro Judicial Reform demonstrations made Israel look weak and vulnerable which caused the Hamas terrorists to attack on October 7. He totally ignores that his friends, the "dreamers," had been calling for reservists, pilots and ordinary soldiers to refuse their army duty. That gave the terrorists the confidence to attack. He and his "dreamer" friends caused us to experience a nightmare that isn't over yet after over 100 days!

Why did the Jerusalem Post publish such a piece?

Here's the letter I wrote to the Jerusalem Post. So far it hasn't been published, and I don't know if it will be. I probably should have saved and edited it the next day to make it clearer and reread the article another few times:

Sherwin Pomerantz almost gets it, OK let's say partially gets it. I have a decade more than him here in Israel, which I'm mentioning, since he made a point saying that he's here forty years in the blurb identifying who he is and why he considers himself qualified to voice these opinions. 
Pomerantz starts off very well admitting that he and his fellow travelers erred in supporting Disengagement, trusted the PA to develop a Singapore in Gaza and thought the Oslo Accords something wonderful should say to those of us who disagreed:
"I'm sorry, you were right."
But then he shows that he still doesn't get it. He can't get a handle the importance of Judicial Reform on the unjust justice system here where, as we just saw in the recent high court action, eight unelected "justices" claim the right to overrule/veto the votes of millions of Israelis, because of politics-- OK they used a euphemism "reasonableness," meaning they just don't agree with the ideology. He's blaming brave Yariv Levin and other coalition MKs who were sent by Prime Minister Netanyahu to Reform the Judicial System, without the backup of Bibi's legendary oratory skills and hasbara. (My guess is that they had been sent to fail, but that would be the topic of a longer letter or an op-ed or whatever.)
It's unreasonable and unrealistic to think that those who control our Department of Justice will voluntarily agree to follow the law, the rule of the Knesset.
The anti-reform demonstrations were funded and led by the same --follow the money-- as those who funded the "crime minister" anti-Bibi demonstrations a few years before. It was the anti-reform and anti-religious demonstrators that were tearing the country apart, like they ripped the prayer books on Yom Kippur. This was not the fault of the government.
And I hate to break it to Pomerantz, but our President Herzog's job is not to be the "national leader." It's more like an American Vice President for formal things and meeting ambassadors. When Biden gave great honors to Herzog during his visit, while pointedly refusing to invite Bibi, it was a diplomatic insult to our PM, actually interfering with internal Israeli affairs. 
Just to clarify, I'm not a Bibiist and didn't vote Likud. I think that his time to retire has long passed. There are many talented potential national leaders in the coalition.

 


 

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #14 Read & Follow The Bible Tanach

This is basically a quick continuation of my previous War Musing, War Musings #13 We're All Hostages of Hamas, Dangerous Faux Morality & Pressures.

First I'd like to remind everyone that not a single solitary country, besides Israel follows the "war morality" that protects its enemies at the expense/endangerment of its soldiers and civilians. Honestly, I don't mind our being unique or first in some things, but being the one and only in this category is stupidly suicidal, not moral. The Nazis and Japanese would have won World War Two if the Allies had followed such rules.

Considering that Hamas attacked when Israeli society had been severely weakened by dissention, internal problems, makes it most similar the the Biblical Amalek. Amalek attacked the rear, the weak, like the terrorist Hamas. 

Israel's weakest border is/was the southern one with small communities populated by "peaceniks" who were so trusting of their Gazan neighbors that many didn't even have armed local self-defense staff. Many residents trusted their friends on the other side of the border. Afterwards, these friends were recognized in the security films of the surprise attack...

Biblical King Saul, the first Jewish king was ordered by Gd to kill of a Amalek, men, women and children, plus to destroy all of their animals. Saul lost the kingship, because he didn't obey those orders.

Earlier in the biblical narrative we hear Abraham debating with Gd about the destruction of two evil cities. Abraham, like many modern Israelis, worried about the "innocent civilians" who'd be harmed. Gd challenged Abraham to find a number of innocents, my version here, so they could be saved. In the end, not even a minimum amount of innocents were found, and the cities were destroyed. The only survivors were Abraham's relative Lot, plus Lot's wife and two daughters. When the wife looked back, she, too, was killed by Gd.

End of Bereishit Genesis Chapter 18


I Samuel 15

To me, these two stories should be taken very seriously as Gd's instructions today.