Lieberman versus Likud in a Nutshell

I listened very carefully to Avigdor Lieberman's press conference. As much as don't like the man, either he's a totally amazing actor, or he revealed his real dilemma, if you listen carefully.

Bibi learned how to stress his love of the Bible
and keep a kippah handy.

There is something very basic that holds Leberman back from fully assimilating into the world of Israeli Right wing politics. Unlike your typical Likudnik, Avigdor Lieberman is an avowed securlarist. He comes to his Rightist policies devoid of religion, spirituality and sentiment.

Lieberman is the product of Soviet Society and values. His discomfort and can we call it hatred of the chareidim is most like the Labor Zionists of old, the ones who assigned young religious new immigrants to secular boarding schools and proudly served ham on Yom Kippur.

voting for new 2019
Knesset Elections

voting for new 2019
Knesset Elections

The biggest difference between Lieberman and the early Leftist Zionists is that they, on the most part, came from a traditional Jewish world, and Lieberman didn't.

There are many ways of "dividing" Jewish Israeli society. For Lieberman, religion is a big factor. He is very blunt about not wanting the State of Israel to be ruled in any way by Halacha, Jewish Law. Lieberman's definition of Right doesn't seem to be based on anything, unlike dati leumi, religious nationalist, or your typical Likudnik who treasures the Bible and Jewish Tradition.

Lieberman's supporters are mostly Russian speakers, while the mainstay of Likud voters are Sefardim, descended from Jews who made aliyah from Arab and North African countries. The Likud also has support from those who follow Jabotinsky, aren't Histadrut socialists and those who consider the Etzel and Lechi the heroes of the struggle against the British Mandate.

I'm sure that Lieberman's supporters absolutely loved his press conference, and I'm just as sure that others are even less enthused, even where they may agree with some specific points.

Also many Israelis want a government that will unite us, not divide us. Avigdor Lieberman is a divisive politician, not a national leader. He is too Right wing for the secular Left and too secular for the Right. Although Lieberman has been in Israel for decades, he just doesn't understand Israelis.

Baruch Dayan Ha'Emet, Charley Levine, Z"L

cross-posted on me-ander

Yesterday, last night, before I went to sleep I got the bad news. G-d took Charley Levine to the big PR agency in Olam Haba, the Next World. It's hard to believe that Charley's body is dead.

PR leader Charley Levine dies at 62

Charley was a Betari, lover of Israel, devoted husband and father, Zionist, promoter of Israel and friend.

It's always hard to accept that a friend has died, especially someone younger and so professionally successful and inspiring.

When I finally decided to complete my university degree at the then Jerusalem branch of Empire State College, SUNY, I was told that I could get credits for "life experience," the professional skills I had picked up while living my life during the close to twenty years I hadn't been formally studying. Since I had become the de facto public relations representative of Shiloh, I needed someone with formal training and status to vet my knowledge so that SUNY would recognize it and give me college credit. I called Charley, who then had his CLC Charley Levine Communications, and Charley gave me of his time, support and wrote such a wonderful evaluation of my professional skills, knowledge and experience that they gave me a nice amount of academic credits. At that point in the 1980's, Charley was the premier American style public relations specialist. And he and his wonderful wife Shelly were our good friends.

Charley was loyal to his friends, so when Steve Leibowitz began American Football in Israel, Charley sponsored one of the first teams. If I remember correctly, it began with touch football. Charley was also the first Public Relations head for Nefesh B'Nefesh and recognized my blogging as journalism, which got me a place on two NBN flights. Those were amazing experiences for me.

I'm still in shock that Charley has passed away. I had been looking forward to the se'udat hodayah, the festive meal to celebrate his recovery. When we visited him in the hospital it seemed so certain that he would be fine. But I guess that G-d had other plans for the talented, dedicated and loyal Zionist Charley Levine, Z"L.

Here's Charley:

It Pays To Have Faith

I think I have been a Zionist all my life.

I remember at the age of seven.
I went around with those blue and white boxes to collect money
for Eretz Yisroel, and when I brought the box back to Hebrew
school and gave it to the teacher, she shook it and gave it
back to me saying, "fill it up!" They didn't waste boxes back
then. We listened to the teacher and you see - we have Eretz Yisroel.

A dream that came true.
We had faith.
So you see it paid to have faith.

I remember all those nickles and dimes that we had to
convert into dollars. I remember those comments people made
on the side. I remember pessimistic comments and those
who gave us generously and wished us good luck.

There were two kinds of people see. There were the positive kind
that encouraged us and the negative people that tried to defeat us
but couldn't. We have Eretz Yisroel.

So that's the difference between pessimism and optimism.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Sylvia Mandelbaum