Category Archives: Uncategorized

Our Reform Movement Condemns Bibi’s Decision to Bring Kahanists into his Coalition

28 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by in Ethics, Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Jewish Identity, Social Justice, Uncategorized

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“The Reform Movement strongly condemns the recent initiative of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring loyalists of racist Rabbi Meir Kahane into the Knesset. Those who espouse an ideology of hate, intolerance, and incite violence have no place in the Jewish State let alone in her government.” — The Reform Movement released a new statement this morning on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Initiative to Bring the Racist Otzma Yehudit Party into the Government.

For full statement, go to – https://bit.ly/2Xxa1Yi

Bezalel – Judaism’s First Artist

28 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by in American Jewish Life, Art, Divrei Torah, Inuyim - Prayer reflections and ruminations, Musings about God/Faith/Religious life, Uncategorized

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On the face of it, the verses from this week’s Torah portion Vayakehl describe the matter-of-fact building of a movable edifice. But this isn’t merely an architectural plan. It’s a description of the highest aesthetic vision of the ancient Israelites, a standard that would impress itself upon the hearts, minds, and souls of generations of Jews to come…

Not just any craftsman could design and build this sacred structure. Only someone with the right qualities of heart, mind, soul, skill, and communal attitude could do the job, qualities spelled out in the text.

To read the entire d’var Torah, go to https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/bezalel-judaisms-first-artist/

My blessing for Pearl Berg at her 109th Birthday – updated in 2022

17 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in American Jewish Life, Health and Well-Being, Life Cycle, Uncategorized

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Pearl Berg's 109th birthday
At the end of an amazing Shabbat morning service at Temple Israel of Hollywood that celebrated my 30th and final year as Senior Rabbi, I had the honor of invoking a blessing upon Pearl Berg who celebrated on February 14 her 109th birthday! [Pearl’s actual birthday was 3 months earlier – on October 1, 1909 – a story in and of itself]
She still knows what’s going on and knew me immediately.
Her son, Robert, told me that on her 107th birthday the family invited KTLA television to interview her. The anchor asked: “Mrs. Berg – how were you able to reach 107 years?”
She answered: “First, you have to reach 106 years!”
I told her that she should live to 120! She said “Please no!” The room cracked up!
She’s still got “IT!”
Notes: As of October 13, 2022, Pearl is still alive and well making her now 113 years old.
Pearl is listed as the 12th oldest American as of this date and the 2nd oldest Californian. She is likely the oldest Jewish person in California and, possibly, the oldest Jew in America – https://gerontology.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_oldest_living_people_in_the_United_States
See article in the Jewish Journal – October 2022 – for the full story of Pearl’s life – https://jewishjournal.com/cover_story/352205/cover-story-113-year-old-pearl-berg-may-be-the-oldest-jew-in-the-world/

If Howard Schultz runs as an independent for President, a national boycott of Starbucks ought to be the consequence

29 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in American Politics and Life, Uncategorized

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Howard Schultz, should he run for President as an Independent, would likely take more Democratic votes away from the Democratic nominee than from the Republican Trump, and that could be the difference that elects Donald Trump to a second term.

Schultz should run, if he wants, as a Democrat. That he wants to do so as an Independent is not only self-centered and likely to be a failure (no Independent candidate has ever won for President including Teddy Roosevelt in 1912 – remember John Anderson in 1980 and Ross Perot in 1992), but it’s a cowardly act because, in my view, it seems that he doesn’t want to run competitively in the primaries against other far more politically experienced than him, despite running an international company with a strong concern for ethics and fair treatment of employees.

I hope that Schultz decides to drop this potentially disastrous run and do the responsible thing – step aside altogether or run as a Democrat in the primaries just like the 20 or so other potential candidates will do.

If he runs as an Independent, I will never step foot in a Starbucks again – and neither should any of us because we will likely be able to blame him for a 2nd Trump term!

Correction to my blog characterizing IfNotNow as a pro-Israel organization

22 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in American Politics and Life, Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Jewish Identity, Uncategorized

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In my blog at the Times of Israel I mischaracterized IfNotNow.
 
IfNotNow takes no position on Zionism or a Jewish state. Not taking a position is not support. The best that one can say about IfNotNow is that it is neutral, but that doesn’t put it in the Zionist camp.

Why “Jewish Voice for Peace” is anti-Jewish

20 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in American Jewish Life, Human rights, Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Jewish Identity, Uncategorized

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It is clear from the statement and video (see link) that “Jewish Voice for Peace” (JVP) is an anti-Zionist and anti-Israel group that distorts Israel’s history to justify its antipathy to Zionism and Israel, attacks Israel’s mission as a Jewish and democratic state, and chooses facts selectively while providing no historical or political context to its assertions.

…. JVP is not only anti-Zionist and anti-Israel, but because it denies the right of the Jewish people to a state of our own, it qualifies as anti-Jewish.

For the full statement see my blog at the Times of Israel – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-jewish-voice-for-peace-is-anti-jewish/

 

Human Rights Organizations appeal to Israeli government to stop the deportation of refugees to Congo

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Ethics, Human rights, Israel/Zionism, Jewish Identity, Social Justice, Uncategorized

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….Over the past two decades, a few hundred asylum seekers fleeing war and persecution in the DRC have come to Israel. Immediately upon their arrival most filed requests for political asylum, but the Ministry of Interior affairs has never reviewed them. Nevertheless, to Israel’s credit, for more than 15 years Israel has carried out a policy of group protection for the Congolese who reside in Israel legally and have been given the chance to rebuild their lives.

However, on November 7, 2018 without any change in conditions in the DRC, the Ministry of Interior placed a notice on its website that it intends to withdraw group protection from the Congolese community. The decision was based on a secret assessment drawn up by the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs that they deliberately kept from the public and which stands in contradiction to reports from reliable sources and by the international press that conditions remain dire in the Congo. Nothing there has changed.

For the complete story, please click onto my blog at the Times of Israel:

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/human-rights-organizations-appeal-to-stop-the-deportation-of-refugees-to-congo/ .

In defense of J Street – Why the facts might change your mind

28 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in American Jewish Life, American Politics and Life, Human rights, Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Jewish History, Jewish Identity, Social Justice, Uncategorized

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I write to address directly the constant sniping from pro-Israel right-wing rabbis and activists who repeatedly criticize J Street without knowledge of the facts of J Street’s record of statements and actions. These loud voices represent a minority in the American Jewish community. They serve to intimidate, drown out, and silence other voices willing to defend J Street’s position that a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only path to sustain Israel’s democracy and Jewish character and to Palestinian national aspirations.

See entire article on my blog at the Times of Israel – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/in-defense-of-j-street-why-knowing-the-facts-might-change-your-mind/

Feinstein, Sanders urge Senate not to include anti-BDS law in a spending bill

20 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in American Politics and Life, Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Uncategorized

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It may seem counterintuitive to supporters of Israel to do as Senators Feinstein and Sanders have done, to oppose including in a spending bill an anti-BDS law, but it ought not to be so difficult to understand their concerns and reasoning.

As this Times of Israel article states (link below), at a time when the Israeli Prime Minister and his government are doing everything they can to foreclose a two-state solution by legalizing illegal outposts in the West Bank and allowing the settlement enterprise to continue to grow and develop beyond the security fence, this bill would stifle criticism in America of those policies that are against Israel’s own self-interest – namely, sustaining Israel as a democracy and a Jewish State.

The only path forward to assure a democratic and Jewish State of Israel is in a negotiated two-states for two peoples resolution of the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel with the help and support of the United States, the EU, and Arab League.

While I know that Senators Feinstein and Sanders are opposed to BDS, as am I, I agree with them that this anti-BDS law would do more harm than good.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/feinstein-sanders-urge-senat…/