Category — Far-right

I have long wondered how stable Pakistan’s secular regime truly is. I have always been told that the military is secular, and so there is nothing to fear. Ali Eteraz, a truly edifying voice among Jewcy’s arsenal of writers, says something different.

In his review of “Crossed Swords, ” Eteraz notes,

There are important lessons and warnings to be found in the text. For example, the immense number of generals appointed by former Islamist dictator Zia ul Haq — who seized the presidency from Benazir Bhutto’s father in a coup — have not yet taken hold of power. When they do, after the current group of leading generals resign in perhaps five to ten years, Pakistan’s famously secular military may be disposed to take an Islamist turn.

This is the man whom the U.S. chose to funnel–at his discretion–all of our aid to the mujahideen. To the exclusion, to a large degree, of the great Massoud, in stark contrast to the claim of “Charlie Wilson’s War.” Massoud, of course, was killed by Al-Qaeda…two days before 9/11.

I would be interested in hearing what Ali Eteraz has to say about Massoud.

David Duke is, of course, the former leader of the Klu Klux Klan. He is not a nice guy, and certainly no friend to the Jewish community. Many were shocked that the JTA would post his letter to Obama, outlining a lot of white nationalist anger against the Jewish community. I was shocked as well. Shocked at how much of what he said has merit.

Let’s take a look at some of the Krazy Klansman’s issues against segments of the Jewish community before we dismiss his complaints—as so many reflexively dismiss the complaints of white Christians—as racist, and therefore immaterial.

Better-qualified White students, employees, working men and women face intensive racial discrimination that you and the other major candidates deceptively call “affirmative action.”

Check! It is so bad, this gang-banging of whitey, that even the East Asians have joined in, with no outrage from anywhere to the left of race realist circles. East Asians should not be beneficiaries of quotas or affirmative action on anything.

Many White people can no longer use the public school system that their own taxes pay for because “people who aren’t like them” have made their schools awash in violence, educational mediocrity, drugs, sexual degeneracy and gangsta rap.

I don’t know how much gangsta rap really affects the white student population, but in the inner city schools, this is often all too true. I have heard far too many rich Jews condemn working class racism towards minorities in their schools even as they send or eventually will send their own children only to private schools.

Millions of White people who have paid exorbitant taxes all their lives can’t afford medical insurance and decent medical care in no small part because “people who aren’t like them,” such as illegal immigrants and able-bodied, welfare parasites, people who have paid no taxes at all, have overloaded the system.

Here, Duke is only partially correct. He doesn’t want to advocate socialism, so instead he blames it on the tax burden. But it is absurd that so many working class people are paying for others to receive socialized medicine while they receive no coverage. This is cruel and disgusting.

They are bitter because unelected economic czars such as Greenspan and Bernanke, Wolfowitz and a whole coterie of Jewish “people who aren’t like them” have ripped them off and have let so-called “free trade” destroy the American economy.

The Jewish role in promoting privatization and globalization is large and unfortunate. It is a communal embarrassment.

They are bitter because other Jewish Neocon “people who are not like them,” have led us into a catastrophic war for Israel in Iraq, a war that will cost the American people trillions of dollars and that has killed or ruined tens of thousands of American lives (While Jewish dead or wounded are spectacularly underrepresented in those terrible casualties).

The Neocons sold the war, they did not lead the country to war…but Duke’s language is close enough to the truth to hurt, isn’t it?

Christian Americans are also sick of the fact that the Christian meanings of Christmas are being driven from public life, with crosses and nativity scenes banned from public land in our nation’s capital while at Chanukah a huge Jewish Menorah, symbol of Jewish ethnocentrism and Jewish resistance to assimilation, is put across from the White House and dedicated by the Jewish extremists of Habad Lubavitch.

Duke is partially right. Chabad should be driven from both the white house and the public square, and he is correct that their demands for public parity are meshugah.

Does Duke exaggerate a bit? Sure. He is a conspiracy theorist? Absolutely. But he hits far too closely to the reality far too frequently for any of us to be comfortable with where we are as a community, or for where we have helped push this great country in recent years.

Hat tip: EV

The tendency in our community to set alliances and policies solely according to whom we deem are friends with or are a threat to Israel. This leads to tragic and immoral stances or just silence, as is the case with Jewish communal silence on China.

CUFI (Christians United for Israel) is a fundamentalist Christian organization with a far-right vision of how Israel should operate. It should be rejected politely but firmly. Rabbi Yoffie is now doing both.

In a URJ press release, it was noted that,

Rabbi Eric Yoffie , who over the past two years made headlines when he spoke at the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University and at the convention of the Islamic Society of North America, drew a sharp distinction between dialogue and political alliances which he said “demand of us a higher standard and which require both common values and common interests.”

This is an important distinction that many have pretended and will continue to pretend they don’t understand.

Hagee founded CUFI two years ago and has, since then, run “Night to Honor for Israel” events across the country, where he has been warmly received by Federation audiences. In his address tonight, Yoffie focused on the problems with Hagee’s form of Christian Zionism and why the Jewish community needs to reject it.

This is really to assert that the reason for attacking Hagee is not because of McCain specifically, but rather, due to the mainstream Jewish communal toleration of CUFI.

Rabbi Yoffie explains,

“What [Hagee and his allies] mean by support of Israel and what we mean by support of Israel are two very different things,” Yoffie said. Their vision of Israel rejects a two-state solution, rejects the possibility of a democratic Israel, and supports the permanent occupation of all Arab lands now controlled by Israel,” he continued. “If implemented, in fact, these views would mean disaster for Israel, and would lead to diplomatic isolation, increased violence, and the loss of Israel’s Jewish majority.”

Rabbi Yoffie noted that some of his rabbinic colleagues claim that relationships with CUFI are necessary in a time where Israel needs all the friends she can gather. “The concerns expressed here are reasonable,” said Yoffie, “but I would draw precisely the opposite conclusion.”

Still, you may wonder, isn’t Rabbi Yoffie attacking Republicans and all our Christian-right friends? No, not according to the URJ.

Throughout the history of Israel, the central principle of pro-Israel advocacy in America is that it must be moderate and bi-partisan, he said. Additionally Yoffie noted that the majority of the American Evangelical community is beginning to move away from the likes of Pastor Hagee’s politics and theology. “All the evidence that we have indicates that Evangelicals are tired of stridence and desire more pluralism and moderation…they see their future far more with Rick Warren than they do with John Hagee,” he said.

“On Israeli-Palestinian politics, John Hagee and the CUFI are extremists,” Rabbi Yoffie argued. “They do not represent most Evangelicals, do not represent most Republicans, and do not represent the American heartland. In expressing contempt for other religions and rejecting territorial compromise under any and all circumstances, their views run against the American grain. Those who advocate embracing them now are misreading in a monumental way the American political and religious landscape.”

Rabbi Yoffie outlines his political concerns of Jewish communal alliance with Hagee and CUFI further.

““I have listened to my colleagues who have chosen to do otherwise and have tried to understand. But my view is that most of the time, these evenings will not increase our political clout. They will reduce our political clout and drive away our allies. And I cannot accept the argument from Jewish leaders that they can endorse CUFI events, appear as speakers at these events, accept CUFI money, and still distance themselves from the positions that CUFI embraces.”

On a cursory read of his most recent essay, “Every Jew Counts,” (awwwwwww) one could believe — if you don’t know anything about Dark Light – that its leader, Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, is a real populist.

The stringent one (for others, that is)writes,

“One of the most disturbing features of life in Israel is the tremendous gap between rich and poor. This expresses itself not only in the differences in housing, automobiles and other elements of a material standard of living but also in the quality of education and medical care[…]

While we cannot realistically expect a totally egalitarian society today we should learn two important lessons from this Torah chapter — that every single Jew counts, and that we should strive for greater equality to make the Jewish state a fairer Israel forever.”

So…is Rabbi Weinbach a haredi Bernie Sanders?

Not quite.

Rabbi Weinbach’s position is that of the right-wing ultra-Orthodox haredi leaders (whom he reports to directly) who do not allow higher education for women, and do not allow secular studies at all for their yeshiva students. Absolute socio-economic devastation is preferred and mandated, and achieved for all too many in Israel’s B’nai Torah world.

Rabbi Weinbach is one of the most prominent proselytizers of this path to misery for Anglo-Jews. It is his conviction that anything else besides yeshiva is an “environment of sin.”

So what is he saying here? Why is he suddenly a socialist?

Because it isn’t about rich and poor, or those who work versus those who own. It is about those who are haredi and don’t work, versus those who aren’t haredi and do work.

Rabbi Weinbach is demanding that the secular government give still more money to the haredim to do nothing…so that even more of them can languish away for longer in accordance with the “Bnai Torah” leaders wishes.

And if his people are unhappy…and they are unhappy…it is the state’s fault…for not being more generous. Not the fault of the “Gedoylim”for insistng they do this in the first places…oh no, no, no…it’s the SECULAR government’s fault – they are greedy and do not share all the wealth.

Weinbach’s evil manipulation is quite common for Israeli haredi leaders. When there is discontent of your own making, blame it on the secular government and/or on secular Jews even when they are doing all they can to accommodate your insanity…which is in and of itself, a tragedy. They (the secular and Modern Orthodox Jews) Jews should fight the haredim for the sake of the Jewish people. Including the Jews Rabbi Weinbach tricks, traps, and hobbles.

And don’t forget….Rabbi Weinbach and Rabbi Nota Schiller and their families make a nice living off teaching other people to become poor.

Beyond BT published a letter from a reader asking,

I have a question that I was wondering if you could post. I am not looking for a debate, only some answers. I, and probably a lot of other BTs, grew up in a staunchly democratic home. I do not think I even knew any republicans. What is up with frum Jews voting republican”

The kicker was at the end of the letter.

“Honestly, I do it because people I respect tell me to. What is the real reason?”

There’s…well…there’s nothing I can say to top that…so let’s just keep going.

Anyway, much discussion ensues, including a few of the expected frummie explanations of why the right-wing Republicans are closer to a Torah point of view, which I find just as convincing as when I read about how the Left-wing Democrats are closer to Judaism because of “Tikkun Olam” and of course, social justice.

Anyway, it was worth reading. One, because we get to laugh at the baal teshuvahs who don’t even know why they are voting according to “daas Torah,” and two, because Steve Brizel brings down a brilliant approach from Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik (RYBS).

Brizel writes,

Like it or not, I think that it is too easy to say that the Torah demands that one vote for either party. RYBS once commented that the capitalism ( and i.e. conservatism) set forth in Bava Kamma, Bava Metziah and Bava Basrah is more than offset by the seemingly socialist ( and liberal) ideals set forth in the halachos Shemitah and Yovel.

Paid for and approved by George Bush’s PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief)

The first stage of mass circumcision will be “regarded as an order” at least for the armed forces of Rwanda.

This policy of forcing men to be circumcised was apparently approved by the U.S. government, and was done in order to qualify for massive infusion of American funds, as opposed to the stated goal in domestic periodicals of making circumcision “available.�? In reality, making circumcisions ““available�? include forced mass male circumcisions.

The language given this past November from PEPFAR moved from “available�? to “undertake.�?

The New Times reported,

The Principal Deputy Coordinator of PEPFAR, Dr Thomas Kenyon, said via a video link from the U.S., that PEPFAR was prepared to provide funds to any country that is willing to undertake mass male circumcision, Dr Kenyon said.

Apparently, Rwanda’s plan, which is being implemented now with mass circumcision as an “order,” was approved beforehand by PEPFAR, since,

Dr Kenyon said that Rwanda has registered great success compared to the other PEPFAR’s 15 focus countries.

He said: “We highly appreciate the government of Rwanda for their effort in fight against HIV/Aids, we will continue working closely with all stakeholders in the fight against this pandemic.”

PEPFAR is basing its pro-circumcision stance on the WHO (World Health Organization). But it is Bush’s PEPFAR that is demanding mass circumcision “undertaking�? as a requirement for funding.

In Rwanda, this amounts to 167 million dollars, a significant sum for country whose GDP was under 2 billion in 2005.

Well, it appears to be Dov Bear week here at The Kvetcher. Anyway, I missed this post – Dov Bear fingers those responsible for “romanticizing�? the haredi lifestyle to Anglo-Jews.

None of the three organizations he lists are strangers to us.

fundiewatcher claims that,

The victim is a Princeton graduate, religion major, raised LWMO, who believes in the Breslov truth. He has been sincerely living an externally haredi life, but this shows that one cannot be haredi and still want tolerance, civil society, understanding, secular knowledge and other western values.

The Haredi life is against western values and there are many Yeshivish and RWMO who mistakenly think that they can have the best of both worlds.

For the victim to protest for tolerance, wearing the Torah-true garb of a chassid undermines the haredi world. You cannot have it both ways.Don’t blame this on a few extremists. No haredim want to be retrained to follow American tolerance and civil society.

fundiewatcher also added,

“His folks are LWMO [Left-wing Modern Orthodox] and still are.”

You have to feel bad for the Jewish Press writers. Some (by no means all) of them are actually lucid. Some of them secretly read real periodicals…not like the Jewish Press. But these Jewish Press writers service the heimeshe velt. You know…ignoramuses. So how do you call for your predominantly moronic fundamentalist readership to take a more responsible energy policy?

Shlomo Greenwald writes on The Jewish Press Blog,

We know what owing favors to Arab countries in the Middle East often means–sacrificing America’s strong support of Israel. Now what would happen if this year sales for cars that get better gas mileage increase 3 fold or more? And what would happen if 100,000 Jews this year bought or leased a hybrid or otherwise more fuel efficient vehicle? The trend would be off and running, those kinds of cars would start becoming more mainstream, and sales would increase next year, as well.

I’m not suggesting anyone spend more than he can afford. But if you can afford it, wouldn’t it be another great way to help support Israel?

Notice how tentative Greenwald writes…only IF you can afford it…no call for mass transit, no call for increased legislation in such matters, or federally sponsored research and development…just a call for maybe getting a hybrid…IF you can afford it. For popularity purposes.

I suspect it is possible Greenwald knows and accepts exactly how bad things are because of our oil addiction…but he has to appease his tax-hating Republican Frum-mobile gas guzzling readership that hates anything “liberal.�?

Look how Greenwald subtly suggests the frummies should reconsider their anti-intellectual stand against anything environmentally inspired. He tries to pull a Jedi mind trick.

“It seems to me that an increasing number of Orthodox Jews would scoff at requirements or incentives for automakers to create cars with better gas mileage, or for measures to ensure alternative fuel sources. Indeed, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit taking place now, environmental concerns are the hot topic.�?

Did you see that “indeed�? pivot? Go, Greenwald!

I had an interesting conversation with a relatively new friend of mine recently. He referenced the whole Noah Feldman incident, where apparently Feldman criticized a Talmudic statement that a Jew may only break shabbos to save a gentile’s life on shabbos in order to prevent Jews from being killed in retaliation for not helping them. Apparently, there was a lot of yelling and screaming at Feldman that he was lying or taking it out of context, and my friend is a smart man, and knew that this wasn’t the case. And he asked me, “How am I supposed to see [traditional] Judaism as relevant? Because many of us hear things like that, and don’t feel Judaism is relevant to us.�?

That made me quite sad, as even though I have plenty of issues with traditional Judaism, I think that’s where the action is. If there is no relevance to traditional Judaism, there is no relevance to being Jewish anymore period.

But I put that out of my mind, and thought about his first question.

My answer was basically as follows:

The rabbis of the Talmud did not really believe that a gentile’s life is not worth breaking shabbos for. Rather, they absolutely saw this as something everyone had to do. The rabbis believed that all people were created in the image of God. But the rabbis of the Talmud had a problem. They had a right-wing element that consistently saw to devalue gentiles, perhaps even to the point where the Torah concept of tzelem-Elokim, the idea that all people are created in the image of God, was undermined and compromised.

And the rabbis could not risk dissent on such an important issue as saving a life. Not a Jewish life; not a gentile life. For the Jews, this would be easier. After all, the Torah says you should live by the mitvahs. You should live by the mitzvahs, and not die from them. This was an exemption (except when dependent on breaking the big three cardinal sins: murder, sexual immorality, idol worship) that no person should die because of adherence to Jewish law.

But how does one convey the importance of saving a gentile life to preempt dissent from the radicals?

The answer was to connect saving all lives to saving Jewish lives. This would preempt the radicals from being able to claim they were too left-wing. It would preempt a second opinion from the radicals.

“Then why didn’t they say that?�? He asked. Not the Talmud rabbis, but today’s Modern Orthodox rabbis, the kind of rabbis who ultimately hold the reigns of normative Judaism.

The answer is that they don’t publicly say it to for similar reason to why the Talmudic rabbis couldn’t say it. They would be roundly condemned by the far-right as “not really frum.”

But saving a gentile’s life on shabbos is universally accepted. Now they should just state the real reason.