fbpx
ADVERTISE
pick up locations
donate

Jewish Journal

Connect. Inform. Inspire.

Category

February 2, 2006

Suicide Voters

Rob Eshman February 2, 2006

All those people who say \”Munich\” reaffirms the universal truth that \”violence begets violence\” should think hard about the\n\nPalestinian elections, where violence begat an electoral sweep.\n\nSo much for universal truths.\n\nGandhi said, \”An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind,\” and in the long run, who knows, he may be proven right.\n\nBut in the near term, Hamas, an organization whose existence is rooted in hatred and terror, has proven one of my personal universal truths: The craziest guy in the room usually gets his way.

A Good Place to Start

Rabbi Ed Feinstein February 2, 2006

The Torah has no title page. It has neither an author\’s introduction nor a preface — nothing to tell us why the book was written or how it is to be read. The very first line begins with a complete lack of self-consciousness: \”In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth\” (Genesis 1:1).

On this line we find a remarkable comment by the most famous of Jewish Bible commentators, Rashi, Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac of 11th century France. Rashi cites a classical midrash: \”Rabbi Isaac asked: Why does the Torah begin with Genesis? The Torah should have begun with the verse (Exodus 12:2): \’This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months,\’ which is the first commandment given to Israel. For what reason does the Torah begin with Genesis?\”

Rashi\’s commentary on the Torah provides the Jew with a broad survey of law, theology and wisdom — a basic curriculum of Jewish learning. Rashi\’s genius is to state the most penetrating questions in the most concise idiom. This one is a gem. Within this innocuous question is a world of debate on the nature of Judaism and purpose of the Torah.

Pride of the Zionists

Orit Arfa February 2, 2006

Surrounded by seven young children, Yehuda Richter tells me over Shabbat lunch how he decided to move from Los Angeles to Elon Moreh, a settlement on the outskirts of the place Jews call Shechem and the Arabs call Nablus.

Hamas Win Brings Mixed Reaction

David Finnigan February 2, 2006

Two days after the terrorist group Hamas swept last week\’s Palestinian elections, Rabbi Steve Jacobs ended Shabbat services at Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills with this striking comparison.

\”Mr. Begin was a terrorist, Mr. Shamir was a terrorist, Mr. Sharon was a terrorist,\” Jacobs said to his Reform congregation. \”History is replete with negotiations that took place with terrorists. Two days ago, Hamas didn\’t have to worry about paying civilians and creating an infrastructure.\”

Jacobs\’ branding of three Israeli prime ministers as onetime terrorists was jolting, even upsetting, to some in the audience. But Jacobs\’ point was clear: The Hamas victory did not necessarily spell doom to a negotiated peace between Israel and Palestinians.

Spectator – Fiddle Dee Dee and Oy Vey!

Gaby Friedman February 2, 2006

\”Truthfully, my grandfather really was the catalyst for the journey,\” Brian Bain said in a phone conversation from Dallas, where he relocated after his New Orleans home was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. He was referring to Leonard Bain, a retired traveling hat salesman and silent film editor who was 99, in 2002, when the film was made. The elder Bain has since died at the age of 101.

Harmony on the Table at Interfaith Events

Reina V. Slutske February 2, 2006

At the Islamic Center of Southern California, each table had a word. There was \”family,\” \”social action,\” \”prayer,\” \”rituals\” and \”holidays.\” Participants were asked to move to the table that reflected how they viewed their faith.

The exercise was part of the second annual Jewish/Muslim Dialogue organized by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Ethics. About 120 people participated in the program, which included a screening of three clips from a new documentary that emphasizes ongoing cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Mideast’s New Reality

M.J. Rosenberg February 2, 2006

It\’s not often that Mel Weiss is heard complimenting President Bush. But after hearing the President\’s response to the victory of Hamas in last week\’s Palestinian elections, that\’s just what Weiss did.

Give Peace a Shot

Shira Kaplan February 2, 2006

Mahmud, 24, and I, met at a Moroccan falafel place near Dupont Circle on a surprisingly sunny December afternoon. I\’d guarantee that even if you looked carefully around the D.C. area, you would find very few \”couples\” like us — a Palestinian from Nablus, and an Israeli from Herzliya, talking with such sincerity for more than two hours, catching up on life. A week prior to our meeting, Mahmud had returned from a visit to Nablus, his hometown, after four years away living rather comfortably in the United States. The story I heard that sunny afternoon accounts for why Hamas won the Palestinian elections in such a landslide.

History Behind What Makes Hamas Tick

Jewish Telegraphic Agency February 2, 2006

Hamas, which will form the next Palestinian Authority government, has an ideology that is based on the destruction of Israel through jihad, or Muslim \”holy war.\” The group\’s 1988 charter states that \”Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.\”

What Now?

Leslie Susser February 2, 2006

Will Hamas in its power role moderate its radical positions or put Palestinian society on a collision course with Israel and the Western world?

This is the central question. There will be enormous pressure on Hamas to adopt a more pragmatic line. The European Union, which provides up to 90 percent of international aid to the Palestinians, is threatening to suspend its economic support unless Hamas recognizes Israel\’s right to exist and renounces violence, and the United States appears poised to do the same.

New Articles

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

Jewish Journal

Connect. Inform. Inspire.
© Copyright 2024 Tribe Media Corp • Powered by Lightdrop

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.