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October 6, 2009

Poll: Strong majority back military action in Iran

Leave a Comment / Iran, United States /

A strong majority of Americans would support military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to a new poll.

Asked whether it was “more important” to “prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action” or to “avoid military conflict, even if Iran may develop nuclear weapons,” 61 percent chose the first option, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

The result included majorities of both political parties—71 percent of Republicans and 51 percent of Democrats—as well as 66 percent of independents. Twenty-four percent said it was more important to “avoid military conflict.”

The nationwide survey of 1,500 adults on both landline telephones and cell phones, taken from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

Majorities also were in favor of direct negotiations with Iran and tougher sanctions, although they were not optimistic that either would work. Sixty-three percent said they would support direct negotiations, but only 22 percent thought they would be effective, while 78 percent favored sanctions with 32 percent thinking they would be successful. Partisan differences on those questions were minimal.

Poll: Strong majority back military action in Iran Read More »

Obituaries

Leave a Comment / Obituaries /

Rose Barkhordarian died July 15 at 89. She is survived by her daughters, Louise and Helen Petri, and Catherine Gabbay; sons, George, Victor and Philip; and fifteen grandchildren. Hillside

Janice Berman died July 23 at 76. She is survived by her daughter, Margo Tanenbaum; three grandchildren; and sister, Tessa Horwitz. Malinow and Silverman

Ester Blachman died August 3 at 89. She is survived by her daughters, Terri (Dennis) Veasman, Rochel, Marsha (Amy Gentile) and Blanche (Andrianne Forsha); and seven grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Samuel Brainin died August 4 at 87. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Sawyer; daughter, Janet (Gordon) Carnie; sons Jerald and Rick; several grandchildren; and friend, Irene Leemon. Mount Sinai

Doris Callot died August 2 at 80. She is survived by her husband, Sherman; and daughter, Anne (Robert) Davis. Mount Sinai

Raymond Caren died July 18 at 91. He is survived by his wife, Julia; daughter, Sue (Paul) Hoffman; sons, Jeffrey (Judy Dolan) and Barry (Louise); 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Malinow and Silverman

Arthur Charlap-Hyman died August 2 at 88. He is survived by his wife, Paula; daughter, Lauren; son, Joe (Marjorie); stepdaughter, Jan Zussman; and two grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Goldie Eva Chirlin died August 1 at 94. She is survived by her daughters, Diane Levine and Judith Claire; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Beverly Deutsch died August 2 at 73. She is survived by her husband, Sanford; daughters, Robin (Meir) Gelman and June (Yossi) Schames; son, Mark (Ann); 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sisters, Roz Barak and Sylvia Koenigsberg. Sholom Chapels

John Espinoza died July 27 at 84. He is survived by his daughters, Louise and Josephine; sons, John David and Charles; eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and mother, Maria. Mount Sinai

Eugene Horace Freed died July 17 at 79. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughter, Leslie (Lee) Petersil; son, Michael (Karen); four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sisters, Greta Stolar and Marlene (Herb) Stein. Hillside 

Harry Friedman died August 5 at 96. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; son, Bruce (Sherry); six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sister, Yetta Toper. Mount Sinai

Paul Friedman died July 23 at 82. He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter, Bonnie (David); and son Barry (Maureen). Malinow and Silverman

Carolyn B. Green died July 30 at 76. She is survived by her husband, Norman; daughter, Meredith (Anthony) Tashkoff; sons, Mitchell and Evan; one grandchild; and brother, David (Suzanne) Berman. Mount Sinai

Mildred Greenland died July 21 at 83. She is survived by her husband, Max; son, Gary (Gloria); two grandchildren; and brother, Jerry (Ilene) Brick. Malinow and Silverman

Jerome B. Harvey died August 3 at 70. He is survived by his wife, Marcia; daughter, Lisa (John) Clark; son, Scott (Erika); and three grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Bena K. Jaffe died August 1 at 92. She is survived by her husband, Nathan; son, Gib (Jane); and two grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Margit Klein died July 30 at 97. She is survived by her daughter, Ruth (Michael) Gillmore; sons, Stanley (Cindy) and James; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sisters, Elizabeth, Ilona and Charlotte. Mount Sinai

Jennie Koenigstein died July 22 at 94. She is survived by her daughter, Rose; son, David; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Chevra Kadisha

Milton Kops died July 30 at 90. He is survived by his wife, Rose; daughter, Barbara (Jack Cooney) Reid; son, Stewart (Tina); three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Mount Sinai

Eva P. Kovald died July 18 at 73. She is survived by her friend, Michael Freeman. Hillside

Melvin Krevoy died July 23 at 89. He is survived by his wife, Minerva; daughters, Leslie (Michael) Rips, Penelope (Lee) Berro and Susan (Leo); seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and brother, Norman (Cecile). Hillside

Paul Laufer died August 4 at 85. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia; sons, Moses (Aviva), Bernard and Isaac; and nine grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Morris M. Levine died August 3 at 87. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; sons, Robert (Sandy) and Richard (Deborah); three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Cecilie Lippa died July 29 at 93. She is survived by her son, Erik. Sholom Chapels

Ira Lipstein died July 16 at 87. He is survived by his wife, Mildred; daughter, Elaine (Richard) Solomon; and son, Alan. Hillside 

Goldie Ellin Miller died July 29 at 87. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara (Eric) Schur and Susan (William) Lasala; and three grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Hazzan Bela Nussen died July 29 at 88. He is survived by his wife, Madeleine; daughter, Joy (Gaby); and sons, Ken (Gail) and Sheldon (Joyce). Mount Sinai

Edith Pitt died July 21 at 89. She is survived by her daughters, Marilyn (David) Rubin and Ronnie (Larry); three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Malinow and Silverman 

Rebbeca Plotkin died July 19 at 90. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Chris) Morris; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Malinow and Silverman

Charlotte Rappaport died July 18 at 96. She is survived by her daughters, Arlene Zicklin and Joan Blair; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and sister, Shirley Zeitlin. Malinow and Silverman

Richard Rudin died July 15 at 87. He is survived by his daughters, Wendy Rabens and Teri; son, Eric; and two grandchildren. Hillside

Reba Sardell died July 18 at 97. She is survived by her daughter, Sheila Lewis; son, Paul; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Hillside 

Mildred M. Selber died July 30 at 87. She is survived by her husband, Bernard; and sons, Richard and Michael (Shunna). Mount Sinai

Selma Sara Sigman died August 1 at 95. She is survived by her daughter, Felice Rhiannon; son, Harry; and brother, Sam (Bertie) Krieger. Sholom Chapels

Lillian Silverstein died July 29 at 95. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Barry) Yablow; son, Robert; and two grandchildren. Mount Sinai

Pauline Sloan died July 22 at 87. She is survived by her husband, Charles; sons, Gary (Pam), Alan and Ron (Lisa); two grandchildren; and one niece. Mount Sinai

Howard Smit died August 1 at 98. He is survived by his nieces, Andrea (Robert) Sidell, Harriett (David) Dickstein and Nancy Silver; and close friend, Rudy Biola. Mount Sinai

Kenneth S. Snadow died August 1 at 78. He is survived by his son, Jeffrey. Mount Sinai

Sinny Stofkooper died July 31 at 98. She is survived by her daughter, Emilie Stern. Sholom Chapels

Frank Tucker died July 17 at 90. He is survived by his wife, Rosalie; son, Ron; two grandchildren; and brother, Mike. Hillside 

Sara L. Udis died August 4 at 90. She is survived by her daughters, Elaine (Winfried) Platzer and Lenore Chudd; and one grandchild. Mount Sinai

Selma Pearl Williams died July 21 at 83. She is survived by her caregiver, Rosa Margarita Lothian; and friend, Katheliene Brower. Mount Sinai

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Obituaries Read More »

Violent clashes in Jerusalem, rhetoric ratchet up tensions

Leave a Comment / Israel /

Tensions between Israelis and Arabs simmered this week as Arab rioters clashed with Israeli police and Palestinian leaders accused Israel of trying to “Judaize” Jerusalem.

The clashes began on Sept. 27, Yom Kippur eve, when some 150 Arabs stoned a dozen or so Jews visiting the Temple Mount. Riots spread to several Arab neighborhoods in the Old City and lasted throughout Yom Kippur.

The violence resurfaced this week when Israel restricted access to the Temple Mount while thousands of Jewish pilgrims visited the Western Wall for Sukkot observances.

“We will liberate al-Aksa with blood and fire,” an Islamic leader, Sheik Ra’ad Salah, told supporters in eastern Jerusalem, referring to the mosque on the Temple Mount. Salah was arrested Tuesday for incitement.

“We call on the Palestinian public to confront Israel and its plans,” Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad said in a statement Monday.

With Arab religious figures calling on Palestinians to flock to the Temple Mount to protect Muslim holy sites, some Israeli commentators said the rhetoric was reminiscent of the fall of 2000, when violent clashes around the High Holidays erupted into the Second Intifada.

But a deputy police commissioner, Mickey Levy, told the Israeli news outlet Ynet that this kind of violence is common during the Jewish holidays. Mohammed Dahlan, a former Palestinian security chief and Fatah Party official, told Reuters that a full-blown uprising would only harm Palestinians.

“We may resort to popular action or civil action. We have an open mind on all legitimate methods permitted by international law,” Dahlan said. “But we won’t push the Palestinian people into a disaster.”

The Palestinian Authority condemned Israel for allowing Jews to visit the Temple Mount and called on the international community “to force Israel to halt its efforts to Jewify the city.”

Israeli authorities said they are interested only in quelling the violence (though Israeli officials, including Jerusalem’s mayor, frequently talk about the need to bolster the city’s Jewish character).

On Monday, Israeli police announced that they had restricted access to the mosques on the Temple Mount to men over the age of 50 after discovering wheelbarrows full of boulders throughout the compound — which they took as a sign of a planned riot.

A day earlier, rioters in the Old City pelted police with bottles and rocks, and in eastern Jerusalem Palestinians threw stones and firebombs at Israeli Border Police near the Shuafat refugee camp. Several demonstrators were arrested and at least two police officers were injured.

The annual Sukkot priestly blessing ceremony at the Western Wall took place Monday morning without incident. Later in the day, however, Palestinian youths attacked worshipers on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives and an Israeli soldier was stabbed in the neck while inspecting a Palestinian bus stopped at a checkpoint outside Jerusalem.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat accused Israel of deliberately fanning the flames of unrest in order to solidify Israel’s hold on Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told Israel Radio that the provocateurs should be stopped and that the violence serves neither Israelis nor Palestinians.

No incidents were reported during Tuesday’s annual Jerusalem March, when 70,000 people — including non-Jewish pilgrims marking the Feast of the Tabernacles — paraded through Jerusalem’s streets.

Violent clashes in Jerusalem, rhetoric ratchet up tensions Read More »

L.A. Muslim injured in Pakistan suicide attack at U.N.

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized /

Among those injured today in the suicide bombing at the U.N. food agency headquarters in Pakistan was a Muslim from Los Angeles named Adam Motiwala:

“There was a huge bang, and something hit me. I fell on the floor bleeding,” said Adam Motiwala, an information officer who was hospitalized with wounds to his head, leg and ribs.

Five were killed in the attack.

For more on Motiwala, who was very involved in L.A. Muslim-Jewish dialogue and with the efforts of PJA and Rabbi Reuven Firestone, check out this story from The Daily Titan:

“As of right now he is in a lot of pain, but overall, he’s OK. He’s more in a state of shock from what just happened to him and others. Many Americans don’t know and understand what’s going on around the world. It’s a large and devastating situation out in Pakistan. Adam is there to help those in need as well as bring awareness to the issues that exist in the world,” said Sameerah Motiwala.

Adam and Sameera have been married for 16 months. They both met at CSUF where Adam was working toward his bachelor’s degree and Sameerah toward her master’s. Sameerah graduated from UC Davis and lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.

Motiwalla quit his job as an information technology consultant at Deloitte, a major international and accounting firm and joined the WFP in September because he wanted to serve others, “which is something he holds dear in his heart and firmly believes in,” said Sameerah Motiwala.

L.A. Muslim injured in Pakistan suicide attack at U.N. Read More »

Disney’s new chief Rich Ross friendly with Israel [VIDEO]

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized /

Rich Ross, the former head of The Disney Channel and newly appointed movie chief for the Walt Disney Company recently spoke to Israel’s Channel 10 about the September 2009 launch of The Disney Channel in Israel. For the report, an Israeli news crew visited the set of Disney’s hit show “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” before meeting with Ross, the executive responsible for the cable channel’s hugely successful franchises, “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana.”

In his new post as head of worldwide production, distribution and marketing for Disney, Ross becomes movie chief for Disney’s many film labels, including Walt Disney, Touchstone, Miramax and Disney/Pixar.

Disney’s new chief Rich Ross friendly with Israel [VIDEO] Read More »

Time line of recent Iran revelations, plans for sanctions

Leave a Comment / Iran /

After years of equivocating in the international community over whether Iran is close to developing a nuclear weapon, a flurry of activity in recent weeks suggests an answer and a consequence: Iran is close, and better stop, or else.

Here is a time line of recent revelations about Iran’s nuclear program:

Sept. 21: Iran informs the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, that it is maintaining a second uranium enrichment plant underground near the holy city of Qom. Dissidents revealed its first nuclear facility, Natanz, in 2003. Iran insists both plants are for civilian use. Talks between Iran, the United States and other major powers are to start on Oct. 1; Iran continues to insist that its nuclear research is not on the agenda throughout the week, during U.N. General Assembly proceedings.

Sept. 25: In a dramatic news conference at the G-20 industrial summit in Pittsburgh, President Obama joins with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to reveal the existence of the Qom reactor; the IAEA had kept Iran’s letter a secret. Despite Iran’s denials, Western officials say that the dimensions of the new enrichment plan suggest a military component, as does its control by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Sarkozy says new sanctions may kick in as soon as December. Russia warns that sanctions may be inevitable and China presses Iran to cooperate with IAEA inspectors. Both nations, veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council and major traders with Iran, until now have resisted further sanctions.

The same day, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, release statements that in light of the Qom revelation, they will advance sanctions targeting the export to Iran of refined petroleum. Iran, a major oil exporter, nonetheless exports up to 40 percent of its gasoline—a key prop to its ailing economy.

Sept. 28: Iran tests mid-range missiles capable of reaching Israel, parts of Europe, the former Soviet Union and U.S. forces in the region. The tests have been long planned, but the revelation of the Qom enrichment plant spurs concerns about a nuclear weapons delivery system. A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps official explicitly warns that the missiles can hit Israel.

Oct. 1: Iranian representatives meet with major powers—including China, Russia, the United States, France, Britain and Germany—in Geneva. The Iranians agree to allow IAEA inspectors to visit the Qom enrichment plan within two weeks and to ship the uranium it has already enriched to low grades to Russia and France for enrichment to medical-use levels.

Oct. 4: IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei visits Iran and commends the country for shifting from confrontation to transparency. He says the Qom inspection will take place Oct. 25.

Oct. 6—Iranian officials announce plans to install advanced centrifuges at Qom; sanctions advocates say this undercuts earlier claims that the site is strictly for civilian use.

The same day, Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), the chairman of the U.S. Senate’s Banking Committee and a key Obama ally, holds a hearing on Iran sanctions to outline his plans to consolidate Iran sanctions bills—including one similar to the House plan targeting exports of refined petroleum to Iran—into a single sanctions omnibus.

Time line of recent Iran revelations, plans for sanctions Read More »

Jewish lawyer’s suit alleges chaplain prayed for his demise

Leave a Comment / United States /

The founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is suing a Dallas-based religious organization for praying for his demise.

Mikey Weinstein, a former military lawyer who is Jewish, is suing the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, The Dallas Morning News reported Monday.

Weinstein is accusing Gordon Klingenschmitt, a former U.S. Navy chaplain endorsed by the chaplaincy group, of “asking Jesus to plunder my fields … seize my assets, kill me and my family then wipe away our descendants for 10 generations,” the newspaper reported.

The Dallas Morning News also reported that Weinstein’s lawsuit called for Klingenschmitt and chaplaincy founder Jim Ammerman to stop “encouraging, soliciting, directing, abetting or attempting to induce others to engage in similar conduct.”

In the past few years Weinstein, who comes from a long line of Jewish Republican military members, has received death threats and had his home vandalized with swastikas, animal carcasses and feces.

Weinstein claims the harassment started several years ago after he began protesting Christian proselytizing in the U.S. Air Force Academy and founded the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to combat the strong influence of extremist evangelical Christians in the armed forces.

Klingenschmitt, in a phone interview with The Dallas Morning News, said he has “never incited anybody” to hurt Weinstein.

Weinstein said he hopes his lawsuit will cripple the chaplaincy group financially and have the organization stripped of its status with the Department of Defense.

While religious denominations usually endorse chaplains from their own congregations for military chaplain positions, the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches represents independent churches that may not be affiliated with a denomination. The group has been approved and authorized by the Department of Defense to place military chaplains since 1984, according to its Web site.

Jewish lawyer’s suit alleges chaplain prayed for his demise Read More »

Addicted to abortion: 15 dead babies in 16 years

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized /

She had 15 abortions in 16 years, and today Irene Villar, a literary agent and editor, is being having her story published as a book, “Impossible Motherhood.” From ABC News:

“This book really isn’t about using abortion as birth control,” [Dr. Lauren Streicher of Northwestern] told ABCNews.com. “She is unconsciously sabotaging contraception for self-mutilation. It’s a way of escaping feeling empty.”

“It’s an interesting book and she writes beautifully,” said Streicher, who hosts the nationally syndicated radio show for medical professionals, Reach MD. “But by her very admission, she is a psychologically disturbed woman.”

Ultimately, after some self-discovery and nursing her beloved dying dog, Vilar ends her dysfunctional marriage. She finds stability and love with a new husband, a writer and poet, and she builds a new family, reveling in the motherhood she once thought was impossible.

“Does that just end overnight? ” asked Streicher. “The death of your dog, the birth of your child? You still fight your demons.”

But Vilar blames much of her poor choices on a hypersexualized society that at once values the perfect mother, but also expects women to be sexually attractive to men and to achieve professionally.

“Women have a deep need for agency, for purpose and direction and society is not providing natural and healthy channels for creative action,” she said.

“In school and on TV, every message I get is what I am doing as a mother or wife is wrong,” said Vilar. “I should be thinking about a profession and not mothering. Everyone is having babies, and yet they don’t want to care for them.

“Are many of the repeat abortions in part an embodiment of this mixed message? A lost, ambivalent attempt at an act of agency that cannot find its proper vessel? “

It’s not clear when Villar had these abortions. Though I guess we could deduce, based on her age and the age of her children, that it was between 18 and 34. It’s shocking how casually the abortions are talked about in this story from ABC News. But probably the saddest thing is the complete lack of self-responsibility Villar exhibits. Tragic, really.

Addicted to abortion: 15 dead babies in 16 years Read More »