Brazil’s president laid a wreath at Yasser Arafat’s grave after refusing to visit the grave of Theodor Herzl.
President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva met with Palestinian Authority leaders Wednesday in Ramallah.
“I dream of an independent and free Palestine living in peace in the Middle East,” Silva said while in the West Bank. “I believe the Palestinians and Israelis are going to share the land of their forefathers.”
Israel had criticized Lula’s plan to visit the grave of the PLO’s Arafat prior to the visit. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman boycotted Lula’s address to the Knesset Monday afternoon to protest his refusal to visit the grave of Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism.
Lula said prior to his trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority this week that other countries, like Brazil, should help mediate between Israel and the Palestinians.
While rioting continues in Jerusalem and Hamas calls for another intifada—oh brother—US President Obama is on his heels, saying there is “no crisis” in the US-Israel relationship:
United States President Barack Obama said Thursday that there was ‘no crisis’ in ties with Israel, despite a high-profile diplomatic feud between the allies over the Netanyahu administration’s plans to build Jewish homes in east Jerusalem.
“Israel’s one of our closest allies, and we and the Israeli people have a special bond that’s not going to go away,” Obama said in an interview on Fox News Channel’s Special Report with Bret Baier.
“But friends are going to disagree sometimes,” Obama said.
Earlier today, I called my friend up – just to say hello. This is a guy who is fresh off some discouraging JDate experiences. He wouldn’t admit to feeling down, but I’m convinced that he is. To top it off, he slaves away in a neuroscience lab, often well beyond dinnertime.
When he answered the phone, however, he wasn’t at work. He was at American Apparel, where he’d just bought a green V-neck T-shirt.
Of course, I made fun of him. Who buys a T-shirt just for a holiday?
Do you know what his answer was? I shouldn’t be cursing on this blog, but what he said was so amazing that I don’t want to tamper with it.
He said, “I don’t give a shit.”
Is that not the best thing you’ve heard all day? I certainly thought it was great. I liked it so much that I momentarily re-evaluated my cynicism.
“Good answer,” I said.
It was, because tonight, my friend will proudly sport his spanking new green V-neck T shirt. He will merrily stagger in and out of packed, noisy bars until the wee hours of the morning (or at least until 2 AM). He will pound several beers and toast his buddies. He will probably hug strangers. He will forget about his woes. And that’s what St. Patrick’s Day is about. Sure, the holiday is Catholic in origin, but finding an excuse to celebrate life is a notion that transcends religion.
Be safe, and, of course:
L’chaim,
-Ryan
P.S. My editor emailed me a link to Jerusalem Post article “The Irish-Jewish Connection.” Did you know that the protagonist in Irishman James Joyce’s “Ulysses” is part Jewish?
I didn’t either. That book is, like, really hard to read.
The furor that’s erupted between the U.S. and Israel following Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to build 1,600 new apartments in a portion of East Jerusalem has is only made worse by the astonishing lack of accurate information circulating over the international legal status of Jerusalem. To whom does it belong? Who has a right to build there? Who recognizes that right? The worst way to answer that question is to read the op-ed pages, where each side advances its arguments as facts. And when it comes to arguments, few engage as many deep emotions as Jerusalem.
For instance: We just received a press release from B’nai B’rith Canada condemning the “disparaging” remarks of a Canadian minister who criticized Israel’s buiding in East Jerusalem as contrary to international law. Here it is:
B’nai Brith Canada has expressed disappointment at remarks Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon made yesterday at the House of Commons foreign affairs committee condemning Israel’s plans to build new apartments in a Jewish neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. At the committee, FM Cannon “condemned” the Israeli decision and said that it is “contrary to international law.” Since 1967, Israeli governments across the political spectrum have consistently expressed sovereignty over the entire city of Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to freeze building for 10 months was limited to Judea and Samaria, and specifically did not include East Jerusalem.
“Jerusalem has been, and always will be, the historical, national, and religious capital of the Jewish State,” said Frank Dimant, B’nai Brith Canada’s Executive Vice President. “We regret Minister Cannon’s remarks condemning Israel’s decision to build in its capital.
“We are confidant [sic] that the Foreign Minister’s disparaging remarks do not in any way reflect a shift in the Government’s principled position with respect to its Israeli ally.”
Here’s the thing: the minister’s comments were precisely in keeping with Canadian—and international—law. Here is Canada’s official policy regarding Jerusalem:
Status of Jerusalem
Canada considers the status of Jerusalem can be resolved only as part of a general settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute. Canada does not recognize Israel’s unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem.
In fact, most countries, including the United States, do not recognize Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem under the Jerusalem Law of July 30, 1980. The EU, the United Nations, the US, and most other countries happen not to recognize Israel’s right to build anywhere in East Jerusalem, even the neighborhoods that are solidly Jewish. I’m not arguing whether they should or shouldn’t—or even that the international law can’t or shouldn’t be challenged—I’m just saying that’s the fact.
The problem is, American and I suppose Canadian Jews have been hearing from their Israeli and pro-Israeli counterparts about united, indivisible, eternal Jerusalem for so long, they assume everyone else thinks that way as well. So we are shocked, shocked, when something we assume is ours is actually considered not ours.
Most countries—I think one exception is Germany—do not recognize all of Jerusalem as Israel’s, and so do not recognize Israel’s right to build wherever it wants there. Most countries say they will not recognize any final boundaries in Jerusalem until they are determined by agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. That’s why Jerusalem is always mentioned as being part of “final status” talks.
By the way, even among Jews (even? especially!) the indivisibility of Jerusalem as a political entity is controversial. One of the most fascinating essays you’ll read on this was written by an Orthodox rabbi, Yosef Kanefsky, who contra to the position of his movement, accepts the idea of a divided Jewish capital.
Cantor Sam Fordis passed away in Atlanta, GA on March 17, 2010. An acclaimed composer, arranger and violin virtuoso, Cantor Fordis served as Cantor of Valley Beth Shalom from 1959-79, Temple Emanu-El Burbank 1979-86, and Adat Shalom from 1986-96 before being named its Cantor Emeritus.
Throughout his career, Cantor Fordis trained hundreds of b’nai mitzvah candidates, commissioned and directed performances of a multitude of important works of Jewish music and trained many private students as they began their own careers in the cantorate. His gentle demeanor and sweet voice will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.
Cantor Fordis is survived by his wife Mary, children Cantor Ron Fordis, Kari Miner (Paul), Karma Fordis Lindner (Gary), Fred Fordis (Diane), Kama Dyche, and his late daughter Fran, his sister Jeannette Fordis Bay, and ten grandchildren.
A public funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 2pm at Mt. Sinai Hollywood Hills.
So, it is tournament time. Everyone is frantically filling out their brackets, hoping to gain pride and maybe some cash. Everyone has a different strategy for picking the Final Four. Some people pick underdogs, some pick according to mascots, and some pick by what they think is knowledge yet always end up losing. Well, The Great Rabbino has decided to help you out. TGR is filling out your brackets using Jews. I want to state clearly that I am NOT responsible for you losing your pool. This is just a fun, Jewish, and different way of trying to win your bracket. Just remember that God influenced this bracket.
How are we going to do this? We have done tons of research and came up with a crazy and completely illogical system. Teams were considered by Jewish Players/Coaches, seeding numbers relevance to Judaism (#1 = God, 10 = 10 Commandments, etc), the University’s Hillel/Jewish studies program, the number of Jews on campus, the surrounding city’s Jewish presence, Jewish sports alumni, and a slight NCAA Bracket with a Jewish Twist [PICKS] Read More »
Melanie, our multimedia reporter, and I went to see Julie Spira. She’s a cyber-dating expert (still searching for her own love) and author of “The Perils of Cyber Dating.” The book suggests that while online dating occasionally leads to awful experiences, keep the hope alive: Love can be found online.
In a video, edited by Melanie, which you can watch below, Spira offers tips on how to date online, successfully. I’ll let the video speak for itself. For now I’m interested in getting over-analytical about something Spira said during the interview.
Spira, who has been using online-dating websites for over twenty years, has this huge web presence. She uses online tools like Facebook and Twitter to promote an online company, cyberdatingexpert.com.
Melanie said it best in a recent Gchat conversation: “Spira has embraced and turned to the internet for her 2nd life.”
Hmm… Spira did say that the people who aren’t using Facebook, Twitter and posting videos of themselves on YouTube, are “missing out.”
Reinforcing that we have cool jobs, Melanie and I, during work hours, talked more about this. We did it over Gchat, while sitting at our cubicles, which are only a few feet away from each other. These are a couple of words Melanie introduced to me.
1. Luddite – “People who will live their life on a daily basis,” said Melanie. “They won’t search through Craigslist for housing or jobs. They won’t seek possibilities via the internet. They don’t think about where they could be, or what else they could be doing. They think about the here and now.”
Apparently, Melanie had dated a guy like this. He actually sounded like a bit of a jackass.
2. FOMO – This is an acronym that Melanie came up with. It stands for “fear of missing out.” She offered the idea that people spend all day online out of fear of what they might be missing on – because the internet is a means for them to actively seek, albeit voyeuristically, further possibilities of what their life could be (vacations, friends, connections, images, job listings…).
FOMO is also a reason I feel compelled on a Friday night, even if I am exhausted, to leave the house and go out for the evening. Moreover, FOMO might compel someone to use an online dating site, feeling that they are missing out on their match if they don’t search through the internet.
Below is an excerpt from the conversation:
melanie: maybe we are fascinated by [Spira’s] inculcation into technology. there was something about her charisma.
[I didn’t say this in the conversation, but “inculcation” is quite the vocabulary word. I certainly didn’t know what it means. Way to go, Mel!]
ryan: i wish julie would find somebody and get married
ryan: somebody she DIDNT meet online
melanie: haha
melanie: yeah
ryan: that would be ironic i think
melanie: i think ultimately that while the internet represents a means to actively pursuing more possibilities, it is ultimately disappointing
ryan: as is life
But, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with Julie’s online dating tips [insert cheesy grin; hold camera steady]. Watch below:
From http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iFEG-rhoWxkteqS8TkgVKyc5mLsgD9EDU3EO0:
LONG BEACH, N.Y. — In the long and painful debate over whether he should have done more to halt the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators in World War II, Pope Pius XII has an unusual defender.
Gary Krupp, who is Jewish, says he grew up hating the late pontiff. Now, at 62, the retired Long Island businessman is caught up in the controversy over the Vatican’s effort to make Pius a saint. He says that as a Jew he’s not interested in the sainthood issue — he just wants to defend the wartime pope’s reputation from “the worst character”…
The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society is backing new legislation aimed at protecting refugees and asylum seekers.
The Refugee Protection Act was introduced Monday by U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) on the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980.
Though the original act provided protection for refugees and asylum seekers, provisions have eroded over the years. Asylum seekers, even after proving credible fear of persecution in their home countries, have been detained. Also, restrictions meant to prevent terrorists from entering the United States have barred legitimate, non-threatening asylum seekers from gaining entry.
HIAS, the international migration agency of the American Jewish community, said the new measure proposes “thoughtful and effective solutions to these problems and will ensure that fairness is restored to the asylum system.”
“It is also important to remember that refugee protection does not end on the day asylum or refugee status is approved,” said Gideon Aronoff, the president and CEO of HIAS. “The Refugee Protection Act would go a long way towards ensuring that refugee families are reunited quickly, and that refugees and asylees are able to integrate quickly into U.S. society.”