One of the main arguments that the Administration has been repeating, over and over again, is that they have not heard any better alternatives to the one they negotiated with Iran.
Besides my concern and suspicion that they are not interested in any actual other proposals, now that they have put us in this corner, what are the options?
Apparently there are other options besides war.
Today's article by Is a Better Deal With Iran Possible? Read More »
Our guest this week is Rabbi Ben Elton, Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue in Sydney, Australia. Rabbi Elton earned an MA in History at Queens’ College, Cambridge and a PhD in Jewish History at Birkbeck, University of London. For seven years he worked in the Ministry of Justice in London and then studied for four years at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT) in New York. There, he was editor of its journal, a member of its Advanced Kollel and winner of the prize for excellence in Talmudic study. He received Semicha from YCT in June 2015, and in addition has Semicha from Rabbi Chaim Rapoport of London and Rabbi Natan Greenberg of Bat Ayin in Israel. Rabbi Elton is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of London, has been a Visiting Scholar at New York University and Columbia University and a Fellow at the Tikvah Fund. He served as Rabbinic Fellow at Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan until he was appointed Chief Minister of the Great Synagogue in June 2015.
In this Week's Torah Portion – Parashat Re'eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) – Moses continues speaking to the people of Israel right before he passes away. Moses asks them to recite certain blessings and curses on Mount Grizzim and Mount Ebal after they enter Israel. He demands that they destroy all remnants of idolatry from the Promised Land. He then asks them to choose a city which will host the Holy Temple, and they are forbidden from offering sacrifices anywhere else. The Parasha also discusses false prophets, kashrut, the sabbatical year, and charity. Our discussion focuses on the curious idea of Shemitat Kessafim, the law that forbids demanding debt following a sabbatical year.
Our past discussions of Parashat Re’eh:
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg on the idea that mortality can lead us to despair or to be inspired
Rabbi Bradley Sharvit Artson on the role of the interesting ceremony on Mount Grizzim and Mount Ebal
Rosner’s Torah-Talk: Parashat Re’eh with Rabbi Ben Elton Read More »
(Editorial Note: A greater section of this articles was reproduced with the permission and courtesy of the Curacao Guardian. The Jewish Journal's Contributor, Dennis Adonis is also the Editor-in-Chief at the Curacao Guardian)
WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO; – The much anticipated Cyber Security and Ethical Hackers Training program that was schedule to be held in Curacao this week, has now been reschedule to the 3rd and 4th of September.
Even though the required training crew and resources were already in place, organizers were unable to proceed with the event since none of the registrants had the required Cyber Security Training Kits, including training manuals.
According to Michael Denny, a retired FBI Cyber Security Specialist and senior training instructor who is heading the project, none of the participants were able to order their training kits on time, since they were only given the opportunity to do so on Monday last.
He suffice that it would have been practically impossible to get the kits into Curacao for today, hence his understanding is that no orders were taken, while a review was underway since Tuesday to consider a new date.
And taking all of the logistics into account Denny and his team felt that the 3rd and 4th of September would have been ideal for the parties involved. As such, the event is now schedule for that date.
However, the trainers will depart Curacao tonight, and will return with other team members again around the 1st of September, by which time all of the participants are expected to acquire their respective training kits.
But even so, all of the previous registered participants would be required to re-register for the event since the rights to co-ordinate it locally was now acquired by Curacao Cyber Guard, an offshore cyber security network that has since implemented a different registration process from what was originally used.
Nonetheless, some degree of priority will be given to the more than sixty people who may have had registered before, even though there is a cut off number of only forty persons to be trained.
Denny said that interested parties can discover new information or learn more about the event by visiting either of its info pages at: http://www.cyberwatchdog.net/curacao.html or at: http://curacaocyberguard.com/event2.html
Thereafter, an interested registrant can sign up by emailing their particulars to: curacao@cyberwatchdog.net or by calling 52-GUARD (524-8273).
The training project, which had previously faced a delayed hurdle prior to today, is seen as a needed one for Curacao, since its primary focus is to help Willemstad in its quest to create a more equipped cyber security interception and response unit.
Several persons in the IT field locally had expressed disenchantment at the postponement and the now required re-registration process. But have since agreed that the new September 3rd date would give prospective participants enough time to acquire the required training kits.
The kits in question are not readily available to the public, and are said to be of the same caliber used by FBI sleuths undergoing training in Cyber Security and Ethical Hacking.
Organizers would have had to satisfied strict international requirements to acquire the kits for the program locally. And this in itself can often delay the delivery process.
Upon completion of the program, trainees are expected to be empowered with needed knowledge on the growing list of advanced cyber security threats, and how to identify, intercept, remove, destroy, deter or block such security threats via advanced ethical hacking and technological engineering techniques.
Even though the event is Free to professionals and managers in the IT field, they are required to secure their own Cyber Security toolkit, which can be acquired for as low as $214 for a low-end single module kit right up to $1800, depending on the preferred components in the respective kit.
The one that will be used by participants in Curacao is said to be costing around $575 each; – an additional financial burden that the event’s donors are unwilling to carry.
It consists of several ethical hacking applications, devices, references and a customize Microsoft Windows tablet computer that serves as a monitor for hacking intrusions outside of its standard user purposes.
Mr. Denny is of the view that since the user assigned encrypted kit will also form a part of each participant’s permanent working tools (after training), it is only fair for them to acquire it at their own cost.
Curacao is not known to have a capable ethical hacker, and is constantly facing various forms of cyber security threats.
Curacao Cyber Security Training Shifted to 3rd and 4th September Read More »
“Under negotiated terms, there’s never been a better nuclear deal created in the history of the world,” film producer Lawrence Bender declared from a beach in the Hamptons.
Bender is one of 98 leaders from L.A.’s Jewish community, including internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry, billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad and “Mad Men” creator Matt Weiner who signed an open letter urging congress to approve the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The letter appears as an advertisement in the Aug. 15 Jewish Journal.
“I am still a big supporter of Barack Obama,” said Bender, who has long been invested in Democratic politics. “But this is too important an issue to say ‘Oh it’s my president and I am supportive.’” He decided to support the deal, he said, “because I’ve been in enough meetings, on enough phone calls, with experts, where the details were discussed.”
The letter is unequivocal in its support: “Approval of the agreement is in the best interest of the United States and Israel,” the letter begins, calling any move to kill the deal “a tragic mistake.”
Among the signatories to letter are Hollywood producers, local philanthropists, former United States Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor, and a handful of rabbis, including IKAR’s Sharon Brous, Temple Israel of Hollywood’s John Rosove and Joshua Levine Grater of the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center. Other notable signatories include sitcom producer Norman Lear, Hollywood philanthropists Monica and Phil Rosenthal, and former board chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Stanley Gold.
The group represents a wide, yet liberal-leaning swath of the L.A. Jewish community, many with ties to political organizations such as Americans for Peace Now and the lobby group, JStreet, both of which have vociferously supported the deal.
Mel Levine, a former Democratic congressman, helped spearhead the effort after several disgruntled community members reached out to him about a statement emailed by Federation condemning the deal and calling upon the entire Jewish community to lobby against it.
“A number of people were very unhappy with the Federation message and felt it provided an inaccurate view of our community,” Levine said. “The clearest way to demonstrate that was by putting an ad in the Jewish Journal.”
Federation board members Mark Lainer, Glenn Sonnenberg and Abner Goldstine added their names to the letter.
Levine, an attorney with the Century City office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, said the group was also motivated by the desire to tell California congressional representatives that Jewish opinion regarding the Iran deal is varied, and that the Federation’s statement is not representative of the Jewish majority.
A recent Jewish Journal poll found that nearly half of American Jews favor a deal “in which the United States and other countries would lift major economic sanctions against Iran, in exchange for Iran restricting its nuclear program in a way that makes it harder for it to produce nuclear weapons.”
Only 28 percent of American Jewish respondents opposed the deal.
Norman Lear, the iconic sitcom creator, was also influential in supporting the ad. Earlier this month, he hosted a JStreet salon in his home attended by JStreet Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami. At that event, a JStreet representative asked attendees if they would sign their name to a letter supporting the deal.
“Without the deal, the door is closed and you don’t know what’s going on,” Lear said in an interview with the Journal. “It seems to me common sense to keep the door open, keep the conversation going. It’s as simple as that. If you’re not able to communicate, then anything can go on; it’s not even behind your back. I would rather have the door open and everybody know what’s going on.”
Lear said he felt so strongly about the deal he declined to attend an event with influential New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, after Schumer announced he would oppose the deal, becoming the first Senate Democrat to do so.
“I fully intended to be there until he announced his position on Iran,” Lear said. “And I simply dropped him a note to say I would not be there.”
Lear is a major supporter of Democratic politics and is unabashed when it comes to civic engagement. “I don’t feel this is private; it’s a public position about a public matter. And I like being a citizen. I’ve always liked being a citizen.”
Also taking a public stand is Temple Israel’s Rabbi John Rosove, who counts “Mad Men” creator Weiner and the Rosenthals as members of his congregation. Rosove is also a co-chair of JStreet’s national rabbinic cabinet, and is said to have reached out to a number of congregants about signing the ad.
Bender, best known for producing a slew of Quentin Tarantino movies, including “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglourious Basterds,” said he is a longtime supporter of the Ploughshares Fund, an anti-nuclearization group. In 2010, Bender produced the documentary, “Countdown to Zero,” about the rise in global nuclear proliferation.
“The two greatest threats that we are facing in the world today are global warming and a nuclear catastrophe,” Bender said. “Nuclear proliferation has a serious effect on mankind. It’s a serious, serious threat.”
This deal is better than no deal, he said.
“Are there things I wish were better about the deal? Yeah. It’s not a perfect deal. But unless we went to war with Iran and defeated them, and then dictated terms, this is best deal possible,” Bender said.
Bender added that he has participated in both open and closed discussions on the deal, with both AIPAC and JStreet, the Israeli foreign ministry and the Council for Foreign Relations, which recently conducted a Q-&-A with the U.S. chief negotiator, Secretary of State John Kerry.
The ad, though funded independently, is still connected to the Jewish community’s broader machinery, which has been spending millions of dollars to sway opinions on the deal. AIPAC’s tax-exempt lobbying group, Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran, created in July, has pledged to spend tens of millions of dollars to beat the deal. Likewise, other groups including JStreet, Americans for Peace Now and the American Jewish Committee have been devoting resources and time to informing, educating and swaying their constituencies.
The subject of the Iran nuclear deal remains one of the most divisive issues the Jewish community has faced – in both the United States and in Israel, from the frayed relations between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama, to more immediate discord in local synagogues and institutions.
Even with nuclear deterrence, many believe the deal poses a great danger to Israel, who will still have to contend with the consequences of a wealthier Iran after sanctions are lifted in accordance with the deal. It is no secret that Iran invests heavily in the terrorist groups that dapple Israel’s borders.
Others see no other way to protect Israel than by accepting a deal to insure that for at least 15-years Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
“The primary objective [of this ad] was to let members of congress know that there are many of us in the community who love Israel who support the deal,” Levine said.
“Anybody who thought the Jewish community was united on this was smoking something.”
What do Eli Broad and Matt Weiner have in common? They’re for the Iran deal Read More »
A Palestinian detainee in the ninth week of his hunger strike fell unconscious at an Israeli hospital on Friday in a case that could test Israel's new force-feeding law.
Mohammed Allan, 31, an Islamic Jihad activist, began the strike after his detention without trial in November. Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon said he had been put on a respirator and a saline drip and his condition was stable.
Israel has long been concerned that hunger strikes by Palestinians in its jails could end in deaths and trigger waves of protests in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Last month Israel enacted a law permitting doctors to administer nutrition to hunger strikers against their will to try to keep them alive.
The law has met opposition from Israel's medical association, which considers force-feeding a form of torture and medically risky and has urged Israeli physicians not to abide by it.
Allan was moved to Barzilai hospital from another hospital in southern Israel earlier this week and doctors at both hospitals have so far honored his wish not to be treated.
“The condition of Mohammed Allan deteriorated this morning. He is receiving treatment and his condition is stable. The treatment is being administered according the ethics committee guidelines and includes respiration and intravenous fluids and saline,” the hospital said in a statement.
It said that a doctor from the International Committee of the Red Cross had come to the hospital.
Some Palestinian administrative detainees, whom Israel has held without trial or pressing charges, have used hunger strike protests to try to effect their release. Israel has not outlined charges against Allan, who was detained in November.
In 2012, Israel freed Khader Adnan, another Islamic Jihad activist held without trial following a 66-day hunger strike. He was re-arrested and held for a year until his release last month.
In Gaza, the Islamic Jihad militant faction said it would hold Israel responsible if Allan died and hinted it could respond with violence.
“In view of (Israeli) intransigence and their rejection of the demands of Mohammed Allan we hold them fully responsible for his life and if he dies, it will force us to defend our people and our prisoners,” a statement said.
On Wednesday, some 200 supporters of Allan clashed with Israeli right-wingers near the hospital. Mounted police and other officers dispersed the fracas and a number of protesters were detained and questioned, a police spokeswoman said.
Palestinian hunger striker loses consciousness in Israeli hospital Read More »
It’s not just the parking, darlings.
Auntie was chauffeuring around a handicapped friend when they spied a selfish parker in a doctor’s office parking lot. Yes, my darlings, if you look carefully at that photo Auntie took, you’ll see that one driver had the audacity to take two handicapped spaces (the artsy red arrow inserted to point out the blue lines should help).
What to do, what to do? Well, why not employ one of Auntie Jodi’s favorite Helpful Hints to counter the shock and annoyance that always surfaces when one selfish person changes our course of action:
Always keep a pack of Post-it notes at the ready. Does the car next to you need some parking help? Put a Post-it with your ever-so-thoughtful suggestions on their windshield, and of course, be polite. And remember, spelling does count.
Now, while her friend was visiting with the doctor, Auntie was busy writing a prescription of her own, scribbling out a sweet little note to the chutzpa driven driver:
Before making our getaway, Auntie posted the note on the driver’s window, and easily completed the task–
Now you’re probably asking yourself, what are the chances of this naughty driver changing his or her parking habits? Ah—slim? Perhaps—none? But maybe, just maybe they’ll think twice before hogging two handicap-designated spaces again. And of course, Auntie has a Helpful Hint to help deal with these egocentric sorts:
Watch how someone parks their car—Auntie has found that this every day act is indeed, a metaphor for life. Park far away to avoid getting a dent? These dear ones are probably cautious in all their endeavors. Hopefully hunt for a space at the front of a lot while passing by numerous far-flung “sure thing” spaces? This driver is a true optimist. Park at crazy angles, taking up two spaces in fear of getting a nick in your passenger door paint? This driver is completely selfish—they probably get “keyed” more often than we know, so just ignore this self-centered idiot and head to the front for your reserved spot in the parking lot and in life.
No, Auntie would never key anyone’s car—but she certainly would offer up a post-it note. It’s fun and helps her to “stay sane in an insane world.” You might want to try it sometime soon.
Who is handicapped here? Read More »
I’ve been commuting from Ontario for over 20 years. I’m an administrative assistant for the county of Los Angeles, and I’m just waiting to retire in six years. I read my Bible on the bus. Today I read the 1st and 2nd Kings and the history of Israel. Reading the Bible keeps me motivated.
My daughter is getting married on Sunday. We’re going to do a small wedding at a chapel on Wilshire and La Brea. I’m really excited for her. She found a good guy.
Hill Street to Chino Avenue
#myLAcommute is a project of Zócalo Public Square.
#myLAcommute My daughter is getting married on Sunday Read More »
We arrived in Selma, Alabama to stand and march on holy ground. The first day of the NAACP’s “Journey for Justice” – which will march from August 1 beginning in Selma, Alabama through more than 40 days to rally in Washington, DC on Sept. 16 – my colleagues from the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbi Seth Limmer, Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Rabbi Beth Singer and Rabbi Jason Rodich and I stood on holy ground. And then we marched onward in the blazing heat (106 degrees at times) along the scorching asphalt of Highway 80.
With a sacred Torah scroll brought from Chicago Sinai, we – like our colleagues 50 years ago – took one step after another to restore the Voting Rights Act, for jobs and educations, and to renew and reinvigorate the historic alliance between the Reform Jewish Community and the African American community.
We began in prayer standing before the Amelia Boynton House with leaders of the NAACP, State Senators, US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and representatives of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). I was asked to lead a prayer as well. It came from my heart.
We stood in front of the dilapidated house where Amelia Boynton lived and strategized. She organized the 1965 march to Montgomery and her home served as a meeting place and office in Selma for civil rights activists. It was Amelia Boynton who was beaten unconscious on Bloody Sunday and the picture of her on the ground went viral in 1965.
One would have thought such an important place as this house would be a national museum. One would have thought it would be a national treasure, preserved by our government. But it is falling apart. The front and back yard are overgrown with weeds. It is boarded up with graffiti and broken windows and the roof is caving in. It cried out to me as a metaphor that even though there have been advancements for African-Americans in our country, there is still so much in shambles as innocent children and adults are murdered and harassed by police, poverty is still rampant, educational equality is lacking in many neighborhoods, and voter suppression still alive and well.
The Central Conference of American Rabbis made racial justice a priority long ago, when we first resolved to combat race-based discrimination in education back in 1938. And as we prayed together on Shabbat Nachamu, I knew more than ever before that our work as Rabbis must dive deeply again into this work for justice and equality for our brothers and sisters, for all of our children, and for our country. It is truly our job as rabbis to bring comfort to those who are discomforted and bring discomfort to those who see no problems.
The march began with a rally at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where I spoke again on behalf of the CCAR, as did our colleague Seth Limmer who cradled the Torah in his arms. Together we represented along with our colleagues the Reform community’s commitment to this holy work. And then we began, step by step, two by two, over the bridge just as Heschel and King had done 50 years ago. I could feel the tears welling up as the Torah was passed to me. I took hold of it just on the other side of the bridge where the batons and cattle prods were used against the marchers on that Bloody Sunday.
And still the work is not finished. Equality is far away for so many, as the rundown buildings and houses on the highway surrounded us on Shabbat Nachamu in our bright yellow NAACP T-Shirts.
I know from my own work as an LGBTQ activist, allies are critical to changing the world. Many of you have been my allies. And for that I am grateful. And many of us in the American Jewish community have continued since the earliest days of the civil rights movement to be involved with our African American friends and family in the struggle for equality. But it can no longer remain just a pulpit exchange on MLK weekend as important as it is. We have to join in the march. More than 150 of my colleagues are marching cradling the Torah like I was able to.
If you haven’t thought about going – there is still time to march for a day. If you can’t, consider, helping sponsor meals for the Marchers. Let us do the real work side by side in each of our cities and towns and in our nation.
I know I stood on holy ground in Selma and Montgomery this weekend. It is time for all of us to stand together with our African American family and friends to restore the Voting Rights Act, and to truly bring justice and equality to our country once and for all.
Rabbi Denise L. Eger is President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and Founding Rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami
Standing on holy ground Read More »
Some people ask “how do I increase my psychic ability?” The Kabbalists warned strongly against opening up your intuition, or Third Eye. Extreme dangers exist when going into psychic realms without a master teacher, strong protection or Divine permission.
Most people ignore this warning and pay the price, myself included. Imagine switching on a TV channel…and then not being able to turn it off or control the volume. At first it is fun but then it becomes awful. This is just one example of what can happen when you open channels without protection.
There is a curious Biblical warning: if you meet a high-level psychic who predicts something that comes true, but they tell you to veer from the path of Oneness and Unity, you should ignore them – “If there will arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of a dream, and he gives you a sign or a marvel, and the sign of the marvel of which he spoke to you takes place, and says “Let us go after other deities”….You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of a dream”. (Deut. 13:2-4)
We are not to fall for intuitive party tricks, nor use our abilities for selfish purposes.
What about your intuition? There is the famous Talmudic tale of four rabbis who enter an Orchard (“Pardes”). One dies, one goes mad, one becomes a heretic and one – Rabbi Akiva – steps out in peace (BT Hagigah 14b)*. Based on these stats, psychic adventures have a one in four chance of success.
We are told “Moses’..eye never dimmed” (Deut 34:7). Why not ‘eyes’? Perhaps this referred to his Third Eye, e.g. the seat of intuitive ability. Meanwhile his antithesis, the evil-but-equally-powerful prophet Bilaam, is described as “the man with the open eye” (Numbers 24:15). Could this be more obvious? The name of this week’s Torah reading is “Re’eh” which means ‘see’. The French word for Clear Vision is clairvoyance. See?
Ok. So you are psychic. Now what? Maybe you hear things (clairaudient), maybe you feel other people’s emotions (clairsentient), maybe you see things (clairvoyant). Perhaps you see dead people, or know how to heal others with your thoughts. You have an ability but the question is How Are You Going To Use It? How are you going to live in this realm? Right now you are in an earth-body with earth-responsibilities. Keep on raising your consciousness and elevating your thoughts. In the meantime, step outside, breathe some fresh air and help make this world a great place to be in.
So You Are Psychic. Now What? Read More »
As a mother with three of six children on the Autism spectrum, I am all too aware of the need for mindfulness and balance, not just in my own life, but also for my entire family. Please join me at the Friendship Circle of Pacific Palisades at our beautfiul seaside location this Sunday, Aug. 16 and Monday, Aug 17 for the first Family Balance conference for families raising children and teens with special needs. Click here for a link to the flyer.
I created this conference with my husband, Matt Asner. With a divorce rate for families with a special needs child in the 90% range, seeing the family as a whole unit that needs as much support as the special needs child themselves is a paradigm worthy of adoption.
For parents to be the best possible advocates for their children, they need to first build a strong family foundation in the mental, spiritual and physical realms. That is why it is so imperative for each family member to feel like they are equally important and all in this journey together.
Our Family Balance conference, the first of its kind, will start on Sunday, Aug 16 with a Fathers Workshop. run by Matt Asner and Gary Larkin, MFT. This Dads workshop will celebrate the common connection between dads and their special needs child as well as their spouse. The day will also feature a sibling workshop run by Keri Bowers and Katie Luckerman, MFT. Life as a sibling of a special needs child can be filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions. Trust will be the operative word in this workshop. The day culminates in a communal dinner for all conference goers.
Monday, Aug. 17 starts with a Moms group with the incredible Dr. Esther Hess of The Center For The Developing Mind, Nutritionist and Wellness expert Mady Wolf, herself a parent of a special needs child who will present her signature “Food, Mood and Energy” workshop, and the day will end with an incredible de-stress session called “Complete Breath and Total Relaxation” with guru John Sahakian.
The health and wellness of the entire unit is so important to the chemistry of a special needs family; we simply can't do it alone.
I am hoping that you will join us for this life-affirming step into balance and togetherness.
For more info and to register:
Navah Paskowitz-Asner at (310) 454-7783 ext 117 or email at navah.paskowitz@gmail.com
www.fcbythesea.org
Finding Balance: Family Conference Aug. 16 and 17th Read More »