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October 31, 2006
What Elephant? And Daisy May is Here!
Seraphic Friend Yehudit focuses our attention on the elephant in the room. This is something I wrote about just a little over one year ago, regarding an ugly and unrelenting bigotry in the film and television industries that is widespread and accepted.
Republicans, Conservatives, lovers of Israel, and Evangelical Christians, are forced to exist in the shadows and only come out at great peril to their careers. Most Hollywood Liberals are intolerant of any political opinions other than their own. The consequenses can be fatal to the careers of most Hollywood Republicans for they will find themselves quietly but most definitely blacklisted.
Note to Seraphic readers: I'm not a tech guy. I type and hit enter. For the past few hours we've had, ahem, technical difficulties. Behind the scenes here at the vast Seraphic Secret empire (this is a vast joke) is our wonderful tech guy, Joseph.
Joseph and his lovely wife have just had a baby.
This happened at exactly the same moment that the Seraphic sidebar decided, all by itself, to disappear.
Here at Seraphic Secret we assumed that Joseph would be far too busy to attend to our little tech malfunction, and we perfectly understood. Afterall, what's a missing sidebar compared to a new baby?
But no sooner did we put things in proper perspective then, whoosh, like magic, the Seraphic sidebar reappeared.
Thank you Joseph!
Karen and I and all our readers would like to welcome baby Daisy May to the world, and most sincerely wish Joseph and his wife a huge MAZAL TOV!
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:55 AM | Comments (8)
October 30, 2006
Project Valour
From Seraphic Friend John at the fine military blog Op For comes this story about Project Valour:
Project Valour - IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, provides voice-controlled laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at home or in military hospitals. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. The experience of CPT Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered severe hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important this voice-controlled software can be to a wounded service member's recovery.
Click here to read the rest of this story and to make an important contribution.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:33 PM | Comments (2)
The History of Things
"Nice bag." I say.
"Y'like? It's a Judith Lieber, but I didn't pay full price. No way. Uh-ugh. No, y'see, I got this great deal because they had a private sale at Saks. It was unbelievable, close to 40% off. Can you believe it?"
"Unbelievable."
"Only problem is..."
"Yes?"
"I can only carry like two aspirin in the bag it's so small."
"Yeah, but it shimmers."
Allison's face lights up with true joy.
It's Sunday morning and I'm attending a bar mitzvah here in Beverly Hills.
I'm alone.
Karen is in avelut, the year of mourning after her father's ZT'L death. Thus, she's not allowed to attend any functions where there will be public diplays of joy.
Without Karen, I get bored and twitchy, and I decide to indulge in a totally useless social experiment nourished by my eye for aesthetics. Actually, it started by accident. I complimented one of my friends on her Hermes scarf. Oddly enough, she gave me the long tortuous history of its purchase. Hmm, that's interesting, I thought. And so I moved on to a few other women from my community and proceeded to compliment some of their... things.
"Hey, Esther, cool shoes."
"You like 'em? Jimmy Choo. And I didn't pay full price. No way. Got 'em on sale. Nordstrom's. Actually, they have some kind of defect in the leather, but it's so small you like need a microscope to see it."
"Killer heels."
"Tell me about it. My arches are killing me. I'm practically crippled. But hey, are they gorgeous or what?"
She yells to her husband: "Hey Moshe, Robert likes my Jimmy Choo's!"
Moshe grunts, "Mazal Tov."
"Malky, nice outfit."
"Well, doesn't Karen have you nicely trained. Loehmann's, naturally. You think I'm like these other women, I'm gonna run to Saks and pay full price? What am I a moron? Look at the lining, silk, the stitiching. Ex-quisite. It's definitely D&G. You wanna know what I paid? I can't even tell you. It's almost a crime."
I tell Sarah that her Victorian-style earrings are beautiful.
"Antique. I got them upstate Vermont about fifteen years ago from this little pisher shop. They were all tarnished and broken but I saw immediately that they were special. You know how much I paid for them? You couldn't even begin to guess. Twenty-five dollars. Can you believe that price or what? I showed them to an auctioneer from Christie's and he said they were worth like fifty-times that much."
"They're right out of a Masterpiece Theater."
"Totally! That's what I tell my shmegegie husband, but he says: what's Masterpiece Theater? Well, I can tell, Karen's taught you well!"
I sit at my table. Next to me is a friend from shul. He's wearing a really nice Cartier Roadster.
"Nice watch, Alan."
"Yeah," Alan shrugs, completely uninterested.
Alan rises to get in line for the buffet.
I notice that Alan's wife is carrying a great hand-knit bag that must have cost the earth.
"Nice bag, Eleanor."
Eleanor's face lights up. "You noticed. Bless you. Let me tell you about this bag..."
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:09 AM | Comments (24)
October 27, 2006
Islamic "Meat"
"Australia's most prominent Islamic cleric will not give sermons for two or three months, but will not face censure from his mosque for a sermon comparing women who do not wear head scarves to "uncovered meat," the mosque's spokesman said Friday."
To read the rest of this article, please click here.
And you wonder why the Islamic world is plagued with so-called "honor killings."
Via: Ronit, Mordechai Schiller & many other Seraphic Friends.
Karen and I wish you all a lovely and meaningful Shabbos.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:50 AM | Comments (4)
October 26, 2006
The Dark Ages - Again!
"Who would have thought centuries after the Enlightenment that sophisticated Europeans — in fear of radical Islamists — would be afraid to write a novel, put on an opera, draw a cartoon, film a documentary or have their pope discuss comparative theology?
"The astonishing fact is not just that millions of women worldwide in 2006 are still veiled from head-to-toe, trapped in arranged marriages, subject to polygamy, honor killings and forced circumcision, or are without the right to vote or appear alone in public. What is more baffling is that in the West, liberal Europeans are often wary of protecting female citizens from the excesses of Sharia law — sometimes even fearful of asking women to unveil their faces for purposes of simple identification and official conversation.
"Who these days is shocked that Israel is hated by Arab nations and threatened with annihilation by radical Iran? Instead, the surprise is that even in places like Paris or Seattle, Jews are singled out and killed for the apparent crime of being Jewish."
To read Victor Davis Hanson's entire article, please click here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Mordechai Schiller
People must remember that great civilizations are often destroyed not by greater civilizations, but by barbarians, for the elite who lead great civilizations have invariably forgotten what makes them great; they have also forgotten what true evil is. Thus they fall prey to intellectual decadence. Witness the chattering classes in America who furiously, uselessly debate whether these Islamic barbarians should be labeled "Islamo fascists." This is a perfect example of a culture that can very well sow the seeds of its own destruction. RJA
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:31 AM | Comments (7)
Our President Speaks
Michael Barone's must-read interview with President Bush.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend: Jeremiah
President Bush is calm, reflective, and has a fine historical perspective on Iraq. Perhaps the most distressing issue to me about the current political discourse is the pure hatred directed at President Bush by members of the opposition. If only they hated the jihadists with as much ardor. President Bush is a man who does not carry out political policies based upon polls, but based on political and moral conviction. This should be supported and applauded. Instead our President is labeled a Hitler. This alone is a vile historical dimunition of true evil and should alone distance good people from the left.
I remain saddened, confused and alienated by this fast growing segment of the Democrats, the appeasement party.
In any case, I love the closing sentence of Baron's piece: "... I noticed the bust of Churchill as I was leaving the Oval Office."
Winston Churchill was the greatest man of the 20th Century.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:20 AM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2006
Islam: Mars & Venus
This You Tube vid on the differences between men's and women's brains, as elucidated by one Islamic scholar/philosopher/whatever, had Karen on the floor laughing. The presentation also has incredibly sophisticated Powerpoint graphics. Via Seraphic Friend Muquata.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:10 PM | Comments (2)
Georgetown Jihad
Just months later, university ejects evangelical Christians from campus.
"The Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University has been renamed after Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal donated $20 million to its projects. And while that may be just the tail, the dog appears to be moving away from its historic Catholic and Jesuit teaching philosophy too.
"The Center's leaders say it now will be used to put on workshops regarding Islam, fostering exchanges with the Muslim world, addressing U.S. policy towards the Muslim world, working on the relationship of Islam and Arab culture, addressing Muslim citizenship and civil liberties, and developing exchange programs for students from the Muslim world.
"The "Christian" part of the center's projects at the university that has a history of 200 years of higher education following its Christian founding, is conspicuous by its absence in its website plans for its 10-year future."
To read the rest of this article, please click here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, David Paulin
Has it ever occurred to anybody that all these so-called interfaith exchange programs that are funded by the Saudis should really be in Saudi Arabia? Afterall, this is a state where there is not one Church, not one Synagogue, not one Buddhist Temple, where "interfaith understanding" is, ahem, sorely lacking.
Of course the Saudis have no intention of promoting interfaith dialogue. This is a complete scam. These university grants are just another face of jihad, and shame on the greedy universities for allowing their campuses to become breeding grounds for anti-American, anti-Jewish and anti-Christian values. RJA
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:47 PM | Comments (1)
Blabbermouth Dems
"For all the White House's faults, however, there is no doubt in my mind that Republicans as a group are better informed, better equipped and better able to lead this country in a time of war than the Democrats. The donkey party is led by thumb-sucking demagogues in prominent positions who equate Bush with Hitler and Jim Crow, call him a liar in front of high school students and the world, fantasize about impeachment and fetishize the human rights of terrorists who want to kill me.
"Put simply: There are no grown-ups in the Democrat Party."
To read the mighty Michelle Malkin's entire article, please click here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:35 AM | Comments (2)
Voting Republican
"The fact is I don't trust the Democratic Party to lead this country in a time of uncertainty and war. While the Democrats say they want to refocus the nation's energy on the war on terror, they've demonstrated time and again that they oppose the most effective means of fighting terrorism.
"Democrats would interfere with the National Security Agency's ability to intercept communications between terrorists abroad and their agents in the United States. They would extend to terrorists being held overseas access to the U.S. civilian court system, which could jeopardize national security by making classified intelligence available to the terrorists and their attorneys. They would treat terrorists like common criminals rather than as combatants who are at war with us.
"Nor do I trust that Democrats would do the right thing in Iraq -- not that the current administration has had a stellar record there, either. I'm tired of debating whether we should or should not have gone into Iraq -- both Republicans and half the Democrats in the Senate voted to authorize the war in 2003. The question is what the United States should do now. It's clear the war is going very badly and that Iraq is on the verge of a civil war. Democrats have offered no clear plan except to leave Iraq as quickly as possible, regardless of the consequences."
To read Linda Chavez's entire article, please click here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:28 AM | Comments (2)
October 24, 2006
Mask
The scene goes like this: a citizen pulls up to a bank, slaps a magazine into his .45 automatic, takes a deep breath -- then covers his face with a mask.
And when a masked man, or woman--who knows what they are?--steps into a bank, if the bank guards are on top of their game--well, they shoot the masked person.
Common sense, right?
A new front in the Islamic debate has opened in Britain. The question rages whether a woman can wear the niqab, the full face veil.
Tony Blair calls the veil "a mark of separation."
With all due respect to the British Prime Minister, this is nonsense.
I wear a yarmulke. This too is a mark of separation. My Hasidic friends wear even more distinctive marks of separation. The Sikhs who live down the block from me wear their fine white turbans. By the way, many of them say "Good Shabbos" to me. Priests wear cassocks. Soldiers wear uniforms. So does my UPS man. All are signs of separation.
But their faces are never covered.
British Conservative opposition figure, David Davis takes a different tact, he claims that some Muslims have set themselves on a course of "voluntary apartheid."
This is the pathetic cry of those who yearn for the triumph of that failed religion: multiculturalism.
Again, this is true nonsense. The Amish lead very separate lives that could be termed voluntary apartheid. But let's be honest, the Amish have no desire to impose an Amish caliphite on western civilization.
No, the issue is not "communication" nor " apartheid."
The issue is security.
This is the elephant in the room that the cowardly British politicians refuse to acknowledge.
In a free society, we do not allow citizens to mingle and participate with masked faces.
In a free society only criminals feel the need to resort to masks.
This is in fact law.
The Ku Klux Klan Mask Law was passed so that the Klan could not meet with their faces covered.
Ah, you say, but Islam is a religion and the Klan is, well, a racist, terrorist organization.
Unfortunately, large segments of Islam are racist, terrorists organizations. This includes entire states such as Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the Palestinian territories--brutal tyrannies that officially and endlessly indoctrinate their citizens, especially the young, with anti-Jewish and anti-Christian hatred the likes of which the world has never seen.
Common sense must prevail, freedom loving citizens will inevitably recognize that if a transparent society allows a small minority to mingle among free people as masked ciphers, then the terrorist element will prevail and our security and our lives will be in mortal peril.
Keep in mind that in countries where the full veil is worn women are not allowed to participate in these societies as completely productive members. They are Talibanized, enslaved. In Britain, these women (if they are women, how do we know?) are suing for the right to teach in schools, to be in the work place, in truth, to aggressively spread the mask.
This slippery slope, make no mistake about it, is a central part of jihad. To normalize the most radical elements of Islam.
The veil movement will cross the ocean and work most aggressively to take root in America. When it does, we must confront it, and deny it with unrelenting force.
Here is a fine article about the niqab by Debbie Schlussel that has been brought to our attention by Seraphic Friend Jeremiah.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:57 AM | Comments (29)
Britain 1932 - 1940 Redux
"The biggest single cause of British anti-Americanism, however, is Israel. Despite being the target for more than half a century of genocidal Arab and Muslim aggression, Israel is widely perceived in Britain as the regional bully, and its acts of self-defense are viewed as the principal motor behind both the Middle East impasse and Islamic grievance because of its supposed refusal to allow the Palestinians to have a state of their own.
"Thus John Denham, chairman of the parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee, wrote that Israel’s policies were making Britain a target for terror. America brought the 9/11 attacks upon itself, goes this type of thinking, because of its support for Israel — and the only reason Britain is now threatened by Islamic terror is because of Blair’s support for the United States.
"This has opened a Pandora’s box of anti-Jewish prejudice in Britain."
To read Melanie Phillips' entire article, please click here.
Let me quote Winston Churchill, the man who saved western civilization in the 20th century, regarding the craven appeasers who helped bring about World War II, for his words ring true now more than ever:
The British people were being told lies. Churchill could not recall "any time when the gap between the kind of words which statesmen used and what was actually happening in many countries was so great as it is now." RJA
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:38 AM | Comments (9)
NY Times Editor Recants
Public Editor Recants: Times Was Wrong to Expose Terrorist Surveillance Program. But some Times critics find Barney Calame's mea culpa lame: "While it's a close call now, as it was then, I don't think the article should have been published."
Full story at Times Watch
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)
Prime Time Blood Libel
"Countless suicide bombers and other Palestinian terrorists have cited Dura as a justification of their crimes. For the past six years PA television has continuously aired a film showing Dura in heaven beckoning other Palestinian children to "martyr" themselves by becoming terrorists and join him there.
"The Palestinians are not the only ones who have used Dura as a terrorist recruitment tool. He is prominently featured in al-Qaida recruitment videos and on Hizbullah banners. Daniel Pearl's murderers interspersed their video of his beheading with the France 2 film. Throughout Europe, and particularly in France, Muslims have used Dura as a rallying cry in their attacks against Jews - attacks which broke out shortly after the Dura film was broadcast.
"At First, Israel accepted responsibility for Dura's death without conducting an investigation. Yet, in the weeks that followed the event, engineers Nahum Shachaf and Yosef Doriel conducted investigations on behalf of the IDF's Southern Command."
To read Caroline Glick's entire article, please click here.
Seraphic Friend Treppenwitz has an extremely important blog about political analyst/Goddess Caroline Glick. I always knew that Trep was impossibly clever, but now he's officially, you know, an important pundit.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:56 AM | Comments (1)
Steven Vincent Honored -- At Last
Seraphic Secret has written about the wise and courageous journalist Steven Vincent and his widow Lisa Ramaci. We are heartened to learn that finally Steven Vincent is being honored by Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Our friend Yehudit at Kesher has the full story.
We sincerely hope that this well deserved recognition brings some measure of comfort to Lisa Ramaci.
May Steven Vincent's memory be a blessing.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:32 AM | Comments (1)
October 23, 2006
Bitter Rice
"I've waited to deal with the following news development because it is so disturbing to me personally, I needed to let my rage subside.
"I can now speak and write coherently about the latest ghastly statements by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice concerning the Middle East. But it's not easy.
"Last week, Rice said America could have no greater legacy than to divide the land of Israel and establish a Palestinian Arab terrorist state to end what she called the "humiliation of occupation." She made the statement at a dinner celebrating the third anniversary of the American Task Force on Palestine."
For the rest of Joseph Farah's important column, please click here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 04:30 PM | Comments (8)
Caribbean Jihad
A fine article by Seraphic Friend David Paulin about the spread of Jihad to the Caribbean Islands. Deeply disturbing. Click here to go to the article at Big Carnival.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:55 AM | Comments (2)
Jihad Network -- USA
By: Fern Sidman
It has recently been reported that the American television airwaves will now include a 24 hour channel dedicated to Islamic programming. The new cable channel being broadcast by the Comcast Cable company is called Bridges TV, and is the brainchild of American Muslim banker, Muzzamil Hassan and his wife, Osea Zubare, an architect. The new channel is broadcast in English and is being seen on cable, satellite and broadband networks. It is being billed as the "American Muslim Lifestyle Network" and according to Hassan, the funding for this new channel is coming primarily from American Muslim investors as well as Wall Street venture capital and private equity firms. Hassan asserts that there is no foreign funding for this channel.
According to an article that appeared in The New York Sun newspaper on October 19, 2006, writer Steven Stalinsky reports that, "Bridges TV, an American-Islamic TV channel "seeking to improve the image of Muslims in the United States" and to "offer a unique perspective on the Middle East and the war on terrorism," has extended its availability into six states, creating a potential audience of nearly 2 million."
Concerning the content of programming on this channel, Stalinsky also reports that, "One religious figure who appeared October 3 said Muslims have a duty to change America and to increase their numbers to 50% of the population from 2%. He recommended that Shariah, or Islamic law, be implemented in American courts. During a roundtable discussion on the Arab-Israeli conflict on October 5, one participant offered a solution: "For the Jews to leave and return to Europe." Since the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began, the channel has been showing official, Saudi government-controlled Wahhabi sermons from Mecca's holiest mosque, Al-Haram. The sermons stream live via Saudi TV Channel one every day at 4 p.m., and Bridges TV adds its own English subtitles. An anti-Jewish, anti-Christian sermon from October 5 included the call, "May God destroy them!"
The article also reports that, "One of the stars of Bridges TV is a cofounder and vice chairman of the international health care company CBay Inc., Donald "Skip" Conover, who hosts and produces a show called "Words Matter." He was the subject of a gushing article in the Saudi daily Arab News on September 27. In the article, Mr. Conover expressed "his disgust" at what he called inflammatory statements about Arabs and Muslims in the press.
He also discussed the power of the "Jewish lobby" and called on all Muslims to vote for the Democratic Party. "Every American politician is in lockstep with Israel. … If they vote against, then the Jewish lobby will put a lot of money behind the candidate against them in their districts in the future. I have news for the Muslim community. All American politicians are in the pocket of the Jewish lobby today because they control a lot of money, and they spend a lot of money in politics."
"If the Muslims of America believe that they don't want Bush to have a free hand for the next two years, then the Muslims of America need to get organized and make sure they get out to vote for Democrats for both the House and the Senate," Mr. Conover added. "Every Muslim in the Middle East who has a relative in the U.S. should get the message across to their relatives. They need to make sure that all their friends vote against Bush."
It is clear that the agenda of Bridges TV is to create a media platform for anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment. This channel will also serve as an invaluable recruitment tool for the Muslim cause. It will target non-Muslims in the hopes of tapping into and embellishing on anti-Israel sentiments that are already present. While billing itself with a "wholesome" and "innocuous" label as a Muslim Lifestyle Network that broadcasts cartoons, travel shows, sports, feature films and documentaries, in reality they are subtlely seeking to indoctrinate viewers with hatred of Jews, Christians, Israel, the US and all non-Muslims.
The influence of Islam in American is undoubtedly spreading at a fever pitch. Every day new websites are popping up that seek to spread the Islamic message to all non-believers in the USA and Canada. One such web site is called, islamandamerica which offers free Qurans and free tickets to Islamic seminars to all non-Muslims. According to its mission statement, this web site seeks states, "We, The Message International, are a volunteer based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to tightening the gaps between the world and their information about Islam. Our goal is to convey the pristine, unadulterated message that has been so putridly tainted in recent times, especially here in the United States.
*We offer 100% Free Islamic Materials (Qurans, Books, CDs & Brochures) in many Languages through our web sites and a toll free number.
*We supply Islamic materials to Public and Governmental US Organizations such as The Army, Hospitals, Law Enforcement Agencies, Prisons, Universities, Worship-Houses, and Shelters.
*We organize and establish indoor as well as outdoor Community tables.
*We hold Islamic conferences and interfaith dialogues.
*We serve and assist hundreds of New-Muslims every month "
While the implication of their mission statement is to chastise the United States for its "putridly tainted" view of Islam and Muslims, these sites do little to prove that Islam is a peaceful and law abiding religion that supports democratic principles and embraces concepts such as tolerance and diversity. In a democracy, particularly in the United States, these organizations, television channels and web sites have a right to exist. They are also protected by the First Amendment free speech rights, however preaching hatred of a religion, culture, society and political viewpoint is unacceptable. It is incumbent on those who recoil in horror at such hate speech to speak out against this incidious message.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:19 AM | Comments (1)
October 20, 2006
The Al Durrah Verdict
Finally, it was too much to hope that there would be justice in France.
Here is the Al Durrah verdict and, yes, the French have chosen to do what they do so well, appease the jihadists and take cover in lies and dishonor.
I have no hope for the French nation and let me say it again, this country will only get what it deserves.
Here is a most complete report from The Augean Stables, who is a witness in the trial. As always, the blogosphere is doing the best job of reporting on this important event.
Here is the link to our first story about this current blood libel.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:59 PM | Comments (7)
Obsession
Here's an 11 minute version of the award winning film about radical Islam Obession made by my friend Wayne Kopping. This is a great film that had it's world premiere at the Liberty Film Festival last year. This Conservative film festival is growing by leaps and bounds. For more information check at their website on a regular basis.
I should also add that this is one film festival where you will find films that support and love Israel, unlike most film festivals where you find films that support homicide jihadist bombers.
Karen and I wish you all a lovely and meaningful Shabbos.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)
Klezmatics Live
From Seraphic Friend Yehudit at Kesher, a pre-Shabbos song from the Klezmatics live in Berlin.
Yehudit instructs us to play it LOUD.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:35 PM | Comments (1)
Seraphic Book Review -- Plus Deleted Scenes
From today's Los Angeles Jewish Journal, here's my review of Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom's Between The Lines of the Bible: A Study From the New School of Orthodox Torah Commentary, Published by Yashar Books, Inc. Brooklyn NY.
The original title of my review was: "The Unbearbale Pleasure of Torah Between the Lines."
I wrote a sidebar that was meant to achieve a few simple things:
1. To disclose that I daven with Rabbi Etshalom in the Young Israel of Century City Early Minyan.
2. To reveal that Rabbi Etshalom is a sophisticated and fun man, not an ivory tower scholar.
3. To infuse a little fun into an otherwise straightforward review.
4. And, let's face it, I can never pass up the opportunity to recommend a few great American, Japanese and Chinese films.
Anyway, the Journal cut the sidebar because they did not have the space.
But I do. And here it is.
Full disclosure: I’m a member of the Young Israel of Century City where I attend the early minyan. Guess who’s the Rabbi of the early minyan? Yup. Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom. Okay, you’re thinking I have to give this book a good review. Well, truth is, I didn’t have to review the book at all. I did it because I admired and learned a great deal from this fine volume. Besides, Rabbi Etshalom and I have a pretty proscribed relationship. After services, the minyan gathers in back and everyone positively dives for the cholent. Here’s an example of what Rabbi Etshalom and I talk about. As you’ll see, we Orthodox are involved in, um, truly profound Torah conversations.
Rabbi Etshalom: So Robert, what’s the best Civil War movie ever made?
Me: Ride with the Devil, 1999, starring Tobey Maguire, written by James Schamus and directed by Ang Lee. A neglected masterpiece.
Rabbi Etshalom: Okaaay. Never heard of it. I’ll Netflix it. Have you seen any really good martial arts movies lately?
Me: Hero, starring Jet Li and the stunning Ziyi Zhang. Look for the battle scene at the calligraphy school. Poetry in motion.
Rabbi Etshalom: Netflix again. I happen to love Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Me: The sword fight in the trees, a true b’racha.
Rabbi Etshalom: Can you recommend any great Japanese movies?
Me: Akira Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai. The greatest movie ever made.
Rabbi Etshalom: Oh, I’ve seen it, of course.
Me: Rashomon.
Rabbi Etshalom: Are you kidding, a classic.
Me: Ugetsu.
Rabbi Etshalom: Noooooo, never even heard of it.
Me: Unbelievable film. It was produced in 1953, directed by the great Kenji Mizoguchi, and stars Machiko Kyo, absolutely the most talented and beautiful actress ever to appear in the movies. Mystical and terribly tragic. It’s like the most Jewish of Japanese movies.
Rabbi Etshalom: Great, this calls for more cholent.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:52 AM | Comments (17)
October 19, 2006
Aid and Comfort
CNN have crossed the line in giving aid and comfort to the terrorist enemy in Iraq. The Islamic terrorists made a video for propaganda purposes and CNN have aired it. You cannot buy that kind of publicity. Some news channels have no idea what it means to be responsible journalists, they are vultures feeing on meat--any meat.
Follow this link to our friends at Op For for the full story.
No wonder hardly anyone watches CNN, not only are they boring, but they're often seditious.
No wonder Fox is the top rated cable news channel. They are openly Conservative and they and their correspondents do not work against our soldiers in the field.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:56 PM | Comments (2)
Busy, Busy, Busy...
This is very cool.
Naisen ajattelu on viimein saatu mallinnettua.
If someone would provide a translation, we would be eternally grateful.
I'll bet you've heard of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. I'll also bet you probably can't name them. Well, here they are.
I know that everyone dreams of going back in time, or forward to the future, I know I do. So here's a nice, um, down-to-earth discussion of the speed of light, and thus the practical possibilities of time travel.
This man is a genius.
Chalk drawings from Julian Beever.
Scroll down slowly and stop at each new frame.
Julian Beever is an English artist who's famous for his art on the pavement of England, France, Germany, USA, Australia and Belgium . Beever gives his drawings an amazing 3D illusion.
And today in literature, the woman who wrote: "My candle burns at both ends; / It will not last the night; / But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -- / It gives a lovely light!" died. Read about her here.
The Good Ol' Days and how they were advertised:
Solarex "Scientific" Sun Glasses.
United States Department of War.
The Saudis should try running this ad.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:40 AM | Comments (21)
The End of France
Twice in the 20th century America rescued France from German aggression. In the First World War French soldiers fought bravely, but ultimately they were sacrificed by a myopic high command who were using 19th century tactics against machine guns. And so when the Second War War came we, along with Great Britain our other allies, rescued France from herself, from the suicidal appeasers who steered French state and military policy--models of cowardly appeasement.
This is no longer possible. America will not spill blood nor expend gold from her treasury on this nation a third time. This is strike three.
America cannot control France's cultural suicide nor her plunge into religious appeasement to Islam. Soon, mark my words, The House of Chanel will be marketing fashionable veils.
France has nothing to fight the Jihadists with for she believes in nothing. Her churches are empty. Liberal secularism is hardly a potent weapon against a radical religious ideology. It's like fighting a tank with bullets made of feathers.
France is lost, and in truth, it could not happen to a more deserving nation.
Let us never forget that on Black Saturday the Jews of Paris were rounded up for deporation to the concentration camps--without the aid of a single Nazi soldier. The gendermes were were quite happy and anxious to fulfill this genocidal role all by themselves. French police forces arrested 12,884 Jews — including 4,051 children which the Gestapo had not even asked for — 5,802 women and 3,031 men. Regardless, they were all sent to Drancy transit camp, guarded by, who else? French police, before being sent to concentration camps. This event proved the eagerness of Pétain's regime to collaborate with Nazi Germany in carrying out the Holocaust. By its own, this action represents more than a quarter of the 42,000 French Jews sent to Auschwitz in 1942, of which only 811 would come back after the end of the war.
Even Eichmann was stunned by the level and enthusiasm of French collaboration. He was reported to be delighted at how easy the French made it for the SS to carry out their duties.
And to this day, the French have continued to oblige the genocidal dreams of the most brutish Jew haters in the mide-east.
For now, it is imperative that our Jewish brothers flee France to Israel where a dynamic and free society will continue to flourish in spite of the barbarians at the gates.
Let the French suffer the results of her perfidious treatment of her Jewish citizens and Israel.
Yes, France chose, again and again--endlessly so--to support Palestinian jihadists over Jewish democracy and truth tellers. In fact, France constantly villified the vulnerable Jewish State, for France's flow of oil was always the issue, never, never right and wrong. Never did she give a moment's thought to the shredded bodies of those innocent men, women and children martyred by those inhuman homicidal Islamic murderers.
France gave lip service to so-called Palestinian rights, but oil was and is the only right she recognized. And appeasement the only language she spoke. It is rare for a state to nakedly accuse another of that which she is utterly guilty of herself.
But France has never been shy of reaching for a level of political hypocracy that makes drug-dealing dictators of banana republics gasp in admiration.
And now France has the Jihadists in her borders, where every single night gangs of "French youths" riot and burn whole chunks of French suburbs. Indeed, France is in the process of trading her loyal and productive French/Jewish citizens for a Muslim non-citizens whose loyalty, they proudly admit, faces Mecca.
France, Vichy to the core, at last reaps what she so richly has sown.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:40 AM | Comments (7)
October 18, 2006
All the Rachels
That poisonous piece of Jihadist propaganda "My Name is Rachel Corrie" has opened in NY. I wonder, does the performance feature innocent little Rachel burning the American flag--which she did about every other day.
Sure, they do.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 05:58 PM | Comments (2)
Letter from France
Once again, the real news in France is conveniently not being reported as it should.
To give you an idea of what's going on in France where there are now between 5 and 6 million Muslims and about 600,000 Jews, here is an email that comes from a Jew living in France.
Jews to the Gas Chambers
Hillel writes: I am a Jew -- therefore I am forwarding this to everyone on all my e-mail lists. I will not sit back and do nothing. Nowhere have the flames of anti-Jewish hatred burned more furiously than in France:
In Lyon, a car was rammed into a synagogue and set on fire.
In Montpellier, the Jewish religious center was firebombed; so were synagogues in Strasbourg and Marseilles; so was a Jewish school in Creteil -- all recently.
A Jewish sports club in Toulouse was attacked with Molotov cocktails, and on the statue of Alfred Dreyfus in Paris, the words "Dirty Jew" were painted. In Bondy, fifteen men beat up members of a Jewish football team with sticks and metal bars. The bus that takes Jewish children to school in Aubervilliers has been attacked three times in the last 14 months.
According to the Police, metropolitan Paris has seen ten to twelve anti-Jewish incidents per day in the past thirty days. Walls in Jewish neighborhoods have been defaced with slogans proclaiming "Jews to the gas chambers" and "Death to the Jews."
A gunman opened fire on a kosher butcher's shop (and, of course, the butcher) in Toulouse, France; a Jewish couple in their 20's were beaten up by five men in Villeurbanne, France. The woman was pregnant; a Jewish school was broken into and vandalized in Sarcelles, France.This was just in the past week.
I call on you, whether you are a fellow Jew, a friend, or merely a person with the capacity and desire to distinguish decency from depravity, to do, at least, these three simple things:
First, care enough to stay informed. Don't ever let yourself become deluded into thinking that this is not your fight. I remind you of what Pastor Neimoller said in World War II: "First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me".
Boycott France & French Products
Second, boycott France and French products. Only the Arab countries are more toxically anti-Jewish and, unlike them, France exports more than just oil and hatred. So boycott their wines and their perfumes. Boycott their clothes and their foodstuffs.
Definitely boycott their movies. [They stink anyway. RJA]
Definitely boycott their shores. Do not vacation in France.If we are resolved we can exert amazing pressure and, whatever else we may know about the French, we most certainly know that they are like a cobweb in a hurricane in the face of well directed pressure.
Your next vacation must be in Israel. That is where you must spend your hard-earned money.
Third, send this along to your family, your friends, and your co-workers. Think of all of the people of good conscience that you know and let them know that you and the people that you care about need their help.
FYI, the number one best selling book in France is "September 11: The Frightening Fraud," which argues that 9/11 was a Jewish instigation, and that no plane ever hit the Pentagon.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:18 AM | Comments (16)
October 17, 2006
French Blood Libel
I just received this from Seraphic Friend Naomi Ragen.
Dear Robert:
Do you remember that article I sent you about the staging of the death of that little boy-Mohammed Al Durah -- at the beginning of the Intifada?
It was all a fake, a performance put on by Pallywood.
Well, Richard Landes who publicized this, is now testifying in a trial in France in a case brought by the journalists at French TV who faked the whole thing and now want to defend their "honor."
The only problem is, they are losing.
They didn't even show up for the trial they initiated, which continues next week.
Instead of defending themselves, they've become the defendants.
Below, Dr. Landes shares some insights about the trial and the Al Durah blood libel in an article in The New Republic.
Naomi
On September 30, 2000, images of 12-year-old Mohammed Al Durah and his father--cowering behind a barrel at Netzarim Junction, in the Gaza Strip--circulated globally, along with a claim that they had been the targeted victims of Israeli fire.
If Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount two days earlier had sparked riots, these images triggered all out war. The ensuing horror and outrage swept away any questions about its reliability. Indignant observers dismissed any Israeli attempt to deny responsibility as "blaming the victim."
Troubling Questions
But, by 2002, two documentaries--one German, one French--raised troubling questions. The raw footage from that day reveals pervasive staging; no evidence, certainly not the most widely circulated tape offers evidence of Israeli fire directed at the barrel, much less of Israelis targeting the pair; given the angles, the Israelis could scarcely have hit the pair at all, much less 12 times (indeed the only two bullets that hit the wall above them came from the Palestinian side, inexplicably 90 degrees off target); there was no sign of blood on the ground where the father and son reportedly bled for 20 minutes; there was no footage of an ambulance evacuation or arrival at the hospital; there was no autopsy; and none of the dozen cameraman present filmed anything that could substantiate the claim that the father and son had been hit, much less that the Israelis had targeted them.
These documentaries had limited exposure, in part thanks to France2's refusal to run the one by a sister station in Germany.
But they did spark a demonstration in Paris outside the France2 offices by citizens outraged to discover that so horrendous an image may well have been a fake.
Dreyfuss Affair Redux
The demonstrations apparently ruffled feathers. Some writers lambasted France2's coverage--most prominently Philippe Karsenty, who called for Al Durah beat chief Charles Enderlin and France2 chief Arlette Chabot to resign, and, in response, Enderlin and France2 itself--using the same law invoked against Emile Zola in the Dreyfus Affair--have accused three critics (including Arsenty) of "striking at their honor and respectability."
Now, four years later, the lawsuits are finally coming to trial in Room 17 of the Palais de Justice in Paris. The three suits (one for each defendant) come in rapid succession--September 14, October 26, and November 30--with judgments four weeks following each hearing. And, in at least two of the trials, I, a medieval historian, have been asked to testify.
Global Blood Libel
I have become involved for two reasons. First of all, I noted almost immediately that Palestinians and anti-Zionists, insisting that Israel killed the boy on purpose, used Al Durah in a way familiar to medievalists--as a blood libel.
This was the first blood libel of the twenty-first century, rendered global by cable and the Internet.
Indeed, within a week, crowds the world over shouted "We want Jewish blood!" and "Death to the Jews!".
For Europeans in particular, the libelous image came as balm to a troubled soul: "This death erases, annuls that of the little boy in the Warsaw Ghetto," intoned Europe1 editorialist Catherine Nay.
The Israelis were the new Nazis.
And second, when I saw the raw footage in the summer of 2003--especially when I saw the scene Enderlin had cut,wherein the boy (allegedly shot in the stomach, but holding his hand over his eyes) picks up his elbow and looks
around--I realized that this was not a film of a boy dying, but a clumsily staged scene.
On October 31, 2003, at the studios of France2 in Jerusalem in the company of Charles Enderlin and his Israeli cameraman, I saw the raw footage of Al Durah from the only Palestinian cameraman who actually captured the scene on film--footage France2 still refuses to release for public examination.
A Public Conspiracy
I was floored. The tapes feature a long succession of obviously faked injuries; brutal, hasty evacuation scenes; and people ducking for cover while others stand around.
One fellow grabbed his leg in agony, then, upon seeing that no one would come to carry him away, walked away without a limp.
It was stunning.
That was no cameraman's conspiracy: It was everyone--a public secret about which news consumers had no clue.
But the real shock came when I mentioned this to Enderlin, who said he trusted this cameraman.
"They always do that," he said. "It's a cultural style."
So why wouldn't they have faked Al Durah?
"They're not good enough," he said.
A year later, the higher-up at France2 made the same remark to three French journalists who also noted the pervasive staging:
"You know well that it's always like that," they said.
Mainly Useless Mainstream Press
I tried unsuccessfully to interest the mainstream press in this obvious fakery, but nobody was interested. "I don't know how much appetite there is for this material here," one person at a major studio told me.
So I made Pallywood (Palestinian Hollywood) a video essay showing the dishonesty and the still-more-astounding Western complicity in using this footage to inform us about the Middle East. Then I made a follow-up, Al Durah: The Making of an Icon (and soon, Icon of Hatred). I established a website, The Second Draft, where I posted the movies along with my evidence so that, unlike France2, people could check my sources. And now the accused have asked me to testify.
Why did they want me? In trying to dismiss my first testimony, the plaintiff's lawyer wondered, "what does he know about images? He's a medievalist." Well, I know about the power of images, of narratives, and of forgeries, and especially blood libels.
And, since my first book, Relics, Apocalypse, and the Deceits of History, was about a set of forgeries that continued to fool historians for decades even after a critic revealed them as fakes in the 1920s, I also know something about the difficulty of getting specialists to acknowledge they were duped.
A Call for Genocidal War
But this image goes beyond blood libel and anti-Semitism, beyond blackening Israel's image and white washing Palestinian violence. Al Durah became the icon not only of the Intifada, but of global jihad. Within months of the incident, bin Laden came out with a recruiting video that featured extensive Pallywood footage and highlighted Al Durah. Months later, Pakistani jihadis killed Daniel Pearl, interweaving Al Durah's image into their tape of the execution.
In 2000, anyone told of Muslim plans to Islamicize the West laughed with scorn. It was the least of Western worries. Today, some have already given up Europe for lost; others see it in the balance; and others are finally awakening with shock to the radical shift in the balance of forces.
Ultimately: France on Trial
And every aspect of l'affaire Al Durah is emblematic of why: from the Palestinian forces that staged it; to the Western mainstream press and the NGOs that presented it as news without asking hard questions (and that believed any subsequent Palestinian claims of Israelis killing children and resisted efforts at correction); to the Muslim world that turned it into an icon of hatred and a call to genocidal holy war; to the "leftist" revolutionaries who jumped on the jihad bandwagon in Durban, South Africa; to a public distressingly eager for "dirt" on Israel and unaware of the forces empowered by diffusing such poisons.
Three court trials, then--in which France2 seeks to bury any serious assessment of their coverage--are also trials of France's ability to defend her republican values against an Islamist onslaught that it seems ill-equipped to resist. And, as France goes, so goes Europe. Would France have it any other way?
The plaintiff at the first trial, on September 14, was Philippe Karsenty of Media-Ratings, the boldest of France2's critics. No one from France2 showed up. Its solitary lawyer had no witnesses, no questions for Karsenty's witnesses, and no comments about the evidence damning her clients. Her summation insisted on France2's honor and reputation, offered a letter of praise from President Jacques Chirac, and cast aspersions on the defense's witnesses.
Then the procureur de la republique (a court-appointed officer charged with assessing the case in the interests of civil society) gave her nonbinding opinion. She rebuked France2 for not addressing the evidence, for not showingtheir raw footage, and for not even showing up in court. She further admitted that, although Karsenty had impugned Enderlin's and France2's reputations, he had offered enough evidence to make such assertions a legitimate part of public discourse.
Judgment on Karsenty's case is Thursday. Next trial: October 26. So far, the best coverage--surprise!--comes from the blogosphere.
RICHARD LANDES medieval history professor at Boston University, established seconddraft.org and blogs at the augeanstables.com
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:10 PM | Comments (4)
October 16, 2006
Woe to Live On
Recently, I called The Moonflower Vine, one of the finest American novels I had ever read.
This obscure book, the one and only novel ever written by the mysterious Jetta Carleton, appears to be autobiographical. But make no mistake about it, this is a supremely crafted work of fiction that is deeply imagined, vividly evoked in all its parts; a story that instantly grabs you, draws you into the lives and, yes, the passionate loves of five members of the Soames family: Matthew and Callie, the husband and wife, and their daughters, Jessica, Leonie, Mathy and Mary Jo the generous narrator.
The prose is light as air and yet at the same time dense and precise. Yes, Carleton's able to carry off these two seemingly contradictory techniques at the same time. Carleton slips into the minds of each character so effortlessly that we are never aware of her supreme craft. This, to me, signifies greatness in a writer: the ability to hide method. I have never cared for writers who make make their craft part of the story. This is material for grad students who have way too much time on their hands; grim and joyless professors who have forgotten the core love of stories, literary elites who no longer read yarns but, goodness gracious, get paid to "deconstruct texts."
INTERPOLATION #1
This is all just code for Marxist theory which the academics are currently relabeling. Afterall, their precious but murderous ideology sort of got a bad rap after word got out that their demigod Mao murdered some 60 million of his own people in the name of the, ahem, people's revolution. And the fall of the equally murderous and utterly corrupt Soviet Union was, er, not so good for the cause either. All those nasty gulags. But hey, that never seems to deter the true believers. They simply tell us and each other--endlessly, ponderously, insulting the facts and our intelligence--that that wasn't real communism.
Sound familiar?
Yup, just like the apologists for the jihadist throat-slitters, the fine folks who never tire of tellings us that that isn't real Islam.
Uh-huh.
END INTERPOLATION #1
Awareness of the author's craft has always sealed off a select group of great authors for me and made them, well, not-so-great. In fact, if not for some college lit courses, I would never crack the bindings of these author's books--for their works are boring, unpleasant, unreadable, in truth, unbearable. Here's a short list: everything Samuel Beckett ever wrote , the James Joyce of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, whole chunks of Faulkner, and the "mature" Henry James novels, The Golden Bowl, The Ambassadors, and The Wings of the Dove are a true misery. Did you know that James referred to himself as The Master? I suppose he had to--his book sales were dismal.
Anyway, I've received over a dozen private e-mails thanking me for recommending The Moonflower Vine. So far not a single Seraphic friend has scolded me for making them waste their money on purchasing the book, no one has told me that I've stolen hours from their lives. In fact, each and every Seraphic friend has so adored Moonflower that they have demanded that I recommend another obscure and great novel.
Not so easy.
The pressure is on.
I take my blogging responsibilities seriously. Ask Karen, at four in the morning when I should be sleeping I toss and I turn and feel guilty that I have yet to come up with just that right combination of greatness and obscurity.
It would be easy to reach into the back of my bookshelf...
I'm doing it riiiiight now, and pluck out--
--here we go, that fabulous but now obscure (Nobel Prize-winner, 1928) Norwegian novelist Sigrid Undsted and tell you to read her magnificent three-volume work Kristin Lavransdatter. Undsted's portrait of a single woman's life, and of course Norwegian society, in the 14th century is a true epic and at the same time an intimate portrait of a single soul.
But I'm not recommending this great trilogy. That's too easy. Besides, it's not in the American grain.
Okay, go ahead and read it if you want to. It's stupendous. And besides, how many Norwegian novels are you ever going to read?
Answer: Very few.
Do you remember Yom Kippur? My list of the Ten Top Civil War Movies, except there are only eight movies on the list because there aren't ten great Civil War movies.
Anywhooo.
Of that list, my highest recommendation went to Ride with the Devil. It is Ang Lee's best film. James Schamus wrote the script and in the comments section I pointed out, twice, I think, that there is a classic piece of dialogue. Here's the set-up.
Jake, Tobey Maguire, a Missouri bushwacker, has just married Sue Lee, played by country Western singer Jewel. On their wedding night, Sue Lee, a widow, senses Jake's sexual innocence.
Sue Lee: Are you a virgin?
Jake: Girl, I've killed fifteen men.
Afterwards, I wondered, was this brilliant exchange original dialogue or skillfully lifted from the the novel from which it was adapted?
Over Shabbos, I sat down and read Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell from which Ride with the Devil is based.
Read it straight through in three hours.
(And yes, that dazzling bit of dialogue is straight from the novel.)
I am here to say that Woe to Live On, a novel of the Civil War is:
1. Obscure
2. Great.
3. American.
4. Poetic.
5. Timeless.
6. Savage.
7. Lush.
8. Disciplined.
9. Understated.
10. True
Caution: Whereas The Moonflower Vine can be comfortably read by either male or female readers, I should point out that Woe to Live On is a classic "man's" novel. It has scenes of violence that are stomach churning--not in detail but because they are so very casual, as is violence in war.
The time is 1860, the place, the border states of Kansas and Missouri--
Interesting, The Moonflower Vine also takes place in Missouri.
Hmmmm.... Does anyone see a pattern emerging?
--While the regular armies clash in the east in the great battles of the Civil War, Jayhawkers and southern Bushwackers turn the border states into a wasteland, savaging all in their wake. They call themselves irregulars but they were American terrorists.
INTERPOLATION #2
Both the Northern and Confederate Armies treated these "irregulars" with the exact same measure of justice that men who did not wear uniforms deserved. When captured there were no long drawn-out trials, no prison terms , certainly no habeus corpus.
The irregulars were hung from the nearest tree. No precious lead was wasted on these spoilers of the rules of war.
North and South understood that a man without a uniform was an argument for chaos. As different as their ideologies the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia agreed that a man under a black flag deserved nothing but contempt -- and swift justice.
Alas, such moral clarity has been lost, hence we are a weaker and more vulnerable civilization.
We see ourselves as principled and compassionate, thus stronger. But our enemies see not justice and compassion but weakness and decadence.
Their perception is correct.
Our vision is dim and delusional
END INTERPOLATION #2
Woe to Live On is the story of sixteen-year old Jake Roedel, it is a unique and terrifying coming-of-age story. It's the story of love and war and we at Seraphic Secret consider this brief but powerful novel to be a uniquely great American work.
Read it and let us know what you think, for we are always anxious to hear from our wise readers.
Oh, and Virtual Jerusalem is running what has to be the most humilaiting dating experience ever in the How I Married Karen series.
This is the chapter that, I imagine, my offspring read, cringe, and publicly deny that I am their father.
Who can blame them?
To share in the humiliation, click here for Chapter 18, Flushing in Brooklyn.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:01 PM | Comments (8)
Canadian Devils in Afganistan
Lest we forget, our Canadian allies were also fighting in Afghanistan. This You Tube video, via Seraphic Friend John at the indispensable blog Op For, shows the Edmonton "Red Devils" countering an ambush. These soldiers are fierce angels: courageous, disciplined, foul-mouthed, and totally cool under fire. May HaShem bless and protect them wherever they may be.
John has informed me that: "Canada, who had a liberal government at the time this video was shot, has since opted out of participating in OIF."
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:42 AM | Comments (2)
Minutemen or the Mullahman
In the wake of the Minutemen riot, the Columbia administration responded to “security concerns” by barring the public from another College-Republican-sponsored lecture, by Whalid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist.
To read the entire article by Mary Katherine Ham, please click here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2006
Superman & Me
As a kid growing up in Brooklyn, one of life's greatest pleasures was saving up my allowance and buying what I wanted with it--and there was only one thing I ever wanted--
Question: do kids get allowances anymore? Here in Los Angeles, toddlers get American Express.
--Anyway, with shiny quarters gripped in a grimy fist, I'd jump on my squeaky bike, pedal on down to the corner candy store, which was not on my corner, but several avenue blocks away, and I'd purchase the hot-off-the-press latest issue of Superman comic book.
I had a weird little tradition.
I'd stand at the comic book rack and eye all the comic books that were snugly tucked into their gray wire racks: Batman, Green Lantern, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Spiderman. In truth, I wasn't really interested in any of them. They all seemed like pale imitations of Superman. He was the original, the first hero, and all the others were but late-comers. Yet I leafed through these second-raters, sort of nodded my head when I came across a particularly well drawn cover or dynamic series of panels, and grudgingly admit that yes, this was pretty darn good--years later learning that the great Gil Kane (Eli Katz) was the man who consistently did the best Spider Man covers.
Finally, the owner of the candy store, a bad tempered Pole, would throw me nasty looks and mutter anti-Jewish curses under his breath, so I'd gently pluck the newest Superman from its cradle, smile inwardly as the cash register DINGED! Then I'd sail home to our apartment with the latest man of steel safely in my bicycle's basket.
I did not read it immediately.
Nooooo.
Where was the fun in that?
Anticipation, that was the name of the game.
Wait, wait, wait until Shabbos, our Fortress of Solitude, and then after everyone was asleep, read my mint copy of Superman by the light of the dying Shabbos candles.
Feverishly read it once--and then again, and again, and again--until I knew every frame and piece of dialogue by heart.
Little did I know but this was the perfect training ground for a budding screenwriter.
My parents were appalled by my literary taste, by my rapidly growing collection.
"You're wasting your brain-power," said my mother.
"You should be learning Torah," said my father.
True, but Lois Lane was not in the Torah. And, oh boy was she hot. Her chest was so... pointy.
As the years went by, I gathered a massive collection of Superman comic books
I piled them in boxes, shoved them in my closet, and went away to college. I traded Siegel & Shuster for Hemingway and Fitzgerald. I'm not sure it was such a great deal.
My parents moved out of their modest apartment in Flatbush, on Ocean Parkway, and bought a comfortable house in Bensonhurst while I was away. When I came "home" for the first time I searched for my beloved Superman collection.
"Mom, where's my Superman?"
"Oh, I threw them away, dear."
"You what?"
My mother, z'l, smiled sweetly: "I figured you outgrew them."
Still as a pilaster, I waited for my head to explode.
Remember the Fifth Commandment.
Kabet Et Avicha V'et Emecha.
Remember the Fifth Commandment.
Kabed Et Avicha V'et Emecha.
If I has those Superman comics today and sold them at auction -- I'd be Google rich.
Anywhoooo.
We always heard rumors of a Superman story that was never released. Back in 1940, when an issue cost 10 cents, Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel wrote a script for the strip that introduced “K-Metal,” a precursor to Kryptonite. It also featured Clark Kent revealing his identity as Superman to Lois Lane. As detailed in Men of Tomorrow, the publishers thought Siegel and Shuster were messing with a sure thing and the script was deep-sixed.
Never seen it? Well, here it is.
Karen and I wish you all a lovely and meaningful Shabbos and a super Chag Sameach.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:11 AM | Comments (20)
October 12, 2006
Seraphic Trailer of the Week
Okay, so you all know that I love Japanese movies. I've seen 'em all.
Well, I thought I did.
Until this fateful and tragic hour.
Here's the trailer to, brace yourselves, Black Tight Killers.
The plot? Not a clue.
Hey, don't thank me. I'm a giver.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:10 PM | Comments (4)
Seraphic Picture of the Week
Here's a wonderful 1944 picture of a stiff-lipped British officer, swagger stick in hand, natch, inspecting some fresh-faced recruits of the Jewish Brigade. A rare and lovely picture from pre-state Israel.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:47 PM | Comments (2)
October 11, 2006
Rejected by West Point
Deer West Point Generel;
I want to be in the American Army. I want to be a Generel like you. But heres the probelem. Iam a Jewish kid and iam also ORTHODOX. Do you know what this mean??? Well I will tell you. It means that i have to eat kosher food. Do you serve kosher food at West Point? No, you do not. I have checked. I think this is UNAmerican! I demand that you get kosher food in your West Point school so that I can go to school there and be a real soldeir and fight our kommunist enemees!!!!
Respeckfully,
Robert Avrech
Brooklyn NY
My father stands in the doorway to my bedroom. He's holding my letter to the Commanding Officer of West Point in his hand. How did he get hold of my letter? He does not look very happy. Hmmm, I wonder why?
"Robert, did you write this letter?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I wanna be a soldier."
"Why the heck did you use my official Army stationery?"
My father said heck, this means he's really angry.
"I figured it would get their attention."
"It did."
"Oh good."
"No, not good. It really, really got the Army's attention. In not a good way."
"Are you in trouble?"
"Don't ask."
"Are you going to be Count martialed?"
"Court martialed, no. But never, ever use my official Army stationery again!"
"Sorry."
My father stares at me for a long, long moment, his face is red with fury: "If you want to serve in a kosher army, join the Israeli army."
"Okey-dokey."
My father turns to go, then stops, looks over his shoulder at me and waves my letter at me: "Your spelling is atrocious."
"I'm only ten-years old."
"Still, my commanding officer said that I should buy you a dictionary. Here, I'm following orders."
My father hands me a hard-cover Merriam-Webster dictionary. It is heavy as a brick. I keep it with me through elementary school, high school, college--and it still sits over my desk at this very moment.
P.S. They still don't serve kosher food at West Point.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:16 PM | Comments (26)
Good Listening
I don't often recommend Jewish CD's to my readers because, well, in truth, much of the Jewish music that's produced is of the extreme ay-yay-yay genre, which gives me a migraine, or is music that we've heard a zillion times before and is just plain bo-ring.
Seraphic Secret recently received a truly fine CD titled U'shmuel B'korei Sh'mo. It's just lovely and the musicians featured are in fine form.
Click here to listen to a bit of the tunes and to order the CD.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:01 PM | Comments (4)
October 10, 2006
The Banned GOP Ad
Recently Hollywood producer and writer David Zucker has come out as a Republican. Thank G-d another Dem has finally gone sane in Hollywood. Anyway, he produced a scathing ad for the GOP and what do they do with such gold, the dummies bury it.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:52 PM | Comments (6)
Not a Nuke
From the always excellent Mil Blog Op For comes word that some sources, the ever reliable Michael Yon being one, are saying that the North Korean nuke was not a nuke at all.
Random Fact from the Hermit Kingdom: Did you know that The Dear and Beloved Leader Kim Jong Il scored six holes-in-one the very first time he played golf? Yup, that's what happened. You know how we know? He said so! And if anyone in North Korea says otherwise, well, they cease to exist. Slowly and horribly!
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:14 PM | Comments (5)
Succos Redux
It just so happens that right now, Virtual Jerusalem is running my "How I Married Karen" Succos installment. How's that for timing?
This has to be one of the most demented stories I have ever told--all true, I'm afraid.
Here's where I visit Karen's house in Brooklyn for the very first time, on Succos mind you, and meet Karen's parents. Here's Part One.
And in this installment, lunatic that I am, I step out of the Succah, sneak past Karen's parents for I have my eyes set on a bigger prize -- and it's in the closet in Karen's childhood bedroom. Part Two.
If you want to read the entire "How I Married Karen" story, all 37 chapters, click here. You'll have to scroll all the way to the bottom to get to Chapter One, then just work your way up chapter by chapter.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:22 AM | Comments (9)
The Big Lie Gets Even Bigger
The so-called Palestinians have fertilized their terrorist movement through the use of the Big Lie. Hitler understood that the bigger the lie, the easier it is to get away with murderous policies against innocent people.
Recently so-called "Arab intellectuals" have unleashed a new front in the gullible and naive west, flooding our newspapers with op-ed pieces that are, to put it mildly, massive lies that would make Herr Hitler very proud indeed.
Seraphic friend, Ari Kinsberg recently responded to two such letters in The Wall Street Journal.
What's most shocking is that these op-ed pieces were even published in the first place. They should never have passed beyond the editors' desk. Are the editors at the Wall Street Journal as ignorant of history as the editors at The New York Times? This is a frightening thought. A simple scrutiny should have consigned these vile lies to the wastebasket, but alas in this age where "all cultures must be respected" it now seems that even lies are given their due.
I must ask a question: why must all cultures be respected? It seems to me that some cultures are positively respulsive and should be shunned, and loudly denounced.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:52 AM | Comments (4)
October 09, 2006
North Korean Suitcase Nuke?
North Korea is a Stalinist state, an entire country that is one huge gulag. The average citizen is five inches shorter than the South Korean. So far, this gangster regime has murdered over two-million of its own people through man-made famines.
It has been whispered that babies who are born with physical or mental defects are killed at birth.
The North Korean government, like the Iranian regime, is counterfeiting American currency; this state sponsored criminal enterprise must be shut down as quickly as possible.
Appeasement never works. Not with North Korea. Not with Iran. Not with the Palestinians. Appeasement only emboldens evil people and evil regimes.
This also underscores the fact that Iran must be dealt with now, before they have a nuclear device, and by this I do not mean sitting down and talking with them. Diplomacy can be fatal for it legitimizes rogue regimes and gives them endless and valuable time to build their machines for genocide.
This is extremely serious. RJA
Was North Korea testing a suitcase nuke?
The US has detected a second subkiloton nuclear blast on the Korean Peninsula, according to the Australian, in what is labed "breaking news".
From correspondents in Washington October 10, 2006 US intelligence has detected an explosion of less than one kilotonne in magnitude in North Korea but has not been able to determine whether it was nuclear or not, a senior intelligence official said.
The official, who asked not to be identified, said that first-time nuclear tests historically have been in the several kilotonne range.
“We are aware that there was a sub-kilotonne explosion in North Korea,” said the official. “We have not been able to determine at this point whether it was in fact nuclear.”
It's also a good time to re-read Robert D. Kaplan's amazing article When North Korea Falls, which The Atlantic Monthly published in September.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:11 PM | Comments (11)
Israel: The Facts
Here's a nice list of Facts about Israel by Tammy Bruce.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:22 AM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2006
Succot
The responsibilities break down like this:
I put up the Succah.
Karen and the girlses do the decorating.
This Succot, Offspring #2, newly married, is spending Succot with my father and mother in sunny Miami. Offspring #3 is attending seminary in Jerusalem.
So I put up the Succah, Karen did most of the decorating, but then needed my help for the last few stages.
It's fun working with Karen. She's efficient, thinks ahead, has a good eye for the golden rule, and doesn't over-decorate--a major problem with many Succahs. We go for the minimal-but-elegant-look.
At one point Karen turned to me and said: "I'm feminizing you."
"No, you're allowing me to perform a mitzvah."
Karen pondered my comment, decided I was right, and we happily finished our work.
Here's a fine Guide to the laws of Succot.
Karen and I wish you all a lovely and meaningful Shabbos and a Chag Sameach.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:18 AM | Comments (20)
Riot at Columbia U
Ah, Columbia University. Where free speech is welcome--as long as it's PC and as far left as you can get. Check out this disgraceful story, where a bunch of fascist thugs started a riot when the founder of the Minutemen was attacked as he tried to speak at this most ivory of towers.
Do take note in the video of the banner in English and Arabic.
So, leftist tyrant brats and Islamic jihadist thugs have found common cause -- illegal immigration.
Hmm, I wonder why?
Do you think maybe it has something to do with the ease of getting jihadists across the Mexican border.
Or maybe a nasty dirty bomb that can vaporize most of Los Angeles.
Nah, that's way too creepy.
As the left keeps reassuring us, jihad really means, self-improvement.
Uh-huh.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:02 AM | Comments (12)
October 05, 2006
The Lover and the Beloved
If you want to understand what's happening in the world right now, just read William Manchester's Winston Spencer Churchill: The Last Lion Alone, 1932-1940.
This superb volume book chronicles Churchill's courageous and lonely battle against pacifism, disarmament and appeasement. Churchill was politically isolated in Parliament, often jeered and scorned when he warned of the growing Nazi threat.
He fought men who had stooped to the acme of gullibility and self-delusion.
And it's happening once again as Islamic imperialism darkly threatens western civilization.
But I want to veer away from politics for a moment.
I want to ask a question -- about love.
Early in the book, Manchester writes about Clementine Churchill, Winston's loving and mostly loyal wife, and her brief three-month affair with a wealthy art dealer, Terence Philip.
Manchester quotes La Rochefoucauld: In any affair one partner is the lover and the other the beloved.
Long afterward Clementine conceded that the initiative had been hers.
Clementine said: "He made me love him."
Thus Philip, seven years younger, was the beloved.
The question I pose to my wise readers is: In marriage does this maxim also hold true?
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:41 PM | Comments (20)
England Gone Mad
If you need any further proof that England is well on the road to dihimmitude read this revolting story.
"Sir Ian Blair has ordered an 'urgent inquiry' after a Muslim police officer was excused from guarding London's Israeli Embassy after he objected to the duty on 'moral grounds'. "
For the rest of the article, click here.
This policeman should have been fired immediately. But the English are so afraid of their Muslim population that they reassigned this immoral Jew-hater to another embassy. Such a society is doomed. The sun has truly set on this once greatest of empires.
And here is a poem published in the British magazine Punch in 1883. Winston Churchill memorized it as a schoolboy in Brighton and continued to recite it through the dark days of Hitler's rise to power when Europe chose the deadly path of appeasement.
Who is in charge of the clattering train?
The axles creak and the couplings strain;
And the pace is hot, and the points are near,
And Sleep has deadened the driver's ear;
And the signals flash through the night in vain,
For Death is in charge of the clattering train.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:25 AM | Comments (13)
October 03, 2006
I am That Jew in Shul...
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who was sitting in the first row right behind the chazzan.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who kept getting violently whipped in the face by the Chazzan's tzitzis as the Chazzan adjusted his tallis (prayer shawl) over his shoulders -- every twelve seconds.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who kept glancing over the mechitzah into the women's section, looked at Karen, thinking: "Wow, I am a Jew in shul on Yom Kippur married to the smartest, most beautiful woman in the world! How did that ever happen?"
I am that Jew in shul in Yom Kippur who tried really hard to concentrate on the davening but every once in a while his so-called mind, with a will of its own, made a list of the best Civil War movies ever made, and G-d knows, tried for a list of ten, but there aren't ten great Cvil War movies, and please, Gone With the Wind is not a great movie, it's not even good.
And so, here are the top eight Civil War movies ever made:
7. The General
6. The Beguiled
5. Glory
4. Gettysburg
2. Major Dundee
1. Ride with the Devil. This is the greatest film on our list--by far.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who davened really hard, concentrated on the words, but every once in a while discovered that he completely blanked out, had no idea what he was saying, had to go back like five pages, start all over again, and before he knew it was so far behind there was no hope of catching up, and so had to just skip ahead.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who realized that the medieval Hebrew was so difficult that he really didn't understand a word and so davened in Hebrew and then read the English translation, fell behind. And well, see above for the rest of the story.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who by midday got a huge migraine, was seeing double and triple and wondered how he was going to make it through the rest of the fast.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who said to himself: Please G-d don't let the Rabbi SCREAM his sermon for the ninth year in a row. But of course the Rabbi absolutely let rip in a decibel level that is not measurable on any human scale.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur whose migraine agony just increased by about a hundred points on a scale of one to a hundred.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who started checking the pages in the machzor, more specifically, counting how many pages were left until the services were over.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who right in the middle of Unetaneh Tokef, wondered how it was that Rabbi Amnon of Mainz did not just bleed to death after all his limbs were severed by (according to the Artscroll Siddur) "his friend" the Bishop of Mainz when Rabbi Amnon refused to convert.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who, during Unetaneh Tokef, made a mental note to reassess "his friends."
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who covered his head with his tallis during Yizkor -- not out of deep piety, but to shield his tears.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who really missed Offspring #2, and Offspring #3 so badly that during the break sat in his Eames chair and leafed through a photo album of his girlses.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who started counting how many men in shul were wearing rugs.
Answer: 8
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who by Minchah was obsessively thinking about a plate of, get this, scrambled eggs.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who desperately wanted to sit down during Neilah but didn't because, good grief, there was a 98-year old man not two seats away still standing and not showing any signs of collapsing.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who kept thinking: I must be the worst Jew in this shul on Yom Kippur.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who did not say one word to another person during the entire davening. Not out of piety, but because he had absolutely nothing to say to anyone.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who kept looking at men sitting and davening with their sons and all he wanted to do was run from shul, lock himself in Ariel's ZT'L room and lie down on his son's bed and never get up.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who at the end of the davening, as everyone sang "Next Year in Jerusalem," instinctively knew what Karen was feeling, looked over his shoulder and yes, there she was, tears slipping from her eyes.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who came up with the idea of blogging this I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who is ultimately grateful for Yom Kippur, for nothing great and awesome comes easily.
I am that Jew in shul on Yom Kippur who walked home with his wife and said: "It's just us; no one can understand how we feel. It will always be just you and me."
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:26 PM | Comments (58)
October 01, 2006
Yizkor
Karen writes: The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are days of inner reflection, when indivduals examine their souls, their goals, and try to repair past misdeeds. It's the time to stop and ask, "Is this where I want to be in my life?" " Where should I be going?"
It seems appropriate to remind our readers that Seraphic Secret was established as a way to express and channel our grief of losing our precious son, Ariel Chaim, of blessed memory. I know that at least initially, some of the readers were parents who were experiencing the same unspeakable pain. I have gone through various stages of mourning since Ariel died, most involving surprising vagaries of memory.
I wrote about Ariel in the "Book of Ariel" knowing that each year would bring new feelings. Now after three years, I see I was right. Time has not healed the pain. It has done the opposite. Time has finally allowed me to feel the pain.
Initially there is a period of shock. I believe that the body actually preserves itself from too much pain by blocking memories. For the first year I was numb. For the second year, I had difficulty evoking integrated memories of Ariel. It sounds bizarre, but I had to struggle to actually imagine him in his vitality and conjure up the life we had together.
Now after three years, I am finally able to integrate the various parts of him and feel his presence. Now, after three long years I can finally evoke his laughter, his voice, his movements, his stance, his tears. I can imagine the continuum from his babyhood through his illness, his recovery until the final year. It is more painful. It is unbearable but I am no longer blocked.
So as we prepare to say Yizkor, the prayer of remembrance, I am coming closer to real memory and subsequently the real sadness. The deep grieving has only just begun.
I was searching for some way to come closer to my pious Ariel this Yom Kippur. The ideal way came to me Erev Shabbos when I remembered the ad I saw for the new Machzor published by Khal publishing with the commentary by Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik.
Ariel Z"L would have been thrilled to add this book to his library. I read the introduction over Shabbos and it is wonderful. It will surely enhance my memory of my reverant, intense son during the Yom Kippur davening and add meaning to my own prayers.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 05:09 PM | Comments (12)