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August 31, 2009
California Inferno
Here's a view from the end of my street looking north. The mushroom of smoke is enormous, indicating a deadly inferno below.
California is burning.
Over 100,000 acres are being reduced to ash and smoke.
North of my home in the Pico-Robertson section of Los Angeles wild fires are raging. My house and neighborhood are safe—for the moment—but thousands have been forced to abandon their homes.
My friend Joshua Pundit has had to evacuate and we wish him and his family safety.
Two courageous firemen, Captains Arnie Quinones and Tedmund "Ted" Hall, have already been killed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these brave men.
Arson is suspected, so charges of homicide can be brought against the possible arsonist.
Let's just hope that the Santa Ana winds—much like the Khamsin in Israel—don't kick up for if they do, then the fires will spread over an even greater area wreaking death and destruction in their wake.
Five thousand homes have been abandoned, and the blazes are only 5% controlled. A State of Emergency has been declared by the Governor.
The website, California Incidents is posting updates on the blazes.
The air is foul and I keep the AC going all the time or else it feels like there's a block of sandpaper down my throat.
I'm waiting for some nitwit to blame the fires on, ahem, climate change, or maybe they'll just point accusing fingers at George Bush and Dick Cheney, reliably safe and PC targets for, well, everything.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:17 PM | Comments (15)
I Feel Like I'm in a Frank Capra Movie
“You know how I like to have a cup of tea before getting on a plane?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, before boarding I ran over to the Starbucks, but it was closing...”
Karen is calling from LAX, she's flying to New York. I dropped Karen off at the airport twenty minutes ago and already this is our second phone conversation.
“By the way,” she adds, “where are you now?”
“Just pulling into the driveway.”
It's just Casa Avrech and yours truly for the next few days. When Karen is gone I spend a lot of time wandering around the house, going from room to room like a nightwatchman making rounds.
“The hot tea?”
“Right, so the Starbucks is closing and I run up to the Starbucks guy and tell him that I need hot water—not even a tea bag.”
Karen carries her own tea bags in her little leather backpack.
“What happened?”
“He got me the hot water. He could have just closed up, I mean I was just one customer.”
“He decided to be nice.”
“So I said to him: 'How much do I owe you?' And he said, get this: 'Just a smile.'”
“Get out.”
“Really. Just a smile. That's all I owed him.”
“So, did you smile?”
Karen pauses:
“I don't know. I was so shocked that I'm not sure I gave him his smile. Robert, I'm telling you, I felt like I was in a Frank Capra movie.”
Sad really, that the most basic courtesy/kindness is so completely unnerving and unexpected.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:04 AM | Comments (8)
August 30, 2009
Dear Karen:
Visual: Slumped over, head in hands.
Audio: Dramatic sigh.
I guess I'll keep myself occupied with Haveil Havalim, #232 The Back to School Edition, presented by West Bank Mama.
Oh, yeah, and let's send Soccer Dad to Israel.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 06:55 AM | Comments (2)
August 28, 2009
Friday Footwear: The Frum Feminist Edition
A few days ago, Frum Feminist, a Friday Footwear star—for a flashback, click here—called with some very exciting news.
“I got a new pair of shoes.”
“Mazal Tov.”
“I was at Nordstrom's and they just, you know, called out to me.”
“Were they on sale?”
“I wish.”
“What brand?”
I know, I know, I'm sooooo shallow.
“Franco Sarto.”
“Oh, right, Karen has a bunch of his shoes.”
“These are really cute.”
I'm anxiously waiting for one woman—just one—to tell me that her shoes are, ”moderately cute.”
Anyhoo, let's go to the visuals.
Norma Shearer meets Shirley Temple. These casual pumps have that great Hollywood Golden Age vibe. And the fashion fabulosity is the strap over the instep, and the patent leather toe box. Remember when you were a little girl wearily trudging off to school and the streets were still dark and you dreaded a surprise quiz from your math teacher, but, oh joy, your Mary Jane's shined like tiny black planets. Well, these are Mary Jane's all grown up.
Gosh, even one of the Hummels I inherited from my mother, Z'L, hopped off the shelf in the guest room, scooted down to the patio and climbed up to admire Frum Fems latest footwear. Who knew a Hummel could be that smart or mobile?
Not just cute, but footwear good for, um, walking, as Frum Fem demonstrates. No pain. Who said Seraphic Secret only features stratospheric footwear guaranteed to induce a lifetime of back pain. We're practical... sorta.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a lovely and luminescent Shabbat.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:09 AM | Comments (13)
August 27, 2009
And Now a Word About Missile Defense
Pershing I nuclear missile.
Among Seraphic Secret's faithful readers are scores of Americans from all branches of our armed services.
One of our best friends is “Frank,” a Captain who deals with things that fly through the air and go BOOM when they land.
Nuclear boom, that is.
Frank is thoughtful, highly educated, and at the moment, worried.
Because President Barack Obama is on a spending spree, pouring money into every imaginable pork program presented by Congress. But in the one area where money should be spent, missile defense, the budget has been slashed.
Here's a note I received from Officer Frank earlier this week:
I was playing golf with our Wing Commander, and during a particularly long hole, quietly asked him about the future of our business — nuclear weapons.
His shoulders slumped.
"Well, Frank" he said over a furled brow, "President Obama made a lot of bold statements about nuclear weapons during the campaign trail. We're going to lose some bombs this Fall, how many is yet to be determined."
"Sir — even though he knows full well that the Russians and Chinese are pouring billions into upgrading their arsenals? To say nothing of the Norks [North Koreans] and Iranians?"
"That's what I can't figure out. The first brief he gets as President is our nuclear command and control procedures. He knows we can't afford to be unilaterally cutting our arsenal right now."
This was a risky conservation.
The Colonel runs the entire base. Knocking on the Commander-in-Chief is not a wise career move for a young captain.
I treaded cautiously.
"Sir, do you think that perhaps he's driven more by political security than national security?"
The Colonel squinted into the distance.
"Son, he's either dangerously naive or dangerously stupid. Either way, you and I might be in a world of s**t."
Fair enough.
I gave him a nod and pulled out my 7 iron.
Cartoon by Hugh MacLeod.
A few days ago, in my post Kindness to the Cruel, I expressed doubt that the Lockerbie terrorist was ill with cancer. I know about cancer. I know how people look when they are ravaged with the disease. Well, my friend Israel Matzav reports that my suspicions are accurate.
And for those of you who maintain that the Lockerbie terrorist might be innocent, read Stratfor's excellent analysis of the Libyan plot and the evidence.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:06 AM | Comments (12)
August 26, 2009
Jessie Matthews: The Dancing Divinity Does Wedddings and Bar Mitzvahs
British movie star Jessie Matthews at the height of her fame.
Jessie Matthews (1907-1981) was Britain’s first and greatest international movie star.
Known as The Dancing Divinity, Matthew’s tragic and scandal-ridden life was more akin to hell on earth.
Born above a butcher shop in London’s Soho district, the seventh of eleven children, George, Jessie’s father was illiterate, a harsh and distant drunk. In contrast, Jessie’s mother, Jane, was warm and loving, but Jenny lived under the thumb of her tyrannical husband and so her unconditional love for Jessie was severely blunted by her husband’s drunken rages and frequent physical abuse.
The large cockney family rarely had enough to eat.
Jessie’s older sister, Rosie—a frustrated actress and furiously ambitious for her baby sister—recognized that Jessie possessed an abundance of natural talent. And so Rosie labored in a button factory—a sweat shop—in order to pay for Jessie’s dancing lessons. Jessie’s father considered the lessons a waste of time and money.
Jessie’s teachers were quick to spot their student as a supremely gifted singer, dancer and performer, and they urged producers in London’s musical stage world to audition the tiny, rough-hewn cockney girl.
To read my entire article, please head on over to my home away from home, Big Hollywood.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:17 AM | Comments (11)
August 25, 2009
U.S. Borrowing 5 Billion Dollars a Day
Hugh MacLeod is one of the best cartoonists in the business. More of his work can be found at Gaping Void Cartoons. Thanks to my friend Jackie Danicki for bringing his work to my attention.
Wall Street Journal financial reporter Steve Moore explains that Obama is leading the United States towards a financial train wreck.
A few numbers:
1) The U.S. is paying $1.2 billion each month on interest alone on the debt to China.
2) China is holding $776 billion in U.S. Treasury Securities.
3) The Obama Administration is borrowing $5 billion each day just to keep the US economy afloat.
Obama is placing a crushing debt not just on our children and grandchildren but on our grandchildren's grandchildren.
And if Obama gets his way and passes a government takeover of the health care and insurance systems, well, this country will be plunged into hyper-inflation.
This spending spree is unsustainable.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:14 AM | Comments (14)
August 24, 2009
Kindness to the Cruel
The animal who was found guilty of the Lockerbie atrocity should have been prosecuted in the U.S. But the oh-so-compassionate Europeans would not allow it because we American barbarians still have the death penalty.
We were assured that justice would be served—whatever that means.
Now, the mass murderer is free, a hero to the Arab/Muslim world.
I have no idea if compassion was the reason for his release.
(By the way, the Libyan terrorist appears plump and awfully well fed for someone in the latter stages of cancer. Look for a miraculous cure in the next few weeks.)
If it was a case of compassionate release, then the Scots who made this decision have not a clue as to the meaning of compassion—or justice.
If it was an oil deal, well, the Scots and the English have given transnational terrorism a huge boost. The vile rogues should be booted out of office.
No doubt, the chattering classes in Europe, probably the Swedes, will find a way to blame the Jooz for this deed.
In any case, the Lockerbie monster—may his name be erased—should have been tried and executed.
Look for this evil to repeat itself over and over again when the terrorists at Gitmo are transferred to American soil.
Once you engage and then make deals with terrorists and terrorist states you have already lost the battle and are well on your way to losing the war.
And the country most guilty of making deals with terrorists: Israel.
Soccer Dad analyzes what happens when kindness is extended to the cruel.
"Whoever exercises mercy where strictness is required, will eventually be cruel where kindness is required"
—Kohelet Rabbah
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:26 AM | Comments (7)
August 23, 2009
Whole Foods Reevaluated
On Friday we suggested that our readers support Whole Foods and take part in an anti-anti Boycott movement. We assumed that the totalitarin left was beating up on an innocent party. But it turns out that the totalitarian left is just eating one of its own.
Many of our readers have brought our attention to the fact that Whole Foods refuses to carry Israeli Olive oil. In fact, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, in effect, supports Islamic extremists.
This is, as Israel Matzav notes, a case where “Mr. Mackey is just getting the comeuppence he deserves.”
My friend Debbie Schlussel calls it poetic justice and is the reporter who broke the story.
My apologies to our readers for not being as well informed on this as I should be.
Folks, lets stick to Trader Joe's, which, I have to tell you, is the greatest place in LA for people watching.
Haveil Havalim #231 is up and live edited by Esser Agaroth.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:00 AM | Comments (9)
August 21, 2009
Friday Fotos
Here's another glimpse at the spectacular cityscape of our little shtetl here in Los Angeles. Everywhere I focus the lens of my camera I discover shimmering colors, unique forms, and delicious textures layered one upon the next.
Right on Pico Boulevard, just a few blocks from Casa Avrech, you can find this stunning storefront in blue, which reminds me of French artist Yves Klein's use of his unique blue pigment.
I like to explore the alleys between buildings here in Pico-Robertson where I frequently come across amazing objects. This is a discarded couch propped against a tree. The texture of the bark beautifully compliments the nubby fabric.
Ever since the mullahs seized power, hundreds of thousands of Persian Jews have fled to the shores of America. Many live in Los Angeles where they are making a significant cultural impact on the Jewish community. Persian restaurants, synagogues and mom and pop stores are all over The City of Angels. In a Persian gift shop on Pico Boulevard I was mesmerized by this superb example of the High Byzantine-Elvis style art.
This past week, Karen and I attended a wedding in Long Beach. It was a wonderful affair for the chosson and kallah are Los Angelinos who have known each other since childhood. Most orthodox kids—Offspring #2 and #3, both married New Yorkers—head back east to find their Bashert. Anyhoo, here's a view of the Long Beach Hyatt Regency. The intersecting green lines appear like a skeleton, both delicate and strong.
Warning: The next image might cause damage to your eyes. Gaze at your own peril. Or maybe just wear sunglasses.
A few days ago Karen and I were on Melrose Avenue. We turned a corner, parked, and my eyes practically popped out of my head. I immediately thought of Moby Dick, chapter 42: The Whiteness of the Whale. Well, this is the Pinkness of Melrose.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a miracle in Shabbat.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:20 AM | Comments (8)
August 20, 2009
Obama: Gimmee That Ol' Time Religion, Plus Details of Obama's Call With Jewish Proxies
Robert Mitchum as the deadly preacher in Night of the Hunter, 1955, directed by Charles Laughton, script by James Agee.
Yesterday, President Barack Hussein Obama, in a conference call with liberal and, ahem, progressive religious leaders, sermonized against those who are “bearing false witness” in the debate over his plan for a government take-over of the nation's health care system, one-sixth of the nation's economy.
Oh, wait, Obama calls it “health insurance reform.”
You know why?
Because David Axelrod focus-tested the phrase “insurance reform” and it came out a winner.
As we've said before, put Obama in front of a teleprompter, let him read the canned responses authored by Axelrod's staff and he does just fine. But take away the teleprompter and the cue cards, and Obama just blathers away, all smoke and mirrors.
Last night, Karen and I heard Obama declare that the claims of the opposition were:
“... fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation, and that is that we look out for one another, that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper, and in the wealthiest nation on Earth right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call.”
Karen and I looked at each other and we were like: Did he really say that? Talk about chutzpah. This from a guy who worshipped in an America and Jew-hating church for over 20-years. This from a guy who is militant in his support of third term abortions. This from a guy whose party is always going on and on about the separation of church and state.
Finally, I smiled.
Because such heavy-handed rhetoric can only backfire on Obama and his followers. He is, in essence, telling the majority of Americans that they are immoral and selfish. And only through support of his big government policies—sure to fail and bankrupt the nation—can be found the path of righteousness.
In fact, the moral high ground belongs to those who support responsible social policy for the majority of Americans.
Remember: those who attempt to establish utopia on earth inevitably create hell.
Examine the imploding Canadian health care system.
And then take a look at the teeth of British children.
Victor Davis Hanson has some thoughts on Obama's sudden embrace of religion:
I think we are seeing a sort of presidential meltdown. As Obama's polls free-fall, and threaten wider political damage, it causes him a certain novel exasperation that for the first time in his life soaring hope-and-change rhetoric for some strange reason no longer substitutes for a detailed, logical, and honest agenda. The problem right now is not with un-Christian opponents, but dozens of congressional Democrats who simply do not wish to run on state-run medical care (as well as higher taxes, larger deficits, cap-and-trade, etc.), and no longer sense the president's popularity trumps the unpopularity of his agenda and gives them cover with the voters.
Full post here.
Via Rick Richman at Commentary, a rabbiinic student who was on the conference call reveals the details. It' s pretty simple, Obama has ID'd his Judenrat and covertly set them loose on the American Jewish community.
Imagine the stench that would arise from the dinosaur media if a Republican made such a call.
A rabbinic student who received the URJ invitation and participated in the call sent me an e-mail about it that read, in part:
President Obama spoke for about 20 minutes, then got off the call and we listened to three other rabbis who had prepared discussions about “helpful” Torah and Talmud texts, and how to craft a “non-political” (that is, pro-Democratic Party but wouldn’t be able to get into legal trouble) sermon. . . .
• Pres Obama urged us explicitly to discuss healthcare reform in our high holiday sermons. He said repeatedly, “I need your help in getting this information across.” My personal feeling is that it is an abuse of the pulpit to propagate a specific political agenda in that venue. . .
• The issue was always framed as: we need to care about healthcare reform. And too many people don’t care about it. Our job as rabbis is, apparently, to urge people to care about it. My points would be: (1) of course everyone cares about healthcare reform; we just don’t agree how to fix it; (2) to stand in front of a congregation and imply that members of the congregation do not currently care about the health and treatment of their fellow Americans is insulting and self-aggrandizing. . .
• Pres Obama repeatedly said that there “are fears” that people who currently have healthcare would lose it, but that’s not the case—that under this bill, you can keep whatever health insurance you currently have. That doesn’t match up with what I’ve read about this bill. But whatever. In any case, I can’t see how this information would be something that rabbis should be saying from the bimah. . .
The URJ invitation to the call with Obama ended with this suggestion:
Health care reform is a critical issue for all of us. . . . [We] hope you will . . . urge your congregants to contact their elected officials in support of health care reform this year.
In some circles, Obama is a “sort of god,” but a conference call with rabbis to urge them to give sermons relating to contentious pending legislation, on the holiest days of the Jewish calendar, seems to me to stretch the bounds of religious and political propriety.
The rabbinic student who sent the e-mail may have had a better sense of the proper rabbinic function than the rabbis who organized the call.
The rabbinic student is a close friend of Seraphic Secret. I can vouch for this person's honesty and impressive intellect.
Obama is accusing good and decent American citizens who oppose his policies of “bearing false witness.” This is reprehensible and it seems to Seraphic Secret that Obama is using Jeremiah Wright's operating manual: using warm and fuzzy Biblical quotes to demonize his ideological opponents, thereby furthering a radical leftist agenda.
Long time Seraphic friend and commenter Jake posted a comment that deserves to be read by everyone concerned about Obamacare:
Here are the three essential questions asked and answered about American health care:
Q: What is the biggest cause of ever-rising health care costs?
A: The government. Because of the very poor government-provided reimbursement rates for the ever-growing numbers of Medicare and Medicaid patients, doctors and hospitals have to pass the costs on to people with private insurance. Doctors can't live on what they "make" in those reimbursements. In fact, most take a significant loss to treat those patients. Furthermore, doctors who treat people for free get NO tax deduction for that charitable use of their time. Meanwhile, lawyers who work pro bono can deduct every hour of their time, and they do. Most major NY law firms take significant tax write offs for pro bono work based on what they would charge a millionaire client by the hour.
Q: What is the second biggest cause of ever-rising health care costs?
A: Malpractice and the fear of malpractice. Even by conservative estimates, about HALF of all medical tests and referrals are the result of defensive medicine. The doctors and hospitals are 99% sure they are right, but they order the expensive test or send you to the expensive specialist JUST IN CASE they were wrong and you sue them right out of business. Yes, doctors make mistakes and they should be held accountable. But with no caps on rewards in most states, you can literally bankrupt an entire hospital for mistreatment of your hangnail. Any honest effort to reduce health care costs and extend more health coverage to more people HAS to include tort reform. The fact that the Democrats never allow this to be considered is blatant political payback to the trial lawyers and everyone knows it.
Q: Why are insurance companies so stingy with coverage?
A: Because they can be. Because most insurers can't cover people from more than one state, there isn't a level and competitive playing field for insurance competition in America. If the Obama team REALLY wanted more competition, they could easily eliminate the legal hurdles and allow hundreds of insurers to compete for your business instead of the 2-3 companies in each state that do it now.
Of course, the real answer is that the Obama crew has no interest in improving competition, but you knew that.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:12 AM | Comments (12)
August 19, 2009
Memories of a Jewish Childhood in Poland Before the Holocaust
The memorial book for Apt recounts how a holy rabbi helped the town during a cholera epidemic in 1892. Every few days someone died. In a community of about six thousand, that was a calamity. Prominent citizens went to the holy rabbi, imploring him to say a few prayers to the Almighty. Maybe the epidemic would subside. The rabbi thoughtfully replied, "Let's try a wedding on the Jewish cemetery. Perhaps the dearly departed will intervene with the Holy One to help." It is considered a great mitsve, or good deed, to help the poor to marry. All that was needed was a bride and groom.
The matchmakers got busy. In town there was a young bachelor who was supported by the community. His job was to clean the communal bath. Each week he drained the water and replaced it with a fresh supply. He also kept the fire going in the mikve, the ritual bath, so that the water would always be hot. He lived in the hegdesh, a room where the burial society kept the implements for cleaning the dead for burial. Itinerant beggars also slept there. On being approached, the young man gladly accepted.
Now a bride was needed. There was in town a young lady, an orphan. In Yiddish, it is enough to have lost one parent to be an orphan. This woman had lost both parents. She was what is called a kaylakhdike yesoyme, a round orphan, because she had absolutely no relatives. In exchange for a place to sleep on top of the oven, her daily bread, and a few cast-off clothes, she did the housework for a well-to-do family. She received no wages. On being approached she also gladly agreed.
A proclamation was issued in the synagogue, the houses of study, and the Jewish schools that a black wedding, a shvartse khasene, would be held on the cemetery at a designated time. Everyone was to attend. On the appointed day, the whole town, including people from the surrounding villages, streamed into the cemetery. They gathered near the oyl, the little building housing the graves of holy rabbis. The sexton brought a wedding canopy. The bride wore a donated wedding dress. The rabbi conducted the ceremony. Many people shed a tear on this solemn occasion.
The community donated gifts and food. A table was set up with a small barrel of vodka, glasses, and large joints of roasted mutton. Everyone wished each other a long life. When the assembly was already a little tipsy, Yankl Krokowski, the badkhn or master of ceremonies, stood on a stool and announced that the time had come to call out the wedding gifts. Seeing as this poor couple had no home, the appeal went out for cash donations. Everyone reached into their pockets and in a short time the iron pot was full of money. When it became too heavy to hold, Yankl set the pot down on the table. He regaled the company with jokes and songs. The band struck up a lively tune, and everyone, men, women, and children, danced. Reb Zvi Hirsh, who officiated at the wedding, stepped into the large circle of dancers. Small in stature, head held high, his eyes looking toward the sky, his beard and sidelocks flying, Reb Zvi Hirsh began to dance. He invited the newlyweds to join him in the obligatory mitsve tants. The merriment continued late into the night. Sure enough the epidemic subsided in a few days.
This looks like an amazing collection of paintings: They Call me Mayer July: Painted Memories of a Jewish Childhood Before the Holocaust.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:08 AM | Comments (7)
August 18, 2009
Huckabee: “Jews Ought to be Able to Live Anywhere They Want to in Their Own Homeland.”
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is a Conservative Christian and an outspoken supporter of Israel. Recently, on his 11th trip to Israel—I know tons of U.S. Jews who have never been to Israel—speaks articulately about Obama's demand for a so-called settlement freeze—segregation on steroids.
Unfortunately, Netanyahu has already capitulated, which will, I guarantee, prove to the Arabs that Obama plans to deliver Israel on a silver platter, thus they don't have to make any concessions.
By the way, the bearded gentlemen with the black yarmulke who accompanies Huckabee and speaks to the camera in two cut-a-ways, is Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind. Dov's wife Shani—an incredible dynamo—is Karen's first cousin.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:17 AM | Comments (6)
August 17, 2009
Death of Language = Death of Jews
The Munich Massacre, according to Human Rights Watch official Joe Stork, was an “important morale booster.”
Language used by the left has been devalued, debased, raped.
A noble sounding term like “human rights” is code for Jew-hatred.
Joe Stork, the Human Rights Watch official who recently authored a report—a tissue of lies—accusing Israeli soldiers of killing innocent Arabs, is a fanatic Jew-hater who has long believed that Israel has no right to exist.
Further, Stork is a supporter of Islamist Jew-killers; he labeled the Munich Massacre an important morale booster.
Joe Stork, a senior official in Human Rights Watch, which accuses the IDF of killing Palestinians who waved white flags, is a fanatical supporter of the elimination of Israel. He was a friend of Saddam, ruled out negotiations and supported the Munich Massacre, which “provided an important boost in morale among Palestinians.”
Last Thursday, many world media outlets covered the press conference in which a senior Human Rights Watch official, Joe Stork, presented the report accusing Israel of killing twelve Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who waved white flags during Operation Cast Lead. Stork, the person identified with the report, has a unique history of Israel-hating: He supported the murder of Israeli athletes in Munich, was an avid supporter of Saddam Hussein and more.
Several times in the past, Stork has called for the destruction of Israel and is a veteran supporter of Palestinian terrorism. Already as a student, Stork was amongst the founders of a new radical leftist group, which was formed based on the claim that other leftist groups were not sufficiently critical of Israel and of the United States’ support of it. Already in 1976, Stork participated in a conference organized by Saddam Hussein which celebrated the first anniversary of the UN decision that equated Zionism with racism. Stork, needless to say, arrived at the conference as a prominent supporter of Palestinian terrorism and as an opponent to the existence of the State of Israel.
He also labeled Palestinian violence against Israel as “revolutionary potential of the Palestinian masses”—language that was typical of fanatical Marxists.
In articles which he authored during the 1970’s, Stork stated that he was against the very existence of Israel as an “imperialistic entity” and, to this end, provided counsel to Arab regimes on how to eliminate the Zionist regime. He also was opposed to any negotiations since this meant recognizing its existence: “Zionism may be defeated only by fighting imperialism,” wrote Stork, “and not through deals with Kissingers.”
On other occasions, Stork expressed his position that the global Left must subordinate itself to the PLO in order to strengthen elements that opposed any accord with Israel. It would seem that he has not changed his ways since then. He is still conceptually subordinate to those who have maintained their opposition to the existence of the State of Israel. Once the world’s radical left supported the PLO. Today, part of the global Left supports Hamas.
Full story here.
Let's not forget that Human Rights Watch recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, that bastion of human rights, where they presented their Jew-hating bona fides and walked away with buckets of money.
The Orwellian use of language infects every corner of the international left.
J Street is an anti-Jewish, anti-Israeli lobbying group masquerading as a peace seeking Jewish advocacy group. Yet much of their funding comes from Arabs and other individuals ferociously hostile to Israel.
Think: J-udenrate Street.
Naturally, they are Barack Hussein Obama's favorite so-called Jewish constituency.
Barack Hussein Obama continues to devalue language and values by conferring America's highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom, on Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson, two infamous Jew-haters.
Next time Seraphic Secret receives an announcement from Human Rights Watch or J Street we will file them in our bulging Jew-hating folder.
Update: Jennifer Rubin via Soccer Dad notes the upside to the Mary Robinson Affair.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:00 AM | Comments (11)
August 16, 2009
Best of the Jewish Blogosphere #230
MM dreams of the Jewish Blogosphere.
Haveil Havalim #230 is up and live, lovingly edited by newly married—Mazal Tov!—Letters of Thought.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:28 AM | Comments (1)
August 14, 2009
Friday Footwear: The Hillcrest Edition
A blogger friend and I were discussing shidduchim and the instant extended families that are created.
“All I ask,” said my friend, “is for the other family to be normal.”
Imagine my delight when I met Offspring #3's new family, a generous and warm—I get lots and lots of hugs—couple from Hillcrest with three lovely daughters and of course our new wonderful son-in-law.
Furthermore, imagine my delight when I observed that the two elder daughters adore—you guessed it—footwear.
In fact, Daughter #2 worked, for a number of years, in fashion footwear.
When I not so casually mentioned Friday Footwear, Daughter #2 flashed the biggest smile I have ever seen on the face of a female human being.
“Women love footwear,” I observed.
“No kidding,” said daughter #2.
So: at the Sheva B'rachot in Hillcrest I snapped a few pics to introduce our readers to the Hillcrest branch of Friday Footwear.
Meet Hillcrest Daughter #1, who looks a lot like Jean Arthur. She's wearing classic open toed pumps in patent leather. Great look for Sheva B'rachot or cocktails at the Brown Derby.
Here comes Hillcrest Daughter #2, a Jewish Barbara Stanwyck. As you can tell, she is the daughter who worked in fashion footwear. These killer heels are a big nod to complex corsets via a python from the Amazon. Dangerous, edgy, but kind of fun, like a carnival on steroids.
When the Hillcrest Daughters—#3 is 11-years old, so she's not doing fashion footwear yet—arrived in Los Angeles for our Sheva B'rachot I asked permission to publish their footwear photos.
Without a moment's hesitation the two beauties shouted: ”Yessssss!”
Oh joy.
Offspring #3 married into, not just a normal family, but a perfect family.
Oh yeah, Hillcrest Daughter #1 is married with children and Daughter #2 is engaged.
Sorry, guys.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a lovely and miraculous Shabbat.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:13 AM | Comments (12)
August 13, 2009
My Twenty-seven Minutes in the U.S. Post Office
I have to go to the post office.
In New York, we dropped by my Aunt Ethel's apartment in Long Beach where I saw an old family photo of my paternal grandmother, Miriam, z'l, with my father and his brother, my Uncle Chaim, z'l.
“Aunt Ethel, I never saw this photo. It's amazing.”
“Yes, I love it.”
“Can I borrow it?”
“Robert, it's my only copy.”
“I'll be careful, but please let me scan it into my computer so it's protected.”
So: I lovingly carry the photo back to Los Angeles, scan it, and now:
I have to go to the post office to send it to New York.
Or face The Wrath of Ethel.
Minute 1:
Step into the post office. Oy-vey, there are, lemme count, 19 people ahead of yours truly.
There are seven stations for the postal workers, but only three are open.
I slip into line behind an old hippie with shoulder length gray hair. He's listening to an iPod—hey, have you folks been keeping tabs on Apple stock?
I told you to buy.
The volume on the old hippie's iPod is set at maximum. I can actually hear the music.
Hmm, not bad. Richard and Linda Thompson's Shoot Out the Lights. One of my absolute favs.
Okay, it's a long line, but at least I have some music.
Minute 6:
No movement.
Nothing.
One of the postal workers has drifted away, and the other two are involved in the extremely complex business of—as far as I can tell—calculating costs of postage.
Oh, wait, a customer is finished and the postal worker signals for the next on line.
We customers exchange smiles and we all—we're in this together—take one itty-bitty step forward.
Minute 11:
A few paces behind me a flamboyant gay guy is on his cell phone yammering away to a, presumably, gay friend about, well, gayness.
Gay guy is talking really loud and saying stuff like:
“It was sooo gay...”
“He was totally gay, he just didn't realize it...”
“I used to be a clueless gay, but no more, darling...”
In-ter-esting: gayness, for some, is not just sexual orientation, not just a life style, but a religion.
I mention this because right behind Loud and Proud Gay Guy is a tiny, shriveled, ancient black lady who looks, I swear, like she's about to have a coronary. Listening to gay guy is having a visible effect on her blood pressure. She closes her eyes, mumbles to herself, then turns and looks pleadingly at an enormous black guy standing right behind her.
Enormous Black Guy looks like a gang-banger. He's got the backwards baseball cap, the bling around his neck, and masses of tattoos on his arms which are impossible to decipher because his skin is so black. It's like one of those Malevich Black Square paintings.
Enormous Black Guy steps past Tiny Black Lady, gets right into the face of Loud and Proud Gay Guy.
Oh goody: conflict, drama.
“Yo, dude. Mah Aun-tie.”
Loud and Proud Gay Guy is face to face with a scary black guy who is, I do not exaggerate, the size of Rhode Island.
Loud and Proud Gay Guy into his phone:
“Sweetie, call you back.”
Enormous Black Guy nods, gets back in line behind his Aun-tie.
Minute 18:
Still, only two postal workers behind the bullet proof glass.
Good idea that glass because we on the line are on the verge of going postal.
I'm counting the people in front of me, including the old hippie still grooving away, 9 customers.
Maybe I should drop out of line and head on over to UPS or better yet, Fed Ex.
But that would be like going AWOL.
I gotta stick with my squad here in the foxhole.
Minute 22:
Oh.
My.
Gosh.
One of the postal workers has stepped away from the booth.
Only one worker left.
Collective groan.
Oh, yeah, here's a scan of the picture I'm sending back to Aunt Ethel:
My father is to the right of grandmother Miriam. Hey, he's got Dr. Spock ears. My Uncle Chaim fought in the Pacific campaign. He contracted malaria and all sorts of gross tropical diseases. Never said one word to me about his service, but according to my father, it was horrific and Uncle Chaim never recovered from his combat experiences. Photo, 1924, Poland.
Minute 26:
The old Hippie buys, get this, one single stamp.
I'm on deck.
The postal worker, a black lady with hair like a porcupine, barks:
“Next!”
Nervous, intimidated, I step up. Slide the package forward.
“First class?”
“Please.”
“Registered?”
“Please.”
She punches in the order.
“Anything else, sir?”
“Um, I was wondering, how come you're the only one working and there are so many people in line?”
Postal Lady narrows her eyes at me:
“What you axing?”
“I'm just curious how come you don't have more help?”
“Next!”
Minute 37:
Step outside, take a deep breath.
Can't wait for Obamacare.
It's gonna be so much fun in line, and then kibitzing with all the gracious health care workers.
Okay.
Done and done.
Here's Richard Thompson singing Wall of Death from the Shoot Out the Lights album. Linda and Richard were divorced—it was ugly—so it's just some random back up singer, but you get the idea.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:25 AM | Comments (23)
August 12, 2009
Obama Explains It All: “Now... I... if... um... if you think about it... uh...”
Sans his beloved teleprompter the Dear Leader babbles incoherently.
Obama's analysis goes something like this: UPS and Fed-Ex—private companies operating in a free market—are doing just fine.
But the government run Post Office kind of stinks.
Conclusion: What America really needs is government run health care.
Man, I wish I went to Harvard so I could analyze complicated stuff with such nuance and sophistication.
But hey, I'm just Astroturf.
Obama wants me to get out of the way and shut-up.
Because I'm, y'know, un-American.
Take note: this post is “fishy material,” so please report me to El Presidente.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:00 AM | Comments (18)
August 11, 2009
Obama: Nothing Sacred
Durban, presided over by Mary Robinson, Obama's pick for
The Medal of Freedom.
Seraphic Secret has long maintained that Jews are the canary in the coal mine of civilization.
If a society treats its Jewish citizens with equal rights and civility then that society will be a decent and productive place for all its citizens.
Just look at the Arab-Muslim world. These are cultures steeped in Jew-hatred and malignant anti-Zionism.
They are sewers of ignorance, totalitarian oppression and their economies are, to say the least, regressive.
France, England and Belgium are quickly submitting to radical Islamic elements, and the Jews in each of these blighted lands are enduring mounting assaults on their very existence.
In a generation or two, France, England and Belgium will be Judenrein.
These countries will inevitably devolve into darkness for the leftist Europeans have chosen to trade productive and loyal Jewish citizens for on-the-dole, disloyal Islamists who prefer Sharia under a Caliphite.
America has been a gift to the Jewish people.
Unlike European Christians, American Christians arrived in this land identifying strongly with the Jews of the Torah, an oppressed people fleeing slavery in order to worship G-d on their own soil.
In fact, the Pilgrims considered making Hebrew the national language.
But now, under Barack Hussein Obama's heavy-handed rule, things are rapidly changing.
Anti-Israel sentiment is being institutionalized by the Obama regime.
The fashionable, leftist Jew-hatred, disguised as "anti-Zionism" is sweeping like a prairie fire through the White House and the oh-so sophisticated diplomatic corps.
Tomorrow, the Presidential Medal of Freedom will be bestowed on Mary Robinson, a classic European Jew-hater who presided over the notorious 2001 Durban Conference, a hate-fest directed at Jews, Israel and America.
President George W. Bush wisely removed the American delegation from the conference rather than legitimize malignant Jew-hatred.
Obama's apologists are already claiming that the Robinson pick was, y'know, an honest mistake.
Anyone who believes that Mary Robinson was not properly vetted by the Obama White House is a moron.
Obama knows exactly what he's doing.
Robinson is a kindred spirit to President Obama. They marinate in the same leftist juices.
She's in the mold of Jeremiah Wright, Khalid Rashidi, Bill Ayers, and Samantha Powers, Jew-haters all.
By awarding America's highest civilian medal to this infamous creature, Obama is signaling that Jew-hatred is not only acceptable, but commendable.
Obama's contempt for Jews and Israel is, of course, a foreshadowing of his utter contempt for ordinary Americans—Astroturf—who dare voice dissent from his Soviet style collectivist policies.
When Israel and America become the favorite targets of the President of the United States, then all Americans should note that nothing is sacred.
Soccer Dad analyzes Something About Mary and of course provides all the necessary links that unmask this enabler of evil.
And here's a petition from The Republican Jewish Coalition, objecting to the Robinson award.
Nothing from Jewish Democrats on the Robinson affair.
What a shock.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:23 AM | Comments (16)
August 10, 2009
Endless Love: A Brief Treatise
Scene One: Saturday
“Yes, but how can you really know someone? How can you know that the love is real?”
I go: “I knew, I always knew.”
Karen and I are hosting the Los Angeles Sheva B'rachot for Offspring #3 and her wonderful husband. A close friend, the wife of a fine physician, happily married with children and grandchildren, ponders out loud on the nature of love. She asks if we can ever really know the person we are marrying.
“You can't really know someone the way you know them after twenty, or thirty years of marriage,” she says. “How did you know Karen?”
“I saw the way she treated waiters when we went out. There were signs, signals, everywhere. I knew. Ever since I was nine-years old, I knew.”
Our friend is not satisfied with my romantically overblown response.
And neither am I.
Scene Two: Sunday
Karen and I attend the funeral of the daughter of close friends, a long married couple from our community. The young woman passed away on Shabbat, when we were celebrating Sheva B'rachot.
She was 28-years old.
She is buried about seven paces from our son Ariel Chaim's ZT'L grave.
The funeral service is tortuous yet dignified.
The father says to me: “I'm a member of your club now, Robert.”
I touch his arm.
“I really didn't want to become a member,” he says.
“I know.”
After the service, Karen and I pray over Ariel's grave. The grandfather of the young woman who died, a great and scholarly Rabbi who knows my father and adored Karen's father Z'L, puts his arms around us and offers a prayer for Ariel.
He is that generous.
Karen and I weep.
Scene Three: The L.A. Freeway
A few minutes later, Karen and I are driving back to Los Angeles.
“I knew that you would make me a better man. I knew that you would change me for the better—without tampering with the essential me, which is, let's face it, a bit askew.”
“Have I changed?” Karen asks.
“Not really, but that was the whole idea.”
Karen nods and smiles.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:14 AM | Comments (8)
August 09, 2009
Best of the Jewish Blogosphere #229
![chaplin6[1].jpg](http://www.seraphicpress.com/images/chaplin6%5B1%5D.jpg)
Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard, born Marion Pauline Levy, search for the Jewish Blogosphere.
Best of the Jewish Blogosphere #229, The Modi'in Edition is up and live. Check it out if you want to know what's happening in Jewish cyberspace.
Correction: A few days ago Seraphic Secret reported on child brides in Gaza. Since that post we have received more information and it appears that the little girls were not the brides, but relatives. The brides were off-screen.
I'm sorry for not checking out the story more thoroughly.
Our readers expect truth and clarity from Seraphic Secret and we endeavor to maintain the highest standards.
On the other hand, let's not forget that child marriages are not unusual in the Islamic world.
Last night was the final Sheva B'rachot for Offspring #3 and her wonderful husband. Karen and I are deeply grateful to all our readers who wrote to us privately and made comments over the past few days. Sharing our simcha with all of you has added another layer of joy to this special occasion.
Yours truly dances with Offspring #3.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:12 AM | Comments (12)
August 07, 2009
Friday Footwear: The Wedding Edition
Karen bought a pair of killer Calvin Klein heels for Offspring #3's wedding. We couldn't show you the shoes until after Karen wore them. Apparently, it's an unwritten female law. Who knew?
But the wedding is over and we are now free to reveal the wedding footwear.
Here we go:
Were the shoes comfortable?
Karen says: “They were fine.”
She walked down the aisle and then danced for hours without breaking out in blisters or shin splints. Elegant, not tortuous, and on sale at Loehmann's.
Talk about fab-u-losity.
And then we had Offspring #2's wedding shoes from the legendary Badgley/Mischka. The operative word is tulle.
Were the shoes comfortable?
For walking down the aisle: awesome.
For dancing: not so much.
Karen and I are back in Los Angeles hosting Offspring #3, her husband, and her husband's family for the remaining Sheva B'rachot. We all wish you, our friends and relatives, a lovely and joyous Shabbat.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:49 AM | Comments (8)
August 06, 2009
Scenes From a Wedding III
Karen and I are flying back to Los Angeles later today.
It's hard to believe that Offspring #3 is now a married woman. Just a short time ago I was an insane spectator/fan at her high school basketball games—Go YULA Panthers!—and watching Offspring #3 break full court presses with elegance and determination.
Her husband is a sensitive and gentle young man whose soul is finely woven with glittering particles of Jewish mysticism.
They are an exquisitely balanced couple.
My new, wonderful son-in-law dances with his maternal uncle, author and journalist, Yossi Klein Halevi.
The wedding singer is the supremely talented Eitan Katz. When our son, Ariel Chaim ZT'L, was stricken with cancer and unable to attend school anymore, Eitan came over to our house with his acoustic guitar and performed a private concert for Ariel.
Offspring #3's friends join hands and dance around the bride.
My Los Angeles friends help celebrate our simcha. I'm dancing with Sol, a Holocaust survivor from the legendary town of Munkacs Hungary. Over 80 members of Sol's family were murdered by the Germans. Sol was an inmate in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. On a death march of over 70 miles, Sol, then just 14-years old, carried his younger brother on his back the whole way. Sol's presence at the wedding is a great honor and a living testament to the courage and enduring legacy of the Jewish people.
Offspring #3 dances with Karen—her lovely and gracious mother-in-law. For the past few days every time I call out “Karen,” two women respond. By the way, my sister is also named Caron. I've been searching for some deep, Kabbalistic meaning to this rain of Karen's. Alas, I'm coming up dry. Whatever.
Behold: the four most important women in my life. Without them I am nothing. Karen—my Karen—dances with Ma'ayan Ariel, Offspring #2 and Offspring #3.
Tomorrow, Friday Footwear: The Wedding Edition
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:39 AM | Comments (13)
August 05, 2009
Scenes From a Wedding II
Karen and I are still in New York, celebrating Sheva B'rachot. Every once in a while I look at the news and mutter darkly about world events. But mostly I'm trying to shut out the various evils that crouch at our door and enjoy this precious time with our newly extended family.
Offspring #3 recites Tehillim, Psalms, before walking down the aisle.
Ma'ayan Ariel wants her aunt to hold her.
Before the wedding ceremony, I give a b'racha, a blessing, to Offspring #3. We are both crying.
Offspring#2 kicks off her Badgley/Mischka heels and gets into her dancing shoes.
x
Karen and Offspring #3 danced for hours with unrestrained joy.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 06:20 AM | Comments (14)
August 04, 2009
Scenes From a Wedding I
Karen's hair looks like criss-crossing rivers. The complex movements are harmonious and appear effortless.
Offspring #3 is now married to wonderful son-in-law #2.
Mazal Tov!
The wedding was beautiful, which is to say that it was a deeply spiritual and a wildly joyous occasion. There were close to 500 guests, with close friends flying in from Los Angeles, and relatives coming from Israel, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Poughkeepsie, and Croton-on-Hudson, to share in our simcha.
Soccer Dad and his lovely wife drove all the way from Baltimore—that's four hours to N.Y. Soccer Dad and I have been blog friends for years, but this is the first time we have met face to face. MoChassid was also in attendance, unfortunately sans Mrs. MoChassid. She was home caring for a child with a high fever. Our dear friend Kishke, a valued commenter on this blog, was also present with the wonderful Mrs. Kishke.
I took hundreds of photos, but here are a few that capture a few precious moments. I'll post more over the next few days.
Offspring #2 gets her hair done in the bridal suite. I love the intricate braiding that recalls the elaborate hair do's of the ladies of the Medici court during the High Renaissance. Make-up and hair by Grace Marino.
Wedding gowns waiting for use. From left to right: Offspring #3's stunning wedding gown with spectacular embroidery, Offspring #2's softly muted gown—think Jane Austen meets Audrey Hepburn, Karen's golden gown has a strong Chinese influence, very Gong Li. And finally Ma'ayan Ariel's little dress which is all ruffles and crinoline and makes her look like a dream child from a fairy tale.
Ma'ayan Ariel holds on to her father's finger. She knows that something exciting is happening and she doesn't want to miss a minute of it.
Offspring #3, the bride, prepares to walk down the aisle.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:48 AM | Comments (24)
August 02, 2009
Gaza Loves Little Girls—Literally
So: I'm in NY for Offspring #3's wedding—tomorrow.
But hey, there were also a whole bunch of weddings in Gaza as 450 Hamas terrorists were wed, en masse to, um pre-pubescent girls.
Basically, the Islamists in Gaza have legalized pedophelia.
Listen to the outcry of rage from Western feminists.
Not.
Hey, I have a fab-u-lous idea, let's hand over Judea and Samaria—The West Bank—to the so-called Palestinians. Consider it part and parcel of a multi-cultural seminar.
Or more precisely: Israel's national suicide.
Take a look at the charming video. The little girls in white bridal gowns are not guests, or cute little flower girls. They are the brides.
Warning: Extremely Vile Content. Have a barf bag handy.
I have another great idea.
I think the Dear Leader, AKA Barack Hussein Obama, should sit down over a beer with his buddies in the Muslim world and, y'know, talk over this child rape thing.
Use it as a “teaching moment.”
Because after all, a guy who spends over 20-years being mentored by the America/Jew-hating, racist Jeremiah Wright has all the necessary credentials to instruct us lesser mortals.
Come to think of it, maybe it's not such a hot idea as the Muslims will just blame the Jooz and Obama, will, naturally, believe them and use it as proof of the need for a settlement freeze. Because that's the kind of nuanced thinking that has made Obama's Middle East policy such a resounding joke.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 05:42 AM | Comments (19)