The grownups are in charge. .

You can tell because they're using grownup words

Someone please square Bush's casual use of a swear word with his well-trumpeted status as a born-again Christian and the man the Lord called to save the United States.

Thanks.

How can we help Israel?

Number 4(!) on Cross-Current's top ten: "Be in touch with local Christian leaders"

Hasn't anyone told the people of the cross that (a) the infalliable Vatican has already announced it's support for Hezbollah; and (b) the rapture-hungry evangelicals are activly cheering the violence and hoping that additional death and destruction will usher in the End of Days?

And even in this time of trouble the Judeo-Christian Blog can't resist a snide dig at other Jews: "There are a lot more Christians pushing for Israel right now than Jews."

BOTH tells us why

Of course there are! There are many more of them! Well over ninety-five percent of the US population is Gentile. And where the hell were they today? Why were there five times as many of the sonei-yisroel across the street from the consulate? Why weren't all those fine pro-Israel Christians standing with us? These are rhetorical questions, as I'm sure y'all realize.

A much better list can be found at the always genial Treppenwitz.

Missle map

This is a swell animated map of the situation in Northern Israel, but the naughty contrarian in me is wondering what the Southern Lebanon version might look like. For every Israeli town under assault, there's at least one in Lebanon, too.

Hezbollah must be destroyed, but innocent civillians on both sides are going to suffer terribly before this campaign is finished. I don't know that Israel can avoid doing damage to innocent bystanders in Southern Lebanon, and now, perhaps, isn't the time to argue the morality of an assault that makes no distinction between civillians and terrorists. But let's not pooh-pooh their tears, either.

Evangelical Christians respond to the War Against Hizbollah

Missles are falling and Jews are dying, and the world waits in fear that Syria or Iran might enter the fray. But guess who's giggling? Money quote:

Is it time to get excited? I can't help the way I feel. For the first time in my Christian walk, I have no doubts that the day of the Lords appearing is upon us. I have never felt this way before, I have a joy that bubbles up every-time I think of him, for I know this is truly the time I have waited for so long. Am I alone in feeling guilty about the human suffering like my joy at his appearing somehow fuels the evil I see everywhere. If it were not for the souls that hang in the balance and the horror that stalks man daily on this earth, my joy would be complete. For those of us who await his arrival know, somehow we just know it won't be long now, the Bridegroom cometh rather man is ready are not."

Unfortunately, the thread where this kind senitiment originally appears has mysteriously disappeared. Others like it, however, have been collected and displayed elswhere on the Internet. [1, 2, 3]

Proof once again that no matter how many "I Love Israel" bumper stickers the Christian right puts on their jesusmobile, Jews only matter to them because we are intended to be sacrificial lambs in the rapture story... and the streets shall run red with their blood.

Oh, yes, friends indeed.

Hat tip: JonSwift

Daas Torah

Hihruim, one of our more subversive bloggers, has brought to light the most famous daas torah mistake of all time:

...the doyen of current rashei yeshiva, R. Schach, proves the value of Torah as the self-sufficient repository of all knowledge by asking, rhetorically: "Whence did Hazal know that the earth was forty-two times larger than the moon, and that the sun was approximately one-hundred-and-seventy times larger than the earth if not from the power of the Torah.

This is, to be blunt, a schoolboy howler: the Moon has approximately 1/4 Earth's diameter, 1/50 Earth's volume, and 1/80 Earth's mass, while the Sun is 109 times greater in width; 1,300,00 times greater in volume; and 330,000 times greater in mass. Yet, this is Rav Shach's idea of a slam dunk proof that daas torah is real?

As Rav Lichtenstein concludes

In raising this question, [Rav Shach] is wholly oblivious not only of the rudiments of astronomy but also of the fact that the selfsame Rambam explicitly states, with respect to these very issues, that they are beyond the pale of Hazal's authority:

Do not ask of me to show that everything they have said concerning astronomical matters conforms to the way things really are. For at that time mathermatics were imperfect. They did not speak about this as transmitters of dicta of the prophets, but rather because in those times they were men of knowledge in these fields or because they had heard these dicta from the men of knowledge who lived in those times

I understand why the idea that all secrets might be contained in the Torah is facinating to small minds, but can the large minds please finally give it a rest?

Over the last 1000 years the gedolim have been wrong about countless issues of great importance. A small sampling:

1. The Rambam. In our day we pretend that the Rambam's ideas were always accepted and to oppose him is to commit heresy, but Marc Shapiro has neatly exploded that idea. We now know that almost every single one of the Rambam's precious ikkarim was ignored or discounted by someone great. So who were the heretics? The Rambam or the people who opposed him? And where was the daas torah of the Sages who permitted his books to be burned?

2. Mussar. Rabbi Salanter was the Nosson Slifkin of his day, opposed and condemed by many of his generation's leading lights. But, in the end, he won. Who had the daas torah? Him or his enemies?

3. The holocaust The official daas torah of the 1930s was the Europe was safer than America. Good thing this was mostly ignored. Had our ancestors paid attention, most of us would never have been born.

[more here]

Mavin yavin

ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb ren reb

Catholic Church on Hizbollah

The other day, my good friend Yitzchok Adlerstein delivered a heartfelt sermon about the wonderful Catholic Church and how it has changed for the better. Some highlights:

Many people believe... that the Church is monolithic, and forever incapable of change. They prefer to stew in their animus, rather than encourage and nurture real signs of contrition and mending ways. They are stuck in a freeze-frame mode of history, while others are willing to hit the play button...

There remain, no doubt, lots of antisemites within the Catholic Church. But there is also no church that took steps as strong and effective as the Catholic Church to distance itself from [anti-semitism]. [You] may cynically reject it as meaningless window-dressing. I don't."

Stirring words. And I may have been tempted to believe him, until today when the Catholic Church spit directly into his face, and the face of all Jews.

What I ate last night

Classmate-Wearing-Yarmulka is asking the J-blogopshere how they broke yesterday's fast. He says he had a cheese omlet, but that sounds rather French. Would a good Bush Republican ever eat such a thing? No. And, as it turns out CWY, has denounced the faith:

But CWY: "the president is always right"
It's official Republican dogma.
DovBear 07.14.06 - 10:43 am

Then I guess then I'm a heretic.
Classmate-Wearing-Yarmulka
07.14.06 - 10:45 am #

As for CWY's meme, I was denied my favorite break-fast of potato soup, lecho, and an Entenmann's pastery due to a shopping foul-up, so I instead made do with a few slices of belly-lox on a cream-cheese bagel, with mushroom barley soup on the side.

I tag MoChassid (kugel) RenReb (chocolate) BIB (bean curd) and TTC (some Frenchy soufle)

Denouncing the Diarist

I just want to go on the record saying that I do at all agree with the sentiments expresed in the Kos Diarist being passed around. Also, I firmly denounce Mr. Kos for posting it - unless, it turns out that he published that anti-Semite for the same reason I publish Naftuli (ie: So the commenters can have the fun of destorying the guy.)

Predictably, small-brained people on the right are trying to say that the views of this one, lonley fringe, diarist represent the whole entire Democratic party. What a laugh.

First, did you notice all the lefties who were screaming at the guy on the comment thread? Second, have you noticed that the Democrats in Congress have offered Israel more support than both their Republican counterparts and the White House? And third, until a fringe Democrat wins the New Hampshire primary it's clear that the anti-Semites on the Republican right wield far more influence and are far more dangerous than any anonymous blogger. The GOP is home to David Duke and Pat Buchanan for a reason after all.

Bush (Israels Best friend ever!) calls for restraint

Amensty International, Human Rights Watch and the Democratic leadership fully support Israel's efforts to rescue soldiers kidnapped by Palestenian and Lebonese guerillas. Meanwhile the White House is singing a different tune:

We just continue to ask that the Israelis exercise restraint, be concerned about civilian casualties, be concerned of course about civilian infrastructure,'' Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters at a hastily called news conference here, 10 hours after Bush's original comments.

Now, to be perfectly fair, HRW and AI are also asking Israel to go easy on civillians (though the Democratic leadership has not) but Bush? Cowboy Bush? Israel's best friend ever!!! (TM) Calling on the Jewish state to exercise restraint? Worrying about Arab civillians? How pleasently shocking.

More support for Israel

Amnesty International: "Hizbullah must stop launching attacks against Israeli civilians and it must treat humanely the two Israeli soldiers it captured on 12 July and grant them immediate access to the International Committee of the Red Cross." The organization also called on the Lebanese government to take concrete measures to ensure that Hizbullah complies with these obligations under international law.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch said that Palestinian militant groups are committing a war crime by using a captured Israeli soldier as a hostage to seek the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Both organizations, additionally called on Israel to avoid harming civillians, but otherwise recognized Israel's right to use military force to rescue its captured soldiers.

Ranking Democrats on the Hizballah Kidnapping of Two Israeli Soldiers

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD)(7/12/06):

"The House Democratic leadership strongly condemns the seizure of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah terrorists operating from Lebanon... Countries with influence over Hezbollah, particularly Syria and Iran, must move quickly to bring about the return of the soldiers and the end of rocket attacks on Israeli civilians from Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The Palestinian Authority, and countries with influence over Hamas, must take similar action in Gaza.

"Those who finance, direct, or otherwise support acts like these need to understand that they have produced an extremely dangerous situation and that they are responsible for the consequences. Israel has an inherent right to defend itself, and the United States supports our ally."

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (NV) (7/12/06):

"Today's attacks by Hezbollah in Israeli territory were disgraceful and unwarranted acts of violence by a terrorist organization. Hezbollah must release the captured Israeli soldiers immediately. Hezbollah must be dismantled, and all nations have an obligation to cease any and all assistance to this terrorist organization. Israel has a right to live in peace and security, and the United States will stand by our ally in this difficult time."

Nice work boys.

You were not wrong!

Dear OrthoMom:

You folded too quickly.

Pulling out of Gaza brought Israel *loads* of benefits, the freedom to act with impunity when rockets fall (and with the world's support no less) being just one of them.

XXOO

DovBear

Setting the record straight

It has come to my attention that Toby Katz was not talking about Darfur at all when she told a poster 'You can daven if it makes you feel good.'  She was responding to an earlier letter of his, critical of charedim, whose tone she thought was a bit self-righteous.  

It has also come to my attention that "Anonymous," who posted on my comment thread part of a letter TK wrote to Areivim, left out one critical sentence of hers, thus changing her message completely.  She was responding and actually disagreeing with the interpretation of another writer --  who had quoted a Talmudic statement that non-Jews don't receive reward for doing chessed. 

Here is the whole letter that she posted to Areivim, with the final sentence restored, reprinted here with her permission:

My understanding of Chazal differs from yours on this point.  I think that when they said goyim don't get schar for the chessed that they do, they meant that in the majority of cases, their chessed is done for improper or ulterior motives.  [Think Hamas] However, on those occasions when goyim perform genuine, selfless acts of chessed -- and such cases actually occur fairly frequently -- then they do get schar for their acts of chessed.



I regret that I was taken in by GH's original post about Toby and Darfur, a post that violated the terms of agreement of a private email group (Areivim) by posting private letters to a public forum. And by leaving out the context and critical parts of the letters he posted, GH made matters worse.

I reserve the right to criticize Toby Katz when she deserves it, but when her views have been misrepresented, it is only fair that I set the record straight.

The moral high ground

My friend Dave is spreading the good news that "the international response to the Israeli actions in Lebanon were much milder than expected." Jpost has the rest of the story:

[Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman] noted that in recent years there have been signs of a shift in the international view of Israel, with more countries expressing support of Israel.

When asked whether people were refraining from shaking his hand, he replied that the other diplomats shook his hands and even patted him on the back.

Why is The World supporting Israel's foray into Lebanon ? Two possible reasons:

1 - The World understands that Lebanon and Hezbollah have no argument with Israel. Israel left Lebanon six years ago, and during its 20-year occupation built no houses and approrpriated no land. Moreover, many Lebanonese workers and goods were permitted to cross uninhindered into Israel through the Good Fence.

2 - Retreating from Lebanon and the withdrawal from Gaza gave Israel something it hasn't had since 1973: The moral high ground. I could be wrong, but I think that the World is supporting Israel today because of the respect engendered by the two pull outs. Leaving Gaza and Lebanon won the world's respect because those moves conclusivly demonstrated Israel's willingness to uphold a universally recognized standard of justice.

Praying for Shalit. Or not.

Is your shul praying for the safe return of Gilad Shalit and the other
kidnapped Israeli soldiers?

Answer in the comments please.

--------

My own shul isn't offering any special prayers on behalf of the
captured soldiers. No tehillim. No mee sha bayrach. Nothing. I am not
sure why. I'd like to think that the shul's official silence is
related to the shul's official non-zionism: We don't ever say special
prayers for Israel or for the IDF, for example, and we ignore Yom
Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim. But my sad hunch is that we're
formally indifferent to the plight of the soldiers because they aren't
Orthodox. I'm quite sure that if a Hasid or Yeshivish person was
imprisoned by terrorists, our reaction would be different.

Todays Times on Israel

Thus said the New York Times:

Kidnapping Israeli soldiers to use as bargaining chips for the release of Arab prisoners is horrible behavior for groups that claim international recognition and political legitimacy, as Hamas and Hezbollah do. The same applies to lobbing rockets over Israel's borders in the hope that they might kill unsuspecting civilians. In response to such unacceptable provocations, Israeli forces are now engaged in major military operations in Gaza, to the south, and in
Lebanon, to the north.

But even when acting justifiably in the face of aggression, Israel best serves its long-term security interests by acting wisely and proportionately. Its guiding principle must always be to focus military actions as narrowly as possible on those individuals, organizations and governments directly complicit in the attacks, while sparing the civilian populations that surround them.

That is, of course, far easier said than done. Military actions in inhabited areas cannot be fine-tuned. Yet surely the repeated lesson of recent history is that inflicting pain and humiliation on Arab civilians does not make them angry at the terrorists who provoked the violence. It makes them angrier at Israel.

It is too soon to judge how well Israel is hewing to this standard in Lebanon. The political context there is different from that in Gaza. Hezbollah, whose militia is to blame for the kidnappings and rocket fire, has deputies in Lebanon's Parliament and ministers in its cabinet. But it is not the main party of government, as Hamas is in the Palestinian territories. And Lebanon, unlike Gaza and the West Bank, is a legally sovereign state. A great deal of international effort has been invested in trying to free it of foreign military and political meddling, and restore real content to its sovereignty.

Obviously, that effort has not been fully successful. Hezbollah's role as an autonomous militia controlling the international border with Israel makes that painfully clear, and Israel cannot be expected to put up with it. But in responding, it needs to make careful distinctions between Hezbollah guerrillas and Lebanese civilians; calling the rockets an "act of war" by Lebanon's government was not a good idea.

In Gaza, where Israeli operations have been going on for two weeks and seem to be expanding day by day, it is not too soon to question Israeli military strategy, as many Israelis themselves are now doing. Israel's initial foray into the southern part of Gaza, after one of its soldiers was kidnapped near the border, was appropriate, as were the initial airstrikes on bridges, meant to impede the movements of the kidnappers.

But after these steps failed to produce their intended result, the operation seemed to lose its clear territorial and counterterrorist definition and began to take on a perverse momentum of its own. Israel should not back off its efforts to secure the release of its kidnapped soldier. But it needs to refocus its Gaza operations on that very specific goal.