by John Brown · Wednesday, November 30th, 2005
Usually I’m not on the same page with the United Torah Judaism party but now this:
“Sharon greatly reminds me of the Italian Benito Mussolini. Mussolini also left one party and established his own. He also served as prime minister until he founded a dictatorship and became a duce. Sharon is already talking about a presidential regime in order to do whatever he feels like with the state. Duce Sharon.”
— MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism)
Hat-tip to Yeshiva Orthodoxy
Flashback to 2002: “Gianfranco Fini, Italy’s right-wing deputy premier and a former admirer of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, has been invited to Israel.”
by Mobius · Wednesday, November 30th, 2005
So after a ‘lil Google sleuthing, I’ve pieced together a bigger picture of just who exactly is behind TrueJewschool.
As the whois record for the domain notes, the site is registered to Ms. Dixie Lawrence. A basic search on “Dixie Lawrence” revealed that one Ms. Lawrence a) runs an adoption agency in Louisiana and b) is a major pro-life activist.
However I can’t be precisely sure this is the same person because, oddly enough, there are three Dixie Lawrences in Slidell, three in Gonzeles, two in Prairieville, one in Shreveport, one in Alexandria, and one in Pearl River.
A search on “Dixie Lawrence Jews for Jesus” led me to a post on Yahoo Groups tying one Ms. Lawrence to a Jews for Jesus ministry, also in Louisiana, called Hope of Israel Ministries. You might notice the giant photograph of 50 Shekel on their homepage. Lawrence is listed on their contact page as the organization’s webmaster.
A whois lookup on hopeofisraelministries.org revealed that the domain is also owned by the same Dixie Lawrence, as is aviadshalom.org, which carries the same photo of ol’ 50.
Google also revealed that Shekel had a link to this ministry on his own website, though it’s recently been removed.
Interestingly, it appears this ministry is not linked to any major Messianic Jewish organization or federation, such as The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America, The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, or The International Federation of Messianic Jews (who knew there were so many out there?!) and is an independent entity with no “weight” behind it. Ie., if I wanted to sue them — which I don’t and which I’m not going to — they’re sitting ducks, essentially.
My speculation is that after Cohen came out as a JFJ and it was publicized in the Christian press, these people approached him about shilling for them. This TrueJewschol plot was clearly hatched as a collaboration between the two, whereas the site only came to my attention after its banner (which initially bore Jewschool’s logo) appeared on Cohen’s homepage.
So much for his claims of innocence in the comment thread of the previous post.
*** UPDATE ***
READ THE COMMENTS BEFORE READING THE FOLLOWING.
Essentially, Ms. Lawrence claims that:
- Their ministry has had a learning program for 3 years called True Jewschool despite there being no mention of it anywhere on any of their websites (compared to karate classes which enjoy high prominence).
- That they have nothing to do with Aviad Cohen, aka 50 Shekel, despite a) his face being plastered all over their websites, b) using his slogan against Jewschool, “get schooled or get fooled”, c) TrueJewschool first debuting on Cohen’s homepage with no references to the site existing anywhere else on the web, and e) Cohen’s link to their ministry mysteriously disappearing from his website in the last few days.
- That they are not missionaries, despite Louisiana Messianists’ reputation for proselytizing to Jews at Tulane U and other regional campuses.
- That an innocent 15 year old w/Down Syndrome, who’s a big fan of Cohen’s, created the graphic.
- That despite seeming to be an obvious swipe at Jewschool that falls in-line with Cohen’s constant pronouncements that we are not “true” Jews, this is no more than a mere coincidence.
- That this young man is the boyfriend of the Lawrence’s 14 year-old daughter who also has Down Syndrome and is a big fan of Cohen’s music herself, despite being legally deaf.
- That Lawrence’s daughter forwarded Cohen a link to the site, despite Cohen’s own claim that “I just found the site and linked to it.”
- That since their “synagogue” was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, this is insult being added to injury.
- That they’ve been receiving threats from Jewschool readers who got their phone number from the whois record I linked to.
To be honest, I don’t know what to think. I assure you I’ve intended no maliciousness and I would never advocate that this woman be harassed or threatened. And I really do sincerely feel for her in her situation. We just did a fundraiser for hurricane victims in Louisiana. The last thing I’d ever want to do is make things worse for them!
However, the whole thing seems so damn suspect! What are the chances? This kid would have to be an obsessive 50 Shekel fan carrying out his heroe’s vendetta!
It seems so entirely far-fetched, even if plausible. Maybe I’m just a jerk who jumped to conclusions. But does this not look like a trap for me to walk right into? And aren’t these kinds of smear tactics par-for-the-course for Messianic groups? Aviad Cohen is a master public relations strategist. Just take a look at his press page. He doesn’t even have an agent—he does his own PR.
Call me paranoid, but if you don’t smell the rat, you need your sinuses checked.
All in all, this leaves me drawing but one conclusion: Aviad Cohen’s fans are, quite literally, deaf and retarded.
[Update] The Forward reports, Jewlicious amuses, and Aviad Cohen implores me to accept Yeshua into my heart. Fat chance there.
This thread has been closed.
by Benyamin · Wednesday, November 30th, 2005
- Man, Eli Roth is one sick fellow. Take a look at the trailer for a movie based on his work.
- Most unexpected reference to a bris? Watch this trailer — about halfway through you’ll get it.
- Jewish comedian Albert Brooks goes looking for comedy in the Muslim world.
- Coming this Chanukah: Adam Schwartz’s My Big Fat Independent Movie. Awesome.
Cross-posted on The Yada Blog.
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
The Telegraph reports,
A Jewish charity whose bearded, skullcap-wearing volunteers rush to the scene of every suicide bombing in Israel is facing bankruptcy following the decline in Palestinian terrorism.
Members of Zaka were among the first to arrive at every atrocity, sifting through wreckage to gather the body parts of victim and bomber alike, in accordance with Jewish law.
[...]
But the de facto end of the Palestinian intifada earlier this year has led to a crushing reduction in charitable donations.
“The perception is that our workload has gone down, and so we have seen a decline in the growth of our private funding,” said Yehuda Meshi Zahav, the founder and chairman of Zaka.
“But the reality is that our workload has gone up and so, until our funding catches up, there is a problem.”
Full story.
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
The US Green Party has issued a press release stating:
The Green Party of the United States has endorsed a statement calling for a comprehensive strategy of boycott and divestment that would pressure the government of Israel to guarantee human rights for Palestinians.
The resolution, introduced by the Wisconsin Green Party and passed in the Green Party’s National Committee, seeks reversal of Israel’s current policies.
[...]
“Israel’s treatment of Palestinians — those who are Israeli citizens as well as those in the territories — is comparable in many ways to South African apartheid, and has resulted in a cycle of violence and lack of security for both Israelis and Palestinians,” said Mohammed Abed, a member of the Green Party of Wisconsin. “A stable and just resolution of the conflict requires the full realization of the human rights of Palestinians and Israelis.”
Read the full text of their press release and the boycott resolution here.
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
From The SF Gate:
I want ask you about your personal story. You were born into a Jewish family. What sort of religious orientation did you have?
It was somewhat limited. We observed the Jewish holidays. I studied for my bar mitzvah and attended Sunday school. It was about being culturally and historically part of the Jewish people and then being a good person — that’s kind of the gist of it.
There is a phenomenon of many Jews becoming Buddhists, or “Jewbus” as they are called, especially here in the Bay Area. Why do you think some Jews are drawn to Buddhism?
I really don’t know. I do know that within my family and the community there was a great tradition of learning and understanding that is common among Jews. And I see the same love of learning and understanding among other Jewish people who have become Buddhist practitioners. So maybe that is one part of it.
Do you retain any connection to Judaism at this point?
Yes. My daughter was brought up learning about Jewish history and celebrating the holidays. She is also Christian from her mother’s side, so she was baptized at San Francisco’s Glide Memorial church. And we also lived in a Hindu country for a long time, so she has that influence as well.
When my daughter was younger, she was asked, “Well, what are you?” And she said, “Gee, I’m Christian and Buddhist and Jewish and Hindu” and some other things — I don’t know what else was in there. In her simple answer — she was like nine years old at the time — was a reflection that underneath all these different religions there is a commonality that at best involves treating one another with great care and respect based on love, virtue and integrity.
Full story.
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
JDub Records and Corner Prophets
in association with Avisar Savir Productions
are proud to present
MATISYAHU
The Hasidic Reggae Superstar
December 6 & 7, 10PM
at Barby
52 Kibbutz Galoyot (corner of Herzl)
Tel Aviv
(03) 518-8123
barby.co.il
December 8 & 10, 10PM
at HaMabada (The Lab)
28 Derech Hevron
Jerusalem
(02) 629-2000
Tickets on sale now at the box office!
For more information, visit matisyahu.org.
by Benyamin · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
- Can the Jews save Christmas? Slate investigates.
- There’s a red stain niddah joke in here somewhere, but it seems the Virgin Mary is now crying blood.
- Hey man, she’s just not that into you.
- Worshipping your God … and a nice Par 3.
- Salon: “Jewish leaders have finally dared to criticize conservative Christians.” Dared? Who writes their headlines?
by Benyamin · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
Save 10 bucks. Don’t waste your time with the Protocols.
by lchayim · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
Continuing my series of finishing 2005 about a month early to beat the end-of-year rush, here’s my pick for Jew of the Year: Rabbi Shlomo Aviner (bio in Hebrew)
Who is he? He’s one of the so-called “Settler Rabbis”. Rabbi of the West Bank town of Beit El and dean of the Ateret Cohanim yeshiva in the old city of Jerusalem that is preparing for the services of sacrifices when the Temple is rebuilt. Yeah, he’s right-wing alright. Here’s a review in the Forward of an English translation of one of Rabbi Aviner’s dozens of Hebrew books. The subtitle of the review is “A Controversial Israeli Rabbi Uses the Holidays To Explore His Own ‘Militant Theology’”.
So why am I declaring him Jew of the Year?
You might remember this summer some sort of Disengagement going on in Gaza. It made the news here and there. The rabbis of the settler groups were up in arms with all sorts of denouncements of the Israeli State and declarations of resistance at all costs. Rabbi Aviner took a different route, loudly opposing active resistance to the Disengagement. He announced that soldiers are not halachically obligated to disobey orders and continously lectured against fighting Israeli soldiers. During the Disengagement he actually went into the streets and got into a fistfight with teenagers trying to block roads so soldiers couldn’t pass. Even the ADL, no friend of right wing politics, went so far as to officially commend Rabbi Aviner.
Because of this, he has suffered significant political losses. His halachic prowess was denounced by major rabbis, not-so-coincidentally right after the Disengagement. He’s under constant attack in the periodicals of his own right wing community. But he won’t stop. He’s still publishing essays about dealing with the reality of Disengagement and how to continue supporting the State of Israel despite disagreeing with this policy.
This guy’s got guts and integrity. Even if you don’t agree with him you’ve got to appreciate that.
by shamirpower · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
Okay folks I know that last month we invited you all to Kol Zimrah in honor of our third anneversary. But we took a poll to see if anyone came because they heard about us on Jewschool and not one person raised their hand! [Update: Lost of love to you Aliza!] To everyone else: People, you are seriously missing a revolution here.
But all it not lost. This Friday I will be leading along with the jazz styles of Ruby-K on sax, as well as two other extremly talented musicians playing on guitar and dumbek. It may sound like a concert to you, but if you’re saying that, you’re showing you’ve never really experienced Kol Zimrah. It’s a participatory service with exciting tunes, new and old, to accompnay the full Hebrew liturgy.
So if you’re in NYC, can make it to the SAJ @ 15 West 86th Street at 6:30pm, we’d love to see you there.
Special guest apperances by other Jewschool bloggers! (And tell us that Jewschool sent you!)
by Douglas · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
Orthodox rabbis and the principals of the 43 Yeshivas in a New Jersey community called Lakewood make it official: No Internet in Homes with Children. Lakewood’s orthodox have already begun removing computers from their homes.
On the bright side, it means they can’t complain that what we’re saying online is bad for their kids.
Here’s the news story.
(Thanks to Kevin at Consumatron for the link….)
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
The Gulf Daily News reports,
Sources close to pop superstar Michael Jackson denied rumours that he was planning to donate money for the building of a mosque in Bahrain.
The reports, which appeared in newspapers and websites around the world, quoted ’spokesmen’ claiming the mosque was being built as a gesture towards the people of Bahrain.
The sources told the GDN that people who were quoted were former spokesmen who may have an agenda against Mr Jackson.
Ynet has reported that Jackson plans to convert to Islam upon his arrival in Bahrain, though it’s possible that this information was obtained from the same dubious sources. Then again, Ynet also reports that Jermaine Jackson converted to Islam and currently lives in Dubai, so I guess anything’s possible.
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
Details of Matisyahu’s cameo on POD’s new album arrive from The Witchita Eagle:
Along with the rasta-metal sound fans are accustomed to, “Testify” features several guest spots frombreakout reggae-rap star Matisyahu.
“Years ago, we heard about that homeboy before anybody knew who he was,” Bernardo said.
Matisyahu, a Hasidic Jew, was in Israel when P.O.D. started recording “Testify,” but as soon as he returned to Brooklyn, the band flew him to their Hollywood studio to add rhymes on the track “Roots in Stereo.”
A freestyle rap inspired by the Jewish holy book also graces the song “Strength of My Life.”
“He brought his Torah in (the studio) and just rapped off it,” Bernardo said.
Some of P.O.D.’ s acquaintances questioned why the born-again Christian band would want to work with a Jewish artist, but to Bernardo it made perfect sense.
After all, they’re both down with G.O.D.
Full story.
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
I just noticed that the Middle East editor of Harvard’s metablog Global Voices Online is Haitam Sabbah, a Jordanian blogger who, on his own site, publishes rants from neo-Nazi organizations about how the Jews run the American media, calls suicide bombers “martyrs”, justifies Hamas’ rocket attacks against Israeli civilians, defends the Iranian president’s remarks that Israel should be wiped off the face of the map, and who considers himself a staunch human rights activist. Which isn’t to say he isn’t progressive on a lot of other issues, but he clearly hates Israel and has delusional beliefs about Zionist power in America.
But well, g’mar chatima tov, you and I aren’t so different. Buh?!
Um, so I guess my question is, what the f*ck is up with that?
[Update] This post was not intended to attack nor negatively portray Lisa, who I think is a remarkable journalist and blogger. My question (now removed, along with all comments subsequently denigrating her and responding to those denigrations) was not aimed to criticize nor harm Lisa in any way. The question was posed to Sabbah. I failed to realize the extent to which asking this question opened Lisa up to attack. Any further remarks as such will lead to a revocation of posting privileges. As I’ve stated repeatedly, I refuse to provide a forum for people to attack one another. I own responsibility for creating that situation, and now I take responsibility for the creation of this “memory hole” to rectify it.
by sarah · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
by Mobius · Tuesday, November 29th, 2005
So Jewsweek did a story on the Jewish blogosphere. Jewschool gets mentioned, but sort of gets short-shrift, and CK gets all the attention for a campaign I initiated and he was reluctant to sign on to. (No offense Dave, you know I love you. HUG!!!) But alas, what else could I expect from Jewsweek? We’re not exactly on speaking terms. They probably didn’t think I’d even say yes to an interview. Which I probably wouldn’t have. Sigh. I guess it helps when the author of the article is a former Jewlicious contributor, who now also happens to be the editor of Jewsweek. Sincerely, though, kol hakavod Alli.
I wrote something similar myself for my presentation at Rejewvenation. It’s a thorough examination of the Jewish web as we know it, and where I see things heading. You can read it here.
Anyhow, speaking of Jewsweek, Jewcy’s finally back in action — standing on their own two feet — with their first major event in quite some time: A Chanukah fundraiser for Natan. Natan is a Jewish grantmaking organization which supports some of the most innovative projects in the Jewish community including JDub Records, Heeb Magazine, Storahtelling, Jews Rock, Brooklyn Jews, and many, many more.
With a line-up like this, at only $25 bucks a pop, this is an event totally worth shelling out for:
[Update] This just in: Perry Farrell will be DJing the event.
by Mobius · Monday, November 28th, 2005
- JPost reports, “As liberal Judaism in Israel evolves, and whatever the theological and sociological differences between the Conservative and Reform movements, one thing is already clear: women are in the forefront, increasingly taking on leadership positions in communities and finding their place as pulpit rabbis throughout the country. [...] More women in leadership roles also means greater egalitarianism ‘as a reality, not just an ideal,’ says [HUC's Yehoyada] Amir. And no less importantly, ‘Women in the rabbinate bring a new kind of prayer and a new kind of theological discourse.’”
- Also in JPost, a very balanced look at a reparative therapy program in Jerusalem.
- From the JTA, a look at Irena Fayngold’s new documentary Hineini, which examines the struggles of gay and lesbian students in American Jewish day schools.
