by The Town Crier [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum, the “Satmar Rebbe” leader of the Satmar Hasidic Sect since 1980, has passed away in New York City at the age of 91
Teitelbaum was born in Siget, in present-day Romania. He escaped Nazi persecution during World War II and came to the United States in 1946. Teitelbaum took over leadership of the Satmar sect from his uncle, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, who died childless in 1979 at age 93. He took the formal title of rebbe the following year.
The question of who will succeed the rebbe as spiritual leader looms high. Two of his sons, Aaron and Zalmen Teitelbaum, have been feuding over that question.
Full story.
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
Attn: Jerusalem chevre
Tonight (4/25) @ 8PM
at Uganda, Aristobulus 4 (behind Cafe Hillel on R’ Yaffo)
SONIC OUTLAWS
Film Screening
AND DON’T MISS…
Thursday, 4/27 @ 10 PM
at Sira, Ben Sira 4 (formerly known as D1)
OLD JERUZ CIPHER
with Sagol 59, Rebel Sun, M Serious, Eyesis, DJ Caress and Israeli punk sensation Weird Chicken playing backup!
by Mobius [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
by Mordy [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
In an article today in the NY Region section, Corey Kilgannon writes: “Three Quiet Brothers on Long Island, All of Them Related to Hitler.”
The visitor asked the landscaper about his father, who was born William Patrick Hitler, son of Alois Hitler Jr., who was Adolf Hitler’s half-brother (they shared the same father). Alois called his son Willy. The Führer called Willy “my loathsome nephew.”
First off, what a great name. Right? Three Quiet Brothers on Long Island? That’s the setup: All of Them Related to Hitler. Bang! The punchline.
Possibly, the context of the article is the new play, “Little Willy” about the nephew’s father. Not only that, but apparently the boys are planning to write a book. New York Times is obviously very excited by the answers this new book may contain:
Would the book address the intriguing stories that have circulated about them in this part of Long Island for decades? Did Willy really blackmail Uncle Adolf with information suggesting that the Führer could be half-Jewish? Did one of Willy’s sons really have the middle name Adolf? Since all four brothers were childless, was it because of a pact to end the Hitler bloodline?
A pact to end the Hitler bloodline? What the hell, New York Times! What crack are you smoking? I seriously doubt that they are childless because they want to end the Hitler bloodline. It isn’t like the horrible dictator was prophesized to establish the line of Hitler, that would eventually culminate in the anti-Christ. This is some serious Dan Brown conspiracy.
by Cole Krawitz [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
Latest from the JTA:
President Bush proclaimed May as Jewish heritage month.
“As a nation of immigrants, the United States is better and stronger because Jewish people from all over the world have chosen to become American citizens,†Bush said in his proclamation Friday.
“Since arriving in 1654, Jewish Americans have achieved great success, strengthened our country and helped shape our way of life. Through their deep commitment to faith, family and community, Jewish Americans remind us of a basic belief that guided the founding of this nation: That there is an Almighty who watches over the affairs of men and values every life.â€
I couldn’t agree more that Jews are fabulous, but OH H*LL NO! This declaration makes me nauseous–and oh how strategic it is.
The timing of it around the national immigration debate, the ploy of using Israel to garner support for bombing Iran, the erasure of the fact that May is ALREADY Asian American Heritage Month or the fact that this country historically has had horrible immigration laws around Jews (and Asians for that matter which is no surprise he’s not trying to link immigration to Asian-Americans) up until post-WWII just about makes my head explode.
Oh yes, the hands are raised shaking to the sky with indignation!
[Update]: Now what we need is Jewish organizations and leaders that can stand in coalition with Asian-American organizations and speak back to Bush’s strategic attempt to use Jews, particularly Ashkenazi Jews in this way and link the struggles of these communities more cohesively, that there is overlap in identities, and that there are many Jewish immigrant communities that are struggling today. Yes.
crossposted to jspot
by shamirpower [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
Since last Thursday, my personal spiritual practice of omer counting has been, well – lazy. I went to my student pulpit in the Virgin Islands and took less and less time to sit and reflect as I counted. Yet, out of all the weeks, this one – week two – is the one in which we are supposed to focus on the characteristic of âáåøä which literally means strength, but is extended to include stringency, particularly in regards to justice and punishing the wicked. (Those of you who caught my dvar Torah last Friday know I have issues with this as well). In any case, just as I’ve been thinking about my lack of âáåøä in omer counting intentions, out pops three major coinciding important days:
- April 24, Armenian Genocide Day.
- 28 Nisan / April 24-25, Yom Hashoah V’hagevurah (the Memorial Day for the Holocaust and Heroism)
- The Save Darfur Rally this Sunday, April 30 in Washington, DC
There has been much space on the pages of Jewschool lately with information about #2 and #3, so I will just briefly add a few things I’ve come across:
- The date of April 24 as the memorial day for Armenian Genocide came to my attention when recently reading the book At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew’s Search for God with Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land. In one of the chapters, the author, Yossi Klein HaLevi, joins a group of Armenians living in the Old City of Jerusalem on this day. Notably, the Wiki entry on “Armenian Genocide” cannot be edited since there is apparent dispute about this issue.
- Aaron Dorfman, is the Director of Jewish Education at American Jewish World Service wrote an excellent piece for MyJewishLearning.com about Jewish perspectives on the responsibility to respond to genocide.
- The term “genocide” was coined by Raphael Lemkin (1900–1959), a Polish Jewish legal scholar, in 1943, from the roots genos (Greek for family, tribe or race) and -cide (Latin – occidere or cideo – to massacre). Dorfman makes reference to Lemkin in direct connection with Armenian genocide, while the Wiki entry on genocide does not mention Armenia at all.
May this week of âáåøä be one of reflection and hope, whether you are mourning past genocides or speaking out against modern day genocide, whether you connected these events to your Zionism, or you recall them at other times.
by Jewish Robot [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
by Benyamin [➚] · Monday, April 24th, 2006
by David Kelsey [➚] · Sunday, April 23rd, 2006
We are bombarded by optimism about Holocaust Day. We are told that Holocaust Day is an expression of “Never Again,†even as genocide continues to repeatedly surface on the planet, and nuclear proliferation continues.Â
We are told that Holocaust Day will help silence Holocaust deniers and revisionists who seek to minimize the extent of the killings, as if we lack enough documentation to prove this as is, and as if conspiracy theorists who are so immune to documentation and official markings of any sort will be assuaged that they aren’t being further manipulated by a Jewish sponsored Holocaust Day.Â
We are told that each incremental Holocaust Museum will provide comfort and testimony to the remaining survivors.
I have a different suggestion.
The Jerusalem Post reports,
An estimated 250,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel. About one-third live in poverty, according to recent social welfare reports.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. How are we allowing this to continue?
Instead of building more museums and memorials all over America, let us give the money directly (and not to the Israeli government) to these survivors in Israel living in poverty. In fact, let’s sell a few of them to help the survivors.  It is egregious that we American Jews, who claim to have such concern for the tragedy they went through, are allowing them to live out their last years impoverished in the land of Israel.
How dare we universalize their tragedy and create and fund curriculums on the Holocaust–sometimes the only form of Jewish studies programs available in some universities–when these people are facing hunger and despair paying their bills, as we decide what their suffering means to ourselves and America.
Allowing survivors to live like this is a terrible sin for the Jewish people.Â
Let’s fight for them.
by shteeblehopper [➚] · Sunday, April 23rd, 2006
You’re probably wondering what happened to the Shteeblehopper, after she introduced herself and hopped one shteeble and then seemed to disappear. Well, she’s been very busy and hasn’t had time to hop as much as she’d like to. In fact, this isn’t her. This is an anonymous guest blogger. (We’re staying anonymous for the same reason that restaurant critics disguise themselves.) The Shteeblehopper is away from NYC this weekend, so she asked me to check out the new Kehilat Romemu (previously advertised here on Jewschool) on Friday night and blog about it. The plan is for Shteeblehopper to become a bigger team (since one rabbit can’t be everywhere at the same time), so if you’d like to visit synagogues or minyanim in your own city and write about it, post a comment here, or email the Shteeblehopper. Also, drop us a line if you have suggestions of shteebles for us to hop.
Romemu is a new minyan on the Upper West Side of Manhattan that “seeks to integrate body, mind, and soul in Jewish practice”. This was its second service ever, and its first Friday night service ever.
More »
by David Kelsey [➚] · Sunday, April 23rd, 2006
The Sabbath is a time for reflection. It is spiritual; it is holy. That is why you must rest in the living room, and watch TV. All shabbos, every shabbos. Out of respect for your beliefs, I accept that the TV must not be touched; the volume must not be lowered. Not on Shabbos. And afterwards, you must order in, and the volume raised.   The Sabbath Queen must be celebrated even when she departs.Â
I would never challenge your expression of faith; I would never deride your chosen lifestyle. Â
But my next roommate will be a pagan.    Â
by BZ [➚] · Sunday, April 23rd, 2006
TODAY (Sunday, April 23) at 5 PM, the National Havurah Committee invites everyone in the Washington DC area to a potluck in honor of the NHC Summer Institute (previously blogged right here), at the home of Susan Barocas and Sam Phillips, 3413 Quebec St NW, near the Cleveland Park metro. Eat, learn, sing, and meet funky Jews. See the Evite for more details.
For everyone else, the deadline to apply for the Everett Fellowship (to attend the Institute for under $18/day) is May 1, only one week away, so get cracking!
by David Kelsey [➚] · Sunday, April 23rd, 2006
Holocaust Day is frequently presented by Holocaustians as a day that should be celebrated universally by world Jewry and preferably the entire world, for the sake of both. But it is neither a Jewish holiday nor a secular ecumenical one, though it is frequently promoted as both. It is a Zionist construct.
Jews will often feel pressure to respect this “holiday,†at least nominally. Holocaustians in particular will attempt to guilt trip at least tokens of public respect from the affiliated Diaspora Jewish community and from gentile political leaders for their High Holiday. But while some Holocaustians are not intentionally acting as the enforcer of the Zionists (though many certainly are), they are still responding to their directives.
More »
by Mobius [➚] · Saturday, April 22nd, 2006
- What is up with the king of Nepal’s seal?
- Meet Mr. AIPAC + Condi to be subpoenaed in AIPAC investigation (for, humorously enough, leaking classified info).
- The NY Times looks at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s exhibit on the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
- Speaking of which, Dershowitz compared the Harvard paper to the Protocols recently, and accused the authors of antisemitism, proving correct a major component of their thesis: You can’t criticize Israel without being accused of antisemitism.
- In the meantime, Tony Judt wrote a response to the responses to the paper. It’s well worth reading, though Andy Bachman offers a caveat.
- A few dozen Hareidim attacked an Egged bus driver as part of their ongoing protest against the state of Israel for prosecuting a baby killer.
- The JTA and Forward both offer obits on Reb Arthur.
- Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran.
- The last issue of The Economist was devoted to Israel’s plans for Jerusalem. Here’s article one, two and three, though you need to be a subscriber to read. (If anyone is and would like to share saved HTML copies with others, be my guest.)
- On Nextbook, Douglas Century toasts the Beastie Boys, takes a look at Jewish hip-hop, and exposes his growth into a bitter old man.
- Lizzy Brooks’ bat mitzvah + Jeremy Piven = Major motion picture.
by Cole Krawitz [➚] · Friday, April 21st, 2006
Tip of the hat to Jeremy Burton on jspot for his latest post “First Comes The War on Immigrants“:
Federal officials rounded up almost 1200 workers in 26 states along with seven managers at IFCO Systems North America. As of last night, 275 workers had already been deported to Mexico.
Why now? Well, Only a month ago some immigrant rights advocates were saying that the effort by Republicans – particularly in the House of Representatives – to criminalize undocumented immigrants was unrealistic hyperbole. There was no way that we could actually have a national project to deport 11 million hard working individuals, right?
Apparently Michael Chertoff and his minions at the Department of Homeland Security do believe that the U.S. can do just this – or at least they want us to think so. This roundup is intended as a message to all undocumented immigrants. It is designed to scare them, to tell them to stay under the radar and off the grid. It is meant to silence their protests and undermine their efforts to gain legal status and the opportunity to pursue happiness. It’s also designed to prop up the jingoists and fear-mongers who are running this debate from the right, telling them they’ve got the U.S. Government at their back, regardless of any noise from the White House about a so-called compromise that would allow “guest workers†while perpetuating the 2nd teir status of these workers and denying them the hope of the American dream.
Full post here:
by Cole Krawitz [➚] · Thursday, April 20th, 2006
A little late as, at least in New York, the sun has set on Pesach and we are on our way into the next Parasha, but I couldn’t pass this up as it didn’t make it onto Radical Torah either. Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen, the Associate Rabbi of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (CBST), the world’s largest synagogue serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, wrote an important drash on issues impacting trans jews. I actually had the pleasure of being at CBST a few months back for one of the first drashes probably ever given from a bimah by Rabbi Kleinbaum on issues impacting trans jews within the larger Jewish gay and lesbian communities. Thank you to both of them.
Here’s an excerpt:
Avadim Hayinu l’Pharoh b’mitzrayim.
The fact that gender is complicated is not a new idea for the Jews. As much as they liked categories, the sages of our tradition were aware of a certain fluidity of gender. While they were limited in their understanding of gender by their focus on biology and sexual acts, we know from the Mishnah that the rabbis were aware of at least four genders.
But are we so much more highly evolved? Even within the gay and lesbian community transgender people often face ignorance and discrimination. And in the straight world every day they are subjected to ridicule and targeted for discrimination and are too often victims of horrific violence. Again and again transgender people are denied legal protections even as gay men and lesbians are finally achieving them.
Avadim Hayinu l’Pharoh b’mitzrayim.
We have a great deal of work to do. While individual transgender people have pursued their own liberation, the transgender community is still very much experiencing mitzrayim.
One transgender person shared with me what liberation might look like for him: “Liberation from society’s expectations and assumptions, and liberation to become who you are. It’s definitely a journey. And you don’t quite know where you’re going to end up, even if you know that you have to move/change.”
Full commentary here.
For a primer on Transgender Issues, visit here.
by Kyle's Mom [➚] · Thursday, April 20th, 2006
Reb Arthur was pissed off. So what else was new? This time, he was annoyed at himself because he had two books to finish, and things like tripping on a throw rug had really done a number on him. He looked like he had gone three rounds with Ali in his prime and lost. Still, his brain was firing on all cylinders.
“Hey, Toots, I gave them a run for their money this week,†he greeted me. And it looked like once, again, he was going to defeat the odds.
I said, “You know what I told Irving Bernstein, zâ€l, to keep him going?†(Irving, dying of pancreatic cancer at the time I was editing his book, was head of the national UJA/Fed from the ’70s-’80s and always said there was no Jewish leadership without Jewish education. Reb Arthur never savaged him like he did so many others.)
Reb Arthur gave me a look, “Whaddya tell him?â€
“’You’ve got a book to finish.’ I made him proofread six dozen times. He didn’t go until after his book party.â€
He retorted, “Well, I’ve got two!â€
We traded one of our “looks,†“So, nu?â€
More »
by TheBarkin [➚] · Thursday, April 20th, 2006
From today’s Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, check out “The Second American Jewish Revolution” by Steven Windmueller:
The past 20 years have been marked by the single largest growth of new Jewish organizations — well, at least since 1880, when the first defining period of American Judaism began.
You can rightly call it a major American Jewish revolution that is now under way.
Though lots of people have predicted this second “Great Awakening,” Windmueller, director of the School of Jewish Communal Service at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles (say that three times fast), is proving that it’s already underway.
follow us on Twitter
follow us on Facebook
subscribe to our email