Comments on: An editorial that will live in infamy

By: The Jewish Right To Mourn Our Own | Route 17

The Jewish Right To Mourn Our Own | Route 17 — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:47:01 +0000

[...] Here’s one from Larry Yudelson: [...]

By: formermuslim

formermuslim — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:25:16 +0000

I thought I covered all my bases when I put orthodox in parentheses. Unless you think, as I do, that there is no difference.

But seriously, this running after other peoples errands has to stop. Jews have plenty of problems of their own and the whole world would appreciate it if you could solve one problem in particular.

By: Kung Fu Jew

Kung Fu Jew — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:55:23 +0000

formermuslim, I think only 10% of the world’s counted Jewry is orthodox. The majority belong to other denominations. Too late?

By: formermuslim

formermuslim — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:32:16 +0000

Here’s an irony. You could start your own tribe by bringing together Jews who whine about the particularism of (orthodox) Judaism.

By: Rick in KC

Rick in KC — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:37:29 +0000

particularistic … ooh, big word! Is it bad?

By: DK

DK — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:23:41 +0000

For the right, it wasn’t enough to mourn even the loss of Jewish life. Rather, we had to all BE Chabadniks.

I thought this was rather trite and untrue. If only Reform Jews had been killed, would the haredim at Cross Currents have said, “Today we are all Reform!”? I don’t think they would have, and I don’t expect them to say that, but then why should I pretend this? And shouldn’t they have also said, “Today we are Satmar!” since a Satmar person was murdered? I guess they would have to pick two different days…what if women only were killed? I guess then we have to say, “Today we were made according to his will!”

By: Neal

Neal — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:21:00 +0000

Let’s not forget that there has been a conscious, concerted, strong effort on the part of Chabad to use the Mumbai massacre for its own publicity purposes- and they’ve done a darn fine job at it. Chabad has sent out PR releases to every media outlet anywhere near a local Chabad house, and in many cases convinced JCC’s, Federations and other rabbis to participate in community memorial services, which end up being Chabad PR events, in my view. That the Jewish community is seeing Mumbai as a jewish event is not surprising given that one of the biggest, most media savvy Jewish organizations in the world is driving that narrative.

By: Amit

Amit — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:37:36 +0000

It wasn’t just a Jewish center with hostages inside for two days: it was two major hotels.
And if you connect Kishinev with Sderot, then you’re just an anti-Zionist.

By: dlevy

dlevy — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:22:35 +0000

If a loved one died in a crash with five others but you never once mentioned any of the others in your reporting of the crash, that would be heartless, supremacist, and inconsiderate.

I don’t think the issue here is that Jews are mourning Jews. It’s that Jews are mourning Jews without any acknowledgement or understanding of the attack as part of something bigger.

If you went to a Holocaust memorial vigil in memory of the Roma who died in the camps, would you find it odd if Jews were never once mentioned? I sure would, even though the particular vigil was in memory of a different group that died alongside the Jewish majority.

By: Merliner

Merliner — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:42:24 +0000

This notion that Jews focusing in on their element of a greater issue is absurd!
When is the last time a Jewish center was taken hostage for two days with no survivors?
Consider: If this event occured without the other murders would you see it differently?
US media (before we knew the Jews were American or killed) ran cover stories & breaking news headlines, about a Virginia father and daughter killed at a cafe with press conferences and all. And US casualties are always counted and reported in these attacks. Why? Because as Americans we care more about each other (supposedly) and are more interested and concerned about the safety of our own.
Similarly Jews used to care about members of their own faith, more than those of others – just like you would be more concerend if your sister were taken hostage than if John Doe was. Don’t misconstrue this as being heartless, supremacist, or inconsiderate of others – it is natural to care about your own.
Apparently we have reached a new level in the progressive approach which deems concern for another Jew tantamount to inconsiderate to all other suffering.
If a loved died in a crash with 5 strangers why would you mourn?! For the strangers? No, for your loved one! That doesn’t mean you don’t care about the others it means you love your sibling!