The San Remo Accords established mandates for Palestine (the Jewish state), Lebanon (the Christian state) and Syria, Iraq and Transjordan.
The League of Nations resolution affirmed Palestine was the reconstituted Jewish homeland.
1922-1948. The Arab population of the mandate for Palestine doubled.
Article 80 of the United Nations charter affirmed what was promised the Jews was inviable.
In defiance of Article 80, the UN suggested splitting the mandate into Arab and Jewish states. The Jews accepted. The Arabs did not.
Britain gave up its mandate. Israel declared its independence. Local militias and 5 Arab armies attacked Israel to ‘drive the Jews into the sea.”
700,000 Arabs fled Israel. 1,000,000 Jews fled to Israel from Arab lands.
The Nakba was the failed attempt to destroy the nascent state of Israel. 76 years later, the Arabs still carry the burden of this shame.
Sincerely Len Bennett, Author of ‘Unfinished Work’ Ontario, CANADA
Biden Has Abandoned Israel
Dear Editor:
Anybody notice how the rhetoric from President Biden and Secretary Blinken gradually gets worse and worse? In the beginning, they said they were not calling for a ceasefire. Then it was “ceasefire and return some hostages.” Then “ceasefire and return some dead hostages.” Now it’s just “ceasefire.” Which means in plain English, Israel should stop firing at Hamas. Biden has abandoned Israel. I think he should pay for this at the polls and that means that those who support Israel, whether they be Jewish or not, should not cast their vote for him. It’s about time that we come to the realization that Israel no longer enjoys bipartisan support in Congress or in the Executive Branch.
Sincerely, Don Steineman Brooklyn
Gaza Cannot be a Haven for Terrorists
Dear Editor:
Thanks for your article about the pressure on Israel to let the Palestinian Authority take over Gaza. Everybody seems to forget that we tried that already. The PA was in charge of Gaza from 1994 until Hamas pushed them aside in 2007. During those years, Gaza was a haven for fugitive terrorists and the PA’s schools were incubators for future terrorists. Who needs that again? I distinctly remember the tragic evacuation of Jewish settlers from Gaza in 2005 and the demonstrations that took place to prevent this calamity. Those opposed to the late Ariel Sharon’s “disengagement” plan predicted that Gaza would become a launching pad for Hamas rockets and sadly they were correct.
Sincerely Nan Gerber Flatbush
Let the IDF Finish the Job
Dear Editor;
In the last few days, Israeli forces in Gaza have recovered the bodies of four hostages who were murdered by Arab terrorists on October 7. In the weeks before that, the Biden administration was pressuring Israel to release terrorists from its prison—and stop its war against Hamas—in exchange for dead bodies of hostages. If the Israelis had foolishly listened to that bad advice, more killers would be roaming the streets today. Let Israel’s soldiers finish the job!
Sincerely Norma Berger Flatbush
Palestinian Statehood Not a “Consensus Position”
Dear Editor:
Many American supporters of Israel and Israeli politicians are excited about President Trump’s new statements against Palestinian statehood. But there has been lots of disinformation accompanying this praise too. On a popular Jewish news website one analyst wrote that Trump’s comments were “a significant pivot away from what has largely been a consensus position on the conflict among US politicians for decades.”
The thing is that Palestinian statehood hasn’t been the consensus position, either during the entire period since 1948 nor in recent decades. American presidents have favored Palestinian statehood in only 22 of the past 76 years and inconsistently at that.
In 2002, George W. Bush became the first sitting American president to endorse creation of a Palestinian Arab state. But it is not correct to say that Palestinian statehood has been a “consensus position among US politicians” for the past two decades. That’s because while the Republican Party platform did endorse Bush’s position in 2004, 2008 and 2012, the GOP pointedly removed that clause from its 2016 platform and did not restore it in 2020—meaning that Palestinian statehood has not been the Republican Party’s position for the past eight years.
Sincerely, Moshe Phillips Pennsylvania
Schumer is No “Shomer”
Dear Editor:
You reported that the Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a bill to force President Biden to send those bombs to Israel—but Sen. Charles Schumer refuses to let the bill come up for a vote in the Senate. This is the man who claims to be a “shomer” of Israel? Is he kidding? No matter who runs against him in the next election, I’m voting for his opponent. Schumer has let his constituents down for political gain in order to do the bidding of the Biden administration. I only wish that Orthodox Jewish organizations in Brooklyn would stop inviting him to their legislative breakfasts where they lavish praise on him as though he is the messiah.
Israeli soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip, April 6, 2024. Credit: IDF.
Connect the dots: It’s America and Iran against Israel.
By: Melanie Phillips
The extent to which the political class and the media are burying facts that undermine their poisonous narrative in order to defame and undermine Israel’s war of survival has become simply jaw-dropping.
The Biden administration has gone to great lengths to appease the genocidal and terrorist Iranian regime. It has funneled billions into Tehran’s coffers through sanctions relief. It has refused to effectively respond to repeated Iran-backed attacks on U.S. interests. And it is doing everything it can to prevent Israel from taking action that would damage America’s relationship with the Iranian regime, such as the destruction of Hamas, a vital force in Tehran’s proxy army against Israel and the West.
The American appeasement of Iran has left many people mystified. They should have been paying more attention.
Twelve days before the Oct. 7 pogrom, Jay Solomon reported on the Semafor site that Ariane Tabatabai, chief of staff to the U.S. assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, was part of an “Iran Experts Initiative” created by senior Iranian Foreign Ministry officials to bolster Tehran’s position on global security issues, particularly its nuclear program.
In other words, Tabatabai was an agent of influence for Iran at the heart of the U.S. government and with the highest level of security clearance.
Semafor and the Iranian opposition group Iran International obtained a large cache of Iranian government correspondence and emails. These revealed that, in 2021, Robert Malley—who was the point man on Iran under both the Obama and Biden administrations until he was removed in June 2023 following a still unexplained “mishandling of classified materials”—had infiltrated Tabatabai into the U.S. State Department to assist him in his negotiations with Iran.
The day Solomon’s article appeared, 31 U.S. Senators wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to express their concern. They wrote: “We find it unconscionable that a senior department official would continue to hold a sensitive position despite her alleged participation in an Iranian government information operation.”
They noted that, in March 2021, shortly after Tabatabai was appointed senior adviser to the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, Iranian dissidents reported her long history of echoing the Iranian regime’s talking points.
That month, Adam Kredo reported in The Washington Free Beacon on these dissidents’ shock at Tabatabai’s appointment. They claimed she parroted the Iranian regime’s position at multiple public appearances and that her father was part of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s inner circle.
In April 2021, several members of the House of Representatives requested a review of Tabatabai’s security clearance. In response, the Biden administration dismissed these claims as “smears and slander.”
Even more astonishingly, Tabatabai runs the office overseeing hostage negotiations. Three weeks after the Oct. 7 pogrom, a reporter asked White House Spokesman John Kirby whether it was appropriate for Tabatabei to be in such a position given the claims made against her. Kirby stalled. Tabatabai is still there.
Online, several commentators (including myself) wrote about this. The mainstream media studiously ignored it. Over the past few days, they’ve ignored another vital revelation.
From the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, Israel has been accused of disproportionately killing Palestinian civilians. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry put out daily figures of civilians who had been killed that rose to more than 35,000, of whom the vast majority were said to be women and children.
These figures, promoted by the United Nations and used by both the Biden administration and the U.K. government to berate and threaten Israel, have fueled mass demonstrations and attacks on Jewish people worldwide.
On May 8, however, the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs halved its figures for the number of women and children killed in Gaza from the number it gave the day before.
Preposterously, U.N. Spokesman Farhan Haq tried to maintain that the claim of 35,000 dead remained “unchanged” and the only new development was that more than 10,000 bodies still had to be fully identified.
This, however, was merely an attempt to cover up the fact that the U.N. had been putting out Hamas figures that were always demonstrably ludicrous since they did not differentiate between terrorists and civilians.
In early April, after statisticians authoritatively demolished these figures as “statistically impossible,” the Gaza Health Ministry quietly admitted that it had “incomplete data” for more than 10,000 of the individuals on its lists and revealed that it had even obtained some of its numbers from the media. Now the U.N. has felt forced to adjust its own figures while fudging the reason.
Given that Israel says it has killed some 14,000 combatants, the ratio of civilians to combatants killed stands now at around 1:1—a far lower proportion of civilians killed than any other country has ever achieved in war.
In other words, this is a total refutation of the incendiary lie of “disproportionate” killing of civilians with which the U.S. and British governments and Western media have been beating up Israel and fueling incitement against Jews around the world. Yet not one word has been heard about this from either the government or the media.
Now comes an admission by Fatah—the ruling party in the Palestinian Authority whose leader is P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas—that it took part in the Oct. 7 pogrom alongside Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups.
Abu Muhammad, the official spokesman for Fatah’s military arm—the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades—said in a video message last week that the Brigades participated in the invasion “and together with our brothers in the Palestinian struggle organizations captured many Zionists; some of them were transferred to us and some are still in our hands.”
The Brigades, he said, were participating in the fighting against the IDF in Gaza and had carried out more than 470 “military missions” since Oct. 7.
According to a report by Arutz Sheva, the Brigades revealed on Telegram that, over the past few days, their forces had fired an anti-tank missile at a tank in the Jabalya camp, set off an explosive device aimed at a tank south of the Zeytun neighborhood and launched rockets at IDF forces at the Netzarim junction.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades are yet another Iranian proxy army through which Iran can attack Israel under the cover of “plausible deniability.” As Phillip Smyth wrote last December in an article for West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center, elements in the Brigades have thanked Iran and Hezbollah for weapons and equipment and openly asked Iran for money. In 2023, an unnamed P.A. security source told The Jerusalem Post that the group was being paid by Iran via the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Just think about this: The military arm of Fatah, the P.A.’s ruling party, is holding Israeli hostages. Fatah’s military arm is fighting Israel in Gaza and the disputed territories. Fatah’s military arm is being funded by Iran. The Biden administration is funding the P.A. and appeasing Iran. The Biden administration is trying to force Israel to accept a P.A.-run administration in Gaza after the war.
And Ariane Tabatabai is still in her post at the Defense Department.
The mainstream media says nothing about any of this because nothing can be allowed to destroy the left’s driving narrative of Israeli oppression and Palestinian victimization.
Biden’s betrayal of Israel is widely attributed to his need to buy off the hard left of the Democratic Party. But his administration was rotten from the start, widely seeded with Obama-retread officials who are viscerally hostile to Israel. Some of them have histories of supporting Palestinian terrorist groups.
Now Iran is said to be nearing the ability to make nuclear weapons. When it announces it has succeeded, the United States and the United Kingdom will doubtless say they did everything they could to stop it. And if Israel tries to defend itself against this nightmare scenario, the West will accuse it of aggression.
The dots have been obvious for years. Connect them.
Melanie Phillips, a British journalist, broadcaster and author, writes a weekly column for JNS. Currently a columnist for The Times of London, her personal and political memoir, Guardian Angel, has been published by Bombardier, which also published her first novel, The Legacy, in 2018. To access her work, go to: melaniephillips.substack.com.
The seal of the U.S. Department of Justice. Credit: Lev Radin/Shutterstock
The Justice and Education Departments must finally protect Jewish students’ civil rights.
By: Ron Machol
Elie Wiesel once said, “The opposite of love is not hatred, it’s indifference. … Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end.”
UCLA has been in the news lately for all of the wrong reasons. A video recently went viral that showed anti-Israel “protestors” preventing a Jewish student from walking across campus. There was also footage of a Jewish student being physically assaulted. Pro-Hamas student “activists” lead anti-Semitic chants, demonizing and delegitimizing Israel and terrorizing Jews. This obviously constitutes the creation of a hostile environment and the violation of civil rights.
It didn’t have to come to this.
UCLA could have fulfilled its responsibility to protect Jewish students as it would any other group of students. The federal government could have enforced existing laws that safeguard protected groups. Had this occurred, the current anti-Semitic campus mayhem would have been prevented.
UCLA could have fulfilled its responsibility to protect Jewish students as it would any other group of students. The federal government could have enforced existing laws that safeguard protected groups. Had this occurred, the current anti-Semitic campus mayhem would have been prevented. Photo Credit: AP
My organization the Zachor Legal Institute has filed two Title VI complaints with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on behalf of UCLA students—one in 2018 and the other in 2022. In response, investigations into UCLA were opened. Neither complaint has been resolved, however. Based on what we have heard from others, the Department of Education is simply sitting on the investigations and taking no action.
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in federally funded programs based on, among other things, national origin and shared identity. President Donald Trump signed an executive order explicitly including Jews as a protected group under Title VI.
Our complaints related to Jewish students’ experience of anti-Semitism at the UCLA campus, driven by the hate group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and UCLA faculty. The first complaint specifically addressed the hostile campus environment created by SJP. Nonetheless, the Department of Education has steadfastly refused to take any action against the group notwithstanding numerous investigations since 2018.
The results of inaction are clear: The federal government is not enforcing civil rights law and universities are not in compliance with those laws or even their own regulations.
Besides Title VI, the campus rampages are a blatant violation of three civil rights laws enacted after the end of slavery. The laws were intended to prevent mobs from depriving freed blacks of their constitutional and other rights.
Long after slavery was abolished, mobs often affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan worked with local officials to deprive blacks of the right to free speech, assembly and participation in government programs like public education. The mobs carried out this campaign in a familiar fashion: They hid behind masks and engaged in open violence. With the backing of local law enforcement, school officials and even political office holders, the mobs showed up in large numbers to prevent blacks from attending schools or voting.
Thankfully, laws were enacted to confront this menace. Those laws still exist. Often known as the “KKK Laws,” they are used to combat everything from police brutality and election interference to, just this year, preventing access to abortion facilities.
When we see masked SJP agents brandish weapons and physically prevent Jewish students from moving freely on campus, we are seeing history repeat itself. Only instead of Klansmen in robes it is students in keffiyehs.
After waiting months for the Department of Justice to take action and enforce the KKK Laws to protect Jewish students, a coalition of 29 organizations led by Zachor Legal Institute sent a detailed prosecution request to Attorney General Merrick Garland. It laid out the case for the application of the KKK Laws to SJP’s systemic civil rights violations.
This request, if acted upon, will result in criminal investigations (and punishment) of those who commit these violations. It does not seek to silence speech but to protect vulnerable students while ensuring that everyone on campus can exercise their rights. Fighting the KKK back then was not oppression and fighting its modern counterparts is not oppression now.
The U.S. is a nation of laws, yet Jewish students are being abandoned by those tasked with enforcing those laws. Their suffering is far worse than being called by the wrong pronoun. As an activist organization seeking equal protection for Jewish students, Zachor Legal Institute and our allied organizations will not stand idly by as the country descends into a morass of terrorist campaigns to deprive Jews of their basic rights.
Think about it this way: If KKK-connected campus groups prevented black students from moving freely on campus; if the Westboro Baptist Church invaded campuses to prevent gay students from attending classes; if Jewish students were to hunt down Muslim students; or if pro-life activists prevented students from accessing campus abortion resources, would the Department of Justice refuse to act? Would federal civil rights investigations be in their sixth year without no updates, let alone action?
Only the Department of Justice can enforce the laws meant to ensure that all Americans can exercise their constitutional and federally protected rights. Continued inaction feeds the flames of hate. It enables those who sympathize with terrorism. Jewish students are the sacrificial lambs.
Ron Machol is the COO of Zachor Legal Institute, an organization using the law and activism to combat anti-Semitism. He can be reached at [email protected].
ADL Director Jonathan Greenblatt (right) alongside Maryland Governor Wes Moore, May 2nd, 2023. Photo credit: Maryland GovPics/Wikimedia Commons
By: Adam Levick
If you’re someone prone to anti-Semitic views of the world, and want a source you can reply on to consistently affirm your biases, though without resorting to fringe, extremist, David Miller–ish, Protocols-style anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist conspiracy theories, you’d likely turn to the Guardian – the outlet where ‘respectable’ Judeophobic and Israelophobic readers can safely turn without fear of social opprobrium.
The most recent dog whistle parading as ‘speaking truth to power’ is an article by Tom Perkins which, following in the long tradition of Chris McGreal, warns of the dangers posed to the American public by organized Jewry. The piece (“Anti-Defamation League ramps up lobbying to promote controversial definition of anti-Semitism”, May 15), is riddled with distortions and smears, beginning in the headline’s assertion that the IHRA anti-Semitism definition is ‘controversial’.
The claim, as you can see here, is belied by the number of countries, law enforcement agencies, universities, public bodies and international institutions which endorse IHRA. This includes 37 (democratic) countries, 320 non-federal governments (including state, regional, provincial, municipal and county bodies), 320 universities, and a total of 865 entities across the world. It’s generally only ‘controversial’ among those who wish to use Israel-Nazi analogies, and call for the destruction of the Jewish state, with moral impunity.
The article’s opening paragraph reads like it was generated by an AI tool designed to mock Guardian bias over the issue:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has spent record amounts lobbying for bills opponents say are meant to punish criticism of Israel and target Jewish peace and Palestinian rights groups, marking a shift in strategy over the last several years.
First, we should note the important context that ADL is the largest mainstream Jewish organization in the US, and, in fact, has been criticised by many for its progressive agenda on issues such as DEI, (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). But, leaving DEI aside, its advocacy on US domestic issues – most of which have nothing to do with to Jews, Israel or anti-Semitism – is decidedly left of centre.
Further, as we’ll show, Perkins appears to define ADL’s efforts to fight anti-Semitism by promoting the adoption of IHRA (a non-legal definition which contains multiple caveats and qualifications, and does NOT define criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic) as ‘punishing criticism of Israel’, and the group’s advocacy for the enforcement of existing anti-terror laws as ‘targeting of Jewish peace and Palestinian rights groups’.
Perkins informs readers that ADL is “on pace to spend nearly $1.6m this year based on its first quarter expenditures” to advance IHRA and its other domestic policy agendas. However, the very federal tax document which ‘reveals’ ADL’s budget for lobbying shows that their agenda centers around fighting domestic extremism, and other issues which aren’t controversial. In fact, their lobbying efforts, per the tax document cited, highlights their lobbying for bills to fight “global white supremacy” several times, while nothing is mentioned about Islamist or Palestinian extremism.
The only mentions of Israel in the document are “Support for the Abraham Accords and the historic normalization process between Israel and countries in the region” and “Support for H.Res.92 – Recognizing Israel as America’s legitimate and democratic ally and condemning anti-Semitism”.
To observe that ADL’s lobbying is not laced with a ‘right-wing’ or anti-Palestinian agenda in a profound understatement.
The article then takes direct aim at IHRA.
Though the Guardian is typically supportive of anti-hate legislation, when it comes to Jews, they take a different view. Perkins repeats Guardian talking points about how IHRA would ‘limit freedom of speech’ when he writes about a proposed bill called the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act. The Act would “require that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights take into consideration…IHRA…when reviewing or investigating complaints of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin…”.
Though Perkins claims the bill is “opposed by groups and politicians across the political spectrum”, the bill had 61 co-sponsors, including 15 Democrats, and recently passed the House of Representative with an overwhelming majority of 320 to 91. Moreover, those who understand the US political system would know that the country’s Constitution includes what’s arguably the most robust protection of speech in the world. So, any bill passed by Congress which runs afoul of First Amendment protections of free expression would be overturned by the courts.
Perkins also demonstrates bad faith when he misrepresents the IHRA definition as including the “labeling Israel a racist state” as anti-Semitic. In fact, the definition only defines “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” as anti-Semitic. The difference is profound. Accusing Israel of being racist is not considered anti-Semitic, while claiming that the state has no right to exist, because Zionism is intrinsically racist, is defined by IHRA as anti-Semitic.
The Guardian’s efforts to scare readers about organised Jewry’s efforts to ‘punish’ mere ‘criticism of Israel’ is based on a deceitful portrayal of IHRA.
The journalist also writes that ADL often falsely attributes “support for terror” to anti-war and ceasefire rallies by Jewish groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). However, to describe the anti-Israel campus rallies as ‘anti-war’ is an inversion of reality. As we’ve demonstrated, the rallies have included explicit anti-Semitism, as well as speeches and chants expressing opposition to Israel’s existence, and supportive for terror attacks. One leader of the Columbia University protest literally said that the overwhelming majority of Jews (that is, ‘Zionists’) “don’t deserve to live”.
Additionally, JVP, a radical anti-Zionist activist group that advocates for BDS and the eradication of Zionism (and whose Jewish identity is extremely suspect), does support terrorism. The group – in addition to employing anti-Semitic tropes in its campaigns – has partnered with and expressed support for terrorists, and even effectively justified the Oct. 7 massacre, blaming Hamas’s attacks on Israeli ‘oppression’.
Finally, the most important issue regarding ADL’s lobbying and advocacy is ignored by the Guardian reporter: the tsunami of anti-Semitism in America following the Hamas massacre. There were 8,873 recorded anti-Semitic incidents across the United States in 2023, representing a 140% increase from 2022, and is the highest number on record since ADL began tracking anti-Semitic incidents in 1979. (This mirrors the dramatic increase of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK since Oct. 7.)
Given that the dramatic increase in anti-Jewish racism was largely inspired by hatred of Israel and pro-Hamas/pro-Palestinian activism, it’s not surprising that the Guardian would publish a piece attempting to discredit the Jewish organization trying to fight this scourge. Though the Guardian is a large institution, almost all of their reporters, editors and columnists are united in their refusal to come to terms with the fact that pro-Palestinianism is a vector for anti-Semitism.
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) is an international media-monitoring and educational organization founded in 1982 to promote accurate and unbiased coverage of Israel and the Middle East. CAMERA is a non-profit, tax-exempt, and non-partisan organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. To learn more or receive our newsletters please visit CAMERA.org.
That report is credited to Zahra Fatima, who less than a week after the atrocities of October 7th was already promoting false claims of ‘genocide’ on social media. Fatima’s report includes the following:“The Nakba, which means “Catastrophe”, is commemorated by Palestinians every year on 15 May.”
By: Hadar Sela
On May 15th a report headlined “Victoria state parliament bans keffiyeh scarves” was published on the BBC News website’s ‘Australia’ page.
That report is credited to Zahra Fatima, who less than a week after the atrocities of October 7th was already promoting false claims of ‘genocide’ on social media.
Fatima’s report includes the following:
“The Nakba, which means “Catastrophe”, is commemorated by Palestinians every year on 15 May.
On 14 May 1948, Israel declared independence, and in a war which began the next day, up to 750,000 Palestinians who had lived on that land fled or were expelled from their homes.
Neither they nor their descendants have been allowed by Israel to return.”
The link offered to readers in that first paragraph leads to a BBC ‘backgrounder’ from exactly six years ago which was previously discussed here:
Fatima’s next two paragraphs are copied from that ‘backgrounder’ and once again no mention is made of the fact that the “war which began the next day” was the result of the attempt by multiple Arab countries to invade and destroy the newly declared Jewish state. As noted here back in 2018:
“As we see, according to both those accounts the displacement of Palestinians only began after Israel declared independence and the sole entity cited as being responsible for that displacement is “Israeli forces”.
Obviously both those accounts erase from audience view the fact that hostilities – and with them displacement of civilians – had in fact begun five and a half months earlier. The BBC’s portrayals make no mention of Arab rejection of the recommendations of the November 1947 UN Partition Plan, immediately after which Arab rioting ensued and Arab forces launched what the UN described at the time as “armed incursions” into what was then still Mandate Palestine.
In other words, the BBC has chosen to present Palestinians as totally passive victims, airbrushing the fact that their displacement came about after Arab leaders elected – at their own admittance – to launch hostilities.”
In contrast to Fatima’s inaccurate claim, the displacement of Palestinians did not begin only after Israel declared independence on May 14th 1948. In fact, by that date, roughly half of those who became refugees had already fled, in many cases due to instruction from their leaders.
Fatima’s airbrushed portrayal also includes the following:
“The black-and-white keffiyeh became associated with Palestinian identity during the late 1930s.”
By “the late 1930s” Fatima actually means the Arab Revolt of 1936 – 1939 when, according to Encyclopedia Britannica and others:
“…the keffiyeh was used to conceal the identities of protestors from authorities. When British authorities attempted to ban the keffiyeh, Palestinians wore the garment en masse as a show of unity, even in urban areas, where the keffiyeh gradually replaced the fez.”
As for the black and white colour scheme:
“The black-and-white pattern came in the 1950s, when British commander General John Glubb assigned it to Palestinian soldiers in the Arab Legion to distinguish them from the red-and-white of Jordanian soldiers, U.S. historian Ted Swedenburg wrote in his book “Memories of Revolt”.”
Once again we see how the BBC’s failure to correct online content is not only a disservice to BBC audiences but also leads BBC journalists to produce even more inaccurate and one-sided coverage in years to come.
A Star of David pointer over the first word of the book of Genesis. Credit: Odelia Cohen/Shutterstock.
The axiological framework of each era and its repercussions have shown that the Jewish people can never feel safe.
By: David Garrett
We cannot allow the Jews to be robbed again, this time of their status as victims. At a time when being a victim is both appealing and lucrative, the widespread interpretation of the concept verges on madness. When those targeted are not Jewish, it is all-powerful.
The word “boycott” is the only possible description of the restrictive interpretation of victimhood applied to the Jews. Decades of a leftist and radical Islamist propaganda campaign have culminated in the marginalization of anti-Semitism itself. The “anti-racists” have placed anti-Semitism outside the realm of racism. Not even a hideous massacre of Jews escapes relativization: “It depends on the context.” Everything is racism, except anti-Semitism. Worse still, the Jews themselves are labeled as racists who must be resisted.
We must not permit the Holocaust to be exploited for political ends hostile to the Jewish people. Teaching the Holocaust through the language of tolerance, respecting difference and so on has failed. Moreover, it is increasingly used against the Jews themselves. The word “Jew” itself is beginning to disappear from discussions of the Holocaust. Holocaust museums are in the hands of non-Jewish municipalities and organizations, and preach vacuous messages about “human solidarity.”
We must not act as if the Holocaust occurred in a vacuum rather than as the fulfillment of two millennia of hate. There is not enough attention paid to the historic genocides of the Jews in Hebron, Odessa, Chisinau, Bern, Troyes, York, Paris, Trent, Norwich, Metz, Erfurt, Worms, Cologne, Strasburg, Überlingen, Basel, Barcelona, Toledo, Madrid, Lisbon, Seville, Granada, Alexandria and other places. It has all been conveniently forgotten.
We must not forget the Jews’ umbilical relationship with the word “genocide,” a term that doesn’t necessarily imply the total extermination of a people. Etymologically and legally, “genocide” is the indiscriminate massacre of individuals of all ages belonging to a specific people. What happened seven months ago in Israel shows what might become the fate of all Jews on the planet.
Israel must enact a law criminalizing anti-Semitism. It must be of universal application, except in cases where national laws adequately punish said behaviors. It should read: “The rhetorical or physical manifestation of anti-Semitism, including Israel’s right to exist, shall be punished when said manifestations aim to create a climate of fear or a hostile environment within the heart of a Jewish community and/or are the result of a negative perception of Jews as an individualized people, linking them to trickery, material interests, infidelity to the homeland, violence or infamous conspiracy theories.”
Although the value of such a law would be largely symbolic, it would expose the inadequacy of the laws of other nations and replace the inadequate International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism that only served to exalt the signatories.
We must learn from the current isolation and slander of “bad” Israel and not allow the same isolation and slander of “bad” Jews around the world. Around the world, there are Jews notable for their prowess, culture, spiritual leadership or economic talents who greatly support local Jewish communities and the State of Israel. They are constantly derided in derogatory terms by international propagandists without the Jewish world rushing to their aid.
We must enhance Israel’s relations with the Diaspora. Liaison officers between the State of Israel and the Jewish communities in every country must be appointed. At the moment, Israeli ambassadors and consuls are not trained to understand the challenges facing Diaspora communities and are not explicitly tasked with defending them. This must change.
We must rethink the Jewish media, which in terms of the mission of speaking truth and defense of the Jewish world is almost nonexistent.
We must analyze and understand the causes of the inferior performance of many international Jewish organizations, which are reluctant to make waves because they answer not to the Jewish community but to their benefactors. Many of these benefactors have agendas with absolutely no relation to Jewish interests.
We must not passionately support fashionable political regimes, values and idioms as if we have reached the end of history. Civilizations are born and then die. Values, regimes and leaders change. Alliances shift. Each era creates its own models of absolute truth based on banalities that the future will dismantle and deny. All is transitory.
The Jewish people have tried governance by judges, kings, the exilarchy and republics in the same way they have lived and continue to live in a multitude of non-Jewish civilizations. With so much learning over more than three millennia, it is not reasonable for Jews to take sides between axiological wars of empires whose programs will never include the defense of Jewish values.
Each of these challenges is as important as all the others. They are not separate but an interconnected whole.
America Betrayed: How a Christian Monk Created America & Why the Left Is Determined to Destroy Her. Credit: Amazom.com
By: Bruce Bawer
During the last few years, while the American left and its media minions have been presenting clueless consumers with a narrative that’s well-nigh unprecedented in the degree to which it deviates from the truth, David Horowitz, in a series of model books, has been busy setting the record straight. Was Donald Trump’s presidency an exercise in authoritarianism and a threat to our democracy? No, it was an attempt – foiled by his enemies in the deep state – to return the country to its constitutional roots. Was George Floyd a martyr in a nation founded on white supremacism? No, he was a thug who’s been deified by race hustlers out to divide Americans along racial lines. Are corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs a necessary measure to redress longtime prejudices and inequities? No, they’re part of a cynical Maoist attempt to compel universal acceptance of an ideology that’s utterly at odds with core American values.
I’ve compared these short volumes – which form a distinctive sequence in Horowitz’s large, storied, and wide-ranging oeuvre – to Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and other pamphlets which, in the lead-up to the Declaration of Independence, played a crucial role in setting before the American public the argument for breaking from Britain. Now, in America Betrayed, Horowitz steps back from the present historical moment and from the left’s current menu of mischievous machinations in order to elucidate the origins and essence of the American project – and the long history of malevolent efforts to derail it. Those efforts, as it happens, have repeatedly centered on race, hence Horowitz’s declaration, in his preface, that he “wrote this book to provide a concise, easily digested and accurate history of race in America to serve as an antidote to the hateful lies progressives have promoted about their own country.”
To achieve this end, Horowitz first takes us back to the Protestant Reformation. His subtitle is How a Christian Monk Created America & Why the Left Is Determined to Destroy Her; the monk in question is none other than Martin Luther, whom, despite the fierce antisemitism of Luther’s later years, he has come to admire as a key figure in the back story of America’s founding. I should mention that fans of Horowitz who are also devout Catholics may find this part of the book problematic; but he’s quite simply correct when he describes the Roman Catholic Church of Luther’s time as a deeply corrupt authoritarian institution that, with no biblical warrant, and in defiance of the plain fact that all human beings (even priests, pontiffs, and prophets) are capable of evil, had “elevated the priesthood and the Church to superhuman heights.”
Among other things, the Catholic clergy, in their arrogance, claimed to possess the power to sell salvation itself in the form of “indulgences” – a practice that Horowitz rightly condemns as an “unholy scam.” Taking on this nasty business, Luther “brought the Church to its knees” – an accomplishment that Horowitz compares to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s role in bringing down the Soviet Union – and, translating the Bible into German so that his followers could read the Word of God for themselves, accustomed them to the notions of freedom of conscience, the sanctity of the individual soul, and “the priesthood of all believers.” As Horowitz explains, the United States of America could never have been established – at least in the form that we know it – without a basis in these principles of Luther’s, which by the mid-18th century had come to be embraced by most Christians in northern Europe. To quote from America Betrayed: “The sanctity of the human soul: this is the foundation of all democracy and the nemesis of human tyranny.”
Of course, a generation of young Americans are now being taught – thanks in large part to more recent unholy scams like the New York Times’ mendacious 1619 Project – that their country was, uniquely, built not on the sanctity of the individual but on the evil of slavery, and that the enslavement of Africans was, from the outset, justified by its defenders entirely on the basis of racial superiority. Horowitz shoots down these falsehoods with bullets of truth. For example:
The institution of slavery, far from being distinctively American, has existed in every time and nation since the dawn of history.
America inherited slavery from the British, and, in recognition of its inherent evil, banned the slave trade in 1808 – only 21 years after the signing of the Constitution.
The people who came to America as slaves were captured not by Americans but by their fellow Africans, who then sold them to Europeans.
Only a tiny percentage of the slaves transported to the Western hemisphere – to say nothing of the even more massive number of slaves who were shipped eastward from Africa – ended up in what is now the United States.
Slavery in America was “relatively benign,” as demonstrated by the rapid growth (even after the slave trade ended) in America’s slave population.
At the time of the Civil War there were 500,000 free blacks in the U.S., 3,000 of whom owned slaves – which belies the notion that it was “all about race.”
Of 2.7 million Union soldiers, 360,000 died in the Civil War. In all history, there is no other example of one race making such sacrifices to free another.
Slavery still exists today – not in any majority-white country, but in black Africa and the Muslim world.
No, far from being rooted in America’s founding principles, black slavery was, from the beginning, an affront to them. Most of America’s founders recognized this, and knew that one day the slavery question would have to be decided once and for all, probably on the field of battle. Given the number of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to end slavery, the 1619 Project’s lies are, as Horowitz puts it, “as malicious as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”
To be sure, as in any society where multiple ethnic groups have lived side by side, there have always been ethnic frictions in the U.S. And yes, there has been terrible racism. But it wasn’t as prevalent in the colonial era as it was in the antebellum Republic – especially in the Southern states – in the decades leading up to the Civil War, where defenders of the “peculiar institution,” living in a country founded on freedom and equality, had no argument for their position other than that those principles didn’t apply to black slaves. And why? Because, they maintained, those slaves, by virtue of their race, were by definition unequal, and thus unentitled to freedom. Needless to say, they had a weak case – and an un-American one.
What was “distinctly American,” in other words, in the prewar arguments over slavery “was the declaration of equality embraced by the American majority, not the racist defense of slavery by the soon-to-be-defeated slaveholding majority.” Alas, the notion that blacks were naturally subordinate to whites persevered in the South for a century following the Civil War, providing a justification for Jim Crow and, during the presidency of the Virginia-born Woodrow Wilson, for the introduction of Dixie-style racial segregation into the federal government – a policy that was not reversed until World War II.
If the civil-rights movement of the mid-20th century won so much support – and accomplished so much reform so quickly – it was, affirms Horowitz, because the message of freedom and equality preached by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., was consistent with, and indeed firmly rooted in, America’s founding values – and, in turn, in the teachings of Martin Luther. One wonderful detail that Horowitz mentions here came as news to me: King’s father, who, like him, was a Baptist minister, was actually born Michael King, but, after he learned at a conference in Germany about the life and teachings of Martin Luther, he changed his name to Martin Luther King.
Thanks to Dr. King’s approach, the transformation of race relations in America during the second half of the 20th century was nothing short of miraculous. Dr. King had called for America to “live out the full meaning of its creed” – and it did. Yet in the 1960s and afterwards, even as racial prejudice was steadily diminishing on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line, race hustlers were stepping up their efforts to sow division. Jews had played an outsized role in the civil-rights movement, but hatemongers like Stokely Carmichael (aka Kwame Ture) and Louis Farrakhan depicted Jews as devils. And in the 21st century, the Democratic Party, which had been the home of the KKK, reaffirmed its role as the “party of racial divisions” (Horowitz’s apt phrase) by embracing the tribalist – and explicitly Marxist – movement known as Black Lives Matter.
It goes without saying that Barack Obama would never have been elected (and re-elected) president if America had not overcome the blight of racism. But once ensconced in the Oval Office, he spoke of racism as America’s founding sin and of black slavery as if it had been a uniquely American evil. No surprise there: Obama was a devout disciple of the pernicious political theorist Saul Alinsky, who in books like Rules for Radicals preached that mankind is divided into oppressors and oppressed, and that the radical’s job is to drag down the former and empower the latter. During Obama’s presidency, the toxic notion of America as a “white supremacist” nation in which the oppressors had always been white and the oppressed always black became nothing less than establishment orthodoxy. So it is that those of us who reject this premise are now faced with the daunting task of somehow returning America to its senses, to its values – to itself.
By turns infuriating and inspiring, America Betrayed is a masterpiece of concision, tracing the American idea – the real American idea – from its Protestant roots to the present day with remarkable precision and clarity. Horowitz’s preface alone is full of sentences that should be carved in stone somewhere:
“Given the prejudices and bigotries that are endemic to human beings of all races, Americans can be proud of their racial past and its contribution to human freedom, and especially the freedom of African Americans.”
“Three hundred and sixty thousand mainly white Union soldiers sacrificed their lives to free black Africans enslaved by their brothers.”
“From America’s inception there was always a white movement of dedicated abolitionists, many of whom were willing to give their lives to win freedom for all blacks. There never was a successful revolt by the slaves themselves. If white Americans had been universally racist as leftists maintain, blacks in America would still be slaves. Instead, thanks to the sacrifices of white Americans, they are the most prosperous, most privileged, and free-est blacks in the world today, including all of black Africa and the West Indies.”
It’s fascinating, moreover, to learn about what the author refers to as his own youthful “flirtations” with Christianity. A lifelong secular Jew, Horowitz was nonetheless, for a time, a “Christian romantic.” During his second year of college, he was permitted to deliver a sermon at a Lutheran church in which he discussed Oscar Wilde’s short story “The Happy Prince,” which, in Horowitz’s view, “captured the Christian message.”
Horowitz calls Wilde’s story “poignant,” and I found this anecdote itself quite poignant, because it captures something of what makes Horowitz stand out from all other conservative intellectuals of his generation. Which of them, after all, can you imagine as a 1950s college kid, preaching from a Lutheran pulpit about a story by Oscar Wilde, of all people? This passage, along with a handful of other autobiographical references, imbue America Betrayed with an affecting personal touch that makes it seem at times less similar to one of his potent political jeremiads of recent vintage and more reminiscent of his pithy meditative volumes with titles like A Point in Time. It is, in any event, a gem of a book, and should be read by everyone who’s been swayed by the left’s loathsome lies about race in America.
On that day, tradition goes, weddings are permitted, music can be listened to, and haircuts are allowed. It makes for a flurry of activity!
By: Ethel G. Hofman
Lag B’Omer, which this year begins at sundown on Saturday, May 25 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, May 26, is the day between Passover and Shavuot. According to the Talmud, a plague that had spread among the students of Rabbi Akiva ceased on Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer—the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot. On that day, traditional goes, weddings are permitted, music can be listened to, and haircuts are allowed. It makes for a flurry of activity!
For me, it’s extra special; I was married on that day, and my wedding anniversaries were always celebrated with a backyard family picnic. In Israel, it’s bonfires and barbecues. Since many Israelis live in high-rise apartments in cities and towns across the country, families and friends go to local parks schlepping grills and all the fixings for a festive meal. In Tel Aviv, smoke from hundreds of grills wafts over Hayarkon Park. It’s a carefree time, even during these dark days with Israel embroiled in war on multiple fronts.
But it wasn’t always bonfires and barbecues. When my friend Alisa was growing up in Jaffa, she remembers: “We just went to the beach, dug a hole in the sand and dropped in little potatoes. Then we covered the potatoes with hot embers, roasted them till they were brown and crisp, and ate them with brown eggs.”
Brown eggs. Credit: Pezibear/Pixabay.
I’d never tasted brown eggs until I visited Kibbutz Hagoshrim, south of the Lebanese border. The Turkish cook called the Sephardic-style brown eggs charinadu, explaining that “oil keeps the water from evaporating during the long simmering process.” The result is that it makes them delicious, smooth and creamy. My friend Shani, who came to the United States from Iran in the early 1980s, recalls celebrating at a wealthy uncle’s home—a feast with platters piled high with cardamom meatballs smothered in tahini sauce, jeweled rice and dishes made with carob. Carob sustained Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son, Rabbi Elazar, when for 13 years they hid in a cave from their oppressors, so it’s customary to eat carob dishes at Lag B’Omer.
Growing up on the Shetland Islands, carob was unavailable. Instead, we used chocolate for a recipe dubbed Chocolate Crispies. My brothers and I would melt the chocolate in a pan with a bit of butter and honey, stir in cornflakes and maybe throw in a handful of dried currants. Then the mixture was spooned into heaps like haystacks and cooled on the window sill for a special holiday treat. No baking needed. The recipe below includes powdered carob along with dark chocolate. Powdered carob and carob chips are available in organic markets and stores like Whole Foods and Moms Organic. The recipe for veggie cheddar pasties is a variation of the portable Cornish meat pasties that workers would pack for lunch in the mines. These days, they are still easy to eat out of hand … while keeping the other one available for grilling.
Enjoy the day!
Brown Boiled Eggs (Pareve)
Makes 12
Cook’s Tips:
*Substitute 1 tablespoon of instant coffee granules dissolved in 1 cup of water to make 1 cup of cold strong coffee.
Ingredients:
12 eggs
1 cup cold strong coffee (see Cook’s Tips above)
2 black tea bags
brown skins of 2 large onions
½ cup vegetable oil
Directions:
Place eggs in a large heavy saucepan with 3 to 4 inches of water to cover.
Add the coffee, tea bags, onion skins and oil. Stir gently and bring to a simmer.
Cover and reduce heat to the lowest setting. The liquid should never be more than barely simmering.
Cook for 6 hours, adding more hot water as needed.
Remove from liquid. Refrigerate until ready to serve in the shell.
Oven-Roasted Baby Potatoes (Pareve)
Baby potatoes. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Serves 6
Cook’s Tips:
*Cut larger potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Can use fingerling potatoes.
Cover a sheet pan with foil. Pour oil over and spread evenly. Sprinkle with salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic powder and parsley (may add other seasonings of choice).
Place potatoes, cut side down, in pan in one layer. Spray with nonstick baking spray. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a sharp knife. Peel potatoes off the foil and serve.
Note: To make ahead of time, refrigerate cooked potatoes. Remove to room temperature an hour before needed. Then zap in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes at high.
Air-Fryer Method: Toss potatoes in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Set to air fry at 400 degrees. Arrange potatoes in the pan, cut side down, at rack position. Spray lightly with nonstick baking spray. Cook for 15 minutes. If needed, cook 5 minutes longer or until tender when pierced with a sharp knife.
Cardamom Meatballs (Meat)
Meatballs. Credit: Tjena/Pixabay.
Serves 4-6
Cook’s Tips:
*May use beef, turkey or a mixture of both.
*Meatballs may be prepared ahead of time. Cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate and cook the next day.
*Wrap in lettuce leaves to eat in hand or stuff into pita bread with Israeli salad and tahini sauce spooned over top.
*Invest in a meat thermometer. It’s essential to check doneness in all meats.
Ingredients:
1 small onion, cut into rough pieces
2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
¼ lemon, sliced and cut into quarters
3 tablespoons finely snipped mint leaves
1 pound ground lamb
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ cup breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1½ teaspoons ground cardamom
vegetable oil for frying
Directions:
In the food processor, place the onion, ginger and lemon. Pulse to chop finely. Transfer to a bowl.
Add the mint, lamb, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, cinnamon and cardamom. Mix well. Chill for 50 to 60 minutes. Shape into 16 to 20 balls.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a heavy saucepan with about one-third cup of oil. Heat over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides.
Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes until cooked through. (Ground lamb should be cooked to 155 degrees to 160 degrees.)
Serve with tahini sauce drizzled over top.
Tahini Sauce (Pareve)
Tahina. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Makes a scant ½ cup
Cook’s Tips:
*Stir tahini well to make a smooth mixture.
*Tahini is a paste of toasted ground hulled sesame seeds, olive oil and lemon juice.
Ingredients:
⅓ cup tahini
2 tablespoons lemon juice
pinch salt to taste
1 to 2 tablespoons cold water
Directions:
In a small bowl, mix the tahini and lemon juice.
Stir in salt to taste and enough water to make a sauce thin enough to drizzle over meatballs.
Easy Cheddar Veggie Pasties (Dairy)
Puff pastry. Credit: Hansuan_Fabregas/Pixabay.
Makes 8
Cook’s Tips:
*Use store-bought puff pastry.
*Buy grated sharp cheddar cheese.
*Substitute a mixture of favorite herbs and spices for 21 Seasoning (granulated garlic, granulated onion, fresh ground pepper, parsley, oregano).
*Don’t worry if pasties aren’t picture-perfect. Just make sure pastry edges are moistened to tightly seal the filling.
Ingredients:
1½ cups frozen peas and carrots, thawed and drained well
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dried sage
2 teaspoons Trader Joe 21 seasoning or homemade mixture
2 sheets (17.3-ounce package) puff pastry, thawed
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 egg beaten
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Line a large-rimmed cookie sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick baking spray and set aside.
In a small bowl, toss together the peas and carrots, cheese, sage and 21 Seasoning. Set aside.
On a lightly floured board, roll out one sheet of pastry to approximately 10×10 inches.
Cut into 4 squares. Spread a thin layer of mustard over the center of each square.
Spoon 2 tablespoons vegetable mixture on top. Moisten opposite pastry edges with water. Fold over to cover vegetables and crimp to seal, pinching the ends. Place on prepared cookie sheet.
Brush with beaten egg. Repeat with the remaining sheet.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes until risen and nicely brown.
Cool on a wire tray.
Serve warm or at room temperature
Carob Tapioca (Dairy)
Carob Tapioca. Photo by Ethel G. Hofman.
Serves 4
Cook’s Tips:
*Tapioca is a starch extracted from the root of the cassava plant. Pearl tapioca is used mainly for puddings. Must use instant tapioca in this recipe.
Ingredients:
1½ cups 2% milk or whole milk
1 egg
1½ tablespoons instant tapioca
1 tablespoon powdered carob
1 tablespoon sugar or to taste
vanilla ice-cream (optional)
Directions:
In a medium nonstick saucepan, whisk the egg and milk to combine. Whisk in the tapioca, carob and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Cook over high heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Cook for 2 minutes whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Add sugar to taste.
Pour into a bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes to cool and thicken.
Spoon into small glasses and top with a tiny scoop of cream or ice-cream (optional).
Mango Carob Smoothie (Dairy)
Mango on a plate. Credit: liwanchun/Pixabay.
Serves 2 -3
Cook’s Tips:
*Use frozen cubed mango.
*Pour into a thermos flask to stay chilled.
Ingredients:
¾ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon powdered carob
3 cups frozen mango
1 ripe banana, cut into 6 to 8 pieces
1 cup vanilla yogurt
orange wedges to garnish (optional)
Directions:
Pour orange juice into a blender jar or food processor. Add the remaining ingredients.
Blend or process until smooth.
Pour into glasses and eat with a spoon.
No-Bake Carob Crispies (Dairy or Pareve)
Carob Crispies. Photo by Ethel G. Hofman.
Makes 12
Cook’s Tips:
*Substitute milk chocolate for dark.
*Use 1 cup of chocolate chips for chopped chocolate.
Ingredients:
6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped coarsely
1 tablespoon powdered carob
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons honey
3 cups cornflakes
Directions:
Prepare a 12-cup muffin pan with paper cups. Set aside.
Place the chocolate, carob, butter or margarine, and honey in a microwave dish. Microcook at 30-second bursts until the chocolate is soft and just beginning to melt. Stir to make a smooth mixture.
Place the cornflakes in a very large bowl. Pour the warm chocolate mixture over top, stirring to mix well.
Spoon into paper cups in a muffin pan. Press down to make sure that the mixture is tightly packed.
Children in Chabad of Oakland’s Hebrew School say the Shema prayer. The school has seen an increase in registration since Oct. 7. Credit: Chabad of Oakland
Amid rising anti-Semitism, enrollment in day school and supplementary Jewish education on the rise
By: Uziel Scheiner
Last September, Erez, a Jewish father living in San Francisco, took his son to his first day at a highly-praised, self-described “holistic” secular private school in the Bay Area. This September, he plans to drive straight past that school and bring his son to a Jewish one instead.
For Erez and many other Jewish Bay Area parents, the brutal Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel and the heartless reaction they saw from some segments of their local community left them disillusioned and feeling like outcasts. As concerning as that was, it was their children’s schools parroting the same shocking talking points that they felt was the last straw. Ultimately, this has precipitated a surge of new enrollments at Jewish schools in the area.
An Israeli-American father of two, Erez wrestled with the decision to move his elementary school-aged son out of his school. He already sent his younger son to Chabad-Lubavitch of Noe Valley’s Gan Noe Preschool, but for elementary education he had his older son enrolled in a high-end alternative private school in San Francisco. The school offers a quality education, teaches languages and visual arts, and even has its own small farm. When the school’s anti-Israel bias first began to show, he, his wife and fellow parents tried quietly working with the school to correct it.
Students at the Gan Noe Preschool in Noe Valley, Calif., benefit from a curriculum infused with Jewish values. Credit: Chabad Noe Preschool
Try as they might, the incidents kept getting worse. In one instance a teacher showed up to class sporting a keffiyeh. In another class, a teacher came to class with a card explaining genocide, directly implying that such was the nature of Israel’s defensive campaign in Gaza. Then came an email to all parents decrying “the ongoing genocide of Palestinians and Gaza being committed by the United States and Israel … .” The email explained that the “dearth of open conversation among whites at [school name] about what’s happening in Gaza serves to support and reenact white supremacy” and invited all white parents to an urgent meeting where they’d identify the “dynamics of white supremacist oppression” in their school community.
“We’d felt that the school had been moving away from our values for some time,” Erez said. “But now, it was clear that the school was taking a clear side, and they weren’t being neutral anymore.”
Across the bridge in Oakland, Rebecca grappled with the same conundrum. It was the eve of the fourth night of Chanukah when the young mother of two walked with her children towards the Lake Merritt Amphitheater in the city’s downtown to join Chabad of Oakland’s annual menorah-lighting ceremony. She was just entering the park, pushing her 3-year-old in a stroller, and her 6-year-old son, Jacob, walking in tow, when a man on a bicycle cut them off sharply. Hovering over them, he angrily shouted “Free Palestine!” and “Stop bombing children in Gaza!” before cycling off.
Rebecca froze. She remembers her son Jacob looking up at her with a scared and confused expression. Why someone would confront an American-Jewish mother and her two small children and demand that they stop a military campaign in the Middle East was something she could not understand.
Days later, the menorah they had lit that night in the park was found smashed and thrown into the lake, while the area where it stood was covered with anti-Semitic graffiti.
Concern Grows for Jewish Parents
After years trending downward, a noticeable spike in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. was registered in 2014, and has grown each year since. This worrisome trend came to a head in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks, when overt anti-Semitism appeared in the world’s largest cities and leading academic institutions with disturbing regularity. Of all the areas suffering from the newly-emboldened wave of anti-Semitism, northern California’s Bay Area has been among the worst.
In the immediate aftermath of Palestinian terrorists’ horrific rampage through southern Israel, posters of kidnapped Israeli hostages held in Gaza were torn down throughout the city of Oakland. At the same time, Jewish businesses in the city, including the local kosher supermarket, had their windows smashed. In November, a man and a woman were followed out of Chabad of Oakland after Friday-night prayer services and accosted with hateful slurs. Blatantly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel graffiti has become a standard fixture in the city.
But aside from the escalation of anti-Semitism on the Bay Area’s streets, another front has experienced a pernicious emergence of anti-Jewish sentiment: local schools. A series of distinct events—both in the private schools and the public school systems—have left many Jewish parents alarmed about the environment that their kids are being instructed in. They are unsure if these schools can be trusted to educate their children without prejudicing them against the principles and issues dear to them as Jews. In the case of Erez’s child’s school, it promised to equip their students with “the tools to become free-thinking, moral human beings.” Would Jewish children in this environment be taught that a core part of their identity, namely their connection to the land of Israel, was immoral? And would they, on the other hand, be told that the perpetrators of mass murder of their fellow Jews in Israel were, in fact, the moral ones?
The most significant event among the spate of concerning incidents in the Bay Area’s schools took place in the Oakland Union School District (OUSD). It was an episode that caused a forceful local uproar and garnered national media attention. The controversy revolved around an unsanctioned Teach-In led by the Oakland teachers’ union that was held in defiance of the District’s directives. It was an instructional event for children from the ages of kindergarten through high school, vilifying Israel and minimizing Hamas terrorism through malignant and misrepresented characterizations of the Holy Land, Oct. 7 and the current war in Gaza.
Rattling the Jewish community, it left parents questioning whether Oakland’s public schools were safe for their children and reconsidering how they should be educating their children in a place that suddenly seemed intent on denigrating them.
A Harmful Curriculum
“As soon as we found out, we were very worried.” Rebecca told Chabad.org. “The school said it [the teach-in] wasn’t authorized, but the teachers didn’t care. They got lawyers and said the district couldn’t fire them because they had ‘academic freedom.’”
Rebecca and a band of Jewish parents began to fight against bringing a lesson into the classroom that would provide a distorted view of Israel to students and alienate thousands of Jewish kids from their peers. They found themselves up against an ineffectual school administration and a program being conducted in a way that made it difficult to stop.
“We expressed our concerns to the district and pointed out that the teachers were going against school policy by holding this teach-in,” Rebecca said. “We begged them to do something, but the administration just shrugged their shoulders.”
Despite their best efforts, the teach-in continued as scheduled, being held over Zoom with elementary schools and high-schools throughout Oakland participating.
“Everything was done over Zoom, and the group claimed that they had 150 classrooms join in,” Rebecca said. “They did things in a covert way so that it’s hard to measure how much damage was caused.”
Jewish parents in Oakland began looking into alternative options for schooling. Rebecca began the process of transferring her son to the nearby Piedmont’s public school system, and after much coordination, Jewish parents began the process of transferring their children out of the Oakland Union School District.
A Turn to Jewish Programs
“It’s been very hard for the Jewish community here in Oakland,” Rabbi Dovid Labkowski, director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Oakland told Chabad.org. “There’s much anti-Semitism, and people are feeling a shift. The situation in the public schools has made a lot of parents rethink their educational priorities.”
Labkowski is seeing the trend of parents finding new importance in Jewish education firsthand. Chabad’s Hebrew School of the Arts, directed by his wife, Shulamis, has seen a 25 percent increase in registration over the last six months. Labkowski also reports that other Jewish schools in the area are experiencing similar upticks in enrollment.
Lisa is a Northern California resident who signed her son up for Chabad’s Hebrew school after seeing an effusion of anti-Semitism in her community and hateful indoctrination taking place in the public schools.
“I’ve always thought I knew the value of Jewish education,” she said. “But after seeing everything going on here, I’ve felt I need to do as much as possible to make sure my children are getting an education that makes them knowledgeable and proud of who they are.”
Erez agrees. When attempts to work with the school and initiate some change failed, he and other Jewish families stepped back to reevaluate their approach to their children’s education.
“When I stopped to think about the situation in front of me, I saw that I had two choices,” Erez said. “On one side I had a school that was pushing views that I thought were harmful, untrue and at odds with how I wanted my son to be raised, and on the other, there were excellent Jewish schools that could give my son a first-rate education, and impart the values and traditions that are aligned with who we are.”
A miraculous fire appeared outside Rabbi Shimon’s home, illuminating the room with its mystical light.
By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
Mikrah – coincidence. But we know that there are no coincidences in life. That all is b’yad HaShem – in HaShem’s hand. In fact, our rabbis teach that the word mikrah alludes to that very idea.
The Hebrew letters of mikrah, מ-mem, ק-kuf, ר-reish, ה-hay, can be rearranged to form the phrase rak m’HaShem – meaning only from HaShem. (רק -reish/kuf, מה׳ -mem/ hay).
While it may not always be visible to us, there is a reason and purpose for all that transpires. Rak m’HaShem – It’s all part of HaShem’s master plan.
Lag B’Omer. The day the devastating plague ended, and the students of Rabbi Akiva ceased dying. Years later, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai passes away on Lag B’Omer. Coincidence or not?
Following the horrific loss of so many thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students, there was a fear amongst the nation of how will the chain of Torah learning continue. With so many talmidei chachomim gone, who will be the Torah leaders of the next generation?
Rabbi Akiva started teaching once again. Amongst his new students was Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Rabbi Elazar.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, also known as Rashbi, (an acronym of the first letters of his name) lived during the hard times of Roman rule. Once, while conversing with other Torah sages, Rabbi Shimon criticized the Roman leaders. Unbeknownst to him, his words were overheard and repeated to the Roman authorities.
Rashbi made it onto the Roman’s “Most Wanted List”. He was viewed as an enemy, and a death sentence was decreed upon him.
In fear for his life, Rabbi Shimon, together with his son hid out in a cave. Miraculously, a carob tree grew outside the cave, and a stream flowed alongside it. Rashbi and his son subsisted on the fruit of the carob and the water from the stream. Gifts from HaShem.
They spent their days and nights fully immersed in Torah study. It was during this time that Rashbi authored the Zohar, a book of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. Zohar means “shining light”, for it revealed many Torah secrets, shedding light and understanding to whomever studied its holy words.
After twelve years in the cave, Eliyahu HaNavi appeared to them, bearing news that the Roman emperor had passed away, and the decree against Rashbi was lifted. It was time to emerge from hiding, and re-enter society.
As they traveled home, they came across a farmer who was busy tending to his field. Coming from so many years of living a spiritual existence, they couldn’t comprehend how one could be involved with the mundane aspects of life. Rabbi Shimon glared at the farmer; it was as if daggers of fire emanated from his eyes. Fires that “zapped” whatever they were focused on, totally consuming them.
A Heavenly voice called out to Rabbi Shimon, “Do you want to destroy My world? Go back to the cave. The world cannot exist with your holiness”.
Rabbi Shimon and his son returned to the cave for another year. Besides being immersed in Torah study, it was a year of working on acceptance and love for every man. A year of concentrating on the lessons of Rabbi Akiva, to “love your fellow as yourself”. It was only then that the father and son were ready to emerge from the cave a second time.
It was an Erev Shabbos, and they encountered a man carrying two bundles of hadassim, myrtle branches. When Rabbi Shimon inquired as to its purpose, the man replied that it was in honor of the Shabbos. One bundle for the commandment of “shomor”–to keep the Shabbos holy, and the second for “zachor”–to remember the holy Shabbos.
Rabbi Shimon lifted his head upward and proclaimed, “HaShem, look at Your beloved people. Look how they prepare for and treasure the holy Shabbos.”
To this very day, Am Yisroel has a special love for the Holy Shabbos. I think of the busy bakeries, groceries and flower stands on Fridays. Men, women and children carrying their Shabbos “bundles”. Like Rabbi Shimon, we too, can say to HaShem, “Look how precious the mitzvos are to Your children”.
The plague which consumed Rabbi Akiva’s students ended on Lag B’Omer. Rabbi Shimon’s yahrtzeit is on Lag B’Omer. No coincidence at all.
We have come full circle. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai emerged from the cave with a new appreciation for his fellow. The ability to see the “tzelem Elokim”, the Divine spark within each and every soul. To connect to others with love, appreciation, acceptance and tolerance.
Rabbi Shimon lived his life according to the teachings of his beloved Rebbi, Rabbi Akiva. Through his words and actions, Rabbi Shimon brought tikun, merit and repair, to the lives of the many students of Rabbi Akiva who perished.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai spent his last hours on this world teaching Torah, surrounded by his students. The sun began to set. The light in the room began to dim. With his last vestiges of strength, Rabbi Shimon continued teaching. As the room was getting darker, the students wrote faster and faster, not wanting to miss any of his holy words.
It was then that a miraculous fire appeared outside Rabbi Shimon’s home, illuminating the room with its mystical light. Rabbi Shimon’s students were able to continue writing, enabling them to keep his holy teachings alive midor l’dor, for future generations.
But then, just as it came, the fire left, and the soul of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yocahi returned to its Creator.
At the entrance way to Rashbi’s kever, his burial place in Meron, there is an arch with the words “Ki lo sishochach mipi zaroh, For it (the Torah) will not be forgotten from His children” (Devarim 31:21). A promise that regardless of any difficulties or challenges, the Torah will never be forgotten. Indeed, this passage is connected to Rabbi Shimon, with the last letters of each word spelling out the name Yochai.
Before his death, Rabbi Shimon instructed his students to see his yahrtzeit as a Yom Hillula, a day of celebration. He referred to his passing as “his happiness”. He felt fulfilled as he was preparing to face his Maker, for during his lifetime, he came to understand the depths of Torah wisdom.
Sadly, the ongoing rocket and missile attacks in the north of Israel by Hezbollah have claimed another “victim”, as the annual Lag B’Omer celebrations in Meron have been canceled.
While the massive gathering in Meron will not be happening, tens, or even hundreds of thousands of Jews will commemorate Rabbi Shimon’s yahrtzeit with hadlokas, bonfires throughout the world.
The memory and teachings of Rashbi live on. Lessons of achdus, unity and understanding, seeing the beauty in each and every individual. Lessons of the primacy of Torah study. Lessons that will, b’ezras HaShem lead us to the ultimate celebration with the coming of Moshiach, speedily, in our days.
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
The Shmittah of the land is a memorial to the Shabbat of Bereishit, bearing witness to His Merciful Creation; every seventh year corresponding to the seven days of that creation. Just as Israel rests from work on Shabbat in imitation of His rest so will the land, just as the world behaved according to its nature
By: Rabbi Meir Tamari
When Moshe descended from Har Sinai with the Luchot he had to interrupt the teaching of the Torah he received, because of the Israel’s sin with the Eigel. Then, after their teshuva, it was necessary to teach the laws of kedusha so that they would separate themselves from everything impure and immoral. So we have the parshiot of the Mishkan, Kohanim and their laws of kedusha, and the laws for the kedusha of Israel of kashrut, tumah and tahara, of sexual relations and of social kedusha. Now he could continue with his teaching. That is why here the laws of Shmittah and Yovel their details are introduced by “And the Lord spoke to Moses at Har Sinai”. There is no need as Ibn Ezra and others have done, to explain “Behar Sinai” of our Sedra as an example of ‘ain mukdam u meuchar baTorah’.
The Rambam teaches that the reasoning underlying Smittah and Yovel, is the need to give the soil a rest through lying fallow, otherwise it would become impoverished. This is incorrect as may be seen from the fact that on the 6th year of the cycle we were promised that the land would give a yield equal to that of 3 years; surely a very taxing blessing. Furthermore, the punishment for its non-observance tells us he was wrong. If the Rambam was correct, then the punishment should have been poverty and hunger. Whereas Yermiyahu prophesied exile for 70 years as the punishment for the 70 Shmittot not observed by Israel. We can see 3 ways of understanding the Shittah and Yovel: [This discussion will be continued next week in our parshah on Bechukosai.] There were 2 acts of mercy that Hashem did in His world; one in that He created everything in a fashion that everything should grow and develop according to its nature and the second is the Torah that He gave to Israel in order that they should thereby achieve spiritual completion. Therefore, He commanded us that we should make of the work of the land and of the years a memorial of both these things.
[1]. The Shmittah of the land is a memorial to the Shabbat of Bereishit, bearing witness to His Merciful Creation; every seventh year corresponding to the seven days of that creation. Just as Israel rests from work on Shabbat in imitation of His rest so will the land, just as the world behaved according to its nature [Abarbanel alone of all our commentators sees the technological changes that Mankind introduced after Gan Eiden as perversions], so in Shimittah we eat the produce that grows of its own. Indeed the 7 names that the Torah has for Shmittah bears witness to this, eg. Shabbat Haâ??aretz. Then 7 Shmittot and we have Yovel. However, regarding Yovel we do not find mention of Shabbat and this is because that year does not come to remind us of the Creation but of Matan Torah. Just as we count 49 days from the Exodus till Matan Torah of the 50th day, so we count 49 years to Yovel; just as there was a shofar at Sinai so there is the shofar of Yovel.
Yovel is kadosh to Hashem and so we were commanded 3 acts of kedusha: the freeing of all indentured servants, not to plant and not to harvest even though that had already applied to the 49th year [shmittah], and the return of each man’s inheritance. These are 3 acts of freedom- freedom of servitude, freedom from the enslavement to wealth creation and the freedom associated with the individual’s ownership of property; all corresponding to the freedom of the individuals at Matan Torah gained through their being slaves of G-d.
Yovel is announced on Yom Kippur, that is Rosh Hashanah for shimittot and yovelot, corresponding to the creation according to Rabbi Yishmael. Furthermore, just as we are forgiven our sins on this day, so too one should forgive his debtors, his bondsmen and those whose land he acquired [even morally and legally]. There is also the injunction against Ona’ah in connection with Yovel. ” When you make a sale or make a purchase [of land] you may not oppress one another. According to the number of crop years after the Yovel shall you buy [or sell] it. According to the greater number of years shall you increase the price [or decrease] it. For the number of years he is selling [or buying]. Each of you shall not oppress his fellow and you shall fear your G-d’ (Vayikrah, 25:14-
These verses tell us that there is nothing morally wrong with buying or selling land, only that all such sales are actually not real sales since, as the Torah here says, all the land belongs to Hashem. So in Yovel all sales terminate and the land reverts to the original owners. What is being sold is the produce of the land, and its price is determined by the number of years still to come till Yovel. Any transaction that deviates from that yardstick is subject to Ona’ah, whether of the buyer or of the seller.
The recent university commencement ceremonies across the United States have emerged as platforms for promulgating the most egregious manifestations of virulent anti-Semitism. Credit: jewishvoiceny.com
The recent university commencement ceremonies across the United States have emerged as platforms for promulgating the most egregious manifestations of virulent anti-Semitism, reflecting a larger narrative of social and political upheaval. In a year marked by widespread pro-Hamas protests on college campuses, these events—symbolic milestones for students—have been infused with tension and controversy. This phenomenon was vividly illustrated at several notable institutions.
At the University of California, Berkeley, a renowned hub of student activism, the commencement ceremony was notably disrupted by a large group of graduates who chose to voice their dissent loudly, as was reported on Sunday in the New York Times. The ceremony, typically a celebratory event, turned into a scene of protest with chants and signs, disrupting the proceedings and drawing attention to the students’ animus towards Israel.
The commencement at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond showcased a different facet of student activism, focusing on domestic political issues and institutional policies. Approximately 60 students, led by Micah White, aged 26, staged a walkout during Governor Glenn Youngkin’s speech, as per the NYT report. White expressed disillusionment with VCU’s purported commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, juxtaposed with the decision to invite a commencement speaker whose political stances and actions they found contradictory to these values.
Governor Youngkin had recently been involved in controversies relevant to the student body, notably requesting to review course materials for proposed racial literacy classes and supporting actions leading to the dismantling of a peaceful encampment on campus. As was noted in the NYT report, this latter incident resulted in arrests and confrontations between protesters and police, further inflaming tensions within the student community. Sereen Haddad, a 19-year-old psychology student at VCU, reported being knocked to the ground during these clashes, highlighting the physical and emotional toll of these confrontations on students.
At the University of Wisconsin, the atmosphere was charged as a small group of graduates turned their backs on their chancellor during her address. The NYT report said that this act of protest, though quieter, was no less significant, symbolizing disapproval and dissatisfaction with the administration or its policies.
Anticipating disruptions, many university administrators had taken stringent measures to maintain order and decorum. This included increased security details, the establishment of designated free speech zones, and in some cases, the dismantling of protest encampments, the report in the NYT noted. These actions called attention to the delicate balance universities sought to achieve between upholding free expression and ensuring the ceremonies proceeded without significant hindrance.
The University of Wisconsin’s administration notably reached an agreement with protestors, agreeing to a meeting to discuss the university’s investments in return for clearing their encampment. This negotiation highlighted attempts at dialogue and compromise in the face of potential conflict.
For many students, the graduation ceremony held particular significance. Having missed their high school graduations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university commencement represented a long-awaited opportunity for formal recognition and celebration, the NYT report indicated. The backdrop of protests added a layer of complexity and emotional weight to these events.
According to the NYT report, for students such as David Emuze, his graduation ceremony at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was a long-anticipated event, laden with personal and collective significance. Wearing his electric-blue mortarboard and orange sash, Emuze, a bachelor’s degree graduate in public health, experienced a ceremony that stood in stark contrast to his virtual high school graduation. The presence of his mother in the audience added to the emotive weight of the occasion.
The keynote speaker, Jeanne Gang, an esteemed architect and alumna of the University, delivered a speech that resonated deeply with the graduates. She addressed the current global challenges but emphasized the importance of unity and celebration at such a pivotal moment in the graduates’ lives, the NYT report noted. Her words, acknowledging the tumultuous global backdrop, aimed to galvanize the students into celebrating their accomplishments amidst adversity.
At the University of California, Berkeley, a notable demonstration unfolded during the commencement ceremonies. Ignoring warnings from school officials, a group of students commandeered a section of empty stadium seats behind the main stage. Their chants of “Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go” and “UC divest” resonated through the area, drawing an increasing number of participants. The NYT reported that the group, which eventually grew to about 500, made a significant impact with their vocal opposition to what they perceive as injustices associated with the university’s financial investments and its stance on global political issues. As the graduation neared its end, most of these protesters peacefully dispersed.
Greta Brown, a graduate in environmental science, adorned her cap and gown with a stole marked “Palestine,” standing out as a vocal participant in the protests, as per the information provided in the NYT report. Her actions, along with those of her fellow protesters, were driven by a belief that the university’s response to ongoing global issues, particularly the war in Gaza, was insufficiently proactive or too neutral.
The commencement began with a contentious tone as Chancellor Carol Christ faced boos upon taking the podium. However, her mention of the pro-Palestinian encampment near Sproul Hall shifted the crowd’s response to cheers, the NYT report noted. Acknowledging the students’ passion and her own concerns about the violence in Gaza, Dr. Christ’s words reflected a sensitive balance between administration and student advocacy.
The protests escalated during the ceremony. A significant number of students displayed signs advocating for divestment from companies doing business with Israel and waved Palestinian flags, culminating in a chant that disrupted the speech by student body president Sydney Roberts. The NYT reported that Roberts’ remark, “This wouldn’t be Berkeley without a protest,” captured the essence of the event.
In the days preceding several high-profile university commencements, the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Arizona became focal points for pro-Palestinian protests. According to the NYT report, these demonstrations, characterized by the establishment of encampments, drew significant attention and prompted a firm response from university authorities. At MIT and Penn, encampments were systematically dismantled by officers, a move that mirrored actions taken at other institutions facing similar protests.
The situation escalated notably at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where authorities deployed “chemical munitions” to disperse protesters from an encampment just hours before the commencement ceremony, the NYT report added. This forceful response not only cleared the area but also set a tense backdrop for the graduation proceedings that evening.
The University of North Carolina’s commencement ceremony on Saturday night became a theater of conflicting sentiments and reactions, illuminating the deep divides within the student body and the broader community. The interim chancellor, Lee Roberts, faced vocal opposition from many students as a consequence of his decision to remove an encampment of pro-Hamas protesters the previous month, as per the NYT report.
The climax of the ceremony occurred when two students, carrying Palestinian flags, interrupted Chancellor Roberts’s speech by walking onto the field. Indicated in the NYT report was that their demonstration, however, was not met with widespread support. Instead, a significant portion of the audience reacted negatively, booing the protesters and chanting “USA! USA!”
The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law last week filed a federal civil rights complaint against the University of Santa Barbara (UCSB) for leaving its own student government president, Tessa Veksler, utterly vulnerable to severe and persistent anti-Semitic bullying, harassment, intimidation, and threats. Credit: ncsy.org
The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law last week filed a federal civil rights complaint against the University of Santa Barbara (UCSB) for leaving its own student government president, Tessa Veksler, utterly vulnerable to severe and persistent anti-Semitic bullying, harassment, intimidation, and threats. The harassment escalated to such a degree it forced Veksler to stay off campus during the end of the fall semester and take her exams online. The Brandeis Center is representing Veksler.
Veksler was elected president of the UCSB Associated Students (AS) in April 2023, making history by becoming the school’s first Sabbath observant student body president. She is the daughter of Soviet refugees who fled Jewish persecution, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine compelled her to run. According to Veksler, her parents came to the U.S. in search of a society where they could live freely from anti-Semitism. Yet, a generation later, she is facing anti-Semitic hate for serving her university.
According to the complaint, Veksler has been targeted relentlessly on social media and at her student government office by her peers on the basis of an integral component of her Jewish identity, namely, her “Zionism,” which recognizes that Jews are part of a people with an ancestral connection to Israel. Threats such as, “you can run but you can’t hide, Tessa Veksler;” attacks calling her a Zionist dog, racist, and fascist; and repeated accusations that she is unfit to serve in her elected position due to her Jewish identity, have plagued her since October 7. Just last month, in a poster featuring Veksler and other students, a photo of Veksler’s face was violently slashed. The constant harassment has left Veksler fearful for her physical safety on campus, negatively impacted her mental health, adversely affected her academic performance, and undermined her ability to lead student government.
The situation began online where Veksler was repeatedly cyberbullied and doxed. And after it was left unchecked by the university for numerous months, the harassment migrated to the campus. In February, students plastered signs throughout the Multicultural Center, where Veksler’s student government office is located, threatening her and making it clear Veksler is unwelcome on campus and should be excluded. The messages on posters stated: “Zionists are not welcome,” “Zionists not welcome,” “Ziofascists GTFO [get the f**k out],” “Zionists not allowed,” “AS president is racist Zionist,” and “Get these Zionists out of office.” Some of the posters contained ominous warnings directed at Veksler.
The harassment was further publicized to the entire student body community when photographs were posted on UCSB Multicultural Center’s official Instagram account. The harassment continued online with demeaning messages and veiled threats that included, “You are disgusting. Zionists are NOT welcome in the MCC [Multicultural Center]. We will not back down and we WILL take action.” One post stated, “Zionist dog is sad she can’t harass the non-white students she presides over :(,” and another remarked, “Everyone, take a moment of your time to feel bad for this genocide-supporting racist piece of shit,” and “f**k your white comfort in stealing a multicultural center.” Other posts invoked age-old anti-Semitic tropes including the greedy Jew and claims Jews cannot be trusted to hold elected office.
Some of the harassing messages suggested Jews are not a minority group and do not belong at the Multicultural Center at all.
According to the complaint, the university has largely ignored the harassment, threats, and attacks, failing to stop the harassment or adequately address the hostile environment, and the few steps it has taken have been severely insufficient. It has failed to even put out a statement specifically condemning anti-Semitic efforts to bully and intimidate its own Jewish student president.
The Brandeis Center demands UCSB conduct an immediate and full investigation of the discriminatory and harassing behavior against Veksler and take appropriate disciplinary action against perpetrators. To prevent future incidents like this, they also urge the university to issue a statement clearly and specifically condemning anti-Semitic harassment and efforts to shun and marginalize Jewish students based on the Zionist component of their Jewish identity, and commit to conducting anti-Semitism education and training of faculty, students and staff.
“What has been allowed to happen to Tessa over many months – shaming, harassing, and shunning a student until they disavow a part of their Judaism – is shameful and illegal,” stated Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman of the Brandeis Center and the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights. “Sadly, this is not the first time we are seeing this mob behavior against a Jewish student elected by their student body to serve. It is incumbent upon UC Santa Barbara and all universities to say enough is enough.”
Brandeis Center attorneys also represented Rose Ritch when anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination led to her resignation as University of Southern California’s (USC) student government vice president and Max Price, a Tufts student government official similarly threatened with impeachment and disciplinary hearings. Ritch and Price were both attacked for the Zionist component of their Jewish identity. After the Brandeis Center intervened, Students for Justice in Palestine withdrew their call to impeach Price. The Department of Education is currently investigating USC.
“No individual should ever have to experience what I went through as a Jewish student at UCSB – harassment, intimidation, threats, and character assassination all in the form of pure anti-Semitic hatred,” stated Veksler. “Despite the challenges I have faced, I knew that nothing would stop me from standing up for the Jewish community, maintaining my democratically-elected position, and pursuing justice for myself after being relentlessly targeted on the basis of my Jewish identity.”
Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin, including discrimination against Jews on the basis of their actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, in educational institutions that receive federal funding. Under the law, harassing, marginalizing, demonizing, and excluding Jewish students based on the Zionist component of their Jewish identity is unlawful. UNESCO has cautioned that “Jew” and “Zionist” are often used interchangeably today in an attempt by anti-Semites to cloak their hate. According to President Biden’s U.S. National Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism, released in May 2023, “Jewish students and educators are targeted for derision and exclusion on college campuses, often because of their real or perceived views about the State of Israel. When Jews are targeted because of their beliefs or their identity, when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hatred, that is anti-Semitism. And that is unacceptable.”
Last week the Brandeis Center and ADL filed civil rights complaints against Pomona and Occidental Colleges for severe anti-Semitic bullying, intimidation and physical threats. And the Department of Education opened an investigation into a complaint filed by the Brandeis Center and ADL about “severe and pervasive” anti-Semitism in Berkeley K-12 public schools.
Start your trip with a visit the “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” Bushkill Falls , located just outside Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA). Follow scenic boardwalk trails through idyllic forest glades, with eight waterfalls located throughout the property’s 300 acres.
By: Emily Whalen
Haven’t made plans for your Memorial Day holiday yet? Pack your bags and head to the Pocono Mountains! Find places to go on Memorial Day Weekend: we’ve got plenty of events, water recreation, and outdoor adventure, all within a short drive of major cities like New York and Philadelphia.
As a time to honor those who have served, Memorial Day also provides an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and welcome the warmer months of the year and all the fun activities that come with them. Browse the itinerary suggestions below for ways to enjoy your holiday weekend.
Friday: Experience the Great Outdoors in Pike County
Saturday: Find Family Fun in Monroe County
Sunday: Enjoy Lehigh Gorge and Carbon County
Monday: Discover Fresh Food and Fresh Air around Lake Wallenpaupack and Wayne County
Friday: Experience the Great Outdoors in Pike County
Tour the Castle is a guided tour that provides the history of the Delaware Water Gap and of the Castle Inn. Built in 1906, it served as a summer home to tourists who flocked to the area to escape city heat and enjoy the mountain air and Delaware River.
Morning:
The Pocono Mountains is known for its many beautiful waterfalls, perfect places to visit on Memorial Day Weekend. Start your trip with a visit the “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” Bushkill Falls , located just outside Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA). Follow scenic boardwalk trails through idyllic forest glades, with eight waterfalls located throughout the property’s 300 acres. In the heart of DWGNRA, the Pocono Environmental Education Center has six trails to explore including the Tumbling Waters Trail . Just off Route 6, the graceful cascade at Shohola Falls can be reached via a short trail down the forest steps and is a must-visit for waterfall lovers.
Afternoon:
You won’t want to miss the picturesque small towns of the Poconos during your trip. Stroll through the charming and historic streets of downtown Milford to find museums, boutiques, and places to get lunch! Waterwheel Cafe, Bakery and Bar is a neighborhood favorite featuring a delicious menu of sandwiches, salads, and Vietnamese dishes like bánh mì and rice noodle salad. Get a taste of the Yucatan Peninsula when you dine at La Posada & Felix’s Cantina, not far from the Delaware River.
Perched in the hills above town, Grey Towers National Historic Landmark was once home to the “Father of the American Conservation Movement,” Gifford Pinchot, and has beautiful gardens to explore. Guided mansion tours take place on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the grounds are open until sundown.
Perched in the hills above town, Grey Towers National Historic Landmark was once home to the “Father of the American Conservation Movement,” Gifford Pinchot, and has beautiful gardens to explore. Wander beneath the soaring trees that Pinchot was so proud of and take a look inside his family’s magnificent summer estate. Guided mansion tours take place on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the grounds are open until sundown.
Evening:
Find a place to stay where you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of Mother Nature. Each of the adorable accommodations at Babbling Brook Cottages has its own outdoor deck or patio and fire pit, and many of the cabins are dog-friendly. Kittatinny’s River Beach Campground offers water view sites that allow you to set up your tent or park your RV close the shore. Located in the Upper Delaware Region, the family-owned Sylvania Tree Farm & Country Lodging is an ideal place to enjoy the peace and solitude of nature, with secluded cabins and campsites spread out across the 1,200-acre estate.
Saturday: Find Family Fun in Monroe County
Morning:
Explore the southern end of DWGNRA with a jaunt to the quaint borough that gave the recreation area its name: Delaware Water Gap. This area has been beloved by generations of vacationers! Learn more about the Victorians who spent leisurely summers enjoying the mountain air when you sign up for Tour the Castle Inn or The Pocono Historic Trolley Tour . When you’re finished, don’t forget to take some time to enjoy the great local businesses, shops, and restaurants in town.
Afternoon:
Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm just outside of Stroudsburg hosts their Farm Animal Frolic at this time of year, with plenty of cute baby animals to meet and greet.
The Pocono Mountains events calendar is full of fun things to do this Memorial Day Weekend! Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm just outside of Stroudsburg hosts their Farm Animal Frolic at this time of year, with plenty of cute baby animals to meet and greet. Looking for more action? Take flight at the 27th Annual Community Aviation Day at The Mountain Center in Tobyhanna, which will feature international food trucks and the tradition of the “candy drop.” Camelback Mountain will be hosting their third annual Hometown Heroes Muster on Saturday, where firemen and fire buffs alike will gather to show off their trucks and skills.
Evening:
Looking for somewhere to eat after the airshow? Head to nearby Lake Harmony to choose from family-friendly lakeside dining like seafood and steaks at Boulder View Tavern or burgers and pizza at Nick’s Lake House . Looking for dinner and drinks? Sip from the impressive wine list at Louie’s Prime Steakhouse or enjoy music, sports, and fun at Shenanigans.
Monroe County is known for its impressive indoor waterpark resorts, which offer comfortable accommodations, onsite restaurants and activities, and incredible splash playgrounds, with waterpark admission included with your overnight stay
Monroe County is known for its impressive indoor waterpark resorts, which offer comfortable accommodations, onsite restaurants and activities, and incredible splash playgrounds, with waterpark admission included with your overnight stay. Book a room or suite at Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark , Great Wolf Lodge , Kalahari Resorts and Conventions , or Split Rock Resort to pack plenty of pool and slide time into your vacation.
Sunday: Enjoy Lehigh Gorge and Carbon County
Morning:
A premier adventure center for whitewater rafting, biking, paintball and zip lining. With nearly 40 years of experience, their personal touch shows on every trip. Come and see for yourself! Whitewater Rafting Adventures is a family owned and operated business that has been offering outdoor adventures for over 40 years.
Ready to whitewater raft? Enjoy a dam release set for Memorial Day Weekend! Outfitters like Whitewater Rafting Adventures , Jim Thorpe River Adventures , Adventure Center at Whitewater Challengers and Pocono Whitewater Adventures can accommodate both fast-paced excursions and more leisurely, family-style trips. Take on the rapids of the Lehigh River as you navigate through the stunning Lehigh Gorge.
Afternoon:
Learn more about the history of Carbon County with a visit to the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum in Lansford. Ride by rail and take a walking tour to journey deep underground along the original mine shaft where the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company mined a large vein of Anthracite coal known as the Mammoth Vein in the mid-nineteenth century. Enjoy the museum and a special weekend festival: a car cruise and ethnic food picnic will be taking place at No. 9 on Sunday, May 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ready to eat? There are plenty of restaurants near the Jim Thorpe area. Find eateries close to the D&L Trail in Lehighton and Weissport, like the Bonnie & Clyde Pub and Grill or the The Gorge Eatery . Memorial Day is the kickoff of the summer, which means ice cream is a must. Choose your favorite from the selection of 28 flavors at Chantilly Goods , a vintage soda fountain and ice cream parlor, or stop by Curiosities Coffee & Ice House for espresso and sundaes.
Evening:
As the sun sets, soak in the quaint downtown atmosphere of historic Jim Thorpe. Want to be able to call one of the beautiful Victorian buildings or quaint houses home for the night? Book a stay at retreats like Angel of Jim Thorpe Bed and Breakfast , The Gilded Cupid B&B , Rosemary Remembrances II Guest Lodging , or Trail’s End Bed and Breakfast.
Monday: Discover Fresh Food and Fresh Air around Lake Wallenpaupack and Wayne County
Morning:
Treat yourself to a delicious farm to table breakfast or brunch. Local restaurants like French Manor Inn & Spa and TREE Restaurant and Bar have adopted the culinary movement and are sourcing local and organic ingredients to craft unforgettable signature dishes. The Settlers Inn will be offering their Memorial Day Brunch a la carte menu on Monday morning. The Cocoon Coffeehouse & Bakery is another great spot for fresh breakfast baked goods and coffee.
Afternoon:
Wayne County’s pastoral fields are full of beautiful hiking trails and parks that will give you a glimpse of local wildlife. Pay a visit to Lacawac Sanctuary , the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary , the Van Scott Nature Reserve of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy , or Prompton State Park to enjoy communing with Mother Nature in a pristine and unspoiled setting.
Don’t let your time in the Poconos pass by without exploring the Pocono Beverage Trail! Download the free mobile passport to access discounts and earn prizes as you visit local wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Enjoy dinner and drinks at Runaway Train Brewery or pay a visit to the pastoral Second District Brew Farm during their opening weekend.
Evening:
Spend one last night soaking in the rural beauty of the Poconos. Take advantage of the Memorial Day Weekend special offer at East Shore Lodging to save on your stay on the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack. Treat yourself to a deluxe cottage or cabin at The Lodge at Keen Lake in Waymart for a final taste of Pocono rest and relaxation before returning home.
Looking for even more Memorial Day itinerary ideas? Head to one of our festivals and events! Get tickets to see a show like Don’t Panic and Keep Flying at Sherman Theater , the Neil Diamond Experience at The 80’s Bar , or Parrotbeach–A Premier Jimmy Buffet Tribute at Mount Airy Casino Resort . From the BL-2 and BBQ Train with The Stourbridge Line on Saturday to the Red Wine and Brew Food Truck Festival at Mountain View Vineyard Winery on Sunday, don’t miss these exciting holiday weekend happenings in the Poconos.
Be sure to check out incredible local dining and shopping during your trip! Mix and match the activities above to create your own weekend adventure and find a place to stay to maximize your time in the area. Take advantage of special offers on accommodations like the Memorial Weekend Two-Night Offer at the Carriage House . Many properties offer military discounts like the Active-Duty Military and Veterans Discount at Veteran Property Managers , the Military and First Responder Discounts at Whitewater Rafting Adventures , the Kalahari Salutes Military & Veteran Discount at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions , or the Active and Retired Military Rate at Pocono Mountain Villas .
As you enjoy the great outdoors, don’t forget what the weekend is all about: honoring those who have served our great nation. Happy Memorial Day from the Pocono Mountains!
Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. The fob sends a short-range signal, so when the driver approaches the car, it automatically unlocks the door. This saves you the hassle of digging out your keys when you’ve got your hands full with groceries. (AP/Matt Rourke)
By: Kelvin Chan
They appear like ghosts in the night, standing outside your house, one holding up an antenna while the other crouches next to the car parked on the driveway. Within seconds, your car is gone, yet another victim amid a surge in auto theft enabled by the technology designed to make it easier to unlock and start vehicles.
Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. The fob sends a short-range signal, so when the driver approaches the car, it automatically unlocks the door. This saves you the hassle of digging out your keys when you’ve got your hands full with groceries.
But that technology also makes things easier for thieves. The wireless fob will continue to emit a signal even if you’re not using it. Thieves prowl neighborhoods at night looking for cars parked outside so they can carry out so-called relay attacks. Using portable equipment that can pick up the faint signal from a fob inside the house or parking lot, they relay it back to a transmitter that can clone the signal.
Officials have urged carmakers to reduce the security vulnerabilities and warn owners about the risks.
So what can you do to reduce the odds that your car will be gone in 60 seconds? “It’s relatively easy for drivers to protect themselves,” said Steve Launchbury, principal engineer of automotive security at Thatcham Research, a U.K.-based automotive risk intelligence company. Here are some tips:
Use a Signal Blocker
A simple but effective way to stop auto bandits from purloining your key fob signal is to use a Faraday bag or pouch. They’re lined with a conductive metal mesh that blocks the transmission of electromagnetic signals.
The pouches aren’t expensive, and you can also get boxes that do the same thing. But experts advise testing to make sure they work. Just put the key fob inside and approach your car. If the doors don’t automatically unlock, then the signal is being blocked.
It’s also important to remember to use it whenever you leave your vehicle, and don’t forget to put all of your key fobs inside, including any spares.
But ignore some advice making the rounds on the internet telling you to put your fob in the microwave or freezer. It doesn’t have the same effect as a Faraday bag, and you risk damaging your key.
Get An Old-Fashioned Lock
Try an old-school solution by using a physical lock. Some police forces advise car owners to use them to make your vehicle look less tempting to steal. The reasoning is that a would-be thief might be deterred by the effort needed to cut through the lock and instead turn their attention to an easier target.
Locks, in the shape of a disk or a long bar, clamp onto the steering wheel and make it difficult to steer. There are also versions that prevent the car from being put in gear. The downside is you’ll need extra time to attach or remove it whenever you aren’t driving.
Change Up Your Settings
For many cars, it’s possible to deactivate the wireless setting so that you can’t open the door remotely. For Fords, Hondas and Audis, use the touchscreen menus. If you own a Toyota, you can temporarily disable the signal by holding down the fob’s lock button and at the same time pressing the unlock button twice. If you’ve done it correctly, the fob’s indicator light should blink four times. Be aware that the next time you press any button, remote unlocking will be reactivated.
The method will vary depending on make and model so consult your owner’s manual for the exact process. If it sounds complicated, there are YouTube videos that walk you through it. Don’t forget that in most cases you’ll now have to manually press the fob’s unlock button.
Automakers have started adding motion sensors to key fobs. If the sensor doesn’t detect recent movement because it’s been, say, left on the kitchen counter after you come home, the fob goes into sleep mode and stops transmitting. If it lacks this capability, check with your dealer whether it’s possible to upgrade it.
If you buy a used car, some experts also advise getting the keys reprogrammed, just in case the previous owner kept one of the fobs.
Watch Out For New Methods
Researchers have uncovered a new auto theft technique that doesn’t target radio signals. The controller area network, or CAN, is “a feature of modern cars which allows different components and systems to communicate, (and) has recently been targeted and exploited by thieves,” said Thatcham’s Launchbury.
The network allows sensors and control modules to talk to each other directly, instead of going through a central node. Thieves take advantage by accessing the network from the car’s exterior, usually by removing a headlight and connecting a device that can “inject” a signal, tricking the car into unlocking and starting.
While automakers work on improving CAN security, “there are steps drivers can take today to add layers of security and deter criminals,” such as using a physical lock, Launchbury said.
Aftermarket electronic immobilizer systems “should render a criminal’s theft tool useless,” and might even get you a discount on auto insurance, he said. Thatcham and other companies offer them but the downside is they can be quite pricey.
Avril Haines, the director of National Intelligence. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
By: David Klepper & Eric Tucker
America’s foreign adversaries will again seek to influence the upcoming U.S. elections, top security officials warned members of the Senate Wednesday, harnessing the latest innovations in artificial intelligence to spread online disinformation, mislead voters and undermine trust in democracy.
But the U.S. has greatly improved its ability to safeguard election security and identify and combat foreign disinformation campaigns since 2016, when Russia sought to influence the election, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The latest warning from security officials comes as advances in AI make it easier and cheaper than ever to create lifelike images, video and audio that can fool even the most discerning voter. Other tools of disinformation include state media, online influencers and networks of fake accounts that can quickly amplify false and misleading content.
Russia, China and Iran remain the main actors looking to interfere with the 2024 election, security officials said, but due to advances in technology other nations or even domestic groups could try and mount their own sophisticated disinformation campaigns.
Russia remains “the most active foreign threat to our elections,” Haines said, using its state media and online influencers to erode trust in democratic institutions and U.S. support for Ukraine.
In recent months, Russia has seized on America’s debate over immigration, spreading posts that exaggerate the impact of migration in an apparent effort to stoke outrage among American voters.
China did not directly try to influence the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, mostly because of concerns over blowback, Haines said.
China’s ties to TikTok were one of the things cited by members of Congress who recently voted to force TikTok’s Beijing-based owner to sell the platform.
“Needless to say, we will continue to monitor their activity,” Haines said of China.
Iran, meanwhile, has used social media platforms to issue threats and try to confuse voters, Haines said. She cited a 2020 episode in which U.S. officials accused Tehran of distributing false content and being behind a flurry of emails sent to Democratic voters in multiple battleground states that appeared to be aimed at intimidating them into voting for President Donald Trump.
Previous efforts by federal agencies to call out foreign disinformation on platforms like Facebook or X, formerly known as Twitter, have quickly become caught up in debates over government surveillance, First Amendment rights and whether government agencies should be tasked with figuring out what’s true.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the top Republican on the committee, questioned the officials about what they could do and how they would respond to “clearly fake” AI-generated videos about candidates that surface before the election.
“Who would be the person that would stand before the American people and say, ’We’re not interfering in the election. We just want you to know the video’s not real. Who would be in charge of that?” Rubio asked.
Haines responded that “I could be the person who goes out and makes that determination” but said there may be certain situations in which it would make more sense for state or local authorities to make that announcement.
Wednesday’s hearing on foreign threats to the election also covered the risk that an adversary could hack into state or local election systems, either to change the vote or to create the perception that the outcome can’t be trusted.
Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the federal government has worked closely with state and local election officials to ensure the 2024 election is the most secure ever.
