Monday Mar 09, 2009
Posted by David Turner
For the second time in little more than a year an influential Israeli politician appears intent on turning Israel's Law of Return into a political football. This week Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit suggested revising or abolishing the Law. In December 2007, Knesset Constitution and Law Committee chairman Menachem Ben-Sasson decided he would rush a constitution through his committee in time for Israel's Independence Day. A key element of the new constitution was a modification of the Law of Return to conform to Halacha. As if all Jews living today, in Israel and the Diaspora, are Orthodox and share a single set of beliefs, rituals and traditions.
Wednesday Jun 04, 2008
Posted by Benji Lovitt
1. I love that the women are not only hotter than Mitzpe Ramon in July but that they also have a Passover Seder. (Much like the fourth dimension, my human brain is incapable of processing this.)
2. I love the outdoor cafes/kiosks on Rothschild and that Israelis universally agree that Starbucks (the altar to which American consumers bow their heads and pray) stinks.
3. I love that I don't look at the people I meet as French, Russians, or Australians, but rather as Israelis who are trying to make it here just like I am.
4. I love my Ulpan teacher from Kitah Bet, Dafna, who spoke to us like we were four so we'd understand her.
5. I love that falafel is a healthy snack (OK, maybe I just love choosing to believe the American myth while I scarf it down forty-seven times a week.)
6. I love that people I know from all over the world are always visiting this place, the center of the Jewish world.
7. I love that I can tell a joke about Rosh Hashana at a comedy club here and know that it will be understood by everyone in the audience.
Monday Dec 10, 2007
Posted by David Turner
The Law of Return is the single most important document defining the character of the Jewish State and its relationship with the Jewish People. The move to amend it represents the most serious assault on that relationship since Ben-Gurion proclaimed statehood in 1948.
Menachem Ben-Sasson, chairman of the Knesset Constitution Committee announced that he would hold 12 hours of discussions with the intention of cobbling together a constitution in time for Israel?s 60th Independence Day celebration. Among the controversial issues the committee is to consider is a ?compromise? version of the Law of Return. According to Ben-Sasson all sides will be taken into consideration, all sides will be represented in the final document. This is not encouraging since ?all sides? to be considered includes the Rabbinate?s push for a Halachic-only definition of 'Who is a Jew'. Such a definition would potentially alienate the majority of Jews living in the Diaspora. The third rail of Israeli-Diaspora relations, Who is a Jew must have no place in redefining the Law of Return.
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Recent Comments
Linda, Australia: The catch-cry is and was and should be "Never Again". I for one as a goy woman who just happens to love Israel will do all in my power to stop it. but I am only one person. As each generation goes through its life, they should make every attempt not to repeat the abhorrent mistakes of its predecessor/s. Why can't we? How long do we need to play the full orchestra on this one?
c'mon, let's work together, so that it does NOT happen, EVER AGAIN. Never again. And for the record, my son's name is Jacob (ie Israel) David and yes, he's half-Jewish.
Colin Bradley DK: insensitivity to American Jews and constitutes a form of anti-Semitism." the former president of ADL, Benjamin Epstein once said. Since there is plenty of criticism of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians openly expressed in Europe, much of it justifiable, it is not hard for the ADL to 'reveal' that forty percent of Europeans hold anti-Semitic views. As for your scepticism about my fear that a Holocaust could befall the Muslims of Europe, need I remind you that it has in fact already happened in the 9o's, albeit on a much smaller scale than the Jewish one, and it's architect
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