Wrong And Strong

I don’t think I have to assert anyone my staunch support for Preserve Ramapo. Any resident of Rockland county with an IQ higher than 21 should support them, unless they want to end up living in a swamp and paying a very high price for it. One article on their site caught my attention. With all due respect to the author, he totally misses the point. I reproduce an abreged version here, (in italics) responding to his points one by one. Read the original here.

Ramapo’s Hasidic bloc vote provided victory for DA Zugibe and for Sheriff Kralik's re-elections." That "margin of victory" would be the villages of Kaser and New Square…
New Square Deputy Mayor Spitzer explains that neither New Square nor any other group that votes together has anything to apologize for when it comes to taking care of their own interests. Other ethnic and racial groups, as well as unions, traditionally vote for one party or another.” Spitzer suggests that New Square is just like other groups - taking care of their own interests. It is impossible to find an equivalent insult to truth.

1. Kaser and New Square are not an ethnic group; they are sects. There are no racial groups or unions that repeatedly vote 100% to 0. The only other 100 to 0 or 99 percent to 1 percent elections occurred in Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union.

This is circular reasoning – the very reason they reason as one is that they are a sect. One cannot leave his race, but dissidents do leave Square and Kaser (albeit too few). The comparison to Communism is disingenuous because in Russia and Iraq there was only one candidate. In unions elections are also pretty much self-rigged: those who vote are the interested parties. Those who don’t are those who joined their union because unions have every major organization by the throat, and you can’t get a job without signing on. For such people the vote is meaningless as the Union leaders make high six figures to cut sweetheart deals with big corporations on the backs of workers who get low hourly wages. The reason Kaser and Square vote in bloc and en masse because they know that each vote counts, and they know their little parasite paradise is at stake – and they know how to ensure it. As George Benson said - never give up on a good thing.

2. "Other groups" hear the pleadings of many candidates. Whom to vote for is not dictated by a community's leaders, who decide how the village would vote. "Other groups" do not obediently submit to the orders of "community leaders." They think for themselves. A community's interests may be similar but voters are never 100 percent in agreement about which candidates will best serve their interests.

Kaser and Square also heard all candidates, and systematically sell their souls to the highest (read: most corrupt) candidate. As per your caims that others think for themselves… we’ll get back to it. But according to my observations hardly anyone thinks at all. If anyone thinks for themselves, these are the Sqverers who know exactly what’s good for them, and don’t need the Rebbe (=ADMO”R , Shaman) to tell them what and how to get it.

3. More people vote in presidential and gubernatorial elections than in local elections, an indisputable fact. Not so in New Square and Kaser. The combined tally for the two villages in the local elections of 2003 and 2005 was 5,085. In the presidential and gubernatorial elections of 2004 and 2006, only 4,626. In the presidential and governor's elections of 2004 and 2006, 200,051 voted in Rockland, compared to 125,509 in local elections of 2003 and 2005; 60 percent more for president and governor. In New Square and Kaser, turnout is 10 percent higher in local elections.
Why are New Square and Kaser so distinguishably different from the rest of the county and the entire nation? As an editorial in this newspaper asked, "Are all the voters registered in the area living in the area?"

Now now. You just touched on a very painful topic. This country was originally conceived and built from the bottom up, and specifically opposed to the other possibility. This has, sadly, changed over the past several decades, because most people became addicted to comfort and entertainment. If not for people being so busy with Lidsey Lohan shaking herself and A-Rod clutching his ball or gulping another Bud, the Hassidim would not have nearly the weight they carry now. Any citizens’ first duty is to be well acquainted with local politics and politicians, even if MTV doesn’t tell you so.

As to why they are so different – because we live in a Democracy that allows Larry Flint and Summer Redstone to become millionaires, Nazis demonstrating openly and blacks rioting with impunity. So too, nutty groups like Amish, Mormon, Davidian and Hassidic sects are tolerated. What should not be tolerated is their fraudulent enterprises, bribery and government-milking frauds.

Your last question hits the nail on its head – we’ll come back to this later.

4. Rocklanders believe the county's poorest communities are Spring Valley and Haverstraw, where the median family income is $45,000. Not true! The county's poorest communities are Kaser and New Square where the median family income is $12,000 to $13,000, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. How do those village families with four, five and six kids exist? Is it a self-imposed poverty or are they victims of an unsympathetic economy? Please Deputy Mayor Spitzer, explain.

Again, a little more examining reality instead of J-Lo’s cutlets, and thinking for oneself instead of reading the Cosmopolitan wouldn’t hurt anyone. Poverty and richness aren’t defined by median income but by de-facto income, something John Zogby never told you and never will. Neither will Hillary, Pelosy or any pseudo-Republican sellouts. Have you ever walked the streets of New Square or Kaser? Have you ever been in their homes? They have huge, lavishly furnished houses, late-model fancy cars, not six but sixteen kids, all outfitted in matching European designer clothing, and the workweek averages 22 hours of schmoozing in the mikva. So where does the money come from? From you, idiot. Take out your last paystub, and look at all those deductions – where do you think the money goes? These people are “victims” of an economy that’s all too sympathetic to dependency, selling votes against turning a blind eye to corruption, racketeering and defrauding the treasury (how do you think that wild turkey Teddy Kennedy stays in power so long?). Of course half the voters come from Brooklyn! Where do you think all the residents went once (actually twice) they voted in Rockland? They went to reciprocate in Brooklyn! So why aren’t they investigated and prosecuted? Again, because as long as there’s running water and the beer is cold and Britney is hot, the Jones won’t do a thing.

5. Young people from all "other groups" are in the armed forces. Dozens of kids from Haverstraw and Spring Valley are, but none from New Square and Kaser. If this absence were due to a religious abhorrence to war and killing I would shout my support. Sadly, that is not the case.
I anticipate this view will trigger accusations of anti-Semitism or "self-hating Jew." I preempt the allegation. I am a very proud secular Jew. Proud of the contributions to humanity of secular Jews like Einstein, Freud and thousands of others in the sciences, literature and arts.
In my 83 years I have felt the searing sting of anti-Semitism, as has my extended family in a more tragic way. I saw with my own eyes, as a U.S. combat soldier in Germany, the holocaustic consequences of Nazi anti-Semitism. If this preemption doesn't shield me, I say to the accusers, if I am anti-Semitic and a "self-hating Jew" then so are millions of Israeli Jews who resent the "haredim"'s (Hebrew word for ultra-Orthodox) perversion of their democracy.

I hear this idiotic argument all too often. Recruitment in suburbia is usually 0%, except for the pockets of poverty (someone’s gotta do our dirty work, ain’t they? Can’t make ‘em commute from Rednecktown). Why do you think you mentioned Spring Valley and Haverstraw, not West Nyack or Bardonia?
The Charedim in Israel refuse to join the army because they are ideologically opposed to a secular, [anti] Jewish state. This is quite a complex issue, but to put it simply, you wouldn’t expect the Indian tribes to join Cortez’s army, would you? And yes, the “millions” of secular Israelis who hate Charedim are, in fact, racists and Anti-Semites. The bulk of IDF soldiers (not the fat armchair generals who have fun with the girls and have high salaries) come mostly from traditionalist homes, and are far less resentful of Charedim. In short, don’t confuse the media with the population.
Those who reject our Law, the Torah, and view themselves as “Jews” based on nothing but race, are, indeed, nothing but racists. Resentment of Charedim is really blatant mostly among the ultra-secular, leftist elites, who, for the most part, dodge the Army under different excuses.

Being a Jew has nothing to do with Einstein and Freud. They were secular-western people who contributed to modern society, but their Jewish lineage was accidental, and irrelevant to their accomplishment. If you credit Judaism with Einstein’s discoveries, shouldn’t you credit Judaism with David Twerski’s (ADMO”R of Square) evil and corruption?

In short, there’s nothing undemocratic with bloc-votes or belonging to a nutty sect. There is everything undemocratic with corruption, fraud and theft – as well as tolerating them. Those who listen to Lindey Lohan who tells them “don’t go to vote – look at my wares” are a thousand time nuttier sect that those who listen to a corrupt rebbe who tells them where to bet more bang for their buck.

© Joseph Izrael 2007

Stained Class (Israel Syndrome Pt. IV)

Part I
Part II
Part III
Intermezzo

The iron forge. The crucible. This is what Klal Yisroel’s residence - nay, cradle - is termed by Chazal. The Egyptian exodus is considered the independence of Jews and our becoming a nation. But wasn’t it meant to happen earlier?

Yaakov Avinu blesses his sons before his death. Each son by himself, the brothers - together them all. Seemingly, neither the brothers’ belief that they’d be kings and nations’ progenitors, nor Yossef’s dreams of a totally unified nation materialized. With the twelve brothers’ death come two centuries of incertitude and servitude, culminating in Kabbolas HaTorah – the acceptance of the Law – at Sinai. Under common Law and leadership, the Nation was now clearly defined – which became all the more evident with the conquest of the Patriarch’s Land.

The establishment of the Jewish monarchy wasn’t easy, nor did it happen fast. The way to the throne was fraught with many a bloodbath. Despite feuds, even until Shaul’s ascent to the throne, the Nation was one. Sadly, this wasn’t a given for too long. Shlomo Hamelech, the wisest of all men, committed a grave error – for which he was duly criticized. Duly – but not respectfully. His critic had to flee in exile, but when he spotted a moment of weakness in the reign of Shlomo’s successor, he came back with a vengeance.

Yerav’am ben Nevat split the kingdom and cast two golden calves on the way to the Bais Hamikdosh to prevent Jews from attending the Temple for worship. By doing so, he not only became one of the most infamous Jews in history, but set a precedent for all future dissidents. Unfortunately, he is followed by a long line of ideologues and sects that further harmed and weakened Israel through the generations. Helenizers, Esseans, Karaites, Jacob Frank, Shabtai Tzvi, Maskilim, Hassidism, Reform, Bundists, Zionism, Modern Orthodxy have all contributed to further chop and trim Klal Yisroel – some of these groups with the explicit intention of doing so.

Before you jump at my throat, accusing me of comparing this to that, let me make clear that I’m only comparing the process by which new groups form. Point is, every time Jews have an idea, are unhappy with a certain situation, or just want to reject authority, they form a new group, generally heralding some tremendous innovation – which G-D somehow couldn’t figure out for five thousand years.

Traditionally, Judaism has viewed any innovation –for good or otherwise- with suspicion. Even the groups and ideas that eventually became accepted were absorbed slowly, gradually, and their acceptance was fraught with opposition and controversy.

That people take their beliefs and ideals seriously – seriously enough to live by them to a rather high degree – is generally a good thing. Extremism is good if the ends are good and good is not arbitrarily self-defining (or defined self-servingly). But at a certain point extremism becomes fanaticism. Where and how exactly to define this is not easy and will vary according to one’s beliefs and perceptions. But I’m fairly convinced many would agree that forming segregated groups that won’t intermingle based on their ideology – and in many cases much less; the name of a godforsaken village in Galicia is often enough – is indeed fanaticism. The fact that in secular society there are almost no such barriers (e.g. marriage between political leftists and right-wingers or different branches of a religion) may be an indication they aren’t too dedicated. So how about the fact that the very same loyalty to G-d, in the name of which we seclude in groups within groups, is so blatantly disregarded in other areas? (Of course tolerating a grand ganef - or worse - in a community isn’t comparable to an openly different ideology, but it still doesn’t justify the airtight segregationism ubiquitous within Judaism.)

Alas, greed, corruption and hunger for power make this über-idealism even less rosy than it seems. Add to this the sad fact that the stubborn isolationism continues even in the face of existential danger, - makes you feel like checking in the nearest sanatorium. Or joining the KKK. Or getting a hook and a rope from Home Depot – you can do it, we can help. Oh, wait – that’s exactly what we’re doing, on a larger scale.

Is our idealism really as true as it seems? If so, how come so many practice only in a tribal, folkloristic way, couldn’t care less about the principles yet stay within a specific fold/mold? And how come the most principled people who have such a clear picture of the trees are blind to the forest?

Isn’t it possible, despite all obstacles, fears and doubts, to achieve at least a certain sense of unity and solidarity? For collaboration at least on the broadest levels? Can’t at least some of the stupidity, the selfishness, paranoia and corruption be trimmed away? Or do we want another dip in the crucible?

How History will unfold no one can tell, yet all can influence. How the script will play itself out until the grand finale largely depends on the cast.



© Joseph Izrael 2007

Lickin' The Gun

United Patriots of America

Attention Ramos & Compean Supporters!

Remember when that fella’ Noah S. Feldman went to the Noo Yawn Timz and told ‘em how the intolerant Jooz don’t want to save Goyim’s lives on Shabbos? Rember how the entire MO establishment was set in motion, over 7463 frenzied articles were published: “yes we do!” “dada Feldman! You iz da liar, not we iz da liar!” (Notice how Harav Hagaon Dr. Norman Lamm SHLIT”A disingenuously stated that intermarriage is the step which definitely cuts off a Jew from his Nation and heritage, conveniently forgetting what he wrote before, namely that “Reform is not a legitimate form of Judaism yet is valid” – knowing full and well that Reform recognizes mixed marriages and their conversion standards are lower even than those of Marc Angel. But that’s not the issue now.) The real issue is that the Agudah and the RCA know very well what is important for them. While they have enough time on their hands to issue meaningless declarations for or against evolution, global warming and such petty idiosyncrasies, they never say a word that could ever offend any politician. And they don’t even live up to their own standards and principles.

When is the last time you heard a psak forbidding the employment of illegal immigrants? Wouldn’t it be better to employ “at risk kids”, dropouts or kids who can’t learn (either Yeshiva or HS) instead of Mexican gangbangers? Or do the elites in YU who hold academic “jobs” paid by taxpayers, really look down on the “proletariat” who build their houses, cook their food and sell them their goods? Why don’t they care the workers lose their jobs to illegals? (All this while accusing Yeshivaleit of looking down on baalei batim!) Will any bais din have the guts to pasken whether fraudulently obtaining government assistance of any kind is considered “מוסר ממון ישראל ביד עכו"ם”– delivering a Jew’s money to the Gentile authorities? After all, there are many who harp about mesirah regarding child molesters.

But back to the initial subject: where are the champions of humanitarian concern, diversity, tolerance and equality when border patrol agents Ramos and Compean rot in jail for the crime of doing their job? Where are the Nobel-Prize winning (well, almost) journalists of the tepid, vapid, mealy-mouthed Cross-Purposes who lecture us about how grateful we must be to this great nation, (to the extent that we may even be permitted to eat turkey with cranberry sauce – bshinuy, of course) while marines are accused of “massacre” for doing their job? Yes, I’m talking about the Marines led by Jeffrey Chessani who were set up by Tim McGuirk and John Murtha (you know, the one who called Marines “Nazis”, and also voted against a senate ethics committee (why?) yet Dov Bear didn’t throw a fit about it.) But there’s something you can actually do;

First read this, if you haven’t yet: “Mr. Delahunt said that between February 2005 and June 2007, there have been 1,982 incidents in which Border Patrol agents have been assaulted. He said the numbers would 'support the premise that Border Patrol agents operate in a climate of tension, danger and even fear for the safety of themselves and others”.

President Bush should immediately commute the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents convicted in the shooting of a drug-smuggling suspect, says the chairman of a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee.

Rep. Bill Delahunt, Massachusetts Democrat who heads the subcommittee on international organizations, human rights and oversight, said in a resolution yesterday the 11- and 12-year sentences for Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, respectively, were "profoundly disproportionate" based on federal sentencing guidelines. Read the full article here. Then go here to send faxes to your state & Fed senators on the issue. IT IS FREE and takes less than 3 minutes! Please do your minimal share of civil duty!


This request is coming directly from Joe Loya (Nacho's Father-in-law):

Mr. Loya has requested that each of you call the following three people (Congressman Delahunt, Senator Feinstein, and Congressman Conyers) and demand that they proceed with the investigation of U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton for his malicious and wrongful prosecution of our Border Patrol agents.
These members of Congress were specifically chosen because they each previously called for just such an investigation, but none has materialized.

Feel free to call your Congressman and /or Senators as well, but please contact these three first. I have provided you (below) with as many pieces of contact information for each of these three people as possible.

Please, use this information to make yourself and our two heroes known.
Also, please reply to this email and let us know what progress you make along with whatever replies or information you receive.

Please, don't just wait for a miracle; this is your chance to BE THE MIRACLE! Thank you in advance for your work on this. Good luck and God bless. -- admin@eMailNacho.com

Congressman Bill Delahunt (10th District Massachussetts):
Bill Delahunt2454
Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3111 Fax: 202-225-5658 eMail: William.Delahunt@mail.house.gov

Senator Diane Feinstein (Senior Senator from California):
Senator Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841 Fax: (202) 228-3954

Congressman John Conyers (14th District Michigan):
John Conyers2426
Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5126 Fax : (202) 225-0072 eMail - John.Conyers@mail.house.gov

This e-mail has been forwarded to you by Ron Bass
United Patriots of America - info@UnitedPatriotsOfAmerica.com


Heritage Foundation: SCHIP would increase illegals' access to Medicaid

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (HR 3963), passed in the Senate and the House, significantly changes the law with respect to both legal and illegal immigrants. It affects not only the children's health program (SCHIP) but also the far larger general Medicaid program. Please read entire article!

So there are your Jewish leaders who are supposed to care about you. They’ll tell you to donate to this or that charity, set up committees and groups to solve educational and economical problems, yet refuse to take the first common-sense step. It’s OK to sing “seu sheorim” for Charlie Kushnir all the way to his cell, but in return for his support you must not challenge his reliance on cheap labor! Hey, if you can save 40 to 50% on your cleaning girl, isn’t it worth it to let gangbangers invade the neighboring areas and suck up even more social services? Uh-oh that might backfire! One day they’ll be more numerous than us… and than all your good friends, the politicians will tell you: “Asta la vista, rebi!”

Invest in Judaism – buy a rabbi!

”Lickin' the gun, lickin' the hand that feeds you.

Lickin' the gun finger lickin' fun.

Senator husband going for broke

I've gotta prove I'm not a joke

…

Watch religion come and go
Watch corruption on their shows

Buy your silence, money for blood

Out of the ark and into the flood…”

-“Lickin’ the gun” by Bruce Dickinson (Tattoed Millionnaire, 1990)

© Joseph Izrael 2007

J-E-W

© Joseph Izrael 2007

Turbo Lover (Twin Turbos)

Chananya Weissmann, who is greatly honored to hold the first reference in my links section, had an interesting article out a few months ago. The good ol’ schidduch crisis, again. Weissman, however, deviated this time from his usual approach of attacking the rigid social idiosyncrasies. Instead, he jumped on the masses’ bandwagon, blaming everything on the charedim in covert words. He generally addresses the subject as a whole, and when focusing on a specific community, it’s more the MO crowd. Yet this time he imports the Charedi meshigassen and blames the MO‘s problems on Charedim.

Guys and girls aren’t allowed to mix freely, a year in an Israeli Yeshiva turns the immaculate virginity of unsuspecting YU kids into rabid Yeshivish hard-liners, and Frisch grads simply cannot resist the temptation of deserting to the deepest darkest dungeons of Neturei Karta, right? I wonder whether Belz and Vizhnitz were successful in smuggling into the Young Israel crowd their demand for a spotless pedigree as a prerequisite to any prospective match?

In my opinion Weissmann totally misses the point. There is, of course, a common denominator in the schidduch crises on both sides of the aisle. But that is, so far, out dirty little secret. So let’s first give everyone a round of good bashing. The Charedi meshigassen are pretty easy for all to see: Hassidim want a fat schwer with lots of gelt, life support, a house, (“viz finish basmint tzi rent out for other chussid who vant hous viz finish basmint”) a Lexis, a Seberben and a beezniss. Of course, a “yichuss” to Rashi, Rabbi Yochanan HaSandlar and Dovid Hamelech goes without saying. Unfortunately, even in this wonderful America, the American dream isn’t yet a granted reality. All the more so the perfect schidduch – not so American, but much closer to a dream. Not everyone can be a millionaire, and even corrupt politicians haven’t yet figured out a way to hand out kallahs in a welfare program.

In the nasty world of kalter Litvaks, the situation is far more sophisticated: the girl (and the boy) must have clearly defined hashkafas, and must not veer astray - even a mashehu. Hashkoffeh, oy, die heilige Hashkoffeh! You see, litvaks aren’t just unwashed bums like those Chassidishe brutes. Each word, term, expression and name has a proper feel and touch to it, that little indescribable tone and facial countenance. “Lomdes”… “Chazon Ish”… “Teireh”… “Moron”… “Hasmodeh”… “Mesirus Nefesh”… woe onto the prospective chosson or kallah who roll their eyes the wrong way while these saintly words escape their lips! The chosson must, of course, unconditionally surrender to 24.3 hours of uninterrupted Torah toiling – the five cell-phones being only a necessary evil accessory to strengthen the bond with his rebbetzin. Of course, the kallah must be prepared for total devotion and absolute, selfless mesirus nefesh to Torah and a life of utter simplicity, even poverty – provided her father (preferably a Rosh Yeshiva – but if all he has is gelt, nu, we aren’t over-demanding) arranges for a fully paid apartment, furniture (used in top condition is OK – we Litvaks aren’t dirty materialists like you Hassidim or MO), maid and new Borsalino hat quarterly.
You can understand that for such a match made in heaven one must go through hell.

But the MO, oh, the true pioneers of derech haemtzais, pluralism, moderation, open-mindedness and academic freedom, nu, let’s give them a standing ovation. After all, how can one criticize these angels of absolute relativism, who freely mingle the sexes without the slightest shade of a doubt of improper behavior? Could anyone suspect the muses of moderation of dissociating themselves from a lower tier? Is it possible to even surmise the sublime disciples of Heidegger are capable of succumbing to material temptation? Could the exalted emulators of The Rav’s ways be suspected of vanity and looking down on people without PhD’s? See, coarse people like yourself, read a greasy blog by someone who actually touches a potato with his bare hands, performs an oil change on his non-late model gas-guzzler, and even –Darwin yishmerainu- drinks beer and smokes cigarettes! You guys can’t even begin to fathom the sophistication that goes into the shidduch decisions of an elated YU alumni. You have to understand that people who insist on their prospective life partner having a degree, a well-paying job, being able to converse about Hegelian nons… ooopppsssssss, um, genius, have a certain finesse that we “blackneck” Litvacks simply lack. Us, blues-listening, white-knuckled proletariat would never understand that a wife washes the dishes, laundry and children not because she happens to be a woman, -that’s horribly degrading- but for the mere fact that his Honor Mr. Chemical Engineer, Esq., PhD., EtC., who learns two shiurim and attends night collel simply doesn’t have the time to do these chores.

Schidduch crisis? Not in the least, no siree. The problem, essentially, is the same in all sectors; only the symptoms are slightly different. Scientific studies about the male to female ratio and the influence of a yeshiva year on one’s personality are good conversation for saleshidess, but in the real world are as irrelevant as Heidegger’s hogwash. Sinas chinom and “I” are the problem. The power that creates idiotic societal norms is called Sinas chinom. Then, it galvanizes segregated communities based on those meshigassen, to separate us from the other Yid. “I”, the ego, freezes our brains in such conceit that we can’t lower our honorable Self to accept second-class merchandise, lest we too be labeled second-grade.

Schidduch crisis? How about our complete egomania, our total infatuation with oilom hazeh, our reluctance to admit it and renounce it? Couple it with absolute laziness – we want to be the Gaon MiVilna overnight – and even on that night get a good sleep! – and there’s your perfect recipe for absolute disaster. So no, I don’t think there’s any schidduch crisis at all. There’s a “me” crisis raging.
Come to think about it – how good can a marriage of such people be? Mmmmmm, more schidduch crisis please!


© Joseph Izrael 2007

A Monetary Lapse Of Reason

Yonason Rosenblum has a good article about helping Jewish schools cope with their financial burden. In short, he proposes a voluntary community “tax”, or fund, if you will, that would be evenly distributed between the local schools. Unfortunately, he leaves all too many variables out of the equation. This system worked well in the Windy City, where the community is by far not as large as in Brooklyn, Lakewood and Monsey. He also forgets that unlike Chicago, -home to more wealthy people and less schools-, in the aforementioned towns the ratio is vice-versa.

Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz tells us that we should deal with the challenge of Internet as small business owners facing a Wal-Mart arriving in Town. The hands-on details are to follow, he reassures us, and I am eagerly awaiting them.
Maybe lost on many of his readers, his comparison is a tongue-in-cheek joke on an actual Wal-Mart arriving straight to the heart of Monsey’s frum –mostly Hassidic- business district. The controversy has been dealt with upon the pages of Pinchy Salzberger’s rag, as well as a blog originating from Chic-ago. They both missed the point –or willfully distorted it- by saying that Hassidim oppose Wal-Mart because it would have a negative influence on their children, meaning the semi-pornographic celeb magazines at the check-out desks or the un-tsniusdik dolls in the store.

But they couldn’t have been more wrong. Many Hassidim shop in the Airmont Wal-Mart (two miles down the road from the controversial Wal-Mart in question). As they shop for “Bratz” dolls galore and other highlights of Western Civilisation, they don’t seem to be bothered by the mags, nor the fact that their young children stare at them. So what takeh motivates the Hassidim to join their dreaded enemies, Preserve Ramapo, in opposing the Monsey Wal-Mart? The simple fact is that it threatens many hassid-owned businesses, from groceries to toy stores.

Internet access for children is a totally different story. I’m not sure how it compares to a big business coming to town threatening small businesses. And perhaps the Internet raises a question of a much more global proportions: how to relate with Western civilization? So far, in my humble opinion, most approaches have, even if not outright failed, proved rather ineffective. The Hassidic emptiness has left real Judaism out of the picture, and absorbed the lowest of Western culture in an external frame of traditional garb and superficialities. Modern Orthodoxy has successfully integrated itself in left-wing intelligentsia while its adherents either leave the “Orthodox” or the “Modern”. The Yeshivish world is still somehow clinging on to Torah, albeit steeped in a little more oilom hazeh from Uncle Sam than they’d like to admit.

Now that the seven-headed dragon comes into our homes via his world wide web, we are forced to face reality – something we haven’t adequately done. Pasteur observed peasant women scratch off their cows’ pox and rub it on their children to immunize them. It is still a more a gut feeling of mine, rather than an opinion, that we could adopt a similar approach. The devil lies in the details, and the actual carrying out of the plan is not done as easily as said.

Ditto for the Rosenblum initiative that worked so well in Chicago. In all honesty, I doubt it would work in any Judeopolis at all. Who would contribute to a common school fund? The food-stamp father marrying off his ninth child, supporting another eight in collel, the MO actuary making $100K and having a budget of $300K, or the ‘gvir’ who donates millions to all the big mosdos anyway? And does anyone honestly believe that groups antagonistic to one another will gladly throw their money in the hat? Something tells me otherwise.

Hassidic groups are very protective, their money stays within the community, and teachers are basically paid by government subsidies and school freebies (free school and camp for a few kids – that’s not so little). Other schools are also secretive as to owners’ salaries and who gets tuition breaks and how much. I heard of a case when a parent offered to pay full tuition for his children (three, if memory serves) plus one extra as donation – on condition that the school opens the books. They refused.

I’m not sure there’s a magic solution to ease the burden on schools and tuition. A public school kid costs 11 to 18K, and the level of education is practically zero. Private schools achieve much more with much less, that’s unquestionable. But the voucher program wouldn’t be fair either. Orthodox Jewish families with numerous children would drain the state treasury faster than you could say “property tax”. But a little more openness and less exclusiveness from the schools would probably be of some help.

Perhaps if the spectator sport of schnorring and overall tolerating detrimental behaviors that breed poverty is successfully toned down, than schools could reach out to wealthy people outside their immediate constituency for support.


© Joseph Izrael 2007

Danger Money

I just heard from a medicaid recipient, that when her child was born, she got a $15 gift card for Toys R Us. Now, in honor of her child's 1st birthday, she got another $45. Is my chanukah gelt tax deductible? Or forced charities are not deductible? Think about it: you have a co-pay. Your employer may not give you the best insurance. But every time an illegal immigrant, a hassid or slum resident poops a baby, you get to give it free nationalized healthcare, gift cards and free transportation to the doctor. All they need to do in return is cast that vote for the Dems.

Exposing the "Flying Imams":

On November 20, 2006, airline officials in Minneapolis removed six imams from U.S. Airways flight 300 to Phoenix after their behavior raised the suspicion of fellow travelers.[1] The imams decried the incident as racist and evidence of discrimination. On March 12, 2007, they filed suit against the airline, airport, and fellow passengers. Some of the imams' claims are exaggerated; many are false. In reality, the incident was a tactical move to support the imams' claim to leadership over the American Muslim community. Indeed, the "flying imams" case, Ahmed Shqeirat et al. vs. U.S. Airways,[2] appears to mark just the latest front in the war between Islamists and mainstream, pluralistic American Muslims. Read More

Phoenix AZ no more sanctuary for illegals.

CAIR leader concocts death threats and, like DB, refuses to condemn terrorists.

Stupid ignorant GOP-Juden invent stories to defame innocent terrorists.

Another right-wing lie. Saudis really fight terror tooth and nail. Such articles are pure inventions.

Save the planet: by taxing kids!

DB’s ideological twin, Rabbi George Soros, destroying yet another country. Oppsss… another right-wing nuttery-rhime… just ignore it.

Woman jailed for mohammed teddybear speaks of her treatment in jail for the first time. (according to some tedDy Bears, it never happened...)

DovBear personals (why he loves mass-murderers so much).

Mexican truckers allowed to roam the US freely.

A real estate company built a five-story building. Once it was completed, they discovered that somehow the builders forgot to install all toilets and plumbing. The board had an emergency meeting to discuss their options. It was decided that the building would be left as it is, and rented out for tenants who wouldn’t need bathrooms.
The first floor would be a nursery – they use diapers.
The second floor would be a kindergarten – they go on the potty.
The third floor would be a Catholic Church - their ....’s in Rome.
The fourth floor would be a Synagogue – the Jews make money from every….
The fifth floor would be the permanent home of the DNC - Democrats always smear all the ... on each other!

I bet you won't see this on DB TV - after all, if it's not a haredi or Republican who stole money, it's no news. Why would the "liberal bloggers who always objectively tell the truth" ever let you know about it?

D"I never said that!"B would give his/her life for this terrorist sympathizer who uses US freedoms to exonerate Terrorists.



© Joseph Izrael 2007

Order On The Border!

Ron Bass of the UPA sends us some updates:

Attrition works!

[How about enforcing laws of welfare fraud? Maybe penalizing landlords who knowingly collect fraudulently obtained sec.8 and supermarkets that give cash or unauthorized items for food stamps? Oy, the rebbe would run out of business! Well, it's about time! - J.I.]

United Patriots of America

A must see video - State legislators standing tall:

Watch this video! A must see - an eye opener. Pay attention to the numbers! (This is not from youtube, I can't embed it. Open the link.)

State Legislators for Legal Immigration
A new group founded by Pennsylvania state legislator Rep. Daryl Metcalfe
http://www.statelegislatorsforlegalimmigration.com/

12/07/2007 Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, speaking at a recent press conference in Washington, D.C., about issues surrounding illegal immigration, calls on both federal and state governments to defend our nation from the current illegal alien invasion.

After seeing this video you may want to encourage your state legislators to join this group. Get their e-mail address and send them this video.

The time to act is now.

If you have contacts in New Jersey send them this e-mail.
This is an opportunity to send a strong message to NJ Governor Jon Corzine.
New Jersey Residents
The Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy will be holding their first official Public Hearing on December 10, 2007 from 6:30pm-8:30pm at:

We need your support.

You don't have to speak, just show up to support our side.

Don't let the open border advocates have their way unopposed.

If you believe our borders should be secured and our immigration laws enforced please attend this meeting in New Brunswick on Monday evening at 6:30-8:30

Ron Bass
United Patriots of America
info@UnitedPatriotsOfAmerica.com
908-289-1141

For the widest distribution of this message please forward to your mailing list.

Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"!

Now ask yourself where are the big rabbincal organizations on this? Recommending you switch to hybrids and schnorring another jar of peanut butter for the yeshiva. And probably enjoying no one looks at the welfare abuse going on under their noses.

There's still a long long way to go. But the tide is shifting.

© Joseph Izrael 2007

להודות ולהלל לשמך הגדול

Drrrrrrriinnggg! I looked at the phone with contempt. “Which moron could it be now? Can’t they leave me alone at least on Sundays?”
- Hello
- Hi, Joe?
- Yes?
- Hi, this is such and such, how are you?
- Oh, Mr. Such And Such, how are you feeling? Is everything OK with you? “Good, I actually liked him. But what does he want from me? Now?”
- I’ll be in a little later; I’d like to talk to you a little, is it OK?
- Yes sure. Are you coming back? Did anything happen?
- No, no, we’re having a Hanukah party in the auditorium. You sure know about it. “Of course I know.” I think to myself, “But why do you need to remind me about it now? I have nothing to do with it.”
- Sure, sure, so I’ll see you later.
What on earth does he want from me? Probably some Hanukkah presents for the kids, I thought.

After the usual how are yous, how are you feelings and some small talk, he hands me over an envelope. I tried to protest, but he was adamant. “You really shouldn’t,” I told him, “I just did my job”. No, no, he protests, I feel you went out of your way for me. There was barely any truth to this, as we just made sure he got his meals in his room on time, and when his wife would come to visit he’d get an extra portion. Big deal.

The point is, he probably never made what I make now. And it would have been a lot easier for me to give him that sum than vice versa. But people who don’t have it easy are more appreciative.

When my kids calmed down a bit, after coming home from zaidie’s Chanukah party, with tons of presents galore and more tons of nosh in their stomachs, I sat them down and told them Mr. Such A. Such’s story. He had only one son, with severe mental retardation. Ditto for his second wife. They would never have any grandchildren to give presents to. They never knew the joy of a kid coming home with a scorecard. To take their children to the park. To tell them a story. To come home or leave a home filled with children’s laughter. And he did very much appreciate what was done for him. He remembered me after several months. He thanked me just for doing my job. I wasn’t doing my job for him, he knows this, yet he felt obligated.

Many things are said about Chanukah. Resisting Hellenism, the oil miracle, Torah Shebeal-Peh… but what we insert in davening is להודות ולהלל – to thank and to praise. And that includes perhaps not only the Chanukah miracle, but any and all daily miracles that we take for granted. Maybe a time to reflect on what we really say in ברכות השחר.

I don’t want to take these $50. If you have or know an organization that looks out for lonely people or that visits people in hospitals, let me know. I’d also like to thank the YU guys who came on Purim to make a party for the patients.

“Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore.” Game not over!

© Joseph Izrael 2007

Reptile Dysfunction

Now they bite each other. I got an email from someone calling himself “Cousin Oliver”, from DB’s team of invertebrates, offering me to harm his master behind his back - talk about ouroboros! He claims he got angry with DB over the new member “The Fray Of Bundie” (why do these blattodeans always watch the Loony Tunes?), and wants to expose his identity as revenge – but demands $500 for it. Nice little friends you got there, DB. They’re willing to stab you in the back for 500 bucks… I guess it’s a bit more than a lentil stew…
On one hand the idea is tempting. On the other, why get my hands dirty with these slimy creatures?

Here’s one DB would never ever tell you about… We know hate crimes are a one-way street, in minds of the DB-litated radical left.

Neither would he bother telling you how his dem buddies prop up bogus claims of anti-muzzie “hate-crimes”. Or that his darling CAIR human rights advocates use terrorist stooges to coerce presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle to cater to muzzies.

Or that his favorite website is sued for promoting neo-Nazism.

But the worst is yet to come. Since I heard about DB’s guru being busted on charges of child pornography, I’ve been looking into this subject… It’s darker than hell, let me tell you. And the scope of this atrocity is larger than anyone could imagine… And how twisted this web is – more than anyone would admit. (Gory details to follow, one of these days) Suffice to say that Larry Flynt, among the largest donors to the party for which DB constantly roots, is deeply involved, as well as many high-ranking democrats and leftist rulers around the globe. Here's a million dollar quote: "..."Dirty Pool," [a feature in DB's favorite publication, Hustler Magazine] which in January 1983 depicted a woman being gang-raped on a pool table. A few months after those pictures were published, a woman was gang-raped on a pool table in New Bedford, Mass. Mr. Flynt's response to the crime was to publish a postcard of another nude woman on a pool table, this time with the inscription, "Greetings from New Bedford, Mass. The Portuguese Gang-Rape Capital of America."" This is the darling of the Democratic Party. I don't know why the Republican candidates never mention this in ads or debates. I bet Pat Buchanan would. But DB detests molesters, doesn’t he?


© Joseph Izrael 2007

Hair Of The Dov

Breaking news: Dov Bear's mentor has been indicted on charges of posession of child pornography. Radical leftist radio host Bernie Ward -you'll only need to listen to him for 3 minutes to realize he's DB's main inspiration; same topics, same mindset, same perversion- has been put in the slammer for posessing kiddie porn. Seems he's a good The Who fan, or at least remembers well how Pete Townshend got out of it (not because he's rich and famous): he was researching the subject for writing a book! Hail to literacy! Rock musicians and radio hosts authoring books on children's sexuality! Ha ha ha, these guys have degrees in anthropology and sociology from Oxford! Isn't it kinda akin to bloggers explaining chazal and Torah?

ACLU boss who fought mandated internet filtering in public libraries arrested with kiddie porn. How many times did DB mention it to you?

Child rape, abuse and exploitation covered up by gov't-media complex. Where is the godfather of independent blogging? (Open link & scroll all the way down to 1st article on subject)

And of course, why would he ever bother telling you this?



© Joseph Izrael 2007

Speed The Plough

As the Mondrowitz extradition case progresses, the charedi rabbinical establishment digs its head deeper in the sand, while the Jew-haters are having a field day. That chilul hashem, it seems, is of no concern to anyone. The problem, some PR artists reassure us with a straight face, is being taken seriously and being dealt with. And all who disagree with us are just alarmists who blow the problem out of proportions.

I simply cannot understand this attitude. What is wrong with us? I understand that there are alarmists out there. I know that facts are being distorted, taken out of context and sometimes outright invented. I’m also undecided about legislation on background checks. There are too many laws and regulations choking us as it is, but our children must be protected from potential harm, even if statistically small. Ideally, there would be self-imposed regulations, making certain information available to parents and board members… unfortunately, in real life it doesn’t work like that. Although victims of sexual abuse in general tend to hide their traumatic experiences, this is even more prevalent in a society that conceals a child’s ear infection at age three for fear of getting a less glitzy shidduch or not getting into that seminary.

Claims that most cases of child abuse are dealt within the community, and that rabbis can be fooled are not without merit. But “too little, too late” is not an unfair accusation. The rumors about serial rapist Mondrowitz have been around for a long time, and no amount of apologetics, either for the victims’ privacy or in favor of halachic approach or against false accusations can justify the mishandling of this affair.

In principle, I’d be all for dealing with such issues halachically within the community. I believe this would be more effective than endless hours of deliberations between judges and lawyers whose homes are probably full of child pornography anyway.

But halocha says: “-ובערת הרע מקרבך– you must eliminate evil from your midst”

And halocha says: “ועשית הישר והטוב בעיני 'ה– You must do the right and good in the eyes of G-d”

And: “לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל-דַּם רֵעֶךָ – don’t ignore your brother's blood [=plight, danger]”

And halocha empowers Judges (Rabbonim) to act or override other obstacles. Such as the provision for “מכת מרדת” – flogging ‘rebels’ – i.e. punishing crimes without specific provision in the Torah.

And the principle of “עגלה ערופה – slaughtered calf” teaches that leaders are responsible for the community’s welfare, to bring criminals to justice, punish crimes, and prevent future crimes.

If any of this has been done, it had no effect. “Dealing with those problems within the community” cannot mean anything but these criminals (Mondrowitz is undeniably חיב מיתה) being eliminated like Mark Younglove –. Since we’ve failed to do this, the last option is to hand the matter over to the authorities. The secular justice system –if generalizations can be made- is not overly harsh on sex offenders. Although there are tendencies in both directions, I’d say they’re more lenient and “understanding” of criminals than the opposite. But looking the other way and downplaying the problem’s magnitude is even worse. Unfortunately, those who invent or even blow the “coverup” out of proportions only play to the hands of the “leave it to us” experts: “see! They all lie and make up stories! They have no credibility!”

Mainstream Charedi leadership will finally have to learn to face serious problems even if they come at the expense of their honor and image of immaculate sanctity.

It seems like Mondrowitz raped all he saw - now his abettors reap what they sow.

© Joseph Izrael 2007

Night Boat To Cairo

CAIR, or the Council on American-Islamic Relations, is a “civil rights” group and the left’s darling. Rabid Jew-haters like D.B. just love them. But their name is more than just a cute acronym sounding like ‘care’. “Cair”, or rather Cahir, is Arabic for Cairo. What’s the connection? Well, Cairo is home to the Al Azhar University, the chief propagator of Islamic hatred and ideology of genocidal mania. Although they are experts in concealing their real intentions, by bogus lip-service condemnations of terror attacks and such, they are the instigators and engineers of Islamic fanaticism. Remember where DB darling Yassir Arafat came from? Same for the Islamic Brotherhood terroris organization. In any event, CAIR were a hair from being indicted as co-conspirators in terrorist and terror-funding groups. They were saved by the skin of their teeth by pressure groups such as Hillary Clinton’s Media Matters (although both deny any link to the other – financial tracks say otherwise).

Now these freedom of speech lovers are being sued by Michael Savage. They already withdrew a lawsuit against Andrew Whitehead, as going ahead with the process would have forced them to reveal their financial records, which in turn would have shown their true connections (to Hamas, Hizb’Allah and Hill'Ary).

Savage Lawsuit 1 Savage Lawsuit 2

Truth about CAIR and CAIR terrorist ties in great detail.

Whitehead lawsuit

Indonesia, according to my good friend Charlie Hall, is the world’s largest Moslem country and extremely tolerant. Doesn’t sound tolerant at all to me… 20 years for 9 lbs of pot, 14 years for murder…


© Joseph Izrael 2007