Israeli Obama supporters have launched a Hebrew-language blog advocating for Obama. The new blog features translated speeches and campaign messages related to Israel, and is hosted on the popular “Tapuz” website. Tzahi Stein, VP of Marketing and Strategy at Tapuz said, “”This is a very exciting turn of events and we look forward to working closely with Obama’s staff.”
Although Obama or his campaign did not officially put out the blog, they have issued a statement noting their excitement at support for Obama in Israel and around the world. This is not the first time Israelis have shown public support for Obama—in the recent “Yes We Can” promotional video put out by Obama’s campaign, Maya Rubin, an Israel actress and singer, was featured singing “ken anu yecholim.”
Despite virulent accusations against Obama for being anti-Semitic or anti-Israel, recent U.S. polls show that Obama is still very popular among Jewish voters.
The blog can be found here.
Carter’s at it again. You’ve got to respect the man. Damn the American government, screw the public will, and to hell with scruples. Carter, as most of you already know recently returned from a trip to Nepal, and stopped by Hamas headquarters in Damascus on his way in. Deliberately defying the Bush administration’s and Israel’s stated policy of delegitimization and isolation, Carter met with Hamas leadership to play mediator. Upon his return he published an opinion piece in the New York Times criticizing the current American and Israeli policy, and calling for direct negotiations.
Carter’s recklessness and lack of responsibility are staggering. He intentionally worked against American foreign policy goals and deliberately weakened the government’s position. The whole goal of an isolation policy requires just that: isolation. Carter should feel free to argue out the wisdom of the policy in the press and public forum, but to undercut the policy is, quite simply, traitorous. One longs for the days when the 1799 Logan Act (the federal law that prohibits private citizens from conducting their own unauthorized diplomacy) was enforced and Carter would have gotten his 3 years in the clink. As Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, put it: Carter “went to the region with soiled hands and came back with bloody hands” after shaking those of Hamas arch terrorist Khaled Mashaal.
Filed under: arts/culture, music, religion | Tags: Arabic, Aramaic, Ethiopia, Hebrew, hip-hop, Latin, music, NPR, posted by aklionsky, Puerto Rican, Y-love, Yeshiva
I was listening to NPR this evening, and I heard something about setting Talmud to a beat, so I started paying attention. A few minutes later, the full segment came on (listen to the segment here)–it was about Yitzchak “Y-love” Jordan.
Y-love has become a famous musician in religious-hip hop genres, and took away more votes than even Matisyahu at the Jewish Music Awards.
He was born to Puerto Rican and Ethiopian parents, and began keeping with Jewish traditions at 7 years old. When he was older, he went to Yeshiva in Jerusalem, where he and his chavruta (studying partner) used rap to help with quick recall of Talmudic passages.
Now, Y-Loves music is in Hebrew, English, Latin, Arabic, and Aramaic–something which he says he hopes will connect people of all faiths, as all these languages are holy to some group of people. Y-love says he’s “building bridges and not walls between people” with his music, and anyone who likes music and is devoted to their faith will find something for them in his music.
Check out this video with some music clips and also Y-love talking about his background!
For anyone who does not know, Geert Wilder is a Dutch politician and member of the Dutch Parliament. He has taken a particular interest in Arabic and Islamic culture over the past few decades, mainly criticizing certain portions o the Qur’an for inciting violence and terrorism. Wilder is a Roman Catholic and has no real tie to Judaism, yet he has visited Israel over forty-two times and considered moving there for a period of time.
I came across an interview Wilder had on Fox News, which sparked my interest. For any readers unfamiliar with Wilder, this interview should be viewed before reading the rest of this piece
In recent months, he has released a video called “Fitna” that has caused much controversy and has been banned by several websites. It depicts graphic images of terrorist attacks, and picks out certain excerpts from the Qur’an to show where the terrorists obtained their inspiration. It is now available here on youtube.
After watching those two videos, it is not hard to get an accurate sense of Wilder. He is not concerned with who he offends, or if what he says gains him popularity with the public. He is extremely opinionated and is very vocal with his opinions. He does not let the fear of terrorism put a damper on his opinions. To get to the point, my main question is this: While Wilder takes an extremely conservative stance; one that offends many people, shouldn’t the fact that he can say what he says serve as a testament to the freedom of progressive, modern society?
A Time to Kill, And a Time to Heal
As an air force pilot, Yuval must accept missions to attack targeted terrorists in Gaza. Sometimes, unfortunately, innocent civilians are killed or injured in these attacks. Yuval also works as a pediatrician in a hospital saving the lives of many children, including Palestinians. Sometimes, Yuval ends up treating the very patients he may have injured in the first place.
When reading this article, I was reminded of a story in Daniel Gordis’ book, Home to Stay. A man muses about what it is like to do thirty days of reserve service, body-frisking Arabs for arms and explosives at checkpoints and then return to his job as a construction engineer, having coffee and drawing maps with the very same people he body-searched the day before.
This is the contradiction of living in Israel. The Middle East is not like any other war zone where citizens avoid the enemy’s territory and boycott the enemy’s economy. Arabs from hostile areas enter Israel to find work and rely on Israel for medical care because that is the only way they can survive.
However, maybe it is not such a contradiction after all. The Israeli army runs missions into Gaza (to assassinate terrorists) and checkpoints to protect its citizens. Once an individual is no longer a danger to Israelis, he is offered medical treatment and the potential for a job in Israel. Maybe this seeming contradiction is actually a unique attempt by Israel at remaining unequivocally moral in the midst of a war.
We all know how popular Facebook is. It’s gotten to the point where even my dad has an account. Sure, there are still the increasingly rare few who decide to take a stand against the networking website by refusing to join, but most people end up checking their Facebook at least once a day.
It makes sense, therefore, that pro and anti- Israel advocates would use Facebook to further their political agendas. Instead of just inviting me to pro-Israel groups like they have in the past, however, advocates have begun inundating my Facebook inbox with pro-Israel messages, demanding that I join this group, email this company, etc. I’m sure you’ve experienced the same.
Is advocacy on Facebook worth it? I think there are two facets of the situation. One- Facebook groups are taking traditional Israel advocacy and multiplying it by 1,000. People who would otherwise have no idea where Sderot is, let alone what’s going on there, are now learning about Israel. Two- Because there are so many Israel-related groups that often overlap in their messages, Facebook users may become overexposed to the issue and lose interest.
The fact that pro-Israel advocates on Facebook are now spamming our inboxes is an example of extreme, and overall ineffective, advocacy. My brain has been programmed from the time I got my first email address to ignore spam- all spam. Let’s not let pro-Israel advocacy on Facebook become grouped in peoples’ minds with some email for a sale at Bath and Body Works or offers for free ipods.
Filed under: arts/culture, music | Tags: Chicago, David Broza, Elie Wiesel, Idan Raichel, JUF, kosher, posted by aklionsky, Solidarity
Thanks for the heads-up, aji525!
Chicago’s got great plans for celebrating the big Six-Oh with Israel, as well, also including the Idan Raichel Project.
On Sunday, May 4 the Jewish United Fund/Chicago Federation will host Israel Solidarity Day/The Walk With Israel. The Walk, an annual tradition that brings Jews from all around Chicago to celebrate, will commence with an Israel rally, that will turn into a 6k walk along the lake.
After eating falafel (delicious!), pizza, and other delicacies from kosher restaurants in and around Chicago, everyone will get to hear the famous Idan Raichel Project!
This will be Raichel’s second time playing in Chicago in less than a year, and I think it’s safe to say that everyone’s pretty pumped up about hearing him again!
The birthday celebrations continue that week at Northwestern University with guests like David Broza and Elie Wiesel.
Today, the mayor of Jerusalem requested that the code for international flights to and from Ben Gurion national airport be changed for TLV- short for Tel Aviv – to JLM short for the country’s capital city , Jerusalem. At first when reading this, I was perplexed; in fact from the heading it seemed as if he wanted to move the brand new airport to Jerusalem, not so.
I understand where the mayor is coming from since the airport is technically in Lod which is in between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, nott oo close to either and not at all in either of them. The mayor wants for Jerusalem to be recognized as the capital, a recognition that to this reader soundsgood but yet too much like a feeble attempt at the long-anitcipated move of the US embassy to Jerusalem. If the airport code changes could that effect the Embassy change? Who knows, but I for one am skeptical on both accounts….
Want to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Israel? Hear great Israeli music? Enjoy Israel’s greatest talents? On May 7, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall Israel’s 60th Anniversary will be celebrated with musicians such as The Idan Raichel Project, David Broza, Rami Kleinstein, Habanot Nechama, Matisyahu, and many others! Israel has so much to offer, especially its musical talent. This is a special time in Israel, and we should make it special here especially in New York.
Also, since Yom Hazikaron (Israel Remembrance Day), precedes this joyous day, a tribute will be held during the concert for the fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror. Even though there have been some rough times we should all celebrate the creation of the state of Israel. And, what better way to celebrate than with Israeli music?! Usually, in Israel at this time, there is singing and dancing in the streets and loud celebrations. Why not join in with that happiness for Israel right here where we live?
There are many concerts here in the United States, especially in New York, from great Israeli artists. Keep updated with these websites.
The Idan Raichel Project’s website
David Broza’s website
Rami Kleinstein’s website
Matisyahu’s website
Hadag Nachash’s website (in hebrew)
For a taste of Idan Raichel’s music, check out this video:
High school is almost over! As I prepare for the month of April, an intense study month followed by several AP tests and finals, in the back of my mind, I am getting ready to embark on a special journey to Israel. I will be spending the year studying in Yeshivat Shaarei Mevaseret Zion. Although much of my time will be spent in the Yeshiva, I look forward to traveling parts of Israel as well. The only problem is, is how will I get to where I am going? Is Israeli public transportation actually safe?
A couple years back, I would immediately answer the question with a no. When the intifada began, parents sent their children to school not knowing if they would ever see them again. There was a frenzy of suicide bomb attacks in several bus stations and on various bus lines all throughout the country. But thankfully, Israeli security has tightened up, and I have no fears of going to the Tachanat Ha Mercazit (Central Bus Station) in Jerusalem, and taking a bus. Just to get on the bus, passengers must walk through a metal detector as armed security guards put passenger bags through x-ray machines. Not only is it safe to take a bus, but without looking it up, i cannot recount the last bus attack. Thank God for the checkpoint set up in every major bus stations! However, its always smart to be vigilant of the people and things around you. If you see a bag or box left alone, immediately alert the authorities so that the article in question can be properly dealt with. If you see something, say something! Be careful, but enjoy your time in Israel.
