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Moran legislation would aid cyber-space communications of Iranian opposition

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

WASHINGTON, DC  (Press Release)– Rep. Jim Moran (Democrat,Virginia) on MOnday introduced bipartisan legislation that would clarify current sanctions law to provide the Iranian people access to information and the ability to communicate both internally and with the outside world in an effort to undermine censorship and monitoring efforts by the Iranian government. 

When it authored the original Iran sanctions law several decades ago, Congress carved out an exception to protect the free exchange of information and educational materials between the people of the U.S. and the private citizens of Iran. But the exception does not take into account technological developments in recent years and some companies have withheld or cut off Iranian’s access to services such as web mail, instant messaging, and online news sites.

“Due to our outdated laws governing information sharing, U.S. sanctions have had the unintended consequence of denying the Iranian people the tools necessary to advance democracy,” said the Congressman. “This is a classic case of the law lagging behind the pace of technology. Given the tectonic shifts in Iranian society following the fraudulent national elections and emboldened democracy movement that rose from it, we need to move fast to make these sanctions smarter and more relevant to current technology.”

The Iranian Digital Empowerment Act (IDEA Act; H.R.4301) will clarify the intent of current sanctions law and enable the Iranian people to bypass the Iranian government’s online spying and censorship. The bill authorizes the provision of certain software and related services to Iran, specifically:

– Tools that allow private Iranian citizens to circumvent online censorship and monitoring efforts imposed by the Government of Iran; and

– Software and related services that enable the Iranian people to communicate with each other and the outside world

 “IDEA takes a smart approach to our existing sanctions policy by ensuring that Iranians fighting for change are strengthened — those at the front lines of the pro-democracy movement — and not the oppressive regime.” Moran said.

Reps. Bob Inglis (Republican, South Carolina) and Bill Delahunt (Democrat, Massachusetts) are original sponsors of the bill.

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Preceding provided by Congressman Moran

Terrors conspirators sentenced to federal prison

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

ATLANTA, Georgia (Press Release)– Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, 23, of Roswell, Ga., and Syed Haris Ahmed, 25, of Atlanta, were sentenced Monday in federal court following their convictions earlier this year in separate but related criminal trials, the Justice Department announced.

“With their words and their actions, these defendants supported the wrongheaded but very dangerous idea that armed violence aimed at American interests will force our Government and our people to change our policies. That is terrorism, and it will not succeed,” said Sally Quillian Yates, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “The risk posed by men such as these defendants continues, both here and abroad.  Hopefully, meaningful sentences such as these will make our citizens and our soldiers safer around the world as the message is sent that we will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who would ally themselves with terrorists.”

In Washington, D.C., David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division, said, “This case serves as another reminder of the global nature of the terrorism threat and the importance of international and domestic cooperation in addressing it. These defendants, who conducted surveillance of potential terror targets at home and pursued terrorist training overseas, were part of an online network that connected extremists in North America, Europe and South Asia. I commend all those who were involved in this prosecution and the related investigations around the world.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said, “The radicalization of U.S. citizens by jihadist recruiters abroad is a very real and growing concern that the FBI and the U.S. Government as a whole must deal with. The FBI is charged with preventing terrorist attacks before they occur and we are committed to this task. Individuals engaged in such activities as these two individuals cannot successfully argue that such activities are constitutionally protected.”

U.S. District Court Judge William S. Duffey, Jr., sentenced Sadequee to a term of 17 years in prison, to be followed by 30 years of supervised release. Judge Duffey sentenced Ahmed to 13 years in prison, also to be followed by 30 years of supervised release.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Yates and the evidence presented during the trial: Sadequee was born in Fairfax, Va., in 1986.  He attended school in the United States, Canada and Bangladesh. In December 2001, while living in Bangladesh, he sought to join the Taliban, to help them in their fight against U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. 

Ahmed, a naturalized citizen born in Pakistan in 1984, came to the United States in the mid-1990s.  He attended high school in Roswell and Dawsonville, Ga., followed by college studies at North Georgia College and Georgia Tech.  

Sadequee and Ahmed began discussing their obligation to support jihad in late 2004.  By this time, both Sadequee and Ahmed had become active on several web forums known to support the cause of violent jihad.  These discussions quickly grew into an active conspiracy with others to provide material support to terrorists engaged in violent jihad. The evidence indicated that the material support consisted of (1) Sadequee, Ahmed, and other individuals who intended to provide themselves as personnel to engage in violent jihad, and (2) property, namely, video clips of symbolic and infrastructure targets for potential terrorist attacks in the Washington, D.C., area, including the U.S. Capitol, the World Bank headquarters, the Masonic Temple, and a fuel tank farm — all of which were taken by Sadequee and Ahmed to be sent to “the jihadi brothers” abroad.

At trial, the government presented evidence that Sadequee, Ahmed, and their co-conspirators used the Internet to develop relationships and maintain contact with each other and with other supporters of violent jihad in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Pakistan and elsewhere. In support of the conspiracy, in March 2005 Sadequee and Ahmed traveled to Toronto to meet with other co-conspirators, including Fahim Ahmad, one of the “Toronto 18″ suspects awaiting a terrorism trial in Canada.  While in Canada, Sadequee, Ahmed, and their co-conspirators discussed their plans to travel to Pakistan in an effort to attend a paramilitary training camp operated by a terrorist organization, as well as potential targets for terrorist attacks in the United States. 

In April 2005, Sadequee and Ahmed drove to the Washington, D.C., area to take the casing videos, which the government’s evidence showed they made to establish their credentials with other violent jihad supporters as well as for use in violent jihad propaganda and planning.  Sadequee later sent several of the video clips to Younis Tsouli, aka “Irhabi007″ (Arabic for “Terrorist 007″), a propagandist and recruiter for the terrorist organization Al Qaeda in Iraq, and to Aabid Hussein Khan, aka “Abu Umar,” a facilitator for the Pakistan-based terrorist organizations “Lashkar-e-Tayyiba” and “Jaish-e-Mohammed.”  Both Tsouli and Khan have since been convicted of terrorism-related offenses in the United Kingdom and are imprisoned there.

The government’s evidence additionally showed that Sadequee and Aabid Hussein Khan, the convicted U.K.-based terrorist, using a members-only violent jihadist web forum known as “At-Tibyan Publications,” recruited at least two individuals to participate in violent jihad.  One, a self-identified 17-year-old American convert, was praised by Sadequee for his “capacity of fulfilling [his] largest obligations in [his] native land.”

The government also presented evidence at trial that in July 2005, Ahmed traveled from Atlanta to Pakistan in an unsuccessful attempt to enter a paramilitary terrorist training camp and ultimately engage in violent jihad.  While in Pakistan, Ahmed met with Aabid Hussein Khan, and the two discussed Ahmed’s intention of joining a camp. The day before Ahmed returned to Atlanta, Sadequee departed Atlanta for Bangladesh, carrying with him, hidden in the lining of his suitcase, an encrypted CD; a map of Washington, D.C., that covered all of the areas he and Ahmed had cased; and a scrap of paper with Aabid Hussein Khan’s mobile phone number in Pakistan.

Once in Bangladesh, Sadequee began to conspire more closely with Younis Tsouli and Mirsad Bektasevic, a Swedish national of Serbian origins.  Specifically, Tsouli, Bektasevic, Sadequee and others formed a violent jihadist organization known as “Al Qaeda in Northern Europe.”  The group was to be based in Sweden.  The evidence at trial showed that in October 2005, Sadequee sought a visa that would allow him to relocate from Bangladesh to Sweden.  Bektasevic was arrested in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Oct. 19, 2005.  He and a co-conspirator were found in possession of over 20 pounds of plastic explosives, a suicide belt with detonator, a firearm with a silencer and a video recorded by Bektasevic demonstrating how to make detonators; showing an arsenal of semi-automatic weapons, grenades, explosives and other arms; and depicting Bektasevic and others placing a grenade booby-trap in a forest near Sarajevo.  Sadequee had been in electronic and telephonic contact with Bektasevic as recently as three days before Bektasevic’s arrest, discussing the silencer and explosives Bektasevic had acquired for the group.  Bektasevic has since been convicted of terrorism offenses in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Meanwhile, after returning to Atlanta to resume his studies at Georgia Tech in August 2005, Ahmed remained in contact with Sadequee, expressed regret at his failure to join violent jihadists, conducted internet research on topics such as high explosives and defeating Special Operations troops, and discussed his intent to make another attempt to enter a violent jihad training camp.  In March 2006, Ahmed was approached by FBI agents and agreed to a series of voluntary, non-custodial interviews over the course of eight days.  Amid efforts to deny his illegal activities and mislead the agents, Ahmed made increasingly incriminating statements.  Efforts by the FBI to obtain Ahmed’s cooperation in the ongoing international terrorism investigation ended after the FBI discovered that Ahmed was surreptitiously contacting Sadequee, who was still in Bangladesh, to advise him of the FBI investigation and to warn him not to return to the United States.

Ahmed was arrested on March 23, 2006, in Atlanta, on material support of terrorism charges.  He has been in custody ever since.

Sadequee was arrested on April 20, 2006, in Bangladesh, on charges arising out of false statements he made in an August 2005 interview with the FBI in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY).  Sadequee was indicted in the Northern District of Georgia on July 19, 2006, and transferred to Atlanta in August of that year, after the charges in EDNY were dismissed at the Government’s request.   

This case was investigated by agents and officers of the Atlanta Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which is led by the FBI, Atlanta Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert McBurney, Alexis Collins and Christopher Bly prosecuted the case.

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Preceding provided by the U.S. Justice Department

Obama, Lebanon’s Sleiman tell disagreements over Israel

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)–Following is the text of a joint news conference held by U.S. President Barack Obama and Lebanon’s Michel President Sleiman on Monday.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you very much, everybody.  I want to welcome President Sleiman and his delegation for the excellent visit that we’ve had. 

I thought that this meeting was critical because the relationship between the United States and Lebanon is critical.  We have a strong friendship between the two countries.  Part of that results from the fact that we have 2 million Lebanese Americans who have made extraordinary contributions to the life of the United States, and continue to do so.  Obviously Lebanon is a critical country in a critical region, and we want to do everything that we can to encourage a strong, independent, and democratic Lebanon.

The President has, I think, done extraordinary work in managing what is a difficult situation, and we have continued to see progress in dealing with a lot of the cross-currents that exist not only in Lebanon but also in the region as a whole.

The United States wants to be a partner in this process.  We want to strengthen Lebanese armed forces so that they can help to secure the sovereignty and territory of Lebanon.  We want to make sure that there’s full implementation of United States — United Nations’ resolutions that help keep the peace in the region and ensure Lebanon’s stability.

We both agree that the issues of Middle East peace are linked to the issues that exist inside Lebanon, and so the more we can work together to encourage the parties involved — not only Israel and the Palestinians, but also the Israelis and the Syrians, for example — to have constructive dialogue and try to negotiate out of the current impasse, the better off Lebanon will be, the better off the world will be.

We also want to make sure that the United States’ assistance to Lebanon is not seen just through a security lens.  As I indicated in my speech in Oslo last week, part of peace is economic opportunity and justice in civil society.  And so to the extent that we can help provide support around issues like education that promote opportunity within Lebanon, we want to do so.

Let me just close by saying here on the South Lawn there is actually a Lebanese cedar tree that was planted 30 years ago, a testimony to difficult times for both the United States and Lebanon, but also the fact that we remain hopeful about the future.  That tree is strong; it is thriving.  I think it represents the friendship between the United States and Lebanon. And we will continue to water that tree just as we continue to nurture the relationship between our two countries.

And I don’t know if you want to do a quick translation.  I apologize, I should have stopped in between my comments.

(President Obama’s comments are translated.) 

PRESIDENT SLEIMAN:  (As translated.)  Thank you very much.  I am pleased — I had the pleasure today to come here in response to the invitation of this President, of President Obama to the United States, and I had the pleasure to meet President Obama and high officials in the United States administration.

We have with President Obama a common policy of openness and dialogue.  And we believe that the election of President Obama was a great mark in history, especially his speech in Cairo, which gave hope to find peaceful solutions to controversial issues.  In addition to that, President Obama gaining of Nobel Peace Prize also gave hope to people across the world, and especially the people of the Arab countries, to find a peaceful solution that would return the rights of the people of Palestine, and that would ensure withdrawal and grant Palestinian refugees the right of return.

We have asserted our attachment and our support to the Arab Peace Initiative, which was stated in 2002 in Beirut and which was affirmed in the Doha summit, which grants all the rights back to their owners. 

We have also discussed the situation in Lebanon which had witnessed great stability last year and this year, be it on the political, security, and economic levels. 

We also discussed the Israeli threats against Lebanon that are taking place and that place obstacles to the economic growth of the country.  We ask President Obama and the United States to exert further pressure on Israel to implement Resolution 1701 and to withdraw from Israeli occupied — Lebanese occupied territories namely from the village of Ghajar, Kfar Shouba, and the Shebaa Farms.

We also talked about the bilateral relations between Lebanon and the United Nations.  We believe we have many common denominators with the United States.  The first one are Americans of Lebanese descent which play a great role in the United States, and also the shared values we have with the United States and its people, namely the value of democracy, respect of human rights, public freedom, rejection of extremism and fundamentalism, and confronting terrorism.

And Lebanon has paid a very heavy price to preserve these values — a heavy price because of the cost of its soul of its people, its infrastructure, and also it had a heavy economical price, especially regards this part of the Lebanese views we’re obliged to indicate.

We have asked for the support of the United Nations on various levels:  first of all, on the military level, because a strong army and strong armed forces could defend Lebanon against hostility of the enemy.  Also it could allow the country to confront terrorism which focus dangers not only on Lebanon but on humanity as a whole.

The second level is the economic level in order to promote new — more economic growth and social justice, because injustice is sometimes taken as a pretext by terrorist and fundamentalist organizations to recruit people and invite them to terrorism.

We also asked for the political support of the United States to take a political position to support Lebanon and to support a peaceful solution for the Middle East crisis — that cannot be done at the detriment of Lebanon — and to reject settlements.  We insist on the rights of return for Palestinians because as stated in the Arab Peace Initiative, we reject any form of settlement since it contradicts our constitution and our special circumstances.  So did the Arab Peace Initiative state as well.

In 2010, and since we have been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, we will keep on cooperating and coordinating with the United States on issues related to the world so that we can ensure Lebanon’s interests, and so that we can represent the position of the Arab League and the general interest of all of humanity and reach better solutions.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I’m going to have to take one question.

Q    Mr. President, did you talk about Hezbollah weapons? Because it’s my understanding that the Lebanese government now considers it an internal issue and doesn’t want the Security Council to deal with it.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  We discussed this.  And as President Sleiman said, we discussed the enforcement of 1701.  We’ve made progress on this front, but it’s incomplete.  President Sleiman emphasized his concerns with respect to Israel.  I want to be clear that I emphasized to him our concerns about the extensive arms that are smuggled into Lebanon that potentially serve as a threat to Israel.  And it is in the interests I think of all parties concerned to make sure that enforcement is exerted with respect to such smuggling, as well as to any other issues.

So one of the things that I want to make clear is that President Sleiman and I aren’t going to agree on every issue with respect to how Israel, Lebanon, the Palestinians, Syria, are interacting.  What we do share is a commitment to resolve these issues through dialogue and negotiations, as opposed to through violence. 

And that is consistent with the democratic traditions of Lebanon.  That’s consistent with what we believe is in the interests of both Lebanon as well as the other countries in the region.  And we are going to continue to be promoting those processes that bring parties together, even though there are going to be some strong disagreements with respect to what the terms, for example, of a final peace between Israel and the Palestinians may be.  And I’m confident that we can arrive at those — such an agreement as long as all the parties are entering into it in good faith.

Okay.  All right, thank you, everyone.

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President Sleiman also met with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden.  The White House issued this statement about their meeting.

“, Vice President Biden met with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman at the White House. During the meeting, Vice President Biden expressed his appreciation for President Sleiman’s efforts during the formation of the new Lebanese government and welcomed the opportunity to work with the new government on a broad range of security, economic, and political issues. The Vice President reiterated the United States’ continued support for a sovereign, independent Lebanon and stressed that our efforts to achieve our goals in the Middle East will not come at Lebanon’s expense.

“The Vice President emphasized the Administration’s support for Lebanon’s institutions, including the office of the Presidency, and a military capable of safeguarding its independence. Toward this end, the Vice President pledged the United States’ support for full implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

“The Vice President thanked President Sleiman for his leadership and commitment to the people of Lebanon.”

‘Palestine, New Mexico’ offers message of cultural unity

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

By Cynthia Citron

LOS ANGELES— Ever since the government permitted Native Americans to establish—and keep the proceeds from—their own gambling casinos, there has been a stampede among people of many different ethnic backgrounds to claim their “Indian heritage.”  This “rush to authenticity”—no matter how remote—is a running gag in Richard Montoya’s new play Palestine, New Mexico, which is now having its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.  

The title, which one might assume is a metaphor for hostilities between diverse cultures, is in fact, nothing of the sort.   It’s the name given sardonically to their Rez, as they call the reservation, by the Native Americans, following a large influx of “tribal” Jews.           

This amusing conceit, which Montoya created, appropriately, for Culture Clash, the prominent Chicano/Latino theater ensemble, is the background for the return home to the Rez of the body of a native son, Raymond Birdsong, who had been killed in the war in Afghanistan.   Ray was the son of the tribal chief, played here by Russell Means, the political activist that the Los Angeles Times called “the most famous American Indian since Sitting Bull.” 

Means, who has appeared in more than 22 feature films, is a commanding and dignified presence onstage, and brings a solemnity to his role as the father of the dead soldier.     Accompanying the arrival of Ray’s body is the distraught Captain (Kirsten Potter), who is determined to deliver Ray’s last letter to his father.  Barred from the Rez as an unwelcome trespasser, she pleads with the armed and belligerent border guards to allow her a visit with the chief.  Three of the guards, a hilarious trio of Culture Clash loonies, are closer in spirit to The Three Stooges than to the earnest and solemn Indians we usually see depicted in films. 

There is Top Hat, beautifully played by playwright Richard Montoya, who talks to his bicycle as if it were a horse and carries in his hatband an “Indian authenticity card” that verifies his claim to being “1/100th Indian.”  There is also Bronson (Ric Salinas), the “bad-ass outlaw” named for movie bad guy Charles Bronson, who identifies himself as a “Rhodes Scholar from East Los Angeles College.”  And finally, there is Farmer (Herbert Siguenza), who rides around in a golf cart equipped with a police siren and flashing lights and worries aloud, “Do I look Armenian?”           

Interspersed with the silly goings-on are projected flashbacks of the Afghanistan war—flashes of gunfire, heavily armed soldiers darting back and forth, and the interior courtyard of the mosque where Ray Birdsong met his death.  There are also surrealistic touches: the water tower on the Rez momentarily becomes a dazzling white minaret, a larger-than-life portrait of Osama bin Laden suddenly appears onscreen, a line of soldiers appears in silhouette along the clifftops of the New Mexico plateau.  

Ray, who spoke Pashto to the Afghanis, believed that they were one of the lost tribes of Israel.  And, in keeping with the diversity theme of the play, believes that his own tribe is Jewish as well.  Top Hat, it turns out, used to teach Kaballah in Santa Fe.  And Farmer, examining his tribe-mates, suddenly shouts, paraphrasing Haley Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense,”  “I see Jewish people!”           

Witty and well-written, but sometimes disjointed, “Palestine, New Mexico” is an interesting theater-piece.  Set in Rachel Hauk’s stark desert in the midst of red sandstone monoliths, the surroundings leave you with grit in your teeth.  And Paul James Prendergast’s music and sound are also dramatically effective.  Alexander V. Nichols’ lighting and projection design are integral to the production and are timely and well done, and the occasional bursts of Indian dancing and chanting are the icing on the cake.           
Director Lisa Peterson falters a bit, though, by keeping much of her large cast of tribe members stationary and a little wooden.  They often pontificate, rather than just speaking naturally, which makes their overall message of cultural brotherhood seem a little less sincere and their body language too stiff for the message.  Except for “The Three Stooges,” who are pluperfect throughout!           

“Palestine, New Mexico” will continue at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Avenue, in downtown Los Angeles, Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. through January 24th, 2010.  Call (213) 628-2772 for the exact schedule and for tickets.

Ultra-running at the Dead Sea

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

By Ulla Hadar

DEAD SEA, ISRAEL–Last weekend the 5th of December was the date for the 2nd annualChallenge run held at the Dead Sea. This event is only one of several Ultra runs that has been introduced in Israel in the last few years.

250 runners set out on one of the three courses offered, 12 km, 20km and 30km.  1000 riders took part in the cycling race the following morning 100 athletes took part in the Ultimate Challenge of cycling and running.

All the participants met at the end of the race at the Solarium beach for a dip in the Dead Sea and the prize giving ceremony.

According to Carin Goldblatt, owner of the “Prosport” sport store and
pne of the organizers of these events,the idea of the races was born because a group of amateur athletes who enjoy running cross country wanted to run an Ultra Marathon

The first Ultra took place in the beautiful area of Meggido in 2007 with two courses, 53km and 17km.

This was followed in 2008 with 60km to commemorate the 60 years anniversary of Israel’s independence.  In 2009 it was an 80km.

Goldblatt said “these races were so popular amongst the runners that we decided to offer two more races. A coastal race in September in the heat of the summer with sections running by the sea and on close by islands. And in the winter a race in the Desert in the area around the Dead Sea run at night under a full moon.”

All the races offer shorter and longer courses to appeal to a wide variety of abilities from 10km upwards. All are designed with the idea that running off road should be an uplifting experience and should take place amid beautiful scenery.

For the coming season of 2010 the following distances are available to the runners:The Ultra Marathon scheduled for the 5 of March 100km, 50km, 30km and 15km A well marked cross country course with hills, mud and water crossings

The Coastal race in September, 24km and 12km, will be a running race along the stunning Meditteranean coast with part of the course crossing over onto islands.

And a newcomer is the Adventure race in October with a 24 hour course and an 8 hour course – off-road cycling, running, orienteering and water challenges!

Finally in December there will be the Desert Race in the full moon with the option of just running at night, or just riding the same course during the day on off-road bikes, or doing the Ultimate Challenge of running and then cycling.

To get a feeling of what this run is all about here is the personal experiences of one of the runners, Helen Yahav from last year’s challenge run at the Dead Sea:

“I was quite surprised to find my partner waking me at 12:30 in the night for our drive to the start of the Desert Challenge.

“After a relatively uneventful journey punctuated with a lot of yawns and a thermos of coffee we arrived at the starting place just south of Ein Bokek  on the Dead Sea. Getting  out of the car and confronting the enormous moon hanging over the stunning scenery of the Dead Sea I began to appreciate the sacrifice of a Friday night’s sleep might not have been in vain. I was incredibly pleased to find I was not the only “sucker” to have been dragged out of bed.
 
“We were not a large group who gathered for the fairly simple instructions. “Put on your headlights run from stick-light to stick-light” don’t get lost, and if you do, don’t wander off too far in the dark, we will find you at first light!

“My partner and I had opted for the middle distance, the 20km. We could have gotten up even earlier and run 30 but we felt 20 was more than enough.

“The group set out and almost immediately the different pace of the runners made the field separate out. The eerie silence of the desert greeted us as we left the lighted start area and we were on our way, after a fairly straightforward 4 km run on a rocky jeep track with little or no height gain we reached the mouth of a canyon, the Sdom Canyon. The narrow walls on either side of the gentle upward slope of the canyon and the canyon floor winding from left to right made for one of the most stunning runs I had ever participated in. The bright light of the full moon reflected off the white walls of the canyon and sparkled where it hit the salt deposits in the rock.

“After about 7 km of following the stick-lights we came out of the narrow valley of the canyon and found ourselves on a vast open plain, Mishor Amiaz. The light from the moon was so bright I followed the lead of other runners and extinguished my headlamp, so that I could fully appreciate the  milky white light and the moon behind our back lighting up the mountains of Sdom. The silence and the beauty of the scene took our breath away (or maybe our lack of breath had something to do with the slope of the canyon we had just climbed!)

“Strung out in front of us we saw the lights of other runners and the stick lights of the organizers light up the way straight across the plain. We set off at an easy run absolutely lost for words.

“Running in this area at night is quite easy. <y partner was worried about running off road, but we had no problems. We saw many runners who didn’t have head lights at all and managed fine in the full moon. The going underfoot was easy, the track was largely accessible to jeeps and there were no other obstacles to trip you. In the narrow canyons there is a wide enough trail to run comfortably, and again there were no obstacles to trip you up.

“Across Mishor Amiaz we reached the first and only water station, a makeshift tent with muted Eastern-style shanty music, water, isotone energy drinks and gels. I carry my own water but my partner was happy to stop and drink and chat with the volunteers before turning left down towards the Prazim Canyon.

“This part of the run was the most awe inspiring. The light of the moon sparkled off the salt crystals in the walls of the canyon and we ran down the canyon in total silence in scenery that was so stunning again it took our breath away. An easy 3.5 km from the mouth of the canyon took us back to the start/finish area and as the first rays of the sun showed over the mountains of Jordan, we crossed the finish.

“This is the first race I forgot to stop the timer on my watch. The timing didn’t really seem to matter! More information can be found on the website
www.ultra.org.il and pictures from previous races can be seen at the following link http://www.pro-sport.co.il/articles_info.php?item=64

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Hadar, an accomplished runner and biker is Sha’ar Hanegev bureau chief for San Diego Jewish World

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History~February 6, 1954, Part I

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

Compiled by Gail Umeham

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United Jewish Fund Head Outlines Plans for 1954 Campaign
Southwestern Jewish Press February 6, 1954 Page 1

Louis Moorsteen, newly elected president of the United Jewish Fund, announced that the 1954 campaign is scheduled to open on Monday, March 29.  Selection of campaign leadership will take place during the early part of the month of February.

In 1954, the drive will lay emphasis on coverage of as many Jewish people in San Diego as possible in order to give every Jewish person the privilege and opportunity of joining with others in the great causes represented by the over 42 agencies benefitting from the combined appeal.

Great responsibilities confront the Jewish community of San Diego in 1954.  “It is our duty,” Mr. Moorsteen said, “to continue the vast humanitarian programs of those agencies which carry on relief work in western Europe, Israel and the Moslem lands where our brethren continue to suffer persecution and deprivation.  We also must aid them in reaching our shores in quest of a new life free from the suffering of the old world.  We must do our part in supporting those institutions in our own country and in our own city that carry on welfare, educational, religious, and recreational activities.  It is also our duty to help those agencies that are carrtying on the fight against bigotry and discrimination.”

Mr. Moorsteen continued, “that the Jewish community of San Diego must again understand the important role of the United Jewish Fund campaign in gathering funds for the beneficiary agencies and institutions.  Were it not for this single campaign, our community would be beset by numerous drives which would be a burden in terms of manpower and actual campaign costs.”

Organizations and individuals are urged to support, with contributions and workers, the work of the United Jewish Fund and to respect the the campaign dates of March 29 to May 15.  Volunteers will be badly needed.  Volunteer your services by calling Belmont 2-5172.

New Temple Leader
Southwestern Jewish Press February 6, 1954 Page 1

At a meeting of the Board, on Feb. 1, Mack Esterson was elected president of the Congregation Beth Israel.  Mr. Esterson has been active in Temple activities for a number of years and had served as membership chairman.   He is a member of the board of the Jewish Community Center, the United Jewish Fund and the Federation of Jewish Agencies.

Other officers elected were Irving Friedman, vice-pres.; Dr. R. M Stone, treas.; Mrs. Jack Wyner, sec.  New members of the board include Sylvan Baranov, Charles Silverman, Bernard Lipinsky, Robert Strauss, and Mortimer Rosenbaum.

Re-elected and held-over members are Mrs. Joseph Silverman, Rodin Horrow, Nathan Schiller, Nathan Baranov, Henry Weinberger, Murray Goodrich, Morris Douglas, Richard Lustig, Mrs. Maury Novak, and Ben Rubin.

Mr. Esterson stated that he thought that the new board of the Temple represented a good cross-section of the membership.  He intends to establish an office in the new Temple House building where he will devote a number of hours each day to the problems of administration.

Council Urges End To McCarran-Walter Act
Southwestern Jewish Press February 6, 1954 Page 1

Revision of the McCarran-Walter Act “so as to reflect the traditional policy of the United States of providing a haven for the oppressed and persecuted” was called for by the Western States Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds at its annual Assembly held in San Diego last week.

More than 150 representatives from 16 Jewish communities in the area attended the three-day meeting.  The delegates discussed and took action on major local, national and overseas problems facing American Jewry in 1954.

Adm. Baker Honored At Guardians Dinner Meeting
Southwestern Jewish Press February 6, 1954 Page 1

Admiral Wilder D. Baker, USN (Retired), was the recipient of the organization’s annual award as “Outstanding Citizen-of-the-Year,” Allen Ferer, president of the Guardians of San Diego, announced today.  Admiral Baker was chosen by acclaim of the membership, from a group of eligibles prominent in local civic life.

“Our selection of the Admiral for this distinction,” stated Ferer, “was predicated upon his sterling performances for the civic good in the past, crowned by his great energy, leadership and inspiration that made possible the tremendous success of the recent Community Chest Drive.”

The award was in the form of an inscribed plaque, presented at a dinner of the Guardians Thursday, February 4th, in the Continental Room of the San Diego Hotel.

Previous recipients of the award included George Scott, President of the Walker-Scott Corporation; ex-Mayor Harley; and Judge Jacob Weinberger.

The Guardians, with a membership of 228 prominent local business men and civic leaders, is a contributing arm in the maintenance of the San Diego Hebrew Home for the Aged.

Many prominent religious and civic leaders were guests of the organization.

 *

Labor Committee To Sponsor Jewish Artists
Southwestern Jewish Press February 6, 1954 Page 1

The Jewish Labor committee will sponsor a group of artists who have appeared in any cities of the United States, portraying in short synopsis the history of 300 years of Jewish life in America.

Beginning with the first Jewish settlers in 1654, the attempt of Governor Peter Stuyvesant to expel the Jews from New Amsterdam, and numerous highlights of the activities and contributions of the Jews to the glorious history of this country will be depicted.

“Gut Yom-Tov, Yiddin” is the title of the dramatic musical portrayal of Jewish life in American which is directed by the talented artist, Israel Weliuchansky and his supporting group—Masha Benya, unique interpreter of Yiddish and Hebrew songs; Charlotte Cooper, accomplished actress and comedienne; and Pola Kadison, outstanding pianist.

The colorful program will consist of songs, humor, drama, and music, which will be presented in San Diego on Sunday evening, March 7th, at Beth Jacob Center.  The cooperation of the San Diego Jewry in making this event a successful affair will be appreciated.

] For further information and reservations, call Ben Beiunberg, BE-2-5524; Mrs. Ira Gordon, BE-3-3648; or Herrman Sunabend, AT-1-7380.

 *

Philip M. Klutznick To Honor San Diego with Visit
Southwestern Jewish Press February 6, 1954 Page 1

For the first time in many years, San Diego will be honored with a visit by the president of the Supreme Lodge of B’nai B’rith, when Philip M. Klutznick, B’nai B’rith’s newly elected dynamic president, comes to San Diego on Tuesday, February 9th

Highlighting his short visit will be a luncheon given in his honor by Jewish community leaders at the San Diego Hotel in the new State Ballroom at 12 noon.

Mr. Klutznick will also speak to B’nai B’rith leadership of San Diego after the luncheon and will leave San Diego in the early evening.

The 46-year-old Klutznick was elected B’nai B’rith President last May, as climax to one of the most meteoric careers in the history of American Jewish life.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Klutznick received his law degree from Creighton University and was admitted to the bar at the age of 23.  He had already distinguished himself by being the first National AZA debate champion and Grand Aleph Godel (International President of AZA) at the age of 18.  He was president of Omaha Lodge of B’nai B’rith at 23—the youngest in Omaha’s history.

An ardent Zionist, Klutznick was president of the Omaha Zionist District and was on the National Board of the Palestine Economic Corporation.  He was also chairman of the American Housing Committee for Israel at the request of Prime Minister Ben Gurion.

Morrie Kraus, past president of Lasker Lodge and member of the Executive Board of the District B’nai B’rith, is chairman of the planning committee for Mr. Klutznick’s visit.  Albert A. Hutler will act as chairman for the luncheon on Tuesday.  Reservations may be made either through Mr. Kraus or Mr. Hutler by calling Belmont 2-5172.

Hadassah Presents “Faith in Freedom”
Southwestern Jewish Press February 6, 1954 Page 1

“Mrs. Stanley Strimling, Education Chairman, announced this week that “Faith in Freedom” is the theme for Hadassah and the monthly meeting to be held on February 17th at noon in Temple Center.  It will be highlighted with the appearance of the following prominent civic leaders, Rabbi Morton J. Cohn of Temple Beth Israel, Alexander Marshall, head of the Great Books Foundation of San Diego County, Rembert James, political analyst of the San Diego Union and Paul White, nationally known radio commentator.

The entire discussion will be in panel form and Mrs. Irving Alexander is assisting Mrs. Strimling in presenting the program.

Hadassah’s Public Relations Chairman, Mrs. Sidney Goldhammer, has sent invitations to thirty leaders of local organizations to be guests of the organization that day.  The entire community is invited.

Reservations for luncheon are necessary and may be made with Mrs. Walter Parker at Juniper-2-7941.

Youth Aliyah Dinner—Hadassah’s Youth Aliyah Dinner on February 22nd will be a social highlight for San Diegans when Ralph Edwards of Hollywood will present a “This is Your Life” program featuring the life story of a prominent Hadassah member.  Dinner will be served in the Continental Room of the San Diego Hotel at 7 p.m. with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. preceding the festivities.  Reservations are necessary and will close on February 10th.  Dinner will be $2.50 per person.  Reservations may be made with Mrs. John Ruskin, 4208 North Talmadge Dr., Atwater 1-6802.

**

“Adventures in Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our indexed “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” series will be a daily feature until we run out of history.

The Jews Down Under~Roundup of Australian Jewish News

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

Compiled by Garry Fabian

**
NSW opposition calls for racial vilification law review

SYDNEY— NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell has called for a review of laws in all states to combat racial vilification on social networking and blog websites.

“We must ensure that the laws are up to date,” he told Jewish leaders gathered at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s annual meeting last week.

“Unless we’re conscious of the threat and adapt those laws to meet the varied ways in which  vilification can be pursued in this age, we will fail those who rely on us.”

O’Farrell’s comments came immediately after a report, released at the same conference,  indicated anti-Jewish propaganda in fringe publications and from extremist organisations remains an “ongoing concern”.

Earlier this year, O’Farrell called on Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard to take a stance against anti-Israel messages posted on the taxpayer-funded blog Khaldoun, which is run by  academic staff at Sydney’s Macquarie University.

So far, however, no action has been taken, and the site continues to operate without any review.

O’Farrell said it was an ongoing dispute and content on such sites was “just as evil today as it was in 1938 in those dark days in Europe.”

O’Farrell appeared at the conference as a last-minute replacement for former federal Liberal head Malcolm Turnbull, who was forced to
remain in Canberra longer than expected.

The embattled leader was ultimately ousted by  Tony Abbott in a party room ballot.

O’Farrell reassured the audience that Australian Jewry and its interests wouldn’t suffer under a new leader.

“The Jewish community doesn’t lose because [the  leaders of the] Liberal Party are strong friends of Israel and supporters of the Jewish community,” he said.

In that same spirit, he reaffirmed his own support for the State of Israel.

“Until we see those who oppose the legitimacy of  the State of Israel and understand the only solution is a two-state solution, there is frankly no great optimism that can be held as to what’s happening in the Middle East,” he added.

New Roof Body for Australian shulesMELBOURNE- A national system of dinei  Torah (Jewish courts) and liaising over kashrut  issues are two areas that the newly launched
Council of Orthodox Synagogues of Australia (COSA) is hoping to explore.

The roof body for shuls across the country was established in Sydney earlier this month, timed to coincide with the Executive Council of
Australian Jewry’s (ECAJ) annual conference.

A national body for Australia’s Orthodox shuls has been in ferment for a number of years, according to COSA’s founder and inaugural president, Romy Leibler.

Ros Fischl, former president of The Great Synagogue, was elected vice-president, Mark Cohen from South Australia was chosen as treasurer,
with Adam Levine from Perth as honorary secretary.

Leibler said COSA will partner with the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia (ORA) to improve services to the Orthodox community, and
will seek representation on the ECAJ.

He said in Victoria and NSW, there is no shortage of community organisations providing services.

“Through a national body, there is scope to engender cooperation and leverage from each other’s experiences to create more efficiency and
transparency in the manner in which services are provided.

“In addition, a state such as Western Australia is maturing in size and there is scope to see it develop and refine its own institutions with the assistance of a national body.

“There are also the challenges to assist the smaller communities of South Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.”

Leibler said availability of dinei Torah as an alternative to mainstream courts in commercial disputes should not be limited to Victoria, as it
is now, but should be accessible nationally.

On kashrut, “one can argue that having one kashrut authority might be more beneficial. I don’t know the answer to that, but the most
important thing is that one has to work with the incumbent organisations and individuals,” Leibler said.

COSA will also help Orthodox shuls draw greater funding for security, Leibler said.

Following COSA’s inaugural meeting, a cocktail reception was held at Central Synagogue, attended by a large number of rabbis, presidents and leaders of communal organisations.

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Title fight honours in kick boxing

MELBOURNe-  After only seven fights as a kick boxer, Alan Gocs won his first Victorian championship in an International Kick Boxing Federation bout late last month.

Gocs, 22, of Glenhuntly, took up competitive kick boxing a year ago after colleagues at the Martial Mix gym in Glenhuntly encouraged him to take up the sport.

Gocs is the inaugural winner in the 62-kilogram division for Full Muay Thai kick boxing, which allows competitors to use their feet, knees and elbows.

The title bout was held in Hoppers Crossing, west of Melbourne, on November 27 before a crowd of about 1500 people and Gocs was introduced by the MC as the Hebrew Hammer.

“I had fought my opponent earlier this year, but lost to a split decision, so I was confident going into this fight that I could go one better,” said Gocs.

“This match went for four rounds before I was declared the winner. Each round goes for two minutes, but when someone is kicking you in the leg it seems a lot longer.”

Gocs has now won five of his seven fights, but until the title bout he fought most of his events in a higher weight division.

He has to defend his title within a year, but whatever the outcome he will always keep the championship belt.

Gocs is studying for his Bachelor of Education at Victoria University and is an assistant instructor in street defence at the Martial Mix gym.

Among the kids attending his classes are students from the King David School.

At secondary school Gocs was a champion springboard diver, but it was while teaching body combat classes that he tried out kick boxing.

“I fell in love with the sport and as I progressed my trainer at the gym said I was good enough to start fighting,” he said.

“The sport is very popular in Thailand and is growing in popularity in Australia.”

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Peacemaker role for Rabbi Rosen

MELBOURNE - Visiting  interfaith guru Rabbi David Rosen has revealed that people often question why he would rather spend time making
peace between non-Jews than fostering peace among Jews.

The rabbi, who is visiting Australia with the support of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, is speaking at a number of community events, including at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, which began in Melbourne last week.

With the Orthodox battling the Progressive, the secular battling the religious, and the Left battling the Right, Rabbi Rosen would have his
work cut out for him bringing peace among Jewish people.

“People have to determine where their role is most appropriate and I think there are plenty of people who can contribute very well to bridging
the gulfs among Jews, but few have the experience I have in terms of reaching out to other communities and the knowledge of other
communities and being able to authentically represent one’s faith to other communities,” Rabbi Rosen said.

The head of the American Jewish Committee’s Department for Inter-religious Affairs said the key to interfaith relations is the motivation of the participants.

“Paradoxically, if you go into a relationship for the purpose of exploiting it, that relationship will not last very long, but if you go into a relationship on the basis of genuine mutual respect, you will actually find you will be able
to get much more long-term advantage.”

*
Four new faces on Jewish roof Body

MELBOURNE-  Four new Victorian councillors have been elected to the board of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).

Elections took place at the Jewish Community Council of Victoria’s (JCCV) annual general meeting late last month.

The new councillors are University of Melbourne academic Dr Dvir Abramovich, Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Rabbi James Kennard, Monash University academic Dr Philip Mendes and lawyer Alon Cassuto.

They join existing Victorian councillors Anton Block, Ron Finkel, Dr Danny Lamm, Ian Samuel, John Searle and Sharene Hambur.

At the meeting, JCCV president Searle said he regretted the gender imbalance among the councillors, with Hambur the only female out of 10 representatives.

But he added that a number of Victorian women are involved in the ECAJ in various other capacities, including education and social welfare.

These women include former ECAJ president Nina Bassat, National Council of Jewish Women of Australia federal president Rysia Rozen and B’nai
B’rith president Adrienne Perch.

Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Brian Tee also addressed the AGM.

Tee said he expected the amendments to the Sentencing Act to pass the Upper House. This would mean judges would have to consider whether
there was any prejudiced motive by the offender when sentencing.

“[This amendment] makes it crystal clear that hate crimes have no place in Victoria,” the Upper House member for the Eastern Metropolitan region said.

He also spoke about changes planned for the Equal Opportunity Act, which will alter the way religious organisations can discriminate against prospective employees.

“The Government has a clear view, and that is eroding religious freedom does not make us more tolerant,” he said.

According to the proposed changes, religious organisations, including schools and community groups, will be allowed to deny employment on the basis of sex, sexuality and parental status, but will not be allowed to continue discriminating on the grounds of race, age or political beliefs.
*
Rock stars join Jewish House celebrations

SYDNEY  – Sydney’s Jewish House celebrated its silver anniversary with a star-studded line-up of celebrities.

With the theme, “The Stars Align”, the event on December 1 featured a duo performance by Jimmy Barnes and his son David Campbell, along with
other entertainment from Hollywood Chassid Yisrael “Izzi” Lifschutz, Irish comedian Paul Martell, “Piano man” Scott Finnie and The Quintet.

Other highlights included medical practitioner and public commentator Kerryn Phelps as master of ceremonies, and an address by NSW politician Eric Roozendaal.

Roger and Anthony Clifford were also honoured for their dedication to charity for the past 25 years.

Founded in 1984, Jewish House provides immediate crisis intervention and prevention to those suffering depression, alcoholism, domestic
conflict, unemployment, business difficulties,
homelessness and other critical problems.

*
ADC Lodges complaint over TV joke

MELBOURNE  – THE B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) this week lodged a complaint with Channel Nine over a joke made during a Today show report about the wedding of Dr Geoffrey Edelsten and Brynne Gordon.

Describing the decorations, reporter Richard  Wilkins said the florists of Melbourne had an early Christmas and sent a congratulations note,
adding “of course the Jewish word for congratulations, ker-ching”.

ADC executive director Deborah Stone said the “joke was a racist and offensive slander on Jewish people, drawing on an age-old stereotype
of Jewish people as rich and money-loving”.

“Casual racist remarks fuel anti-Semitism and all forms of racism. When prejudice sneaks into popular discourse under the cover of humour in a
lighthearted entertainment report, it legitimises an unfair and dangerous view of Jewish people to mass audiences.”

But Today show producer Tom Malone said the joke was in no way intended to be offensive to the Jewish community.

“It was a specific reference to the florists of Melbourne who would have made a fortune off the wedding because there were so many flowers. In no
way was this a reference to any stereotype of Jewish people being obsessed with money. It was the exact opposite ­ that no expense had been
spared. At all times Richard and Karl and Lisa were respectful of the Jewish faith,” he said.

Stone referred to the producer’s comments as “disingenuous”.

“There is a very simple test for whether a joke is racist. You substitute a different race or religion and see if the joke still stands. Is Mr
Malone seriously asking us to believe that if it had been an Anglican wedding with lavish flowers Mr Wilkins would have said, ‘the Anglican word for congratulations, ‘ker-ching’?” she said.

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Local park to light up for Channukah

MELBOURNE - Thd Festival of Lights got underway on Friday December 11 and Melbourne’s Jewish community has gone Chanukah-crazy, with events being held across the city for everyone from the oldest to the youngest.

The annual Chanukah in the Park celebrations took place as usual on Sunday evening (December 13) coinciding with the lighting of the third candle.

Held at Caulfield Park, the festivities included the famous Chanukah fireworks, in addition to pony rides, an animal farm, entertainment and food.

Also on Sunday night, Child Survivors of the Holocaust hosted a dinner and auction with special guest Rabbi Gornisht ( a well known Jewish comedian and satirist)  at Kadimah Reception Centre, and Soul Fusion held a celebration for singles.

Earlier on Sunday, Emmy Monash Aged Care hosted its largest annual event -­ a Chanukah party for residents and their families with lunch,
entertainment, candle-lighting, singing and dancing.

Monday evening (December 14) was a busy night, with Premier John Brumby hosting Chanukah at Parliament House, Campus Chabad celebrating Chanukah on Wheels at Dandenong Skate Park, and
the Jewish Russian Community Centre, FREE, going ice-skating for the festival.

Also on Monday, Chabad of Glen Eira created a white Chanukah with five tonnes of real snow being dumped on the congregation’s grounds for a carnival and barbecue.

To complete its so-called “Chanukah Wonderland”, Glen Eira had an ice sculptor carving  a two-metre-tall chanukiah which, when completed,was  lit.

Down the road at Spiritgrow, Chanukah was celebrated through ancient Australian traditions, including didgeridoo-playing, indigenous dancing
and art, and latkes. Hamayan will host kids’ activities, doughnut-decorating, music and food.

Central Shule Community Centre marked the festival with a breakfast on Tuesday morning (December 15),that honoured outgoing
Member for Caulfield Helen Shardey.

Later that evening, Elwood Talmud Torah Congregation celeberated with hot latkes, doughnut-making and eating, a dreidel games table
and a special chanukiah-lighting ceremony, where the five candles were lit by families representing the past, present and future of the shul.

The North Eastern Jewish Centre, East Melbourne shul and Open House  also all hosted  celebrations on Tuesday.

Wednesday  night will see Caulfield Hebrew Congregation’s giant kids’ party, complete with a flamethrower, hot dogs and doughnuts, as well as
a “soulful” candle-lighting ceremony.

Thursday night (December 17) will see the candlelight cast a glow on Federation Square for Chanukah in the City, with a jumping castle, the
Access Inc Drum Ensemble and community performances including the St Kilda Shul Choir, Klezmeritis and special guest Renee Geyer.

Hagshama will also mark the festival on Thursday night with a Bolly­wood-themed party in St Kilda. Kew Hebrew Congre­gation will celebrate the
eighth night with a Greco-Syrian-themed Shabbat dinner.

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Religions can be unifying force in mid-east

MELBOURNE - Prominent dovish Israeli Rabbi Michael Melchior says that religion, which is often seen as a source of tension between Israelis and Palestinians, has the potential to be a unifying tool for coexistence.

Rabbi Melchior, head of the dovish Israeli religious Zionist faction Meimad, has been in Australia for the Parliament of the World’s
Religions. He said that the international faith gathering in Melbourne was an opportunity to see, up close, how interfaith dialogue can cultivate
understandings between Jews and Muslims.

The Meimad leader asserted that most Israelis are willing to make peace, even if it means “giving up what is ours and what we seriously believe is
ours”, implying territorial compromise.

However, he said, Israelis have lost confidence that a real peace is attainable.

This, he said, is another example where religion comes directly into play.

“One of the reasons that people in Israel don’t think that peace is a plan [is] because we say if we make peace with the Palestinian Authority .
[but subsequently] if Islam won’t make peace with us, then what’s the point? We won’t have real peace,” Rabbi Melchoir said.

The rabbi continued that if peace is reached “in a way which is [religiously] acceptable” to Islam, then Muslim leaders would “be willing to live with a Jewish state in this area. And I think that the trust and the process among Israelis would be much greater.”

Rabbi Melchior said that he knows of “strong elements” in Muslim society that are prepared to explore this and that even among the more radical
Muslim voices, such as those affiliated with Hamas, there are “strong forces” that “understand they need to come to terms with Israel”.

This is “not because they have become Zionists” he explained, but because they acknowledge that Israel isn’t going anywhere and must be dealt
with on a practical level “for the good of their people”.

“I myself have spoken in a lot of the Arab world, as a staunch Zionist [and] as part of the Israel political rabbinical establishment, and have seen
that it is very possible to get quite far if we use a new approach to this issue,” Rabbi Melchior said.

As for the future of Meimad, while the party failed to reach the electoral threshold for representation in the current Knesset, Rabbi
Melchior noted that it fared better than expected, and he expressed confidence that it would remain an important voice on the Israeli political scene.

“I am sure that before the next elections we will be back on the map,” he said.

Soccer match was pre-Chanukah present for this dad

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

By Gary Rotto

EL CAJON, California–Hanukkah came a day early for me.  On Thursday, I had the pleasure of watching the first San Diego Jewish Academy  Middle School Girls Soccer game of the year.  I’ve coached soccer for 8 years.

Soon after embarking on my coaching “career”, SDJA decided to initiate a Sports Booster Club.  As the parent of a then-elementary school student, I was seen as a neutral party – someone who did not have a child on any school sports team and therefore, did not have a favorite team.  So I became the first President of the Lions Athletic Sports Booster Club.

Our board sought to stimulate attendance at the high school football games, raise a little money for sports equipment such as weight room equipment, a batting cage and other non-budgeted athletic needs.  My goal was to make sure that both boys and girls sports programs would be treated equally – from encouraging attendance at the football games to rallying support for the girls’ volleyball team.  The weight room was a non-issue as the equipment would be available to all SDJA athletes.

When growing up in New Jersey, I don’t recall a girls’ sports program – or at least it was an afterthought.  I have a vague recollection of the high school girls’ basketball team playing with six players on the court, but only two players could move out of the defensive zone.  I recall my cousin Amy, the best jumper shooter I ever saw having to play on a “club” team at the University of Texas because the school did not have an official women’s basketball team.  I couldn’t understand why young women didn’t have the same opportunity as me and my friends.

So for the time in which my daughter attended the SDJA elementary school, I made no secret of my desire to assure that not only would the boys’ sports thrive, but that the school would pay attention to the girls sports.  If the program would develop and thrive during these years, a strong program – both boys and girls – would be in place for when my daughter and her classmates entered the Middle School years.

So several years after stepping aside,  after many times attending SDJA girl volleyball, boys soccer, girls soccer and boys football games, here I was on the visitors’ side of the field in El Cajon.  And there was my daughter in on the field for the first time representing SDJA at an away game.  And she was asked to start in goal.  And the boys watched on the sidelines, supporting the girls.  And some of the boys asked if we would stay for the second game to cheer them on when they would take the field.

I could think of no greater gift – to see the two teams support each other, travel together to other schools and compete on an equal footing.  And I felt as though I had received a bonus gift with my daughter playing in goal.

Go Lions and Chag Sameach!

*
Rotto is a freelance writer based in San Diego.  He may be contacted at rottog@sandiegojewishworld.com

Conference of Presidents, Israel tourism co-sponsor Chanukah promotion for trip to Israel

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

NEW YORK — The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has launched a unique website with Israel’s Ministry of Tourism dedicated to Chanukah. The site, http://chanukah.goisrael.com, allows virtual “travelers” to log on and light candles for each night of the holiday.

With each candle “lit,” visitors to the Chanukah website will be able to access more information about travel to Israel.  At the end of the holiday, site visitors who have lit all eight candles will be entered to win a free trip to Israel aboard EL AL Israel Airlines, to experience the country’s many areas of cultural, religious and historical interest for themselves.

“The ‘Light Your Way to Israel’ website helps the virtual traveler celebrate Chanukah while sparking their interest in exciting destinations throughout Israel. We are proud to partner once again with EL AL and Israel’s Ministry of Tourism on this Web site as part of our long-term efforts to promote tourism to Israel. Our collective efforts continue to stimulate American Jewish and general travel to Israel, and we hope this Web site will produce similar results. Beyond its positive economic impact, tourism is critical in uplifting the mood in Israel, demonstrating our solidarity during both peaceful and challenging times, and enhancing Israel’s image,” said Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.

For more information, please visit: http://www.goisrael.com.

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Preceding provided by Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

Iranian nuclear secrets coming out with increasing velocity

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment


By Shoshana Bryen

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Each revelation of a “secret” Iranian nuclear-related capability hides another secret. Western threats, and threats of threats, and threats of even bigger threats have had no impact. After the September revelation of Iran’s “secret” uranium enrichment facilities, JINSA suggested that the Western powers stop threatening and start supporting the Second Iranian Revolution-then and now being played out in the streets of Iran with increasing openness by tens of thousands of brave young people (and, some suggest, with lessening enthusiasm by the government’s military enforcers). Otherwise, we wrote, we risk facing “Iran’s next secret.”

Well, here it is:

The Times of London reported this weekend that confidential intelligence documents show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb.

The notes, from Iran’s most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. Foreign intelligence agencies date them to early 2007, four years after Iran was thought to have suspended its weapons programme.

That would be the 2007 American National Intelligence Estimate that had “high confidence” that Tehran “halted” its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and was “less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging.” Wrong. The Times continued:

The technical document describes the use of a neutron source, uranium deuteride, which independent experts confirm has no possible civilian or military use other than in a nuclear weapon. Uranium deuteride is the material used in Pakistan’s bomb, from where Iran obtained its blueprint.

“Although Iran might claim that this work is for civil purposes, there is no civil application,” said David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, which has analysed hundreds of pages of documents related to the Iranian programme. “This is a very strong indicator of weapons work.”

Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow for non-proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said: “The most shattering conclusion is that, if this was an effort that began in 2007, it could be a cuasus belli. If Iran is working on weapons, it means there is no diplomatic solution.”

Mr. Fitzpatrick is right-Iran is at war. Pursuing nuclear weapons and their triggers and the missiles to deliver them; arming and training terrorists across the Middle East and Africa; strengthening relations with Venezuela and Cuba; and naming a defense minister wanted by Interpol are all elements of Iran’s wars abroad. Beating, imprisoning and torturing demonstrators; controlling the flow of media and Internet information; and threatening Iranians abroad are all elements of Iran’s war at home.

Iran-watcher Ilan Berman noted that the Dutch parliament last month designated the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), as a terrorist group under Netherlands law and called for the IRGC to be put on the European Union’s terror list. And that the British government recently invoked counter-terrorism legislation to freeze business ties with Iran’s national shipping carrier, IRISL. Both, he said, are steps prelude to engaging in stiff economic sanctions against Iran.

Good.  It’s about time.

But the Revolution is now.  Michael Ledeen-perhaps the best watcher of Iranians-suggests immediate steps: President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton can support the Iranian people verbally and explicitly, condemning the regime for the killings, stoning, oppression, raping of women, etc. To circumvent the regime’s control of information, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty can broadcast the news from all over Iran to all of Iran, letting protesters know they have support elsewhere in the country. And there should be a strike fund for the workers, so Iranians know that when they go into the streets, their families will be able to eat.

The time between emerging Iranian secrets is getting shorter-and more dangerous.

*
Bryen is senior director of security policy of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.  Her column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, longtime JINSA supporter and national board member.

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