From the lending library

This erev Shabat I will be returning several books borrowed from the local lending library,

Two are of special interest.

The first is Alan M. Dershowitz' "The Genesis of Justice" in which he looks at Genesis as a lawyer, sometimes for the defense, most often for the prosecution.

The book's subtitle gives us a clue to the barrister's direction: "Ten stories of Biblical injustices that led to the ten commandments and modern law."

Dershowitz is a knowledgeable gentleman with a yeshiva education. I don't know where he fits into "modern Judaism" - and in any event that depends on our personal perspectives from where WE fit into the grand scheme of things - but his book is thought provoking.

It probably will drive some folks' blood pressure through the roof - especially if they quit before the last page - while others will feel vindicated in their distance from those who accept the Torah (in this case, specifically Beresheet/Genesis and some commentaries on same) literally.

The attorney, whether you are in agreement with him or not, is in good company. We have long challenged HaShem, certainly from Avrom's time. This week's parasha - Vayeira - provides ample example.

Dershowitz' contention is that G-d is not always a "just" god. In fact, much of the book is the prosecutor laying his case before the court of our opinion. He raises good points that, I think, deserve attention.

Agree or disagree - he loses some cases so leaving people in disagreement probably won't surprise the author - it's an interesting way to spend a summer Shabat afternoon - or maybe two in the winter.

For the record, the effort is ISBN 0-446-52479-4, published by Warner Books, copyright 2000.

The other book of special interest is titled "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart D. Ehrman. Ehrman chairs the Religious Studies department at UNC in Chapel Hill NC.

As with the Dershowitz book, this one also has a subtitle: "The story behind who changed the bible and why." "Bible" for Ehrman in the gospels and epistles from Paul and other early church leaders ("early" covering several centuries CE).

No surprises. We know that "things" happen when copyists copy. Changes creep in - sometimes accidently, sometimes on purpose.

This book ferrets out both and provides some interesting cross-century exchanges, much as the Talmuds record debates between the luminaries.

Change a letter here, omit or add a word there and suddenly a comment takes on a completely different meaning.

Ehrman's effort is ISBN 13:978-0-06073817-4, published by HarperCollins, copyright 2005.

Both books are recommended reading for Sunday school teachers.

yohanon

New president, new concerns?

President-elect Obama told the world he is willing to sit down with anyone.

He is being told by a Pakistani that he should sit down with the Taliban, to deal with the organization famous for 9-11, "diplomatically."

He may try to do that.

But I can almost guarantee that only the Taliban will benefit.

Based on what?

Based on the constantly displayed mentality of the people who populate the Taliban - and Hamas and similar organizations.

If Mr. Obama thinks he can deal with the mid-east mentality as he would with a European mentality, he is making the same mistake France and the US made in Indo-China - whose population has a similar lack of concern for human life.

Mr. Obama needs to understand - and frankly I doubt he does understand this - that leaders and followers of the Talban, Hamas, Iran, Iraq will promise anything and deliver nothing.

The Oslo Accord was supposed to benefit both Israel and the Arabs in Aza and other parts of Israel.

Israel gave and gave and gave. In return Hamas gave Israel missiles; it gave it suicide murderers.

What Mr. Obama needs to understand - and what Israel's politicians need to understand - is that you must deal with the "audience" on the audience's terms.

That's Journalism 101.

Funny that journalism offers a lesson to be learned by politicians.

If Mr. Obama is the Pollyanna he appears to be, the US may become at once both the darling of the world and the patsy to the world's demigods.

While I am not a one-issue voter, I am concerned that Mr. Obama will pressure Israel to surrender more in exchange for . . . nothing.

I have other concerns about Mr. Obama's presidency, but most of those concerns are mitigated by the fact that he needs congress to agree to his plans.

His foreign policy, however, is a different matter, and with a notoriously anti-Israel State Department (some things never change), Israel must be prepared to stand alone.

That might be the best thing that could happen to Israel, but at the same time, an appeasing president will embolden Israel's foes.

Puts me in mind of a fellow named Chamberlain, Neville not Wilt, who promised the world that "there will be peace in our time."

I hope that Mr. Obama does better than Mr. Chamberlain.

We'll have (at least) four years to find out.

yohanon