Opuscula Signs of a Jew

ACCORDING TON AN ISRAEL HAYOM story "Half of European Jews hide their religion, survey shows "¹.

The free paper contends that Some 51% of Jews in Europe say they feel unsafe wearing Jewish symbols such as a Star of David • About 27% of European Jews say they feel unsafe as Jews, compared to 11% of Jews in North America .

ASIDE FROM THE DIFFERENCE in the mentality of the typical European (“Don’t make waves”) Jew and the American and Canadian-born Jews, there is the notion that it’s who we ARE, rather than what we WEAR that identifies a Jew.

The Jews in the U.S. who flaunt a mogan david on a chain dangling on a hirsute chest wear the decoration as an advertisement. The wearer probably neither is observant nor knowledgeable. Maybe he is “trolling” for a woman who wants a “rich Jewish husband” which may be OK if he’s looking for a trophy wife.

My “I’m a Jew” advertisement is a knit kippa on my head.

About the only place I do NOT wear a kippa is in towns such as Dothan AL; but Dothan is a scary town, kippa or not.

I once had a job in Charlotte NC– not a hotbed of Jewish learning. I was told early on that if I normally wore a kippa I should wear in it Charlotte. Similar situation in Charleston WV.

About the only two places the kippa was discouraged were Tadiran in Clearwater FL and Zim in Norfolk VA. No one told me “get rid of the kippa,” but it was obvious the Israeli heloni contingent at both companies was “uncomfortable” with my headgear. (The Americans took it in stride.)

The way a woman dresses – ¾ length sleeves, hems to the knees – gives a clue that the woman may be an observant Jew -- or just dressed in the latest fashions.

My mother-in-law – may she live to be 120 – visited us once in Sarasota FL from Bet Shean Sarasota has a large Mennonite population. She saw the men in black suits and hats, and the women in modest dresses and caps. She was sure we lived in an observant Jewish community. She was disappointed to find out all these observant “Jews” were not Jews at all.

Jewelry generally is looked upon as trinkets for the ladies. Aside from a watch and ring, men in the U.S. generally eschew jewelry. The most common “jewelry” for me is a lapel pin.

A pin of the U.S. flag is popular; for Jews and those who associate with Israel, with an Israeli flag pin or – more often – a pin with both U.S. and Israeli flags. I suppose these are NOT flag pins to wear in Europe, but in the U.S. and Canada, they are fine.

It is easy to identify me as a Jew. I walk to minyans on Shabbatot and hagggim.

When my boys were small we usually walked together. Sometimes, not often, I would precede them -- or vice versa – and neighbors would inquire ”Where are the boys?” This was not a “Jewish” neighborhood.

I have neighbors where I now live that, seeing me on the streets on Shabat will salute me with “Shabat shalom.” These neighbors are not Jewish, although the neighborhood is largely Jewish, even if most are less observant.

Some newcomers to the States and Canada may initially feel uncomfortable displaying anything “Jewish.” My wife did and she’s Moroccan raised in Israel. She has since gotten over her unjustified concerns.

It seems to me – and admittedly I am NOT there – that if Muslims in Europe can wear apparel that marks them as Muslims, Jews should do likewise. Jews in Europe must abandon their “We are victims and cannot defend ourselves” mentality.

Concerned about being outnumbered? Go in large groups; at least minyan size.

Worried about attackers with weapons? Arm yourselves with sticks, 2*4s, lengths of pipe. Don’t flaunt them, but have them at the ready.

There are only to options for European Jews:
1.Make waves
2. Move to Israel, where braver Jews will protect you.

Sources

1. Israel HaYom: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/01/24/half-of-european-jews-hide-their-religion-survey-shows/

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Comments on Signs

Opuscula Eyes cannot see, Ears will not hear

I HAVE AN ACQUAINTANCE, the brother of a girl I dated in junior high.

He is a liberal.

As a liberal, he sees only things he wants to see – ignoring all opposing opinions and facts – and he hears only what pleases him.

I have another acquaintance, this time a woman who also is a liberal. As with her male counterpart (they do not know one another), if something is not as she thinks it should be, she won’t deal with it.

These leftists are the perfect representatives for Psalm 115¹.

My leftist acquaintances are not alone. I am certain there are “conservatives” equally blind and deaf to ideas they don’t hold.

On the other hand, most conservatives I know will at least consider another’s point of view.

These people, acquaintances , not friends, are intelligent people. Both are college grads – I wonder how they managed to pass courses with which they were not in 100 percent agreement. They both are in my age bracket – in other words, they have been exposed to more than a biased viewpoint over the years.

Yet now, in their dotage, “They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
They have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not;”

Of course that is not entirely accurate: they have mouths and they speak invective against all things they oppose.

Not logical arguments, but attacks.

My acquaintances are – sadly – a sign of the times. They represent the political left, and it is a densely populated “political left..” These are Hillary’s people.

These are the people who hit the streets supporting illegal immigrants (whom they hire to do their grunt work), these are the people who rally to support Temporary Protective Status for people who came to America more than 5 years ago (just how long IS “temporary?”) people who, unlike the American citizens of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, who returned home to help rebuild their islands, refuse to go home to help their neighbors pick up the pieces.

These are people, many of whom are Jews, who populate J Street and other anti-Israel organizations claiming Israel is an “apartheid” state; do they even KNOW what “apartheid”² means?

They fail to realize – or simply WON’T recognize – that an “apartheid” would not have a minority on the Supreme Court (Israel does), have a vocal minority party that preaches hatred for the government that protects their free speech (Israel does), would not have integrated minorities into the army, health organization, and at all levels of government (Israel does).

Finally, if Israel is an oppressive, apartheid state, why are so many Muslims trying to get in?³

I know it’s an unfair question, but have these Israel bashers ever BEEN to Israel​ Have they first handknowledge of life in Israel -- for Jews and non-Jews alike? Have they ever seen the Muslim homes on the road between Tel Aviv and Nazareth? Most Israeli Jews don’t have homes as beautiful. I lived there and I worked with Jews and non-Jews.

These leftists prefer to cut off their noses to spite themselves – preventing a Jewish LGBTQ group from participating in an LGBTQ march⁴ or the leftist woman’s organization that would rather walk out than march with a Jewish actress⁵.

On the other hand, I never have heard anyone refuse medicines developed in Israel – “Palestinian leadership” makes a beeline for Israeli medical care when it or the leadership’s kin need superior care. Nor have I heard of any anti-Israel/anti-Semite refusing a mobile phone because critical components were developed or made in Israel. Eyes but cannot see; ears but cannot hear.”

Making decisions based on “facts” provided by people who are committed to the leftist/liberal cause is akin to going to one university for bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees taught by instructors who were educated at the same university. Guaranteed stale. (Some universities wisely require that master candidates attend a different university to reduce academic inbreeding.)

I note that liberals/leftists are fond of stating their positions, loudly and forcefully, but they are far from willing to LISTEN to differing opinions. If they dislike what someone says, the will shout down the speaker so no one can hear a contrary point of view.

My liberal/leftist acquaintances basically are good people; they just are people with blinders (and ear plugs).

Eyes but cannot see; ears but cannot hear.”

Resources

1. Psalm 115: https://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26b5.htm

2. Apartheid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid

3. Muslims move to Israel: http://daledamos.blogspot.com/2012/03/arabs-and-muslims-prefer-to-live-in.html
https://youtu.be/iqd7xg199aY

4. LBGTQ: http://www.newsweek.com/gay-pride-marchers-jewish-flags-told-leave-chicago-parade-628879

5. Actress: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Palestinian-womens-group-out-of-Womens-March-over-Scarlett-Johansson-539355

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Comments on Blind eyes, deaf ears

Opuscula Refusal to review Costs UNRWA, And its clients aid

THERE IS AN INTERESTING VIDEO at http://tinyurl.com/ybmbhu2a showing Gaza residents holding signs telling the world that, because of the U.S.’ cut to UNRWA’s budget, they will go hungry.

The funny thing is the signs all are professionally made and in English.

I will suggest that most of the Gazans have no idea what is written on the signs.

The video is embedded in an Israel HaYom article, with unnamed “news agencies,” is headed “After US cuts, Palestinian refugee agency seeks global donations.” The summary paragraph – better, “teaser” paragraph – beneath the hed^cq reads Trump administration suspends $65 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, demanding operations undergo fundamental review • U.N. fears aid cut will deepen economic hardship in Gaza • UNRWA warns schools, healthcare will be hit the hardest

It is interesting that President Trump’s demand for a “fundamental review” of UNRWA operations is ignored by the local director.

According to the Israel HaYom article, UNRWA Director Pierre Krahenbuhl said the fundraising appeal would begin in the coming days. The agency said it is too soon to say which countries will be approached to fill the void or what services are at risk.

"At stake is the dignity and human security of millions of Palestine refugees, in need of emergency food assistance and other support in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, The Palestinian Authority, already angered by U.S. President Donald Trump's Dec. 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, denounced the decision, as "blackmail."

"Any reduction of U.S. aid to UNRWA will not succeed in imposing the American positions, which are biased in favor of the occupation [Israel]," the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Note that, at least in the Israel HaYom article, there is no mention of all the funds diverted to Hamas’ weapons buying or tunnel building, nor is there reference to the funds diverted to “Palestinian” leaders’ pockets, as well as funding for jailed and “martyred” terrorists who murdered Israeli civilians young and old, Christian, Muslim, and Jew.

There also is no mention in the article about the UNRWA facilities – schools and hospitals – from which Hamas fires rockets into Israeli civilian centers.

The world gives the “Palestinians” – including Hamas in Gaza – millions of dollars each year, but the “Palestinians” still can’t pay the electric bill, or the water bill, or the fuel bill for the Gaza generator.

Does anyone wonder why?

The song Tradition from Fiddler on the Roof comes to mind, but instead of tradition the word is diversion – diversion of donated funds to “other” uses (ibid.).

Trivia: Fiddler, originally in Yiddish, was translated to English, then from English to Hebrew, then from Hebrew back into Yiddish. I wonder if it survived all the translations.

Krahenbuhl said 525,000 boys and girls in 700 UNRWA schools could be affected by the cuts, as well as Palestinian access to primary healthcare, but he pledged to keep facilities open through 2018 and beyond.

Never mind that in UNRWA schools “Palestinian” boys and girls are taught to hate Jews in general and Israelis in particular¹, that being a shahid is a wonderful life (?) goal. Never mind that, except for a few specific “Palestinians,” Israeli military medics and Israeli hospitals regularly treat “Palestinians” – the leadership runs to Israeli hospitals when they or their kin are ill – even when the “Palestinians” use ambulances to carry bombs into Israel.²

---

Sources

1. UN Textbooks: http://tinyurl.com/ydcz2wl5

2. Bomb Found in Red Crescent Ambulance: https://www.haaretz.com/1.5287961

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Comments on UNRWA

Opuscula UN to Israel: Don’t deport Illegals; UN will help

ACCORDING TO ISRAEL HAYOM¹, the UN is telling Israel that it cannot deport illegal immigrants – apparently no matter what crimes they commit or if Israel is tilling to fund their relocation elsewhere.

The UN, the article continues, “is willing to help” resettle the illegals elsewhere.

Israel; HaYom reports that Israel should stop its plan to send tens of thousands of illegal African migrants back to Africa forcibly, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday, suggesting some could be resettled in Europe or other countries

I wonder, did anyone ask the Europeans if they are willing to accept more indigent immigrants, most of whom lack European “mentality” and language skills for the nations the UN is proposing to shelter them?

Israel said last Wednesday it would pay thousands of African nationals living illegally in the country to leave, threatening them with jail if they are caught after the end of March.

Some 27,000 Eritreans and 7,700 Sudanese live in Israel. Israeli authorities have granted refugee status to only 11 of them since 2009, William Spindler, of the UN. High Commissioner for Refugees, said.

In Europe, Eritreans have a very high rate of recognition as refugees fleeing war or persecution, he said.

"So we would expect that among them, many would qualify for refugee status," Spindler said.

"What we would like to see in Israel – and we are willing to help in that respect – is to find legal alternatives for these people, through resettlement in other countries."

If the Europeans don’t want the refugees, many of whom Israel believes fled not for safety but for financial gain – shades of “refugees” to the U.S. – perhaps the UN will set up permanent refugee camps as it did for the “Palestinian” refugees – now in their third and fourth generation of camp dwellers. (The countries in which they are situated do not want them as citizens, believing them to be potential fifth columnists.)² Jordan IS Palestine, but Jordanian rulers still remember Black September³. The Europeans would do well to study the “refugees” actions in Jordan.

The “Palestinians” take on Black September is slightly different.⁴

Europe seems unable to cope with the Muslim influx from North Africa and elsewhere; how can the UN expect it to deal with additional refugees, political or economic.

The only country currently able to accommodate and integrate refugees “en masse” from around the world is Israel. It provides new comers with the tools to integrate into the society that no other county, save perhaps Poland, which is modeled on Israel’s “Law of Return.”⁴

While Israel wants the African illegals out of the country, it did accept – under then Prime Minister Began – some 360 Vietnamese refugees were wecomed in Israel and became Israeli citizens.⁵. The Vietnamese, true refugees, integrated into Israeli society and are not known – unlike the African illegals – for criminal acts.

The UN talks about resettling the Africans illegally in Israel, but that’s about all the UN does: talk (usually criticizing the only democracy in the Middle east). Will Spindler, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, actually DO something or will he and his “High Commission on Refugees” do nothing except criticize Israel for deporting or jailing illegals.

My money is that the UN will do nothing for the illegals.

---

Sources

1. Israel haYom: http://tinyurl.com/yaw7agbh
2. Fifth columnist: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/fifth+columnist
3. Black September: https://youtu.be/Dxury3wB_aQ
3. PLO & Black September: http://tinyurl.com/y96w4hx3
4. Poland: http://tinyurl.com/gqck5u6
Vietnamese in Israel: http://tinyurl.com/yafkaskx

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Comments on UN & Illegals

Opuscula Almost everything Upsets Palestinians But Israel’s demise

RECENTLY THE SO-CALLED “PALESTINIANS” hit the streets to main and kill because U.S. President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. a fact on the ground since 1967.

Now, President Trump is cutting the UN’s special fund for “Palestinian” welfare by freezing the US$125 million January dole payment.

It is interesting to note that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees is the ONLY UN agency of its type – no other body of “displaced” peoples has a UN agency dedicated to it.

Who is against the cut?

Israel’s near-sighted and often two-faced prime minister¹

ACCORDING TO THE ENGLISH online edition of Israel HaYom (Israel Today) for Monday, 8 January, Netanyahu voiced support for Trump's threat to cut aid to the Palestinians, saying the UNRWA "perpetuates the Palestinian refugee problem and the right of return narrative, in an effort to eliminate the State of Israel."

"Therefore, UNRWA should pass from the world," Netanyahu declared.

However

While Netanyahu praised Trump's "critical approach" to the aid issue, he steered clear of advocating a suspension of funding for the Palestinians, reflecting concern that cutting off funds could exacerbate Palestinian hardship and put Israel on a collision course with Palestinian terrorist groups.

He said UN. aid funds should be transferred to Gaza gradually via its global refugee agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, "with clear criteria for supporting genuine refugees and not fictitious ones, as is happening today under UNRWA."

UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said the refugee crisis was being perpetuated by "failure of the parties to deal with the issue. UNRWA is mandated by the General Assembly to continue with its services until a just and lasting solution is found for the Palestine refugees.

The fact that many of the grandparents of today's “refugees” left Israel in 1948 because the mufti in Amman told them to get out of the way of the glorious Arab armies who would drive the Jews to the sea.²

Why is Netanyahu cowering? Attacks by “Palestinian” terrorists?

When have these people STOPPED attacking Israelis – women, children, old people, and soldiers.

The “Palestinian” – and Gazan – leaders, instead of sending their kin on jihad to become shahidem (martyrs) sends their kin to Israeli – not Egyptian, not Jordanian, not European, but Israeli – hospitals. “Palestinians” regularly travel to Arab states and Europe via Israel’s air and sea ports.

Meanwhile, The United Nation's International Children's Fund is spearheading a campaign to include the Israel Defense Forces on a UN. blacklist of "grave violators of children's rights," that includes terrorist groups like the Islamic State group and Boko Haram, this according to a new report by the NGO Monitor watchdog group.³

The NGO Monitor report further shows how UNICEF opted to ignore violations of children's rights by Palestinian organizations in the Gaza Strip, when it admitted "the working group was not in a position to document cases of child recruitment and use of children in armed conflict owing to a number of factors, including security and protection risks related to collecting comprehensive and detailed information."

A number of these organizations, including the Defense for Children International- Palestine, have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which has been recognized as a terrorist organization by Israel, Canada, the EU and the U.S.

The liberal media and leftists governments around the world are complaining that Trump’s recognition of reality will destroy any “peace talks” between Israel and the “Palestinians.”

The question is: WHAT PEACE TALKS?

The “Palestinians” have not sat down with Israelis for serious, no pre-condition peace talks for months. Recognition of Jerusalem cannot be blamed for holding up peace negotiations months before Trump’s announcement. (When the “Palestinians” and Israelis came to an agreement in Oslo, the “Palestinians” quickly broke the agreement.)

Having the “Palestinians” sit down with Israelis is similar to Democrats sitting down with Trump and the Republican leadership. Even though the Democrat leadership failed to show, they still blame the GOP and Trump for lack of cooperation. (Did they learn from the “Palestinians”?)

Sources

1. Israel HaYom: http://tinyurl.com/y8okrac2

2. Arab exodus: http://tinyurl.com/y96n6v9j

3. UNICEF: http://tinyurl.com/y8wg5lxl

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Comments on Israel’s demise