European Week of Jewish Culture 2007

From September 2 to the 9th, Europe will be celebrating Jewish Culture Week, an event in its tenth year which traces its genesis to France.

In 1996, the Alsatian region of the Bas Rhin had an open door event, which eventually spread all over France by 1999. It progressively mushroomed to 31 European countries. Whereas only one day was chosen to celebrate all things of Jewish culture, it has now become a full week agenda. The participating countries are the following:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia. Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine.

Last year, the day attracted more than 125,000 visitors in 30 countries. France has a dedicated website to the event. Check it out.

Where one is to find most things relating to Sephardic Culture would undoubtedly be the Iberian Peninsula. On the Spanish Website redjuderias.org, they have a lovely 2 page pdf presentation of the events. Unfortunately, if you don't speak Spanish, it's a bummer. I read through it, and I picked a couple of things that I found particularly interesting:

In Avila:

September 1/2: Savoring Sephardic Sweets

Where: Zoco Judio, Calle Reyes Catolicos ( bit of irony in this location)

Contact: avila@redjuderias.org

September 2: Guided Visited to Toledo's Judaism

When: 8:00am

Where: The exit located at the Visitor's Reception Center

In Barcelona:

September 2: A Stroll in Medieval Jewish Barcelona

When: 5:30pm

Where: Plaza Manel Ribé, Calle de Barcelona

Prior registration required

In Cordoba: (more events than anywhere else) many of the most interesting events have already started today, August 31st. Unfortunately, by the time this post appears, they may be over.

September 1/2: Sephardic Book Expo

Books and Memoirs

When: 10:00am to 6:30 pm

Where: Casa de Sefarad/Casa de la Memoria - corner Judios & Averroes

See the whole program here.

Wish I were there.

Print Page

US Jews unimpressed by Israel's PR on refugees

This article appeared in the August 31st issue of the JPost.
By SHEERA CLAIRE FRENKEL

A new public relations campaign to justify government policy on African refugees was branded as "too little, too late," by American Jewish Organizations Thursday.

The campaign was launched this week, following a decision by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to deport the majority of the African refugees currently in Israel and bar any further refugees from entering the country through its porous southern border with Egypt.

Leading organizations such as the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Federation in New York and Los Angeles have criticized the government's handling of the refugees, particularly the imprisonment of hundreds of male refugees in the Ketziot Prison. Jewish organizations are key figures in the "Save Darfur" campaign to aid refugees from the Sudanese region.

"It is frankly embarrassing for many of us ... When we go to these events, people often ask how we can defend Israel's treatment of the refugees," said one leading New York Jewish activist, who asked to remain anonymous because his organization refuses to publicly criticize Israeli policy. "Jews, of all people, should have rahmanut [compassion] and act with extra sensitivity towards the refugee issue."

The issue has drawn the attention of Jewish political figures, including US Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), who sent a letter last week to Sallai Meridor, Israel's ambassador to the US.
"I am writing today to express my disappointment that Israel would turn away any person fleeing from persecution," Emanuel wrote. "I understand the concern the State of Israel has for maintaining the integrity of her borders, but if any country should understand the special needs of those affected by the genocide in Darfur, it should be Israel."

The new Foreign Ministry campaign includes a dossier, which explains that the presence of al-Qaida in Sudan means Israel must be especially careful with the refugees. The Israeli government and the UN, which has been interviewing the refugees, acknowledge that until now, they have discovered no links between the refugees and al-Qaida, or any other terror organizations.

The dossier also states the government only agreed to deport the refugees to Egypt after being "guaranteed" they would not be returned to Sudan. According to Human Rights Watch, which recently filed a petition against the Egyptian Interior Ministry, the refugees are being mistreated in Egypt. Several refugees interviewed by The Jerusalem Post also recounted various abuses that regularly took place around the refugee camps in southern Egypt, including rape and systematic beatings by gangs.

Nearly 3,000 African refugees have sought asylum in Israel in recent years, according to government estimates. Approximately 1,700 of those refugees are from Sudan, while 700 are from Darfur. According to Olmert's decision, Israel will grant asylum to 500 of the 700 Darfur refugees in Israel. The 1,200 other Sudanese will be deported to Egypt according to a procedure to be established by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

"Given Israel's size and limited resources, it has taken significant measures," said a Foreign Ministry official. "Israel is well aware of its responsibility as a sovereign state, but we cannot address this complex issue on our own."

Print Page

The Gread Divide at Cairo University

Taking a break from the usual reality of current events, come with me on the Egyptian version of Candid Camera. Only if you understand arabic and english will you be able to cry from laughing. It is amazing how the arab man is so convinced the woman across sitting from him wants "tetfassah", and she wants him to understand that if he were the last man on earth...he'd stay the last man on earth.

I could not embed the video here as that function was disabled. But please do follow the link, and if you have about seven minutes to spare, it will be well worth it.

Watch the video here.

And if you really like what you see, you can watch Part 2 and Part 3.

Enjoy.

Print Page

Hospital refuses order to transfer paralyzed Palestinian girl

Shirley Meyer, I applaud you. For defying authorities to return a six-year old girl to the West Bank from a hospital in Jerusalem, where the child had been taken after being paralyzed as a result of an IDF attack on Gaza.

Now, I could stop right here, and start a sermon about how there would be no reciprocity, were a Jewish six year old child to have suffered the same fate. But I'll spare you and myself the redundancy.

It is obvious to anyone, as it is to Ms. Meyer, that if 6 year-old Maria Amin were to be transferred to the West Bank, the hospital that would take over her care (Abu Raya Rehabilitation Center) is ill-equipped to handle her. She is now in a wheel chair, and controls her movements with a joy stick attached to her chin. She breathes with the help of a respirator. She has declared in hebrew from her wheel chair " I want to stay here".

The Israeli Defense Ministry covered her medical expenses and sponsored her father and younger brother to live with her at the hospital. She has now completed a rehabilitation program. Please read the entire article here.

Though I sympathize with the IDM who is greatly worried about setting a precedent, I would think that these sort of horrible accidents do not happen on a daily basis.

Print Page

"God's Warriors" Flunk Out

Read what Belief Net has to say.

Related Posts: Behind the Scenes CNN, More on CNN, Backlash Against CNN, Critiquer Israel

Print Page

A Woman Doubts Her Faith

She was being considered for canonization by the Vatican. She made the cover of Time Magazine last week with an explosive revelation. Will she be considered less of a "saint" because she doubted the existence of God? The faithful are jumping to her defense, saying that even Jesus during his crucifixion had asked God why he had been abandoned. To me, this is really not the question at all. Whether she can be sanctified, canonized, whatever it is they want to do with her name is irrelevant.

What is important is that she spent her life tending to the poor. And she saw, hands-on, the most miserable and wrenching conditions which afflict the majority of people living on this planet. It is fabulous to own a villa, go to Sunday school in your Hummer, and sing the praises of Jesus. But, as people who are on the brink of starvation, living below poverty levels, or are being massacred by ethnic cleansers, it becomes very hard to justify the existence of a benevolent, higher power.

I am speaking of Mother Theresa. The woman who came to represent altruism to many who knew her, or had heard or read about her. Apparently, one of her requests, prior to her death, was that the letters she wrote expressing her doubts be burned. Perhaps it was a good thing they were not.

I am Jewish, and always have considered myself as such. I cringe when I see fanatics in my religion, and others. They are all the same to me, whether they kill for the cross, the Star of David, or the Koran. I do not pray to God when I find myself in trouble; perhaps it's a habit I picked up when I realized this did not work for me. I think it's the epitome of arrogance for a human being to state positively that he/she knows that God exists. Have they been somewhere the rest of us have not heard about? What gives them that moral authority. I would have more respect for someone who expressed doubts.

The article in French to which this post makes reference cites Christopher Hitchens, who was absolutely virulent about Mother Theresa in a book he wrote (which I read) called "Love, Poverty, and War - Journeys and Essays". There is no doubt that Hitchens is one of the most brilliant writers of our times, but he became obnoxious when he veered too heavily to the right.

Nevertheless, in his essay entitled " The Devil and Mother Theresa" which was published in Vanity Fair in 2001, Hitchens describes how he had the uncanny chance to play devil's advocate, and present his case against her canonization. She was called "Agnes Bojaxhius of Skopje, Macedonia - the artist formerly known as Mother Theresa of Calcutta", he writes. Doesn't this make you want to read on?

I'll make a laundry list of his opposition:

1. the greatest threat to world peace is abortion
2. contraception and abortion are morally equivalent
3. praised poverty, disease and suffering as heavenly gifts
4. opposed the empowerment of women
5. her clinic didn't provide medical treatment and parenthetically he adds that when she became ill, she flew first class to a private clinic in California..hmmmm)
6. Money she raised was mostly used in building convents honoring her
7. Rubbed elbows with dictators like Duvalier, who robbed the poor
8. she contradicted herself on rules of marriage and divorce
9. she didn't produce "miracles"
10. The Missionaries of Charity were never audited.

I may be a bit of a cynic at this point, as the Catholic Church's laundry bin runneth over. This is just another pair of socks that needs to be washed.

Print Page

Alexandria Seeks Second Revival

Reuters has now joined the rest of us, (about 2 months too late, though) in describing Alexandria's attempt to revive some of the old glory of its past and is seeking to attract Europeans and Arab "elites" to its beaches and other attractions.

Will Rassmussen goes on to describe some of the infrastructure improvements as well as the new Four Seasons Hotel which opened in San Stefano in July, and has apparently beein in "sold out " status since then.

Then the usual prose about being Egypt's second city, etc.., the neglect that ensued since its hey day and nary a mention of those folks responsible for Alexandria's prominence in the first half of the 20th century. A paragraph does appear on the second page which reads as follows:

"Alexandria was revived in the 19th century and early 20th century as a European-style city, with villas and palaces overlooking the sea, funded by profits from Egypt's cotton trade. The San Stefano hotel casino was one of its landmarks, built in the style of the resorts along the French coast."

I have always been somewhat uncomfortable about using the passive voice, such as is demonstrated above. It's almost as if Alexandria got up and did something to itself during that period. Is it ignorance, bias, or simple anti-semitism on the part of Mr. Rassmussen?

Part of the recent boom is also attributed to an increase in investment along Egypt's northern coast. A new international airport is in construction and due to open in 2009 in the city itself.

See the whole article here.

Related Posts: Can Alex Attract? , Video Tribute ; Accepting Reservations

Print Page

Eyptian Actor In Trouble At Home

ed: So what's a Peace Treaty Worth these days?

Cairo - A young Egyptian actor is to face a probe by the Egypt's actors' union for working with an Israeli actor in a joint BBC and HBO docudrama that recounts the life of Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein, the Egyptian Gazette reported on Tuesday. Amr Waked was cast for the role of Saddam's son-in-law in the film which is currently under production in Tunisia.

Waked has said he had no knowledge that Yigal Naor, the actor who plays Saddam, had Israeli citizenship and was also quoted as saying that "withdrawal from filming would constitute a breach of contract, with severe consequences."

Naor is also said to be of Iraqi origin.

Read more

Print Page

His Mouth Can No Longer Accommodate His Foot

Rabbi Obadia, why don't you retreat to a nice, quiet buddhist monastery, high in the Tibetan mountains, where you can make all sorts of proclamations which will emanate from one of the highest places on earth?

It seems that the good Rabbi has been speaking in drivel again, and was reprimanded by another Rabbi Jerome Epstein. It is unthinkable that any human being can be so under-developed, lest he were a fourth world country. Here's the article:

The leader of the Conservative movement's synagogue arm blasted remarks by a former Israeli chief rabbi.Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, assailed Rabbi Ovadia Yosef for suggesting in a recent sermon that soldiers killed in last summer's Lebanon war died because they were not religious.

"God does not cause bad things to happen only to bad people and good things only to good ones," Epstein wrote in an open letter to Yosef, the former chief Sephardic rabbi. "Nor do I accept your implication that the soldiers who fell in the defense of the Jewish state but might not have lived as you would have chosen are anything other than heroes."

Yosef, the spiritual leader of the religious Shas party, was condemned for his remarks by numerous Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak. In his weekly sermon Saturday night, Yosef said, "Is it a wonder that soldiers who don't observe the Torah, don't pray every day and don't put on tefillin every day are killed in war? It is no wonder."

If you reached this page via email, click here to go to the JTA web site.

Related Posts: Women Should Stick.., When Israel Doesn't Make Sense

Print Page

Obama Courts Powerful Jewish Vote

IPA Blog
Posted at 10:02 AM on 08/24/07

On Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama came to New York for a series of events - including a meeting with prominent Jewish activists and leadership.The Senator's most public meeting was his interview with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

(ed: I watch the Daily Show religiously (pardon the pun). I saw the Obama episode; he was very well received by the predominantly liberal audience. Appearing on this show has become de rigueur for politicians)

Prior to that appearance, Obama met privately with a roomful of leading Jewish New Yorkers including Orthodox Union president Steve Savitsky and the current and immediate past chair of the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations. The meeting was, we're told, an opportunity for Sen. Obama to informally and directly discuss his views with regard to U.S. policy toward Israel and the Mideast more broadly.One "newsy" point to report is that Obama apparently said that his principal adviser on Israeli-Arab issues is veteran diplomat Dennis Ross.

In another earlier interview with the Christian Network Broadcast, Mr. Obama stated:

""Whatever we once were, we're no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers. We should acknowledge this and realize that when we're formulating policies from the state house to the Senate floor to the White House, we've got to work to translate our reasoning into values that are accessible to every one of our citizens, not just members of our own faith community."

Take that one to the bank. In a country of over 300 million people, there are approximately 5.5 million jews. That 2/10 of 1% of the population. Notice how we are mentioned right after the Christian nation.

Print Page

Historic Torah Dedication in New York in September

Date: Sunday, September 9, 2007
Time: 4:30PM
Ceremonial Writing at: home of Alison and Jack Schneider
Address: 10 East 75th Street, New York City
Followed by Ceremonial Song & Dance at
Address: Safra Synagogue
11 East 63rd Street, New York City

Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis: "This is a very special sefer Torah, as it is written in the Sephardic tradition and we are dedicating this Torah to the large number of Sephardic Jews in Israel who are members of our Hineni organization. Many of these Sephardic Jews are victims of Arab terror; many are indigent; many come to us for spiritual nourishment" , she goes on to say:

" Today, we are showing the world that from the flames of our past we will usher in an era of hope and light for our future. With great love and unity, an Ashkenazic Torah from a previous generation will greet a Sephardic Torah for a future generation.”

For full article, click here.

Print Page

Neo-Nazis: "A Cancer Tumor for Democracies"

The medical field has made tremendous advances in the research to eradicate cancer, albeit people are still dying of the disease. Now that neo-nazis are being equated to cancer, I wonder if someone will come up with a formula to rid the planet of this disease. Though the article speaks to neo-nazism in Germany (where else?), we have these groups littered all over the planet. Of particular concern are the ones looming large on the Americas. Read how some bad habits just never die:


Mathaba News Network
Female Afghan asylum seeker injured in xenophobic assault in Germany
links by Aimée Kligman

Posted: 2007/08/28
A female Afghan asylum seeker was injured in an anti-foreigner attack in the east German city of Chemnitz on Sunday, news reports said.A five-member group shouted initially racial insults at the 40- year-old woman at a local culture center and threw her down the stairs in front of the victim's children and her female companion.The victim suffered abrasions on her body.

This was the fifth xenophobic attack in Germany in slightly more than a week.The latest wave of neo-Nazi assaults has also triggered a debate in Germany to outlaw the neo-Nazi party, the National Democratic Party (NPD).Over the weekend, the Vice-President of the European Commission Franco Frattini called for banning of the German neo-Nazi party.Talking with the Sunday news paper Bild am Sonntag, Frattini said, "I would clearly and explicitly welcome it, if Germany does ban the NPD one day."Frattini stressed that Germany has been among those European Union countries with the biggest right-wing extremist problems.

He expressed special concern over the state of right-wing extremism in several countries notably, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark and Italy.The 50-year-old EU official urged those five countries to step up their campaign against right-wing extremism, especially in the sphere of preventive measures.Neo-Nazis are "a cancer tumor for democratic countries like Germany", said Frattini."They are a real threat for our democracy," he added.Frattini lamented also "growing xenophobia and right-wing extremism in Europe".

The German government is wary of a new legal bid to bar the NPD after the country's highest court in 2003 blocked a previous attempt to ban the neo-Nazi party. It refused to hear the case because the government cited statements by party members who turned out to be paid informers for state authorities. --IRNA


Print Page

Amanpour Slammed by Huffington Post

Robert Eisenman
BIO
Christiane Amanpour's God's Warriors, "the Jews," and "the Occupied Territories": Is this for Real?
Posted August 27, 2007 06:58 PM (EST)

Brilliant blogpost by Robert Eisenman; click on Title link.

Related Posts: Rabbi Meir, Behind the Scenes CNN, More on CNN, Backlash Against CNN, Critiquer Israel

Discussion Open on Juifs Sans Barrières now: JOIN THE FRAY.


Print Page

Rabbi Marvin Hier On CNN's Gods Warriors

There is so much controversy about this program and the airing of the Judaism portion of it, that I was holding my commentary until I had seen "everyone else spill their guts". However, I had a chance to read Rabbi Hier's blog on JPost, and he and I agree on a lot of the issues. I am reprinting his comments, and adding my views next to his in a different color. I was hoping to be able to find, though I am still searching, for a non-Jewish commentary that found the program biased and anti-Semitic. Give me some time.

August 26 2007; 10:08AM
West of Delancey: CNN's God's Warriors at war with truth
Posted by Rabbi Marvin Hier

A day prior to the airing of Christiane Amanpour’s six-hour CNN documentary entitled God’s Warriors, I was one of four clergymen to be a guest on Larry King Live to discuss the issue of fundamentalism in today’s world. The interview on Larry King was pre-recorded in mid-July and none of the participants had seen the six-hour documentary because it was still being edited. Now that I have seen it, I sent the following critique to the producers of God’s Warriors.
1. MORAL EQUIVALENCY - There is no moral equivalency between some 200 Israeli fanatics prone to violence and tens of thousands of Palestinian terrorists whose acts are endorsed by the elected government and a significant portion of the population. The failure of the documentary to clearly make that distinction skews the facts and conveys the false impression allowing people all over the world to conclude that there IS a moral equivalency between the number of Palestinian terrorists and Jewish terrorists - this is a complete distortion. More importantly, the largest terrorist group responsible for much of the unrest in the Middle East, Hamas, got a free pass from CNN in God’s Warriors and is not even mentioned in the documentary’s segment on Islam. - I am not sure that people will be that gullible on that issue: though there are those that will say that Jews committed acts of terrorism at the time of the "Irgun", those days are long gone, and if CNN did not grab at straws and show those isolated incidents, they would have no story. They found the foot to fit the shoe, rather than the shoe to fit the foot, so to speak. I don't think we should talk about Hamas and the treatment of that group by CNN, but rather stick to the very prejudiced job they did on this portion of the series on its own merits.

2. JEWISH LOBBY - CNN spends much time describing the strength of the “Jewish Lobby” in Washington. But what do supporters of Israel active on the Hill have to do with a documentary focusing on the power of religion? Indeed, many of those defending Israel on Capital Hill are, in fact, secular Jews. Furthermore, if you are going to talk about powerful lobbies, why not give equal time to the enormous power of the Arab Oil lobby? Here again, Rabbi, I know what you are trying to do. Leave the Arab Oil Lobby out of the argument. We are not doing comparatives. But supporters of Israel, of which I am one, are secular. The people they support in Israel are not secular, and thus the link to the program's theme. They are trying to demonstrate that dollars are going to Israel to support a religious People capable of terrorism. However, since CNN fails in the previous argument regarding "moral equivalency", there is no basis then for such an argument. However, one good thing that should not go unnoticed, whether CNN likes it or not, is the amazing support from Christian Evangelists, who are anything but secular.

3. SECURITY FENCE (Hamas Wall) - The consultants of the documentary make a point of showing the security fence that now separates the Palestinians from the Israelis. Palestinians interviewed explain the hardships they face and call the fence an “apartheid” wall. Nowhere is there a mention of the wide consensus of support for the security fence amongst all Israelis, left and right, including Israel’s Supreme Court, which has sanctioned the fence because, without it, the suicide bombings would continue unabated, something NO society can tolerate. Indeed, the terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad are the real architects and designers of that fence. Nothing to add here.

4. FIGHTING TERRORISM - God’s Warrior’s makes mention of the fact that the few Jewish terrorists described in the film were all arrested by the Israeli government and sent to jail for their crimes. Yet, they ignore the fact that Palestinian officials have never convicted Palestinian terrorists. Had they done so, there would be no need for a security fence. This is an excellent point to be made, not only in the Judaism section of the trilogy, but the Muslim one as well. But then CNN would have to get into the differences which exist between civilized and uncivilized societies who act responsibly towards criminals. One of the blatantly missing datum in this documentary is the tally of people which have died at the hand of terrorists. An Excel document works really well for me when I want to demonstrate number comparisons.

5. SIX DAY WAR - The documentary spends a lot of time on the Six Day War and emphasizes how Israel decided to attack the Old City during the War, which changed the status quo forever. But God’s Warriors fails to explain how or why the Six Day War started. It hides from its audience the fact that Egypt blocked the Straits of Tiran (an international waterway), an act of war under international law, denying all shipping to Israel and that the Arab States, including Jordan, which controlled the Old City, brought their armies to the border. Had they not taken those actions, the Six Day War would have been averted. By ignoring all that and instead focusing on Israel’s attack on the Old City, God’s Warriors guides its audience to the conclusion that the purpose of the War was Israel’s intention to grab the Old City of Jerusalem. I need to add something to this analysis: Nasser was on the phone with the Russians, taking orders from them on whether or not to pre-emptively attack Israel. He received a go-ahead, which was then rescinded, but did not reach their armies in time after he had given the green light. In the meantime, the Israelis were alerted that Egypt was planning an attack. Nasser was a pawn at the time.

6. SHARON - The documentary is critical of Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount, which enraged Muslims and allegedly started the Second Intifada. It also mentions his “responsibility” in allowing Lebanese Christians to massacre Muslims at Sabra and Shatila. Yet, it ignores his critical decision to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza in an attempt to jump start the peace process. Nor does it mention the Palestinian response to the withdrawal - the election of Hamas - a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of the State of Israel - as the new Palestinian government. I don't think that the withdrawal from Gaza on Sharon's part atones for his visit to the Mount. Let's just say it wasn't one of his smarter moves. Unfortunately for Israel, and the rest of the world, Hamas was elected through our cherished democratic process. The people who have suffered at the hands of Hamas, now that they are sequestered to Gaza may or may not see the light of day. However, it would seem that at the moment, Hamas has been marginalized.

7. TEMPLE MOUNT - The documentary fails to emphasize that the Muslims, to whom Israel gave the authority to administer the Temple Mount, strongly discourage any Jew from coming there despite the fact that it is the holiest site in all of Judaism (whereas, the holiest sites in Islam are, in fact, Mecca and Medina). On the other hand, the Western Wall, which is under Israeli control, regularly welcomes visitors of all faiths. Here you are again, comparing apples to squirrels. You cannot expect tolerance from a society so blinded by hatred and rage that it willingly sends its young people to their deaths. The Muslims have so little, and the Jews have so much. You really need to see this.

8. RELIGIOUS LEADERS - CNN presents the senior Imam in charge of the Al-Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount, who explains the site’s holiness to Muslims. But rather than interview the Chief Rabbi of Israel to describe the sacredness of the site for Jews, CNN contents itself with allowing an extremist layperson to explain the importance of the Temple Mount to Jews. Where is the fairness? CNN was interviewing the people that would give them the answers they wanted. If you were looking for fairness in this program, I think we were out of luck in that department. CNN might have been pre-determined to show that the Israelis are just as guilty as other religious "warriors. There you go Rabbi, you've just said what I've been trying to tell you earlier.

9. TWO STATE SOLUTION - God’s Warriors ignores the origins of the Arab/Israeli conflict: the Arab refusal to accept the 1947 United Nations Partition of Palestine, which called for both a Jewish state and an Arab State. The Jews accepted the plan – the Arabs rejected it. Had the Arab world accepted the two-state solution then, much of the bloodshed would have been averted. There’s a lot of talk about settlements, but no talk at all of the consistent Arab policy from 1948 until 1978 to make no compromises with Israel. Would CNN be able to make this documentary if they focused on the lack of goodwill on the part of the Arab/Palestinians to make a step towards peace? What of the countless about faces of Arafat when he was alive and well?

10. A HUMAN FACE ON TERROR - God’s Warriors keeps mentioning the “despair” that many Arabs feel, as if that is a justification for the insane behavior of honoring people as martyrs because they murdered innocent civilians they never knew. Why patronize terrorists and even humanize them if we are going to allow the conversation to be dominated by their despair? The parents of these terrorists should be confronted with the simple truth that despair has existed throughout time – that billions of people throughout history have felt pain without reverting to mass murder. Following the defeat of Nazism, the Holocaust survivors were also in despair. They lost their families, but they didn’t resort to killing innocent civilians as a way of alleviating their pain. Neither did the 750,000 Jews expelled from Arab countries following the 1948 War – they too, did not become suicide bombers. Case in Point, the Forgotten Jews who had to leave specifically for the Arab countries you mention - and in a way, it is perhaps a shame that we were able to assimmilate so well, and work like horses to get to where we are today. It is for this reason that the world knows nothing about us, - we didn't make enough noise.

Related Posts: Behind the Scenes CNN, More on CNN, Backlash Against CNN, Critiquer Israel

Print Page

Saudis Might Take Bibles Away

Okay folks, this is the line in the sand. I was hoping to end the weekend on a happier note, but my file for blog subjects is bloated and in an effort to catch up, I landed on this gem from the Jerusalem Post. Click on the subject link and read the article so you can understand why I have just burst my jugular.


I have some practical ways to balance this absurd situation. Everyone who is a non-muslim: postpone your travel plans to the Saudi Kingdom indefinitely. Or at least until they revise this moronic law they've put into effect. And to this administration, or whatever they are calling our leaders today, whose closest arab ally are the Saudis. Wake up and smell the fecal matter! And while you're there, don't be so eager to endow these people with your anti-Iran defense package of billions of dollars. You cannot bring your crosses, bibles, and your Lord Jesus into their country, lest you are eager to check out the jail accommodations.


And we are worried about tolerance?

And we are worried about racial profiling?

And we are worried about the "moderate muslim" being offended by anti-terrorist rhetoric?


We should be worried that we are going to turn into Londonstan. That country is unrecognizable; the BBC is more biased than Al Jazeera. They are more pro-Arab and more anti-Israel than some Palestinians I've heard speak on news bulletins.

In France, they were having a heated debate about where to erect the next mosque and how much real estate it would require.

What the hell is going on here? The West is becoming nothing short of a contortionist in trying to show tolerance toward muslims in not only allowing korans to go around, but building houses of worship for its muslim societies. Remember the scandals that ensued when word got out that a koran had been flushed down the toilet in Guantanamo Bay Prison?

Saudi Arabia on the other hand will be more than pleased to arrest you if you offend their sensibilities by bringing your religious articles (even if you hide them in your suitcase) into their country. Read this excerpt:

"Contacted by the Post, an employee of Saudi Arabian Airlines in New York, who would only give her name as Gladys, confirmed this rule was in force. "Yes, sir," she said, "that is what we have heard, that it is a problem to bring these things into Saudi Arabia, so you cannot do it."

Allright then. From now on, all muslims entering this country for tourism, college, company contracts, and whatever reason under the sun: you will not be allowed to bring your religious articles, whatever they may be. If you sport a beard à la Osama, you'll have to shave it before entering our borders. As of tomorrow, all mosques in the USA are closed permanently. If you wish to worship, do it somewhere so that we can't see or hear you. And oh, you will not be permitted to speak arabic either. Any language will do other than that. Sorry, but as your spokesperson stated: every country has its rules and they must be adhered to.

And the Saudis want to boost tourism. Please stop this tragicomedy.


Print Page

Life of Egyptian Women on Film

In his two short films, Egyptian filmmaker Sherif El Bendary attempts an unusual feat: to portray the angst, joy, passion and hardship of being a young woman in Egyptian society.

The first film, a 20-minute documentary titled “6 Girls,” follows the lives of six young women who move to Cairo from Port Said to continue their education. In a stylistic nod to reality television shows like “The Real World,” Bendary documents the experiences of these six girls as they deal with each other and with their new environment.

The second film, “Rise and Shine,” adopts a more experimental style — using a single, 10-minute shot to depict the frustration and sorrow of a young woman who has ended up in a bad marriage. Although the two films are distinct in the way they approach their subject, they both seek to express the tensions and difficulties that face the modern Egyptian woman.

The anxieties that the girls express are precise foreshadowings of the tribulations that they will face upon their move to Cairo. Concerns about living together, about getting along, about image and cultural stereotypes — these themes occur constantly throughout the film in a regular and rather predictable manner.

Both films are firsts for the young Egyptian filmmaker, who studied film at the Higher Cinema Institute after working as a textile engineer. They have received a significant amount of critical acclaim, winning a number of awards at Egyptian film festivals in and around Cairo.

To read the article in full, click here.

ed: I did not see the films, but did read the entire article. When I hear about "documentaries" with happy endings, I begin to wonder if they should be classified documentaries at all. Film in Egypt definitely has to mature and begin to deal with the real issues facing native women such as their inferior status in society, the mutilation of their bodies, their lack of representation in government, education for the poor and their access to the outside.

Print Page

La Naissance de l'Etat Juif

Merci à Salomon Rousseau pour avoir rédigé cet article
edité par Aimée Kligman
(certains commentaires personnels ont été éliminés, car ils étaient dirigés à une certaine audience)

Les alliances entre pays naissent aujourd'hui et disparaissent le lendemain et l'existence d'Israel est due à une alliance qui en fait n'a jamais été signée.

Permettez-moi un peu de vous rappeller quelques faits historiques. L'Angleterre, pas une seule fois, avait promis un foyer au peuple juif, et cela avant l'holocauste et avant la deuxième guerre mondiale. Promesses bien-entendu vides mais elle s'est dépêchée par exemple à créer dans le territoire promis aux juifs un pays qui s'appelle la Jordanie. Ce n'est qu'après l'holocauste que les pays européens, sentant une lueur d'humanité dans leurs coeurs et voulant alléger leurs conciences ont voté pour la création d'Israël en 1948 en divisant en plus ce qui restait de la Palestine.

Croyez-moi ils l'ont fait à contre-coeur car il se sont rendus compte qu'Israël prenait en ce qui concerne leur économie une tournure socialiste (kibbutzims, moshavims etc.) Ils étaient aussi convaincus que sans support militaire le nouveau pays succomberait à une invasion des pays arabes voisins. Tout cela était preconçu et ils voyaient déjà dans cette naissance une mort prematurée.

Remarquez aussi que ces européens ont reconnu le nouvel état "de fait". L'URSS est le seul pays au monde qui a reconnu Israël "de Jure", et c'est l' URSS qui a sauvé Israël de l'extinction en permettant à la Tchécoslovaquie d'envoyer cette arme miraculeuse qu'on a nommée "LE FUSIL THCEC" à des hommes et femmes qui étaient armés de pelles et de pioches.

Aujourd'hui très peu de monde sait comment le miracle est arrivé. Mais hélàs, les idéaux socialistes des rescapés de l'holocauste n'a pas duré longtemps. Comment réussir à convaincre un juif à partager avec son frère? C'est ainsi que cette alliance ephémère avec les pays socialistes a été dissoute et la nouvelle alliance avec les EU a commencé.

A ses debuts c'était une alliance assez bizarre car Israël avait absolument besoin d'un protecteur tandis que les EU sous pression des états arabes avait du mal à justifier cette alliance. Bref, nous savons aujourd'hui comment les choses ont evolués et cette alliance se trouve sur un pied presque d'égalité. Il faut commenter sur les évènements que lorsqu'ils ont une influence globale, une influence qui devrait bénéficier l'humanité entière et faire régner la paix dans ce monde égaré.

Permettez-moi aussi d'ouvrir une parenthèse sur une autre cause de survie de moi-même et de tous les Juifs d'Egypte. L'évènement était la défaite des allemands à E-Alamein. Je me rappelle encore le bawab de l'immeuble voisin qui aiguisait son couteau, nous le montrait et nous disait que nos jours étaient comptés.

Et n'oubliez jamais aussi que la survie d'Israël était due aux fusils de la Tchécoslovaquie.


Print Page

Growing up Jewish in Iran

On August 5, 2007, Claire Messud reviewed Dalia Sofer's book, "The Septembers of Shiraz" for the famed New Times Book Review. And to make sure they really get you to buy the book, The Times went ahead and gave us the first chapter here. I include the Times' permission to reprint below:

Excerpted from The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer Copyright © 2007 by Dalia Sofer. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

The Times Magazine's brief interview with the author interested me more than her book. Having already read "Lolita in Tehran", and finding myself unable to put the book down till it presented its last page, I was wondering if we were going to witness a proliferation of books from Iranian women. My next book was Lipstick Jihad, by Azadeh Moaveni, which failed to captivate me in any way whatsoever. Unlike Nafisi and Moaveni, Sofer is Jewish.

NYT: Your first novel, “The Septembers of Shiraz,” has become a surprise hit, in part because it so vividly captures the veiled world of post-revolutionary Iran and the unjust fate of one Isaac Amin, a Jewish rare-gem dealer who winds up in jail. Is the novel at all autobiographical?

Sofer: It’s loosely based on my family’s experiences. When I was 8, my father was arrested for being a Zionist spy. We didn’t know where he was. My mom would go out looking for him. And then he just reappeared one day, about a month later.

NYT: The Revolutionary Guard, which arrested him, are very much in the news these days — President Bush is hoping to have them officially branded as terrorists.

Sofer: Some of our neighbors, at our last home in Tehran, were Revolutionary Guards. We would see them coming home, carrying TVs and VCRs and things they took from peoples’ homes.

NYT: Didn’t President Ahmadinejad begin his career as one of the guards? In photographs, I always think he looks more like a homely professor than a tyrant.

Sofer: Yes. He’s so dangerous, but he looks like a little mouse.

NYT: What was it like growing up as a Jew in a Muslim country?

Sofer: Every morning before classes the entire school would line up in the schoolyard and sing revolutionary songs. Afterward we would chant: “Marg bar America! Marg bar Israel! — Death to America! Death to Israel!”

NYT: Did school officials know you were Jewish?

Sofer: Yes, but they view Judaism and Zionism as different entities. They may have some tolerance for the religion, but Israel is Zionism, and that’s the evil. As they say, the big Satan is America, and the little Satan is Israel.

NYT: You were 11 years old when you arrived in New York as an exile. Where were you educated?

Sofer: I went to the Lycée Francais, where I had to learn Molière by heart. Then I went to N.Y.U. I majored in French literature and minored in creative writing. Later, I went to Sarah Lawrence and got an M.F.A. in fiction.

NYT: Have you met any of the Iranian-American writers who have recently published memoirs, like Azadeh Moaveni (“Lipstick Jihad”) or Azar Nafisi (“Reading ‘Lolita’ in Tehran”)?

Sofer: No. There are a lot of women who have written memoirs.

NYT: I would think that Iranian-born women see memoir-writing as a kind of protest against a society that demands so much stillness and silence of them.

Sofer: Perhaps. Even Farsi, as a language, is elusive and indirect. There’s this whole idea of taarof — you say something you don’t mean, and the other person is supposed to pick up on it.

NYT: For example?

Sofer: If I am visiting you, I may say, “It is getting late; I must go,” and you say, “No, please stay,” and I am supposed to know that you really want me to go. People have to pick up on codes.

NYT: Is that a hint?

Sofer: If so, I’m too caught up in taarof to tell you so.

NYT: Are you ever afraid of being persecuted by Iranian fanatics?

Sofer: For a little while, I was very paranoid and thought they might actually try to track me down. But I don’t think about it much anymore. They have other things to worry about.

NYT: Do you have nightmares?

Sofer: I do. A lot. I am being pursued. Being chased.

NYT: Do you live by yourself?

Sofer: I live with my cat, Leo, an orange tabby with a gorgeous coat. The name Leo, shared by many popes and Byzantine emperors, really suits him. He is definitely the absolute monarch of my apartment.

NYT: Do you want to go back to Iran?

Sofer: In my heart, I do wish I could go back. I don’t feel rooted here. But New York is so welcoming and homey. I enjoy New York. It’s not like I am ungrateful. I enjoy New York like a guest would enjoy a lovely hotel.

Print Page

Behind the Scenes of CNN's God's Warriors

IMRA (Independent Media Review Analysis) drops a feed into my RSS reader every day. They are one of my sources for news as it relates to the Jews from the horse's mouth. I am not always in total agreement with them, but they always do back up their statements with clear cut sources. Today's feed raised my eyebrows, only because yesterday evening, I was finally able to catch the CNN segment I had originally missed which was the feature on the "Jewish Warriors". My opinions will appear in a different post, as I think you'll find this exchange of emails, prior to the airing of the program extremely relevant.

You might want to also take note of the email addresses if you wish to express your own sentiments on the matter. I have highlighted them for your easy retrieval.

Exchange of letters between Hebron Jewish community spokesman and CNN prior to CNN, Hebron, and "Warriors of G-d"

Hebron and CNN - Following screening of the CNN production "Warriors of G-d", including a 2 hour segment dealing with Judaism and Israel, I think it appropriate to post the following two letters, between myself and Mr. Jonathan Klein, President of CNN/USA. The two letter are, I think, self-explanatory.

I must note, that following my 'revelation,' I notified a number of people who had, like myself, agreed to participate one way or another, with CNN. Some of them immediately ceased all contact with CNN and refused to take part in the program. Others decided to continue. Each person can draw their own conclusions.
David Wilder. Hebron
From: Hebron [mailto:hebron@hebron.org.il]

Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 5:44 PM

To: public.information@cnn.com

'Subject: Cnn production of Religion and politics - produced by Andy Segal

Importance: High
Dear Mr. Klein,
A couple of months ago I was approached by one of your Israeli correspondents about participating in a program produced by CNN, dealing with politics and religion in Judaism. He introduced me to Mr. Andy Segal, who is producing the program, and we had several lengthy conversations, first by phone, and later in person, here in Hebron, in Israel. Our conversations were quite open and frank - I saw no reason to hide my suspicions about cooperating with CNN - the network's reputation concerning Israel is less than positive. We discussed this at great length, and at one point Andy requested to center the program around Hebron and the Hebron Jewish community.

Following much thought and conversations with colleagues of mine, I decided to refuse Andy's request, but did agree to participate in a more minor role in the program, basing our response to each request on its own merits.
A couple of weeks ago Andy again made contact and we spoke of several possibilities. He was interested in speaking to a family which had experienced terror first-hand, and had chosen to remain in Hebron, despite their loss and the dangers involved. I decided to try to assist and introduced him to Mrs. Tzippy Shlissel, whose father, Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan, was killed by terrorists in Hebron some eight and a half years ago. He met with her three times: first an introductory meeting, followed by an in-depth interview, and followed, earlier today, by a filmed interview and filming of the family, home, etc. So far so good.

However. When we first discussed this project I asked Andy who was responsible for writing the script. He told me that he would be working on it, but there would be others involved. To the best of my recollection, my impression was that he was 'in charge' and for the most part, would determine the outlook of the script and would be 'on top' of the entire project.

This afternoon, that illusion shattered when he mentioned to me that in a few months, the chief international CNN correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, would be coming to Israel and would probably also want to speak with Mrs. Shlissel. Almost in shock, I asked him what her role is in this project. He told me that she is the narrator. I asked if she would have anything to do with writing the script and was told that "I will write the first draft." "Will she have anything to do with writing the final draft?" "Yes." I then told Andy that had I known she was involved with this project I would not have had anything at all to do with it.

I am personally familiar with Christiane Amanpour. A number of years ago (about 10 years ago) she interviewed me. I had the dubious pleasure to have her yell and scream at me on camera. She obviously wanted me to scream back, so as to show her viewers 'an extremist from Hebron' exploding on camera. I refused to play into her hands and answered all her questions with a relaxed, calm smile on my face. However, I never forgot the interview. I haven't been yelled at, on camera, by too many journalists.

How can CNN produce an 'objective program' about Israel and religious settlers, when one of the prime elements of the program is known to be vehemently 'anti-Israel' and certainly 'anti-settlers,' so to speak? Her reputation is so blatantly prejudiced.

For example:
QUOTE: So when people ask: "Why did the Palestinian people elect a terrorist group?" The answer is because they see them as a lifeline. Each time I go to the Palestinian territory of Gaza, I am shocked by the reality on the ground. On a recent visit, I passed through a short tunnel from the First World in Israel and emerged into the Third World that is Gaza. The poverty there is among the worst in the world.

Hamas officials told me they did not expect to win the election as overwhelmingly as they did. They say their main priority now is to meet the demands of the people for a better life. But that may be impossible, because Israel and the United States refuse to deal with Hamas and have already cut funding to the new Palestinian government."

Posted By Christiane Amanpour

CNN Correspondent: 11:03 AM ET
END QUOTE

A woman who justifies and backs Hamas is going to deal 'fairly' with Jews in Hebron, or anywhere else in Judea and Samaria? She is going to present us as 'religious nuts and fanatics' who are endangering world peace. She is certainly not going to present anything that could be considered positive concerning us, our lifestyles or our beliefs. She is certainly not going to present a balanced, objective program dealing with religious Jews and Eretz Yisrael.

I basically told Andy that I was out - and wouldn't have anything more to do with the project. I put a rather large degree of trust in Andy - I believed that he had the possibility to present an object, balanced program. However, I cannot have any trust whatsoever in Christiane Amanpour, whose reputation stands before her. Andy Segal told me that you are responsible for this project, that you initiated it. Without being presumptuous, I think it fair to demand that Christiane Amanpour be removed from this project. I cannot imagine that such a biased person could have anything to do with a project dealing with religion and politics in Israel. The results are a foregone conclusion, even before the cameras start rolling. The question is whether the program you are producing is to be an interesting objective account of religion and politics in Israel, or another CNN-produced Israel (settler)-bashing?
I await your reply and hope, very much, to learn that Ms. Amanpour will no longer have anything to do with this project.
Sincerely,

David Wilder

Spokesman, The Jewish Community of Hebron

From: Klein, Jon [mailto: Jon.Klein@turner.com]

Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:41 PM

To: hebron@hebron.org.il

Subject: Response to your email dated January 30, 2007
Mr. David Wilder

Spokesman. The Jewish Community of Hebron -February 12, 2007

Dear Mr. Wilder,
Let me begin by thanking you for your comments. I am sorry that the Jewish Community of Hebron has chosen not to be represented in our documentary. Our mission is to produce a program that goes far beyond what is normally seen in daily news broadcasts so that our viewers can better understand the people who risk their lives -- and their children's - to live on land they believe is their birthright: Jerusalem and the West Bank. Our goal is not to find fault or fix blame -- but to simply understand. To that end, I believe that you are missing a prime opportunity to be heard, not only in the United States, but in 180 countries around the world, and I would ask you to reconsider.
Regardless of your decision, I stand by CNN's reputation as a fair and impartial source of information. On conflicts as heated and long-standing as that between Israel and the Palestinians it is not surprising that "both sides" are at times unhappy with our reporting. We often hear that we are biased towards the other side, and that may be the surest indication of our impartiality.

Christiane Amanpour is one of our most talented and prominent international correspondents, and she is supported by a team of our strongest producers. In fact Andy Segal, our senior producer, is one of the best. As you probably have discovered, Andy comes to the table prepared. He is fair, honorable and ethical - a journalist who takes his work very seriously. He has produced a number of award-winning documentaries. Andy and his team are researching, producing and writing this documentary, and you can be assured that his reporting will shape the final program. As a spokesman for a prominent organization, I am sure you appreciate the need for others input before you represent the positions and views of Hebron's Jewish community. The same is true at CNN - not only will Ms. Amanpour have input, but so will editors and executives, to insure journalist standards and practices are met. In the end a program like this will be fully vetted and sourced.

I can honestly say that if you decide not to contribute to this program - perhaps the fullest exploration of this issue ever seen on western television - you may regret missing the opportunity to let millions of viewers understand your story. I hope you will reconsider your decision, but if not, you can be assured the program will meet the highest standards of journalism.

Sincerely,

Jon Klein
President, CNN U.S.

One Time Warner Center

New York, NY 10019

Related Posts: More on CNN, Backlash Against CNN, Critiquer Israel

Print Page

Why does Egypt choose to stoop so low?

If you think this article is written by the West, think again. The criticism is coming from Lebanese journalist Rami G. Khouri of the Daily Star staff: life is delicious! He even invokes the Magna Carta; we can only go up from here.

There is a special sadness to the diminution of giants, to great men and countries that choose to stoop low. Egypt, in this respect, mystifies us once again, as its ruling regime resorts to repression and harassment of those who would challenge it politically and demand more democratic governance.

Why a society with such a tremendous reservoir of human talent, historical legitimacy, state credibility and modern political leadership in the Arab world would need to use authoritarian police state tactics against its own citizens who engage in peaceful politics is one of the great, painful tragedies of the Arab world. Egypt is one of the few Arab countries that can influence the rest of the region, given the power, legitimacy, and respect of its unique legacy of Arab statehood, nationhood, citizenship rights, constitutionalism and pluralism. To lose Egypt to the emotional and intellectual dungeons of authoritarianism is to lose immense Arab treasure and potential.

I was reading two particular texts last week - James Daugherty's book "The Magna Charta," and an article in the current Middle East Report Online magazine entitled "Boxing In the Brothers" by Samer Shehata and Joshua Stacher of Georgetown and Syracuse universities, respectively - when I also learned that the prominent Egyptian sociologist and democracy activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim and his colleagues at the Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development were once again being harassed and perhaps threatened.

The Magna Carta of June 1215 limited the power of the king of England and sparked three-quarters of a millennium of democratic transformation and constitutionalism around the world. This reached Egypt, Syria and other Arab lands in the early 20th century, especially in the 1930s and 1940s. The Arab world today, however, is often a landscape of authoritarian excesses, where massive police and security resources preserve the incumbency of the ruling elite and prevent any serious challenge to it. Many Egyptians and other Arabs persist in the spirit of those who promulgated the Magna Carta - ordinary men and women who want only to live in dignity, freedom and equality, who want their authorities to treat them and all citizens with respect and decency.

The Egyptian government in the past three years, however, has stepped up pressure on its critics or challengers, using a variety of traditional means: arrests and harassment, massive police intervention against demonstrators, legal charges that often include long periods of detention, mass arrests, semi-secret military trials, organized press attacks, and, most recently, constitutional amendments that whittle away opposition impact and entrench regime incumbency.

None of this is new or surprising, as the ruling, military- and security-anchored National Democratic Party (NDP) and its antecedents have used these tactics many times before in the past half a century. What is surprising is why they feel they need to do this. Their Egyptian and Arab reservoir of legitimacy, national cohesion, identity and regional influence is rich and enduring. They can stand like giants. Why do they choose to stoop low sometimes?

Scores of Muslim Brotherhood members are now on trial again in military court, peaceful student demonstrations are broken up, and activists like Ibrahim and his colleagues are arrested, threatened and harassed. An active press campaign is under way against Ibrahim and other Egyptian democracy activists. NDP members have filed legal requests to close the Ibn Khaldoun center and try its director and staff on the usual array of quite ridiculous charges, such as treason, harming the national interest, tarnishing the country's image abroad, and showing contempt for religion.

When I caught up with Ibrahim in a London hotel a few days ago, he confirmed his concern that, based on advice from friends and colleagues in Cairo, a fate worse than jail might await some critics of the government, so he plans to stay out of the country for some time. His age and delicate health would make it hard for him to survive another round of jails, trials and personal abuse.

The government has also revived a tactic that was last used in 2001, which is to try civilians in military tribunals, including 40 Muslim Brotherhood members whose case by the government was initially rejected by civilian courts. Earlier this year the Mubarak government pushed through 34 amendments to the Constitution, which Shehata and Stacher suggest aim to "further solidify the legal underpinnings of authoritarianism in Egypt." Some of the amendments ban political activity based on religion, make it almost impossible for an independent candidate to run for president, eliminate the impressive system of judicial supervision of elections that had been established in 2000, and provide constitutional anchorage for wide-ranging anti-terrorism measures, such as using military and exceptional courts, and allowing the police to search homes and conduct electronic surveillance without warrants.
It is very sad to watch this spectacle, and harder yet for Egyptians themselves to endure its consequences. Watching men, women and countries of stature choose to become small is more pain than the Arab world should have to endure.

Print Page

A Canadian's View of Arab Fundamentalism

Ed: I found this article in an unusual source of news for me, Concordia University in Canada. In it, Mr. André Patry tries to explain to us why we cannot seem to understand or reconcile this growing phenomenon in the arab world. He shocks us by telling us that the Arabs have just entered the 15th Century, rather than the 21st, and if we peel the centuries back, we will begin to understand their behavior. The article is in French, but if you scroll to the bottom of the original page, there is an "english" click.

André Patry
liens par Aimée Kligman

Dans les débats qui entourent les accommodements raisonnables et le fondamentalisme islamique, notamment à travers la question du port du voile, peu de cas est fait de la perspective historique. Voici donc un (autre) regard sur ces questions. Les fondamentalistes rêvent d’un retour à la pureté originelle. Exaspérés par la domination du monde chrétien – ou judéo-chrétien – qui impose au monde musulman sa vision des choses et tente de le soumettre à des valeurs tenues pour décadentes et licencieuses, les intégristes cherchent, avant tout, à retrouver et à valoriser une identité réduite, depuis des siècles, à l’évocation d’un passé glorieux et parfois mythique.

Pour parvenir à leurs fins, ces intégristes interprètent à la lettre certains passages du Coran qui ne sont, parfois, que le reflet d’une culture archaïque largement déconnectée des réalités contemporaines.Pour comprendre les intégristes, il faut se souvenir d’un aspect trop souvent oublié : l’islam vient d’entrer dans son propre 15e siècle. Quelle image le monde occidental offrait-il en son 15e siècle ?

Il était alors à l’ère de l’inquisition et des bûchers, à l’ère de l’expulsion massive des juifs et des musulmans de la Péninsule hispanique, et aussi de la persécution et de la mise à mort des minorités converties, sous prétexte que leur conversion n’était pas sincère. Le 15e siècle chrétien vit Jean Hus condamné par le concile de Constance et brûlé vif en 1415. Il vit Jeanne d’Arc suppliciée à Rouen en 1431. Il entendit aussi la prédication enflammée de Savonarole, qui serait considéré de nos jours comme un intégriste. Des événements de même nature devaient se poursuivre durant tout le 16e siècle ; et c’est en l’an 1600 que le philosophe Giordano Bruno fut brûlé à Rome comme hérétique.

Il convient donc, tout en les condamnant, de juger les intégristes musulmans à l’aune de notre propre 15e siècle. Parmi les positions spectaculaires défendues par les fondamentalistes musulmans, il y a celles qui concernent le statut de la femme. D’une part, ces intégristes réclament le retour à la polygamie, parce que, affirment certains d’entre eux, la monogamie incite à la dépravation des mœurs, favorise la prostitution et provoque le sida. D’autre part, ils veulent que la femme retourne au foyer, qu’elle soit soumise à son mari et qu’elle se couvre la tête, voire le visage, lorsqu’elle sort.

L’islam, il est juste de le reconnaître, a considérablement amélioré le statut possédé au 7e siècle par la femme arabe. Mais les Arabes, héritiers d’une mentalité millénaire, tout en se conformant extérieurement aux prescriptions du Coran (l’islam est souvent une orthopraxie), ont continué, en maints endroits, à opprimer et à humilier la femme, considérée comme un être mineur, porté par nature à la lubricité.

Read more...

Print Page

Honoring Moishe Segal in Switzerland

Moishe Segal took

French citizenship in 1937

and became Marc Chagall,

the great French artist.

MARTIGNY, Switzerland (EJP)

No greater tribute to Marc Chagall can be offered than that of the superb exhibition in the Swiss town of Martigny in the Canton of Valais which opened earlier this month. The display, by the Fondation Gianadda, offers a retrospective collection of the artist’s work on the 120th anniversary of his birth. Chagall was born in the Russian town of Vitebsk on July 6 1887.

This is not the first time that the Fondation Gianadda has presented Chagall. In 1991 many of the pictures from the auditorium of the old Jewish Theatre of Moscow were allowed out of Russia and displayed in Switzerland. Some of these are on view once again. The eight metre-long 1920 work “Le Repas de noces” (the Wedding Banquet) represents many aspects of long-ago Jewish life, with all the colour, music and joy which such an event merited.

Vitality The exhibition is aptly and poetically entitled “Between Earth and Sky” and the pictures mostly come from Chagall’s early Russian days and are on loan from the Tretiakov Gallery in Moscow. The images of red cows, bunches of flowers, rabbis and goats fill the gallery. All who see these images in books or postcards will respond to the scenes differently, and experience the very essence of another life, yet one with which the viewer can somehow relate. It is the vitality, the tradition of music and dance, the tradition of simple religiosity, of family Sabbaths and the lighting of candles.

The simplicity and innocence of a way of life soon to be extinguished for ever. Early life Moishe Segal, the son of a fishmonger with seven sisters and one brother, died at the age of 89 and is buried in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the France he loved. He took French citizenship in 1937 and became Marc Chagall, the great French artist. However in his long and fruitful life,both artistically and personally he never lost the visual memories of his childhood.

Moishe Segal took French citizenship in 1937 and became Marc Chagall, the great French artist. Chagall painted until a very great age and became internationally renowned. He designed for the Paris Opera Garnier, stained glass windows for great religious buildings, the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem, illustrated books by Gogol, mixed with the Parisian intelligentsia of the day Blaise Cendrars, Apollinaire and Max Jacob. French citizen or not he was forced into exile in the U.S.A in 1941 and only returned to France in 1947.

"Chagall : entre ciel et terre".
Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Martigny, until 19 November 2007.
Rue du Forum 59 1920 Martigny (Suisse) Phone: + 41 27 722 39 78



Print Page

Nazi Gerd Honsik arrested in Málaga

Ed: Geez did we interrupt a vacation or something?

He is wanted by the Austrian judiciaryThe Nazi veteran Gerd Honsik has been arrested in Málaga today, wanted by the Austrian Judiciary.

Honsik, who has always denied that the genocide of the Jews and the gas chambers even existed, was found guilty of that denial in Vienna in 1992, and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but he escaped custody to Spain.He has written a book ‘Absolution of Hitler’ and magazine articles for ‘Halt’ and in both denied the existence of the gas chambers, claiming that the chimney at Auschwitz was only 40cms long down from the roof.

The National Court in Spain has previously refused an application by Honsik to be considered as a political refugee, a decision which was later supported by the Spanish Supreme.

Print Page

More on CNN - From Naomi Ragen

Friends,

Now here's an idea worth thinking about.

Hitting CNN in their pocketbook.
Naomi

Dear Naomi

CNN is thrilled if people from Israel write nasty letters TO CNN- they will share that with their Arab and lefty viewers, and then they will write letters.

As a former CNN radio corresondent in Israel, and as someone who has accompnied numerous CNN crews on a per diem basis over thepast 20 years, I can attest to the fact that what bothers and hurts CNN would be to hit them where it hurts the most - with their advertisers.

You may quote what I am saying to anyone. Please ask those who viewed and taped the program to determine who the advertisers are. I suggest that one advertiser be targeted. That will drive them crazy at CNN more than anything else. You can use and apply this methodology to almost any media outlet hit then in the pocket book with their advertisers.

Brachot Rabot
DAVID BEDEIN

Print Page

Backlash Against CNN's "God's Warriors"

ed: I missed the first of the three episodes that dealt with the Jewish State, much to my chagrin, but will catch it when it is re-run this week-end on CNN. However, without even seeing it, I sensed that outrage would start immediately after, and it has. Here's what I found in my mail this morning.

This is a copy of a letter written by Sondra Oster Baras, who appeared in the Jewish segment of the trilogy aired on CNN. She addressed the producer of the show, Jen Christensen.

Dear Jen,

Well, I saw it last night. Your portrayal of me was fair. My
only comment was that I never said I had a calling from G-d to do
what I do. I don't have that kind of direct line, although manyof my Christian friends believe they do. What I said is that is
was my calling -- meant in a far more secular way. I also said
that it is something I believe G-d wants me to be doing. However, all that is minor compared to what I believe is the incredibly slanted presentation you made.

There have been exactly 4 Jewish terrorist incidents or attempted incidents and you devoted half the program to them, discussing each one in detail. The people who support these are a fringe minority and roundly condemned by 98% of the settlement movement. People like Chanan Porat and myself are the representative, and yet you gave far more time to Yehuda Etzion and David HaIvri and the others who support this position.

If you gave similar time to every single Arab terrorist attack, the show would go on for days if not years. Is that fair? There is a great difference between believing that what you are doing is right and just according to your faith and taking that faith to crusader proportions, which we absolutely won't do. Also, the legality of the settlements issue was so incredibly biased. Eugene Rostow, undersecretary of State wrote a seminal article defending their legality in the 80's, as did the Israeli Supreme Court -- yet not a mention was made of that perspective.

This is not just about the conflict between Torah law and democracy and international law. International law itself can be seen from two different perspectives and that is exactly how Menachem Begin saw it. And, as a former attorney myself, that is exactly how I see it. Why was that not discussed? And since when is Gershon Gorenberg the international expert on all of this? He comes from a clearly biased position, and yet he was placed in the position of the reasoned intellectual on the issue. As were the other "experts" and historians you quoted.Why did you not quote a single legal or historical expert on the other side? If you needed help finding some, I would have been glad to help.

Jen, I am disappointed in you and the others. But I am not surprised. Please pass this on to Andy and Jody and anyone else involved. I just do not have their e-mail addresses with me -- I am currently in LA. I plan on writing a detailed letter evaluating and analyzing the program when I get back to the US and will send it to you as well as to others. If you'd like to discuss this in person, I am on my cellphone -.

However, all that being said, I am glad I participated if only to ensure that at least a small part of the program included sane commentary. How sad that this is how we need to see CNN.
Shalom,
Sondra Oster Baras
Director, Israel Office
Christian Friends of Israeli Communities

Print Page

La Guerre des Cons N'aura Pas Lieu

Merci Iosseff Hakim d'envoyer cet article!
(edits by Aimée Kligman)

Ma chère Aimée
Voila un petit article publié il y a deux ans sur l'un des anciens groupes des juifs d'Egypte(c'est un article vrai!)

- voilà ce qui s'est passé en décembre 1947 au Ministère des Affaires Etrangères d'Egypte- dont ses locaux se trouvaient - rue Kasr-el-Nil !

Presque immédiatement après le 29 Novembre 1947 au lendemain de la décision historique de l'ONI - se réunirent au Caire les chefs ou les représentants de grands choix de 7 pays arabes! La réunion était destinée - comme on devine - à trouver la bonne solution pour s'opposer par les armes à la decision de l'ONU et mettre fin à la présence juive en Terre Promise...

Dans une lourde atmosphere de cigarettes opiacées se retrouvèrent l'un à la suite de l'autre: Tout d'abord l'hôte Nokrachy Pacha - premier ministre d'Egypte (assassinné au Caire quelques mois plus tard) entouré de conseillés - secrétaires-infirmière germanique et médecin. Venait ensuite le prince Faysal - représentant de la très prospère Arabie Seoudite! Son père Ibn -El-Seoud - réussit à unifier les tribus des pillards et d'assassins qui sillonaient la presqu'ile
arabique en largeur et en longueur en passant leurs chefs par le fil de l'épée.

Le seul rescapé de cette boucherie fut Adb'allah le Hachemite qui se vit placé par les Anglais roi d'un pays-désert entre la Terre-Promise l'Irak la Syrie...et à fin de restreindre le territoire destiné aux Juifs par la déclaration Balfour. A ce propos une grosse tête anglaise s'énorgueilla dans une insolence toute "british" : En trois coups de crayon sur ma table de travail à Londres j'ai crée un Royaume!.. Le prince Faysal était un modeste; époux d'une seule et unique femme dans un monde ou la valeur d'un chef se mesure au volume de son harem... Et non seulement par le nombre... aussi par le poids...

L'Arabe ne jetait que de regards de dédain envers celles qui ne dépassaient pas les 80 kilos. Le slogan de la Pepsi-Cola Quality and Quantity...était à l'honneur! Le père de Faysal Inb el-Seoud avait formulé un désir: Mourir en route de combat à Jérusalem.... Mais il n'avait pas de troupes pour participer à ce combat. Cependant il menaçait de fermer les puits du pétrole si les occidentaux ne se ravisaient pas de changer leur attitude à l'égard de l'Etat Juif en cours de route. Vis à vis du prince se trouvait un autre hachemite chassé de l'Arabie et devenu par la vertu des anglais premier ministre d'Irak.. Nouri-el-Said... assassiné en 1958... qui rêvait de s'accorder ainsi q'aux anglais le Croissant fertile de la Grande Syrie...de la méditerranée jusqu'au golfe persique.

Ce que les Syriens souhaitaient aussi mais en sens inverse... du Golfe persique jusqu'à la méditerranée....y compris Beyrouth. Tout près Riad El-Solh le libanais - le plus antisémite parmi tous ces chefs d'Etat - rappellons premier ministre d'un état catholique - relamait une guerre immédiate contre les sionistes tout d'abord par guerilla ensuite par des armées régulières... Une grande suédoise - Sonja Bergen - debout derrière lui massait tout le long de la réunion la nuque et les épaules de Riad...Pour le reste... ça ne se passait pas devant tant de monde.

A sa droite Jamil Mardam - grand militant syrien condamné comme Riad el-Solh lui-même à mort par les français et par les turcs! Le syrien aussi - craignant les visées impérialistes de l'Irak était grand partisan de la guerre immédiate à condition de ne pas y participer. "Lorsque nous allons intervenir dit ce dernier, il faudra que l'ONU place un soldat international devant chaque juif de Palestine s'il veut protéger les sionistes. Le délégué Yemenite était le grand inconnu... Il se trouvait enfoncé dans un fauteuil - une blonde de chaque côté. Azam Pacha - le grand et mince secrétaire de la ligue arabe comptait les perles de son chapelet tout en naviguant entre les propos contradictoires des participants! Amin El-Husseini présent ne voulait pas des armées arabes régulières de crainte d'en faire de sa région une colonie egyptienne ou syrienne.

Nokrachy - l'Egyptien - se fit clair: Nous donnerons des armes et de l'argent! Pas d'armée! nous sommes trop engagés avec les anglais au Canal de Suez pour nous embarquer dans une guerre véritable. En bref tous voulaient combattre mais sans participer - fomentant les bandes palestiniennes à occasionner autant de mal que possible aux Juifs!

(ici l'auteur continue les détails... mais j'abrège...) Finalement la décision fut prise par Azam Pacha: Empêcher à tout prix la création d'un état juif.. Fournir armes et argent aux guerillas palestiniens. Placer à la tête de ces opérations le généralisme irakien Ismail Safouat - qui livra combat 20 ans avant aux Dardanelles...(extraits de: "La guerre des cons n'aura pas lieu")

Print Page

Mohammed's Greatest Miracle Was Sex

Thank you Viviane Paolini for sending in this article

Apostle’s Greatest Miracle Was Sex
By Ayesha Ahmed
(English Edits by Aimée Kligman)

Apostle’s greatest miracle was not the Quran. It was his capacity for lovemaking. Allah had given him the libido of 30 men.

Most infidels don’t even consider the Quran to be a big deal. They say a village idiot can come up with such a book. They claim that any book is better than the Quran. But I ask them, can anyone match the apostle’s lovemaking prowess? Can they at the age 60+ make love to 10 young women in a single night? Yes, the apostle could do it. That is an irrefutable proof of his prophethood, which cannot be duplicated.

Bukhari,Volume 1, Book 5, Number 268: “Prophet was given the strength (sexual) of thirty men”. Apostle could make love (continuously) to all his wives (9 to 11) in one night. (ed: does not appear to suffer from ECD)

Volume 1, Book 5, Number 268: "The Prophet used to visit all his wives in a round, during the day and night and they were eleven in number. The Prophet was given the strength of thirty (men)."
Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 62, Number 6: The Prophet used to go round (have sexual relations with) all his wives in one night

Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 5, Number 270: Aisha said, "I scented Allah's Apostle and he went round (had sexual intercourse with) all his wives."

PROPHET SULAIMAN WAS GIVEN SIMILAR STRENGTH
Such sexual capability and stamina is Allah’s miracle, which is only given to prophets. Prophet Sulaiman used to have sex with 100 women in one night. Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 74i: Allah's Apostle said, "Once Solomon, son of David said, '(By Allah) Tonight I will have sexual intercourse with one hundred (or ninety-nine) women each of whom will give birth to a knight who will fight in Allah's Cause.

EVEN GIBRAEEL VISITED APOSTLE’S BEDROOM
His lovemaking was complimented by visits of archangel Gibraeel. Once the apostle even introduced Gibraeel to Ayesha. Ordinary mortals cannot see angels, needless to say she was clueless and could not see him.

Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number 112:
Narrated Abu Salama:
'Aisha said, "Once Allah's Apostle said (to me), 'O Aish ('Aisha)! This is Gabriel greeting you.' I said, 'Peace and Allah's Mercy and Blessings be on him, you see what I don't see' " She was addressing Allah 's Apostle.
ALL HIS OTHER WIVES WATCHED HIM MAKE LOVE
Apostle’s love making was outstanding and was watched (and admired) by all his wives....
Bukhari, Book 008, Number 3450: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) had nine wives. They (all the wives) used to gather every night in the house of one where he had to come (and stay that night).
PEEPING TOMS ALSO WATCHED
Bukhari , Volume 9, Book 83, Number 38a: A man peeped into one of the dwelling places of the Prophet.
Muslim, Book 025, Number 5369: Anas b. Malik reported that a person peeped in some of the holes (in the doors) of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him).
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 83, Number 38: Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi:
A man peeped through a hole in the door of Allah's Apostle's house,
ALLAH BLESSED HIM WITH SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR SEX
Allah not only gave him extraordinary capability for sexual activity but also gave him special privileges to use those capabilities. Q33.50 : O Prophet! In addition to all your wives, slave girls and captured women, we have made lawful to you all your first cousins and any believing woman if she gave herself to you, and if you desire her.
ALLAH BLESSED HIM WITH DIVINE INSPIRATIONS AFTER SEX
Allah blessed his lovemaking with divine inspirations afterwards.
Tabari Vl7, page :7 Ayesha said “Inspiration came to him when he and I were in a single blanket”.
Bukhari Vol 5 Bk57 N 119: Prophet said, By Allah, the Divine Inspiration never came to me while I was under the blanket of any woman except Aesha.”
WOMEN OFFERED THEMSELVES TO HIM
Apostle got solicited by hot women all the time (apparently by the publicity of his greatness in bed)..
Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 62, Number 24: A woman came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have come to give you myself
Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 62, Number 48:
Narrated Hisham's father: Khaula bint Hakim was one of those ladies who presented herself to the Prophet. 'Aisha said, "Doesn't a lady feel ashamed for presenting herself to a man?"
Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 62, Number 53:
Narrated Thabit Al-Banani: "A woman came to Allah's Apostle and presented herself to him, saying, 'O Allah's Apostle, have you any need for me ?' "Thereupon Anas's daughter said, "What a shameless lady she was! Shame! Shame!" Anas said, "She was better than you; she had a liking for the Prophet
Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 54: “A woman presented herself to the Prophet.”
Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 62, Number 58:
Narrated Sahl bin Sad: A woman came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have come to you to present myself to you”
HIGH LIBIDO CAUSED QUICK ARROUSALS
Apostle got aroused at sight of (attractive) women.
Muslim, Book 008, Number 3240: “Jabir reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw a woman, and so he came to his wife, Zainab, as she was tanning a leather and had sexual intercourse with her”.
AROUSED BY CLOSE RELATIVES
One day the Apostle of Allah walked into his adopted son Zaid’s house. Zaid was not there but he caught a glimpse of his voluptuous and beautiful wife Zainab (she was apostle’s first cousin) in her birthday suit.

Tabari wrote: "One day Muhammad went out looking for Zaid. Now there was a covering of hair cloth over the doorway, but the wind had lifted the covering so that the doorway was uncovered. Zaynab was in her chamber, undressed, and admiration for her entered the heart of the Prophet". The admiration aroused him instantly, which Zainab also noticed and mentioned it to her husband Zaid later. He rushed to his father’s house and offered Zainab to him. Mohammed worried about possible bad press and refused to accept it. But Allah will not take no for an answer and insisted on their union. Q 33:37 We gave her (Zaid’s wife) unto thee in marriage, so that (henceforth) there may be no sin for believers in respect of wives of their adopted sons”.
AROUSED BY WIFE’S MAIDS
Once he entered his wife Hafsa’s room for some reason. Hafsa was not there but he found her lovely young maid Maria instead. He grabbed her and jumped into the bed with her for a quickie. But the quickie was not quick enough and Hafsa walked in and started yelling. To quiet her down and to please her he promised never to touch her maid again. However Allah did not approve of this sacrifice and revealed the following ayas:
Q66.1 SHAKIR: O Prophet! why do you forbid (yourself) that which Allah has made lawful for you (slave girl Maria); you seek to please your wife(Hafsa)
66.2 Allah has sanctioned for you to break your promise (go sleep with Hafsa’s maid)
AROUSED BY LITTLE GIRLS
The Apostle was helpless because of his 30 man libido and got excited even when he saw little girls.
Ibn Ishaq: Suhayli, 2.79: In the riwaya of Yunus Ibn Ishaq recorded that the apostle saw (Ummu’l-Fadl hen she was baby crawling before him and said, ‘If she grows up and I am still alive I will marry her.’ (ref.10, p. 311)
Muhammad saw Um Habiba the daughter of Abbas while she was fatim (age of nursing) and he said, "If she grows up while I am still alive, I will marry her." (Musnad Ahmad, Number 25636)
AROUSED BY DREAMS OF LITTLE GIRLS
Twice he dreamt of a little girl, the 6 year old pretty daughter of his best friend Abu. She was wrapped in a silk cloth. He uncovered the silk cloth to see more of her.
Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 15:
Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle said (to me), "You have been shown to me twice in (my) dreams. A man was carrying you in a silken cloth and said to me, 'This is your wife.' I uncovered it; and behold, it was you. I said to myself, 'If this dream is from Allah, He will cause it to come true.'" He ended up marrying the 6 year old girl of his dreams.
HIGH LIBIDO CAUSED REALISTIC DAY DREAMING
The Apostle could think of having sex with his wives and it felt just like the real thing..
Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 660:
Narrated Aisha: “Allah's Apostle used to think that he had sexual relations with his wives while he actually had not”.
DRY CLEANING
His daydreaming was so realistic that he even got wet spots on his garments . Ayesha drycleaned those spots. (ed: did they really have dry cleaning in those days?)
Bukhari,Book 002, Number 0572: Ayesha said “ In case I found that (semen) on the garment of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) dried up, I scraped it off with my nails”.
APOSTLE’S LIBIDO HAD ITS LIMITS
The Apostle was turned off instantly whenever he was suspected of shadiness.
One night Ayesha got a punch instead of getting sex because she got suspicious of his strange activities and followed him at night (without his knowledge) to a cemetary, where he stood in darkness waving his hands.
Muslimi, Book 004, Number 2127: Ayesha narrated. "He struck me on the chest which caused me pain.”
(the hadith is too long, one can read on usc.edu/msa)
AL SHANBA GETS KICKED OUT OF BED
When the apostle was in bed with his new young and pretty bride Al Shanba bint Amr bin Ghiffuriya, she told him that if he was a real prophet, his most beloved 2 year old son Ibrahim would not have died of sickness after he prayed day and night for him. Apostle kicked her out and divorced her without consummation of the marriage.
(She was lucky to have been just kicked out. Allah demands death for doubting Mohammed)
(Tabari, vol 9, page 136)

Ed: I like this prophet and I wish more muslims would pick up on this aspect of his life rather than blow themselves up. I'm not too keen on the arousal with children part though. If they follow in his footsteps (using birth control, please), we may have fewer wars on our hands.

Print Page

Egyptian-American academic fears arrest in homeland

Says his criticism of government led to warning
By Paul Schemm, Associated Press
August 23, 2007

CAIRO -- One of Egypt's most outspoken government critics, an Egyptian-American academic, said he has been warned not to return to his native country for fear of arrest "or worse" amid a crackdown on dissidents. In an opinion piece Tuesday in the Washington Post, Saad Eddin Ibrahim described a regime squeezing all forms of opposition in order to engineer an unpopular father-son succession.

"Sadly, this regime has strayed so far from the rule of law that, for my own safety, I have been warned not to return to Egypt," the 68-year-old sociologist wrote. "Regime insiders and those in Cairo's diplomatic circles have said that I will be arrested or worse."

Read the rest of the article in the Boston Globe.

Print Page

Al Shobak - August

So many topics to cover since the last issue of Al Shobak, I'm going to need more than one window at this rate. The diversity of topics is never lacking, and it's always hard to decide what not to include. So let's open the shutters, and see what we can see.

This edition of Al Shobak is dedicated to women all over the world, and is written entirely in French.

Sur les traces de Hillary Clinton

Olivier Ubertalli, Buenos Aires
La Presse, Collaboration spéciale

Cristina Kirchner pourrait en effet devenir la première présidente de l'Argentine, en octobre 2007. On la compare volontiers à l'Américaine Hillary Clinton: comme l'épouse de Bill Clinton, l'Argentine Cristina Fernández de Kirchner est avocate, sénatrice et femme de président. (ed: Entre nous, elle est un peu plus belle que Hillary).

Dans les couloirs de la Casa Rosada, le palais présidentiel, on murmure que son mari, Néstor Kirchner, et le président actuel, rêverait de gouverner deux décennies d'affilée en échangeant le poste suprême avec Kirchner (Cristina) tous les quatre ans. Cristina et Néstor restent mariés et unis dans la conquête du pouvoir. Depuis qu'elle l'a 

croisé en 1974 dans les rangs des jeunesses péronistes de l'Université de droit, le couple forme une association de pouvoir dévastatrice.

Si le couple Kirchner réussit son pari en octobre, il inscrira son nom dans la grande tradition des "mariages politiques". Un classique argentin qui a débuté dans les années 50 avec le président Juan Domingo Péron, dont la deuxième femme, Eva Péron, joua un rôle social et politique gigantesque.

En Inde, l'écrivaine Taslima Nasreen agressée par des activistes musulmans - Des hommes lui ont jetée des objets à la figure et ont tenté de la frapper avec des chaises. Taslima Nasreen s'en est sortie avec quelques bleus. Frapper avec des chaises?? C'est ahurissant.

Examinons le crime de Mme Nasreen. Premièrement, pour être écrivaine, il faut avoir une certaine éducation. Alors on peut déjà appercevoir ce qui chiffone les musulmans. Elle est maudite au Bangladesh, son propre pays. L'aggression contre elle a été justifiée par le président du parti politique "Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen" en disant: "Ce qu'ils ont fait est bien et tous les musulmans d'Hyderabad vont féliciter notre parti pour cela". Salauddin Owaisiwill considère Taslima Nasreen anti-islamiste. Il ajoute: ""Vous ne pouvez pas écrire n'importe quoi juste pour la gloire. Vous devez respecter les sentiments des gens". J'imagine que quand il dit "les gens", les femmes ne sont pas inclues.

Mme Nasreen est en bonne compagnie: elle a une fatwa qui a été proclamée contre elle, tout juste comme Salman Rushdie, un écrivain brilliant. Elle a fuit son pays et s'est retrouvée en Suède où elle a obtenu l'asile politique. Elle est retournée, malheureusement pour elle, vers ses racines en s'installant à Kolkatta. Il y a maintenant un prix sur sa tête qui sera retiré à condition que Nasreen s'excuse, brûle tous ses livres, et quitte l'Inde.

La Gifle de Cécilia à Laura Bush - Décidemment, cette femme me plait vraiment. Nicolas Sarkozy a passé ses vacances ici, aux E.U. dans l'état du Vermont avec sa femme et ses enfants. Il est rentré en France Samedi dernier, mais pas sans nous laisser un bon petit souvenir de son séjour.

Il parait qu'à l'occasion du sommet des G8 ce juin dernier, Laura Bush a officiellement invité Mme Sarkozy pour un "lunch". Qui est la folle qui refuserais une telle invitation? La belle Cecilia a téléphoné à Laura quelques heures avant pour s'excuser sous pretexte d'avoir succombé à une angine blanche. Nicolas a du supporter le couple Bush tout seul..comme on dit en arabe, maskin.

Mais il faut encore croire aux miracles, car le lendemain, Cécilia se ballade en shorts, va à la plage avec ses copines, et termine sa journée en faisant du shopping. Moi je trouve que c'est le meilleur remède pour une angine, qu'elle soit blanche ou noire. Vous ne trouvez pas?

La Chaine CNN Présente un Documentaire sur "God's Warriors" - (Les Guérriers de Dieu) Le programme qui doit durer six heures a commencé hier soir, et continue demain et aprés demain. Chacune des nuits, pour 2 heures, Christiane Amanpour nous donnera les résultats d'un voyage qui a duré huit mois, et touché huit pays. C'est le moment propice d'examiner ce phénomène, surtout en vue que l'activisme religieux bat tous les records, et que la religion a réussi a devenir une force politique.

Trois religions sont sous le microscope: le Judaïsme, l' Islam et le Christianisme. Pour ce documentaire, Amanpour signale que pendant les 30 dernières années, chaque religon a éclaté dans une force politique puissante, consistant des croyants - les "guerriers de Dieu" - qui partagent un mécontentement profond avec la société moderne, et une détermination féroce pour placer Dieu et la religion de nouveau dans la vie quotidienne et aux sièges de la puissance.

Leurs luttes sont à la fois politiques et culturelles, et signalent pouvoir sauver le monde des pêchés qu'ils considèrent avoir corrompu la société, parmi eux, le matérialisme séculaire, l'avarice et corruption sexuelle. Ces derniers auront causé la colère, la division et la crainte. Il n'y a pas de jugement à prononcer ici, sauf peut-être qu'il suffise de dire que n'importe quel fanatique est à craindre.

Une Espagnole accusée de livrer sa fillette à des sévices sexuels

Agence France-Presse
Barcelone, Espagne

Je suis toujours hantée par la pensée que certaines femmes soient capables d'abuser de leurs propres enfants de cette façon. Une femme de 33 ans, qui se disait avoir besoin d'argent, étant donné que le père de ses enfants ne payait pas pour sa pension alimentaire, propose les sévices sexuels de sa petite fille de 2 ans au propriétaire d'un bar. Elle a aussi un garçon de 7 ans. Je me demande comment elle a pu se procurer la cocaïne qu'ils ont trouvée sur elle.....

Je voudrais bien que quelqu'un me dise que je rêve. La petite fille devra subir des examens médicaux qui révèleront si elle a fait l'objet ou non de sévices sexuels. Que faire d'un individu pareil?

Portrait : Heba Qotb brise le tabou de la sexualité - Disons que l'education sexuelle dans le monde arabe existe peu, ou pas du tout. Serions-nous vraiment surpris que c'est une femme qui soulève le sujet, et brise les tabous? Elle s'appelle Heba Gamal Qotb, elle est voilée et musulmane. Vraiment? Oui.

Mais, elle a eu la chance de grandir dans un environement intellectuel, car son père était peintre, et il organisait des salons culturels qui laissaient passer des gens comme Naguib Mahfouz entre autres penseurs et écrivains. En 2000, Heba obtient un diplome en medicine légale de l'université du Caire. Elle choisi comme sujet de thèse de fin d'études "la relation sexuelle dans l'islam".

C'est à l'université de Florida que Heba obtient son doctorat de sexologie qui la prépare pour sa carrière, ainsi que son émission à la TV intitulée "Kalam Kibir" (paroles pour les grands) qui cible les tabous sexuels de la société arabe. Un article fascinant sur une maman moderne de 3 fillettes. Les commentaires aussi sont intéressants à lire.

A la prochaine!

Related Posts: Al Shobak/July

Print Page

On British Hypocrisy

Friends,

Journalist Tom Gross brings to our attention the continuing anti-Jewish, anti-Christian bias of the BBC, whose website defends anti-Semitic remarks as "freedom of speech", but immediately removes anything anti-Muslim. And took a week to remove disgusting remarks about Christianity.

Shocking.

Naomi Ragen

BBC forced to remove Jesus “bastard” slur from its website, but anti-Semitic comments remain

[Tom Gross]

While regularly censoring criticism of Islamic extremism (see, for example, my post yesterday), the BBC allows highly offensive slurs about Christians and even more so about Jews, to remain on its website for weeks at a time, points out the (London) Daily Mail. But now, after a campaign by the Daily Mail and its sister newspaper, The Mail on Sunday, “The BBC has been forced to remove statements from its website referring to Jesus as a ‘bastard’.”

The remarks about Jesus were left as part of a discussion about the death of the Archbishop of Paris. However, the BBC editors have allowed anti-Semitic comments posted by the same person who wrote the Jesus “bastard” remarks, to remain. Among those still up by him on the BBC’s publicly-funded, award-winning website are “The jews in much remembered concentration camps had even better qualitity of freedom that these palestinians have”.

The Daily Mail wanted to test whether the BBC would disallow remarks critical of Muslims, while allowing anti-Semitic remarks. So one Daily Mail reader posted: “No one can surpass the Muslims for denial of their role in Terrorism and Suicide bombing.” The post was “almost immediately deleted by the BBC,” reports the Mail.
The Mail points out that the BBC has, by contrast, allowed “anti-Semitic posts” to remain on its website for over a month now. Among these is: “Zionism is a racist ideology where jews are given supremacy over all other races and faiths. This is found in the Talmud... which allows jews to lie as long as its to non-jews.”

Even after the official Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote a polite letter to the BBC pointing out that the comment had been lifted from a notorious 19th Century anti-Semitic text, “The Talmud Unmasked,” which is still sold by neo-Nazi booksellers in London, the BBC has refused to remove it, citing freedom of speech. The Daily Telegraph today runs a lead

editorial criticizing the week-long refusal of the BBC to remove the Jesus “bastard” remark and says that the BBC’s continuing refusal to make public the independent Balen Report (which is widely rumored to reveal anti-Israel bias verging on anti-Semitism in some BBC Mideast coverage) is “disgraceful.
Print Page

The Queen of Mean dies at 87

 I don't think a mother could love that face either...Leona Helmsley, used to be a model, and attended the same high school I did (at different times). Of course, all the papers covered her death of heart failure at her Connecticut estate, but as a link for this post, I chose a threadbare profile.

Mrs. Hemlsley personified ugliness in every sense of the word, despite her billions made from real estate. It was hard, at one time, to go anywhere in Manhattan, and not spot a building of any importance that didn't have the "Helmsley-Spears" ownership designation. She added her personal savvy to marketing the couple's chain of hotels (she remarried Harry Helmsley in 1972 after divorcing) by appearing in commercials I can still remember.

She will always be remembered for a very specific phrase she uttered when she was fined and jailed for tax evasion: "only the little people pay taxes".

Apparently, her grave site is as oppulent as all the other homes she inhabited with her last husband Harry. Not my kind of Jew.

Print Page

One million Arabs are not worth a Jewish fingernail

The title quote above allegedly appeared on page one of the New York Times on February 28, 1994. It is attributed to Rabbi Yaacov Perrin (click on this link please, as it will explain the context of the Rabbi's statement, otherwise, it will be spun, just as it has been in this article, and countless pro-Palestinian blogs). It is one of the milder quotations cited in an article written by a "Xymphora" in an Italian on line news agency called Uruknet. There are many things that disturb me about this article, and the source that brings the quotations to us.

First, I don't know what a "Xymphora" is. If you are a serious writer, how about giving us your real name, first and last. Secondly, there is a caveat at the bottom of the page, that talks about the site having been subject to several hacking attempts. If you are Italian based, and I assume this is Italy as in Europe, why is your second heading in Arabic? Pardon me, I forget, you are writing from occupied Iraq. Of course, that changes everything.

Should there be a connection between occupied Iraq and Israel? If so, please write another article to educate me on this matter.

Secondly, I regret that you are staying up nights worrying about the "Zionist Empire". Looking at your quotes, you are citing that one can find them here (a link to Wikipedia),-which I was happy to follow, as I am a curious writer. When I landed on the article of reference, the first thing I noticed was that it was headed by the following :

This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedia's deletion policy.Please share your thoughts on the matter at this article's entry on the Articles for deletion page.

To your credit, you gave us another "here" to look at, and I was happy to follow that link as well. I landed on a page entitled "Instructive Quotations Behind the Israeli Propaganda", by Various Authors. So this seems perhaps more legitimate...as I scroll to the bottom to find the names of the various authors. Ok, I have something wait...
About the Author
The author of this compilation of "Instructive Quotations" is currently not known.

Xymphora, you really disappoint me now. You know that in order to be taken seriously as a journalist, and we bloggers are reminded of this daily, you must have reliable sources. Your quotations are very provocative, and mostlikely make eye candy for your Arab readers. Let me give you a couple of hints on good writing:

1) If you are going to quote Israeli Big Boys/Girls making disproportionate statements of this kind, please provide a link to the original quote. Then people like us, who are a little ignorant about some of these statements, can see them in the context in which they were said. I showed you how to do that above, next to the Rabbi's name. It takes a bit of search, but you can do it.

2) When you give me a link, such as the link you provided (perhaps one of a total of three in the whole article) for crocodiles, please don't send me to an article that was written by an Arab that claims that so and so said the same thing. In legalese, we call that hearsay. Not admissible.

I knew that my daughter's law career would turn me into an insufferable pest. But such is life. And oh by the way, regarding your post about looking for English translators from the Arabic, I know a few Israelis that have mastered both languages in addition to their own. If you're tempted, let me know, and perhaps we can work out a deal.

For the curious, the article is here.

Print Page

European Parliament to Host Anti-Israel Hate-Fest

Under the auspices of the UN's Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, a "Conference of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace" will take place on August 30-31 in Belgium. These meetings are part of a round-robin of anti-Israel gatherings organized year-round by the UN's 16-member Division for Palestinian Rights. It all dates back to 1975, when these mechanisms were installed within the UN on the same day that the General Assembly adopted its infamous "Zionism is Racism" resolution. What is new, however, is the venue: the European Parliament in Brussels.
What the conference will pronounce is pre-determined. Carefully pre-determined: the UN's Palestinian Division runs a tightly-controlled operation that accredits only anti-Israel NGOs and speakers. And recently they've become quite clever. Without altering the virulently anti-Israel nature of their meetings, the organizers instead seek to mask their activities — under such innocent-sounding titles as "support for Israeli-Palestinian peace." Moreover, to add credence to their cover, they invite specially approved "Israelis" — a select group of radicals who openly espouse hatred of Israel, claiming the license to do so because of their citizenship. Both tactics give conference organizers the cover they need for their allies and enablers to then use the material.
Among the speakers at the conference are Michel Warschawski, who proudly describes himself as a "well-known anti-Zionist activist." Others speakers include Nurit Peled Elhannan, Amira Hass, Raji Sourani, Jamal Jumaa (Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign), Mohammed Khatib (Popular Committee of Bilin Coordinator), and David Shearer (OCHA). See the recent meeting in South Africa, featuring Gideon Levy and others, to get a sense of what to expect in Brussels.
None of the radical Israeli Jews at the Brussels conference represents even a tiny segment of the Israeli Jewish population. So it's like holding a conference on U.S.-Islamic rapprochement and inviting John Walker Lindh—the American who joined the Taliban—to represent America's position. Technically, Walker is as American as Warschawski and Hass are Israeli. But only a scoundrel or a fool would treat either exercise as anything but a sham.
Who was behind the European Parliament's decision to play host to this poorly disguised hate-fest? With the conference façade removed, who in Europe will now have the courage to speak out?

Print Page

Coming in November: Rendition & Other War Movies

"Rendition" stars Reese Witherspoon as the wife of an Egyptian-born chemical engineer who is arrested without charge and whisked off to a secret detention facility to be quizzed by the CIA. This is only one of several Hollywood ventures into the arena of war movies dealing with current event themes, to include Iraq, Afghanistan and our covert activities with the CIA. The movie industry is also emboldened by the fact that public opinion of the war has soured, and Mr. Bush's support is barely there.

Actually, I think it's high time for Hollywood to tackle some serious subjects, as most Americans are clueless when it comes to either foreign policy or foreign cultures. I don't include New York and California, but again, those two states are really the "mavericks" in the Union. Personally, I was thankful for docudramas such as "United 93" and felt a bit of nausea to learn that more Americans had gone to see spiderman the weekend it opened.

Americans like George Clooney, who are very involved with human rights causes (à la Darfur) produced Syriana, for which we had to buy tickets from a scalper on opening night at the Lincoln Center Theaters. I thought it was superb. CIA intrigues overseas and plenty of Arab involvement. Then there was Spielberg's Munich, which was a nail biter and also dealt with delicate revenge matters involving Mossad, Israel, and the Israeli athletes that were savagely murdered.

I still don't think they've done enough, and it seems they will be making up the deficit through next year. I do see docudramas produced in Iran, Palestine, Israel, Greece about their issues and the world through their lens, which is an eye opener. But they are not in wide distribution, and come to me through public tv broadcasts.

After I returned from Viet Nam, suddenly, I took a keen interest in the war movies I had missed prior to going, and watched them, some more than once. I was also able to get some which were not released in the US. If only to get a different perspective.

John Cusack channeled his anger into a movie called "Grace is Gone", due for general release in October. He said his desire to make the film was born out of anger at the decision by the Pentagon to ban publication of photos showing flag-draped coffins returning from battlefields. That was another gem to come out of the current administration.

Movies mirror life, and sometimes, it may be the other way around. When it is in your face however, it may make you change your mind about whom to support during an election.

Click here for the article.

Print Page

Est-il Permis de Critiquer Israel?

The Title Post is the name of a book written by political thinker, Pascal Boniface, published 4 years ago. The book apparently tries to explain that Israel is unique in that it is allowed to practice certain violations on its territorial land in the name of self preservation. Further elucidation on the subject of anti-zionism, anti-semitism and Judaism makes us understand that these terms are not interchangeable and mutually exclusive.

The greater picture comes through the article in question, which appeared in the English version of Asharq Alawsat with a heading of "Jews Against Israel". I had a sense of déjà-vu as I coursed through the writing: it occurred to me that at one time, not so much lately, criticizing our government or our President for his erroneous policies, in and out of state, was considered anti-American. This had many of us on the left thinking we were heading for a fascist state. After all, in America, freedom of speech and of the press, were fundamental rights we were not eager to abandon for some fanatical ghosts that existed in George Bush's mind.

Could a similar situation exist in Israel? And could it be that there are a few lucid Israelis who can see a little further than the tip of their elongated nose?

This would be great for a discussion on the Juifs Sans Barrieres Group. Here's the article.

Print Page

An Opportunity to Experience

I have heard and seen about such experiences of meetings and conversations between Arabs and Jews, and the scenario follows the identical path every time. Refusal, suspicion, relenting, meeting, shouting, accusing, role playing, eating, warming up to the "enemy", exchanging emails on departure.

This particular meeting described occurred in 2002; the author does not speak about the experience being repeated any time since. So I have written to him. I think I have a slightly better idea: let's involve sephardic Jews this time. After all, they have lived alongside arabs for millenia, and understand them better than anyone. We could be the bridge between the Arab World and the rest of the Jews. I'm hoping for a positive answer, and will keep you posted. In the meantime, enjoy this article.

By George A. Gorayeb
First Published: August 18, 2007

In November, 2002, sixteen people, half of them Jewish and half Arab-American, met an hour north of New York City for a weekend dialogue workshop. Most of them had not dared anything like this before. When they gathered Friday evening for introductions, anxiety was visible on all the participants' faces. The mistrust was palpable.

One participant had served in the Israeli Army decades ago. It seemed to some of us that his only previous conversations with Arabs had been while he was holding a rifle and they were answering his questions. The introductions caused some nervous laughter and an amazing process began. Seldom in our lives had we been compelled to more directly face our own prejudices.

A few months prior, I agreed to have dinner with a man named Zachary Berk. He is Jewish and I am of Syrian/Lebanese ancestry. We met to discuss creating an organization to promote Mideast peace. We were not sure whether we could overcome our suspicions and be able to collaborate, but nonetheless quickly became friends. We are both businessmen and were anti-Viet Nam war activists in college. We discussed our mutual admiration for Martin Luther King and non-violent movements like Mahatma Gandhi's efforts to free India.

We ultimately decided that we would take the risk and organize our first peace retreat. He would recruit Jewish participants and I would recruit Arab participants. It proved more challenging than we anticipated. Most people were either too uncomfortable or rejected the idea as a waste of time that would lead to nothing. Committing to spend a weekend with a group of strangers, half of whom you might really dislike, is not most people's idea of fun.

But we ultimately coaxed enough participants to attend and we found ourselves uncomfortably sitting in a circle to hear each other's life stories on a Friday evening at a Girl Scout Retreat Center. Most participants found the interaction very stressful. I was not sure if this social experiment would explode into a screaming match lacking all constructive communication. If that happened, the opinions people held would just be reinforced.

The attitudes that evening reflected years of frustration with the other side. The Jewish participants expressed anguish at suicide bombers, religious extremists consumed by blind hatred and years of Arab rejections to Israeli overtures of peace. The Arab participants complained of the suffering, oppression, and humiliation endured by the Palestinians and Israeli rejections of Arab overtures to make peace. Much of the interaction was exactly what we would all expect of such a group. It seemed unlikely to change any minds or hearts.

We broke for dinner and ensured that there were an equal number of Jewish and Arab guests at each table. As we broke bread together, the dialogue was more civil. People described their families, and even childhood memories. There was laughter, and with it, a miraculous process began to unfold.

On Saturday, we broke into small groups and did role reversal exercises. We created scenarios in which Arab participants would play the role of an Israeli soldier, or settler. The Jewish participants would assume the role of a Palestinian teenager in a refugee camp, or a Palestinian parent struggling to find work and raise a family.
We did other exercises that exposed private inner feelings and by that afternoon, many had gotten emotional. Some described hardship and suffering endured by their parents and tears were shed. People became increasingly honest about their feelings as they opened up to the group. Our common humanity was becoming evident to everyone involved.

By Sunday afternoon, as we said our goodbyes, the transformation was shocking. Miraculously, somehow we had all become sincere friends. Many joked, hugged and made plans to gather for dinner reunions. Most agreed that this weekend had changed them profoundly.

After that success, we held several more weekend retreats with similar groups. The results were consistently encouraging. The lesson was clear: given an opportunity to experience another person's life and views in a non-threatening, safe environment, most people's prejudices are mitigated. Negative stereotyping becomes much harder to accept when you have good friends who contradict that stereotype. It seems obvious to us that if real Mideast peace is ever realized, it will come when we can acknowledge and address our common hopes and fears.

Print Page

The Comedy Minute on Iqraa TV

Ladies and Gentlemen, take your seats, open your ears and your eyes. You'll be hearing the scientific findings of Sheik Jassem Al-Mutawah on the differences between men and women and general behavioral patterns. We ask that you hold your applause until the end of the program,-approximately 2½ minutes. As the description says on YouTube, the use of a laptop as a prop lends a sense of credibility to the garbage that comes out of the figure's mouth.



Now wasn't that enlightening?

Print Page

JUIFS SANS BARRIERES GROUP NOW LIVE!

It was inevitable that I would form my own net Group to be able to link its activities with Women's Lens. So, it is up and now open for enrollment. All are welcome to join the discussion, and kindly leave all attitudes and posturing at the door. We will be multi-lingual in this group, so use the language in which you are most comfortable to post your ideas. Offensive posts will be automatically deleted by me without consultation.

We will endeavor to be the brain candy of the internet for Jews from Egypt who are dispersed all over the world. Let's raise the bar on the conversation level, and as soon as we have enough members, we will plunge into the "debate" of the month. Topics can be suggested by all members, though I have a few of my own I'd like to throw out there for comments.

Please join us as we strive for the excellence for which our people our renown.

Aimée Kligman, née Dassa.

THIS POST WILL APPEAR WEEKLY ON THE BLOG

Il était inévitable que je constituerais mon propre groupe sur la toile pour pouvoir lier ses activités avec l'objectif du blog Womens Lens. Vous le trouverez en cliquant sur le lien ci-dessus, et il est disponible pour l'inscription. Tous sont bienvenus à se joindre à la conversation, n'oubliant pas de laisser toutes les attitudes et mauvaises habitudes à la porte.

Nous serons multilingues dans ce groupe, ainsi employez la langue dans laquelle vous êtes le plus confortable pour signaler vos idées. Je supprimerais automatiquement n'importe quel commentaire blessant ou mal approprié sans vous consulter.

Nous essayerons d'être la friandise du cerveau sur la toile pour les juifs d'Egypte qui sont dispersés partout dans le monde. Soulevons la barre du niveau de conversation, et dès que nous aurons assez de membres, nous plongerons dans la "discussion" du mois. Des idées peuvent être suggérées par tous les membres, bien que j'aie quelques unes moi-même que je voudrais proposer pour vos commentaires.

Veuillez vous joindre à nous comme nous essayons de garder l'excellence pour laquelle notre peuple est renommé.

Aimée Kligman, née Dassa.

CETTE ANNONCE APPARAITRA CHAQUE SEMAINE SUR LE BLOG

Print Page

2008 Itinerary for Egypt Trip

ed: Itinerary and rates are available in English for the asking, just email me.

Roland Monvert organise ces voyages chaque année. Ci-dessous, vous trouverez l''itinéraire pour le prochain voyage. Il y a encore deux pages de specifications que je pourrais vous envoyer si cela vous intéresse.

EGYPTE : HISTOIRE – CULTURE - LOISIRS

DU 19 FÉVRIER AU 11 MARS 2008
JOUR 0 : 19 février MONTRÉAL – ZURICH
Pour les participants qui quittent Montréal, le vol se fera avec Swiss. Rendez-vous au comptoir de la compagnie où votre organisateur vous assistera pour l’enregistrement.
JOUR 1 : 20 février LE CAIRE
Arrivée des participants selon l’horaire des compagnies d’aviation, transfert à l’hôtel. En soirée, réunion obligatoire du groupe. (Heure et lieu à venir) Dîner (1 repas)
JOUR 2 : 21 février LE CAIRE – ABOU SIMBEL
Transfert à l’aéroport pour le vol Le Caire / Abou Simbel.
Installation à l’hôtel. Déjeuner. En soirée, nous assisterons au plus récent et au plus beau Son et Lumière à Abou Simbel . Retour à l’hôtel et dîner.
JOUR 3 : 22 février ABOU SIMBEL - ASSOUAN
Départ matinal pour la visite à Abou Simbel . Visite des deux temples d'Abou Simbel. Cet ensemble, au nord de la deuxième cataracte, en plein désert proche du Soudan, est le plus impressionnant des testaments de pierre laissés par le souverain Ramsès II. Vous assisterez à un phénomène qui se produit 2 fois par année. Les constructeurs du temple de Ramsès II avaient calculé la trajectoire des rayons du soleil qui devaient illuminer les 3 statues à l’intérieur du temple, tout en gardant dans l’obscurité le dieu Ptah, le dieu des ténèbres, le 22 février, date de l’anniversaire de Ramsès et le 22 octobre date de son accession au trône.
Retour en autocar à Assouan. Embarquement sur le bateau fluvial.
Promenade en felouque, et découverte de l’île Kitchener, havre de paix et superbe jardin botanique, où le temps a suspendu son cours depuis la fin du XIXe siècle. En fin d’après midi, visite du très beau Musée Nubien. Ce musée, répondant aux normes muséologiques les plus modernes, honore de superbe manière les civilisations nubienne et égyptienne. Dîner et nuit à bord à Assouan.
JOUR 4 : 23 février ASSOUAN – KOM OMBO
Nous nous rendrons tout d’abord au haut barrage, puis à l'île de Philae, où se dresse le grand temple de la déesse Isis. Seuls les prêtres d’Isis et d’Osiris avaient jadis le droit de résider dans ce périmètre sacré, déclaré inviolable. Ce fut le dernier sanctuaire pharaonique en activité. À ses côtés, les colonnes du Temple d’Hathor mettent en scène des harpistes, des flûtistes et des singes jouant de la lyre. Enfin le kiosque de Trajan est remarquable par ses chapiteaux, même s’il est resté inachevé. Submergés depuis le début du XXe siècle lors des hautes eaux, les temples de Philae furent eux aussi démontés et transportés sur l’île d’Aguila où ils se trouvent aujourd’hui.
Retour à bord et navigation jusqu’au temple de Kom Ombo, temple gémellaire consacré à deux divinités : Haroeris (Horus l’Ancien) et Sobek (le dieu crocodile). Construit dans un cadre de rêve, telle une acropole, il domine une large courbe du fleuve. Le soir, la pierre érodée se teinte d’une patine dorée. Visite puis navigation vers Edfou. Dîner et nuit à bord.
Jour 5 : 24 février EDFOU, ESNA, LOUXOR.
La matinée est consacrée à la visite du site d’Edfou. Le temple d’Edfou est l’un des sanctuaires les mieux conservés de la Vallée du Nil. Une fois franchis le pylône, la cour, l’hypostyle, les salles de plus en plus obscures, on a l’impression que le sanctuaire vient tout juste d’être quitté par ses prêtres. Ses murs sont couverts de textes qui nous racontent la visite à Edfou d’Hathor venue assister à la fête de la Belle Réunion. Les inscriptions nous content aussi les exploits d’Horus, contre son oncle Seth, l’usurpateur.
Navigation vers Louxor. Dîner et nuit à bord.
Jour 6 : 25 février LOUXOR
Débarquement et transfert à l’hôtel. Ensuite nous visiterons le temple de Louxor, où chaque année, pendant la fête d’Opet, l’Égypte célébrait la naissance divine du Pharaon. Le Ier pylône est l’œuvre de Ramsès II, et l’un des môles met en scène la célèbre bataille de Kadesh. Devant ce pylône, Ramsès II avait fait ériger deux obélisques. Un seul est en place, l’autre trône au milieu de la place de la Concorde. Le temple de Louxor est relié à celui de Karnak par une allée de sphinx (4 km) En après-midi, visite du temple de Karnak, le plus grand ensemble de temples jamais construits où plusieurs pharaons de la 18e à la 20e dynastie laissèrent leur marque. En fin d’après-midi, visite du musée de Louxor. Musée moderne où sont exposés les statues et artefacts trouvés lors des fouilles à Louxor. Dîner et nuitée.
JOUR 7 : 26 février LOUXOR
Départ matinal pour la nécropole où hauts dignitaires, reines et rois se firent inhumer dans des hypogées creusés dans le djebel. Nous visiterons 3 tombeaux de la Vallée des Rois. Ensuite nous nous rendrons dans la Vallée des Reines avant de rendre hommage à Hatshepsout, la " reine-pharaon ", à Deir el Bahari. Son temple funéraire déploie ses immenses terrasses horizontales aux pieds de la Cime thébaine. Visite du temple de Médinet Habou et du Ramasseum. La visite thébaine s’achèvera par un arrêt-photo aux Colosses de Memnon. Dîner et nuitée , à Louxor.
JOUR 8 : 27 février LOUXOR
Départ pour l’excursion en autocar au grand sanctuaire d’Osiris à Abydos avec le magnifique temple de Séthi 1er (père de Ramsès II) qui conserve encore sa fine sculpture colorée. Traversée de la campagne de Haute Égypte et aperçu de l’habitat et des travaux des paysans égyptiens. Arrêt à Dendérah au temple consacré à la déesse Hathor à tête de vache. Déjeuner panier-repas, retour à Louxo.

JOUR 9 : 28 février LOUXOR - HURGHADA
Départ en matinée en car pour la station balnéaire de Hurghada. Paysages désertiques uniques. Nous arriverons en début d'après-midi. Installation à l’hôtel Marriott, au bord de la mer Rouge. (2 repas)
JOUR 10 : 29 février HURGHADA
Journée reposante au bord d’une des plus belles plages d’Égypte (2 repas)
JOUR 11 : 01 mars HURGHADA
Journée libre. (2 repas ) Excursion facultative en bateau (à fond vitré) pour voir la faune et la flore de la Mer Rouge. (40$ US) à payer sur place.
JOUR 12 : 02 mars HURGHADA – LE CAIRE
Départ de l’aéroport de Hurghada en direction du Caire.
Visite du Caire chrétien
Départ pour la visite du Caire chrétien. En parcourant les rues étroites du Vieux Caire, nous irons visiter l’église suspendue (El Maalakah) qui est construite sur le mur d’enceinte remontant à l’époque romaine et l’église d’Abou Sergueh, construite au début du 5e siècle au-dessus de la grotte où se réfugia la Sainte Famille. Ensuite visite de la plus ancienne synagogue d’Égypte : Ben Ezra. Déjeuner.
En soirée dîner de fête (3 repas )
JOUR 13 : 03 mars LE CAIRE
Transfert à l’aéroport pour ceux qui doivent nous quitter.
Visite du Caire pharaonique :
Départ après le petit-déjeuner pour la visite guidée de Memphis et Sakkarah. Visite de deux mastabas de hauts fonctionnaires et de la pyramide du roi Pépi, puis parcours du complexe funéraire du roi Djéser dominé par l’imposante pyramide à degrés. Visite du nouveau musée. Arrêt au site de Memphis, première capitale pharaonique. Visite de l’édifice où se trouve la plus grande statue couchée de Ramsès II. Déjeuner. Continuation en direction de Daschour. Et ensuite la pyramide de Meidoun. Retour au Caire. (3 repas )
JOUR 14 : 04 mars LE CAIRE
Départ après le petit-déjeuner pour la visite du plateau de Guizèh avec les trois pyramides, du musée de la barque solaire et du Sphinx. Déjeuner dans un restaurant typique. En après-midi, visite du Musée des Antiquités, où votre guide commentera les plus belles pièces et où vous verrez la collection complète du trésor de Tout Ankh Amon
Retour à l’hôtel et dîner. (3 repas)
JOUR 15 : 05 mars LE CAIRE
Visite du Caire arabe :
Visite de la Citadelle et la Mosquée de Mohamed Ali, édifiée de 1830 à 1857 dans le style ottoman. Ses deux minarets élancés de 70 mètres sont exceptionnels par leur hauteur. De la terrasse, vous admirerez la vue panoramique saisissante du Caire. Visite de la mosquée Ibn Touloum et l’école coranique Sultan Hassan.
Arrêt à la maison Gayer-Anderson, demeure des 16e et 17e siècle. Les pièces sont richement meublées, le tout récemment restauré. Déjeuner. Votre journée s'achèvera dans la féerie du plus grand bazar du Moyen-Orient le Khan El Khalili. Autrefois connu sous le nom de bazar turc sous l'Empire Ottoman, il est aujourd'hui communément nommé le "Khan" ou le marché Muski. Ce marché fut construit en 1382 par l'émir Djaharks el Khalili. Vous pourrez y observer des artisans talentueux travaillant le cuivre, l'argent ou l'or et tenter l'art du marchandage pour vous procurer de nombreux souvenirs. (3 repas) Retour à l'hôtel.
JOUR 16 : 06 mars LE CAIRE - ALEXANDRIE
Petit-déjeuner. Départ, en autocar, par la route du désert vers la région du delta. Arrêt à Wadi Natrun: aux premiers siècles du christianisme, des moines y ont construit des monastères, notamment ceux de Deir Amba Bishoï et de Deir es Souriâni (le couvent des Syriens) qui malgré son aspect austère reste un bel exemple d’art copte, très coloré, avec des décorations en stuc et un jubé en bois sculpté décoré d’incrustations d’ivoire datant du 10e siècle. Après le repas du midi, continuation vers Alexandrie, ville cosmopolite qui fut, dans l'Antiquité, la grande cité du savoir et un port méditerranéen de premier plan. Premier contact avec le centre-ville, promenade le long du front de mer. Installation à l'hôtel, Dîner et nuitée. (3 repas).
JOUR 17 : 07 mars ALEXANDRIE
Journée libre pour découvertes personnelles (écoles, maison natale, retrouver les anciens quartiers, etc.) Déjeuner libre chez Mohamed Ahmed anciennement Benyamin. Visite des jardins du Palais de Montazah.
(2 repas :PD –Dîner)
JOUR 18 : 08 mars ALEXANDRIE
Après le petit-déjeuner, visite de l’amphithéâtre romain, vestige unique en son genre en Égypte. Les catacombes de Kom el Shogafa et la colonne dite de Pompée, emplacement d’une annexe de l’ancienne bibliothèque. Visite de la mosquée Abou Abbas El Morsi, la plus grande d’Alexandrie. Visite de la forteresse de Kayetbey, située à l’extrémité nord de l’entrée est du port, construite sur l’emplacement de l’ancien phare d’Alexandrie. Elle fut édifiée au 15e siècle et se compose de 3 étages sur le modèle des forteresses médiévales. Déjeuner dans un restaurant avec une vue superbe de la Corniche. Nous ferons un arrêt pour visiter la nouvelle Bibliothèque d’Alexandrie. Retour à l’hôtel et dîner (3 repas.)
JOUR 19 : 09 mars ALEXANDRIE
Après le petit-déjeuner, départ pour la visite du nouveau musée d’Alexandrie, où sur trois étages sont exposées les pièces les plus remarquables de l’époque pharaonique à nos jours. Arrêt-photo à la statue d’Alexandre le Grand. Continuation vers Aboukir où un délicieux repas de poissons est prévu chez Zéphyrion. Départ pour la visite de la ville de Rosette qui fut le plus grand port d’Égypte. Vous verrez les plus belles maisons restaurées du 18e et 19e siècle : la maison Asfour (1754), le moulin Abou Sharir (1808), et la maison Al Mizouni (1740) Vous aurez une bonne idée de ce qu’était Rosette à l’époque ottomane. Nous visiterons ensuite le Fort Julien où fut découverte la Pierre de Rosette qui permit à Champollion de déchiffrer les hiéroglyphes. En longeant le Nil, on arrive au point du mélange des eaux, là où le Nil se jette dans la Méditerranée après avoir parcouru 6000 km. (3 repas).
JOUR 20: 10 mars ALEXANDRIE- HÉLIOPOLIS
Départ ce matin, par la route qui longe la Méditerranée vers El Alamein, site de la célèbre bataille de la Seconde guerre mondiale. Nous visiterons le cimetière d’El Alamein et tout particulièrement son musée militaire. Arrêt à Sidi Abdel Rahman, une des plus belles plages de la côte méditerranéenne.
Déjeuner à El Alamein.
Départ en après-midi pour Héliopolis. Installation à l’hôtel. Dîner d’adieu (3 repas)
JOUR 21 : 11 mars HÉLIOPOLIS – AÉROPORT DU CAIRE
Départ vers vos pays respectifs selon l’horaire. Transfert à l’aéroport par la navette de l’hôtel (PD) (1 repas)
FIN DE VOTRE MERVEILLEUX VOYAGE EN ÉGYPTE
Programme conçu par Roland Montvert pour les membres et amis de « l’Amicale Alexandrie Hier et Aujourd’hui (AAHA)
Ce programme est sujet à changement selon le temps de passage des écluses d’Esna ou tout autre imprévu. Toutefois, le contenu sera respecté intégralement.
Afin de garantir la réalisation de ce voyage, votre réservation dans les plus brefs délais est requise. Départ garanti à partir de 20 participants.
Passeport valide 6 mois après la fin du circuit.


Print Page

In Which Society Are Women Equal

Our latest Poll is now closed. Below please find the results:

The Question: In Which Society Are Women Equal?

43% - Are you kidding?

31% - Israel

18% - USA

6% - Mongolia

I included Mongolia in the poll since it is not widely known that Mongolian women enjoy more freedom than any other Asian country in the world.

Related Post: War in the Middle East


Print Page

An Egyptian's View of Egypt from Chicago

Mr. Shobrawy describes himself as a "twenty-something Egyptian living in Chicago who has grown a reputation for my wiseASSness and satire embedded in my affection for Middle East causes." However, I might add that after reading his take on Modern Day Egypt, I would have to say that his view is clever and sober, save for his repeated use of the word 'revolution'. His assessment of the Jews in Egypt is crystal clear, and he doesn't miss a beat. For example:

"The period of Nasser’s socialisation of Egypt was horrific for many Egyptians of European and Jewish backgrounds and also for many Egyptians who simply had been too successful in their enterprises in Egypt. The young state of Israel had high hopes that some of the Egyptian Jews would head there from Egypt and were happy to stir the pot to encourage emigration. Unfortunately, Tel Aviv simply was no match for Cairo (and probably still isn’t), so the emigrants were far more likely to go to Paris, London, Geneva, New York, or Montreal. Canada is full of Egyptians who left Egypt during the 50’s and 60’s and I often get emails from their offspring who are now intensely curious about the fascinating country their parents left behind. "

Tel Aviv is certainly an attractive modern day capital; but it has failed to become cosmopolitan. Therein lies much of the trouble with that part of the world. Had the Jews from Egypt been able to bring their valuable heritage to Israel, continue their traditions, use their 57 languages, and not be considered inferior to the ruling Ashkenazim, it might have been a completely different landscape today.

Read the rest of Shobrawy's article here. Unfortunately, I had a sense of being left hanging, as the end of the article didn't provide the usual closure. Perhaps it is due to the author's tender age, and his not having experienced the Egypt he describes in his opening remarks. Had he been in Egypt writing this article, he may have well landed in jail.

Print Page

China's Sex Workers Top Ten Million Mark

Of course, the country has skyrocketed when it comes to growth, manufacturing, export etc..However, many women in China, in an attempt to escape poverty are turning to prostitution, which is technically illegal. With that, the number of AIDS cases is rising, and is estimated at around 700,000 at the moment. And fierce competition is causing women to accept to service men who refuse to wear condoms. In the poorest areas, the going rate is US$1.00. Even in the big cities, a "freelance" sex worker complained that she had to drop her price from $27 to $13 for fear of losing customers.

Women are resorting to the world's oldest profession to feed their families. However, ignorance of the disease, superstitions and drug use are contributing to the rising rate of cases of HIV aids. The government is somewhat embarrassed about the success of the trade, and has instituted programs for HIV awareness. A World Bank program has local gynecologists visiting with sex workers in an effort to teach them how to protect themselves.

It is still very hard to get the cooperation of the sex workers who are suspicious of any program; understandably, in a communist country, you could get arrested for the "reason du jour". There is better success in having the doctors visit the beauty parlors, karaoke bars and other venues where business is conducted, and win the trust of the women in that fashion. Another step taken by the government was to provide all hotel rooms with condoms, along with the usual toothpaste and soaps.

Another unusual step that China has taken is to have an AIDS info website. Welcome to the 21st Century.

Print Page

Shameful Racism In Israel

Is it possible that Israel has already forgotten the principles under which it was founded? I am still reeling from disbelief, and though the U.S. is still considered somewhat "racist", no child has ever been denied education because of his/her color. At least not since civil rights laws were put in place.

Do you see these little tikes in the photo above? They are Jews from Ethiopia who made aliya to Israel. Eighty of these human beings are being DENIED schooling on the basis of heavy duty protests by parents of children enrolled in elementary schools of Petak Tikvah. What?

What's next? Separate entrances for them in lavatories, restaurants? What the hell is going on over there? Smells like apartheid and looks like racism. And it made headlines in Israel's YNet News. I am at a loss. Which is not usual.

These must be the same Israelis that I meet on the streets of New York that are rude, loud, and who think their s... doesn't stink. So the Education Ministry declares the situation "unacceptable". Sorry, guy, in your country, the situation should have never happened.

Read this quote, and weep:

A Petah Tikvah municipality spokesperson said in response: "There are 80 Ethiopian children whose integration into the city has not been successful. The mayor is supposed to meet with Education Ministry Director General Shmuel Aboav to discuss ways of integrating all the students into the municipal education systems – both private and state schools."

Do you just love how this is being described in the passive voice? "The integration has not been successful", as if the integration is some one with a will of its own. Israel, come to your senses, or give your people some basic education in tolerance. Remind them that 6,000,000 of their brothers/sisters were slaughtered because of intolerance. I don't give a damn if they think they are God's chosen people or not. God would not choose people who would deny children an education because of their skin color. Get over your egos. You have enough enemies to start creating new ones.

Print Page

Girl Murdered for wanting to go to School

What sort of barbaric society allows for a mother to murder her daughter for wanting to go to school? Let me perhaps rephrase: what kind of mother murders her daughter for ANY DAMN reason?? As a mother, I would be capable of killing anyone who would harm my daughter...Perhaps we need to look once again at what they've called the maternal instinct. We cannot even compare this woman to an animal, since we've seen animals protect their young.

So, here we are in the state of Rajasthan, India. Big country right? Lots of distant villages from major city centers etc..India's tech industry is huge, right?? With all the money they are collecting from those tech assistance centers they have set up, they have one of the fastest growing middle classes in the world. So why is it still harder for girls to go to school than for boys? I suppose this is highly rhetorical in a country where they kill girls as they are not considered as valuable as boys.

Phusi needed a bicycle to get to school, but her parents could not afford to buy her one. She pressed on, and her mother "lost" her temper and beat her unconscious with a rolling pin. There's no time for grief here people, this woman is thinking fast on her miserable feet. To avoid prosecution, she wants to make it look like suicide: she ties a rope around Phusi's neck and hangs her from the ceiling, and rushes out to scream for help.

We have to be grateful for one thing: not all Indians are morons. The woman was arrested.

The pitiful thing about this senseless death is that the local government had introduced a law that would distribute free bikes to all school girls who needed them two years ago, but the news never reached Phusi's village. For heaven's sake, use some of your technology India to prevent these deaths.

Related Post: Girl Buried Alive, India's First Woman President

Print Page

On Line Exhibit of Jewish Feminism

There is a splendid exhibit of Jewish Feminism on line which combines history, videos, and breakthroughs which can be digested a little at a time. I will most likely be back in the not too distant future. But today, I chose to search under diversity, and lo and behold! A Mizrahi woman popped up. You have to go to her page to see the video since embedding was not available, but it's hilarious!

Her name is Loolwa Khazzoom, and she hails from Iraq. She is a founding member of JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa), an accomplished writer, a feminist and a musician who doesn't like her nose.

Here's the opening paragraph of her statement:

"Back in the day, when a Jewish programmer wanted to represent “diversity,” she or he would call me in a token effort to involve a non-Ashkenazi/non-White Jew. At the time, there was entrenched denial about Jew-on-Jew racism, and there was no shared language for addressing this painful issue. As such, “representing” was an exhausting role: I could not speak from the heart and say what I really thought. I had to be perky and upbeat, so as to engage interest in what I was saying. I had to stay alert and actively decipher each group’s points of reference – determining how to translate the reality of what was going on in such a way that people could listen."

You can read the entire transcript here, and listen to her interview here. She touches on a subject which has become quite fascinating to me, and that is the underepresentation of non-white, non-Ashkenazi Jewish women in all areas of achievement.

Print Page

Women Live longer

The World's oldest woman, Yone Minagawa, died today at the ripe old age of 114. She lived peacefully in an old age home in the mountains of Fukuoka (I've been there, and it's quite lovely). You can see her celebrating her last birthday.

The torch for the longest living human now passes to an American, Edna Parker, also born in 1893.

Japan holds the record for the world's greatest number of people that are over 100 years old (30,000), and holds the number one spot in the world for human longevity as well. The secret is not a secret if you have been to Japan and witnessed the lifestyle. Do keep in mind though, that they also have a shockingly high teenage suicide rate (societal and traditional pressures). This, combined with the low birthrate, could become problematical for Japan.

Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment remains the planet's longest living human at 122 years of age. She certainly earned her name!!

Today also marks the death of a U.S. civil rights pioneer, Irene Morgan Kirklady. She was 90 years old. In 1944, Irene refused to give her seat up to a white passenger on a bus, and was arrested, and fined $100.00 for her "crime". In 1946, the U.S. Supreme Court exhonorated Morgan of any wrong doing. This set the precedent for the much more celebrated case of Rosa Parks, who, in 1955, also refused to cede her seat to a white passenger on a bus. Her story has been celebrated many times as it coincided with the onset of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.A. However, it should be noted that Irene Morgan was the one who put the bee in the bonnet.

Print Page

Another Death at the Hands of Egyptian Police

This time, it's a teenager. Merely 13 years of age and as we say, barely out of the egg. He and his older brother had been detained by the ever-so zealous Egyptian police on charges of theft - read groceries. Could they have been hungry? Hard to tell. We only know they came from Mansoura. 

His parents were called by the police to request that they come to "collect" him, but upon seeing his condition, rather than take him home, they went to the nearest hospital. Mohamed Mamdouh Abdel Aziz died shortly thereafter.

Since 1993, an Egyptian group for human rights has documented 167 deaths at the hands of police. How many more Mubarak?

Related Posts: Wake Up & Smell

Campaign Like Egypt

Police Intimidation

Is Egypt Ushering a New Era?

USA Tightens the Noose

Mubarak's Egypt

And Speaking of Zero Tolerance

Print Page

Napoleon: This Emperor Had Clothes

I'm going to have to eat my words about this man who has been the butt of my jokes on occasion. Why the sudden change of heart? Well, it turns out that Napoleon, despite his delusions of grandeur and being a short man, was quite forceful and adamant about the "liberté, egalité, fraternité" motto being applied to France's Jewish Citizens.

Despite widespread antisemitism which went beyond France's borders, Napoleon stuck to his guns, and removed any and all restrictions that were imposed on the Jews at the time of his reign, including de-ghetto-izing (if there is such a word).

Even more astonishing was the fact that the Jews of France offered a special prayer in Napoleon's honor because they were so thankful to him for having granted them religious freedom. You can see the hebrew text here, immediately followed by the English translation of the document. I am copying the heading below, so that the next time you want to mock Napoleon and Joséphine, you might think twice.

Prayer of the Children of IsraelCitizens of France and Italyfor the success and prosperity of our Mater's ArmyThe Emperor, the King Napoleon the Great(may his glory shine)Composed in the month of Cheshvan, year 5567 (1807)

Print Page

Wake Up and Smell the 21st Century

Egyptian Officials are not pleased at all. Condie Rice voiced concern over the sustained jailing of presidential opposition contender of 2005, despite grave medical problems. The U.S. Congress is withholding some $200 million in aid, pending improvement in human rights abuses.
All of this, dear Egypt, will come back to bite you in the proverbial rear end. Ever since they were able to film and show you torturing Imar Al Kabir (above) on the internet, you need to realize that it's tough to hide these days. Isn't it a drag? If you don't believe me, just go and see the movie, The Bourne Ultimatum. You will shiver to think what technology can deliver these days without too much displacement.



Yes, we heard you tell us that these are strictly "Egyptian matters", bla bla bla. But you know, it's also tough for you to have to bite the hand that feeds you. And this report came to me through Al Jazeera; it wasn't CNN, or BBC or some other Western based news channel. These are the people who speak your language, ya akhouya. When they start to report about your human rights abuses, and post their interviews with the "woman" on the street, there's very little you can do to deny, cover up or ignore.

It's a new era, dear Egypt. And as much as we may hate the invasion to our privacy, we kind of like the idea that we can dismantle yours as well.

Related Posts: Campaign Like Egypt, Police Intimidation, Is Egypt Ushering a New Era?, USA Tightens the Noose, Mubarak's Egypt, And Speaking of Zero Tolerance

Print Page

Arab Holocaust Center Reaches Out

Printed at BBC News Website

"Ahmadinejad doesn't know what he's talking about - but I hope that people try to find out more about the Holocaust as a result of his words"
Khaled Mahameed

Khaled Mahameed admits his museum, in Nazareth in northern Israel, is small. But he believes it is unique. According to Mr Mahameed, it is the first and only Arab run centre for promoting the study of the Holocaust.

The museum contains a collection of just 60 photographs depicting the genocide with Arabic captions explaining the scenes. The pictures were purchased from Yad Vashem - the Israeli national Holocaust memorial. Mr. Mahameed firmly believes that it is only by understanding the truth about how the state of Israel was created that Arabs can fully understand Jews and ultimately resolve the conflict between them.

Many Arabs believe that Israel uses sympathy for Jewish suffering during the Holocaust to gain support from the West, Mr Mahameed says. Arab leaders, he says, think that by giving credence to the Holocaust they are legitimising Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. "But when Palestinians learn about the Holocaust they will understand the Jewish people better and can begin to develop a shared history," says Mr Mahameed enthusiastically.

Since the museum opened in March 2005, Mr Mahameed says, more than 2,000 people have visited. The 43-year-old Israeli Arab lawyer's passion for his project is clear, he used $5,000 of his own money to set up the centre. On Friday 27 January - UN Holocaust Remembrance Day - he spent hours handing out leaflets promoting the centre to Palestinians filing through Qalandiya checkpoint outside the West Bank town of Ramallah. But Mr Mahameed's desire to spread information about the Holocaust is also controversial amongst Palestinians and Israeli Arabs - even within his own family. Many Palestinians feel that sympathising too much with Israelis could lead to justification for the occupation.

No-one spoke to him at a recent wedding and his neighbours have cursed him in public, he says. Visitors to the museum's website have harangued him for speaking sympathetically about Jews and Israelis.

'Victim status'
Even though Palestinians are taught about the Holocaust in school, the continuing Israeli occupation means that many Palestinians find it difficult to sympathise with Jewish suffering, says Dr Sami Adwan, a professor of education at Bethlehem University.

Khaled Mahameed promotes his message near Ramallah "Many Palestinians feel that sympathising too much with Israelis could lead to justification for the occupation."
"And there is feeling that the Holocaust could undermine the Palestinians international status as victims - that the horror of the Holocaust is so big that it could overpower our own suffering." But there may also be hope that the relative lull in violence between Israel and Palestinian militants will allow greater understanding of each other's histories.

Dr Haim Gertner, Director of Teacher Training at the International School of Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem, says that whenever the political situation is calm Israeli Arabs show more interest in learning about the Holocaust. "When there is less political tension, people are more open," he says. And despite the difficulties of spreading his message against a background of continuing conflict in the region Mr Mahameed believes he is making progress. He hopes to make contact with Palestinian militants Hamas and Islamic Jihad to offer them information about the Holocaust.

He also has support for his project from many Israelis, including backing from Yad Vashem itself. A conference organised by the centre in November attracted 30 people and Mr Mahameed believes that slowly - sometimes very slowly - he is changing minds.

ed: you just never know when an educated Arab will surprise you!
Print Page

Egyptian Women

Lucy Calamaro found this interesting post on the Ghawayesh blog some time ago.

Who is Ghawayesh? She describes herself on her blog as an Egyptian living in Europe but her heart stayed back home. Having some random thoughts about the before and after pictures. Ghawayesh means bracelets. In my context it symbloizes the cuffs of my culture. I don't know if I like them or hate them.

Women, any women, or even men for that matter, are a reflection of their culture in everything they do. So let's see what our culture (generally speaking) dictates us and how we react to it accordingly. (Please bear in mind that the different classes see things in variable degrees):- Since childhood we can only play with dolls and kitchen appliances. Results: We are programmed to realize that we should be good house-keepers and baby carers. I bought my son a mini-washing machine, mini-vacuum cleaner, mini-iron and ironing board, mini-kitchen, and a baby doll (and they are all among his favorite toys), and when my (Egypt-based and Egypt-minded) sister saw that, she was stunned, and said: "Your son will become a homo".-

As we grow up, we constantly hear: "You're a girl, you can't do that. Only boys can do that". "That" can be anything adventurous; demanding physical strength; technical thinking or action; or freedom of movement. Result: We are cripples! We don't sport, we stand helpless if the kitchen sink is clogged, or the car breaks down, or the computer crashes. Hey! We are women and we need a man to save us, right? Travelling alone abroad is still a taboo to most of us (Things are changing now though, thumbs up). My sister was once at work and her boss told her: "You are one of my best employees, you're good enough to be a man! I think you should have your post-graduate degree abroad. But you won't go that far to live and travel alone like some women of nowadays do, would you? *said while he's rolling his eyes*. Wait until you marry maybe your husband will take you abroad". He didn't know of course that this very young woman he was talking to takes a role model in her sisters and her mother who did exactly what he finds so offensive.

A girl's main goal in life should be to hunt down a man. No matter how high we reach, we are *nothing* without a man. From the moment puberty hits us in the butt, the rat-race starts. And in order to get one hooked, we have to be the perfect candidates. Now the question is, who's the perfect candidate? The more female the better. Okay how do I do that? Walk like a woman. Result: We walk "gluteously". I think you get my point. Wearing high pointed heels all day. Get bunions, calluses, or claw-toes.. Who cares? Talk like a woman. Result: We have two voices, one for home (the natural go33eerah), and one for outside, which is soft, harmonious, and more weasel-like. Act like a woman. Results: * If your car broke down, wait helplessly next to it and have the fragile look on your face until your hero emerges out of the nearest-by balla'ah (sewage hole). * Don't be too clever. You can't be more clever than the guy. Pretend not to know anything about politics or science. You don't know any swear words/slang or anything about sex. * Sell/present yourself well. Looks are mostly what matters. We have an obsession with the exterior. Now who do you want to end up with? A conservative man who "knows God"?

Well sister, then you gotta wear a higab/khimar/niqab/abaya/melaya, no make-up or perfume, say nothing but God said and the prophet said, walk like an introvert and have an aura of a little scared mouse, hang around the religious circles and be best friends with people who seem to have eligible brothers or sons who happen to have contracts in KSA. Now if you want a progressive, open-minded, Western-like dude, okay then baby, be my guest to look as European (and nowadays replace European with Lebanese) as you can. That of course becomes a reflection of what we see in the media. Only few of us know how European women are really like and be really like them (In a good way I mean, as in practical, hard-working, no fashion-freaks etc..). Okay what do I need for this? From top to toe: Blond hairs (bleach), white skin (make-up), a good body (Do a *Dyt*, pronounced the Egyptian way), but sorry, the boobs and the ass stay, guys like that, baby! Go to the hairdresser at least once a week. You can't let anyone know you have curly frizzy hair; what! You want to become an old-maid? And don't forget to get your 20 nails "did" while you're there. Don't forget to use loads of English and French into your Arabic, and a bonus is to use words like "mahdooma"(=digested, a Lebanese word which actually means nice!).

Breaking News: The Lebanese have fake noses, boobs, lips and hips. Papa can buy you some too, if you wish. Oh and one more thing, your grandma is Turkish. * You're a virgin. You will always be a friggin’ virgin. Forget all the Orfis and zombies you've been through (or better said, have been through you ). YOU ARE A VIRGIN. Have been pregnant with 6 bastards and went to Dr. Amr of Heliopolis for some D&C and sewing up? Forget that, nothing happened. Y O U- A R E -A- V I R G I N! Mashi ya kotta?! I was once in a wedding of people I didn't know too well, and as always I was observing. I could tell who's single and who's married. The married ones looked like trucks, and the single ones were still intact. The married ones moved in space like cookie monsters and talked like Stewies, and were beeloghghoo (engulfing) the food like there was no hope for a repeat, while the single ones were picking the food with the tip of their forks and spending a minute or two chewing on each tiny-winy bite. Hey! Maybe the man of their dreams, his mother, sister, SIL, or aunt is watching. Always be ready!- The men are always right.

If you get harassed or abused; shut up. It was your fault anyway. Why go out at night? Oh! You're a nurse and had nightshift? Why did you become nurse?! To go out at night and be touched up by cute doctors, I bet! Why wear what you were wearing? Oh! You were wearing the veil? But the police "cross-examination" proves you had a hot black bra on. Why a hot black bra, of all bras, ya sharmoota? See? You're just asking for it!- Now that there's someone finally proposing: Demand a butt-load of money for shabka and mahr. Make him feel you're worth millions. It will make him value you more. While actually deep down you can't believe that someone finally got trapped into marrying you, but hey, he is not supposed to know that you were a wo-man with a plan, and that your tricks finally worked. Et'aly! (literally translated: Be heavy!!) - Now that you've finally gotten married: * You know nothing about sex (I know you do, but do as if ). Never ask for it, never say what you want, never show him the way to your clitoris (if it is still alive and budding), or else he will think you're experienced. Want to lose your King Kong, baby? Go a head then and enjoy sex and make him feel suspicious! You deserve all what you get then . I know sex feels like a frontal collision on Cairo-Alexandria Road; I know you have chronic pain and discomfort because of it; and I know you are often forced to do it, but hey, shut up and open those lovelies/fuglies for the master of disaster approaching in maximum speed. * You're married! Hurraaaayyyy! You're a winner!

Next step: DO NOT by any chance let go of him. Men are natural cheaters. Do not lose sight of him. Do not let him talk to other women. Tell the kids to spy on him for you. Even if you can't afford food. GET HIM A MOBILE! Then you know where he is all day. Stalk the testosterone out of him. Call him every other hour and ask him where he is and what he's doing. I know you're busy with the kids and the house, and you haven't noticed the miserable shape you're in, but as long as you got him the kids, time for the roles to turn hun. IT'S PAY BACK TIME.. MOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!He won't leave you! You have kids with him! Now baby, have the morning, midday and evening fight as you wish. Nakkedy (cause annoyance and trouble) as you like. Remember, you are the mother of his kids, and he will always be weak for that.

Insult his manhood, his brains, his miserable income, his family, throw stilettos at him at the lobby of Omar Effendi, JUST DO IT baby and your mother is totally behind you! And at the end of the day, receive a good beating just to recap on who the real boss is, and to bring the balance back into the relationship, sealed with a fcuk. Repeat the cycle if you're a good girl, or break free like my mommy and me.

ed: a great piece of writing, and actually take heed: I know a few women in America who fit this profile just as if they were Egyptian (or worse)

Print Page

Al Wahsha , La Banquière

Merci à Lucy Calamaro d'avoir relevé cet article de Jacques Hassoun.

Mais de cette galerie de portraits se détache la figure flamboyante de celle qui a fasciné ses contemporains... ainsi que tous ceux qui ont eu à étudier son histoire. Elle porte le nom de Karima fille d'Ammar, connue sous le nom de "Al Wahsha (Désirée-la-banquière)". Cinq documents autres y font allusion ou constituent des fragments de dossiers qui lui sont entièrement consacrés. Elle est la seule femme qui tienne une telle place dans la Gueniza.
Le père d'Al Wahsha qui portait le nom hébraïque de "Amram (le banquier), fils d'Ezra, chef de la congrégation, l'Alexandrin" est connu par un document (fostat, juillet 1093) délivré par lui à un habitant d'Alexandrie ; il serait mort en juin 1104. Il eut au moins trois filles et deux fils, ce qui peut expliquer que l'inventaire du trousseau d'Al Wahsha ne soit pas très impressionnant, bien qu'il mentionne quelques bijoux assez rares et particulièrement précieux. Il est noté que la totalité de sa dot s'élevait à 316 dinars.

Quant au cadeau de mariage du prétendant, Aryé ben Judah, il était beaucoup moins important encore et témoignait qu'il s'agissait d'un homme sans fortune.

Il est probable qu'Al Wahsha se soit trouvée dans "l'obligation" de se marier, à moins que ce fût pour échapper à la tutelle parentale en épousant le premier venu. Le mariage ne paraît pas avoir duré longtemps. Dans un fragment de document où il est question d'une transaction entre Abou'l Fadl Ibn el Dhahadi, Joseph ben Joshiah et " Karima la femme d'affaires", celle-ci est présentée comme divorcée d'Aryé ben Judah. Ce divorce fut prononcé en janvier 1095, à peu près au moment où Al Wahsha donnait naissance à un fils issu d'une liaison illégitime. De son mariage avec Aryé, Al Wahsha eut une fille appelée Sett Ghazâl (dame Gazelle), avec qui elle se brouilla. Sett Ghazâl qui ne figure pas dans son testament, elle fut néanmoins dotée par sa mère d'un immeuble situé dans le quartier de Bab Zoueila (proche du Quartier Juif) : transaction dont nous trouvons les échos dans différents documents (1132,1150).

Le surnom de " femme d'affaires" qui désignait Al Wahsha exprime l'origine de sa notoriété : des femmes intendantes d'affaires ou courtières étaient chose fréquente, mais celles qui faisaient fortune dans un monde dominé par les hommes étaient l'exception.

Sur un registre de tribunal d'avril 1098, on rapporte qu'un mercredi (qui n'était pas jour d'audience), Al Wahsha se rendit dans l'enceinte de la synagogue. Assez irritée, elle informa trois fonctionnaires du tribunal rabbinique ; un bedeau, un mélamed et le fils d'un juge, d'une convocation au tribunal qu'elle avait reçue, poursuivie pour une somme insignifiante par 'Oulla ben Joseph, "l'administrateur bien connu". Ces hommes connaissaient Al Wahsha de réputation prirent acte qu'elle n'était pas femme à être importunée par des affaires d'aussi peu d'importance.

Un autre rapport d'audience daté du 30 juin 1104 révèle sa participation dans un contrat de prêt à gros intérêt. Le registre du tribunal fait état d'une autre transaction dans laquelle Al Wahsha s'engage, qui concernait une caravane de 22 chameaux.

Continuer ici pour voir:

1. Le Testament d'Al Wahsha
2. Un Homme d'Ashkelon
3. Prospérité de la communauté et liberté des femmes

Print Page

Jihad: The Musical

I did not imagine this. There is a musical in progress at the Edinburgh fringe film festival which closes on the 27th of August. The burkas are not drab blue, but a hot shiny pink. The women dance with the favorite weapon of the terrorist: the AK47 or kalishnikov. The hit song of the musical: I wanna be like Usama; I wanna be like the guy with the $50million on his head.

This parody is a US/British collaboration that attempts to introduce satire in the seemingly impossible conumdrum we face: on one hand the neo-conservatives and on the other, the extremist Islamists. Pick your poison.

A weak petition has been circulating on the web to shut the play down; so far it carried little weight. Initial reaction appears positive, which is surprising, considering the state of Londonstan.

Here's the clip that has already enjoyed almost 100,000 views on You Tube. I wish I could see the rest of the play!




Print Page

Potpourri 8/8

This is Gisele Orebi Littman. She's 74 years old, and like most of us, a Jewish refugee from Egypt. You may know her by her nickname, Bat Yeor, meaning daughter of the Nile. She and her British husband, David Littman, have been prolific writers on "dhimmitude". I was happy to learn that the New York Public Library has acquired the Bat Ye'or and David Littman Papers, a list of which you can see by clicking on the link above. It's quite a treasure trove. She became known to me back in June of 2007, when she was due to speak in Toronto, and her arrival caused quite a frenzy among Canada's Arabic/Islamic population. She didn't bat an eyelash: Gisele is used to being asked to leave. However, to that she said:

"It is, I suppose, deeply ironic that I was told that I was not allowed to live in Egypt when I was a girl and now as a grown woman I'm told, in part by people from Egypt, that I shouldn't come to Canada either. As for Israel, they'd like that to disappear," she says, more bemused than bitter. "Where ought I to go? No matter. The story has to be told, the true story of how Islam has treated and still does treat its minorities"

Her most famous claim to fame is her book entitled " Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis". Get a copy.

Egypt: Court Refuses Judge's Request to Block Websites

Will bloggers finally get their right to freedom of expression? Egyptian Judge Abdel Fatah Murad's request to block 51 human rights and news websites and blogs that allegedly abused the state's dignity and threatened its interests. Included was the 2005 "Best Arabic Blog" recipient, Amr Gharbia, awarded by the Deustche Welle organization.

If found guilty of violating intellectual property rights, the judge could face a fine coupled with a prison term. This is heartening news indeed.

Who is Tahani el-Gebali? There she is to the right...the first thing I would do is change the title of the article to: One Step Forward, and Two Steps Back,-this is definitely a more appropriate description of modern day Egypt. Though she broke the glass ceiling, and then some, el-Gebali is Egypt's first and only female judge. The article is dated September 2004. Has anyone heard of any new female judges since? Not I.

Media spin can learn a lesson from Réhab El-Bakrywith, the author of the article in cooperation with Noha Mohammed whose writings are often featured in Egypt Today Magazine. The very first sentence, unfortunately, lends prejudice to the rest of the article. And it states:

"EGYPT WAS THE birthplace of the first feminist movement in the Arab world Hoda Shaarawi, after all, formed the Egyptian Feminist Union back in 1923 but the road to emancipation has been an uphill struggle. "

What feminist movement is this? and when did it happen so that I missed it entirely? If there was ever a progression in the feminine struggle in that country, it probably came to a grinding halt with the election of Mubarak. I'm also getting a bit weary of blaming the exposure to the Saudis that turned Egypt on its head. For heaven's sake, Egypt used to lead the Arab World, and they followed. What is this drivel about men and women bringing back Saudi customs which fostered this atmosphere of backwardness? These are the conditions, remember, that produced a Mohammed Atta.

Where was el-Gebali the day 11 year-old Budour Ahmed Shaker died at the hands of an overly zealous doctor who excised her clitoris after her death from an overdose of anasthesia?

Attempts to restore "Cairo's Belle Époque

While we are on the subject of the good old days, I've been reading about on-going efforts to restore the capital's Belle Epoque architecture. I become a bit restless when I read things like that; what gave it the name, Belle Epoque, were the lovely European style buildings which were erected in the early to mid-twentieth century. In this article, there is a lament about the current condition of "dilapidated" buildings, or new ones that do not harmoniously blend into the landscape.

Well, what do you expect Ms. El Madany? If you put a piano in front of Vladimir Horowitz (well he's dead now, but I'll use him for the example) he's going to turn it into his own personal toy. Take the same piano, and put it in front of a Hutu or a Tutsi, and do you stand a chance of hearing a Mazurka? Not suggesting here that Cairo's population is replete with rivaling tribal factions, but let's face it. If you take the chicken out of the soup, it ain't chicken soup anymore. Interestingly, the E.U. has a few million Euros piggy banked for the renaissance project.

A more fascinating site to read would be this one. Check out the names of some of the architects. (Menasche, Lieberman, Horowitz, Pasteur, Olivetti - yes there were some natives.)

Juifs et non-juifs : approche traditionnelle - cours n°13
Le Monde Juif et l'Islam (30 mn)
Claude Riveline, Chercheur en sciences de gestion
Akadem - Paris, avril 2007

When I discovered Akadem, I was "éblouie" to use a french term. The richness of the photos, and then the live conferences. To hear scholars speaking about our people and to explain some things I knew, and others I didn't. He addresses a most relevant topic and so, I hung to every word, fascinated like a schoolgirl. Mr. Riveline captivated my attention, - look at the topics he covers below. You can hear them all, or pick and choose. You can even write to him and get an answer. And there are other lecturers. If you subscribe to Akadem's newsletter, you'll also enjoy the parasha of the week.

Plan de la conférence
Les textes fondateurs de l'Islam - Le rapport à Israël dans le Coran ( 12m 02s )
Le statut du peuple juif - L'exemple des dhimmis ( 04m 31s )
L'âge d'or médiéval - Une période féconde ( 05m 27s )
Le morcellement de l'empire musulman - et le déclin des relations à partir du XIIème siècle ( 04m 45s )
Renaissance de la fierté arabe - Une formidable richesse humaine ( 05m 38s )

Something is floating around the walls of the Knesset that I feel good talking about. Sex Offenders, you are not going to like this: Bill calls for chemical castration of pedophiles. Someone is paying attention over there and looking at studies which reveal that there is a reason for the term "repeat sexual offender". Why do you think they had euneuchs guarding the harems? This is such a grand idea, I wish someone would bring it up in Congress and pass the bill. We could sure use this, especially with this epidemic-like rash of pedophiliac priests. And there's no second chance: blow it once (pardon the pun) and you will have a high pitched voice for the rest of your miserable life. Hats off to Likud Knesset Member Yuval Steinitz.

Related Posts: Potpourri 7/7

Caveat Preemptor: the case Against Rainbow Grocery

Well, I've just added one more reason to my list for not wanting to live in California. I think that the folks out there are leaning to the left a little too hard and falling into their feces. It stinks.

I introduced you to Cinnamon Stillwell's Blog as it dealt specifically with an article depicting flagrant anti-semitism by Palestinians. It seems that not only is the jury still out on this one, but they can't even find enough people to make up the jury to hear out the case. It's nothing short of sickening.

I never heard of Rainbow Grocery while I lived in San Francisco, and even less now do I ever want to know that it exists. By the way, why is it that their website address ends in .org? What kind of .org is a grocery store? This is a laughable paragraph taken out of their "About Us" page:

"One thing we do have in common: we all enjoy working in an environment where the workers come first. As part of a worker-run cooperative, we are more than simply the labor-force of the company, we are the company. And while we have come to Rainbow for many different reasons, we all share the desire to work in a democratic place where everyone's opinion matters. Not only do we hope to make a difference by providing healthy food and products, we believe that through our successful business model for cooperative work we have put the ideals of sustainable living into practice."

But surely, there are enough influential ...let's say people...in the Bay Area and surrounding community to do something about this profanity. Let's not get too dewy eyed about the plight of the refugees, and the camp conditions, and the occupation, and the bla bla bla ok? I am a refugee, or was one, and lived to see a better life than my parents ever had, raised a daughter to be a lawyer rather than learn how to fasten a suicide vest. It's all about choices, now isn't it?

I am sick to death of hearing about these anti-semitic incidents. We had better wake up people, all over this country, and make sure that we don't follow the path that the UK has taken. And if we don't watch ourselves, it will happen. Suddenly, one day, there will be mosques from sea to shining sea, and your elected officials might be saying "Allahuakbar" instead of "May God Bless America".

If you live in the Bay Area, I implore you to do something about this outfit. Follow the money...it's the only way.

Print Page

And what if she’s Sephardi?

Only in Israel have I found there to be a persistent yet annoying discrimination against Sephardic Jews. This latest article has managed to inflame my irritation, as it seems the subject will just not go away.

If we go back to our origins and the 15th century, the Sephardic families that had to flee Spain or convert represented the elite of the Jewish people. Though their persecution never reached the heights and horrors of their Ashekenazi counterparts, they managed to survive wherever they settled and when they assimilated into society, they rose to the upper ranks of the Middle Class. Are we to apologize because an insignificant number of Sephardim died in the Holocaust? I think not.

It seems that in rigorously Orthodox circles, especially in Israel, marrying a Sephardic woman is fate worse than death. Haredim feel that resorting to matchmaking is much safer, and by corollary, keeps the "gene pool" cleaner. Others have called it as it is: pure, unadulterated racism. So our fair weathered friends think we are inferior because our skin is browner than theirs? I will just say that we came from the same piece of earth as our prophets, and our sages. And no, it wasn't Europe folks.

"Menachem from Jerusalem admits that this approach is not necessarily in keeping with the lofty values of Judaism, but he frankly confesses that “no matter how shocking this sounds, it’s the reality. You can even offer a 30-year old guy a Sephardi girl and he’ll be insulted to the depths of his soul, and won’t understand how you could even dare to suggest such a thing.”

If you've managed to get this far down in the post, you'll most definitely want to read the rest of this pathetic text. Right this way, please.

Related Posts: Half-Price Citizens; Exchange Rate for Sephardic Jews, Oh Sister, What Art Thou?; Ethnic Divisions

Print Page

The Vanishing Jihad Exposés

Thank you Salomon Rousseau for sending this article.

Mark Steyn: The Vanishing Jihad Exposés

How will we lose the war against "radical Islam"?

Well, it won't be in a tank battle. Or in the Sunni Triangle or the caves of Bora Bora. It won't be because terrorists fly three jets into the Oval Office, Buckingham Palace and the Basilica of St Peter's on the same Tuesday morning.

The war will be lost incrementally because we are unable to reverse the ongoing radicalization of Muslim populations in South Asia, Indonesia, the Balkans, Western Europe and, yes, North America. And who's behind that radicalization? Who funds the mosques and Islamic centers that in the past 30 years have set up shop on just about every Main Street around the planet?

For the answer, let us turn to a fascinating book called "Alms for Jihad: Charity And Terrorism in the Islamic World," by J. Millard Burr, a former USAID relief coordinator, and the scholar Robert O Collins. Can't find it in your local Barnes & Noble? Never mind, let's go to Amazon. Everything's available there. And sure enough, you'll come through to the "Alms for Jihad" page and find a smattering of approving reviews from respectably torpid publications: "The most comprehensive look at the web of Islamic charities that have financed conflicts all around the world," according to Canada's Globe And Mail, which is like the New York Times but without the jokes.

Read the rest of the article here. And scare the wits out of yourself.

Print Page

Les Singularités de La Langue Française

Merci Viviane Paolini d'envoyer ce texte.

la folie a inventé la raison
âne baté
bavard comme une pie
ça grouillait de monde comme des fourmis
cet homme est un ours, on ne peut pas l'emmener en société
donner sa langue au chat
en argot: vites filons!!! voilà les POULETS(policiers)
faire le paon
j'ai le cafard ce soir
le pas de l'oie
nu comme un ver
se battre comme un lion
souple comme une panthère
tu es un perroquet: tu répètes tout
une mémoire d'éléphant
une voix de rossignol
une tête de linotte
finir en queue de poisson
mais qui est donc ce zèbre?
manger comme un cochon
mettre la charrue devant les boeufs
regarder avec des yeux de merlan frit
tissu en pied-de-poule
vendre la peau de l´ours avant de l´avoir tué
yeux de lynx
appartement miteux
Dormir comme un loir
dormir en chien de fusil
il n´y a pas de quoi fouetter un chat
laid comme un pou
marcher au pas de tortue
oie blanche
oiseau de mauvaise augure
taille de guêpe
temps à ne pas mettre un chien dehors
toutereaux (des amoureux)
avoir un cou de girafe
avoir un estomac d'autruche
chercher des poux dans la tête
être agile (ou rusé) comme un singe
langue de vipère
pratiquer la politique de l'autruche
sotte comme une buse
Têtu comme un âne ou un mulet
entendre une mouche voler
mourir, tomber comme des mouches
on prend plus de mouches avec du miel qu'avec du vinaigre
pattes de mouches (écriture très petite et irrégulière)
prendre la mouche (s'emporter)
quelle mouche l´a piqué (se mettre en colère sans raison)
le marché aux puces
ma petite puce (terme d'affection pour une petite fille)
mettre la puce à l'oreille
secouer ses puces.
bouche en cul de poule (ed: mon père décrivait la bouche de Elvis Presley comme ça)
cages à poules (chambres comme des...)
poule mouillée
quand les poules auront des dents
se coucher comme les poules
tuer la poule aux oeufs d'or
une mère poule
mon poulet, mon petit poulet (termes d'affection)
un poulet (un policier)
à pas de loup
ce sont des jeunes loups (jeunes ambitieux)
enfermer le loup dans la bergerie
entre chien et loup
être connu comme un loup blanc
faire un froid de loup
mon loup, mon petit loup (termes d'affection)
quand on parle du loup on voit sa queue
se jeter dans la gueule du loup
un loup de mer (vieux marin)
courir comme un lapin
le coup du lapin
mon petit lapin (terme d'affection)
poser un lapin
un chaud lapin (un homme qui a du tempérament, un coureur)
appétit d´oiseau
apprendre au vieux singe à faire la grimace
battre de l´aile
graisser la patte
la cigogne a amené une fillette
nid d´aigle
voler de ses propres ailes
pantalon à pattes d´éléphant
frisé comme un mouton
faire comme les moutons de Panurge
des yeux de vache qui regarde passer les trains
cervelle d´oiseau
muet comme une carpe
gai comme un pinson
un bouc émissaire
myope comme une taupe

Print Page

The Karaite Community in San Francisco

Until I joined internet forums, I had no clue that there existed Jewish denominations other than Sephardic and Ashkenazi. So much for knowing about one's heritage. It was only after I had met virtually with 2 or 3 people who described themselves as Karaites that my curiosity peaked. Now, I learn that there is a small community of these Jews where I once lived, San Francisco. And the majority of them came from Egypt. Who knew?

'Yes, life is good in America, of course. But faith is less strong in America than it used to be in Egypt or in Israel.' - Joe Pessah

Read the whole article here.

Print Page

Hitler's Secret: Not Just One Testicle

Borodin

His name, or the mere utterance of it, cannot leave anyone indifferent. It will either foment rage, bewilderment, hatred or if you are a neo-nazi, admiration. When I see him in black and white footage, all I see is a short man with sub-zero self-esteem. That said, there are some new things that have been discovered about him, not the least of which is the fact that he had only one testicle.

Hitler appears to have been a great admirer of Jewish artistic talent, and a recently discovered record collection which belonged to him has surfaced in the house of a former Soviet Intelligence Officer. The article will reveal that he listened to several Jewish composers and interpreters of music despite the fact that, in public, he raved that Jews never contributed or added any value to either music or architecture.

Sub-human was the term he used to describe Russians; yet the collection was replete with their musical works.

The owner of the collection never came forth apparently, for fear of appearing to have looted the collection. It came to him after the fall of Berlin, when he was ordered to search the Reich's chancellery.

It boggles the mind and tears at the heart, even now. The crème de la crème of classical music filled the airwaves of the secret environment of a scoundrel, an assassin, a scum of the earth. And it couldn't stop him.

Print Page

Point of No Return / August Issue

Lyn & Laurence Julius publish this monthly update from "Point of No Return" which is quite interesting and relevant. Here is this month's issue:

The Middle East's forgotten Jewish refugees - update 57 - 06.08.07

1. On 19 July a Congressional human rights Caucus heard testimony on Jewish refugees from Arab lands from Canadian ex-Justice minister Irwin Cotler. Following a screening of "The Forgotten Refugees," Regina Bublil Waldman, formerly of Libya, Sabine Dazin, of Algerian and Moroccan descent, and Sir Charles Dahan formerly of Morocco spoke of their experiences as
Jewish refugees. The Human Rights Caucus forum featured Reps. Tom Lantos (D-CA), Frank R. Wolf (R-VA), Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). US citizens are being urged to lobby their congressional representatives to sponsor two resolutions introduced last February. See press coverage below under 'Jewish refugees'.

2. The last eight remaining Jews of Baghdad are not eligible for aid from the Iraqi government. For safety's sake, they have even been urged to pretend to be Christians. Canon Andrew White, Anglican vicar of Baghdad, said," I don't want them to leave at all because the Jewish presence here is very important. But unless we care for them, I dread for what is going to happen to them. I do not want them to leave, but I think that is the only way." Canon White was a witness at a US commission on religious freedom hearing on 25 July. The commission also heard testimonies from Assyrian Christians and Mandaeans.

3. The grandson of an Iraqi Jew has written to the British Foreign office in a campaign to obtain restitution for his grandfather's lost inheritance.

PRESS REVIEW

For all these articles and more see the regularly-updated weblog 'Point of no return'

JEWISH REFUGEES

Cotler urges Congress to recognize Jewish refugees

Remembering a mass Jewish exodus

Congress mulls Jewish refugee cause

JEWS FROM ARAB and MUSLIM COUNTRIES

IRAQ

Baghdad Jews told 'it's safer to become Christians'

Iraq's last Jews denied entry to Holland

British-born Iraqi Jew fights to regain inheritance

IRAN

At least 27 Jews have been killed by Iranian regime

MOROCCO

'Jews lived happily and untroubled among Arabs'

EGYPT

Lucette Lagnado: back to Cairo, my father's lost city

TURKEY

Turkey's Jews unfazed by Islamic election victory

Jews suffered discrimination under Ataturk

Hayim Farhi, Jew at the mercy of the Ottomans

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

LONDON

Talk by Egyptian-born author Albert Oudis. 7 October. Association of Jews from Egypt (AJE).
Details

NEW YORK

Exhibition: The Jews of Bukhara. Centre for Jewish History. Until 30 September

SAN FRANCISCO

Lecture by Egyptian-born author Andre Aciman. Sponsored by JIMENA . 14 October. 7pm. San Francisco JCC. Contact: Natalie Shamash (415) 977-7419
**********************************************************************
THE FORGOTTEN REFUGEES FILM

To order a DVD (All versions) email Nathalie Alyon at the David Project.

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER

If you or your family lived in an Arab or Islamic country please register your story and lost assets here

SEPHARDI ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

If we do not tell our story, who will? Our children and our grandchildren need to know what Sephardi-Mizrachi Jews lived through to secure their continuing legacy among the Jewish people. Anyone who is interested in being interviewed, or who would like to support this effort by becoming a volunteer interviewer; videographer, etc., please email

NON-ARAB, NON-MUSLIM MINORITIES

Hamas forced Christian to convert to Islam

Conflict with democracy centres on non-Muslim status

New Kabyle group fights for autonomy (French)

Treatment of Palestinian Christians 'medieval'

Assyrian Christians

Boutros Ghali concerned at Egypt's image following treatment of Baha'is

PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

Free the Palestinians: Let them settle among their Arab brothers

The real Naqba

Cosmetic facelift but no real improvement

Olmert gesture opens door to Arab 'right of return'

Related Post: Point of No Return/July Issue


Print Page

"Why, the Jews, your Majesty-the Jews."

The Miracle of Jewish History
an excerpt from "Eyewitness to Jewish History" (Wiley 2007), written by Rabbi Benjamin Blech

Over three hundred years ago King Louis XIV of France asked Blaise Pascal, the great French philosopher of his day, to give him proof of the existence of miracles. Without a moment's hesitation, Pascal answered, "Why, the Jews, your Majesty-the Jews."

Mark Twain (1899): "The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away. The Greek and Roman followed, made a vast noise and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up, and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out and they sit in twilight now or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"

Leo Tolstoy (1891): "The Jew is the emblem of eternity. He who neither slaughter nor torture of thousands of years could destroy, he who neither fire, nor sword, nor Inquisition was able to wipe off the face of the earth. He who was the first to produce the Oracles of God. He who has been for so long the Guardian of Prophecy and has transmitted it to the rest of the world. Such a nation cannot be destroyed. The Jew is as everlasting as Eternity itself. "

Read the whole article.

Rabbi Blech is Associate Professor of the Talmud at Yeshiva University

Print Page

ISRAEL'S RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Thank you Barbara Kallman for providing me with credible sources in order for me to be able to publish this piece. Women's Lens received copies of emails which were authored by a former White House Correspondent and an Israeli Diplomat.
links by Aimée Kligman

and they want to boycott us....

Despite the second Lebanon war, the divestments, and the boycotts, Israel's economy enjoyed the largest growth in its GNP of any Western country at 8% for the last quarter of 2006.

Foreign investment hit a remarkable high of over US$13 billion and the budget deficit was under 1%. Industrial exports, excluding diamonds, rose 11% to $29.3 billion in 2006 with the hi-tech sector leading the surge, according to the Manufacturers Association of Israel. Israel's hi-tech industry exported $14.1 billion in goods last year, growing 20% from 2005.

What follows is a selection of Israel's achievements in the first month of 2007:

• 1. Scientists in Israel found that the brackish water drilled from underground desert aquifers hundreds of feet deep could be used to raise warm-water fish. The geothermal water, less than one-tenth as saline as sea water, free of pollutants, and a toasty 98 degrees on average, proves an ideal environment.
• 2. Israeli-developed designer eyeglasses promise mobile phone and iPod users a personalized, high-tech video display. Available to US consumers next year, Lumus-Optical's lightweight and fashionable video eyeglasses feature a large transparent screen floating in front of the viewer's face that projects their choice of movie, TV show, or video game.
• 3. When Stephen Hawkings visited Israel recently, he shared his wisdom with scientists, students, and even the prime minister. But the world's most renown victim of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, also learned something - due to the Israeli Association for ALS' advanced work in both embryonic and adult stem cell research, as well as its proven track record with neurodegenerative diseases, the Israeli research community is well on its way to finding a treatment for this fatal disease which affects 30,000 Americans.
• 4. Israeli start-up Veterix has developed an innovative new electronic capsule that sits in the stomach of a cow, sheep, or goat, sending out real-time information on the health of the herd to the farmer via email or cellphone. The e-capsule, which also sends out alerts if animals are distressed, injured, or lost, is now being tested on a herd of cows in the hopes that the device will lead to tastier and healthier meat and milk supplies.
• 5. The millions of Skype users worldwide will soon have access to the newly developed KishKish lie-detector. This free Internet service, based on voice stress analysis (a technique commonly used in criminal investigations), will be able to measure just how truthful that person on the other end of the line really is.
• 6. Beating cardiac tissue has been created in a lab from human embryonic stem cells by researchers at the Rappaport Medical Faculty and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology's biomedical engineering faculty. The work of Dr. Shulamit Levenberg and Prof. Lior Gepstein has also led to the creation of tiny blood vessels within the tissue, making possible its implantation in a human heart.
• 7. Israel's Magal Security Systems is a worldwide leader in computerized security systems with products used in more than 70 countries around the world protecting anything from national borders to nuclear facilities, refineries, and airports. The company's latest product, DreamBox, a state-of-the-art security system that includes intelligent video, audio and sensor management, is now being used by a major water authority on the US East Coast to safeguard the utility's sites.
• 8. It's common knowledge that dogs have better night vision than humans and a vastly superior sense of smell and hearing. Israel's Bio-Sense Technologies recently delved further and electronically analysed 350 different barks. Finding that dogs of all breeds and sizes bark the same alarm when they sense a threat, the firm has designed the dog bark-reader, a sensor that can pick up a dog's alarm bark and alert the human operators. This is just one of a batch of innovative security systems to emerge from Israel, which Forbes calls "the go-to country for anti-terrorism technologies."
• 9. Israeli company BioControl Medical sold its first electrical stimulator to treat urinary incontinence to a US company for $50 million. Now it is working on CardioFit, which uses electrical nerve stimulation to treat congestive heart failure. With nearly five million Americans presently affected by heart failure and more than 400,000 new cases diagnosed yearly, the CardioFit is already generating a great deal of excitement as the first device with the potential to halt this deadly disease.
• 10. One year after Norway's Socialist Left Party launched its boycott of Israel, the importing of Israeli goods has increased by 15%, the strongest increase in many years, Statistics Norway reports.

In contrast to the efforts of tiny Israel to make contributions to the world so as to better mankind, one has to ask what have those who have strived to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth done other than to create hate and bloodshed?

Ed: their video business is booming!

Print Page

Forgotten Jews (Part 5)

Edits by Aimée Kligman
David Lisbona



My Egyptian Story

My greatgrandparents, Abraham and Clementine Lisbona immigrated to Egypt from Damascus in 1870. At the age of 20 (i.e. in 1900), my grandfather decided to seek his fortune in the New World and started working his way up through Europe to catch a ship to New York from Hamburg. He never made it.

He fell in love with the daughter of his German-Jewish landlords in Berlin, married her in 1905 and my father (still alive and kicking) was born in Berlin in 1911. After Hitler came to power in Germany, my grandfather decided it was time to move so he took my grandmother to Egypt in 1934 and my father joined them a year later. In 1942, Rommel was only 100 kilometers from Cairo and my father decided it was time to join the war effort and managed to join the British Royal Air Force and became a bomber pilot. He left Egypt in 1943. I was born in England in 1949, I immigrated to Israel in 1973 and I am rediscovering my Egyptian roots.

In February of this year (2007), I travelled to Egypt and met up with Rabbi Andrew Baker of the American Jewish Committee and a delegation from the Association Nebi Daniel. I am working to preserve the precarious Jewish heritage still left in Egypt. Since then I've become active with the team of the World Congress of the Jews from Egypt and we're doing what we can to preserve memories, bring people together and tell the story.

I have Lisbona relatives from Egypt and Syria in the USA, Canada, UK, France, Israel, Mexico and Brazil - there are over 1000 Lisbonas in my family tree.
David

ed: you can be part of the Flickr photo archive project started by David by clicking on the link in the side bar.

Related Posts: Forgotten Jews (Part 1); Forgotten Jews (Part 2), Forgotten Jews (Part 3); Forgotten Jews (Part 4)

Print Page

Jordan Joining The Civilized World

Reform is painfully slow in this region of the world, principally because it is littered with Islamists. However, today we see that a mere 15 years after Jordan signed the UN document (185 countries are party to it), it has also endorsed its convention, i.e. CEDAW. The acronym stands for Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

As expected, the endorsement sent at least one Islamist into hysterics, raving that this would destroy the family, was a Zionist plot, and an American attempt to turn people away from religion. Apparently, this idiot has not paid attention to America lately, where we are experiencing the highest percentage of religious fervor, so much so that Walmart, the world's largest retail giant, is introducing faith-based TOYS. Someone give me an Alka-Seltzer.

Please visit this website, which is the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women. You can also download a pdf file which was authored in 2006 and reports on Women's Role in World development as of 2004.

Though Jordan expressed reservations about its women's free movement (to migrate I assume), this is a step in the right direction, and may have the stamp of Queen Rania.

Print Page

Ban the Burqa - and the Niqab Too

Submitted with comment by Viviane Paolini
Edits by Aimée Kligman


Should we, women, be invisible as Islam want us to be wearing the burqa or the niqab? Of course not! We must show that we are not merely instruments in the hands of men, and furthermore, the Burqa and Niqab are not cited in the religion of Islam, as Daniel Pipes points out in the article below.

We, in the West, are free to make our own judgments, lives and future. No man can put us in submission and slavery. Women get up and fight to have your rights recognized.

Viviane

Ban the Burqa - and the Niqab Too
by Daniel Pipes
Jerusalem Post, August 1, 2007

Once-exotic forms of Muslim women's head and body garments have now become both familiar in the West and the source of fractious political and legal disputes.

The hijab (a hair-covering) is ever-more popular in Detroit but has been banned from French public schools, discouraged by the International Football Association Board, and excluded from a court in the U.S. state of Georgia. The jilbab (a garment that leaves only the face and hands exposed) was, in a case partly argued by Tony Blair's wife, first allowed, then forbidden in an English school.

The niqab (a total covering except for the eyes) became a hot topic when Jack Straw, a British Labour politician, wrote that he "felt uncomfortable" talking to women wearing it. If Quebec election authorities disallow the niqab from voting booths and a judge disallowed it from a Florida driver's license, it is permitted in British courts and a Dutch candidate for municipal office wore one. A British hospital even invented a niqab patients' gown.

The burqa (a total head and body covering) has been barred from classrooms in the UK, is illegal in public places in five Belgian towns, and the Dutch legislature has attempted to ban it altogether. Italy's "Charter of Values, Citizenship and Immigration" calls face coverings not acceptable. A courtroom in the United States has expelled a burqa'ed woman. In brief, no general rules govern Islamic headwear in the West.

Some observers would ban hijabs from public places, but what legal grounds exist for doing so? Following my rule of thumb that Muslims enjoy the same rights and obligations as other citizens, but not special rights or obligations, a woman's freedom of expression grants her the option to wear a hijab.

In contrast, burqas and niqabs should be banned in all public spaces because they present a security risk. Anyone might lurk under those shrouds – female or male, Muslim or non-Muslim, decent citizen, fugitive, or criminal – with who knows what evil purposes. Some examples (full details can be found at my weblog entry, "The Niqab and Burqa as Security Threats"): A spectacular act of would-be escape took place in early July, when Maulana Mohammad Abdul Aziz Ghazi, 46, tried to flee the Red Mosque complex in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he had helped lead an insurrection aiming to topple the government. He donned a black burqa and high heels but, unfortunately for him, his height, demeanor, and pot belly gave him away, leading to his arrest.

One of the July 2005 London bombers, Yassin Omar, 26, took on the burqa twice – once when fleeing the scene of the crime, then a day later, when fleeing London for the Midlands.
Other male burqa'ed fugitives include a Somali murder suspect in the United Kingdom, Palestinian killers fleeing Israeli justice, a member of the Taliban fleeing NATO forces in Afghanistan, and the murderer of a Sunni Islamist in Pakistan.

Burqas and niqabs also facilitate non-political criminal behavior. Unsurprisingly, favorite targets of robberies include jewelry stores (examples come from Canada, Great Britain, and India) and banks (Great Britain, Bosnia, and two 2007 attacks in Philadelphia). Curiously, in Kenya, street prostitutes have donned buibuis (which reveals slightly more of the face than a niqab), the better to blend into the night population and avoid the police.

Expressing the universal fear aroused by these garments, a recent Pakistani horror film, Zibahkhana (meaning "slaughterhouse" in Urdu) includes a sadistic cannibalistic killer figure dubbed "Burqa Man."

The practice of covering the face derives from tribal customs that build on Islamic law, not the law itself. For example, some tribeswomen in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj region put on the burqa at puberty, then never take it off – not for other women, not for their husbands, and not for their children. These family members typically see the woman's face only when viewing her corpse.

British research offers another reason to drop the burqa and niqab, finding that covered women and their breast-fed children lack sufficient amounts of vitamin D (which the skin absorbs from sunlight) and are at serious risk of rickets. Nothing in Islam requires turning females into shapeless, faceless zombies; good sense calls for modesty itself to be modest. The time has come everywhere to ban from public places these hideous, unhealthy, socially divisive, terrorist-enabling, and criminal-friendly garments.

Print Page

Victor, Victory, Victoria

If you haven't guessed by now, the name Victoria and all of its variants has great personal significance for me. Victoria was my mother's name, which I adopted as the name of my business, and when I had a daughter, Victoria was squeezed between Michèle and Kligman.

So when I fell into these ladies' Victory video one night, while watching PBS, it wasn't so much the name that struck me first, but the music and the women themselves. They personified victory, expertise, adroitness, pure joy, and freedom of movement. I was hooked on Bond.

The video you are about to see will either thrill you or make you run to the nearest DVD outlet and buy it (of course, in this day and age, you don't have to run anywhere, - just type in Amazon.com or your favorite outlet for DVD's and you're home). I suggest the latter since hearing it with Bose speakers will raise the hair on your arms, just like it does mine. The other compositions are not bad either.....turn up the volume!! This was Bond's first appearance at London's Albert Hall.



Print Page

Foot-and-mouth disease found in UK

Hear y