Monthly Archives: June 2006

Asheri is dead

Israel, Palestinians, Terrorism

For the Asheri family the worst has happened. Their son, Eliyahu, is dead. It is a sad day for the people of Israel – a member of our communal family is dead because of hatred. The Jerusalem Post opens their article by writing,

The IDF confirmed early Thursday a report the Popular Resistance Committees issued from Gaza that it had executed Eliyahu Asheri, 18, of Itamar, who was kidnapped earlier this week in the West Bank. [Read the rest of the article...]

The BBC reported the story before IDF confirmation. I realize that the BBC is well known for being pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel in its bias. However, I don’t understand their wording on the report of Asheri’s death. The headline reads, Militants ‘kill’ Israeli settler - why is it that quotes are around the word ‘kill’? Was he not a human? Was he not a life worth living? Did he not really live, thus not really die, necessitating the quotes? I find this usage disturbing. Certainly the BBC should have acknowledged that the IDF had not yet confirmed the tragedy, but this does not necessitate the quote marks. Feel free to let me know if you have a better explanation.

May the Holy One bring comfort to Eliyahu’s parents, family and friends.

UPDATE:  More details in Haaretz‘s article.

Operation Summer Rain

Israel, Palestinians, Terrorism

By now you are likely aware of the present situation in Israel – (on June 25th) Hamas/Palestinian Authority Terrorists kidnapped an Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit and (on June 27th) a tennage settler named Eliyahu Asheri.

Here are pictures of them:

Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit (with thanks to YNet)

Eliyahu Asheri

Eliyahu Asheri

Gilad was taken after the PA soldiers dug a tunnel outside of the Gaza/Israel border, killed two Israeli soliders and took him prisoner. What a nightemere. The PA did respond to requests to release him with anything reasonable for Gilad. (They supposedly want all women and teens who are in prison because they are convicted of particpation in terrorist attacks to be freed.) The world isn’t doing much to help (nothing new there) and today Israel began taking limited action to get him back in an operation called “Summer Rain.” As reported in the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz, Israel is doing this only to get Gilad back (G-d willing alive and well) and not to retake Gaza. Infact, they are doing everything possible to severly limit civilian injuries or involvment. (Hamas makes this very difficult, for they are well known for putting their operations headquareters and offices within preschools, apartments and the like to try to prevent an attack on them. Hamas, in otherwords, uses their own children as human shields.)
Many bloggers are covering events as they unfold, including fequent updates by the (excellent) Israeli blogger Aussie Dave on his site IsraellyCool. Keep checking this post for updates. Here are links to Aussie Dave’s original posts on the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit and Eliyahu Asheri.

May Gilad and Eliyahu return safely and soon. Please keep them in your prayers.

UPDATE: There are reports of a THIRD kidnapping, this time of Noah Moskovitch! (Hat tip to Aussie Dave.) OY
UPDATE: More information on Noah Moskovitch courtesy Aussie Dave.

UPDATE:  YNet has the text and video of a letter from Gilad Shalit’s parents, Noam and Aviva, to the kidnappers and Gilad. (Thanks to On the Face)

Intra-Palestinian Fighting

Israel

A couple of months ago I heard a scholar speak about Israel. One of his concerns for the future at that time was fighting or, G-d forbid, civil war between the Palestinian factions. It would be difficult for the Palestinians and put Israel into an untenable situation – potentially requiring them to go and stop a war between the Palestinians. What a nightmare that could be.

Today, some of the Palestinians against Hamas revolted, going to their headquarters, breaking in firing weapons and kidnapping an official. Read the details in Haaretz.

I hope their internal challenges lead to stability and the presence of a government which is non-terrorist and represents the people.

Important Article on Judaism & Domestic Violence

Judaism

My Jewish Learning has web-published an important article by Naomi Graetz on "Domestic Violence in Jewish Law: How Judaism views wifebeating." In her article you can learn some of the basics of Jewish law on this topic as well as how the biblical and rabbinic authorities understood halachah (Jewish law) in each time period and major area of the Jewish world.

Yes, abuse, domination and violence in the home happens in Judaism. It is not a pleasant reality. However, it is one which our people must face, address and work to end.

Ann Coulter Calls 9-11 Widows Self-Obsessed & Harpies

American Politics

Columnist Ann Coulter has recently published a new book. In it she calls a group of 9-11 widows "self-obsessed" and acting "as if the terrorist attacks happened only to them." She also writes, "I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much," according to The Associated Press.

"And by the way, how do we know their husbands weren't planning to divorce these harpies? Now that their shelf life is dwindling, they better hurry up and appear in Playboy," The Daily News quoted the book as saying.

What a shame it is to defame the lives of the dead and the lives of their survivors for the purpose of politics. Each person has the right to their own political opinion. Judaism teaches us that each life is precious, created in the image of G-d. Passing jugdement for political purpsoe dishors the people defamed and the speaker. I hope the Ms. Coulter isn't in the unfortunate situation of having her deceased loved ones trampled and her own character defamed.

[Source for the quotations is the New York Times.]

Connecting, Planning, Collaborating and Working Together

Judaism

I had a fantastic meeting today, acutally, two of them. The first I expected to go well, as it was a networking meeting with a non-rabbinic (non-Jewish, actually) colleague in LocalTown to talk about collaborative programming and community building.  We connected on so many levels, I look forward to continued work together.

This  afternoon I had a committee meeting for a LocalTown board that I was just asked to join. We are working on a new agency to combat hunger.  It was one of those meetings where we got a lot done in less than an hour.

 So what is the Jewish connection to this other than the fact that I am a Jewish professional?  I think the connection resides in the statement in Pirkei Avot (Ethics/Teachings of the Ancestors), "You are not required to complete the work, but neither may you desist from it."

 May your work be fuitful and enjoyable.