February 10, 2014
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4974
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In this era of post modernism
and abandonment of traditional moral values, our capacity to inflict
harm on ourselves seems to be at an all-time high. Whether in the
entertainment industry, the media or the political arena, increasing
numbers of “emancipated” Jews worship nihilism and vulgarity and bring
the Jewish people and Israel into disrepute.
I will start with an article
published in Israel last week in our illustrious “highbrow” daily
newspaper Haaretz by Josh Lambert, author of the book, ‘Unclean Lips, Obscenity and Jewish Culture’. Lambert explicitly congratulates and extolls Jews for “asserting their Jewishness by glorifying obscenity” “in order to fight anti-Semitism” or “rewrite traditional Jewish stories in a contemporary idiom”.
Please reread the preceding
paragraph. They are direct quotations. Lambert goes further, dismissing
any Jews opposed to pornography “as only comprising very marginal rabbis
and other Jewish crackpots”.
His role model is the American
comedienne Sarah Silverman who has risen to fame by shocking audiences
with crass vulgarity and taboo language, often with Jewish connotations.
She takes pride in describing herself as a “dirty Jew”. In a current
video act in which she mockingly discusses reproductive rights with
‘Jesus’, Silverman has him refer to himself as “Jesus f**** Christ” and
incorporates other crudities.
Vulgarity is an absolute
affront to Judaism. Moreover, were such an obscene satire to target Jews
– our reaction would justly be ballistic.
As a people persecuted
throughout the ages, surely we should be extra sensitive to avoid
offending other religions. In this case, Silverman is targeting the
evangelicals, most of whom are genuine friends of the Jewish people and
deeply devoted to the welfare and security of Israel. Lambert actually
praises Silverman for opposing “the nation’s most powerful socially,
religiously and politically reactionary movement.” Must we mock and
degrade the few friends we have? Jews who endorse such obscene insults
and are contemptuous of other people’s religious sensitivities are
utterly shameful.
We are told that Silverman is a
great performer and delights audiences. So what! Without bracketing or
comparing her to the notorious French comic Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, his
popularity in no manner mitigates the foul anti-Semitic content and
offensiveness of his performances.
Needless to say, had a similar
obscene satire about Mohammed been performed, global riots and bloodshed
would have ensued. Ironically, the harshest condemnations of
Islamophobia would probably emanate from those same people who applaud
besmirching Christians.
Analogies can be made with Jews in the political world engaged in disgusting behavior who also inflict serious damage.
On January 23, the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) invited newly elected New York
Mayor Bill de Blasio to address a gala reception at which the media was
excluded. However a recording of de Blasio’s remarks was leaked and
published.
De Blasio, an ardent Democrat
considered left of center is a long-standing, committed friend of Israel
and made what can be regarded as a motherhood and apple pie address to
the gathering.
He spoke passionately of his
love of Israel and the common values that Israel shares with America
such as “belief in democracy and open discourse”. Like his mayoral
predecessors, he considered “part of his obligation as Mayor to be a
defender of Israel... not to maintain, but to strengthen the alliance,”
saying there was “no greater ally on earth for America than Israel”.
He also spoke of the dangers
facing Israel from the repressive Iranian regime and suggested that
Saudi Arabian Airlines be banned from US airports because of its
discrimination of Israeli citizens.
De Blasio praised AIPAC and
stated, “When you need me to stand by you in Washington or anywhere, I
will answer the call, and I will answer it happily, because that’s my
job”.
However his address outraged
some of New York’s far left Jewish glitterati. They obtained the
signatures of 58 “pro-peace pro-Israel” artists, professors, rabbis and
community leaders to pen a vitriolic open letter condemning the mayor
which was released to the media. Amongst the signatories was
“pro-Israel” author Peter Beinart, Karen Adler, President of the Jewish
Communal Fund, feminists Letty Pogrebin and Gloria Steinem, Rabbi
Rolando Matalon of B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue and Burton Visotzky of the
Jewish Theological Seminary.
The malicious letter castigated
Mayor De Blasio for supporting AIPAC. It alleged that “AIPAC speaks for
Israel’s hardline government and its right-wing supporters, and for
them alone; it does not speak for us… your job is not to do AIPAC’s
bidding when they call you to do so”.
Yet, De Blasio spoke in broad terms of support for Israel and in no way related to right or left wing Israeli politics.
AIPAC is the principal
organization in the United States promoting the case for Israel –
irrespective of which party is heading the government - and, despite
enormous challenges and obstacles, has succeeded beyond all
expectations. Aside from that, AIPAC has always striven to be bipartisan
and is in fact largely dominated by Democrats. Its bona-fides were
never challenged until J Street initiated a campaign to besmirch and
portray it, falsely, as an extreme right wing body. However, this failed
to affect AIPAC’s standing as American Jewry’s most effective supporter
of Israel.
The unbridled attack against
the newly-elected mayor –in effect an assault against AIPAC - at a time
when Israel is under such enormous pressure from those seeking its
destruction, can only be described as perfidious.
It was given prominent and
enthusiastic coverage in the “liberal” media with the New York Times
publishing a major anti- AIPAC article misleadingly titled “Pro-Israel
Group Finds its Momentum Blunted”.
The chutzpa of these
self-appointed “pro-peace pro-Israel” guardians of Israel can be
attributed to the former willingness of the many Jewish leaders to
welcome into the “big tent” groups hostile to Israel. This legitimized
and encouraged them to portray their antagonism to Israeli policies as
representing a mainstream view.
Anti-Israel bodies also sought
to infiltrate other areas of the mainstream. There were debates on
whether supporters of the repugnant BDS should be entitled to remain
within the organized Jewish framework and even be provided platforms
from which to promote their views. Similar issues are being raised by
fringe groups at federations, in Hillel branches, synagogues and
community centers.
Most Jewish leaders, albeit
somewhat belatedly, have now recognized the need for red lines to be
drawn and that there can be no “compromise” or tolerance within the
mainstream for groups engaged in BDS or actively campaigning to
undermine Israel.
The self-hating Jewish forces
operating against the Jewish people and Israel are primarily fringe
groups. But they have the enthusiastic support of the anti-Israeli media
which provides them with disproportionate exposure. It is thus
important that the public is made aware that these views are held in
utter contempt by the vast majority of committed Jews who strongly
support Israel during these difficult times.
One is tempted to ask, with Jews behaving in such a repugnant manner, who needs enemies?
This column was originally published in the Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom
Some of my recent articles:Friends of Israel Must Speak Up Now (February 5, 2014)
Pollard, American Jewish Leaders and Anti-Semitism (January 29, 2014)
The “Price Tag” Crimes Must be Dealt With Now (January 22, 2014)
Foreign Minister Lieberman cannot act as a Maverick (January 16, 2014)
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