Monthly Archives: July 2016

Kumbaya versus Naomi Shemer

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

I like to say that I’m a tribalist. Imagine my surprise to find out that this really means Jewish conspirator aspiring to world domination! Even if it isn’t used as a stick to beat Jews with, tribalism has a terribly … Continue reading →

Posted in The Jewish people, Zionism | 1 Comment

The shape of things to come (with apologies to H. G. Wells)

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

On Friday my son’s wife took two of my grandkids and her mother on a mini-vacation – to Germany. In the four days that they’ve been there, there have been three terror attacks. I’m more than looking forward to their … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe and Israel, Middle East politics, Terrorism | 3 Comments

The Republican platform gets Israel right

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Everyone knows that party platforms are just for atmosphere. They bind nobody to anything, and are quickly forgotten after the election. But I must say that the Republican platform plank on Israel – regardless of what one thinks of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Peace' Process, American politics | 1 Comment

Islam is not a religion

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Today in a 647-word editorial the New York Times has strikingly exemplified the West’s misunderstanding of and impotent response to the threat posed to it by a resurgent, expansionist Islam: Each new attack, each new convulsion of fear, horror, grief … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Terrorism | 2 Comments

Some people just can’t be helped

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

When the Zionists began to build the yishuv, the enterprise that would become the Jewish state, they had to develop an economy, a political system, an army for defense, a legal system, an educational system, a transportation network, a postal … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs | Comments Off on Some people just can’t be helped

Who will cut off the head of the snake?

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Remember the Cold War? In particular, do you remember when both sides had consistent ideological positions? Washington was always acting to stop soviet expansionism, preventing the dominoes from falling, while the Soviets fought to end American Imperialism. I miss the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Middle East politics | 1 Comment

What’s the problem with Reform Judaism?

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Today I came across an article by Rabbi Baruch Efrati in which he opposes cooperation between Israelis and the Reform Movement. So what, you say. Another Orthodox attack on the heretical reformim. Perhaps so, but here is what caught my … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, Israeli Society | 2 Comments

How to talk to Jews about Israel

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Quite a few years ago, I went to a meeting in San Francisco about Israel advocacy, sponsored by the ADL (when the ADL was still interested in Israel advocacy). One of the speakers suggested a form of triage: there are … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, Information war | 3 Comments