Category Archives: American Jews

One reason Americans are often wrong about Jews and Israel

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

In 2014, the media watchdog organization CAMERA put up a billboard on Times Square accusing the NY Times of “slanting the news.” Nothing has changed; in fact, today the Times is listing so severely to port that I’m surprised to … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, Jew Hatred, Media | 1 Comment

The poisonously ambiguous concept of “two states”

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr created a stir Sunday when he called for “two states for two peoples: one Jewish with secure and defensible borders and one Palestinian with its own flag and its own future.” Kohr deliberately echoed the words … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Peace' Process, American Jews, Israel and Palestinian Arabs | 2 Comments

What happened to my home town

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

Now a few words about my home town, Fresno California, butt of countless jokes and YouTubes full of mostly derogatory references to it from films and TV shows made in sophisticated Los Angeles. With a population of about 525,000, it … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, American society, Zionism | 2 Comments

The Masorti movement is in bad company

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

The Masorti (Conservative) movement in Israel has allied itself with the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) in the legal struggle over what forms of worship are permitted at the Western Wall. I’ve written about that question before … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, Israeli Society | 2 Comments

Trumpus Maccabeus

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Victor Rosenthal

Thirteen Conservative rabbinical students studying in Jerusalem wrote a letter in which they criticized the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. They wrote in part, We, a group of rabbinical students of the Jewish Theological Seminary … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, Israel and Palestinian Arabs | 2 Comments

Defending Israel against Reform evangelism

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Victor Rosenthal

This week the conflict between liberal and progressive elements in American Jewry and the government of Israel was escalated. On November 16, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the American Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), and others tried to push their … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, Israeli Politics, Israeli Society | 3 Comments

Rick Jacobs and his MLK complex

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Victor Rosenthal

Rabbi Rick Jacobs of the Union for Reform Judaism was seven years old when Martin Luther King was arrested in Birmingham, so he is unlikely to have participated in the American civil rights movement. But he is making it up … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews | 1 Comment

Zionism and ‘Lennonism’

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Victor Rosenthal

Who among us wouldn’t – doesn’t – prioritize the well-being of members of one’s own immediate family above others? Other things being equal, if one has a chance to help a family member or a non-member (but not both), then … Continue reading →

Posted in American Jews, The Jewish people, Zionism | 2 Comments