The Jewish Chronicle Blog

Unrequited love

Britain is Israel’s closest ally in Europe, according to a survey of Israelis conducted by the British Embassy in Tel Aviv. Thirty-four per cent of Israelis ranked Britain as Israel’s number one ally, with second-place going to Germany, with 19 per cent. A resounding 63 per cent of Israelis said Prime Minister Tony Blair was a true friend of Israel. When asked what they associated with Britain, 24 per cent of Israelis said the royal family, palaces, servants and the changing of the guard. Football came next, with 15 per cent. But it seems this affection is hardly reciprocal. According to an Israel Project survey, 18 per cent of British people, and 25 per cent of the British elite, view Israel and its policies as more responsible for instability in the Middle East than radical Islam, with 27 per cent of the UK public and 29 per cent of the British elite seeing radical Islam as the cause of Middle East instability. In Germany, by comparison, while 15 per cent of the general population views Israel as the problem, a resounding 50 per cent put the blame on radical Islam. And even in France, while 23 per cent of the general public says Israel is the main problem, almost double the amount of people (42) put the onus on radical Islam. Britain, the Israel Project survey concludes, remains a problem in terms of how Israel is perceived.
This post was written by Jeff Barak

Looks like more fun than shul...

Flying out of Ben-Gurion just before Rosh Hashanah a few years ago, I was bemused to see a group of chassidim, about to board their plane, suddenly form a circle and start singing and dancing.  They were in such ecstasy they didn't seem to notice the crowds stopping and staring.

The men were part of what has become, in recent years, one of the wildest events of the Jewish calender: the annual pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslav, an 18th/19th century chassidic leader, in Uman, Ukraine, on the Jewish new year. This year 20,000 Jewish men from 20 countries, including the UK, left their wives and families behind for the holidays and descended on this town of 100,000, a few hours out of Kiev. They were primarily Breslav chassidim, who are known for their new-agey ability to 'turn on,' but also 'seekers' and spiritual types of all shades.

The programme consisted of intense singing and dancing at all hours of the day and night, ecstatic prayer, dips in the local mikveh, and of-course, on erev Rosh Hashanah -- the faithful crowded around Reb Nachman's grave to recite 10 psalms. According to The Forward, "He is said to have told followers that he would personally pull up from hell, by the sidelocks, any Jew who reads the psalms over his grave on the Jewish New Year." Those who have not bought apartments in the area (for $5,000 a pop -- prices have been driven up by demand from the chassidim) squeezed into rented accommodation, sometimes seven to a room, or slept in tents on the street.

Both Ha'aretz and the Forward offer written accounts of the Uman celebrations this year (the Forward piece documents the utter chaos that reigns now that the event has grown so big). But even better are the picture diaries, which really capture the energy and the wildness. The first, from the Forward, includes images of the tents on the street, the chassidim buying items from local women who have clearly been waiting for their business all year, and of the crowds outside the gravesite; you really get the sense that a flood of people has washed over this provincial town like a tsunami. The second is from 'Reb Nati,' one of the participants, who captures some of the weird and wonderful characters (the picture above is his). Enjoy!

Related: Blogger Lazer Brody was there as well, and promises a fuller account sometime soon.

This post was written by Miriam Shaviv

"Everyone is Jewish until proven otherwise"

In his latest column, conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer playfully argues that "everyone" -- meaning, everyone famous -- "is Jewish until proven otherwise."

First, it turns out that John Kerry — windsurfing, French-speaking, Beacon Hill aristocrat — had two Jewish grandparents. Then Hillary Clinton — methodical Methodist — unearths a Jewish step-grandfather in time for her run as New York senator.

A less jaunty case was that of Madeleine Albright, three of whose Czech grandparents had perished in the Holocaust and who most improbably contended that she had no idea that they were Jewish. To which we can add the leading French presidential contender (Nicolas Sarkozy), a former supreme commander of NATO (Wesley Clark) and Russia's leading anti-Semite (Vladimir Zhirinovsky). One must have a sense of humor about these things. Even Fidel Castro claims he is from a family of Marranos.

And of-course, there's the case that prompted the column -- the outing earlier this month of George Allen, a Republican Senator who has in the past been tainted with accusations of racism, as halachically Jewish (much to the Senator's apparent consternation).

Krauthammer brings two explanations for the plethora of celebs who suddenly discover Jewish roots. First, the over-representation of Jews in the arts, sciences, industry, media etc. Second, the tendency of some Jews to conceal their heritage because of our history of persecution.

Strangely, he neglects the most important reason of all. With the intermarriage rate as high as it's been in the diaspora for the last few generations, there must be huge numbers of non-Jews across the US, and in some European countries as well, who can trace at least one Jewish ancestor, probably relatively recently. We're talking about millions, and Krauthammer's only mistake is to restrict his theory to people who are famous...

This post was written by Miriam Shaviv

Jewish terrorist

Interesting that at a time when many major international news organisations have been extremely selective about or even banned outright the use of the word 'terrorist,' three out of the four major Israeli newspapers (Yediot Achronot in English and Hebrew, Ha'aretz in English and Hebrew in the first paragraph and The Jerusalem Post) have no hesitation in using that word about an Israeli Jew.  (Ma'ariv calls him 'killer of Palestinians.')

This post was written by Miriam Shaviv

There’s no place likes Holmes Place

Hear this. My youngest, aged 13 months, attends swimming lessons at Holmes Place in north-west London. A block booking of sessions costs £50 but I was shocked to receive a letter asking for Jacob to join the gym at an additional cost of £5 per month. I might just have to take it out of his pocket-money allowance!

Not only this but I was shocked to discover that at two years kids pay full whack on aeroplanes and they get a seat to themselves even though they spend the majority of the flight clambering over their parents. One of the most painful experiences was forcing my daughter to sit in their seats during takeoff as the hostess said “we must comply with the rules”.

The other concept that bugs me is toddlers paying the same as adults on half board trips abroad. What is the world coming to?

This post was written by Danny Caro

WWE’s violence is impacting upon society

I don’t understand all the hype behind WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). It’s massive in the USA and among many of my friends in the UK but I can’t quite work out what all the fuss in about.

In fact, I’m strongly against it and believe it’s one of the contributory factors behind our violent society and misbehaving kids. WWE is on throughout the day. I can’t help but watch it whilst on the treadmill at the gym at 7am most mornings.

It’s promoted as good family entertainment but the acts of outright violence disgust me. I think it should be banned! In my childhood years I remember wrestling being about overweight men in leotards lumbering around the ring, geeing up the crowd and the activities were pure entertainment with Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks and Mick McManus folk heroes.

But today we get real athletes carrying out acts which make good TV but they also leave an indent on the mind of easily influenced youngsters. I’m talking about headbutting, forearm smashes, kicking, stamping and general acts which have been seen on CCTV cameras in police documentaries where brutal attacks are not too far away from what can be seen on our screens. Four-on-one attacks are common too with props such as metal bars and chairs, wooden tables and the like used in 'bouts'. I realise the wrestlers practice how to limit the impact of contact throughout and how to take a blow. You know that and I know that, but do our kids?

Some of the people involved both on stage and behind-the-scenes are undoubtedly Jewish. The nearest thing we have to ‘The Rock’ and Hulk Hogan in England is Darren Benedick.

Where will it all end?

This post was written by Danny Caro

Shades of Dan Brown

Slightly bizarre that The Times would give the following story, about the vessels from the Second Temple, any credence:

A COLLECTION of sacred artefacts looted by the Romans from the Temple of Jerusalem and long suspected of being hidden in the vaults of the Vatican are actually in the Holy Land, according to a British archaeologist.

Sean Kingsley, a specialist in the Holy Land, claims to have discovered what became of the collection, which is widely regarded as the greatest of biblical treasures and includes silver trumpets that would have heralded the Coming of the Messiah...

After a decade of research into previously untapped ancient texts and archaeological sources, Dr Kingsley has reconstructed the treasure’s route for the first time in 2,000 years to provide evidence that it left Rome in the 5th century.

He has discovered that it was taken to Carthage, Constantinople and Algeria before being hidden in the Judaean wilderness, beneath the Monastery of Theodosius...

“The treasure’s final hiding place – in the modern West Bank . . . deep in Hamas territory – will rock world religions.”

I'll believe it when I see it...

Related: The Seforim blog asks, 'Where are the Temple vessels'; Lionel Davidson has them hidden in Shiloh; Paleojudaica is "extremely sceptical" about Dr Kingsley's claims, which are, incidentally, being published in book form next month.

This post was written by Miriam Shaviv

Even when a kiss is not just a kiss

It’s refreshing when a left-wing feminist takes a stand against political correctness. For those who haven’t been keeping up on Israel’s sex scandals among the political elite, Haim Ramon had to resign as justice minister recently following his indictment on sexual harassment charges. According to the charge sheet, Mr Ramon French-kissed a young woman in his office against her will. In court, Mr Ramon has accepted that he kissed the young lady in question, that his tongue might have entered her mouth, but that it was all a bit of innocent flirtation. Compared to the accusations that are currently being made against President Moshe Katsav, this does indeed seem a minor issue, but it has already cost Mr Ramon, at least temporarily, his ministerial job. Normally, Labour MK Shelley Yachimovich can be relied upon to come to a woman’s defence and, in the case of President Katsav, she has already called for his resignation – despite the fact that he has not yet been charged – and said that his place is behind bars. But in the case of Mr Ramon, MK Yachimovich takes a different tack. She told an interviewer: “If I was the girl’s mother, I would want her to know that she had been kissed against her will, and be angry about that, but in no way would I let her go to the police and file a complaint. It’s lacking all proportion.”
This post was written by Jeff Barak

Why no Jewish golfers?

Watching the early stages of the Ryder Cup made me wonder why is there a distinct lack of elite Jewish golfers as it’s a hugely popular sport among Jews across the globe. Until recently there were concerns some English clubs had an antisemitic element and this is possibly one of the reasons why the cream has never risen to the surface.

Abridge in Essex, Dyrham Park and Moor Allerton are examples of clubs with thriving Jewish memberships and I’m sure there are plenty of others. The Glancy Cup, the Maccabi Transatlantic Cup and the Maccabiah Games are the most widely recognised events attracting the top players.

The nearest we have come is American Corey Pavin, who was born Jewish but became an evangelical Christian. He is one of the few who made it to the top but it appears the best of the rest are happy taking the afternoon off work or arrange a business deal over a round at their local course.

Then again, there are very few top-level Jewish footballers in this country so maybe it just isn’t to be!

This post was written by Danny Caro

No forgiveness

Among the secular Israeli customs for Rosh Hashanah, the one kept most religiously is the prime ministerial interview. Each Rosh Hashanah, the prime minister submits himself to an interview with all three television channels and each of the leading newspapers. One would think that a prime minister would have a better use of his time -- why waste a whole day saying exactly the same thing to interviewers asking exactly the same questions? -- but tradition must be followed. Four months into the job, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is not sitting comfortably in office. One poll in Ha’aretz this weekend has 68 per cent of Israeli voters saying that they are not satisfied with his performance, while 54 per cent of voters in a Yediot Ahronot poll say he should resign. The only politician with worse figures is Defence Minister Amir Peretz (79 per cent of voters are unhappy with his performance, 72 per cent think he should resign). But in his interviews, Mr Olmert shows no sign of being troubled by these figures. In a robust performance, Mr Olmert defends the Lebanon War, insists he made the right decisions at the right time and that any mistakes made during the fighting were tactical errors on the part of the army, and nothing to do with him. Notably absent from the interviews are any signs of forgiveness – another key custom of this season. In particular, Mr Olmert slams the former army chief of staff, Moshe (Boogy) Ya’alon, who had accused Mr Olmert in an interview last week of dragging the war out for purposes of spin. “I’m sorry for Boogy,” said the prime minister, not sounding in the least apologetic, “that his personal bitterness [Ya’alon’s period as chief of staff was ended a year earlier than he wanted] has reached such a point that it’s affected his judgement.”

This post was written by Jeff Barak