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This Tisha B’Av, Our Savior Won’t Be a Politician or Political Party; It Will Be Ourselves
Supporters of Israel gather in solidarity with Israel and protest against antisemitism, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas, during a rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Nov. 14, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis
When the coronavirus was spreading throughout the world and stopped our civilization, many were floating a phrase that seemed to resonate: “we’re living in Biblical times.”
In the past 10 months, I have heard this phrase even more frequently from fellow Jews who feel lost in the absurdity of the hate and trauma that has been raged on our people and homeland. Perhaps beneath this statement there is a hope that in this Biblical chapter, once again, our calamities will be resolved with a divine intervention.
Could it be that a new chapter is actually being written today? One about a “Third Temple” in the form of a modern State of Israel, where Jewish inventions are the center of every major technological and scientific advancement in the world. Where Jews are protected by an Iron Dome that was as miraculous as the Passover manna; the place where no matter how much hate and antisemitism they feel in the diaspora, Jews could find a safe haven.
Could this be a new chapter about the place where technology, people, and G-d himself lapsed all at once, and 1,200 people were ravaged, mutilated, and murdered? Where once again, Jews stepped into another cycle of calamities?
I don’t know the answer.
I’m neither religious, nor a Biblical scholar, but as we approach Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, I see a convergence of the past and the present. A quick scan of the Jewish history across millennia shows us some of our worst catastrophes — the destruction of the First and Second temple, the onset of the first and second world wars, and in between, the expulsion of Jew from Spain and England.
More recently, in Israel, hours before this day in 2022, rockets targeting innocent civilians were flying into the airspace, only to be disabled by the Iron Dome. In 2023, the judicial reform debate was tearing the country apart. Polarization had divided us as a people around the world, left against right, religious against secular, this against that — and today, the threats against us are immeasurable, even for the experts. The narratives of the past manifest themselves with the threats of today.
When I was journaling on this topic two years ago, I wrote that as a Jewish community, we need more compassion toward one another, more nuance in our approach in politics, and more humility in facing our enemies instead of false confidence.
This year, I find our community more compassionate than ever and more realistic about the threat of the enemy. We are realizing we are not each others’ enemies. Our community has shown unprecedented levels of generosity and support to those who have been impacted.
Yet I fear that despite our increased unity, we haven’t yet let go of the golden calves that we have made of political figures and partisan politics. As the election season approaches, I see the ugly partisan divide distracting us from the real problems and turning us away from our bond to one another, Ahavat Israel.
Yes, in desperate times, we all need a miracle. But let’s not anoint anyone as our present day Moses. We should not expect Moses to descend from Sinai and fix our problems, because this is our Israelite Revival moment, and we all have to rise to the occasion.
Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump alone can guarantee to deliver what we need to overcome this crisis. This is the moment for all of us to speak truth to power and hold our leaders accountable, regardless of party affiliation. We should not excuse their mistakes — big or small — because when we get quiet, our enemies get louder, emboldened to monopolize our leader’s powers.
On this Tisha B’Av, thousands of years after the destruction of the temple, we ought to envision new weapons and shields, beyond Iron Domes and anti-missile ammunitions that are essential to our physical safety. We need the blast of the Shofar from Abraham’s miracle; the guiding light from Hanukkah; the diplomacy of Esther and Mordechai; the armor of the Ten Commandments; and ultimately, the collective love for the Torah that guides us.
May the alarm of the Shofar wake us up to the threats and prepare us to confront the enemy. May the diplomacy of Esther and Mordechai succeed at convincing our allies to stand by us. May the light of Hanukkah help to guide our nation to fight corruption, and ignorance. May the Ten Commandments shield us from hate and violence. And may the Torah remind us to gain strength from our joyful tradition and stand in unity with our people.
Born and raised in Iran, Marjan Keypour Greenblatt is a human rights advocate and founder of the Alliance for of All Minorities (ARAMIran.org).
The post This Tisha B’Av, Our Savior Won’t Be a Politician or Political Party; It Will Be Ourselves first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israeli father uses his daughter’s experiences with cancer to help other families
Fifteen years ago, Oded Grinstein’s infant daughter Shani was diagnosed with a rare cancer. The doctors in Israel were world-class, and the facilities were state-of-the-art, but there was a lack of experience within the medical system for dealing with this particular cancer. Grinstein and his wife found a doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center […]
The post Israeli father uses his daughter’s experiences with cancer to help other families appeared first on The Canadian Jewish News.
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Connecticut State Rep. Who Attacked Primary Opponent for Being Jewish Loses by More Than 25 Points
Connecticut state representative Anabel Figueroa. Photo: Screenshot
Connecticut State Rep. Anabel Figueroa lost overwhelmingly in her Democratic primary this week after attacking her opponent for being Jewish.
Figueroa, who was the incumbent in the race and represents parts of the city of Stamford, lost 62.6 percent to 37.4 percent on Tuesday to her Democratic primary challenger Jonathan Jacobson, who is Jewish.
Jacobson’s ethnic background became an issue in the race after Figueroa attacked him for being Jewish.
“The Hispanic vote is going to determine on Aug. 13 who will win to represent or who will continue to represent you,” Figueroa said in a Spanish-language interview filmed on July 28. “We cannot permit a person who is of Jewish origin, of Jewish origin, to represent our community. It’s impossible.”
The comments were met with widespread backlash.
The Stamford Democratic City Committee (DCC) called on Figueroa to resign.
“The use of this blatant antisemitic and anti-democratic language is abhorrent, unacceptable, and contrary to our shared values as Democrats,” it wrote in a statement. “The sentiments expressed by Representative Figueroa in that video contradict the statement she issued yesterday in response to the antisemitic Facebook post shared by a DCC member, who is also one of her supporters.”
One of Figueroa’s supporters, who is also a member of the Stamford DCC, had reportedly made antisemitic remarks about Jacobson as well.
The statement concluded, “This shameful behavior not only demonstrates a lack of integrity and character but makes Anabel Figueroa unfit to serve in office, and we call on her to resign immediately as a member of the Stamford Democratic City Committee.”
The Connecticut branch of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) wrote on X/Twitter: “Rep Figueroa’s statement was outrageous and her apology equivocal. To accuse Jewish politicians of being unable to represent all constituents is unacceptable.”
In response to the condemnations, Figueroa issued an apology.
“I am deeply sorry to those in the Stamford and Jewish communities that I have offended,” she said. “I have multiple Jewish people working on my campaign, and antisemitism has no place in Stamford — again, I apologize.”
She then explained the original sentiment behind her comments.
“My message is that we need leaders who represent our districts. There is almost no Latino representation in Hartford, and I am currently the only Latina State Representative in Southern Connecticut,” Figueroa said. “There is a strong Latino community in the 148th district, and I will ensure their voice is at the table and never leaves it. This has nothing to do with religion, and as a bilingual speaker, I misspoke when describing my opponent’s background. I am deeply and sincerely sorry.”
Jacobson said the real reason he won the election was not due to her comments, but rather to policy differences.
“Ultimately, her hate, that’s not what lost her the election; her hate is not what won me the election,” he said, according to the New York Times.
The post Connecticut State Rep. Who Attacked Primary Opponent for Being Jewish Loses by More Than 25 Points first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Anti-Israel Protesters Swarm New York City Fundraiser for Kamala Harris, Several Arrested
Illustrative: A scene from the anti-Israel protest that took place outside the exhibit “Nova: Oct. 7 6:29 AM, The Moment Music Stood Still” in New York City on June 10, 2024. Photo: Screenshot
Anti-Israel protesters crashed a Democratic Party rally and fundraiser for US Vice President and 2024 presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday night.
Roughly 300 protesters lined the streets of W. 135th St. and Broadway in New York City, brandishing signs accusing the Biden administration of supporting a so-called “genocide” in the Gaza Strip and demanding a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group.
Footage circulating on X/Twitter showed the agitators storming inside the event, harassing attendees including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and accusing them of endorsing “genocide.”
“Make sure you vote! Make sure you vote!” Adams said as security escorted some of the demonstrators out of the event.
“I don’t mind you being across the street. I don’t mind that you want to raise your voice,” the mayor added. “Hold onto all of that anger until after November. November you need to be laser-focused on one thing.”
Watch: pro-Palestinian protestors broke inside the DNC fundraiser and began harassing Mayor Adams and other politicians.
This is political intimidation and goes against the fundamental principles of our democracy.
Have we learned nothing after the assassination attempt? pic.twitter.com/wtdRtuiELV
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) August 15, 2024
The demonstration escalated into violence when around 50 agitators stormed the rally’s afterparty in a nearby restaurant. Roughly 25 participants of the rally were in attendance at the afterparty, according to the New York Post. The angry protesters screamed and pointed fingers at the event’s attendees, demanding that they support a “ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas.
Other protesters physically confronted, attacked, and screamed obscenities at police officers. Swarms of protesters surrounded the officers, banging drums, blowing whistles, and chanting slogans such as “no justice, no peace!”
A corral of officers subdued and arrested a handful of the agitators. Officers clashed with the swarm of anti-Israel demonstrators, struggling to clear out the area. Some of the protesters reportedly tossed smoke bombs towards officers.
Authorities were recorded chasing down one protester after he initiated a violent encounter with the officers. Another demonstrator was seen on video posted to social media assaulting an officer with a cardboard sign, causing officers to apprehend and handcuff her on the ground.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) ultimately took 14 demonstrators into custody, according to the New York Daily News.
BREAKING: Pro-Palestine Protesters STORM into Democratic After party event following Kamala Harris Campaign, SMOKE BOMBS set off at the outdoor restaurant, MASS ARRESTS pic.twitter.com/5BVEGhzrq0
— Oliya Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) August 15, 2024
Within Our Lifetime, a radical anti-Israel activist group, took responsibility for the demonstration and condemned the NYPD for arresting violent agitators.
“After a noise demo disrupting the Democratic Party’s NYC campaign launch for Killer Kamala on 8.14, the NYPD ruthlessly beat and arrested protestors in Harlem,” Within Our Lifetime wrote on X/Twitter. “Dems want you to believe they support us. They are just waiting for you to look away before cracking down on our movement and continuing the genocide in Palestine.”
In the months following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre throughout southern Israel, pro-Hamas agitators have disrupted political events, fundraisers, speeches, and rallies, calling for an end to the ongoing war between the Jewish state and the Palestinian terrorist group.
Radical anti-Israel groups are expected to hold massive demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, demanding that Harris support a ceasefire in Gaza as well as an arms embargo against the Jewish state.
The post Anti-Israel Protesters Swarm New York City Fundraiser for Kamala Harris, Several Arrested first appeared on Algemeiner.com.