Tzedek-Tzedek

Moshe Burt's politically incorrect parody of "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover". Enjoy and share.

The Iranian threat was top of the Middle East news for months - and this peaked with Binyamin Netanyahu's powerful speech, with the memorable cartoon bomb, at the UN in September. It seemed that war against Iran was immediately on the horizon - the only question seemed to be whether Israel would attack alone, or together with the USA? However, there's barely a mention of this imminent, existential threat to Israel in the past few months... Has that threat disappeared or lessened - or are we all simply distracted by other issues? Did Ahmadinejad throw in the towel and abandon his enormous investment his country has made in developing a nuclear bomb? The US elections in November, and the re-shuffling of leadership, delayed any serious decision making about what the USA and, therefore, Israel, should be doing militarily or diplomatically. And then Israeli elections presumably stymied any unilateral plans Israel may have had to nobble Iran... not to mention the side...

  Are you originally or currently from the UK?! As you'll know, there's been a rash of child abuse scandals in the UK recently, such as Jimmy Savile/BBC, and high profile cases in the UK Jewish community. In just two years, Magen has been remarkably effective in improving the safety of our children in Beit Shemesh. I am currently planning to speak in shuls, Jewish community centers, parlour meetings and with professional groups in the UK to share our experiences in preparing parents and communities to better deal with this universal problem. This is where you come in and can help! Although my British accent is authentic, chaps, my UK contacts are rusty!   Please will you help make contacts for Magen with people, organizations, shuls you know in the UK to see if they'd be interesed in a presentation and forum on the (suggested) topic of "Child Abuse in the Jewish Community - A Way Forward"? Please contact me and your friends in the UK with ideas. You may se...

This is an only-in-Israel moment. A Chareidi (ultra-orthodox) family in Jerusalem, with their children dressed as Father Xmas (he who shall not be named). Perhaps this is a mark of tolerance, mutual respect, a recognition that the Jewish people are, after all, a tiny minority, in a world of Xmas celebrators! WRONG. When I first came to Israel, one of the things that astounded me was the total absence of Christmas. I was used to at least three months of incessant commercials and blah about the Christmas season. I used to sing along with Christmas carols, settled down on the 25th to watch the Queen's speech, and then enjoy an old favourite movie on the TV. In Israel, and certainly in religious neighborhoods, Christmas simply is absent. As much as Purim may pass by unnoticed in Beijing, or Shavuot is absent in Tokyo. So why is this chareidi family all decked out in Father Xmas gear? My guess: 1. It's probably a Purim photo. 2. They have no idea that these ...

In a TV interview on YNet (view below), Naftali Bennet, head of the Bayit Hayudi Party, put the cat among the political pigeons with his comments on carrying out orders which are against one's conscience. Bayit Hayhudi is estimated by the polls to be the third largest party in the upcoming elections. According to politicians across the spectrum, Bennet gave his support during the interview for "refusal of orders". This is a controversial topic in Israel from two perspectives: 1. Left wing soldiers who may refuse to serve in Yehuda & Shomron ("The West Bank"), particularly against Arabs. 2. Right wing soldiers who may refuse to carry out eviction orders of Jewish residents of Yehuda & Shomron. Historically, the Left Wing refusers have been the most active, including the "shministim" (12th Graders") who have been active since 1970, notably claiming to represent thousands of teenagers who will not serve in the "occupied territ...

A series of reports in the Forward have brought to light abusive practices allegedly perpetrated by two senior members of staff at the YU High School for Boys in Manhatten. These practices allegedly were carried out by Rabbi George Finkelstein and Rabbi Macey Gordon, collectively between the 1970's until 1995. The mode of operation for Finkelstein seems to have consisted of wrestling with teenage male students in a private location, while committing sexual acts upon them. According to the Forward, the newspaper has received around a dozen such complaints. At least two reports against Rabbi Gordon allege that he inserted objects into their anus. According to the Forward, numerous complaints were brought to the YU authorities over the years, including the highest levels of YU, yet these were not acted upon in any way - and certainly in no way which was transparent or accountable. Apologists for YU are saying that these events happened 30 or 40 years ago, and "thing...