General Category > Ask JTF
Ask JTF for Sunday, July 25, 2010
ItalianZionist:
Dear Chaim,
1) Why is it that black housing projects were usually built in Jewish communities (Kew garden hills/pomonoc, Far Rockaway, etc.) Is it because the beastly politicians ( I guess it was governor Carey at the time) didn't give a damn about the Jews and said "who cares if we ruin their neighborhoods." Do you think my theory is true?
Lisa adds:
I read something similar. Actually, there was a book about how WASP politicians purposely ruined Catholic neighborhoods by building housing projects in them. I don't remember the name though. However, I think it's safe to say the motivation for ruining Jewish neighborhoods was the same.
2)Also I wanted to ask your opinion on genetic testing to see if someone is descended from the 12 tribes. I believe that Cohens have a unique genetic marker. Is there validity to such testing, that is, can someone find out if he is descended from the ancient Israelites? thnx
Dr. Dan:
Shalom Chaim
In regards to my last week's question about free will versus Gd knowing one's decision before he will ever make it, I think I understand now. If one can equate the blinking of Gd's eye (if He had one) to be significantly more infinite than the beginning and end of time of our universe, in the whole scheme of things of the concept of free will is really to the benefit of us, human beings...and if we choose good instead of evil, it wouldn't be to please Gd, but to do what's right for ourselves to do what we would want others to do and not to do what we don't want others to do. Does that make sense?
Secondly, I recently received the following email. Please comment:
"As we approach the fast of Tisha B’Av which begins next Monday evening, I write to you with a heavy heart that is burdened not only by historical memory but by a very real crisis facing the Jewish people at this very moment. Our rabbis taught that Jerusalem was destroyed long ago because of Sinat Chinam—baseless hatred among Jews. The many fractures that divided Jewish society during Second Temple times contributed directly to the destruction of the Temple . Today, the rifts between religious and secular, between Orthodoxy and more liberal streams of Judaism once again threaten to destroy the collective Jewish spirit not only in Israel , but throughout the world.
You may have heard of the pending legislation known as the Rotem Bill which seeks to empower the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate in Israel to an unprecedented degree. Under this legislation, the Chief Rabbinate will gain complete and total control of conversion and the process of determining Jewish identity in Israel . Conversions performed by non-Orthodox rabbis outside of Israel will no longer be recognized as valid for purposes of immigration to Israel under the Law of Return. Thousands of Russian Jews in Israel seeking to confirm their Jewish identity in Israel will have to submit to the harsh requirements of the Chief Rabbinate. If this legislation passes, so much of the progress made by the Conservative and Reform Movements in Israel will have been crushed. Religious identity in Israel will fall under an official Orthodox monopoly.
I urge you not to let this happen. Israel should always be the homeland for all Jews. Please familiarize yourself with the details of this current crisis by following the links in the accompanying attachments and please send an e-mail directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu. At this point only his personal intervention may save Israel from embarking on this perilous course which will cause so much hurt to so many Jews worldwide.
On this Tisha B’Av, let us work to ensure that the rebuilt city of Jerusalem will continue to serve as a source of unity, pride, and joy for us all."
Toda
Dr. Dan
Rubystars:
Greetings Chaim. I don't believe in the 9/11 conspiracies and I think that blame lies with the Muslims for carrying out the attacks. However one thing keeps coming up when I try to debate this issue with "truthers". They use the "five dancing Israelis" argument. It appears to be a lame attempt to blame the Jews for 9/11. However I don't really know how to answer this because I don't understand who they were supposed to be. What would you say on this issue?
Lisa:
Dear Chaim,
On last week's Ask JTF you said that anger is not an appropriate emotion. Can you please elaborate on that? I mean, what should the normal reaction be to Arabs in Israel killing Jews, or to the Israeli government throwing good Jews out of their homes in order to give their land to Arab Nazis? If there's no anger, what is supposed to motivate Jews to fight against injustice? (I realize Leviticus says "You shall not stand idly by your neighbor's blood.") As I see it, if there's no anger, people would merely feel sorry for victims of injustice, and then just go about their daily lives.
And while I'm asking you about emotions, why is there a prohibition on envy, as opposed to other emotions like anger or hatred? Why is there no commandment saying "You shall not hate?"
Thanks.
Lisa
Secularbeliever:
Shalom Chaim
Last week the question of anti-Semitism at the Olympics came up. There are numerous examples. The most blatant were the 1936 Olympics held as a showcase for Nazi Germany in Berlin with Hitler, Goerrhing, and Goebels sitting in a personal box. That is where Marty Glickman, the late New York Giants announcer and another Jew were pulled off the Olympic team by Avery Brundage (yemach shemo v zichroo) and other American First Nazis so as not to offend their host Hitler. As a historic footnote Jesse Owens replaced Glickman on the team. From most historic accounts Owens initially objected to the Jews being pulled off the team although he made a donkey kissing speech after winning all his races.
In 1972 while Mark Spitz was winning his gold medals the Israeli athletes were slaughtered. Unbelievably Brundage was still involved in the Olympics and equated the vicious murders of the Israeli athletes with the boycott of Rhodesia. The most outrageous fact is that the olympics continued after the murder of the Israelis. It is as if you were holding a party and burglars came in and murdered several of your guests. After the ambulances took the bodies away would you continue the party? What would that say about you and your opinion of your guests?
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version