Naomi Litvin

Happy New Year #2012

2011-12-30T21:59:00.000-08:00

As each year draws to a close we see on television the names and faces of all the famous people that have left this world. This year that list includes my mother. She will live forever inside of me, as long as I live, and in the pages of the book that we worked on together.

And if I can make it through just one more day of this year, 2011, the most painful year of my life, then maybe I'll be able to say, as she said, that "We Never Lost Hope."

Rabbi Meir Kahane, 1st victim of al queda, on Jonathan Pollard

2011-11-29T22:12:00.000-08:00

The Jonathan Pollard Case

by Rabbi Meir Kahane
19 Adar 5747 - March 20, 1987
The Jewish Press (N.Y.)

"As the storm over Jonathan Pollard swirls about nervous Israeli and American Jewish heads and both look warily over their shoulders, the Israelis watching for Weinbergers and the American Jews for less famous though far more numerous, hostile types, the time has come for normal Jews to spread a normal view of the affair."

"The time has come to put to an end both that acute manifestation of Jewish "AIDS" - guilt - and the despicable calling for Pollard's head by American Jewish leaders, whose fear of anti-Semitism makes them hope to deflect Jew-hatred by being more patriotic than the patriots, more American than all the rest. Let us get certain things clear:

"I am convinced that high military and political circles in Israel knew of the affair and I wish that the Israeli government would stop treating both the Jews and Americans as if they were imbeciles. No such matters would ever be handled by lower echelon levels without consultation with top Israeli officials. Certainly, a disciplined military man like Aviem Sella would never have decided to run a "rogue" conspiracy. There is no one who believes the absurd protestation of the Israeli government, any more than Americans believe the initial nonsense spouted by the President and Administration officials in Washington over the Iranian affair."

"Having said that, and calling on the Israelis to be frank and open, the more important point is that there is nothing for the Israelis to feel guilty about except an enormous, horrendous stupidity. All the guilt and hand-wringing and investigation and charges and counter charges are absolute madness. All countries spy and all countries spy against any country from which they feel it would be in their interest to get information. There have been a number of instances in which U.S. diplomatic personnel have been caught spying in Israel and the pity is that Israel, through fear of offending America (sic) - fear of the shtetl Baron - simply closed the book on the incident, quietly. Had Israel made the proper fuss and noise, the Pollard affair would have assumed a very different character. And so, while Israel's action falls not one whit from those of other countries, what is different about the affair is the incredible stupidity of the Israeli decision to spy on a country that is, at the moment, its closest interest. (I make haste to point out the use of the word "interest," because in the real world of realpolitik there are neither real "allies" nor "friends.') What in the world could Israel have gotten through Pollard that was worth jeopardizing the present relationship between her and the U.S.? If there would be a tribunal of judgment for Israel, the Jewish state would be guilty, not of all the wild charges made by less-than-friendly American types, but of the most basic and most amazing form of crude stupidity."

"But that is a form of political disease that the Americans, certainly at this particular stage of world affairs, would be well-advised not to raise. People who live in stupid glass houses of their own should certainly not throw rocks of the same inane, gross weight."

"The overwhelming difference between Pollard and the whole host of recent spy revelations in the United States lies in the basic and fundamentally important fact that, while all the others spied for nations essentially hostile to America - states that are essentially enemies of the United States - Pollard spied for a country that is close to America, shares basically the same interests and that would never harm the U.S. in any substantial manner. In a word, the other spies that have been apprehended over the years were spying for the enemy and against the U.S.; Jonathan Pollard would never have dreamed of spying against America - his sole purpose was to aid Israel, a country he saw and sees as her ally."

"Because of that, the life sentence and the orgy of vicious attacks on Pollard are outrageous. Of course, Pollard should have been given a jail sentence, and a harsh one. He is an American citizen and revealed his country's secrets to Israel. That is a crime in America and one that should be punished. But life imprisonment? For a man who never gave secrets to an enemy state? Who never intended to harm America? Whose primary motive was concern for Israel's security? Should those things not have been taken into consideration? And had they been, would Pollard have ever received the horrendous sentence that he did? Of course not.""

"And that leads, inevitably, to the next point. The entire Pollard affair is pregnant with hostility to Israel and with anti-Semitism. The news media comprising so many cultural anti-Semites of the Fifth Estate (whose aberration stems from a deep, seething jealousy of the number of Jews who are in the journalistic and literary world) saw in the Pollard affair - as in the Lebanon war - an opportunity to safely give vent to their hatred. There was not even a modicum of the same venom against those like the Walker family and others who spied for the Soviet Union and China. The reason is all too obvious."

"Aviem Sella was given the job, ordered to work with Pollard. He is a soldier and a good one, who carried out the orders of his government. There is no conceivable way that his career should be ruined and he made scapegoat for the crudity and stupidity of the Israeli government. It is up to the Israeli government to admit to its mistake, to its stupidity; to regret that the action was ever taken and to regret that it was discovered. And then? And then, promote Sella, who is a good and brilliant soldier. America will be upset? Perhaps. But by the same token, Sella was never as dangerous to America as Weinberger is to Israel, and I have yet to hear Israel express its dismay at Weinberger's continued promotion."

"And, finally, Jonathan Pollard spied for Israel and revealed American secrets. For that he should be punished, fairly and without malice. But he acted for Israel and on its behalf and out of support for the Jewish state. For that, Israel owes him something. That something is called loyalty. A state does not throw over and turn its back on someone who sought to help it and who, indeed, was guided and directed by it. Israel should have helped Pollard before this and it should not throw him to the sharks now, no matter how upset this may make American non-Jews or Jews of the Establishment persuasion. I happen to think that while Pollard behaved as a bad American - and for this he should be punished fairly - he acted out of motivations of a good Jew, no matter how misguided. Indeed, I think he is a much better Jew than the impossible executive director of the impossible organization known as the American Jewish Congress. That gentleman, by the name of Henry Siegman, exploded in wild attacks on American Jews who seek to explain Pollard's side of the affair and, thus, mitigate the circumstances. Siegman (who, incidentally, is a yarmulke wearer, Heaven help us) said, concerning this, that he was "disturbed." I could not have put it better."

SEE COMPANION ARTICLES: via www.jonathanpollard.org

"POLLARD AND THE PEOPLE" by Rabbi Emanual Rackman,
New release May 9, 1999 [originally published 1991]
"PLEA FOR MERCY" by Rabbi Emanuel Rackman
New release May 9, 1999 [originally published 1992]

what is the secret of occupy wall street?

2011-10-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

What IS the secret of Occupy Wall Street? Looks like an early snowstorm on the East Coast may drive all their homeless mobs out here to California. After all, Oakland has given up and given in to them, overruling the no camping on city streets and parks. One teargas episode vs the Stink Mob and the City of Oakland has decided to just give in to these mobs. Their only apparent goal is to emulate Robin Hood: steal from the rich to give to the poor.

This is a very expensive and abusive collective temper tantrum! Normally snarled traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area is unbearable as it is! It is now taking over an hour to travel home nineteen miles from my job in Oakland home to my abode. All of this reminds me of the movie Soylent Green.

Please leave a comment!

Tell me, what do you think is the secret of Occupy Wall Street?

Photos by Naomi Litvin
Oakland, California

10.24.2011 day before teargas

thoughts on my book by David Shire: We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

2011-09-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

This book is not the usual holocaust novel or memoir - and it's not even the usual love story;

but, rather, this book is a conversation, a dialogue - between the main characters: Edith, Mendi, Kurt, and Nate and some silent interviewer.

We are sitting-in, listening to these intimate conversations - not able to actually participate - but we discover our characters as they really are - not necessarily a polished and edited performance - but something very honest and human.

The dialogues start before the war - the dreams and aspirations of that generation - but slowly the scenes change as the Nazis occupy Europe and the lives of the Jews change forever.

The changes are subtle at first - maybe a little relaxation of the religious dietary rules (Kashrut) - as the real need to eat and the widening food shortages - makes practical (and permissible) demands.

The whole transitory nature of life during these times - moving village or even, moving country was a necessary survival tactic - always looking for a better place to live.

Finally the family are transported to a concentration-extermination camp;
the atrocities; of these places can never be imagined - only fleeting glimpses in the dialogue allow us to begin to understand these horrors.
And the need to survive - by any means.

The war ends and Edith is liberated.
Despite all that she has experienced she makes the very conscious decision to get on with her life.
Munich, Paris, and ultimately to America

Despite the underlying sadness of the story, there are some relaxing moments;
on the Orient Express from Munich to Paris - Edith is up all night long kissing some soldier she met, while in the next compartment Mendi is sleeping away - real vignettes of very real people.

We live today, in a completely different world. I discovered these people through the grace of Social Media - so far removed from the Europe of 70 years ago. However, despite the fact that we do live in this newer world, I still feel very connected to these past times and to my Jewish people.
How much easier it is today, to find a lost relative through Twitter or Facebook.

I can imagine two parts of this story having direct interaction with my own past:-

Edith and Nate stop off in Scotland on their way to America. My Grandfather was very involved in the Glasgow Jewish community and, especially, involved himself with helping the refugees escaping Nazi Europe, maybe he went to the airport to meet them, to invite them home for a meal?

My father grew up in London, but during the "blitzes" of the City, my paternal Grandfather decided to evacuate my Grandmother and the two children to Sydney, Australia. Maybe, at some time, my father went to visit the rabbit farm and buy some wool.

But we'll never know.

David Shire
Israel

follow David on twitter

holocaust remembrance is about hope

2011-07-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

Naomi wearing her Lone Tree Brewery shirt, gift from David Shire, of Israel

Thanks to everyone that has read my book and kindle.

This book keeps my parents' memory alive.

We Never Lost Hope reminds us that holocaust remembrance

is about hope.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Trailer by Naomi Litvin

words, music, words

2011-07-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

 We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

Sometimes words replace music 

and sometimes music replaces words.

"any word from the white house? chilling, apathetic silence..." Free Jonathan Pollard

2011-07-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Obama: Where's your humanity?

by Rabbi Elan Adler

If for no other reason, the American Jewish community should re-think it's support for the re-election of President Barak Obama. After repeated calls for clemency for ailing prisoner Jonathan Pollard after 25 years, there has been zero response from Mr. Obama. How can one explain such a callous disregard for a sick, and perhaps dying, man incarcerated for a quarter of a century?

Beginning right before the New Year of January 1, 2011, there was a frantic assembly of personal appeals to the President of the United States, to use his moral and legal authority to release Jonathan from the Butner Federal Correction Complex in North Carolina. This kind of release and pardon before the New Year is often granted to those who have suffered in jail more than is necessary, and is seen as a humanitarian gesture by the President.

Right before the New Year, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made Israel's first official request for Jonathan's release. I have to admit, I was caught off guard, thinking that Israel had consistently appealed for Jonathan's release over the past quarter of a decade. Still, the timing seemed to be right, and there were high hopes that the American President would respond favorably and have Jonathan leave his prison cell a free man. Netanyahu's appeal was joined by others, including notable members of Congress and past US Secretaries of State and Defense, all of whom did not choose to minimize the severity of Jonathan's crime, but rather focused on the injustice of Jonathan's life sentence. Why, they wanted to know, did similar offenders receive sentences of 5 or 10 years while Jonathan was in for life? Israel's Chief Rabbis sat with Jonathan's wife and heard her tearful and emotional plea for them to do all they could to free her fragile and ailing husband. They too joined the chorus, requesting freedom for Jonathan, reducing his life sentence to time served, reminding the President that there is no purpose to be served in Jonathan's continuing imprisonment, especially considering his ill health.This effort to release Jonathan is not new. When I served Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, Connecticut, I ran a group for singles who were aged 50 and above. One Friday night a month, for several years, 50 adults would gather for a delicious Shabbat meal, and hear a speaker on a Jewish topic. If memory serves me correctly, the only speaker that came more than once- who the group demanded to hear again- was Carol Pollard, Jonathan's supportive sister, who graciously came at her own expense to get us on board with appealing for her brother's release. That, my friends, was 20 years ago. During that time, the National Council of Young Israel's Executive Vice President Rabbi Pesach Lerner, as well as Riverdale activist Rabbi Avi Weiss, have distinguished themselves, among others, in their continuous visitations of Jonathan in prison, and their relentless pursuit of Jonathan's freedom. So much of that momentum seemed to peak right before the New Year, when so many high level appeals and personal letters were given to President Obama, practically begging for his humanitarian response. All was met with a chilling silence.

Even Lawrence Korb, assistant Secretary of Defense at the time of Pollard's indictment, made a statement that deserved some kind of reverb when he put himself out on a limb: he said that based on his first-hand knowledge he can say with confidence that the severity of Pollard's sentence is a result of an almost visceral dislike of Israel and the special place it occupies in our foreign policy on the part of his boss at the time, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. In simple words, Korb suspects it was anti-Semitism that slapped Jonathan with an indefensible sentence. Has Obama responded to that? What about Israeli President Shimon Peres' personal letter handed to Obama during their recent meeting in the Oval Office?

Any word from the White House? Chilling, apathetic silence.

Most recently, the White House phone banks were jammed with requests to have Jonathan released for a brief period, in order to visit his terminally ill father Morris, deep in his 90's and hardly guaranteed any tomorrows. These and other numerous calls went unheeded, and once Morris died, those who feel for Jonathan had one more request, that the President grant compassionate leave to Jonathan so that he may attend his father's funeral.

The Jewish community and others who have fought the good fight did not feel this was too much to ask for, this momentary release. And truly, when you think of the character and persona that Obama projected during his campaign, that of a compassionate listener and kind soul who will lift us and make us proud again to be Americans, he has, in this instance, been a huge and unforgivable disappointment. Even if one disagrees that Obama has thrown Israel under a bus, it's hard to escape the fact that with the stroke of a pen, Jonathan could have been on a bus, paying his final respects to his father, in a way he couldn't do when his mother died in 2001, as his request to attend his mother's funeral was also denied.

How inhumane, Mr. Obama, how insensitive and dismissive, if not downright cruel, to prevent a son from visiting his ailing father, and further holding him back from the funeral. And all of this, in silence, chilling, incomprehensible silence.

We may disagree on matters pertaining to Israel, but it's impossible to debate on simple menchlichkeit, and that's what releasing Jonathan, even for a day or two, is all about.

As an Israeli resident who feels Obama is not a friend of Israel, no matter how many times he says he is- and why does he have to work so hard to convince us?- I will not be voting in the next American election. But I do hope that whenever Obama speaks to Jewish groups to gain their support for re-election, they will, at the very least, remind him of this seemingly premeditated trespass on not only one human life, but two. I pray they will remind him of his accountability regarding his shameful silence in the face of global calls for compassion on behalf of Jonathan Pollard. Some President.

hat/tip justice for jonathan pollard

and jerusalem post

thank you to Rabbi Adler

"Shenfinity" video by Smoldering Ashes, lead singer veronica ashe

WITHOUT THE MOURNER'S KADDISH: Maariv Exclusive #FreeJonathanPollard

2011-07-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Akiva Novik for this beautiful article, which I am quoting here in full:

Maariv Exclusive: Without Saying Goodbye --Jonathan Pollard’s Father’s Funeral without Jonathan

By Akiva Novik – Maariv [English Version] – July 10, 2011
Originally published in Hebrew June 21, 2011. May be reprinted with full attribution.

Morris Pollard was brought to his final resting place in the midst of a summer downpour. Despite appeals from Israel, Jonathan was not permitted to
leave prison to attend. On the day that the United States celebrated
Father's Day, the Americans refused to allow Jonathan, the son, to say
farewell to Morris, the father, who had fought unsuccessfully for his son's
release.

Torrential rain poured down throughout the morning hours in South Bend,
Indiana. There were those who tried to link the bereavement and funeral to
the flood-gates of tears that opened in the middle of June, on a hot day
whose temperatures rose to close to thirty degrees. But yesterday, many of
the scores of people who attended the funeral that was held in the Hebrew
Orthodox Cemetery felt that the Heavens were not only weeping for Morris
Pollard who passed away last Shabbat at age 95, but also for his son
Jonathan -- who has been languishing in prison for almost twenty-six years.

"I know this may sound strange," said Barbara Lerman, a family friend, "but
my first reaction when it started to rain was that this was God's way of
telling us that He would fulfill Morris' last will and testament and free
Jonathan—as well as bring down a reckoning on all those who harmed him over
the years."

"The fact that he is still behind bars is no less infuriating," Charles Rice
told Maariv a few minutes after the conclusion of the funeral. Mr. Rice had
been a close friend of Morris’ and a law professor in the Notre Dame
University. In recent years, Rice was directly involved in attempts to bring
about Jonathan's release as part of a team of amicus brief lawyers who wrote
in support of Pollard’s legal intiatives. "If Pollard requested to come to
the funeral and the authorities did not allow him to do so, then we are
taking about an unforgivable decision," he said with undisguised anger.
"We must remember that we are talking about a man who transmitted
information to a country that is not an enemy country. We are talking about
an unprecedented situation, and even after tens of years on this case, I
still have difficulty understanding it."

Despite Morris Pollard's advanced age, he continued to frequent the Notre
Dame University [Lobund] laboratory every day even during his last months;
that lab was the center of Morris' world. He was a renowned scientist who
was awarded a military medal for his scientific research after the Second
World War, and even worked as advisor to the American Ministries of Defense
and Energy. Yet even these achievements did not earn him a final hour of
mercy by those government agents who had made use of his scientific services
over many years. Even in his final moments, Morris was not allowed to say
his farewells to his son.

"He used to talk about Jonathan all the time," says Roy Gatz, Morris'
friend, "I cannot understand the logic of Jonathan's treatment, it is simply
incomprehensible to me. This country is full of murderers who were set free
after much less than twenty-five years, brutal rapists who were freed after
only a few years, while only Pollard is deprived of a second chance."
Close family members, such as siblings Harvey and Carol as well as the two
grandchildren who attended the funeral, refused to talk to us. "It is
important to us not to transform Morris' funeral into a political event,"
they say.

Morris Pollard left this world on Friday night; the funeral took place on
Monday. Meanwhile, the United States celebrated Father's Day. It is hard for
us Israelis to view this day without a tinge of cynicism, but it is
evidently no less than a national holiday for Americans. Very few fathers
did not receive a festive a greeting card on Sunday; most even received a
present. President Obama published a special article in which he wrote about
his own experiences in fathering his two daughters. Millions of families
gathered for festive barbeques. Many talk shows were dedicated to Father's
Day; the Starbucks cashiers merrily called out "Happy Father's Day" to all
the fathers they saw. Even the pilot of the flight I took to Indiana doesn't
miss the opportunity to proclaim, "On behalf of the entire staff of the
flight and the American Airlines company, we wish you all a Happy Father's
Day."

Morris didn't want to have a family barbeque, not even a melodious greeting
card. All he wanted was to hold the hand of his jailed son for the last
time.

A HARSH BLOW FOR JONATHAN

“We are very sad,” Esther Pollard says. “All we asked was that Jonathan be
given a few hours of freedom, just a few hours to say goodbye to his father.
But even this small request was refused.

“Ten years ago, when Jonathan's mother was ill, he also asked for permission
to say good-bye to her and to attend her funeral. The government's refusal
then was a bitter blow for him. Ten years have passed and many things have
changed since then. Many senior American officials familiar with the case
now say that Jonathan should have been released a long time ago. We were
sure that this time the Government would show a little compassion, but it
did not happen. We never dreamed that they would continue to be so unkind.

“This refusal is a harsh blow for Jonathan. What strengthens him is the fact
that I'm here with him. I came directly to the prison in North Carolina
because I hoped that I would see Jonathan be released in time for the
funeral. Now that we have absorbed the disappointment and the blow, at least
I am here with him.

“I am extremely worried about him. How much suffering can one man endure?
What is more, he is also very ill; I'm afraid for his life. I implore Prime
Minister Netanyahu to act; the American government must be made to
understand that Jonathan’s freedom is overdue. I will not rest until
Jonathan returns home. I tell Jonathan about every rally and every
initiative on his behalf. He smiles and draws some encouragement from this.
We are deeply grateful for the recent outpouring of support from the Israeli
public and from the Israeli media. Please continue your efforts; don't stop
until he is home!”

The Committee to Return Jonathan Pollard Home (The Vaad) urges the public to
send letters of condolence to Jonathan at the following address:
Jonathan Pollard #09185-016, P.O. Box 1000, Butner, North Carolina, USA
27509-1000

WITHOUT THE MOURNER'S KADDISH
As they made their way to the gravesite, the Pollard family members still
hoped that any minute now a helicopter would suddenly appear on the horizon
bringing their longed-for son from prison. But the American government did
not grant the hapless prisoner even this tiny gesture of compassion.

JUSTICE FOR JONATHAN POLLARD
Website: http://www.JonathanPollard.org
Follow J4JP on Twitter:http://twitter.com/J4JPollard
Follow J4JP on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/justice4jp

al jazeera exposed

2011-07-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

Someone who I admire and learn a lot from online is Plaid Avenger. Yesterday he tweeted a newsy comment about one of his favorite and most juicy continuing rants, the Mexican drug cartels, and linked it to an Al Jazeera article. I shouldn't have been surprised, since the Professor lists Al Jazeera on his website as a news source. But I decided to confront the plaid brainiac on his use of an anti Israel source.

Here is how it went:

@plaidavenger Jeeeezzzzuz! 41 dead in 48 hours in Mexican cartel wars. Step up fellow North Americans! We must halt this violence! http://aje.me/qZP5BQ

@nlitvin do you think al Jazeera is a credible news source? after all, they are such Jew Haters!!!

@plaidavenger ahhhh, now you don't really think that do you? I believe they are a pretty credible news source.
@nlitvin there's pretty good razza-ma-tazz but if you read between the lines, there is pretty of "let's destroy Israel" stuff going on.

@nlitvin I meant pretty and plenty in that order!. but not like good 'n plenty.

@plaidavenger lol on the good 'n plenty! You will have to send me some some stories that illustrate that anti-Israeli bias.

@nlitvin oh, @plaidavenger say it aint' so! Al Jazeera? oy vey! o.k.! I am on it!!!!

Take note Professor! See below:

This cartoon, from Al Jazeera depicts an Arab, American and Jew burying a Palestinian with the word "Gaza" written on his hand.

The Jew, in typical anti-Semitic fashion, is religious, sports a disproportionately large nose, and is engaging in an act of murder. hat/tip FightHatred

And then there is this:

The Al-Jazeera Mirror by Robert Jancu
hat/tip Aretz Sheva/Israel National News

"American journalists on the ground in the Mid-East these past few weeks, elbow-to-elbow with al-Jazeera reporters like never before, have begun to sing al-Jazeera’s praises. This is a phenomenon that provides great insight into the mindset of Western journalists covering the ongoing disturbances in the Arab world.

It is instructive for Americans to look beyond their own newspapers and TV broadcasts, then, and peruse al-Jazeera. Take a day such as February 23, 2011, when the Arab world was on fire for reasons having nothing to do with Israel.

On the homepage of al-Jazeera.com, billed as “Al-Jazeera Magazine,” the single large photo at the top is of an Israeli tank, accompanied by the lead article: “Israeli Army Will Cash in on Egyptian Revolution.”
The prominent section just below is called “In Depth Palestine,” and contains three feature articles bashing Israel.
In the “Latest Headlines Middle East Live” section, which is adjacent to the left, three of the ten stories are attack pieces on Israel.
In the “Let’s Talk” section, which is adjacent to the right, al-Jazeera provides discussion topics for its readers to address in interactive threads. Critiques of Israel constitute two of the four formal discussion groupings.
In the “Conspiracy Theories” section just below that (why does a news source aspiring to respectability contain a “Conspiracy Theories” section on its homepage?), three of the five conspiracies revolve around Israel.
It is almost as if al-Jazeera, which is the Arab “newspaper and network of record,” specializes in tiny Israel (one article focused on the destruction of twelve tents in the West Bank) and covers the vast Muslim world as an afterthought. Moreover, this is the English-language version of al-Jazeera online. One reasonably assumes that the Arabic-language version is even more distorted.
Recently, Western reporters have made a habit of declaring, fawningly, that al-Jazeera deserves recognition for having been more attuned than they to what was happening in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, and the like. It is, however, rather to be expected that a Middle East newspaper and network would be better apprised of local events. This is no revelation.

What is significant is that many of these Western reporters were not satisfied in voicing mere admiration. They took the further step of opining that U.S. citizens would do well to include al-Jazeera in their news consumption regimen.
Presumably, these Western journalists did their homework and based their endorsement on more than simply being impressed that al-Jazeera had more reporters at the hotspots. One would be justified to suppose that they had at least glanced at the English-language al-Jazeera homepage. Upon having done so, they would see that al-Jazeera’s view of the world is not too different than that of Julius Streicher’s Nazi-era propaganda organ, Der Sturmer, and its motto “Die Juden sind unser Ungluck” (“The Jews Are Our Misfortune”).
American reporters’ indifference to al-Jazeera’s obsession is consistent with the attempt of such reporters first to cover up and then to downplay the anti-Semitic context of the attack on CBS’ Lara Logan by Cairo’s celebrated liberators, who shouted “Jew! Jew!” as they beat and raped her.
The Israel-demonizing litany of al-Jazeera’s articles, op-eds, and discussion threads for February 23, 2011, as noted above, appears on a day in which the Arab world is in conflagration, and nothing of remotely comparable note is happening in Israel.
Imagine what al-Jazeera looks like at other times.
The lionizing of al-Jazeera by America’s star journalists is yet more deplorable when one reasonably assumes that they first also checked English-language translations of al-Jazeera’s Arabic-language TV broadcasts. Websites such as www.memri.org provide such translations. The broadcasts are even more virulent than the al-Jazeera print or electronic coverage.
Al-Jazeera TV features a parade of Salafist imams who preach the destruction of America, the virtual enslavement of women, and modern-day blood libels. The recent widespread endorsement of al-Jazeera by U.S. reporters covering the Mid-East is a great disservice to their viewers and readers. Perhaps Americans should, indeed, take a look at al-Jazeera, if only to grasp the extent of the warp and bias that afflicts their own news media."

Robert Jancu is the former National Executive Director of the Zionist Organization of America,” is an attorney in private practice and a freelance, frequently published writer on Israel and Zionism.

And this:

I will be updating this post as I come across more examples of Al Jazeera's bias towards Jews and Israel.
Stay tuned... if anyone has more to add, please comment below.

Jonathan Pollard: Let Me See My Dying Father

2011-06-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

LET ME SEE MY DYING FATHER

by Ynet News

Jonathan Pollard's relatives issue plea for compassionate leave from US authorities to allow him to leave prison, see father in hospital after receiving news he 'may not last through day'. 'He was crying so hard,' says wife.

Relatives of Jonathan Pollard – incarcerated for the past 26 years for espionage – are entreating US officials to allow him to see his father, 95-year old Morris Pollard, following the latter's hospitalization in dire condition.

Esther Pollard, his wife, said she received a call from her crying husband Saturday. "He was crying so hard that it was difficult to process, and now I'm crying too. He said his father Morris was dying and they don't know if he will last through the day," she said.

The wife added that the father and son had tried speaking on the phone, but that the elder Pollard was too weak even to hold the receiver to his ear. She said his sudden illness had come as a shock because he had been relatively healthy for his age.

"Jonathan told him how much he loves him and thanked him for all he had taught him throughout the wonderful years they had together," Esther recounted.

"Jonathan's voice broke when he told his father how sorry he is that the hopes and dreams of being together over the vacation were not realized, and asked him in a choked voice to kiss his mother when he gets to heaven, to tell her he loves and misses her."

The wife says her husband pleaded with her to do everything in her power to convince the authorities to allow him to leave the prison and be with his father in his final hours.

"We ask the Israeli government to be actively and uninhibitedly involved, and to file an official request with the US administration to give Jonathan clemency for humanitarian reasons," she said.

"When Jonathan's mother dies he didn't get the chance to say goodbye. We appeal to the US administration with pleas to allow Jonathan to kiss his father for the last time." Adi Ginsburg, who is close to the Pollards, told Ynet it was the spy's dream to see his father again. "If it can give him even a moment's peace after a lifetime of torture then it should be done," he said. Ginsburg added that the family had tried to get in touch with the Prime Minister's Office throughout the day, but to no avail.

"We call on the prime minister, all of the ministers and the Opposition chairwoman to use their influence with members of the Senate, the Congress, and anyone else to put everything aside and join the battle," he said.

Justice For Jonathan Pollard Website

Justice For Jonathan Pollard on facebook

Justice For Jonathan Pollard on twitter

#PidyonShvuyim

California to Change Sex-Offender Tracking

2011-06-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

California to Change Sex-Offender Tracking

hat tip kgoradio.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Buried under a tidal wave of electronic data, California parole agents next week will significantly change how they monitor and respond to alarms from tracking devices that are affixed to released sex offenders, The Associated Press has learned.

An internal California Department of Corrections report obtained by The AP found that parole agents spend 44 percent of their work weeks reviewing the computer-tracked movements of parolees, and just 12 percent in the field.

They'll get some relief on Wednesday, when the companies that provide the satellite-linked ankle bracelets will begin screening the tens of thousands of electronic alarms that flood in each month. The companies will forward the most serious alerts to parole agents while weeding out those that signal more mundane problems such a low battery or lost cell phone signal.

Corrections officials fear parole agents' lack of personal contact can embolden released sex offenders to harass their previous victims or commit new crimes. They are seeking to minimize the sort of information fatigue that inadvertently helped paroled rapist Phillip Garrido keep a kidnapped woman captive for 18 years.

"The whole purpose of trying this out is to enable the parole agents to focus more on direct supervision," corrections department spokeswoman Terry Thornton said.
The companies that provide the GPS equipment also will screen the alerts in selected areas and attempt to contact parolees if, for instance, their bracelets have lost contact or the battery has run low. Parole agents will be contacted if the parolee cannot be reached or if an alert signals a danger, such as a parolee getting too close to a victim's home.

A team of parole officers and other department employees will oversee the program and work with local law enforcement agencies to see if parolees' GPS-tracked movements can help solve crimes.
California tracks more paroled sex offenders with GPS than any other state, at a cost of $60 million a year.

While each offender has been strapped with an ankle bracelet since January 2009, the corrections department began requiring agents to do even more remote supervision of parolees in response to their failure to catch Garrido. The released sex offender kidnapped Jaycee Dugard and fathered two children with her while imprisoning her in a backyard shack of his home in Antioch.

Subsequent reviews detailed how parole agents ignored hundreds of alerts that showed Garrido violated his curfew, tampered with his bracelet, let the battery run low or that the device lost contact for hours each night. He was caught in 2009 after campus police at the University of California, Berkeley became suspicious of his behavior.

Parole agents were put under more pressure in 2010 when another paroled rapist was arrested for the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in San Diego County. John Albert Gardner later pleaded guilty to that crime and to a previous rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in the same area.

Since the more stringent monitoring policy has been in place, the sheer volume of GPS alerts has overwhelmed the department's parole staff. Agents responded to an average of 50 automatically generated alarms in a month, including some on what were supposed to be their days off, according to the internal review obtained by AP.

"These guys are in such information overload, I think they can't see the forest for the trees at some point," said parole officer Melinda Silva, who heads the Parole Agents Association of California.
Paroled sex offenders generated 1.5 million alarms from GPS-linked ankle bracelets during the first two years of the state's electronic-monitoring program, from January 2009 through December 2010, according to data compiled for The Associated Press in response to a state Public Records Act request. Corrections department data said the ankle bracelets generate 63,000 GPS alerts per month, or an average of nearly 10 alerts for each of the 6,600 parolees wearing the devices.

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it does not keep statistics on how agents respond to the alerts, although supervisors are supposed to make sure alarms are not ignored.
In a report released late last year, the correction department's Sex Offender Supervision and GPS Monitoring Task Force said the call for more computer monitoring of GPS alerts has left agents spending more time at their computers and less time in the field directly supervising paroled sex offenders.

"This new information comes at a price," the report said. It did not examine whether parolees have been committing crimes because agents have less time to directly supervise them.
None of the alerts is an automatic parole violation, and some may be caused by weak signals, interference with buildings or inadvertent damage, the department said in response to the AP's records requests.

Yet any of the alarms can signal potential danger from a parolee or merely that the parolee is careless by, for instance, damaging the ankle bracelet or letting the battery run low. Agents said a pattern of lapses can mean a parolee isn't taking his supervision seriously.

According to the data provided to the AP, 58 percent of the alerts came when parolees left a restricted area, typically a certain radius around the parolee's home.

Tampering with the device or its strap triggered 23 percent of the alerts, while 13 percent signaled that the ankle bracelet's battery ran low. Five percent were because the bracelet could not connect with a cell phone signal to transmit its tracking data.

Entering a restricted area, such as school grounds or a victim's neighborhood, caused 1 percent of the alarms.The number of alerts peaked at nearly 74,000 in November 2009. The corrections department in part attributes the decrease since then to improvements in the technology and construction of the ankle bracelets.

The task that recommended California's new system of monitoring sex offenders advised the department follow the example of Florida and Michigan by creating a monitoring center to evaluate all the warnings triggered by the GPS ankle bracelets, leaving agents free to respond only to the most serious.

Florida was facing the same problems as California until two years ago, when it began paying the company that provides its GPS system $1 a day per parolee to sort through the alarms.
"From a workload perspective, our officers were getting burned out, there were so many alarms," said Shawn Satterfield, the bureau chief who oversees the program. Today, the monitoring center clears 75 percent of the alerts without bothering parole agents.

Michigan and Orange County, Calif., both created their own monitoring centers, hiring technicians at a much lower cost than sworn parole officers. "The techs can divert a lot of calls and only put through those emergency calls to parole officers," said Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman John Cordell.

California voters required the state to use electronic monitors to track all paroled sex offenders when they approved Jessica's Law in 2006. The law also increased penalties and set limits on where sex offenders can live.

Former state Sen. George Runner, who co-authored Jessica's Law, criticized the department for not creating a monitoring center from the beginning as a way to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

"One of the things we saw right away is, why not have a clearinghouse?" said Runner, a Republican from Lancaster who now is on the state Board of Equalization. "It could be a clerk, so you don't have a parole agent running around doing those things."

D Day: I honor my father, a brave Jewish American GI in World War II

2011-06-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Nathan Litvin
Jewish American GI
from Mount Clemens, Michigan
above on left, at Utah Beach, after D-Day, 1944 in Normandy.

Sir Martin Gilbert stated on the back cover of his book D-Day--

"The Allied landings in 1944 had all the prospects for disaster. Churchill thought he would be woken up to be told of massive casualties. Eisenhower prepared a somber broadcast announcing that the enterprise had failed

The specter of failure was always present. After a failed landing the Nazi regime would have regained the ascendant. New, terrifying bombs and rockets were ready to be launched. Long-distance submarines were in the final stage of development. The last million Jews of Europe were listed for deportation and death.

Failure at Normandy could have given Hitler the chance of continuing to rule western Europe, particularly if the United States, bloodied and defeated in Normandy, had decided -- after two and a half years of focusing on Europe -- to turn all its energies to the ever-growing demands of the Pacific, leaving Europe to its own devices. Had that happened, I doubt if I would have been alive to write this book, or free to express my opinions without fear of arrest."

Nathan Litvin was my father. I remember my father as a hero, a brave Jewish American GI. He met my mother, an Auschwitz survivor, in Munich, Germany after liberation. He has been gone from this earth for eighteen (Chai) years. Now, my mother has been gone for six weeks and they are reunited.

An excellent book and a fascinating read is D-Day, by Sir Martin Gilbert.

Martin Gilbert has kindly contributed one of the maps from D-Day and a foreword to my book We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story.

The Pod People

2011-05-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

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cure for insomnia

2011-05-20T23:50:00.000-07:00

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

High in the sky my tears still fall

2011-05-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

I am high in the sky, winging my way home on an airplane after a week of supervised relaxation orchestrated with love by my siblings and nieces. As they’ve provided door-to-door transportation, I took this opportunity to get away from the home I shared with my mother, who died three weeks ago.

This loss has always been my deepest, darkest fear. Pain, confusion, sadness, and hysteria: all of the above and more as I try to sort out the emptiness that has encapsulated me. For two weeks I stared at her bed and shrieked endlessly. I’ve ranted on twitter until I was sure I would lose all of my followers. I’ve listened to good intentioned friends and family telling me to redecorate, get a roommate, don’t get a roommate, sell the house, don’t sell the house, talk about it, don't talk about it. I am returning to my job next week but I didn’t tell them that she died. I move in a trance, with robotic motions. I am a zombie who doesn’t want to eat. Sleep is scary, as I hear her calling me in the night. I call back but she doesn’t answer.

I was born to replace a loving family that were murdered by homicidal sociopaths. My life has been all about that even when I didn’t think it was. I ran until I couldn’t run anymore from the push/pull of the shadow life that has haunted me since childhood. I surrendered to that fate and accepted my responsibility with no regard for my future.

My future is now here and I have no plans for it. One of my Aussie cousins said to me on the day after she died, “Opportunities will present.” I want to believe that but I don’t believe in anything right now.

Someone has a new book out decrying the ways people hype up remembrance of the holocaust. Look - to me, it doesn’t matter how we remember it, as long as we remember that the victims weren’t just the murdered in World War II and those who survived. The second generation, kids born to the survivors are every much the victims. And then there is the third generation, which I chose not to produce because I simply did not have the faith. The fourth, fifth, and generations into infinity will be impacted. Just as the Jewish people always have. And on and on.

I have to go for now, as the “fasten your seat belt” sign just came on. The plane is descending and I am coming back to Earth for one more try at this game called Life.

Adon Alom

2011-04-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

There is nothing wrong with looking for some beauty in the midst of this hideous world. I needed a break, like a 'stop the world I want to get off,' kind of break from the most intensely personal odyssey of caring for my mom, who is the star character in my non-fiction book, We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story. I sat down on my couch and picked up a little prayer book that was just sitting there on the coffee table. I opened it up to Adon Alom. Then I found I this beautiful rendition (thank you Judy Katsof.) Hoping everyone has a beautiful Shabbot Hagadol, on this Sabbath before Passover.

	English translation	Transliteration	Hebrew
1	Eternal Master, who reigned supreme,	Adon 'olam, 'asher malakh,	אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ
2	Before all of creation was drawn;	b'terem kol y'tzir niv'ra	בְּטֶרֶם כָּל יְצִיר נִבְרָא
3	When it was finished according to His will,	L'yet na'asa v'kheftso kol,	לְעֵת נַעֲשָׂה בְחֶפְצוֹ כֹּל
4	Then "King" His Name was proclaimed to be	Azai melekh sh'mo nikra	אֲזַי מֶלֶךְ שְׁמוֹ נִקְרָא
5	When this our world shall be no more,	V'akharey kikh'lot hakol	וְאַחֲרֵי כִּכְלוֹת הַכֹּל
6	In majesty He still shall reign,	L'vado y'imlokh nora	לְבַדּוֹ יִמְלוֹךְ נוֹרָא
7	And he was, and he is,	V'hu hayah v'hu hoveh	וְהוּא הָיָה וְהוּא הֹוֶה
8	And he will be in glory.	V'hu yih'yeh b'tif'arah	וְהוּא יִהְיֶה בְּתִפְאָרָה
9	Alone is He, there is no second,	V'hu 'ekhad v'eyn sheyni	וְהוּא אֶחָד וְאֵין שֵׁנִי
10	Without division or ally;	L'ham'shil lo l'hakhbirah	לְהַמְשִׁילֹ לוֹ לְהַחְבִּירָה
11	Without beginning, without end,	B'li reyshiyt b'li takh'liyt	בְּלִי רֵאשִׁית בְּלִי תַכְלִית
12	to Him is the power and sovereignty	V'lo ha'oz v'hamis'rah	וְלוֹ הָעֹז וְהַמִּשְׂרָה
17	He is my God, my Living Redeemer	V'hu 'Eyli v'khai go'ali	וְהוּא אֵלִי וְחַי גּוֹאֲלִי
18	rock of my affliction in day of trouble	v'tsur khevli b'yom tsarah	וְצוּר חֶבְלִי בְּיוֹם צָרָה
19	He is my banner and refuge	V'hu nisi 'umanos li	וְהוּא נִסִּי וּמָנוֹס ִלִי
20	filling my cup the day I call	m'nat kosi b'yom 'ekra	מְנָת כּוֹסִי בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָא
23	Into His hand I commit my spirit	B'yado af'kid rukhi	בְּיָדוֹ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי
24	when I sleep, and I awake	b'yet 'ishan v'a'ira	בְּעֵת אִישָׁן וְאָעִירָה
25	and with my spirit, my body	v'im rukhi g'viyati	וְעִם רוּחִי גְוִיָּתִי
26	The Lord is with me, I will not fear	Adonai li v'lo 'ira	אֲדֹנָי לִי וְלֹא אִירָא

my radio interview by Southern Sense' Anne Ubelis

2011-03-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything personal on this blog site. Although - I have been known to let it all hang loose on twitter as myself @nlitvin - I've been rather busy the past six months working a State of California job. Due to circumstances in the family, which have to do with my mother's recent illness and recovery, I am taking a family leave from my job.

In the meantime I was graciously invited to be on Anne Ubelis' Southern Sense radio show. We are planning on discussing my book and related topics. I would like to talk a bit about the footnotes that are in my book.

on Blog Talk Radio

Anne: Join us for some Tweaky Tuesday conversation on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 2:00 EST (show is added below, 4 min. silence in beginning due to technical glitch)

I'll interview Naomi Litvin, author of WE NEVER LOST HOPE: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story.

It is important we remember the past as we deal with today's issues and plan for our futures.

The show will broadcast on Tues, 3/22 at 2PM EST. It's also available to listen to online after the broadcast time 24/7 or can be downloaded to iTunes or an iPod.

Independent, Conservative & Independent! ~ Southern Sense Blog Talk Radio is hosted by Annie Ubelis. ~ In South Carolina, Ann Ubelis is co-founder and web master of the Beaufort Tea Party. ~ She also maintains a web blog call "The Come'Ya Conservative" ~ © Southern Sense is copy right protected

please be patient with four minutes silence in beginning, due to technical glitch. click on arrow below

Listen to internet radio with Southern Sense on Blog Talk Radio

Fly On The Wall Returns! The Fly vs AFRICOM

2011-02-26T17:38:00.000-08:00

Blown away in September '09 to see that AFRICOM was schmoozing the Libyans "as the two countries continue to build their military relationship," I have been continually watching and interested in finding out where AFRICOM would go with that insane liaison.

So what does AFRICOM's spokesperson have to say about the ongoing shocking events of the Libyan rebellion? Fast forward to February '11 and now Africom is spinning, trying to regain some credibility and stature after that dangerous liaison.

Today on twitter, Fly On The Wall tweeted to Vince Crawley, deputy public affairs officer for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) regarding his agency still using the bit.ly URL shortener that glorifies Libya. After Vince responded to my tweet, in fact with his own weak attempt to exalt bit.ly as helpful to democracy in their role in recent events, I decided to see if anyone else on twitter had the guts to call Vince Crawley out.

I then discovered the following interesting conversation between Vince Crawley and Roger Pociask, "an African business consultant and expert on African affairs." I am still waiting for a response from Roger Pociask to my tweet about Jews and Israelis, their businesses, and products being banned in Libya and other countries.

Only time will tell what happens next. In the meantime, read the back and forth on twitter between two macho dudes with their own agendas quite transparently visible (posted tweets in descending order.) And don't forget to follow me on twitter! naomi litvin

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~CHECK BACK FOR MORE THREADS OF CONVERSATIONS AND COMMENTS~

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kosher face

2011-02-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

kosher face

hat tip > @Jewish_Power

stop the world ... i want to get off... #FreeJonathanPollard

2011-01-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

Why is Jonathan Pollard still in prison after 9,194 days and nights?

Please President Obama, let this Jewish man go home to Israel!

Free Jonathan Pollard NOW!

2011-01-16T12:53:00.001-08:00

Free Jonathan Pollard NOW!

2011-01-02T11:24:00.001-08:00

Fly On The Wall Returns! It's all about the rapture? part one

2010-12-22T06:48:00.000-08:00

Oy vey. It was the old tingling spine again. The type of tingling that transforms me. My super power, which lately seems to be reading between the lines on Twitter, was rearing her ugly head again. I was morphing into the fly.

This time I was feeling like there was something rotten in Twitter Land with this tweeter @bibireport. He sports an avatar as (none other than) Bibi Netanyahu. I noticed some clues in @bibreport's tweets, especially one about Mike Evans, the Christian Zionist mega hustler.And after a short search, I found that the Bibi Report is Rapture Ready Radio Show and they are 'preparing for the rapture.'

At this very moment the real Bibi Netanyahu is right smack in the face of the entire world as he readies himself to man up to President Obama with a commitment to stand up for Jonathan Pollard. The only thing that I can say on that is Baruch Hashem! And Kena Hora!

As I had quickly realized that @bibreport was not the real thing I also saw that @bibireport was tweeting links to Mike Evans. I realized there was more to this picture.

I see that @bibreport is cutcha-la-mucha with @actforisrael, a new wannabee philanthropic group that is rushing toward their own fame, fortune, and philanthropic orgasm. This specific crowd retain "adviser and leader" thugs on twitter who attempt to threaten me on twitter with twerbal abuse which, by the way all stemmed from my nudging them on their stand regarding Pollard. Act For Israel advertises on The Bibi Report front page.

So when I had asked all of them, "What is your stand on freeing Jonathan Pollard?" a small cat fight ensued which has now left us returning to our corners.

Now that the news has been released that the real Netanyahu will advocate for Pollard with Obama; the fake Netanyahu suddenly tweets up a storm about freeing Jonathan Pollard. I suppose if he is a sock puppet for the fake Netanyahu, then he' better better get into character.

Check it out for yourselves if you don't believe me. It's all about the sock puppet @bibireport, Rapture Ready, and their party of Christian Zionists that now claim to have a majority in Israel. I don't know about them having a majority, but whatever they have up their sleeves looks like a big red flag to me.

Mike Evans, below, in his shameless use of Holocaust Survivors for the Christian Zionist agenda

I am still gathering the dirt on this story, as I also see those that previously have dissed Jonathan Pollard, now jumping into the support since Pollard's freedom is evidently going to happen at any moment.

As some of these thugs and questionable groups and their friends on twitter call me "a Jewish Avinunu," a "psycho," and a "liar." I promise that I will continue to expose them for who they are.

stay tuned for part two of "it's all about the rapture"

Silent Exodus of Jewish Refugees From Arab Countries

2010-12-19T21:03:00.000-08:00

courtesy of Emet News Service

Silent Exodus of Jewish Refugees

I am in the process of reading Sir Martin Gilbert's new book, In Ishmael's House, A History of Jews in Muslim lands.This book evokes shock and anger, as in the introduction, Gilbert takes the reader back to the year 628 when the Prophet Mohammed's first victory against the Jewish tribe of Khaibar, slaughtered between six hundred and nine hundred Jews in battle. This is not a fast read, as it should not be, because each page contains superb historical data and footnotes which detail the torture, mistreatment, and murder of Jews through the years in the name of Mohammad. But each word in each sentence has so far mesmerized and stunned me as I look forward to reading the rest.

Sacrifice - it's a lot to ask, or is it?

2010-12-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

by Andy Gross

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: Hungarian Government Makes Second Payment to Survivor

2010-12-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: December 05, 2010

After 66 years the Hungarian government may have completed their business with my mother. The second payment of $600 for my murdered grandfather was received in a wire transfer. The Hungarians made this token payment, adding up with the other payment (for my grandmother) of approximately $1200 US dollars (minus transfer wire fees, notary public fees, postage) in their admission of guilt for conspiring and collaborating with Nazi Germany in the dejewification of Hungary in 1944 which resulted in what can only be described as the catastrophe.

My mother has recently been asked to join a class action lawsuit against the Hungarian MAV railway company. Read below for the rest of the story and stay tuned to this blog for updates.

UPDATE: September 24, 2010

The Hungarian government has made an international wire transfer into my mother's bank account. Apparently this token amount of $600 at long last acknowledges that Hungary collaborated with the German Nazis during World War II in the deportation and murder of Regina Festinger, my grandmother. They sent one more affidavit to be signed for another $600 for my grandfather, Menashe (Jonas) Festinger who was also murdered. They wouldn't pay for other of my relatives because we couldn't come up with birth certificates and/or documentation.

The Jewish social worker, working in concert with the International Claims Conference, and the local San Francisco Hungarian consulate has been helpful in translating and sending documents for us. I didn't want the money, but as a family, we decided to go ahead and let the Hungarians face the music, since the token cash payments are the only evidence that they have owned up to this most hideous conspiracy that they participated in. My mother's birthday is coming up, she will be 87, and she needs some things.

Read below, to catch up on the details of this real-life drama.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

August 4, 2010: Hungarian government devalues Jewish lives
Four years after filing a claim against Hungary on my mother's behalf for its responsibility in collaborating with the German Nazis in the deportation and murder of Jonas and Regina Festinger, my grandparents, and my Aunt Cece (just three of Hungary's 565,000 slaughtered Jewish victims during the Holocaust) the joke is on us. The decision came in the mail. It sat on my desk for five months until today, when I met with my mother's Hungarian speaking social worker, for Jewish Holocaust survivors with the Jewish Family Service. She counsels us regarding my mother's restitution pension from the Claims Conference: The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. We had some things to discuss, and almost as an afterthought, I pulled out the two registered letters from Hungary.

You see, I had given up, thrown in the towel, and just said to myself, "Forget about it!" I was sick of being jerked around with the paperwork, registered mail fees, begging Hungarian online acquaintances for translation help, begging Yad Vashem's New York office for help (to no avail) in finding birth certificates, and the whole subject. I mean, where do you draw the line in finding money and how do you comprehend the Hungarian government putting a price tag of $1,800 on the heads of murdered dead relatives?

So, today, you can imagine my shock as the social worker said, This Hungarian word means, "Award." But how much? It seems to be a paltry $600 each, not $1,800 for the grandparents that have stared at me from a painting on the wall most of my life. The death of my Aunt Cece and her family was denied, because except for anecdotal evidence and photographs, there was simply no proof that she had existed, let alone gassed and burned. The photo, to the right, is Ceci Festinger, a portrait from Sighet.

The social worker was surprised. Out of all the applicants, about eight Hungarian elderly survivors in all that live in our immediate area, none of them had heard anything back from the Hungarian government. A few of them had died since that June day in 2006 when we all gathered in Berkeley to sign the papers. My paperwork was very good. After all, I have written a book on the subject. All of my archival documents and photos came in handy.

The Hungarian government has devalued the lives of my beloved family, who I never got to meet. In doing so, they have devalued my life. How much of my life is defined by these people who perished for the 'crime of being Jewish?' They were denied due process, stripped of everything, and humiliated to the very last breath that they took. I can't begin to describe how I feel at this moment. But it's not about me, right? It's about them.
The collaborationist Hungarian government, who dejewified Hungary in 1944.

friendships interruptus

2010-11-27T15:17:00.000-08:00

Friendships are every bit as real as marriages. The difference? For one, without a contract friendships can easily be dissolved. Or can they?

It feels like, to me, that friendships are the buffer between the cold, harsh, frightening world and our safe inner sanctity. Therefore friendships are the utmost of relationships. The commitments made in friendships may be verbalized or sensed, but seldom written down as a contract. Either way, they are just as much real as a paper contract. Yes - a ketubah can be a thing of beauty. But so can a get.

Ah, but the freedom to not be in a marriage is actually an illusion. As far as how far my loyalty goes, how deep does my individual psyche interact with my perceived qualities of friendships? To go is sometimes just as difficult as to be contracted to stay. Impossible at times. But the most important requisite to my friendships is being able to feel like I am in a safe harbor.

And what of unconditional love in friendship? It's not supposed to exist, I thought. That's only for families. But sometimes I find that my feelings which manifest in the love that I feel in friendship gives way to that. Whether one-sided or not, it still exists in the mind.

So what do you think are the rules of real friendship? To me, the phrase "Lower Your Expectations" is negative and disastrous to the soul. Don't lower your expectations, just be the kind of friend that you want someone to be to you.

Oh, and don't forget to be your own best friend first.

The Guild: The Guild - Episode 3: The Macro Problem

2010-11-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

Rocko's Modern Life - Jerry Springer

2010-11-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

Ballet Mecanique (1924)

2010-11-17T21:12:00.000-08:00

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one step beyond: the clown

2010-11-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

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the wager

2010-11-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

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it's foamy Naomi!

2010-11-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

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six feet from the edge

2010-11-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

behind the wheel of my life

2010-10-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Friends that follow me and those that I follow on Twitter know that I've been in a new job for the past eight weeks. The pressure and stress of on the job training and commuting has been driving me to some insomnia and bad dreams. Early this morning I had a nightmare. I was driving home from work. It was dark and I couldn't find my car. My eyes kept becoming glued shut.

Suddenly in my dream, I realized that if I was already driving my car, why was I looking for my car? That instance was the trigger that made me realize that it was all just a dream. I became lucid in my dream, since I knew that I was in the driver's seat of my car and couldn't be lost. It was a huge relief. And the eyes being glued shut? I also knew that my eyes glued closed was an analogy illustrating that I needed to be open to realistic opportunities that present themselves to me.

Opportunities may be unusual and the word 'opportunity' in itself implies circumstance and chance. The dream was telling me to fight to keep my eyes open to "what is." I have to permit access to possibilities. Yes, what comes to us may be disguised as jobs that we once may have thought we were too good for, and also relationships with diverse peoples that we never thought we'd know.

Many missed chances, faltered relationships, and lowered expectations can wear a woman out. But in this moment, on this day, I know that I am not done. I am just beginning. Age is an illusion and so is time. How can I be lost when I am in the driver's seat behind the wheel of my own life? To surrender on one level does not mean a surrender on all fronts.

As Virginia Woolf said: "Arrange whatever pieces come your way."

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Ben Hecht Interviews Jack Kerouac Part 2

2010-10-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

Ben Hecht Interviews Jack Kerouac Part One

Jerry Brown and ... Chomsky? OY!

2010-09-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

I have been holding back on reporting anything negative about Jerry Brown, California Attorney General who is running for Governor. Here are my reasons:

- I don't want to do anything to help Meg Whitman get votes. In fact, I don't want to help her in any way.

- I have a bone to pick with Brown, who is our Top Cop in California. He ignored my complaint to the CA Dept. of Justice in my plea to do something about Facebook's seizure of the intellectual property of The Jewish Internet Defense Force, who was the only Jewish Sheriff on Facebook, a California corporation that allows rampant, viral anti-semitism on Facebook. Geez, if he can't build a case against them for something, he could at least scold them for their behavior.

- I like Jerry Brown. I think he did an exceptional job as Mayor of Oakland. And if anyone understands how California government doesn't operate, it is him. And where does he stand on Israel? Does anyone know?

- I'll go on record and say that I would make a deal with Jerry Brown. If he decides to publicly say he denounces Noam Chomsky, he can have my vote. If he just tweets something to that effect, fine.

- Yes, I am talking about the "connection" between Brown and Chomsky. OY!

- Back on Sunday, May 30, 2010, before the California primary, I had picked up the Leftist San Francisco Chronicle and was pleased to see that conservative columnist Debra J. Saunders had a lengthy story in Insight: Opinions, Editorials, and More. I read the candidates' books...so you won't have to are reviews of six books written by then current California candidates: Steve Poizer and Meg Whitman, Republican candidates for governor; Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore, Republican candidates for U.S. Senate; Barbara Boxer, Democratic U.S. Senator running for reelection; and Jerry Brown, Democrat State Attorney General running for governor.

- This was going to be mildly entertaining for me. I'm an author also, so my curiosity was piqued. Suddenly, as I was reading the segment on Jerry Brown, my scalp started tingling. I couldn't believe my eyes! There in Saunders' review was the name Noam Chomsky.

Brown's book Dialogues was published in 1998 by Berkeley Hills Books by We The People Legal Foundation, Inc. Dialogues is a collection of conversations between Brown and eighteen men and women and includes a chapter devoted to Noah Chomsky

"...whose ideas and activism have helped shaped his vision..."

...that each of his 18 dialogues "illuminates the paradoxes of progress, and opens up cracks in the certitudes of the modern world view. The perspectives you will encounter here are not ideological or cynical. They are caring."

- Huh? Noam Chomsky the lunatic caring?I mean, after 9/11, Chomsky wrote a book saying that America is a terrorist state!

Via The Sacramento Bee by Jack Chang:

"Liberal radio diatribes in 1990s could haunt Jerry Brown in 2010 California governor's race

More than a decade before Jerry Brown's current incarnation as undeclared gubernatorial front-runner, he hit the airwaves of liberal Berkeley radio station KPFA (Naomi: another anti-Israel media) five days a week to speak his mind.

What he said then, as he interviewed poets, activists and the likes of leftist icon Noam Chomsky, promises to resurface this coming year as the 71-year-old former governor ponders running for a historic third gubernatorial term.

During his three years on the air, Brown repeatedly blamed corporate malfeasance and political corruption for undermining American democracy and even causing deaths, according to edited excerpts of the radio broadcasts.

Brown regularly attacked President Bill Clinton as a lackey for business interests and in one excerpt stated, "I don't believe Clinton is different from Richard Nixon.." (rest of story)

Conversations With Naomi: Hindu Internet Defence Force: Part 1

2010-09-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

India has the third largest number of Muslims in the world. That makes it a natural for some to rise up in India against a domination that can only mean trouble for the Hindus. An alliance on Twitter between Hindus and Jewish conservatives is a natural association, both expected and appreciated. A combination of a rich Jewish history in India, the recent slaughter at the Mumbai Chabad House in November 2008, and the promising India-Israel friendship and joint technological efforts make for some especially interesting discourse.

An article by Walter Russell Mead discusses The “Zionist Hindu Crusader” Alliance Marches On:

"The deepening relations between the United States, India, and Israel are changing the geopolitical geometry of the modern world in ways that will make the lives of fanatical terrorists even more dismal and depressing (not to mention shorter) than they already are. Israel and the United States are both in a better long term position than many Americans sometimes think; one of the main reasons is an Indian-Israeli connection that most Americans know nothing about.

Americans often underestimate Israel: we underestimate Israel’s ability to conduct a foreign policy independent of US support and we underestimate Israel’s long term prospects for success in its region. Indeed, Americans often talk about Israel as if we were the Jewish state’s only real friend — and that Israel is completely dependent on American goodwill.That’s not true historically and it’s not true today..."

Naomi: And Speaking of Hindu crusaders against Jihad it is my supreme pleasure to welcome HinduIDF. I have noticed that you have a twitter list of Muslim liars. Can you elaborate?

HinduIDF: I had heard in India the words taqyia kalam (which means to lie in your writings, etc.) This word I have heard in India many a times and it is in my memory and I never understood it. After reading Quran / Islamic Philosophy, I then understood that lying is an integral part of Islamic Culture.

In India, Muslim invaders and British empire are hated for being liars and this intrinsic hatred for lying is part of Hinduism or Hindu culture as Satmyava Jayata, or the truth always triumphs, which is a common spoken proverb. That is in the seal of the government of India. Also in India we have the concept that truth is G-d. have seen people who have spoken truth all their lives and have lived a very simple and honest life and this has been based on the Hindu traditions.

Muslim invaders always lied during the attacks and never kept the word. Hindu kings considered it to be a matter of honor to keep their word. In ancient times your word was literally everything.

Many Muslims I have met during my conversations on twitter have lied to me about Islam and what Islam taught and this matches what Islam teaches, i.e. to lie. The “Islam" that I got from my readings of the original texts does not match what Muslims were telling me. Thus this list is to know that particular guys have lied to me.

Now I know that by my interaction with Muslims and reading of Quran and Islamic literature that lying is inherent in Islam. This also confirms why Hindus always said that Muslims lied.

This hatred for lying can be seen in common man in India. Everywhere in India people say that Muslims and British lied.

Then in India we have a saying that “Nosso chooha kaha kai billi haj to challi;" it means that a cat after eating 900 rats goes to Haj . This is a very common proverb used in India and well, now I know that common Hindus did understand Muslims and Islamic culture to some extent.

Naomi: I have read that Hinduism does not condone helplessness in the face of injustice and wickedness. Do you think the enemies of peace use this to contradict the Hindu principles of non-violence and absence of malice in any way?

HinduIDF: Yes, the enemies of Hinduism use this to defame and also to confuse Hindus about Hinduism and how to react to the attacks both on the nation and personally. In situations in which you should respond with violence people are reminded about Gandhi and say that you should not react violently. It does create conflict in the mind as to how you should respond to threats and physical intimidation. This question in fact has made India to some extent weak and also unable to fight back.

The Propaganda machine of Socialist, Islamists and the Evangelist Church has made sure that Hindus don’t get to study their religious books in school and no emphasis is placed on the education of any kind in religious matters or ancient sciences. Thus the majority of the population is illiterate in the matters of what the scriptures say. The majority of the population is well versed with the devotional aspect of Hinduism and the saints and such have been taken care of but the political aspect of it is missing.

In Ramayana and Mahabharata both the texts are very clear about how to react to different conditions as per the actions of the heroes of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Acts of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna are taken to be the standard for the actions for the people of all ages. Histories of the two incarnation of Vishnu are considered as the perfect example to follow in human life time. Lord Ram had to fight many a times to give peace to the people of his country and bring back his wife form the Demon King. Ram Rajya or the Rule of the Lord Ram is still considered to be the perfect rule. Any Prime Minister or Chief Minister that tries to follow Lord Ram's way of ruling is considered to be great.

So what does Lord Ram rule symbolize? It means that poor are taken care of. Bad people are punished and saints and religious institution of the country are supported by the government. The King lives a simple and morally correct life. The King builds the dams, places for the rest for travelers, wells, etc.

Ram life is a simple and straight forward life who simple people can easily relate to. Lord Krishna life is complicated life with a lot of factors affecting him and his life shows how to combine and unite all the varying factors and still lead a fulfilling life, simultaneously fulfilling all your duties. His life is a perfect example to follow for a modern day executive.

The best place to understand this is by reading Gita. Lord Krishna explains how to manage the contradictory challenges a person faces is the best way to understand how to deal with this ethical dilemma. War is justified only when it is meant to fight evil and injustice, not for the purpose of aggression or terrorizing people. According to Vedic injunctions, aggressors and terrorists are at once to be killed and no sin is incurred by such annihilation.

Naomi: What is your opinion on the future of India and Israel as allies?

HinduIDF: Israel and India have a good future provided in India we have a right wing government or a Hindu nationalist government. The present government of India is supporting Israel as India needs weapons, etc. from Israel. Every Indian government has known that having relations with Israel will be good for India. But India has been ruled by Congress government and is heavily dependent on the Muslim vote bank of India.

Muslims of India have been politically active and they support this Congress that have given them lot of say in foreign policy of India. The relationship of Israel started growing when the Congress party of India started to become weak.

The common Perception in Israel or western media is that India and Israel started coming closer due to terrorism. This perception is based on false premise. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS ) had supported Israel at the formation of Israel itself. Congress party did not agree with it.

After Indian Affirmative action was implemented in India and the next Congress government came to power under P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1991 and by this time Rajiv Gandhi was killed. India established full diplomatic relationship with Israel during the prime minster ship of P.V. Narasimha Rao. This is a very Important turning point of Indo –Israel relationship.

Indian Affirmative action destroyed the grip of Congress Party on power and Congress Party has been from then on trying to come to power in India with majority. The affirmative action meant that the majority of Hindus have a say in power. This 60% to 70% of Hindu population was effectively kept out of power by Congress Party of India combining other vote banks like minorities (Muslims/Christians, etc.)

This was the first time in Indian politics that Congress was not controlled by a Nehru Family. An Indian who was not from Nehru Family was in control of Congress Party of India. P.V. Narasimha Rao had held a lot of important positions in the government of India and thus knew where Indian or Hindu interest laid.

People of Israel and Israel should know that the Nehru Family is against Israel and by chance if Nehru Family gets more power then the Indo Israel relationship will nose dive.

Congress does not have the support of the majority Hindu population and has been able to win the elections by good selection of candidates during the elections and effectively manipulating the media

For the future, as congress gets sure of its power then the future of India- Israel relationship looks bleak. Congress is dependent on Muslim votes and India Muslims are quite effective in lodging their protest about India and Israel relationship.

With Israel and India relationship we need to keep in mind how the relationship progressed during the BJP government from 1998 to 2004.

The future of India and Israel relationship rests with the 70% of Hindu population which does not have a say in power of India. As this 70% population gets assertive the India and Israel relationship will get closer. Israel needs to help Hindus in that so that India and Israel can defend themselves and also in turn defend the world against this Islamic aggression.

India needs help in the areas where Israel can help the Hindu organization to effectively work to bring about a Hindu nationalist government in India.

Check this link and see the perception that India and Israel relationship developed due to terrorism problems only.

Naomi: What is the greatest threat to your country?

HinduIDF: India faces threats from four areas.

1) Maoist or Communist ideology and China

2) Islamic dream of converting India into an Islamic state

3) Evangelist Church with its agenda of converting India into a secular state but de facto run by Church

4) Congress party of India

Due to the support of Tibet and presence of Dalai Lama in India, China Is not happy with India and Indian government. China is trying to control India as India is seen as a proxy of western governments. Maoists are the communists who want to overthrow the Indian government and they do have grievances which have not been taken care of by the elected government of India. If the government of India does not take those issues into account then the Maoist menace can grow in India.

Islamic Nations with the help of Saudi Arabia are building the mosques which are teaching radical ideology in the India and also Islamic groups in Pakistan and Bangladesh are working in tandem with Saudi and other Islamic groups. These Groups are working to destabilize and also radicalize the Indian Muslim population and this seems to be quite effective till now.

Pakistan has been following a policy of thousand cuts after losing the wars with India. Pakistan realized that the Pakistan army or Islamic army cannot defeat the India army so they have adopted the covert operations against India.

Evangelist Church's aim is to convert all the pagans of India to Christianity and they are working to convert as many as possible .The main effort of Evangelist Church is in propaganda. The Church is working to destroy the native culture or secularization of Hinduism so the church agenda can go forward.

All these efforts lead to weakening of the basic thread which unites India-Hinduism. In India we have so many languages and customs change every 100 miles but one thing every Hindu agrees on is the infallibility of Vedas/Ramayana/Mahabharata.

The strength of Church in Kerala has been seen that even with the largest Christians’ community in India they could not help the Christian professor whose hand was chopped off.

Congress party is dependent on the minority votes and thus in fact dances to the tune of all the minorities and does anything possible to appease them.

This shows that if the common thread which unites India is weakened more India could be reduced to Balkans and Islam would win in India. That is a dooms day prediction but it does lead to weakening of India.

Naomi: Thank you HinduIDF for this fantastic glimpse into your world which we need to know. I am looking forward to publishing Part 2 of this series. Follow HinduIdf on twitter!

Palestinian Peace Partners with Nazi Roots - Questions With No Answers

2010-09-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about the "peace talks" and the fact that Israel must sit down with our sworn enemies to make peace. How can we forget that the "peace partners" had roots in Nazi Germany?

What will Netanyahu do? What is the new partnerships we see between mainstream American Jewish organizations and New Israel Fund and J Street? How much actual influence do they have in Israeli policy? Is there anything that can lead us to survival and a peaceful co-existence with all the treachery and danger that presents itself?

I don't have any answers, only questions.
What would Ben Hecht say if he were alive today?

"It is always a losing battle, this trying to outshout authority. Those who have been in one are left with the conviction that it is easier to waken the dead than the living. But what a hopeless world it would be without this record of lost battles.” -- Ben Hecht

He seems to be saying that if lost battles are not fought, the world will be forever hopeless.

I often pick up the book, Perfidy, open it up randomly to read a passage, as this is the book that changed my perspective last year.

...It is the Jew who was first to lose some of his laughter, not because he must sorrow over his slain people. But because he looks into the face of the killers and of their collaborators, and sees in their hundreds of million faces the diminished soil of the species of man..."

In Perfidy I saw, in writing, how my family in Hungary was double-crossed by fellow Jews and let down by politicians in Israel during the Holocaust.

Ben Hecht has led me to Francisco Gil-White. Professor Francisco Gil-White, wrote a great article on Perfiy. That is how I first discovered Gil-White's website, Historical and Investigative Research. He also followed up and refuted a book written by Anna Porter in defense of Rudolph Kaster.

Whitewashing the Palestinian Leadership by Francisco Gil-White

via Arutz Sheva, Israel National News 5/26/03

"Until last spring, I held what people call a pro-Palestinian position.

Like many intellectuals, I had adopted Arafat's cause, taking what I believed was a principled stand that blamed Israel for the conflict in the Middle East, and especially for the suffering of Palestinians. Because I come from a Catholic background, and because there is a long and violent history of Catholic anti-Semitism (though not in my family), I always made clear that I supported the right of the State of Israel to exist, and that my position had nothing to do with animosity against Jews.

In April 2002, I noticed that media coverage of the fighting in Jenin was manifestly one-sided (against Israel). I began to look into this and also into the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This work made me realize that my sympathy for Mr. Arafat was based on false information."

As a result of Francisco Gil-White's discovery of important research done by Jared Israel and other journalists at Emperor's Clothes, Gil-White published a documentation of PLO origins, showing that this organization traced its roots to the German Nazi Final Solution which explained why it was chartered to exterminate the Israeli Jews.

Professor Francisco Gil-White was fired for defending the Nation of Israel.

Read Perfidy by Ben Hecht on PDF from Historical and Investigative Research

“A man stood up in Israel.”

Jonathan Pollard

2010-09-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

Netanyahu: Pollard acted as Israeli agent

by Gil Hoffman, Jerusalem Post, June 22, 2010

Jonathan Pollard acted as an agent of the State of Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Tuesday, in reaction to a comment from Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren that was interpreted as suggesting otherwise.
Pollard is in the 25th year of a life sentence for passing classified information to an ally. While Israel initially made a point of distancing itself from him, the government, in May 1998, during Netanyahu’s first term, formally recognized him as an Israeli agent.
Oren appeared to backtrack from this stance in an interview with Washington radio station WTOP that was interpreted by American and Israeli media as suggesting that Pollard had been part of a rogue operation.

“Jonathan Pollard occurred in the mid-1980s,” Oren told the station. “Now, we’re talking about an event that was run by a rogue organization in the Israeli intelligence community. That was, what, 25 years ago?”

Netanyahu: Nobody denies Pollard was an Israeli agent.
Following reports on Army Radio about Oren’s interview, both Netanyahu and the ambassador issued clarifications.

“Pollard worked as an agent of the State of Israel, and no one is trying to deny this,” Netanyahu said in closed conversations.

Israeli Embassy spokesman Jonathan Peled added: “Ambassador Michael Oren wishes to clarify that, in responding to a journalist’s question, he attempted to emphasize that the Pollard incident occurred over 25 years ago by a unit that no longer exists, for which Israel took full responsibility. As has been stated, Mr. Pollard worked for and on behalf of Israel, and the ambassador hopes for his earliest release.”
When asked in a meeting with Jerusalem Post reporters and editors on Monday as to whether he had visited Pollard, Oren appeared to suggest that he intended to travel to the North Carolina prison where he’s incarcerated.

“I have not yet [visited him],” Oren said. When pressed further about whether he would, he repeated, “I have not yet.”Oren added that he was often asked about Pollard and that “he is not forgotten.”

Esther Pollard: Oren's '25-year-old lie' harms Netanyahu.

When Netanyahu was opposition leader in 2007, he visited Pollard in prison and vowed to work for his release, but since he returned to power, he has refused to meet with Pollard’s representatives.

Pollard’s attorneys briefed Oren about the details of his case before his appointment.

Pollard’s wife Esther expressed frustration with Oren’s comments to the Washington radio station, saying Netanyahu’s credibility had been harmed by a “25-year-old lie” uttered by his ambassador in Washington. She said the timing of Oren’s statements had been especially problematic because US President Barack Obama was looking to improve his relationship with Israel and the American Jewish community.

“Michael Oren is seen as very professional, so this couldn’t have been a slip of the tongue,” Esther Pollard said. “Now is the exact time when Netanyahu can make clear to Obama that this gesture of releasing Jonathan would be in order. Instead of laying the ground for that, his ambassador is putting out lies. Congressmen have said that as long as Israel is not asking for Pollard’s release, there is nothing they can do. But if Israel does, they will be there.”

WTOP’s report about Oren’s statement to the radio station included information from a letter Jonathan Pollard wrote in April 1998, before he was recognized as an Israeli agent.

“I did not spend 13 years in prison in order to endorse a lie,” Pollard wrote. “The truth must come out, so that I may be freed. The truth is simple and clear: I was an Israeli agent employed by the LAKAM branch of intelligence in an operation that was fully sanctioned by the government of Israel. Anything less than that is a distortion of the truth that is counterproductive to the goal of securing my release.”

Caroline Glick discusses the plight of Jonathan Pollard with Ari Abramowitz April 17, 2008

Gadaffi the Gadfly Travels to Italy again ...

2010-09-04T17:30:00.000-07:00

Libya's long time leader Gadaffi recently traveled to Italy. This is his fourth time this year visiting Rome. The Libyan Foreign Investment Company is building up a humongous portfolio in Libya and also abroad while some try to play down suspicions on Arab money. This time the Libyan troublemaker ruffled the feathers of Pro-Vatican politicians. And how, pray-tell did Gadaffi do that? Well, he tried his own brand of proselytizing.

According to Yahoo news Premier Silvio Berlusconi hosted a gala evening for Gadaffi.

"With Gadhafi wrapped in white robes, at his side Berlusconi hailed him for signing a friendship treaty exactly two years ago that the Italian called a "model of diplomacy in the era of globalization."

In his two days in Rome, Gadhafi gave lectures on Islam to a few hundred young Italian women recruited by a modeling agency and paid to attend the sessions. Gadhafi handed out copies of the Quran, urged the women to take up Islam, and participants said three young women converted on the spot Sunday.

The women arrived by the busload. Some tottered on high heels and wore dresses with plunging necklines, while at least two were seen wearing Muslim-style veils. Another woman showed off a necklace she was given with a photo of Gadhafi dangling from it.

Left-leaning opposition lawmakers and pro-Vatican politicians in this predominantly Catholic county criticized the government's failure to protest his behavior."

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Libya is making friends all over the place. They granted $1.9 million to Grenada. Will they begin to proselytize like they are doing in Italy? What is going on in the Caribbean anyway? Currently there are 400,000 Muslims living in the Caribbean, many of their ancestors having arrived there as slaves from sub-Africa, who are being radicalized toward Islamic Orthodoxy and stressing reconstructionist 'Arab' roots. Islam is being promoted heavily there as an alternative to Christianity. There is an interesting article that I found by Moishe Terdman that reports on an increasingly growing threat: Radical Islam in the Caribbean Basin: A Local Problem or a Global Threat?

At the same time the drums are a'beating in Arab Land as Nasrallah goes after Gadaffi in a dispute left over from 1978. Then, three Syrians disappeared during an official visit to Libya by official invitation by Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi. Lebanon holds Gadaffi responsible for the three men’s disappearance. Middle Eastern memory is long! What is it about Libya and Arab unity that strikes a chord as unachievable?

After reading the article linked to the previous sentence, I think lots of excess testosterone contribute to the bad boogie between Libya, Egypt, and Syria! Is their common goal to destroy Israel and their hatred of Jews enough to bind them together?

Oh, and as a side note: as for Libya's magnanimous offer to allow two Jews to visit homes in Libya? Thanks an awful big bunch, Gadaffi! That is very 'big' of you! How about lifting your national boycott of Israel and all Jews? And do you think we have forgotten what Gadaffi did after The Six Day War to Libyan's 7,000 Jews?

back to the future

2010-08-18T23:12:00.000-07:00

Robyn Hitchcock

the faceless man

2010-08-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

Creed

Conversations With Naomi: Brian Singer - Armed and Jewish

2010-08-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Recently I met Brian Singer, a modern day American GI who describes himself on Twitter: I'm a US Army NCO interested in liberty, gun rights, Austrian economics and occasionally cooking.

I asked Brian if he had seen any antisemitism during his time in the military. Brian has generously agreed to go on record here to discuss issues relating to being Jewish in the military.

Naomi: What's a nice Jewish boy doing in a place like this? Can you please share what brought you into the US Army and your time line of where you have been?

Brian: Like many Americans, after 9-11, I found myself compelled to take some kind of action. It wasn't so much that I wanted to go to war, but that I saw war coming. I knew a lot of young American men and women would be going off to battle, and I decided I just couldn't stand on the sidelines and not participate. I thought that being ten to fifteen years older than the typical recruit, I might have some knowledge or skills that could possibly help bring a few of them home safely. I didn't join to kill terrorists, or Arabs or anything else, I joined to led a hand, because I just couldn't face the idea of sending so many off to do our dirty work, without contributing something.

Since joining the Army, my eyes have been opened, and I have become much more anti-war. I have no regrets about my decision, but I have come to realize I was somewhat deluded in my motivation.

Naomi: I saw online in the Army Times that you were promoted to Staff Sergeant in January 2009. Would you like to discuss this process? Did being Jewish ever come up at this time?

Brian: First, I was promoted to Sergeant, not Staff Sergeant, and in fact have turned down the opportunity to compete for Staff Sergeant. I don't recall that being Jewish ever came up as part of that process.

Naomi: Can you please share your family background with our readers?

Brian: Well, without going in to the whole history, I was born and raised in northern Minnesota. My parents divorced when I was about two, so I was largely raised by my Mother. My Dad was definitely a part of my life, but this was before the days of joint custody agreements. Anyway, I have one sister who still lives in Minnesota with her husband and two daughters. I've been married since 1993, and have three children: a daughter thirteen, a son fifteen, and a daughter twenty.

Naomi: What “types” of antisemitism have you seen during your time in the US Army stateside? I had seen an article on this subject, and you told me on Twitter that: "Fort Hood actually dedicates chapel time to "Messianic-Jewish" services." Please tell us about this. Do you consider proselytizing as antisemitic behavior?

Brian: Yes, I do consider proselytizing, in the context of the Army to be anti-Semitic. In the private world, no, I don't. The Army Chaplain corps, of which in general, I have an extremely favorable view, is charged with the dual mission of providing spiritual support to the troops, as well as moral and religious guidance to military commanders. Typically, each command, Battalion size and above has a chaplain. Of course, the majority are Christian, but there are a few Rabbis, Muslim clerics and all sorts of other assorted religions represented. In general, Chaplains are there to provide support to soldiers, however they aren't allowed to actively proselytize. Most tend to abide by this. They wouldn't join the Chaplain corps in the first place if they felt this was too much of a burden.

But then we come to the issue of so called Messianic Jews. This really isn't a religion. It's a movement. There are a number of national organizations with a variety of names, but they share a similar purpose: Converting Jews by disguising Christianity in Jewish practice. The fact remains though, that there is one word for a Jew who believes in Jesus as a divine being: A Christian.

The Army doesn't allow any other kind of active religious recruiting on its posts or in its facilities. Yet for some reason, a group that exists for the sole purpose of converting Jews to Christianity through acts of deception, is allowed and sanctioned. I find this objectionable, and it shows a lack of understanding and a lack of respect for Jews in the ranks.

The Army makes a very big deal out of its Equal Opportunity Program (EO) these days. In addition to required quarterly training, the Army sponsors all sorts of group specific events. Asian/Pacific Islander heritage week, Hispanic history month, Black History month, women's history month, and the manuals and regulations even require official acknowledgment of Yom Hashoah. Of course over the last six years I've seen all of the above accept the last celebrated, or acknowledged or whatever term you want to use. Each unit in the Army has a designated EO representative, and I have yet to see one put in any kind of effort to so much as comply with that regulation.

Finally, there's antisemitism in day to day life. While anything that could be remotely interpreted as being racist or sexist can trigger a full blown investigation, I've lost track of the number of times I've heard "Jew you down", "all they care about is money" etc. etc. Often these kinds of remarks can simply be overheard in passing. There have been many times I've confronted other soldiers about such comments, and others where I've simply ignored it and gone on about my business. In my experience, these types of ideas come often out of sheer ignorance. Yet for all the effort that goes in to educating soldiers about racism and sexism, and even cultural awareness of Muslim traditions and practices, I have yet to ever hear the subject of antisemitism addressed in any of these quarterly training sessions I've attended since I've been in. It's as if the Army just doesn't care.

Naomi: What kind of antisemitism have you seen during your time in the US Army overseas? What would you like to say about your time in Iraq?

Brian: Strangely, overseas I haven't experienced it as much. While stationed in Germany, I was given the time to travel down to Landstuhl to attend Jewish services whenever I wanted. Heck, once a full bird colonel who I barely knew, let me sleep on his couch on erev Yom Kippur. In Iraq, I was going to fly to Liberty once for a Seder and my flight got grounded due to a dust storm. My unit was going to put together a convoy to drive me there. I turned this down, as I just couldn't justify putting other peoples' lives at risk just so I could attend a Seder. But I digress... Anyway, I have not experienced anti Semitism in the Army strictly tied to being overseas.

Naomi: What, if anything, do you think can be done to combat anti Jewish sentiment and overt antisemitism in the military?

Education. The Army could do a better job of educating its members about the history of Jews in the Army, and our unique contribution to American history.

Naomi: I read the excellent article that you wrote, posted by J. Neil Schulman that was published by Stars and Stripes after the Fort Hood shootings. Can you please discuss the "gun control" in the military, or what you call “anti-self-defense policy?

Brian: I'm quite proud of that article actually. I think it stands on its own, so quote away. If your readers are interested in why I am so passionate about this issue, I would suggest they look up Jews for The Preservation of Firearms Ownership. This group has done truly unique research in to the connection between victim disarmament and genocide.

Bases’ anti-self-defense policy
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 19, 2009

The tragic results of victim disarmament were made real with the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. If this were a moral and proper world, as soon as the suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, drew his weapon, every person in the building would have had their sights leveled on him.

U.S. military installations’ immoral and unjust anti-self-defense policy disarmed only the victims of this crime. How many more events like this is it going to take before Defense Department officials realize that victim disarmament costs lives and Congress amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to require all civilian and military personnel to be properly armed (meaning not simply carrying an unloaded weapon) while on U.S. military installations?

In many states, citizens choose to be responsible for protecting their own lives and property by arming themselves. It is the ultimate expression of patriotism and good citizenship.

Fort Hood is my home station. It sickens me that when my wife needs to go on post she, too, has to surrender her right to defend herself by going unarmed.

Stateside military installations have become the country’s largest gun-free zones (playgrounds for criminals). How many lives would have been saved on Sept. 11, 2001, if people weren’t stripped of their right to self-defense because they wanted to fly? How many lives would have been saved at Virginia Tech, Columbine and now Fort Hood?

Those who advocate policies that guarantee the criminal class has unfettered access to defenseless, potential victims need to change their tune.

Lawmakers and DOD need to ensure that those of us who took the oath to defend the Constitution have the means available to live up to that oath.

Modifying installation policies and the UCMJ to remove all restrictions on carrying firearms would be a small step in the right direction.

Sgt. Brian Singer
Camp Taji, Iraq

Naomi: Where were you during the Fort Hood tragedy?

Brian: I was in Baghdad.

Naomi: What does it mean to you to be Jewish in the US Military?

Brian: While in Washington, DC, I went to a small museum, that is not very well known, run by America's oldest veteran's group. Yep, Jewish War Veterans is older than the American Legion, the VFW and any others you can think of. Anyway, it's called The National Museum Of American Jewish Military History. They're on the web too, look them up. Anyway, Jews have proudly served in the ranks since the Revolution. My father served in the Army, several uncles and a whole host of other distant relatives. No one in my family has ever made the military a career, but I do see military service an a proud tradition in my family, and the Jewish community as a whole.

Naomi: How does your family feel about your career choice?

Brian: In general, they have been very supportive. The Army has been beneficial in a lot of ways for my family. However, it's come at a pretty high price. In the six and a half years that I've been in the Army, I've just recently come up on a total of two years at home.

Naomi: Will you stay in the Army?

Brian: No. I'll be out of the Army in April.

Naomi: What issues do you see on Twitter that gets your blood boiling?

Brian: Neoconservatives, anti Semites, racists, gay bashers... Pretty much any kind of discrimination just gets to me.

Naomi: Is there a burning issue that you’d like to discuss for further commenting from readers?

Brian: I don't know if this is so much a burning issue, but here goes: As you know, I'm not exactly the world's most politically correct guy. I say what I think. Just as a lot of my ideas about things put me at odds with family and friends, the same is true for the Jewish community. My stance on the evils of gun control is one example. I'm a libertarian, and this doesn't exactly sit real well with many Jews. I think more often than not, American Jews ally themselves with the left politically. So be it.

The issue I'm really trying to bring up is Israel. See, here's my thing: Israel is a state, like any other. I love my own country, and that love drives me to be very critical of it. Same thing goes with Israel. I don't believe that a government is necessarily the same thing as the people who live within the boarders of a given country. So I define myself as a committed Zionist, in the sense that I support the Jewish people being able to act in their own best interests, and to be able to defend their own property rights. That does not mean in any way though that I think the State of Israel is beyond criticism. I mean think about it, that makes as much sense as saying that our own country is beyond criticism. So I tend to get it from both sides. More often than not, when it comes to being critical of Israel, the blogosphere tends to descend rapidly into hatred and conspiracy theories, and I just won't give those people the time of day. On the other hand, it's equally hard to find American Jews who are willing to voice anything but support for the State.

Naomi: Thank you Brian for sharing all of this! Is it o.k. if our readers follow you on Twitter? Brian Singer on Twitter @armedandjewish

Brian: Sure, thanks.

Ani Yehudi: I am a Jew

2010-08-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

I am a Jew: via Shalom Life

How the Jewish Establishment Censors and Dismisses New Jewish Voices

2010-08-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

I recently decided that commenting on other people's blogs would be worthwhile. It was going well as I was having some fun with Sean Linnane's Stormbringer (Retired Special Forces) blog, and others. Then, I noticed that a twitter nemesis, Seth Cohen, had posted something on eJewishPhilanthropy. I decided to buzz over there and check out his writing.

First about Seth Cohen's article which is a whole big to-do about nothing. He blogs about ..." the Need for a New Jewish Philanthropic Narrative..." It seems that by using flowery language, perhaps he thinks his pitch for a new narrative will be attractive. He speaks of ..."the post-biblical history of the Jewish people is a tapestry of narratives..." and ..."If the narrative of our history is what helps sustain us, what about the narrative of the present?"
Seth bemoans about ..."the lack of a contemporary narrative that inspires faith and action can have catastrophic effects on the ability of a people to encounter the challenges of their present and the possibilities of the future." At that point, I decided that I would comment on his piece, but I continued to read the article to see that he began to kvetch about "incremental progress". He says ..."Yes, we are making incremental progress. Yes we are achieving outcomes. But to what end? To justify our requests for increased contributions? To achieve the goals of existing funders?"

Then he starts to wrap it up with ..." We are past the need for only small steps; we need the bold visions and narratives that will radically amaze the Jewish people of the possibilities of their future."

How the Jewish Establishment Censors and Dismisses New Jewish Voices: The commenting begins. I have no doubt in my mind as to what I want to say. I am excited because I am the first person to comment on this high-profile big-deal eJewishPhilantry:

Naomi: Where do you look for these leaders? You say ..."we need the bold visions and narratives that will radically amaze the Jewish people of the possibilities of their future." If you look for leaders in places that say only what people 'want to hear,' and those words ignore the catastrophic lessons of the past and lead to the destruction of a Jewish Israel, then what good will it do? The mainstream Jewish 'philanthropic' community ignores voices of the real truth. But why? In my opinion, The Jewish Federations' truth are tainted by social-climbing and politics. Their sudden overt collaboration with groups like JStreet and New Israel Fund is mind-numbing. Look for amazing leadership in a place that is not so obvious, a place that is growing by leaps and bounds, on its own merit. Look at the Jewish Internet Defense Force.

I decided to sign up for email updates on further comments. At this point I am feeling good. This feeling of contentment is short lived, as I receive an email update for the next comment on Seth's article. To my shock and dismay, this is what came:

Author: Leo Yanowitz
Comment:
Jewish Internet Defense Force? How can we possibly have any faith in a scam-artist who won't even become a public charity so that the money he brings in from hapless old ladies via the Internet can be transparently audited? For all we know this guy is funding his very frequent visits to the gym with donated funds. JIDF? What a joke!

First thing I did was google the name, Leo Yanowitz. Nothing! Does Leo Yanowitz even exist or is he a sock-puppet?

Next up is Fiona, a real person from Perth, Australia, who is on Twitter:

Author: Fiona
Comment:
I second Naomi's thoughts. True leadership both within and outside the Jewish community is hard to find nowadays. When it's found, it's vital to give it our total support.

@Leo Are you jealous of the JIDF's work, his supporters or have you been called out for double standards by him? I'm not hapless, nor am I a little old lady yet I support the JIDF. Why? I've yet to stumble across a man more passionate and committed to his particular cause, eradicating antisemitism online - that is in addition to defending and advocating for Israel, Jews and Judaism. He takes risks in calling people out for their double standards or hypocrisy, risks that others in the same sphere are too afraid to make.

As for the money, you know what? David can spend my subscription on a night at the pub, buying breakfast, going to the gym, paying a bill, or whatever he bloody well pleases. I wasn't cooerced into supporting him and his fantastic work. I freely made the choice and I made it knowing he could and should do what he wants with the funds because my support helps him to continue to do what he does and he does a damn fine job of it.

I feel my money is well spent with the JIDF, knowing it might be spent on a beer rather than go into the coffers of a large corporate slush fund for hypocritical dimwits to spend on new carpets. You'll find David's supporters are as stubborn as he is so it might be an idea to throw your criticisms elsewhere.

The next commenter is David Appletree, the founder of the Jewish Internet Defense Force:

Author: David Appletree
Comment:
Naomi and Fiona - thank you, as always for your kind words and support.

For the record, I'm not a "scam artist" and if I lived solely off money the JIDF brings in at this point, I'd be living well beneath the poverty line.

That said, there are many Jewish "leaders" in the organized community who are bringing in well over 6 figures for their work, which involves neglecting some of the major issues I've been trying to fight and expose. Does Leo care where people like Abe Foxman and William Daroff spend the money they bring in from their endeavors? What has the ADL done to fight antisemitism and jihadist online content? Do you realize what the JIDF would do if we had their money and resources? I've discussed it in great detail on the radio and all over the JIDF website.

Furthermore, there are many reasons in which I have publicly discussed and outlined as to why the JIDF is not an official non-profit at this point. If Leo was at all interested in the truth of the matter (as opposed to spreading lies), he'd investigate those reasons.

The next commenter is another unknown entity, who calls themselves "A Young Jewish Professional," and speaks directly to David Appletree. If I had to venture a guess as to who it is? I'd guess it is someone that is at large on Twitter. There are many clues to his/her identity which I will be exploring further:

Author: A Young Jewish Professional
Comment:
David,

I could use all sorts of bots and autofollow tools to grow a list of 50,000 Twitter followers too. And like your followers, the vast majority would be completely disinterested in my content, following only for the potential follow-back, and not at all engaging with my brand or services in any meaningful capacity. At the end of the day, a list of Twitter followers is an irrelevant metric.

Same goes for your Facebook followers. What do your engagement numbers look like is a better question. On Facebook, you have 35,000 followers and at best 100 of them engaging with your content on any given day. That's 0.28%. If that's what you call success, you have no idea what success looks like.

How many of your actions have been successful? And how important are your targets? You think getting people to vote in an online poll counts for anything relevant or meaningful? You think getting people to file complaints against an offensive Facebook page is going to make a difference in the world? You think getting your friends Naomi Litvin and Noah David Simon to harass everyone you disagree with on Twitter makes one iota of difference in this world? More so than the work of Bill Daroff or Abe Foxman? Who are you kidding?

Never mind that the vast majority of tweets written to JIDF are either from the same five sycophants, or from people you initiated unsolicited contact with who vociferously disagree with your rabid right-wing politics.

At the end of the day, you've achieved nothing more than to co-opt the word Jewish to represent the worst possible emanations of hatred in the Jewish community and furthered the anti-Semitic impression that Jews are quick to censor any and all speech that makes them uncomfortable. How you can even imagine yourself to be even mildly significant and worthy of the mantle of Jewish leadership is an anathema.

In the meantime, yasher koach Seth on a thoughtful and thought provoking article. It's a shame these idiots had to steal the show by using it as an opportunity to self-promote their garbage.

At this point, I received an email update from the editor of eJewish Philanthropy, who has put his foot down on further comments.

Author: Dan Brown
Comment:
editorial note: Seth's post is not a place for a discussion on the pro and cons of JIDF, or the individuals involved. Further reader comments will not be approved unless they remain on-target to the original post.

I had already posted a comment in retort to A Young Jewish Professional, but it was obvious that the editor was not going to post my comment, which said this:

Naomi: To: A Young Jewish Professional,
Why can't you sign your name?
Look, all I did in this discourse was to voice my opinion against mainstream Jewish "leadership" and suggest that The Jewish Internet Defense Force should be looked at. Seth suggested in his article that we look at bold visions and narratives, and that is the way I see the work that David Appletree has done in the last few years.
Obviously, you haven't spent time on www.thejidf.org website.
What is wrong with questioning the relationships that the JFNA, ADL, NIF, JStreet and the others that are collecting huge amount of money from the public and collecting six-figure salaries?
You can call us garbage if you want, but we are fellow Jews. There is "no show" to steal, by the way. You are running scared and it is alarmingly obvious. Why don't you try dealing directly with David Appletree instead of attacking his numbers?
It's not about numbers, it's about the truth and the survival of Israel and the Jewish people.

I then replied to Dan Brown:

Naomi: That's fine, but in the meantime "A young professional" wrote a horrible reply about me which I'd appreciate you taking down.

I wrote to David Appletree and asked for his help. I explained the entire situation to him. I awaited his reply.

Naomi: I owe you a huge apology for commenting on Seth's article and embroiling you in this hideous debate.

Shortly thereafter I received an email from David:

David: Don't worry about anything. You don't owe me an apology.

All is good.

Then David wrote me again, and included a screencap of his comments, which were awaiting moderation:

David: Here's my comments and if they are going to censor our comments in response to the attacks against us, then they should remove the attacks. It's a shame eJewish Philanthropy is not being fair in this regard and is engaging in stifling discussion and debate, as well as censorship. If they have a problem with people mentioning "JIDF" on their website, then they should remove all commenting.... JIDF is related to Seth's piece about a new narrative that is needed within Jewish organizational structures. eJewish Philanthropy apparently wishes to censor that new narrative that is already happening.

Of course, a direct request from David Appletree resulted in all of the comments being taken off of Seth Cohen's article.

The irony, and main point here is that Seth is talking about new narratives in his article, while the JIDF is in the midst of creating a new one. Meanwhile, that new narrative is censored, dismissed, and ostracized by the Jewish establishment (which is what J Philanthropy site represents).

The Jewish establishment feels threatened and they are envious of the explosive growth of the JIDF, especially in so little time.

According to David Appletree: ..." How is it that our online presence is so massive, despite the fact that we're so new and do this on virtually no budget? What is it that the JIDF is doing right, that they are doing wrong? Why are the big Jewish organizations so incapable of tapping into the excitement of Jewish online youth?

I believe the real answer to these questions is that they really do not care. They are about maintaining the status quo, pretending that they actually do stuff, spinning things to make it appear that they actually do, and trying to hold onto their power."

I will continue to comment on other people's blogs. I know that David and The Jewish Internet Defense Force has my back.

Righteous Gentiles and The Leica Freedom Train

2010-08-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

There were many little known righteous Gentiles, which is the phrase used for those non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews before and during the Holocaust.

Sir Martin Gilbert, Winston Churchill's official biographer, wrote the foreword for my book We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust and Love Story. Among the eighty-some incredible books that he has written, is an outstanding book on righteous Gentiles entitled The Righteous.

And today, I head another story: The Leica Freedom Train, a rescue effort in which hundreds of Jews were smuggled out of Nazi Germany by Ernst Leitz of the Leica Camera company, and his daughter Elsie Kuehn-Leitz.

"The Leica is the pioneer 35mm camera. It is a German product - precise, minimalist, and utterly efficient. Behind its worldwide acceptance as a creative tool was a family-owned, socially oriented firm that, during the Nazi era, acted with uncommon grace, generosity and modesty. E. Leitz Inc., designer and manufacturer of Germany's most famous photographic product, saved its Jews. And Ernst Leitz II, the steely-eyed Protestant patriarch who headed the closely held firm as the Holocaust loomed across Europe, acted in such a way as to earn the title, "the photography industry's Schindler."

As soon as Adolf Hitler was named chancellor of Germany in 1933, Ernst Leitz II began receiving frantic calls from Jewish associates, asking for his help in getting them and their families out of the country. As Christians, Leitz and his family were immune to Nazi Germany's Nuremberg laws, which restricted the movement of Jews and limited their professional activities.

To help his Jewish workers and colleagues, Leitz quietly established what has become known among historians of the Holocaust as "the Leica Freedom Train," a covert means of allowing Jews to leave Germany in the guise of Leitz employees being assigned overseas. Employees, retailers, family members, even friends of family members were "assigned" to Leitz sales offices in France, Britain, Hong Kong and the United States.

Leitz's activities intensified after the Kristallnacht of November 1938, during which synagogues and Jewish shops were burned across Germany. Before long, German "employees" were disembarking from the ocean liner Bremen at a New York pier and making their way to the Manhattan office of Leitz Inc.where executives quickly found them jobs in the photographic industry.

Each new arrival had around his or her neck the symbol of freedom: a new Leica.

The refugees were paid a stipend until they could find work. Out of this migration came designers, repair technicians, salespeople, marketers and writers for the photographic press. Keeping the story quiet.

The "Leica Freedom Train" was at its height in 1938 and early 1939, delivering groups of refugees to New York every few weeks. Then, with the invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, Germany closed its borders. By that time, hundreds of endangered Jews had escaped to America, thanks to the Leitzes' efforts. How did Ernst Leitz II and his staff get away with it?
Leitz, Inc. was an internationally recognized brand that reflected credit on the newly resurgent Reich. The company produced range-finders and other optical systems for the German military. Also, the Nazi government desperately needed hard currency from abroad, and Leitz's single biggest market for optical goods was the United States.

Even so, members of the Leitz family and firm suffered for their good works. A top executive, Alfred Turk, was jailed for working to help Jews and freed only after the payment of a large bribe.

Leitz's daughter, Elsie Kuhn-Leitz, was imprisoned by the Gestapo after she was caught at the border, helping Jewish women cross into Switzerland. She eventually was freed but endured rough treatment in the course of questioning. She also fell under suspicion when she attempted to improve the living conditions of 700 to 800 Ukrainian slave laborers, all of them women, who had been assigned to work in the plant during the 1940s. (After the war, Kuhn-Leitz received numerous honors for her humanitarian efforts, among them the Officier d'honneur des Palms Academic from France in 1965 and the Aristide Briand Medal from the European Academy in the 1970s.)

Why has no one told this story until now? According to the late Norman Lipton, a freelance writer and editor, the Leitz family wanted no publicity for its heroic efforts. Only after the last member of the Leitz family was dead did the "Leica Freedom Train" finally come to light."

Frank Dabba Smith, who spent fifteen years researching Leitz’s role in Jewish emigration from Nazi Germany.

Famous relatives: Jerome Lettvin first to utter expletive on TV: 1967 debate with Timothy Leary

2010-08-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

Every family has its legends. My father's family, known as the Litvin/Lettvin clan includes Jerome Lettvin, who is the nephew of my paternal grandfather, Baruch Litvin, known as the Mechitza Warrior from Mount Clemens, Michigan, who took his case for keeping our shule Orthodox to the Michigan Supreme Court.

"Legal battles were fought in the 1950s in America, as Jews used the civil courts to force one or the other practice. One of the most famous cases was the Mount (Mt.) Clemens case, in which one man, Baruch Litvin, sued his congregation for depriving him of his rights by changing the seating to mixed pews. The court ruled in his favor and the mehitzah remained. This case was an important element in the hardening of the Orthodox position. Litvin collected various rabbinic sources, statements, and responsa in the book, The Sanctity of the Synagogue. Though Orthodox responsa forbidding mixed pews had been written before, after the publication of Litvin's volume, all Orthodoxy became defined by this one practice. Today, an Orthodox congregation is largely defined by the presence of a partition." from Mehitzah: Separate Seating in the Synagogue by Dr. Norma Joseph.

But I should get back to my Zeide's nephew, second cousin Jerry, who is Jerome Lettvin (born Chicago, February 23, 1920.) Jerry is a distinguished cognitive scientist and professor Emeritus of Electrical and Bioengineering and Communications Physiology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT.) What he is best known for in our family, is that he was first person to utter an expletive (bullshit) on television, during his famous debate with acid-head Timothy Leary. Leary, infamous for coining the phrase "Turn on, tune in, drop out." Here is the part of that debate.

Libya Jewish leader goes home

2010-07-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have a secret friend. He is Libyan. We communicate through Twitter DM (Direct Message). I was suspicious of his motivations in the beginning and feared him. Over time, I have learned that he is a caring family man with a soft spot for the Jewish people. I won't mention his name here, so that he doesn't suffer any backlash from enemies of Israel. Today he sent me some hopeful news that Libya may be softening on their stand toward Jewish people, at least as far as visiting the country. Here is what was published today on Middle East Online, among other anti-Israel news. This is likely a puff piece and propaganda, but what is important here, and poignant, is what one Libyan man, who dares to be different, said after I asked him if it was a recent story:

"Yes, this was only last week. Just wait and you will see dramatic changes, well as we say " blood never turn to water," our beloved Libyan Jews will get back and be compensated for every thing. I'm happy for this. P.S. The departure was on 1967 before Gad'dafi came 2 power 1969."

Libya: Jewish leader goes home

Raphael Luzon takes mother, sister to visit birthplace in Benghazi after decades of exile.

TRIPOLI - A Libyan Jewish community leader who visited his birthplace for the first time since being forced to flee in 1967 said on Friday it felt like he was living a dream.

Raphael Luzon, who was driven out after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and now lives in London, visited his birthplace of Benghazi, 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) east of Tripoli, with his sister and 83-year-old mother.

"We visited Benghazi and met our loved ones amid tears and great longing for friends we have never forgotten," said Luzon. It felt like he was "in a dream."

Luzon, who also met several Libyan officials during the visit, said he regretted not having had the chance to hold talks with the country's leader Moamer Gaddafi.

Libya's Jewish population, numbering tens of thousands, shrunk after the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. Most of the estimated 7,000 remaining Jews were evacuated after the 1967 war following anti-Jewish riots.

Gaddafi has said he would be willing to compensate Jews who left behind their properties in Libya.

"All the Jewish community (living abroad) is waiting for my return so I can tell them about the results of this visit," Luzon said, adding that he plans to make another return to Libya.

"All the Libyan Jews living in Palestine and Europe and America, and there are 110,000 Jews of them, yearn for Libya and wish to return, or just to visit," he said.

Krupp Trial and Nazi Clemency

2010-07-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

My mother was a slave in the Krupp Ammunition Factory 1944 - 1945. Search inside my book and purchase it here > We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story. Available also on Kindle.

Blog soup turns poisonous

2010-07-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

Eager to prove myself and succumbing to flattery, I became a blogger with David Horowitz' NewsRealBlog. The entire story is not that complicated. I knew David Swindle from Twitter and was following him because he is an editor for David Horowitz. One day I received an email from Swindle, with an offer.

These exchanges between Swindle and me took place between May 27, 2010 and July 27, 2010.

May 27, 2010

Swindle: Email if you're interested in doing posts on Israel/Anti-Semitism issues for NewsRealBlog.

May 28, 2010

Naomi: Wonderful to connect with you on Twitter! Thanks for inquiring, yes; I would be honored to write some original material on Israel/Anti-Semitism for NRB. Please let me know the protocol...

Swindle: Hi Naomi, Yes, wonderful to connect with you too...I suggest posts on issues related to Israel and anti-Semitism because those seem to be issues you're especially engaged with but I wouldn't necessarily limit you to those subjects. (I've also been wanting to get more coverage defending Israel and challenging/explaining anti-Semitism.) So if you want to get out your perspective on these issues from a platform larger than your blog and twitter account then we might be a good fit for you.

Regarding compensation, right now my freelance budget is full, however if your posts were especially good and got higher-than-normal traffic then I'd consider promoting you to a paid contributor if space opens up...

I was thrilled, excited! I notified all my relatives and friends. I sent David Appletree from @JIDF a direct message telling him I had some news. I told David Appletree that I would be blogging for NewsRealBlog. Without hesitation he replied to me that Horowitz was a fraud. I was stunned. Of course, I wanted to believe David, and I should have. (I found out later, that David had blogged about Horowitz being inept back in March of 2009.) David from the JIDF had been advising me, and helping me for a whole year. I was ready to strike out on my own and at the time my ego took control, wanting this success to a serious extent. Even though I had my own blog going pretty well, I needed more traffic. My book sales had stalled. I was unwilling to heed David's advice. I wanted recognition and was convinced this was right. Honestly, my motivation was financial, as I hoped to make some income which my mother, a Holocaust survivor needed desperately, in order for us to stay in her home. I was so wrong.

Later, on the JIDF site, I was to read Horowitz' 2008 tax return and discover how much money he and his cohorts brought in in 2008 and the huge salaries that he and his family were on. As you will see, I was shocked to find out that they did not intend to pay me. In the end, I was not to make a penny from this endeavor. But let's get back to the sequence of events.

I sent my first article to Swindle and got this response. Wow, I was getting great feedback!

May 29, 2010

Swindle: This is excellent. I adore your prose style. You have a great voice... The only thing that I would suggest for future posts is to generally shoot for as current as possible. Try and jump on discussions, debates, and news items from the last week. But I'll bend on this because the subject you're writing about wasn't widely reported, it's related to the recent video of David Horowitz and Genocide Girl, and it's so well-written.

Naomi: ...I am trying to take this all in! Thank you for the stunning compliment! I need to send you a book. Do you want one? Just need your postal address, if so.
Thank you for this amazing chance to be a 'voice.' ...

I offered Swindle a book, so that he would include my book, We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story on the NewsRealBlog book club, which he accepted and then did include on the site.

May 30, 2010

Swindle: Yes, please do send your book. Here's the address for the Freedom Center...

I'm eager to see more posts from you. As I said your prose style really struck me as engaging and that's something we don't get enough of. I'm really more interested in interesting, lively, creative voices than just wonks who can hammer out the boilerplate conservative position on an issue.

More compliments on my writing came from Swindle.

Swindle: Scheduled for the post to close out the day and also so it will go out in tomorrow morning's email blast! I'm LOVING your writing!!!!!!!!!!

I offered to interview Swindle for my column, Conversations With Naomi. During the interview process, I discovered how he had gone from being a 'leftie' to a Horowitz disciple. In his own words he described himself as a Horowitzian Conservative and stated that his central political influence is David Horowitz. He offered plenty of documentation on his conversion to the Horowitz way of thinking. I was surprised to find that he had been raised as a born-again Christian. We cross-posted Conversations With Naomi: David Swindle on both my site and his.

One day soon after this I was doing my typical Fly On The Wall schtick when I saw Debbie Schlussel's article
from August 20, 2009, entitled Et Tu, Front Page Mag?: Site That Preaches Against Jihad Whitewashes Jihadi Comrade Robert Novak; More Right-Wing Whitewashing

I became alarmed. My spine began to tingle. I admire Debbie Schlussel very much. Besides being from Detroit, my old stomping grounds, the area I grew up in, Debbie's grandparents are Shoa survivors (so is my mother). I don't have to meet her to know the menschette that she is. She is fearless and intellectually honest. Her writing is totally original. She is not just a rehasher of news, like Scamella Geller. People that hate her actually fear her, because they don't have the guts to admit that they may be what she is writing about. She is a role model to me. So what if she is direct and to the point? That's part of her appeal, and what makes her great. That and the fact that she is an attorney, has worked undercover in a den of Muslims and survives threats, stalking, and living near Dearbornistan.

So I wrote to Swindle:

June 05, 2010

Naomi: Have you seen this? And can you translate it to me? Schlussel slices up FrontPageMag... in regards to this (FrontPageMag's Robert Novak obituary.)

By the way, as far as I am concerned all 'agreements' are off and as you will see further down in this story, Swindle's behavior toward me has made it impossible to honor his request to not release the following email. (This is not exactly Wikileaks but I do expect some repercussions.)

June 05, 2010

Swindle: The contents of this email are for your eyes only. I don't want anything I'm about to say forwarded to anyone else or posted online. (Not that you would, but me saying that should give you an idea of the seriousness.)

You're concerned because Debbie Schlussel is friends with your friend David who runs the JIDF. Am I right? And now you see that she's taken some rather brutal shots at David Horowitz and your new friends at the Freedom Center. And you're curious as to an explanation. (*Naomi: You'd better believe I was.)

Last year FPM ran an obituary of Robert Novak written by Jacob Laksin and published by Jamie Glazov. The obituary did not rake Novak over the coals for his blindness on the issues of Israel and Islamofascist terrorism. David was unaware of the obituary -- newsflash to many people: he does not read every single article at FPM or every blog post at NRB. When he did become aware of it after several people complained he assigned John Perazzo to write a piece about Novak's moral blindness which we ran a week later. (*Naomi: I say, too little too late.)

To a sane person this would not be an issue. But you see, Debbie isn't exactly sane. She took this as an opportunity to engage in one of her favorite past times: attacking conservatives in the harshest terms for no reason other than to make a name for herself and satisfy whatever spiritual/emotional emptiness lurks within her soul. She has a long history of doing this. In the past year she's also attacked -- completely unjustly -- Sean Hannity and Steven Crowder... (*Naomi: How dare Swindle psychoanalyze Debbie, when he has no idea what he is talking about? And readers: note Debbie exposed Hannity's fake charity scam and Crowder's false videos)

So basically we've adopted a policy of ignoring her. (I've had some interactions with her too and she's been very, very rude to me about all this.) In choosing one's political allies there's a question more important than "what do they believe?" There's also the question, "Are they sane?" So it doesn't really matter that she's "on our side" when it comes to Israel and Jihad. She does more harm than good.

I wrote back to Swindle, with what I now regret to say could be interpreted as an appeasing email. I am sincerely sorry that I did, and to be intellectual honest about the situation I must disclose my confusion at this point. Remember, reader, that Swindle was shmoozing me big-time. I kept asking myself, "How do professional writers juggle their alliances?"

Naomi to Swindle: As far as who are my friends, well, I'm not exactly sure on that, and have had some reaction to my new association with NRB from relatives and friends. But please let me clarify that my life is totally separate and different from what may appear on twitter. I have been on a political and ideological journey since writing my book, somewhat similar to yours... I want to be a free-lance writer, independent of undue influence, think for myself, and associate with intelligent and sane people. I hope to continue our newfound discourse, friendship.

O.K., I admit I fell off the wagon. I was a little drunk with the future possibilities. It was a big slip. I am human, after all. With that said, my spine was still tingling when soon after I became witness to some high drama on Twitter between @daveswindle and @JIDF. Soon after, it started getting ugly.

June 17, 2010

Swindle: JIDF picked a fight with me ... I don't have time for that kind of childishness. Israel is under assault and a second Holocaust is being planned. I stopped following him and blocked him. So just a warning that he might give you some gruff about blogging for NRB. But I'd sincerely like you to continue.

I tried to tell Swindle to deal directly with Appletree.

Naomi: Would you please consider speaking to him directly on the phone?

Swindle: He and I did connect. But then he decided to pick a fight with me because Jenn Q Public retweeted two tweets critical of Debbie Schlussel. The whole thing just seems really childish and immature. It's like he just wanted some drama to amuse himself. We're not in junior high any more and the defense of Israel isn't a game.

June 20, 2010

Swindle: I blocked JIDF because after trying to reason with him he remained insulting and unreasonable. I'm very busy and I do not have time for the kind of junior high drama that he and Debbie Schlussel are engaging in. I'm interested in defending Israel and fighting anti-Semitism, not playing his games. JIDF is mad at me because I did not abuse my authority as editor to try and strong arm Jenn Q. Public into apologizing to him and Debbie for retweeting two tweets. Because of that he refuses to be involved with NRB and he now spends his time trashing me, NRB, David Horowitz, and Robert Spencer. How is that good for Israel and the Jewish people? How is this an effective use of our time? It's not, thus, I've chosen to disengage from him. Sorry, but John Hawkins and Jenn Q. Public carry a lot more weight with me than him and Debbie Schlussel. John is a big supporter of NRB and a partner with us. Jenn is one of my editors and a longtime blogger for us. I've never gotten a single link from either JIDF or Debbie. (*Naomi: That's because JIDF and Debbie Schlussel are too intelligent to link to the NRB insanity.) I don't really understand why you'd want to stand with Debbie. She has this game of violently attacking fellow conservatives as though they were leftists, calling the employers of bloggers who are critical of her, threatening people with legal action, and using disgusting rhetoric (calling women she doesn't like "fat hookers" and calling people anti-Semites who clearly aren't.) (*Naomi: I stand with Debbie because of her integrity.)

David Horowitz was not aware of the Robert Novak article until after it ran -- and he doesn't agree with it. (Maybe Debbie doesn't know this because she doesn't really write for publications anymore it seems like, but Editors-In-Chief generally don't read every single article that their publications publish.) The response from reasonable people was to email to him saying, "Hey, this article doesn't talk about Novak's anti-Semitism." He responded by assigning John Perazzo to write a FULL ARTICLE about the subject. The response from unreasonable people is to write an article attacking David Horowitz and attacking FrontPageMagazine and saying that no one should read us. How is that good for Israel and the Jewish people to try and delegitimize FrontPage Magazine and the Freedom Center? (*Naomi: It wouldn't have killed Horowitz to pull that Novak/Laskin article down. It is just silly ego that keeps him from pulling it.)

But I'm not concerned about Debbie or JIDF, I'm concerned about you. Are you still going to write for us? I like you a lot and don't care if you want to be friends with JIDF and Schlussel. Because I'm a bit perplexed by this tweet: @JIDF I do feel a bit like a pawn, like a 'token' Jewess. Still I think @daveswindle is a nice boy.... You are aware that you're not the only Jew or the only female Jew writing for NRB aren't you? How are you a token? (*Naomi: Your concern about me is not believable. How much is Horowitz paying you and April?)

Naomi: ...After reading Calvin, anti-abortionist on NRB, I started questioning whether I could handle being a blogger on your site. Then my mom got sick and that always skewed my perspective. She is better now.

I am a staunch conservative on Israel, but do not want to be associated with insane anti-abortionists that also have fetus avatars, post surgical tools images, and such maniacal thinking. It feels like they have a strong platform on NRB, I'm not sure I want to be on a team with them.

The whole twitter drama, yes, it got carried away and I am sorry. I need to take a step back from the whole insanity. Raw emotion on twitter, NOT GOOD! I have been evolving this last year, since I published my book - as a blogger. But I want to be my own person. My objective is to sell books and advocate for Israel. I have my own blog and if blogging for others doesn't translate into book sales or paid blogs, then I'm wondering, what's the point? At what point would I be paid for blogging for NRB?

Swindle: Hey Naomi,

1. If you don't want to get into fights with the socially conservative bloggers on the site then don't get into them. The thing about NRB is we have the whole spectrum of conservatism. We've got pro-life people, pro-choice people, pro-gay marriage people, anti-gay marriage people. I mean you want to know why that whole abortion debate happened? Because David Horowitz saw Calvin's headline and was like, "I don't want our people using that kind of rhetoric." (*Naomi: Why, did he actually read an article on NRB?) Well, the problem is that that kind of rhetoric is mainstream within the conservative movement. It's not out of line to say abortion is murder. So instead I challenged Calvin in debate and discussion on the issue. But if you don't want to be on a team with social conservatives then you're basically saying that you don't want to be a part of the Conservative Movement. (*Naomi: I didn't say that. I just don't want to be defined by NewsRealBlog.) I don't agree with the social cons on things like abortion and gay marriage. But I do agree with them on foreign policy and economics -- and that's what matters. When the Left and the Islamists are beaten then maybe there won't need to be this libertarian-social conservative alliance like there is now. But that day isn't here yet.

2. What does David want me to budge on? I'm not going to discipline Jenn Q. Public for her retweets. She didn't do anything wrong and I'm not responsible for what she does on Twitter. This whole practice of going to somebody's boss because you don't like what they're doing online -- which he seemed to have learned from Debbie -- is really repugnant. He's the one asking me to do something; I've made no requests of him. (*Naomi: I'd really like to speak with your supervisor.)

3. You could be paid for blogging for NRB when your posts are solid and ready to go right away and when your posts start consistently generating higher-than-usual traffic. I have a limited freelance budget and need to invest it in people who will help really grow and build the publication. If someone writes a post and it gets 200 or 300 page views then that's not really worth $20 (which is what we typically pay for our paid featured posts) If someone keeps getting 2000 page views a post then they probably are worth $20 a post. We also do flat rate agreements where perhaps I'd agree to $50 a week in exchange for a minimum of 2 featured posts and at least 2 shorter twog posts. It all depends on the value that you bring to the publication. And I measure that value in traffic.
So what do you want to do? (*Naomi: Gee, 20 bucks? How much is Horowitz and Spencer making? $500,000 per year each?)

Naomi: I know, I didn't need to pick a fight with Calvin! What was I thinking? (*Naomi: That was sarcasm)... I need to back out of this conflict! Maybe I could generate that kind of traffic at some point but wow, don't think I am there yet... What do you mean, "What do I want to do?"

Swindle: You can try and back out of the conflict. I got dragged into it. I intentionally avoid saying anything but David had to confront me on it. I'd be surprised if he lets you slink away from it. I think he'll probably force you to choose between being a friend of his and being a friend of mine and an NRB contributor. I could be wrong, though. Anyone is capable of generating that kind of traffic if they pick their topics well, package their posts effectively, and promote their posts at the right places. It's not who you are it's what you do... What I meant by "What do you want to do?" is "You still want to write for NRB, right?"

July 6, 2010

I received a series of tweets from Swindle to me, some of them were manipulative:

@nlitvin He was mad at me because I would not fire/discipline @jennqpublic because of her anti-DS retweets.

@nlitvin Will u still blog for me and be part of my publication? Will u still be a friend even if JIDF thinks I'm an anti-Semite?

@nlitvin That's very hurtful that you would end a friendship and alliance over that. I take that personally.

@nlitvin Why can't I help but think this has something to do with you choosing loyalty to someone else on Twitter?

@nlitvin :-(

I admit that I deleted my tweets replying back to Swindle. So what? That just makes me smarter than him. This was getting too strange, even for me. I was realizing that I needed to pull out from NewsRealBlog. There was more bothering me than the 'debate' between Appletree and Swindle. I also didn't like the tone of some of the extreme right wingers on NRB. I had commented on one guy's lunatic rantings and images on anti-abortion that sounded absolutely dangerous to me. That opened a Pandora's box. He commented back and then started following me on Intense Comments. Yikes, what had I gotten myself into here?

More on that day:

Swindle: You can disagree with David Horowitz's decision not to delete/pull an FPM lead story that was written without his knowledge. That's fine. But are you still going to be an ally of mine and one of my writers who I help build up and promote? (I'm trying to build up my team of bloggers to defend American and Israel and I want you on it.) Are even if not, are you going to remain a friend? I like you -- you have a good soul (and those are in short supply) -- and am eager to read your book...

July 07, 2010

Swindle: What'd I do?

Now you're not following me any more... I thought we were still friends. But we can't be because JIDF doesn't approve of me because Horowitz didn't pull an article and because Jenn Q. Public retweeted two tweets and I wouldn't discipline her or force her to apologize to him?

Can we talk? I've got your number from the card you left in my copy of the book you sent me. You can call me, too. I really don't understand how you don't like the tone of my bloggers but you do like the very aggressive tone of JIDF and Schlussel... That doesn't make sense to me.

Then more:

Swindle: Doesn't this kind of prove my point? http://twitpic.com/23axcg

He thinks that anyone that crosses him is "undermining his work" which is therefore helping out the Islamic Nazis, ergo to not support him is to hurt Israel. He says that I'm behaving like an anti-Semite. How? By pointing out what's abundantly clear to anyone who's observed his behavior on twitter? Do you see how this devalues the concept of anti-Semitism to such an absurd degree? ANYONE who in any way undermines his work in his mind is an anti-Semite. (*How can Swindle make such a hasty generalization and say such a damning, stupid remark saying that anyone disagreeing with David Appletree is anti-Semitic? That is just another absolute lie.)

How is this productive in defending Israel to create and stir up this kind of twitter drama? Look, it's clear that he won't let you be friends with me. So I'm just going to back away from all this. Whatever makes you happy, Naomi. But you can always give me a call.. Best of luck to you in your writing career.

I wrote back to Swindle:

Naomi: First, no one is my 'boss.' Second: it was clear to me last night that you were stirring it all up and I felt like a pawn. I am really sick about this. None of it is about being happy, that's for sure. I'll call you when things cool down.

Then he wrote:

Swindle: Stirring it up? Stirring what up? A pawn? A pawn in what? I'm not playing some game here.

It's simple, just as I expected: he's making you choose between being his friend and being mine. I'm not forcing you to make that choice. He is. What does that say about him?

I made my decision, and finally directly asked to be taken off NewsRealBlog.

July 26, 2010

Naomi: Dear David, Can you please remove the five posts that I did for NewsRealBlog?
I don't want to be a blogger for your site and prefer that those posts come down.
Thank you.

Swindle: Have I somehow insulted or disrespected you?

Naomi: It's not about you and me, it's about Novak, Condell, Geller and some of the other bloggers that I don't want to be associated with.

I see that you have denied me to delete them myself, so I am asking you, please just take them down.

Swindle: You'd rather be associated with someone kind like Debbie Schlussel who called a kind soul like Lisa Graas a "dumbass" last night? That's who you'd rather be associated with? This is the person you admire? (*Naomi: Yes, I would like to be associated with Debbie Schlussel because I respect her work.)

I don't really understand your reasoning here. Because NRB and FPM has in some way supported individuals who have deviated from pro-Israel orthodoxy you don't want your posts appearing here anymore. Could I have a list of the "true" supporters of Israel and anti-Jihad warriors so I know who I'm allowed to publish, link to, or say nice things about? Is there ANYONE on that list apart from JIDF and Debbie Schlusssel? Because I bet any name you could give me has somehow violated their code of conduct by saying something nice about someone who isn't a pure saint when it comes to Israel.

I'm willing to take your posts down, Naomi. I'm just wishing you could stop and think about all this for yourself instead of just marching in lockstep behind JIDF and Debbie.

Ronald Reagan said it best: an 80% friend is not a 20% enemy. We cannot defeat Israel's enemies if we hold people to a ludicrous standard where they can never make a mistake or never hold a bad idea (*Naomi: The dude is quoting Ronald Reagan to me? ugh.)

So we're not friends or allies any more, right?

Naomi: I don't understand why you don't think I have a mind of my own. Besides having my own book and my own blog, where I can publish whatever I want and moderate the comments, I can think on my own and make my own decisions. I have told you initially, when I first got involved with NRB, that I was concerned about the Novak/Laksin article. Then when I got into it with Calvin and realized what type of radical right wing pro-abortion people you have there, I started to become alarmed. I never liked Pamela Geller, she ignored me when I tweeted her a couple of times re: bit.ly. It didn't have anything to do with Debbie Schlussel. In fact, Debbie doesn't even follow me on twitter.

As time went on and I have become more educated as to the dollars that Horowitz collects for his 'non-profit' and the salaries that he, Spencer get, I became more alarmed. You are on salary, I understand why you may do what you do.

You are wrong to judge me as blindly following other people's orders. This conversation is over.

I let another day pass and he still did not remove my blogs and profile from NewsRealBlog. That was the last straw.

July 27, 2010

On Twitter:

Naomi: Have you taken care of the business that we discussed on email?

Swindle: What business was that? As I recall you put the conversation on hold so I did not do

anything yet.

Swindle: (second tweet) If we have anything more to discuss then you can always email me.

Then back to email:

Swindle: I'm sorry that you don't like what you see when I hold up a mirror.

1. Can you show me one blog post you've done in which you've publicly disagreed with JIDF and Schlussel? Then it might seem as though you're thinking for yourself instead of just following their lead.

2. Calvin is not a "radical right wing pro-abortion" person. His view that abortion is murder and should be a crime is held by a third of the country. In fact I think Schlussel even has that position, though I could be wrong.

3. You're alarmed that the heads of conservative organizations and their senior people are often well compensated? The DHFC isn't particularly different than any other left or right-wing organization in this regard. Do you know how much the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute pay their people? Do JIDF and Schlussel -- who you probably got the questionable figures from -- know?

I just want to understand just why you don't want your posts that you donated to us to appear on the site. And I find it interesting that this request comes hot on the heels of JIDF publishing an attack on NRB, David Horowitz, me and Pat Condell. So it seems that you don't want your work appearing on a blog that also features the work of people who are not perfect on Israel or who have ever made a mistake in publishing an article. Is that the case? You don't want to ever write for a publication that has in any way supported a person who's not a saint on Israel? (*Naomi: I donated articles to NRB? I don't think so! They were NOT donations, that is a lie.)

Naomi: 1) It's none of your business, 2) I have no clue on that issue, 3) Tax forms linked to on JIDF site don't lie, 4) I do not owe you explanations.

If you do not remove my work and my profile from the NewsRealBlog site within two hours, and you continue to contact me, I am going to pursue my legal options.

Swindle: Threatening people with "legal options" is a Debbie Schlussel move. Your posts are no longer on the site. Have a nice life.

I will have a nice life, because I refuse to compromise on my alliances. I might make a mistake sometimes, but don't let that fool you, readers, and don't ever underestimate me. I absolutely don't feel like I have sacrificed anything to stand with David Appletree and Debbie Schlussel. It is just the right thing to do. No one is going to bully me or manipulate me into turning against the people that I trust, the real supporters and defenders of Israel and the Jewish people.Thanks for the memories, NewsRealBlog.

(* added notes that I added to quoted conversation)

The Jewish Internet Defense Force Debbie Schlussel

Conversation With Veteran Ken Jones on military suicides leads to discovery: plot to use 'veterans' magazine for viral online anti-Israel/Jewish hatred

2010-07-22T21:38:00.001-07:00

The other night I watched NBC Nightly News and was terribly shocked by Brian Williams' story about military suicides. I thought about my Twitter friend Ken Jones, known as @akvet who is a fellow author. He has free ebooks for our troops and veterans. His Twitter bio says: Life After Combat and When Our Troops Come Home. He boldly and honestly speaks of his own experiences and trauma and is a dedicated warrior in the fight to help our veterans transition to civilian life.

I couldn't stop thinking about the military suicides and therefore sent Ken a tweet asking him about the situation. Here is part of our conversation...

Naomi: I wanted to ask you about the news of suicide rates of GIs and what is being done about it?

Ken: Hi Naomi. What's being done about suicides among our troops? There's the macro-level, "We share your concern" stuff. My experience is that it's the troops taking care of each other that is keeping the losses down to the current levels. Am I giving you the kind of info you are asking about?

Naomi: "Keeping the losses down..." Oh, no! such a terrible, tragic level of GI suicides! Yes, your input is very important.

Ken: You're right Naomi, the suicides now are tragic. Without community interventions the rates are going to go much higher.

Naomi: Why are we not hearing about this after each death? Why are they just giving a 'news bite' here and there?

Ken: Individual suicides are newsworthy, right? If it bleeds it leads.

Naomi: But I don't see them. Do you? I don't see the reporting of individual GI suicides in the local or world news.

Ken: Probably not. Suicides are local events. The composite numbers will make the news from time to time. June was bad.

Naomi: Are the suicides happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as when they return to USA?

Ken: Yes, the suicides occur both on deployment and back here in the world.The suicides are intertwined with PTSD, alcohol and substance abuse, the need for adrenalin rushes, lots of stuff. If you really want to see the toll suicides are taking among our troops, set a up a Google Alert for "military suicides."

Naomi: During the month of January 2010 more soldiers committed suicide (24) than were killed by enemy fire. I don't know what the answers are or what to do about the military suicides but I will start reporting them daily.

Ken: Yes, the infinite emptiness of beyond looks compelling when suicide becomes an option.

Of course, I immediately went to Google and set up a daily alert for "military suicides." Not long afterward, I received my first daily alert. This is where the story completely diverts into a twisted and horrible scenario. Google sent me to Veterans Today. I discovered a plot so diabolical that it sickened me. That plot is using a title for an online magazine that infers that the magazine either represents veterans today and/or has something to offer them. The only thing I saw for veterans was one link to the VA.

As I was perusing their site, my eyes landed on smarmy articles blasting Israel, calling Zionism racism, blasphemy against Jonathan Pollard and Rabbi Meir Kahane. The outright hatred from four different bloggers: Gordon Duff, Eric Watree, Jeff Gates, and Michael Leon is shocking. Jeff Gates has a post about Zionist dominance in the Obama administration saying, "His political career is a product of a Westside Chicago Ashkenazi network with roots that trace directly back to organized crime of the 1920s." (I purposely do not provide the links back to these cowards as I do not want to promote them.)

The idea that they would use our veterans as a front for anti-Israel rhetoric and blatant hatred against the Jewish people is simply disgusting. Of course, I consulted with David Appletree of the Jewish Internet Defense Force to confirm my findings that the Veterans Today Magazine is anti-Israel. David is the go-to guy for all questions and answers regarding online matters regarding antisemitism and such. After the recent shocking news from JIDF of anti-jihad blogsites of Geller, Horowitz, and Spencer supporting Pat Condell, the Jew hater, once again, I have consulted with the JIDF for vetting and fact checking on important matters.

Please use the comment feature below to give me some ideas on where I should go next with this story, and if you'd like to get involved!

In order to return to the original theme of this post, which highlights the plight of our dear soldiers, I am posting this video.

Assimilation: then and now

2010-07-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, assimilation was what I wanted. It was also what my mother wanted for us. But I think that the reasons were different from today. Our reason was fear. My mother is an Auschwitz survivor and she didn't want us to suffer the same fate as she and her family suffered. In fact, she purposely did not teach us any of the five languages besides English that she can speak. She didn't want us to have any trace of a foreign accent. We were warned to "fit in." I didn't want to look Jewish, and wished for straighter hair and a smaller nose. Eventually I grew up and realized that being Jewish is so much a part of me that it cannot be 'assimilated.'

Now days, assimilation is the boogeyman in the actual survival of Israel. There is plenty of debate as to whether Reform Judaism has led to mass assimilation and also the current controversy of Jews immigrating to Israel and the right of return.The so-called 'progressive Jew' doesn't understand why, if they are marrying a gentile, that the gentile should be forced into an Orthodox conversion. A big part of the reasoning behind the requirement for Orthodox conversion lies in the motive of the person desiring to be converted. Is it just because they want to marry a Jew? Is it because they have decided that they want to be an Israeli? The reason must be so deep that they would go through the deeper process of Orthodox conversion. It has to be a sincere desire to be Jewish, not a 'cultural' acclimation.

The question of mixed marriages and the effect on assimilation, both in America and in Israel, is not a new debate, in fact my paternal grandfather, Baruch Litvin, wrote a book entitled Jewish Identity - Modern Responsa and Opinions on the Registration of Children of Mixed Marriages. It dealt with David Ben-Gurion's Query to Leader of the World Jewry, 5725 (1965). My Zeide said in the dedication:

"Dedicated to the tens of thousand of our Jewish brethren -- refugees from the countries of persecution -- who have returned to the Homeland of Israel with the "Ingathering of the Exiles" and are now rehabilitating in the Restoration of living Jewry."

So, as we continue to debate the topic, and watch what is going on in Israel, let's remember that assimilation didn't help the Jews in Europe prior to and during World War II. Let's take a step back, and not water ourselves down, while we feed the insatiable instant gratification that threatens our very existence.

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story the book on Kindle

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story the book

Invictus

2010-07-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

Invictus

by William Ernest Hendley by (1849–1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

free kindle for pc download from amazon

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story - now on Kindle

2010-07-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Now on Kindle! $9.99

Free on Amazon- download Kindle for PC

Search inside my book on Amazon

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Afikomen Judaica

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

Conversations With Naomi: Pamela Siegel Zarte

2010-07-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

It is a pleasure to introduce my friend, Pamela Siegel Zarte, whose Twitter bio states: "Jewish vegetarian, aspiring chef and backyard naturalist, crazy about my family." In getting to know Pam I have seen a deeper part of her Jewish soul that is evidenced by her tweets and emails.

Naomi: Can you please explain the dichotomy of your religious views with your political belief? What is a considerate visionary? How do you feel about Israel?

Pam: I don't think there is a dichotomy between my religious and political views.I guess I'm just in the minority on this. Didn't most Jews, religious or not, used to be Democrats working for 'social justice?' Maybe I was left behind. I am striving for increased religious observance and consider myself a progressive liberal. I keep some of my political beliefs quiet at my synagogue. The rabbis do wonder why I'm a vegetarian. This is 'liberal' behavior to them (wasn't Hitler a vegetarian?) What I eat is not a political statement. It is a personal choice. I keep kosher at home and rarely eat out anymore. I am not yet Shomer Shabbos, but getting there in small steps. I attend as many Torah classes as I can.

I am totally supportive of Israel. Isn't Jordan where 'Palestine' should be? If in Israel, I would probably be voting right of center.

Why is it that sympathy for Muslim terrorism is a passion for SOME in the American left? However, I am not a one issue voter. Israeli security was not much different when Bush was in the White House.

I am in favor of a single payer health care system. When it comes to 'hot-button' social issues, my general feeling is, "If you don't approve of it, don't do it." I do realize that part of my job as a Jew in this world is to love my fellow Jew (ahavath Yisrael). This would, I guess include suggesting ways to increase their observance. This would be hard for me. Open mindedness does conflict with some Torah teachings. I'll deal with it when I have to.

I took a personality test on line, the results of which indicated I am a 'considerate visionary.' The test said I am trusting, slow to judge, and empathetic (considerate). It also said I am imaginative and see the world as the better place it could be (visionary). It could just be a way of saying I am an easy mark! I do think that this is fairly accurate, although I am at times cynical. I try to look at and understand all sides of an issue.

Naomi: You have said: "So many of tea partiers and conservatives say their opposition is not racially based, merely political." You pointed someone out to me on Twitter recently, that really illustrates this statement. Can you please expound on this subject?

Pam: I have a suspicion that racism is at the root of some criticism of Obama (especially the knee jerk reactionary criticism.) People say they are not racist, that they just politically disagree with him.

Wondering if Obama was really born in Hawaii is just a way of saying, "He's not one of us." Whenever there is a chance people accuse him of 'reverse racism.'

This recent news about Black Panthers and Black Muslim Bakeries has elicited some more overt racism. Words like "barbaric, tyrannical, thug, inhuman, evil" can be racially charged. (The worst thing I ever said about 'W' was that he looked like Alfred E. Newman.)

I found out from the example you cited that all it takes is a little poking to demonstrate my theory.

Naomi: Are you a confrontational person? How do you deal with outright racism or Jew-hatred when you see it on twitter?

Pam: I run away from confrontation. It is a little easier on Twitter to confront someone, because they cannot yell or interrupt. It also is easier for me on Twitter because you have time to compose your response. I haven't confronted that many people on twitter yet, I'm working on it.

Naomi: How has tragedy in your family contributed to your evolution?

Pam: My father (OBM) died in 2004 from a brain tumor. He was at an advanced age, but one is never old enough. My sister (OBM) was diagnosed with stage 3-4 colorectal cancer less than a month after our father died. She died twenty-two months later. I helped take care of them both. My sister died at the home my mother and I share. I don't think I can say much more, I am crying just writing these words. I believe in G-d, otherwise I would not be able to get up in the morning.

Naomi: How did growing up in a small town impact you as far as being against racism?

Pam: There were very few black people in the town I grew up in. I don't remember any Asians or Hispanics either. My parents talked about equality. I wasn't even aware of racist words until I used one in front of my father and he corrected me. I had heard the word on the playground and I thought it was a word for a cute little animal. History was my favorite subject in school and I had good history teachers. The enormity of the holocaust was like a cloud over my head. I connected antisemitism and racism and any other form of hate.

Naomi: What is it about doing crafts that seems to be calling you back?

Pam: I want to create things and have control over them! I love the creative process. You get in a 'zone.' It is a form of meditation for me.

Naomi: What encouragement can you give to me in believing that Moshiach is really coming?

Pam: One of my rabbis said that Judaism is the only religion to have been formed with so many witnesses. I cannot find the number just now, but I believe there were 600,000 to 2,000,000 Jews at Sinai who heard the voice of G-d. I love reading Jewish books about so-called coincidences. There are no coincidences. Moshiach is coming (may it be soon.)

Naomi: How did you discover Twitter and the Jewish Internet Defense Force? How has your perception of Islam changed since?

Pam: I started on Twitter last summer because my brother wanted us to use it to keep in touch while he was on vacation with his family. I still at that time had a very old cell phone that didn't do much except make calls. My brother has tweeted about six times in the year. He follows two people and I'm one of them.I loved it. It became a personalized window on the world.

I think I discovered @JIDF during the shorty awards. At first I thought that the anti-Islam rhetoric was racist. I've come to appreciate David Appletree's point of view and his efforts. I realize that David is honest, that there probably is no 'moderate' Islam. I am not easily influenced. My respect for his work was solidified several weeks ago when David tweeted that people needed to be less trusting, that they shouldn't even believe everything he wrote, that he might make a mistake. I appreciate exploration and awareness of oneself.

Naomi: What can you say to other Jews that are apathetic to the JIDF cause and actually seem to wish him harm by their actions?

Pam: I do not understand arguing against one's self interest. Yet it happens all the time. This is another example of when ahavath Yisrael should be remembered. Love your fellow Jew. I think one can disagree without making threats or putting someone in harms way.

Naomi: What are you searching for in Judaism, or what have you found in your search in Judaism?

Pam: The knowledge that I have a purpose in this life, that I might guess what that might be, but that I may never know. Orthodoxy has given me a structure that I appreciate. Action is the most important aspect of Judaism. Do something and then you may come to understand it. Study, light Shabbos candles, give charity, eat kosher food, become Shomer Shabbos, etc.

Naomi: When you start your blog will you reveal more about yourself? Will you write about your sister?

Pam: I'm a woman of mystery! It would be fun to start a blog. I would feel as if my sister and I were doing it together.

Naomi: What is growing in your garden?

Pam: Geraniums, spider plant, rain lilies, and lemons. The yard is full of desert friendly shrubs and trees. We have deer, Javalinas, rabbits and pack rats who like to eat the plants. Most everything we grow is too large to destroy or hanging up in a basket. I would love to grow herbs and vegetables, but you might as well just toss dollar bills out to the critters.

Naomi: Please share a favorite recipe?

Pam: My signature dish is pasta Putanesca. Make your favorite pasta (I like penne.) Meanwhile in a large pan add a tablespoon of olive oil, saute onion, garlic, celery (and anchovies if you like) until onion is softened.Add one large can crushed tomatoes. Simmer for a few minutes, sprinkle some red pepper flakes to taste and then toss with pasta, kalamata olives, capers, flat leaf Italian parsley. Top with Parmesan cheese. You can also add a can of tuna, if you like. Yummy!

Naomi: Please discuss 'one burning issue" that the readers might want to discuss in the comments below, so we can keep the dialogue going.

Pam: Who do we follow/unfollow on Twitter and why? I follow a wide range of people,from the left and the right. I follow rabbis, some of what I call 'talking heads' from TV news and commentary, lots of food tweeters, breaking news services, my congresswoman, and a few people who live in Israel. I never know whether to just unfollow someone or to block them. I mostly unfollow if the tweets have really offensive language or say awful things about women, race, or religion. I don't think that because I'm following someone, that I 'support' them. Do other people do it this way?

A fellow from the NewJersey Tea Party started following me a few months ago. I followed him back. Once in a while I send him some sarcastic and I hope funny message about how much I disagree with him. He seems like a good sport.

Naomi: Thank you Pam! You are a good sport and so much fun on Twitter. I highly recommend that everyone follow you and also please comment on Pam's burning issue below in the comments:

Pam: Who do we follow/unfollow on Twitter and why?

We Never Lost Hope on Kindle plus Free Kindle For PC Download

2010-07-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

Now on Kindle! $9.99
WE NEVER LOST HOPE

A HOLOCAUST MEMOIR AND LOVE STORY
by Naomi Litvin, Foreword by Sir Martin Gilbert

Free Amazon Kindle for PC

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Search inside and buy the book

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

Fly On The Wall Recommends Some Books

2010-07-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

In Our Hearts We Were Giants; The Remarkable Story of the Lilliput Troupe: A Dwarf Family's Survival of the Holocaust

by Yehuda Koren, Eilat Negev

Carroll & Graf, Publishers:

"In this remarkable, never-before-told account of the Ovitz family, seven of whose ten members were dwarfs, readers bear witness to the best and worst of humanity and to the terrible irony of the Ovitz's fate: being burdened with dwarfism helped them to endure the Holocaust. Through dogged research and interviews with the youngest Ovitz daughter, Perla, the troupe's last surviving member, and other relatives, Israeli authors Yehuda Koren and Eilat Negev weave the tale of a beloved and successful family of performers who were famous entertainers in Central Europe until the Nazis deported them to Auschwitz in May 1944. Descending into the hell of the concentration camp from the transport train, the Ovitz's--known widely as the Lilliput Troupe--separated from other Jewish victims. When Josef Mengele was notified of their arrival, they were assigned better quarters and provided more nutritious food than other inmates. The authors chronicle Mengele's experiments upon the Ovitz's and the creepy fondness he developed for these small people, even the songs he composed and sang to this family of singers, dancers, and klezmorim. Perla explains the irony of their survival in the hell that was Auschwitz: "If I ever wondered why I was born a dwarf, my answer would have to be that my handicap ... was God's only way to keep me alive." Finally liberated by Russian troops, the family returned to their deserted village in Transylvania and eventually found their way to a new home in Israel. They resumed their careers, overcame their handicaps, and became wealthy and successful performers. A unique book that is a powerful testament to the human spirit, In Our Hearts We Were Giants is a triumphant tale that no reader will forget."

I have read both Tough Jews, and The Avengers, by Rich Cohen and enjoyed the books immensely. I met Rich last year in New York City at the Jewish Book Council's Meet the Author Event in June, 2009.

TOUGH JEWS: Fathers, Sons, and Gangster Dreams

by Rich Cohen

(from Random House)

"In an L.A. delicatessen, a group of Brooklyn natives gets together to discuss basketball, boxing, the weather back east, and the Jewish gangsters of yesteryear. Meyer Lansky. Bugsy Siegel. Louis Lepke, the self-effacing mastermind of Murder, Inc. Red Levine, the Orthodox hit man who refused to kill on the Sabbath. Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, who looked like a mama's boy but once buried a rival alive. These are just some of the vibrant, vicious characters Rich Cohen's father reminisced about and the author evokes so pungently in Tough Jews.

Tracing a generation of Jewish gangsters from the candy stores of Brownsville to the clubhouses of the Lower East Side--and, occasionally, to suites at the Waldorf--Cohen creates a densely anecdotal and gruesomely funny history of muscle, moxie, and money. Filled with fixers and schlammers, the squeal of tires and the rattle of gunfire, his book shatters stereotypes as deftly as its subjects once shattered kneecaps."

THE AVENGERS

(From Publishers Weekly)

"Rich Cohen, author of the acclaimed Tough Jews, again narrates a little-known episode of Jewish history, this time altering what we thought we knew about the Holocaust.

Abba Kovner, Vitka Kempner, Ruzka Korczak-comrades, lovers, friends. In the Lithuanian ghetto of Vilna, they were the heart of a breathtakingly courageous underground movement, and when the ghetto was liquidated, they fled to the forests and joined other partisans in continued sabotage and resistance. Riveting, poignant and uplifting, The Avengers is a powerful exploration of resistance and revenge, of courage and dedication, and an inside look at some of the intrepid individuals who fought against the Holocaust and the nazi occupation of Europe."

I read Erin Einhorn's book before I met her in New York City at the Jewish Book Council's Meet the Author Event in June, 2009. Erin's book was amazing and I especially admired her for moving to Poland to confront the people that occupied her family's home.

The Pages In Between: A Holocaust Legacy of Two Families, One Home

by Erin Einhorn

"Einhorn went to Poland to learn the facts of her Jewish mother’s childhood because her mother always refused to tell her what had happened. It’s the story of how a Polish Christian woman saved her mother’s life, how she lived with a foster family in Sweden, and her transatlantic trip to the U.S. with a father she hardly knew. Einhorn located the son of the woman who saved her mother, Wieslaw Skowronski. He told her that Erin’s grandfather had promised the Skowronskis their house in exchange for hiding his daughter, obligating the author to search through a massive collection of archives. In this memoir, Einhorn examines the significance of family and how memory sometimes clouds the truth. An important and haunting work." --George Cohen

MAUS

By Art Spiegelman

Maus was such a personal journey for me. Just getting through it was a challenge, as I read through to page 99, put a book mark in the book, and didn't pick it back up for several years. I identified with and felt Art Spiegelman's pain in every cartoon that he drew. This man, this artist, is a genius. What he feels from being the son of Holocaust survivors is depicted in this epic, incredible work of art.

"Maus is a powerful memoir about Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and about his son, a cartoonist who tries to come to terms with his father,his story, and history. Moving from the gates of Auschwitz to the sidewalks of Queenes, this is the ultimate survivors's tale--and that, too, of the children ho somehow survive even the survivors. The Jews are portrayed as mice, the Nazis as cats, but put aside all your preconceptions. This is a new kind of literature."

The Dent Atlas of The Holocaust [Kindle Edition]

By Sir Martin Gilbert

Sir Martin Gilbert advised and mentored me during my quest to publish my family's World War II and Holocaust memoir, We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story.
Martin took the time out from his own important projects to read my manuscript and then encouraged and mentored me in getting the book published. When I asked him if he'd like to write a foreword, he did not hesitate, and honored me with his addition to my book. I have included two maps from his great work, that directly impact my family's story. It is my pleasure to offer a look at one of his great works here, on my site.

"The harrowing history of the Nazi attempt to annihilate the Jews of Europe during the Second World War is illustrated in this series of 320 highly detailed maps. This atlas traces each phase of the Holocaust, beginning with the anti-Semitic violence of prewar Germany and leading to the German conquest of countries in which the Jews had lived for centuries. Presented in chronological order, the maps document in compelling detail the story of the Holocaust, from the spread of the early random killings of Jews and their systematic mass expulsion from thousands of towns and villages to the establishment of ghettos and the setting up of the death camps. Also shown on the maps are more than two hundred acts of resistance and revolt, as well as areas of Jewish partisan activity and other avenues of escape and rescue.

The Routledge Atlas of The Holocaust by Sir Martin Gilbert

CHILDREN OF THE HOLOCAUST

By Helen Epstein

My copy of Children Of The Holocaust, is signed by author Helen Epstein. It is a prized possession of mine and represents a watershed time in my life.

"Here is the first book ever written for the general public that tells the sometimes tragic, sometimes triumphant story of the sons and daughters born to survivors of Hitler's concentration camps."

"Helen Epstein, herself born to survivors of Auschwitz and Terezin, vividly relates her own private quest to come to terms with her parents' past--a past that, despite their efforts to protect her, had become her own..."

Rabbi Meir Kahane: His Life and Thought - Volume One 1932 -1975 by Libby Kahane

Read about Rabbi Meir Kahane from his wife Libby Kahane's point of view. It is intriguing for me to learn about Kahane from a woman's viewpoint. I haven't finished this yet, as I savor and love every page. Interesting to learn that Kahane wrote articles under pseudonyms and worked undercover for the FBI under deep cover investigating the John Birch Society. "When the chips are down, you know who's going to fight for the Jew? Only the Jew. And it's about time we understood this." (1971) -- Rabbi Meir Kahane.

"Jewish survial and redemption are proof eternal and ultimate that the world is not overned by logic, by sanity, or by man. It is controlled and decreed by G-d." (1975) -- Rabbi Meir Kahane.

Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype

by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

I absolutely adored this book when I read it many years ago. I just began reading it again.

"Within every woman there lives a powerful force, filled good intincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. She is the Wild Woman, who represents the instinctual nature of women. But she is an endangered species..."

Foreword: We are all filled with a longing for the wild. There are a few culturally sanctioned antidotes for this yearning. We were taught to feel shame for such a desire. We grew our hair long and used it to hide our feelings. But the shadow of Wild Woman still lurks behind us during our days and in our nights. No matter where we are, the shadow that trots behind us is definitely four-footed." -- Clarissa Pinkola Estes, PH.D

Letters to Auntie Fori : The 5,000-Year History of the Jewish People and Their Faith
by Sir Martin Gilbert

A super entertaining analysis of the 5,000 year history of the Jewish people told in stunning letters from Martin Gilbert to his dear friend, a Hungarian Jewess who was a citizen of India.

House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus

I read this book and saw the movie simultaneously. I was mesmerized by both. If I could pick a director for my screen adaptation of We Never Lost Hope, it would Vadim Perelman, the director of House of Sand and Fog.

This tells a tragic tale from the viewpoints of the two main adversaries, Behrani and Kathy. To both of them, the house represents something more than just a place to live.

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

Fly On The Wall: More About Me

2010-06-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

Confessions of a Fly On The Wall:

When I'm with people I do more listening than talking.

I like it when I need a haircut so badly that I can wear a ponytail.

I like to put on red lipstick and look in the mirror.

I enjoy putting a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle together, by myself.

I like Meyers Dark Rum with orange juice and a lot of ice.

I like younger men. I also like older men.

I get along fine with women and have some very close female friends.

I don't like to be told what to do, where to do it, or be excluded from a public arena.

I like that I own my own blog, have control over moderating comments, and can write whatever I want.

I'm on twitter and have a widget at the bottom right of this page. You can get a taste of my tweets there.

Check out my author profile on Amazon where you can watch my book trailer, on bottom right.

You can find me and some music I like on blip where I am a DJ.

Naomi

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

Mezuzah as Metaphor

2010-06-13T23:59:00.000-07:00

I sit here next to Mom’s bed in the hospital. She is quieter today, sleeping more. Today is more peaceful than yesterday. Yesterday was a fitful, terrible day. The nurses and various medical personnel are buzzing around. Today, she sleeps through the chatter and chaos.

There are some books scattered around in this small, but private room. And I’m watching Nurse Jackie on my brother’s laptop. It’s a good show but the humor falls short with me, considering these circumstances.

And then suddenly I noticed that my brother Joe left his prayer book, the Siddur. I pick it up and look for something inspirational, something to get me through this day. I see the “Blessing For Fragrances.” That won’t work, as the hospital’s fragrances are not what the Blessing seems to be intended for.

Then I see “Blessing over Mezuzah.” Now we’re talking! The lightening bolt strikes! We need a mezuzah for the doorpost of this room. Evil spirits, bad boogie looming. I’ve heard of mezuzah’s for cars, why not a hospital room?

So I called Joe to find a kosher mezuzah. He says “No, we can’t hang a mezuzah on a temporary dwelling.” Curses, foiled again.

But this got me thinking about mezuzahs. A mezuzah is a talisman that protects a Jewish household from evil and is compulsory in Jewish households. No Jewish home is complete without mezuzahs, on every door post, except for the bathroom. The scroll inside must be kosher. It contains a hand written scroll in Hebrew.

Now my mind segways. Israel needs a giant mezuzah to protect itself and all the Jews in the world from the ravages of anti-Semitism and the satanic curse to drive her into the sea.

I realize that Israel is our mezuzah! Just as we place our faith in the household mezuzahs, we must place our faith and our allegiance to the state of Israel , to know how to protect us during this dangerous and fateful time period, where the destruction of the Jewish people lurks like a salivating wolf.

Yes, Israel IS our mezuzah. A metaphor of hope for protection. If only we, the Jewish people can rally behind her, and let her do her job.

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

Middle Eastern Misogyny On Twitter?

2010-06-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

I like to be a fly on the wall on Twitter. I see things. I save things. I report things. And sometimes, yes, I can't help myself; I can be a smart aleck. Especially fun for me is to follow the Jihad Chicks and their Islamic Idols.

Last night I noticed that an Islamic dude named @TI3GIB, or Mohammed Busaidi, on his Twitter profile states, "I put the fun in fundamentalist Islam..."

Busaidi sent Jillian York a tweet with a link to "a good read," which I say is actually a shocking testimonial by King Hussein of Jordan's grandfather.

@TI3GIB (to) @jilliancyork "Probably because you're the most invested subscriber to 'the cause'. You can decide what has value & what doesn't. Felt this did. http://is.gd /cGL3f "

In ''As the Arabs see the Jews" by His Majesty King Abdullah, from the The American Magazine, November, 1947 King Abdullah blathers on with, "for nearly 2,000 years Palestine has been almost 100 per cent Arab," in his attempt to make a case for an Arabic Israel.

I'm having a little online war with the American female that I teasingly call Jihad Jillian. And she warned me today to "be careful." She also pointed out that I got my Arabs mixed up. I had Mohammed Busaidi confused with another Islamic 'boss' named @hamoudiassaf, or Hamoudi Al-Assaf, a Syrian 'businessman' who I also noticed last night saying stuff like:

@EDLDoverFerry "I am not an Islamist you dork. I do not believe in Religious movements. This is about wiping Israel from the face of the planet."

Well, excuse me for getting those Islamic misogynists mixed up. They are all starting to sound alike with their inbred Islamic misogynistic behavior. Mohammed Busaidi, in an unsolicited tweet to me, told me that I am boring, and threatened to hit me in the eye.

"Listen lady. I'll knob you in the eye if you don't stop boring everyone. No one will be friends with you if you go on like this." - Mohammed Busaidi

Is this a joke or is it another example of Islamic men belittling the female voice? Maybe they 'knob' their women in the eye for being boring in Oman, but violence against women is illegal in most countries. Oh, I guess not in the 'Islamo-World.

I have previous blogs where I addressed similar issues on what I have seen on Twitter.

Next thing I know, I suddenly see that York warned me today on Twitter to "be careful."

"More slander, Naomi? Be careful." - Jillian York

Unimpressed I tweeted back:

"As Twitter is a public forum, ya tweet allegiance to Hamas/Hezbollah, how can it be slander for me to RT (retweet) it? get a clue, silly peeps." - Naomi Litvin

I am not saying that York is a physical threat. What I am saying is that in her pseudo-intellectual stupor, she is an ideological threat to other naive American women, by holding herself up as a university bred role model with her anti-Israel rhetoric. I am pointing out that many educated feminists are tied up in knots by multiculturalism and find it very hard to pass judgment on non-Western cultures. If York is so entranced with Middle Eastern culture, why doesn't she concentrate on helping oppressed Muslim women, instead of helping to further the causes of Muslim men?

Follow me on twitter

www.naomilitvin.com

Naomi Litvin: Gaza Flotilla: Not exactly the St. Louis

2010-05-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

MS St. Louis surrounded by smaller vessels, Havana, Cuba, June 1939

We are still sorting out what happened with the Gaza Flotilla. My brother called me just a few minutes ago telling me that the LA Times, and all the leftist news sources are blaming Israel for the fiasco. He was at shule this morning, when a verbal argument broke out between the lefties and the real pro-Israel Jews. I was up late last night glued to Twitter, trying to get all the latest news.

It has brought to mind, another ship, in another not so distant time, of a shipload of 900 + German Jewish refugees fleeing from Hitler's machine. The tragedy of the SS St. Louis, the 'voyage of the damned' in 1939, of course is a completely different story.

The people aboard the illegal Gaza Flotilla were clearly free people traveling with an evil mission in mind. But they were invited to disembark passengers and 'supplies' at the Israeli port of Ashdod to hot coffee and sandwiches prepared for them by Israeli IDF and the offer of redistribution of supplies, after inspection, to Gaza residents.

The doomed German Jews on the St. Louis were threatened and turned away from Cuba by President Frederico Laredo Bru as they were refused entry. They couldn't gain entry to the USA either and were turned away by President Roosevelt.They were turned back to certain horrors and death in Europe.

I, for one, am not fooled by this insane publicity stunt by these deranged Gaza flotilla ship of fools.

Deja Vu: Relocate All The Jews To Israel?

2010-05-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have an itch that I need to scratch about a dirty little secret, recently slipped into the main stream media by Hezbollah, which spoke of relocating all the Jews to Israel in order to kill us.

I first heard about this subject and posted to my blog on April 3, 2010 the Exclusive Shocker: Anti-Jewish Email From South African Racist Published Here. It was about an email and its tail (yes, tail vs. trail) that had been forwarded to me by a Twitter follower. Contained within this missive was the concept of relocating all Jews to Israel. The shocker for me, was that the rants were delivered not by Islamic jidhadists, but by South Africans, cloaked in double-speak and the usual scapegoat-ism blaming the Jews for all the world's ills.

This was a Deja Vu. I noticed the spine-tingling Twilight Zone shivers that often come to me as an early warning system. Where had I actually heard this 'relocate all the Jews to Israel' before? And why was it buried so deep, within my psyche and why did it hurt so much?

Calling for the genocide of the Jewish people is certainly not a new concept. For example, preceding and during
World War II they demoralized us, dejewified the cities, and murdered those of us and others who were too young, old, or not up to their 'standards.' They enslaved us, as been done many times in history, and worked us for their war machines and to build up their national corporations until we were not useful any more. All the while their diabolic, wholesale slaughter war machines gassed, incinerated, and buried us alive.

Our enemies best be careful today, because they if try to nuke us they will take their own families down in the fray.

Yes, I had heard this whole shtick and felt it in my Jewish DNA. Thousands of years of Jewish killing fields have been conveyed to us from childhood. They include all the Yiddishkeit stories passed down by our Zeides and Babas (the ones that hadn't been killed.) Stories told with tears and celebrated with our precious Jewish holidays.

This blast from the past, the demon-seed theory of sending all Jews to Israel and calling for the destruction of the Jewish State, is coupled with the rest of the rampant runaway train of online antisemitism by Islamic jihadists. Their allies, accomplices, and collaborators who are recruiting and joining jihad are trying to wear us down.

Just be assured that there are those of us who have learned the lessons of the past.

Naomi Litvin is a free-lance writer living in Northern California. We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story is Naomi's her first book and includes a foreword and maps by Sir Martin Gilbert.

Islamic Jihadist boss dictates marching orders to naive American women on Twitter

2010-05-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that certain American women, who consider themselves 'intellectuals,' are taking their marching orders on Twitter, from an idolized Islamic jihadist boss. I am working on proving that they are actually more organized than they appear. I am dogging them, and will continue to report updates here and on my twitter.

Ali Abunimah, known on Twitter as @avinunu, is a dangerous pro-Libyan American Palestinian who sometimes cloaks his Jew-Hatred in double-speak and goes around lecturing about the evils of Israel. He also likens Jews to Nazis with his hateful and dishonest anti-Israel propaganda. His tweets are deftly violent. At the very least, his hatred is palpable.

In the meantime, I am pleased to report that I see his American female disciples are running scared, deleting blogs and tweets; and even redoing conference tweets with quotation marks, after my criticism that they are American 'role models' that support Hezbolah and Hamas.

Their attempts to restructure their voices is laughable, as their loving devotion to Ali Abunimah is so obsequious and transparent, even a novice reader on twitter can see it. Here is one example:

@jilliancyork "I love when someone emails me to ask about a one-state solution. I always direct them to @avinunu's book."

That one seems to have a hypnotic devotion to all things Middle-Eastern Arabic, including media sources.Today, May 26, 2010, she scorns 'white reporters' here:

@jilliancyork"...And why is everyone on CNN white? We're not *really* the majority, yet so overrepresented."

And then she remarks about Al Jazeera:

@jilliancyork ..."@AJEnglish is my main source. American MSM=painfully idiotic."

Another one of them, @dissidentmuse who has a cushy teaching position in an American University in a theater department, with power over young minds, has arrogantly assumed that her pseudonym will protect her from exposure. She has redone her blog site and blocked me from 'seeing' her. With everything online being public, and google's cache readily available, that is actually hilarious.

Check out a few of her slanted tweets.
Today, May 26, 2010, @dissidentmuse touts Hezbollah news:

"Hezbollah chief vows to destroy Israel's navy in event of any attack on Lebanon or siege of its coast."

A few days ago, she had this to say, defending the building of a gigantic mosque near the 911 site in New York City:

@dissidentmuse ..."Not all Muslims are radicals, so to deny them the right to worship where and how they please is a violation of civil rights."

All of this is from my own perspective and I do not represent anyone else's opinion.

Also, please check out the true story of my family's Holocaust and World War II journey, which illustrates where my viewpoint originates. You can search inside my book on Amazon.

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story~ Kirkus Discoveries Review

2010-05-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

Five relatives narrate their harrowing World War II experiences in this family chronicle. It could be said that rather than writing this affecting and effective book, Litvin sculpted it. Her breezy but vital narrative provides the shape and overall historical context for her family’s story, but her relatives are the ones doing the real work. Using the first-person accounts of her parents, an aunt, an uncle and a friend of the family, the author offers a nuanced and multifaceted look at the plight of Jews in mid-20th century Eastern Europe. From a small Angora farm in Satu-Mare, Romania, to the horrifying grounds of Auschwitz and finally, to a new life in America, the five distinct voices of Edith, Hilda, and Mendi Festinger, Nate Litvin and Kurt Meyers provide a powerful and intimate journey through one of mankind’s darkest hours. Litvin does well not to mute her sources with an authoritative filter. The book’s undeniable authenticity comes from the life events retold by each narrator—while most historical texts offer one individual’s take, We Never Lost Hope presents five survivors working through their memories. Litvin augmented the book with photographs, news articles and other ephemera (telegrams, maps, etc.) that support the sense of intimacy and reality. Since some accounts can occasionally run long, it may have been helpful for Litvin to provide more editorial insight and direction. Still, the book is a soaring testament to the strength and adaptability of five remarkable people. A wonderfully executed, powerful family chronicle.

Litvin, Naomi WE NEVER LOST HOPE: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story BookSurge (228 pp.) $16.99 paperback December 18, 2008 ISBN: 978-1-4392-0421-4 Kirkus Discoveries, Nielsen Business Media, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story

Naomi Litvin: Oops! Facebook does it again: censors another Jewish activist on a Jewish holiday

2010-05-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

Shavuos is a sad holiday for my family. On this holy holiday in 1944, the Hungarians and the Nazis, with the assistance of the Hungarian Jewish collaborator Rudolph Kastner, deported hundreds of thousands of Jews; along with my mother and her sister Hilda and her brother Mendi. After six weeks in a stifling ghetto, they suffered in the cattle cars and arrived in Auschwitz where the rest of her family was dragged away to be murdered. But this posting today is not an obituary. This posting is a beginning.

In 2009, on Yom Kipper, we all witnessed Facebook's burglary of all of the intellectual property that David Appletree, JIDF's founder, had compiled on Facebook for two years. David was in NYC during 911, lived one mile from the devastation of the World Trade Center and was forever impacted. He went forward to start the Jewish Internet Defense Force, a wildly popular and important force in the fight against online semitism and the struggle, in general, for the survival of the Jewish people and a Jewish Israel.

I have made my choice. I have chosen The Jewish Internet Defense Force over Facebook. Actually, the censorship of my Facebook page, and their deactivation of me was an overt act against me, by them, on Shavuos 2010. Whether they censored and deactivated my page because of: a) my association with David Appletree and the JIDF, or b) if it was complaints by Hamas and Hezbollah supporters from Twitter, or c) if it was in retaliation for my consumer complaint # PIU 330571 filed with the California Attorney General Jerry Brown's office in Sacramento for their allowing Holocaust denial, jihadist material, and other antisemitic material on their site, I can only speculate. They deactivated my account without warning or reasons. I had gone to my Facebook page and just couldn't find it. After, I simply found the message that I had been 'deactivated.'

As David Appletree has stated: "This is nothing new for Facebook as they have repeatedly censored material which which might "insult" Islam. They also recently censored a JIDF group with nearly 5,000 fans without providing any warnings, or explanations.

Mostly, my intention was to use Facebook to promote my book, We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story, which is my family's holocaust and World War II memoir. In case some of my enemies might think this is an exploitation of the Holocaust; no - it's just the truth. And it was, and still is, a vehicle to help my mom, a fragile lady, live out her last years in her own home.

It's been a year since I published the book. A wild year, personally for me, as what started out one way, morphed into another. I met the Jewish Internet Defense Force along the way, pulled my head 'out of the sand,' and with David Appletree's help, have awakened myself to an awarenenss and a purpose. That is to help to save a Jewish Israel, which by the way I always wanted to do.

We Never Lost Hope: A Holocaust Memoir and Love Story