Month: October 2023

On Tuesday, October 31, many of us will celebrate Halloween. We will dress up in costumes and attend parties. Children will go door-to-door “trick or treating.” Of course, some will use the holiday as an excuse to create mischief or even mayhem, but for most of us it will be a day of fun and games and an opportunity to gorge ourselves on candy. But, few, if any, of us will bother to stop and think about the origins of the holiday. When and where did it begin? How did it evolve? Why do we dress up in costumes? Why do we go “trick or treating?” Glad you asked. Read on for the answers.

The origin of Halloween is a Celtic holiday dedicated to the dead. Although the Celts were interspersed in many areas of Europe, they were concentrated in what is now, England, Ireland and Scotland. The Celts divided the year into four sections, each of which was marked by a major holiday. The beginning of the winter season was November 1, which was celebrated by a festival called “Samhein,” pronounced “Sah-ween,” which means “end of summer” in old Irish.

The word “Halloween” can be traced back as far as 1745. It means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening.” It is derived from a Scottish term for “All Hallows Eve,” the evening before “All Hallows Day,” aka “All Saints Day.” Over time, the word “evening” was contracted to “e’en,” thus Halloween.

The Celts were a pagan people and very superstitious. They believed that the ghosts of those who had died during the year had not yet completed their journey to the “otherworld,” and at Samhein they were able to mingle with the living. Accordingly, to placate these ghosts and other spirits the Celts offered sacrifices and lit bonfires to aid them on their journey. It has been suggested that the origin of wearing costumes was to disguise oneself from any lost soul that might be seeking vengeance on the living before moving on the next world. Some, believing that the souls of those who had died recently were still wandering in a sort of purgatory, set a place for them at dinner. Many of these ancient traditions have persisted to this day in some locales.

In 601 Pope Gregory I issued an edict, the gist of which was that missionaries were to combine Christian holidays and festivals with existing pagan holidays and festivals and, hopefully, eventually supersede them. The ultimate objective was to foster the conversion of pagans to Christianity. As a result, All Saints Day, aka All Hallows Day, was moved to November 1 to coincide with Samhein.

By the end of the 12th century other Halloween traditions had developed. For example, the clergy would ring church bells for the souls stuck in purgatory; and “criers,” dressed in black, would parade through towns reminding the citizens to remember these poor souls. In about the 15th century people began to bake “soul cakes,” which are small round cakes, a practice called “souling,” which is believed to be a forerunner of “trick or treating.” Poor people would go door-to-door and collect these cakes in exchange for saying prayers for the dead. Interestingly, Shakespeare mentioned “souling” in “The Two Gentlemen of Varona” in 1593. Over time, celebrations of All Hallows Day began to include additional customs, such as “trick or treating,” lighting bonfires, attending costume parties, carving “jack-o’-lanterns, apple “bobbing,” and attending church services.

As mentioned above, it is believed that the practice of “trick-or-treating” was derived from “souling” or “mumming,” which is going house-to-house in disguise singing songs in exchange for food. This was believed to have originated in Scotland and Wales in the 16th century. Sometimes people would paint their faces and threaten mischief if they were not welcomed. This evolved into the customs of wearing costumes and playing pranks. Nocturnal pranksters needed illumination, hence the development of jack-o-lanterns. In England, people would fashion them out of turnips or mangel wurzels, which are large, thick roots suitable for carving. In America, pumpkins were used, because they were plentiful and better suited for carving anyway. Jack-o-lanterns are believed to frighten evil spirits. In France, people believed that the dead buried in cemeteries would rise up and participate in a wild carnival-like celebration known as the “Danse Macabre,” or “Dance of Death.”

“Trick or treating,” as such, is a relatively modern development. As I said, it is believed to have evolved from “souling” or “mumming.” The earliest mention of it in print was in 1927, and it did not become widespread until the 1930s in the US. Also, costuming has evolved. Popular fictional characters have been added to the traditional skeletons, ghosts and ghouls. Basically, now, anything goes. As I said celebrating the day is no longer exclusively limited to children. Many adults also wear costumes and attend Halloween parties.

CONCLUSION

At the present time, Halloween, like other holidays, has become highly commercialized. Selling costumes and other related paraphernalia has become big business. Several movie franchises, such as Halloween and Friday the 13th have become very popular, especially at this time of the year. The actress, Jamie Lee Curtis has made a career of starring in seven Halloween movies over the years beginning in 1978.

The original religious significance of the holiday has been eclipsed and forgotten by most people. Yes, some people still attend church, but many more attend parties. Many if not most people, especially children, know Halloween merely as a day to dress in costumes and go “trick or t reating.” We do love our candy. Speaking of which, special kudos to my grandkids who, aware of my fondness for Snickers, remember to save a bar for me every year.

In the last few years, the “PC Police” have inserted themselves into the holiday. Some of them have maintained that certain costumes are “racist” and should be avoided. I think we can all agree that a Caucasian should not dress up in “blackface.” But, the PC Police go much further. They also disapprove of any costumes that could be perceived by anyone as mocking or derogatory. Some examples would likely include Disney’s Moana, Aztec Indians, Tom Thumb, or Pancho Villa, which, in their minds, could be objectionable to Polynesians, Indigenous People, short people (or should I say “vertically challenged?” I have trouble keeping up with all the PC buzzwords.), or Hispanics, respectively. I say, if your five-year-old loves Moana and wants to dress up like her, go for it. Is that really being insensitive or racist? Really? Do the people who are marketing Moana costumes really expect to sell them only to Polynesians? think not! To me, these objections are just another example of some people who want to dictate to others how to act and live.

This year, due to the excessive violence and crime in many areas, safety is a big concern. Undoubtedly, some parents are apprehensive about their children trick or treating in the traditional manner, particularly the younger ones. In addition, some children may be fearful. We don’t want to deprive the children from enjoying the holiday. So, some parents may decide to accompany their children. Others may arrange to meet in a designated area as part of a group and go trick or treating as a group in that area.

Hopefully, after reading this blog you will have gained some knowledge of and perspective as to the origin and meaning of the holiday. Enjoy, and stay safe!

This is the fourth in my series of recent blogs dealing with anti-Semitism in America. This iteration is concerned with anti-Semitism on university campuses.

Anti-Semitism on university campuses has been around forever. Heretofore, it was more subtle, more covert as opposed to today’s overt, violent iteration. For instance, when I was in college in the 1960s at the college I attended:

1. There was a definite quota of Jews admitted – roughly 10% of each class. It wasn’t publicized, but we all knew.
2. There were only two fraternities on campus that admitted Jews (not counting those that admitted a “token” Jew or two). One fraternity, Sigma Chi, even boasted a cross as its symbol. That doesn’t mean that all the members of these fraternities were anti-Semitic. Most of them were friendly regular guys. It was just the system. Nobody protested. It was more or less accepted as the way things were.
3. Generally, I found a goodly portion of the professors and the Administration to be “cool” toward the Jewish students, in general, and “Sammy,” the Jewish fraternity, in particular. At one point, we were put on social probation, and they threatened to close us down. I’m not sure if we deserved that harsh a treatment.
4. Some of the students would utter snide remarks, which generally we laughed off, but it did make some of us uncomfortable.

In any case, the college atmosphere was nothing like we are seeing currently. Whatever violence there was was focused on the Vietnam War. For the most, part, most of us stuck together and enjoyed the overall college experience.

I don’t mean to single out the school I attended. I am sure my experiences and recollections were not unique. As I recall, many of the above occurred at other campuses as well. I do know for a fact that there was a quota of Jews admitted to US medical schools. Many qualified Jewish medical students, including, among others, my future primary care physician, were forced to attend medical school in foreign countries. Medical school is hard enough as it is. Imagine how difficult it was to learn the material in a foreign language. But, for many Jews, if one wanted to become a doctor that was the only path.

In this day and age, it is an entirely different story both on university campuses and in the world as a whole. According to a report of the Anti-Defamation League antisemitic instances have increased 41% from 2021 to 2022 with incidents being reported at some 130 colleges. The ADL counted 359 anti-Israel incidents on campuses during the 2021-22 school year, including physical assaults, protests, vandalism, harassment, and boycotts.

Focusing on university campuses, below please find my thoughts, observations and opinions on the matter.

1. In 2015 a Brandeis University study disclosed several of what it characterized as “hotspots” of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel hostility on university campuses. The study found that a “substantial” percentage of the Jewish students at the school had been exposed to anti-Semitism on campus. In addition, Brandeis was not unique. The study identified several other “hotspots.” Also, it postulated a connection on campuses where there was a pro-Palestinian student organization. I am aware that this study is eight years old, but I found it to be noteworthy because: (1) a substantial portion of the students at Brandeis are Jewish, and (2) the general situation appears to be worse today.
2. In point of fact, an Economist/YouGov poll from December 2022 concluded that more than 50% of US adults were of the opinion that antisemitism has been and is increasing, and it was a “serious problem” in the US.
3. According to The Hill a recent IPSOS survey concluded that nearly 60% of Jewish college students had either witnessed or experienced anti-Semitism. These experiences were not limited to on- campus events. They also included off-campus “university affiliated event[s],” and situations out in the general public. In contrast, only 5% of non-Jewish students reported having “witnessed or experienced” an antisemitic incident on campus.
4. I found this contrast most interesting. In my view, the clear inference is that based on life experiences Jews are more attuned to and aware of antisemitism than non-Jews. That is understandable. Indeed, Julia Lassey, CEO of Jewish Campus opined to The Hill that subtle antisemitic comments, tropes, stereotypes, and cliches can be difficult to discern, particularly for non-Jews. She added, “we can’t ignore the small stuff or it will become bigger whether that’s on-campus or off-campus.” She suggested that this gap cognizance could be narrowed by the education of young children beginning in elementary school.
5. The survey concluded that “not enough is being done by school administrators and government officials to protect Jewish students from hate.” I concur. More on this point later. World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder added “it is clear that something is wrong with our education system when more than 50% of Jewish students in America have observed an antisemitic incident.” My research disclosed various other surveys with similar results.
6. And now, to make this issue more powerful and realistic, I would like to delineate a sampling of actual personal experiences of Jewish students that I gleaned from my research. The following is just a sampling to illustrate the point. I could have included many, many more.

a. Maya, 18, a college freshman, was walking on campus wearing a silver ring with a Star of David. She was proud of the ring, which had been a gift from her grandmother. A group of students surrounded her and proceeded to taunt her with ethnic slurs, calling her a k–e and shouting “you don’t belong here!” She was shocked as it was her first experience with antisemitism. Prospectively, she removed the ring and mostly hid her Jewishness.

b. NorthJersey.com conducted interviews with over three dozen Jewish students about their college experiences. The students related experiences of swastikas carved onto dormitory walls, Holocaust-denying literature, expulsions from campus clubs, defacing fraternity buildings with eggs, and a general feeling that they were not safe and needed to hide their identity as Jews.

c. Micah, a junior at a school in the Boston area, reported a “looming presence of antisemitism.” He felt he continually had to “evaluate where [he] felt safe as a Jew.” He, too, felt the need to tuck in his Star of David. He was told being Jewish he “must be rich,” and he “bears the responsibility for the deaths of Palestinian children.” Moreover, a professor told him that Israel had “too much influence.” Downplaying or hiding one’s Jewishness as a means of fitting in and avoiding trouble seems to be a recurring theme among Jewish college students.

d. Members of a Jewish fraternity at a large Eastern college reported the fraternity being attacked four times in the past two years. The incidents included eggs being thrown at the house on Rosh Hashanah and carloads of people waving Palestinian flags and yelling racial slurs. The university investigated the incidents, but all such investigations have been closed with no arrests or charges.

e. At a California college a group of students reported swastikas in human feces painted in a dorm bathroom.

f. Last year on Yom Kippur, a professor at a southwest university was murdered by a former student of his who mistakenly believed the professor was Jewish.

g. Another student at a different western university reported two antisemitic incidents. In one, someone had written “F….Israel” and the phrase “From the river to the sea” on the chalkboard in her Middle East politics class. In the other, someone had distributed hundreds of flyers in her neighborhood filled with racist propaganda. She said the first was the work of a far-left group; the second the work of a far-right group. The kicker was when she reported the incidents to the Administration, they were reluctant to get involved, and the investigations, such as they were, went nowhere.

h. In perhaps the most disturbing incident, a few days ago as widely reported on various media outlets some 50 Jewish Cooper Union University students barricaded themselves in the school library as a group of some 70 Pro-Palestinian protestors, who somehow had gained access to the area while bypassing security checkpoints, perhaps with assistance from an employee, banged on the door and windows, brandished antisemitic signs and shouted racial slurs. Afterwards many students allowed as they had felt unsafe, unprotected, and had been literally scared for their lives. When queried by reporters university President Laura Sparks characterized it as a “peaceful demonstration.” Also, as of yet, the police have not made any arrests saying “there were no direct threats.” Why am I not surprised.

7. The Department of Education has commenced several investigations into whether the foregoing instances and others like them constitute violations of civil rights. As of now, it is focusing on ten schools, but, based on the foregoing, the problem runs much deeper than ten schools. The DOE needs to expand its review.

8. As I have said, much of the problem can be traced to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Protestors amalgamate it with the conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians in the region. Ironically, some Jewish students have said they sometimes get criticized for Israel’s policies even though they don’t agree with them.

9. The Biden Administration has issued a statement urging colleges to condemn all forms of hate, religious bias and discrimination. Sounds good, but nothing was said regarding penalties for noncompliance. Some Jewish groups question whether it is sufficient to deal with the problem. I agree. Alyza Lewin, attorney at the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, a non-profit that fights college campus antisemitism, called it a good beginning but opined it failed to address Israel’s “right to exist.”

10. According to the most recent FBI statistics hate crimes, in general, are increasing, which is no surprise. Furthermore, it reported that Jews were the most targeted minority group on a per-capita basis. Even though Jews comprise only 2% of the population in 2021 they were victimized by 51% of the total of 1,600 religious hate crimes (not college campus hate crimes) reported. The ADL opined that these numbers are likely understated because many incidents are not reported for various reasons.

Conclusion

Whether or not college administrators are taking antisemitism seriously and are taking decisive action to resolve it is a matter of opinion. Some of them have begun to acknowledge the existence of antisemitism at their schools. That is a good start, but the real question is what action they will take to quell it. Antisemitism is deeply ingrained at many schools, and the perpetrators include both professors with tenure and administration officials. It will not be an easy task. The same goes for the Biden Administration, which has not been friendly toward Jews. For sure, many of the Jewish students who have been victimized think they are not serious enough.

I was glad to see that many donors have threatened to cease giving money to some of these colleges, and some employers have stated they will not hire students who have expressed antisemitic behavior. I hope they follow through. Money is all these people understand.

In my opinion, many, if not most, of the protestors at Cooper Union were not students, but were outside agitators. I think that is the case with all the college protests. The colleges need to do a better job of identifying who is a student and who is not.

I see this as two separate, but intertwined issues. Firstly, there is the matter of antisemitism, both covert and overt, among much of the public, but particularly among educators and educational institutions. I have explained the reasons for this in various previous blogs. It has been ingrained into the human fabric for over 5,000 years, and I don’t see how it can be easily ameliorated, especially since hate and bigotry are taught in many schools.

Babies are not born with hate and prejudice in their hearts. They have to be indoctrinated somehow, somewhere. In my opinion, much of that somehow and somewhere is in school curricula as conceived and taught by biased teachers. Not all, but definitely some. Often, it begins as early as grade school and continues in high school and college. Parents need to be aware of this and be more active in their own children’s education. Discuss what goes on in school with your children and grandchildren. Don’t be reticent about speaking up and taking action, if need be.

As an aside, why parents insist on paying upwards of $100,000 per year to send their children to schools that foster hate and discrimination rather than preparing them to enter the real world with useful skills and knowledge is beyond me. But, that is a topic for another blog on another day. In my opinion, the best way to combat this is with strong, decisive leadership from our elected officials, which we are not getting at the present time.

Secondly, there is the Middle East problem, which has existed for 5,000 years and will not be easily resolved, if ever. There have been countless wars fought in the region, and all sides have long memories of real and perceived injustices. I believe most of the Jews and Palestinians in the area just want to raise their families and live their lives in peace. In fact, anyone who has been to Israel can tell you that in many areas Jews and Palestinians have been coexisting for many years with no problems. The problem is the small minority of vicious subhuman troglodytes who only want to annihilate the Jews as a race. They have no interest in peace. They don’t even particularly like the aforementioned peaceful Palestinians. They view them as pawns to be sacrificed. The proof of this is that they hide in bunkers next to or under schools and hospitals so that innocents can be used as collateral damage in any attack. There is no placating them. There is no negotiating with them. There can be no lasting peace with them. The only solution is to eradicate them as a fighting force. The Israelis have said they intend to do this. Unfortunately, that is something the Biden Administration is incapable of or refuses to comprehend.

As always, the following blog is strictly my opinion. You may agree or disagree. After all, despite recent events and despite the attitudes and the prejudices of the small but vocal numbers of wokers among us this is still America. We are still able to exercise the right of freedom of speech.

The subject of this particular blog will be focused on the reaction of people in the US to the Israel-Hamas War. As I watch the news daily I have been shocked by the virulent anti-Semitism both worldwide, in general, and the US, in particular.  As a student of history and Jewish history I cannot help but draw parallels between current events and 1930s Nazi Germany.  Perhaps, I am being overly dramatic. Perhaps, the characterization of “holocaust” is a bit extreme. Perhaps, those who say it can’t happen here in the US are right. But, read on as I make my case. Then, you decide.

As I have delineated in my two previous blogs during the past 2 weeks the current war between Israel and Hamas is most disturbing on several levels. Incidentally, for the past 11 years some 950 of my blogs have been published in the Times of Israel. Although The TOI retains the right of pre-review it had never refused to publish any of my blogs- until now. For some undisclosed reason it has declined to publish my last two blogs on this subject, and it will not tell me why. Curious.

In any event, my observations and opinions regarding the current matter are as follows:

1. Many people are failing to see Hamas’ attack of October 7 for what it really was. This was not a run-of- the-mill attack on Israelis akin to others throughout Israel’s history. No. It was an attempt of extermination of a race. I am not making this up. It has been an oft-stated goal of of Hamas to annihilate the Jews. This view has been echoed by other terrorist groups in the M E as well as their chief sponsor, Iran.

2. Most of the demonstrators in the US and elsewhere have failed see or chosen to overlook this fact.  They have chosen to overlook or ignore that Hamas slaughtered innocent civilians- women, children, babies, the elderly, the infirmed, and the disabled. They slaughtered people in their sleep. They disemboweled pregnant women and cut out their fetuses.  This is purely and simply barbaric. It is unheard of in modern warfare. As I have said the perpetrators of this are subhuman troglodytes and should be treated as such.

3. Clearly the goal of this attack was nothing less than an extermination. Hamas is not looking to negotiate a peace or even a cease fire. I ask where is the outrage?  Where is the shock? Where is the condemnation? Where are the demands for immediate and decisive justice?  Why hasn’t the rest of the world made pariahs of Hamas and their sponsors? 

4. Israel has the right, no, the obligation to retaliate in strength. No namby-pamby response will suffice. Israel is embroiled in all-out war. It must ensure that there will not be any further such attacks prospectively. It should have the support of the whole world.

5. There have been many similar occurrences in history. For example, did the world blame Great Britain for causing the German blitz during WWII? Did it pressure Britain into a “measured” response? Similarly, did the world blame the US for the Japanese sneak attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Did it demand a “measured” response? The answers are no and no. Why should Israel have to do so in this case. Israel is entitled to defend itself the same as any other country.

6. Instead, we have been witnessing demonstrations blaming Israel and its policies and treatment of the Palestinians. The demonstrators claim it is all Israel’s own fault. They conveniently ignore the heinous nature of the attack as described above. I say how would they react if the victims were their families, friends and neighbors? If Mexican cartels were lobbing rockets into Texas and murdering innocent civilians, how would we react? We all know the answer.

7. Most disturbing to me is that many of these people are not ones we can dismiss as fringe elements or crackpots. Some appear to be, but many others are people who should be more edified, who should know better. They are not acting out of ignorance.  They are acting out of bias and hatred. They are college administrators, professors and students, even members of Congress, even Biden’s chief negotiator with Iran.

The latent anti-Semitism in the US and the world as a whole is bubbling to the surface. We are observing a transformation from covert to overt anti-Semitism. The bigots have been encouraged and emboldened.  They are emerging from under whatever emotional rocks they have been living under out into the open 

The issue has broadened. Now, we are seeing Jews attacked in the streets and bomb threats of synagogues.

Now is the time when the US which is Israel’s only dependable ally, needs a strong leader. It needs a leader who can be more forceful and decisive, who can tell these demonstrators to tone down the irresponsible rhetoric, who can rally our allies and warn our enemies. Instead, we have the weak cognitively deficient Joe Biden.  Now, we will see that elections truly do have consequences.

Biden has been paying lip service to Israel and the Jews. By the way we should all realize that in the minds of many, if not most, Israel and Jews are synonymous terms. Anti-Israel is code for anti-Semitism.

Biden has been saying all the right things like we stand with Israel. But, he has stopped short of condemning Hamas.  He has steadfastly claimed there is no conclusive proof of Iran’s involvement.  We all know that is BS. We all know that if Biden were to acknowledge Iran’s culpability it would expose the failure of his entire policy vis-a-vis Iran. When Biden took office Iran had been virtually bankrupted by Trump’s strict economic embargoes. Simply put, he has enabled Iran to resurrect its economy, which in turn, has enabled it to fund the terrorism of its proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Much of aid money he’s now requesting from Congress would go to Ukraine and even be stolen by Hamas.

By all indications Biden is incapable of dealing with the various enemies of Israel and the US. Our enemies do not fear him. They do not respect him. Probably, they privately mock him as a feckless fool. They have seen what many of us have seen, at least those of us who do not get their news from the fake news outlets. I even question his ability to rescue the remaining 10 or so US hostages. Do you remember how he abandoned hundreds of Americans in Afghanistan?

Conclusion

So, in summary, cognizant of Jewish history, I view the October 7 attack as the opening salvo of an escalation of anti-Semitism that has the potential to morph into a catastrophic situation for Jews. (I hesitate to characterize it as a “Holocaust,” because that would dilute the meaning of the real Holocaust.)

In any case, I fear for the future of Judaism. I fear for the future of America. I fear for our children and grandchildren and for generations of Jews yet unborn. We all should.

The Jewish people are well-acquainted with anti-Semitism. They have been subjected to it in one form or another for some 5,000 years. Sometimes it has been overt, such as the violence and torture that characterized the Spanish Inquisition and the wanton, horrific and indiscriminate murders of the Holocaust, and sometimes it has been covert in the form of harassment, snide remarks and crude jokes, and/or restrictions in daily life. Many times, Jews lived peacefully in a particular country for hundreds of years before being evicted usually for no good reason other than the whims of the country’s ruler. For example, Jews had enjoyed a largely peaceful co-existence in Germany for some 500 years before the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.

With no homeland, oftentimes, it was a struggle to find another place that would welcome them. For thousands of years Jews had longed for a homeland of their own, a Jewish State where they would always be welcome and from which they would never be evicted. Finally, in 1948 they got one, although it was a small spot of land in an area surrounded by hostile enemies who hated Jews and did not want them there on land that they viewed as theirs. Thus, the Jewish State of Israel was victimized by anti-Semitism and embroiled in war before it was even an official country.

Some religious scholars and historians have suggested that rulers permitted Jews to live in their country because they were handy whipping-boys if problems caused unrest among their subjects. If crops failed and the people were starving, or if there was a plague, or an enemy invasion or the people were frustrated with their everyday life the ruling class claimed it was not at fault; blame the Jews.

In my view, historically, anti-Semitism has been and is a constant. It has always existed. As I said above, it can be overt, such as the pogroms in 19th century Europe or covert in the form of restrictions on daily life, quotas and snide jokes and remarks. Sometimes it has been dormant, bubbling just below the surface almost like an inactive volcano. It surfaces in times of stress, such as in times of economic hardship or a war.

So, it should not be surprising that it has reared its ugly head now in the wake of the Hamas invasion of Israel. It has been omnipresent on social media platforms, in public demonstrations, in newspapers and on tv. People have been brandishing swastikas and spewing vile, hateful language, such as “gas the Jews.” Some civil rights organizations have called out the techies that control social media for being incapable or unwilling to quell the hateful language displayed on their platforms. A few examples just from the past week:

• In Times Square a demonstrator brandished an image of a Nazi swastika.
• Other demonstrators called Jews “Zionists,” “fascists,” “colonizers,” “bigots” and worse.
• In Irvine CA a man was seen waiving a large swastika flag on a freeway overpass.
• Also in CA various cities have reported they were forced to cancel remote public forums due to a plethora of anti-Semitic comments.

Incredibly, out of ignorance, misinformation or blind prejudice many people are blaming Israel and the Jews for Hamas’ attack. They refuse to acknowledge the truth. They refuse to acknowledge Hamas’ extreme, wanton brutality. A Fox News reporter was taken aback when one demonstrator emphatically refused to accept the veracity of what we all are seeing on tv, and insisted Israel was to blame, not the terrorists. It’s like “my mind’s made up; don’t confuse me with the facts.”

The US is supposed to be a haven where people are free to practice whatever religion they choose. Freedom of religion is an integral part of the Bill of Rights. However, anti-Semitism is flourishing in the US. According to a report released by CNN anti-Semitic incidents in the US have nearly tripled in the last six years and are at their highest levels in the last 50 years. This includes instances of harassment, vandalism, assault, and other similar crimes against Jews, which are now at record highs. As reported by USA Today and various other media outlets anti-Semitism was surging in the past week even before Hamas’ attack.

The Anti-Defamation League has reported that crimes against “visibly identifiable” Orthodox Jews increased 69% in 2022 compared to the previous year. It added that “every fourth American Jewish adult” had been the target of an antisemitic incident “either physically or online.” In the view of Oren Segal, VP of the ADL Center on Extremism, “the brazenness of these attacks, sometimes in broad daylight,” seemingly without fear of consequences, represents a dangerous escalation and is a “huge concern.” In addition, ADL records indicate that the actual number of hate crimes countrywide is more than three times what the FBI’s records show. Furthermore, historian Robert Williams opines that there is a significant disconnect with respect to the mindset of Jews and the general public regarding antisemitism. Whereas some 80% of Jews think it has increased over the past few years less than half of the general public think so.

Most disturbing is the trend on college campuses, for example:

1. According to Wikipedia there is a general trend toward enforcing quotas and higher admission standards with respect to Jewish applicants, increased violence and ostracism toward Jewish students, slanted course material, and discrimination with respect to the hiring, promotion, treatment and retention of Jewish professors. These are widespread and well-entrenched despite existing anti-discrimination laws, hard to prove, and have been a staple at many colleges for a long time. In 2021 Dr. Charles Petersen published “letters and documents” that detailed Stanford University’s “Jewish quota” policies as far back as the 1950s.

2. In September The Hill published a survey that reported 57% of Jewish college students had witnessed or experienced anti-Semitism.

3. According to CNN last October a student murdered a University of Arizona professor he thought was Jewish.

4. Earlier this month Stanford University commenced a formal hate crime investigation after antisemitic drawings, including a likeness of Hitler were found in a student’s dorm.

5. In recent years administration bias and pro-Palestinian campus activism have become more blatant and have fostered an atmosphere of hatred and violence. The Israel-Hamas war has exasperated the situation.

6. The anti-Jewish bias has even been permeating secondary and elementary schools with the effect of influencing the opinions of young kids. For example, in NYC the DOE is offering students programs that downplay or even justify Hamas’ terror attacks.

7. The foregoing are just the tip of the iceberg. My research disclosed many more examples, too many to list them all.

CONCLUSION

Recently, it has been revealed that Robert Malley, the Biden Administration’s chief envoy to Iran and head of the US negotiating team, is a strong supporter of that regime and has been for many years. He and his family have deep ties to Palestinians. It has been reported that Malley is Arafat’s godson and has characterized Hamas’ [actions and goals] as “logical.” Worse, he is suspected of aiding and abetting Iran and Hamas by providing them with classified information. His actions may even rise to the level of espionage. He has been removed and is under FBI investigation. Better late than never. Some of us are not surprised that such a person would have been appointed to such a sensitive position by the Biden Administration.

Finally, we are seeing some pushback from fair and sensible people against some universities and students, most notably the Ivy League, which, in my view, has long been a major source of far left, anti-US, and anti-Semitic rhetoric. Some donors have expressed their displeasure and have threatened to reassess their donation policies. In addition, CEOs of various prospective employers, rightfully appalled by the overt antisemitism noted above, have threatened to withdraw offers of employment to the students who have engaged in vile, antisemitic rhetoric. Evidently, even if one possesses a degree from Harvard defending rape, murder, and beheadings and advocating another Holocaust are not viewed as acceptable character traits in the real world. These students need to vacate their protective bubble and face reality.

By the way, I would like to denote that I am not suggesting that all Palestinians and Muslims are terrorists like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other similar groups. On the contrary, I believe 90% or more of them are peaceful, tolerant and would like to be left alone to live their lives just like you and me. In point of fact, there have been and are many examples of Jews and Muslims co-existing peacefully.

Those who know their history are very familiar with the current situation detailed above, and it is frightening. The current events that I have outlined above have given “cover” to the bigots and antisemites among us. Make no mistake, those who criticize Israel are also criticizing Jews. In their view, it is morally and socially “acceptable” to express their feelings both verbally and physically. They manage to justify the disgusting and wanton slaughter and even beheadings of women, children, the elderly and the infirmed. In my opinion, they should be made to watch the raw news footage of Hamas’ atrocities over and over. They are hateful, ignorant, subhuman, bigoted troglodytes, and they need to crawl back into the sewer from whence they came.

Israel has been in a continuous fight for survival since even before it formally became a nation on May 14, 1948. Briefly, some of the highlights, (or lowlights):

1. It was at war with its Arab neighbors in Palestine who adamantly opposed any Jewish nation and wanted to annihilate all the Jews living in the region.

2. Various Fedayeen insurgencies during the 1950s and 1960s.

3. The Suez Canal crisis in 1956.

4. The Six Days’ War in June 1967.

5. The so-called “Wars of Attrition” from 1967 – 1970.

6. The terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

7. Insurgencies in Lebanon 1971 – 1982.

8. The Yom Kippur War in October 1973.

9. On and off wars/skirmishes in Gaza beginning in 2008.

10. Hamas War in October 2023.

Moreover, even during the periods in which it was not at war it was living under the constant threat of war. I know of no other nation past or present in that situation, no other nation whose neighbors have stated publicly that their goal is to annihilate them.

Fortunately, the Israelis are a resilient and hardy group. One might say that it is in their DNA. Many of them are the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Additionally, Jews have been fighting for their survival for some 5,000 years.

In my opinion, the current war with Hamas is one of the most dangerous. It has the potential to morph into a regional, or even worldwide, war. A nuclear war is not out of the question. Strong, sage leadership will be essential on all sides to avoid it. More on that later.

Like most of you, I have been observing developments since the advent of the war, and I am increasingly horrified at what I have seen. Some random thoughts, observations and opinions:

1. The failure of both US and Israeli intelligence is surprising and most disturbing. Apparently, Hamas went “old school,” and we were caught flatfooted.
2. I strongly object to describing these terrorists as “fighters,” gunmen,” or “militants” as some news outlets have done. They have no regard for human life. Their goal is to inflict maximum terror. They are terrorists, pure and simple. In fact, they are worse than terrorists. If I knew a stronger, more vile characterization I would use it.
3. Some media outlets, like the NY Times couldn’t decide what to call them even though it should have been obvious. It labeled them as “terrorists” in the early editions. Then, it changed to “gunmen,” probably at the direction of some spineless “woker.” Other media outlets, such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, have instructed their employees to refrain from use of the word “terrorists.”
4. Initially, the Chicago chapter of BLM posted an inflammatory, celebratory video of a terrorist paragliding to attack with a Palestinian flag attached to his parachute saying “I stand with Palestine.” Later, it took the video down.
5. The clueless editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar characterized Israel’s cutting power to Gaza “the most inhuman thing” she’s ever seen. How about wanton murder, rape and beheading?
6. As we know, anti-Israel sentiments and anti-Semitism have been on the rise, particularly on college campuses. What makes this especially scary is these are the leaders of tomorrow. In the last few days, some universities, notably Harvard and Penn, embarrassed themselves. A group of Harvard students published a letter that held Israel “entirely responsible” for the “unfolding violence.” (Later, another group of students issued a letter attacking the first letter as “completely wrong and deeply offensive.”) As a result of the foregoing several CEOs have demanded the names of those students and have stated they will not hire them upon graduation. If only.
7. One of the masterminds of the attacks is reputed to be a shadowy, one-legged, wheelchair-bound bombmaker who has continually evaded the Israelis for years. His real name is unknown. He goes by the pseudonyms “Mohammed Deif” or “the cat.”
8. Of course, Israel will fight back with a vengeance. It always does, and it will ultimately prevail as it always has. Aerial bombardment has already begun with a massive ground invasion to follow. Food, fuel, and other supplies to Gaza will be cut off. Netanyahu called Hamas “savages” and has vowed to unleash a retaliation that will “echo for generations.” Gaza residents were warned to “get out or die.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said “we are fighting animals, and we will act accordingly.” The NY Post quoted a senior Israeli defense official as warning that Gaza will be “wiped out and reduced to a ‘city of tents.’ “
9. There is a risk that Hezbollah, located off Israel’s northern border in Lebanon could open a second front, which would be a dangerous escalation. .
10. It is obvious that Iran has been complicit. There is strong evidence that it has provided training, financing, expertise and perhaps encouragement to the terrorists. There may not be” proof” that would stand up in a court of law, but the inferences are pretty strong. Nevertheless, Biden and his staff have refused to admit it and address it.
11. Biden’s actions have been lukewarm. First, he waited two days to speak out. It seemed he had a barbeque to host. When he finally surfaced, he got a failing grade. Yes, he did say “we stand with Israel” and “the US has Israel’s back.” But, he failed to go further and acknowledge Iran’s complicity. Also, he failed to resume sanctions and re-freeze the $6 billion. Finally, he failed to address and condemn the anti-Semitic sentiments recently expressed by many people, even some in his own party. Based on Biden’s past actions it is fair to wonder if he will back up those assurances of support should the time come.
12. What will Biden do about the American hostages. Will he negotiate their return, or will he abandon them as he did the Americans left behind in Afghanistan? And, what will his response be regarding the Americans that were slain?
13. After two days of silence former presidents Clinton and Obama finally condemned the terrorists’ attacks. Better late than never, I suppose.
14. Few celebrities and no women’s groups that I am aware of have commented. Their silence is deafening.
15. Biden has been placating Iran since he took office. For instance, he resurrected the ill-advised nuclear deal, relaxed sanctions which had been very effective in controlling Iran, and unfroze some $6 billion of its oil revenues. His actions have exuded weakness and indecisiveness, have emboldened Iran, made it rich and therefore have enabled the latest terrorist attacks. Everyone else, from the public, the media, and even politicians in his own party seem to realize this and have begged him to re-freeze the $6 billion (although five Dem senators who have done so are, coincidentally, up for re-election in 2024). So far, he has refused to do so. He and his advisors have insisted that the money will only be spent for “humanitarian” purposes. Apparently, they don’t realize, or think we don’t realize that money, is fungible. Moreover, in his wishy-washy comments the other day he failed to condemn Iran or even acknowledge its responsibility.
16. Rob Malley, Biden’s special envoy to Iran, is under FBI investigation for various permissive actions and appeasements toward Iran.
17. Another Biden legacy is that many of the weapons we abandoned in the botched Afghanistan pull-out have resurfaced with Hamas and other terrorist groups.
18. CNN has reported that US intelligence has indicated that Iran’s leadership was “caught by surprise” by the attacks. Yeah, right.
19. The barbaric and horrific nature of the attacks is unprecedented in modern warfare. Women, children, babies, the infirmed and the elderly were wantonly slaughtered and beheaded. The exact number is unknown. Hundreds of hostages were taken to endure God knows what. Even hardened soldiers and journalists, who have seen war’s brutality have been horrified beyond words. Some did not have the words to describe what they saw. Mor Radmi, an Israeli reality star, broke down into tears over a terrorist who murdered a man and sent a video of it to his mother. During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby got so emotional he was actually fighting back tears
20. There have been some acts of kindness and compassion. For example, so far Israel has mobilized some 360,000 reservists with more likely to come. Some Israeli reservists domiciled in the US are voluntarily returning to Israel to fight. The airlines are charging $900 per ticket, which, by the way, I find unconscionable. In any event, it has been reported that one man went to JFK hung out near the ticket counter and purchased some 250 plane tickets for those reservists. That’s in excess of $200,000 folks.
21. The NY Post reported that Israeli air strikes killed three senior members of Hamas.
22. So far, the war has resulted in some 1,200 Israelis and eleven Americans dead.
23. Hamas is holding some 150 hostages. Qatari mediators are trying to negotiate their release, perhaps in exchange for Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons.
24. Hospitals in the war zone have been overwhelmed. Most of the wounded were sent to the Soroka Medical Center, located some 25 miles west of Gaza. CEO Dr. Shlomi Codish has characterized the injuries he has seen as “unprecedented.” He added that in the first 18 hours they saw 700 people and treated them literally “under fire.” Workers have been working 36-hour shifts. Many of them have not received any news regarding their own families. Due to overcrowding some surgeries had to be performed right in the emergency room. Some wounded actually walked to the hospital on their own. With all that, out of 700 patients only 18 died. Those people are truly heroes.
25. There have been several pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel rallies both in the US and abroad. In addition, several US politicians have come out in support of the Palestinians or have refrained from criticizing their actions. For example, Rep. Rashida Tlaib has found it necessary to display a large Palestinian flag outside her office. Rep. Ilhan Omar characterized Israel’s planned retaliation as a “war crime.” In response to those comments Rep. Mike Lawler retorted “you are out of your mind and unfit to serve in the House of Representatives.” Good for him. In Sydney protesters chanted offensive slogans such as “Allah Akbar” and “gas the Jews.”
26. Amid all the horror there were some instances of heroism. For example, retired ex-IDF major general Noam Tibon travelled ten hours through the war zone to rescue his family, which was trapped in their home. He told them “trust me. I will come [to rescue you],” and he did. Inbal Lieberman, the security coordinator for Kibbutz Nir Am, organized resistance to repel some two dozen terrorists who were attacking.

CONCLUSION

So, where do we go from here? That is the $64,000 question to which I have no answer. I don’t think anyone does for certain. I see two issues. With respect to the war unless cooler heads prevail among world leaders there is a real risk of an expanded conflict either regionwide or worldwide. Also, some maniac may opt to use nuclear weapons.

The sticky point is the hostages. As I said, Israel will retaliate. They always have. Israel must retaliate to deter future attacks. In that event Hammas has vowed to murder the hostages. They always do in the most brutal manner. It will be very difficult to rescue the hostages. We don’t know their precise location or even if they are still in the tunnels. As I said, that is the sticky point.

Perhaps equally frightening is the rise of anti-Semitism both in the US and the world at large. Those who know history are aware that it has been extant for some 5,000 years. Most of the time it has been bubbling just below the surface only to break out into the open in times of crisis. This war has given “cover” for antisemites to express their hidden feelings. Make no mistake. Anti-Israel sentiments are code for anti-Semitism. Once again, bigots want to blame the Jews for events. I believe that issue may be impossible to resolve fully.

On Monday, October 11, we will celebrate Columbus Day, which is a holiday to honor the man who “discovered” America. But, did he? More on that later.

Federal offices and most banks will be closed, so there will be no mail delivery (although national parks will be open). On the other hand, financial markets and most schools will be open. Many cities and towns will hold their traditional Columbus Day parade, including NYC for the 79th year.

CD has been celebrated in the US since 1792. Originally, it was celebrated on October 12, the date on which Columbus made landfall. FDR proclaimed CD a national holiday in 1937. In 1971 pursuant to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act the date was changed to the second Monday in October where it has remained ever since.

In recent years Columbus and CD have become controversial. Many Native American and other activist groups have denoted his brutality toward the indigenous peoples he encountered, particularly in the West Indies. Some states, such as Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota, have authorized alternate holidays, such as Fraternal Day and Indigenous Peoples Day in protest. Others don’t celebrate it at all. According to Pew Research presently, only 16 states plus the territory of American Samoa still celebrate the holiday exclusively as Columbus Day.

For hundreds of years the conventional wisdom was that Columbus discovered America in 1492. Most of us know the basics of the story. Columbus was born in Genoa, which is now part of Italy, in 1451. According to Wikipedia the precise date is not known. He went to sea at around the age of ten and travelled extensively from the British Isles to the West African coast.

By the late 1400s the spice trade between Asia and Europe had become extremely lucrative. The problem was it took too long to travel between the two locations. Either ships had to sail around the “horn” of Africa or caravans had to travel overland through central Asia. Both routes were arduous and dangerous. Columbus became convinced he could find a quicker route. Time meant money, even in the 15th century. He was seeking a “Northwest Passage” to Asia, which would enhance the spice trade between Europe and Asia. His idea that he could find it by traveling west was generally considered radical and unrealistic.

At the time, most people believed the world was flat, and that if one sailed too far west the ship would simply fall off the edge of the earth. It was not until the 16th century, thanks primarily to the research of Copernicus and Galileo that the scientific community generally accepted the notion that the earth was spherical, not flat, and that it revolved around the sun, not the other way around. Columbus “pitched” his idea all over Europe seeking a sponsor. He was subjected to laughter and ridicule until King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain decided to take a chance on him. He set sail in August of 1492 with three ships – the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

On October 12 he made landfall in the current-day Bahama Islands. He named the indigenous people “Indians,” as he thought he was in India. Of course, he was wrong, but the term Indians to identify Native Americans has “stuck.” As colonial Governor of the area he became known for his extreme brutality toward the indigenous people. It was so bad that eventually he was removed from his post.

Eventually, Columbus would make three subsequent voyages to Central and South America. He never set foot in any part of North America. And he never did find the elusive Northwest Passage.

Based on new evidence, it is now generally accepted that Columbus did not “discover” America as we were taught in school. He did not “discover” anything. He was not the first person to set foot in America. Not even close as you will see below. What he did accomplish was to make Europeans aware of the existence of a “New World” which was chock full of unimaginable riches. His successful voyages ushered in a new era of exploration, conquest, colonization and war that would last for centuries. He was not the first, but one can argue that he was the most significant.

CONCLUSION

So, who did “discover” America?

1. According to historian Michael Bawaya, editor of the magazine, American Archaeology, the original settlers of the NW arrived about 15,000 years ago. At that time the Bering Sea, which separates modern-day Siberia from North America, was more shallow than it is now. In some areas, there was an actual land-bridge. According to the US National Parks Service the land-bridge “played a vital role” in the spread of flora and fauna between the two continents. Animals such as mastodons, wooly mammoths, Arctic camels, horses and various species of fish and birds moved freely over the land-bridge establishing migration patterns that persist to this day. Of course, humans followed as they went where the food was.
2. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of settlements in and around Clovis, NM that are some 11,000 years old. DNA evidence suggests that these inhabitants were the direct ancestors of some 80% of ALL indigenous peoples in the Americas.
3. According to voanews there is ample evidence that the Vikings inhabited Newfoundland and other parts of eastern Canada as early as circa 1100. Two leaders of these intrepid Viking explorers were Leif Erickson and his son, Eric “the Red.” They did not establish any permanent colonies, but there is ample evidence that they used the area as a winter settlement to make repairs to their boats and “ride out” bad weather.
4. There is evidence that Chinese and/or Polynesian explorers made their way to parts of South America well before Columbus.

In summary, I believe Columbus deserves credit (and blame) for introducing the New World to Europeans and all that followed, but it cannot be said that he “discovered” it. As indicated by his harsh treatment of the natives he was not perfect; none of us is. But, I am not a proponent of “revisionist history” as advocated by many on the “left.” Therefore, I do not believe CD should be “canceled.” In my view, Columbus deserves to continue to be recognized with a holiday in his memory.

You cannot make this up.

For those of you who have been hibernating for the past seven or so years or have been getting their news from MSNBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, or other fake news outlets, let’s test your knowledge with a quick review of the border wall issue. Who said the following?

1. In 2006, the US needs a “tightening” of the border “with fences” (to deal with illegal immigration).
2. In 2007, “no great nation can be in a position where they can’t control their borders.”
3. In 2020, “a wall will do little to deter criminals and cartels seeking to exploit our borders.” Moreover, “there will not be another foot of wall constructed by my administration.”
4. In 2021, he characterized building a border wall as a “waste of money” and advocated “pausing” border wall construction even though Congress had already approved funds for its construction and materials had been purchased. (This was “rich” coming from a president who has wasted more money on various projects than any other president.)
5. A few days ago, declaring the US will resume border wall construction.

The answers are Joe Biden, Joe Biden, Joe Biden, Joe Biden, and Joe Biden.

It gets even better. A few days ago, even as he reiterated his belief that the wall was “ineffective,” his administration announced the abovementioned resumption of construction. So, let me get this straight, because I didn’t attend “Hahvid.” Biden still thinks the wall is ineffective, but he has authorized further construction anyway. Huh? Like I said, you can’t make this up.

Biden has long been a political chameleon. He has frequently changed positions when politically expedient. Some examples, other than the border wall, include school busing, crime, foreign policy, and oil drilling. Perhaps, this is because he forgets his former positions on issues; or maybe, he thinks the public forgets; or maybe, he is unaware that we live in an age where everything is recorded and retained forever; or maybe, he expects his allies in the media to “cover” for him; or maybe, he just doesn’t care; or maybe, it’s some combination of the above. Take your pick.

Of course, I am using sarcasm to highlight the danger of the situation and the serious, perhaps irreparable, economic, political, military and social damage, it has done to this country. I have published many blogs on this issue, and there is no need to rehash them here. Suffice to say, there were reasons why the Vatican constructed its walls in the 800s, the Chinese built the Great Wall over 20 centuries (from the 3rd BC to the 17th), every castle ever constructed had a wall, often supplemented by a moat, and wealthy people often choose to live in condominiums surrounded by walls and security guards. With a mere modicum of research one can easily ascertain those reasons and results. It’s just common sense (which, as we all know, is not “common.”)

We all know why Biden has flip-flopped at this time. Clearly, his current immigration policy has been a disaster. Many of our cities are being inundated with migrants; they are going bankrupt trying to provide for them; Dem mayors, other politicians, and many Dem voters are in an uproar. Even many of Biden’s allies in the media have joined in. Even the clueless and incompetent Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has conceded that there is an “immediate need” to construct an additional border wall. And, most significantly, there is an election in one year.

CONCLUSION

The Dems may not know how to run a country, but they are very savvy regarding elections. My opinion is that they sense the immigration issue is hurting them, and they will at least pay lip service to reform until after the election. Stubbornly, they won’t admit that Trump and the GOP were right on this issue all along, even though events have shown conclusively that they were.

My advice to voters – don’t be fooled. Building a wall, though important, is only a first step. Additionally, to be successful we must demonstrate the political will to enforce our immigration laws and ignore the naysayers’ false and exaggerated claims of racism. I am not convinced that we, as a country, have the “stomach” to do that, but time will tell.