Author: webuiltitblog

Most people knew her solely as First Lady of the US during her husband, Jimmy’s, presidency. But that did her a big disservice. As you will see, she was much more than that.

Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born in Plains, Georgia on August 18, 1927. She was the oldest of four children. The family was poor, and both of Rosalynn’s parents had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Her father worked as an auto mechanic, a bus driver and a farmer. Her mother worked as a teacher, postal worker and dressmaker. Later in life Rosalynn reflected that she and her siblings were not aware of their status because although they did not have much “neither did anyone else [they knew].”

To exacerbate their dire financial situation Rosealynn’s father died when she was just 13. As she put it, this marked the “conclusion of her childhood.” As the oldest she was obligated to help raise her younger siblings and help her mom in her dressmaking business. Normally, this type of situation results in a life of poverty and struggles. However, Rosalynn was determined to graduate high school and college, which had been her father’s dream for her. She was Salutatorian of her high school class and graduated from Georgia Southwestern College in 1946. Rosalynn credited her mother for inspiring her to achieve these goals and also to become an independent person. Often, she would tell her “you can do what you have to do.”

Rosalynn and Jimmy began dating in 1945 while he was home on leave from the Naval Academy. Their families were acquainted, not so unusual in a small town like Plains. She said she had first been attracted to him when she saw him in his naval uniform. After the first date Jimmy told his mother “she’s the girl I want to marry.” They were married the next year. They had four children – three boys and one girl. Rosalynn became friendly with Jimmy’s sister who was only two years younger than her but not so much with his mother.

Jimmy commenced his political career in 1962 when he ran for and was elected to the Georgia State Senate. He became Governor of Georgia in 1966, and in 1976 he defeated Gerald Ford for the presidency. Rosalynn was there every step of the way as supporter, advisor and confidant. She was an integral part of each campaign.

Rosalynn was not a typical First Lady. For instance, she was the first First Lady to maintain her own office in the East Wing of the White House. For you trivia buffs, her Secret Service code name was “Dancer.” She combined a genteel, soft, even fragile exterior with a hard, “tough as nails” interior. Naturally, she became known affectionately as the “Steel Magnolia” or “Iron Butterfly.”

Every First Lady has a pet project or two that they focus on. She set the tone for her tenure in her very first interview as First Lady in March 1977. She announced that her focus would be on mental health issues. Her strong feeling was that “every person who needs mental health care [should be] able to receive it close to his home, and [we must\remove the stigma from mental health care so people will be free to talk about it and seek help. It’s been taboo for so long to admit you had a mental health problem.” In particular she abhorred movies and television shows that often portrayed mentally ill persons as violent and prone to crime. She denoted that they were, in fact, more likely to be victims than perpetrators.

She served as honorary chairperson on the President’s Commission on Mental Health, and in 1980 she testified before Congress in support of the Mental Health System Bill, which had been enacted in 1980. She was only the second First Lady to do so (after Eleanor Roosevelt). In addition, she was sensitive to the plight of caregivers and gave several speeches that highlighted their issues and concerns.

Rosalynn wielded a great deal of influence, more than most First Ladies. She and Jimmy often worked as a team. Jimmy valued her opinion and advice. Jimmy maintained that “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I accomplished. She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.” She would often attend Jimmy’s meetings (at his suggestion) as an observer. She would listen, learn and take notes. Later, they would discuss matters, although the president maintained that he always acted on his own decisions. Sometimes she would meet with officials, even leaders, as his representative. For example, she served as an envoy to Latin America in 1977. At one point, Time magazine described her as “the second most powerful person in the US.”

Even as First Lady Rosalynn never forgot her roots. One example of her frugality was that she wore the same gown to the presidential inaugural balls that she had worn to the Georgia governor inaugural balls six years earlier.

Rosalynn was a popular First Lady. At one point she was voted, along with Mother Teresa, as the most admired woman in the world. She maintained her favorability even as President Carter’s popularity began to wane.

CONCLUSION

Jimmy’s presidency was not very popular. In particular he was severely criticized for his handling of the Iran hostage crisis. He lost his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan in 1980. Rosalynn became bitter over Jimmy’s loss. She resented Reagan and told interviewer Mike Wallace he was “ruining the country.” Nevertheless, she offered that she had enjoyed her time in DC. Regarding DC she said, “I loved living here and being so close to the seat of power, being a part of the political system.”

Eventually, she found her niche, and she and Jimmy led a very active and productive post-presidency life. For example, she co-founded the Carter Center, a private not-for-profit enterprise based in Atlanta. The goal of the CC was to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering. For instance, the CC helped broker a peace deal in the Middle East and built homes in Chicago for the poor.

Rosalynn became an author. She wrote five books including an autobiography. In addition, she received various awards and honorariums, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which she shared with Jimmy.

In May 2023 she developed dementia and entered hospice care with Jimmy at their home. She passed away on August 18 at the age of 96. At the time of her death she was the second-longest-lived First Lady, surpassed only by Bess Truman (97). Moreover, she was the longest married First Lady (77 years).

Tributes have been pouring in. For example: President Biden called her “a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for every person and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones and people with disabilities.” Former President George W. Bush characterized her as “a woman of dignity and strength.”

Rest in peace Rosalynn. You will be sorely missed.

Few people in history are so recognizable that with the mere mention of their initials one instantly knows about whom you are talking. Such is the case with John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. He flashed across our lives like a comet, brilliant but brief. He was only president for 1,000 days before he was assassinated, yet, even today, people remember him and recognize his name.

Wednesday, November 22, will mark the 60th anniversary of his assassination. Almost anyone over the age of 70 remembers vividly where they were and what they were doing when they first heard of it. For example, I, a freshman in college, was walking to a history class. (Yes, I did attend classes, even on a Friday afternoon.) I heard some other students talking about the President having been shot. I wasn’t sure I had heard correctly, but unfortunately, I had.

What was strange about the whole incident was the lack of reliable information. It wasn’t like today when news is known and disseminated instantaneously. It might be hard for you youngsters to believe, but there was no Facebook, no Twitter, no cell phones, no internet. Even computers were in their infancy.

Communication between New York, where, at the time, all media communications were centered, and Dallas was sketchy. Even worse, Dealey Square, the site of the assassination, was not close to the addresses of the network news’ Dallas offices. Reporters on the scene had to communicate by public telephone, when they could find one. Often, competing reporters ended up sharing telephones. Information was incomplete and contradictory.

Eventually, however, we found out the horrible news. No one will ever forget the grim look on venerable CBS anchor Walter Cronkite’s face as he removed his glasses, stared into the camera, and told a shocked, confused and scared nation that the President was dead. At the time, Cronkite was generally considered to be “the most trusted man in America.” When we heard it from “Uncle Walter,” we knew it was true.

The purpose of this blog is not to relate the details of the day’s events, nor do I wish to get bogged down in the various conspiracy theories, some of which persist to this day. Many books have been written on the subject, and I can’t possibly cover these topics in a short blog. Suffice to say, it was a surreal experience. Many emotions swirled through my head – disbelief, denial, fear and uncertainty. Who did it? Why? Was it a single gunman or a conspiracy? Was it part of a larger plot? Would we go to war? These and other questions came to mind.

Most everyone was glued to their television sets for days while events played out – Lyndon Johnson sworn in as the 36th President of the US on Airforce 1, Jackie Kennedy standing beside him still in shock and wearing the blood and brain-stained pink suit she had been wearing in the limo (which, she had refused to remove, declaring “I want them to see what they have done”), Lee Harvey Oswald arrested, Oswald shot live on national tv while under police escort (How in the world did Jack Ruby get access to that corridor, anyway?), JKF’s funeral procession, the “riderless” horse, young John Jr’s salute. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy followed soon after. It was a time of chaos and uncertainty, the end of innocence.

JFK had won the Presidency by the narrowest of margins over Vice President Richard Nixon. He had received 49.7% of the popular vote to Nixon’s 49.5% and won several states by the slimmest of margins. In that relatively primitive era of communications the end result was not known until the next morning. In the wee hours, the networks “called” CA for JFK which finally made him the winner. (Ironically, Nixon ended up winning CA after all the absentee ballots were counted.) Many people, including a 15-year-old girl in Berwick, Pa., caught up in the drama, stayed up all night to await the results.

JFK was young, handsome, bright, vibrant, dynamic, scion of a famous and wealthy family, and a war hero. He and his beautiful, glamorous wife, Jackie, seemed like American royalty to many Americans. He gave us hope and optimism. In the eyes of his supporters, he was the one who would transform America. During his inaugural address he uttered the famous line that symbolized the great hope that he would lead us to “A New Frontier,” as his campaign had promised (“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”). Unfortunately, today, many people espouse the opposite philosophy.

JFK got off to a rocky start with the Bay of Pigs fiasco. But he seemed to make up for it when he faced down the Russians and Premier Nikita Khrushchev in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Most of us did not realize how close we had come to nuclear war, but in the end, Kennedy won that round and showed he was learning on the job. His administration was dubbed “Camelot” after the description of the mythical King Arthur’s court.

Unfortunately, Kennedy made a lot of powerful enemies. Many Republicans thought he had “stolen” the election (shades of 2020). Indeed, there had been whispers about voting irregularities, notably in Chicago, which had long been notorious for that sort of thing and where for many years it was said, only partly facetiously, that even dead people voted. However, in the end nothing came of that – no media exposes, no court challenges. Yes, times have certainly changed.

Many conservatives thought he was too soft on communism and too aggressive on civil rights issues. He had made powerful enemies among organized crime and at the FBI and CIA, among others. Fidel Castro hated him for the Bay of Pigs attack. On the other hand, many Cuban ex-Pats thought he had betrayed them by failing to intervene militarily to support the invasion when it fell apart. All in all, he had a plethora of powerful enemies with the motive, means, opportunity and funds to plan and execute a Presidential assassination and cover-up. In retrospect, one should not have been surprised.

CONCLUSION

A favorite speculation has been how American and world history would have been different had JFK not been assassinated. Would he have pulled us out of Viet Nam as has been speculated? If so, would there have been an antiwar movement in the 1960’s with the attendant protests, turmoil and violence? Would MLK and RFK still have been assassinated? Would the civil rights movement have progressed differently, more peacefully? We will never know. There have been many books written about this topic, including one by Stephen King called “11/22/63” about a fictional time traveler who journeys back to 1963 to try to prevent the assassination, which makes fascinating “what if” reading.

Virtually the entire country became immersed in the assassination and its aftermath for weeks, if not months. My recollection is that the news networks covered it continuously. A cloud of conspiracy still hangs over the assassination 60 years later. As I said, books have been written and movies produced dealing with the conspiracy theories. Did Oswald act alone? Was he tied to the KGB or the CIA? How did Ruby get close enough to kill Oswald from point-blank range? Was there an accomplice on the grassy knoll? Why was Ruby killed in prison? What of the roles, if any, of mobsters, like Sam Giancana, Head of the Chicago mob, and Carlos Marcello, Head of the New Orleans mob, as well as the CIA, the FBI, the Russians, and/or Castro? Were the Warren Commission’s findings accurate or part of a cover-up?

At this time, as we mark the passage of another anniversary of JFK’s assassination, we are reminded that these issues, and others, have still not been resolved to many Americans’ satisfaction. As time passes, it seems they probably never will be.

For you readers of a certain age, what are your memories of the assassination and its aftermath? Where were you when you heard the awful news? I would like to know.

As most of you know, recently several universities have been exposed as hotbeds of antisemitism among both the faculty and students. One of those is Columbia University. However, not all faculty and students there are anti-Semites. Not all of them hue to the party line. One brave professor, who is not tenured, has determined to speak out and express his true feelings in an open letter, even though they run counter to the prevalent attitude at his college and may cause his termination. One of my readers sent me a copy of his letter, and I am repeating it verbatim. He deserves to be heard.

• Letter by a Columbia Professor with a conscience.
• ” I am an assistant professor at Columbia Business School.  I am a father, a husband, an uncle, and a son.  I am a forty-year-old man, and last week I found myself crying in front of a group of complete strangers. In a video that has since gone viral, I stood on Columbia University’s main campus and pleaded with my employer to protect me and help me protect the thousands of Jewish students whose lives and safety have been entrusted to us by worried parents all across the United States. I pleaded with my employer to help me protect the lives of thousands of Jewish students from pro-terror student organizations who openly laud Hamas—an internationally recognized terrorist organization.
• I pleaded with the presidents of colleges and universities all around the country to take a clear moral stance against rape and torture and the kidnapping of helpless civilians. I pleaded with colleges and universities to live up to their stated mission of humanism and enlightenment.  I pleaded—and still plead—because the silence of college presidents all across the country is deafening. I am not tenured.  I could be fired for this. But my research into behavioral psychology has taught me I can’t afford not to take a stance. Not when students’ lives are on the line. Not when my children’s lives are on the line. My children may be American citizens, but, through their mother and me, they are Israelis, too. And because they are Israelis, because they are Jews, I fear for them. I fear for my two-year-old daughter, who’s funny and brave and thinks everyone in the world is her friend. I fear for my seven-year-old son, who still asks me to sit next to his bed for a few minutes every night when I tuck him into bed. I fear, because there are student organizations on my own campus who see my beautiful children as legitimate targets.
• I fear, because the president of my university—my very own employer—refuses to speak up against such senseless violence and hatred. Let’s call this what it is. This is cowardice. .I see my son’s and daughter’s faces in the faces of the hundreds of innocent children and teenagers who were murdered, tortured, raped, brutalized, and kidnapped on October 7th. For Hamas and its supporters, those children are acceptable targets. And right now, in colleges and universities all across the country, there are hundreds of pro-terror student organizations that are celebrating these vile crimes against humanity. This is what the President of Columbia is refusing to condemn.  This is what the President of Harvard is refusing to condemn.  This is what the Presidents of Yale and NYU and UC Berkeley and many other “enlightened” institutions throughout the country are refusing to condemn. They would never allow student organizations to celebrate the senseless loss of life in the horrific attacks of 9/11. They would never allow student organizations to celebrate the horrific murder of George Floyd. They would never allow student organizations to celebrate the mass shooting of more than 100 LGBTQ+ people in an Orlando nightclub on June 12, 2016. And yet, when it comes to Jewish lives—when it comes to my own children’s lives—they could care less.
• Let me be as clear as I can: This is not about being pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. This is about making a clear distinction between legitimate resistance and unspeakable crimes against humanity. This is about human decency. You can support the rights of millions of innocent Palestinians and still take a moral stance against heinous violence and brutality. I know, because I do. You can spend your adult life advocating for the establishment of a prosperous Palestinian state next to a prosperous Israeli state and still be willing to draw the line at rape. I know, because I do. You can be a lefty and a softy who can’t fathom why we can’t just end this senseless cycle of violence yet still shout at the top of your lungs that shooting babies in their cribs and burning their corpses is just plain evil. Plain plain evil. I know, because I am, and I do. You can be pro-Israel and pro-Palestine and anti-terror. I know, because I am.
• Parents from all across the country have reached out to me in the past week asking if their kids are safe. Thousands of worried parents who have been losing sleep as they see their children’s campuses rampaged by extremist organizations that openly celebrate and encourage terrorism. Thousands of moms and dads who only want to make sure that their children are protected from harm. To all those parents, I reply: No.  Your children are not safe. Because, as a professor, I can tell you that universities across the country would rather appease pro-terror campus coalitions than care for their Jewish students. Because, as a professor, I can tell you that the presidents of universities all across the U.S. are more concerned with getting bad press than with getting your children home safely.
• What sort of education is your child getting at a place that refuses to condemn terror-sympathizing organizations and allows them to roam freely on campus? What sort of education is your child getting at a place that gives a platform and a mix to organizations that celebrate the execution of infants in their cribs? The raping of teenagers? The kidnapping of toddlers?
• The moral and intellectual bankruptcy of universities throughout the country is now undeniable. But I know that if we all work together we can make a real difference. This is not about me.  I’m not some leader.  I’m just a dad. I’m just a dad who is scared and who is willing to put EVERYTHING on the line to protect his children.
• Many of you have reached out in the past days, and your messages have brought me immense light into a very dark time. I am so extremely inspired by the stories people have been sending me. People are telling me about the committees they’ve formed and the PTAs they’ve joined and the politicians they’ve called and TV and radio shows to which they have called-in, demanding that their voice be heard. People have written to me about stopping their annual donations to their alma mater until it takes a clear stance against pure evil. Until it takes a clear stance against those who celebrate pure evil.
• If you want to get in touch and let me know about all that you have, are, and will be doing at your job, school, alma mater, neighborhood, and so forth, please email me at:shaidavidai2023@gmail.com (mailto:shaidavidai2023@gmail.com)Please help me spread this message. PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. One more thing — If you have read thus far, I imagine that it must be because you are someone who cares deeply about this. So I have a small request: If every person who read thus far personally sent this to at least 10 of their friends RIGHT NOW and asked those friends to send this to 10 of their friends, I know that we will be able to make a big difference in the world.  I truly do. (and if I’m wrong well, hey at least we will all know that in this time of crisis we did everything that we could). I know it’s weird, but can I please ask you to email this to all your friends and post it on all your social media profiles? I really just want the message to get through. Thank you!”

Below please find my reply.

I just received a copy of your letter.  I was very touched by your commentary.  You wrote with such passion!  We are probably from different sides of the political spectrum, but on this topic I agree with you 100%.  How could any decent person not do so?  I respect you for taking such a powerful stand even though the pinheads who run your university may terminate your employment because of it. 

I am a 78-year-old Jew as well as a husband, a father and a grandfather.  I, too, am very concerned about what the future may hold for my kids and grandkids, particularly my grandkids who are 16 and 13 and will soon be attending college.  

In addition, I am a blogger. My blogs are published in The Times of Israel, but primarily I write as a hobby, not for profit.  I blog about many topics, but lately I have focused on antisemitism in the US and the world at-large.  I have written some strong language condemning antisemitism and supporting Israel.  I am too old to fight. This is how I make my contribution. I am hopeful that people reading my blogs will become cognizant of our point of view.

I am providing you with a link to my blogs in case you are interested.  I would appreciate and welcome your comments. I will include your letter in my next blog (anonymously).  In addition to the TOI they are disseminated to some 100 persons in some 20 countries. Keep up the good fight!

CONCLUSION

We need more people with the courage, conviction and conscience to speak up. Yesterday’s demonstration in Washington, DC was great, but we cannot sit back and rest. We need more of the same. This war will be won in the court of public opinion as well as on the battlefield. Israel and Jews the world over are in a fight for our very survival. Our enemies are vicious, barbaric and determined. Their oft-stated goal is not merely to defeat us, but to annihilate us. We need to continue the fight.

Yesterday, there were a few developments that lead me to believe we may have reached a significant turning point in this war. To be sure, Israel is winning on the battlefield, and there is little doubt that they WILL ultimately prevail. They have the motivation, but more importantly, they have the spine. They will not be swayed from their objective, which is to destroy Hamas, by politics, diplomacy or public opinion.

However, heretofore, Israel had been losing the battle of public opinion, which is also crucial. Heretofore, we had been inundated with a steady stream of pro-Palestinian publicity, marches and demonstrations. The pro-Palestinians have been loud, provocative, violent and seemingly omnipresent. We have seen antisemitic rallies on college campuses. We have been treated to rants by the lunatics of the Squad and others. In my view, the news coverage has been biased against Israel as it normally is. Logic told us that most clear-thinking, objective people couldn’t possibly side with Hamas, but, for the most part, they have been silent. Where were they? When would they speak up?

But, yesterday, it all changed. Yesterday, the silent majority spoke up loudly and clearly. Yesterday, according to Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations CEO William Daroff and many media outlets we witnessed some 300,000 supporters stand up and support Israel and the Jewish people in Washington, DC. These were not radicals. They were ordinary people who had been fed up and wanted to show their support. There was a plethora of banners and flags. There were no chants; there was no violence. Just ordinary, normal people standing up for what’s right. Many of them were not even Jewish. These were people who were tired of being silent. 300,000! 100,00 were expected, and 300,000 came! Many hundreds of thousands more watched on TV, U Tube and various streaming services.

Just as impressive was the fact that politicians, such as, among others, GOPers Mike Johnson and Joni Ernst and Dems Van Jones, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, who rarely agree on anything, showed up and expressed solidarity and support of Israel. Of course, neither President Biden nor VP Kamela Harris, deigned to attend. This was disappointing, as it would have been an ideal time to show the Administration’s support, but not unexpected.

Equally significant was that yesterday the IDF finally gained entrance to al Shifa Hospital, and as many of us expected they found copious amounts of weapons inside and in tunnels under the hospital. That’s not all. They also captured hundreds, if not thousands, of fighting age males. We now have visual irrefutable evidence of what Israel has been claiming all along, that Hamas has been cowardly sheltering in tunnels underneath the hospital. Once again, the naysayers have been proven wrong. By the time you read this the IDF may even have found and rescued some or all of the hostages sequestered there.

The one downer is that Sleepy Joe Biden has released the previously-frozen $10 billion of oil money due Iran. Inexplicable. It appears that everyone, except for him, seems to realize that the quickest way to end the war is to strangle Iran economically.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the Israel-Hamas War has taken a turn for the better both on the ground and in the arena of public opinion, although we still have a long struggle ahead. Hezbollah seems to be opening a second front in the north. Iran is still a threat. There remains the specter of Russia and China. Ultimately, I believe Israel will prevail both militarily and in the arena of public opinion. It simply must.

Unfortunately, antisemitism is still very much alive and well. It has always been there, and I fear it always will be.

November 9-10 marked the 85th anniversary of one of the most horrific events in Jewish history, Kristallnacht, aka the Night of the Broken Glass. Considering the turbulent history of the Jewish people, that says a lot.

K should be very significant to Jews for two reasons. (1) We must never forget events such as this; and (2) based on current events a replication is very possible, and maybe soon. Before you scoff at the idea that such an event could occur in the US in the 21st century, read on.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Kristallnacht the following is a brief summary of what happened, why and the aftermath.

1. One might say that K was the “mother of all pogroms.” Pogroms were outbreaks of mass violence directed against a targeted group of people, such as Jews. They have occurred throughout history primarily in Russia, Poland and other parts of eastern Europe. Often, they occurred spontaneously at the slightest provocation with the tacit approval of the rulers.
2. The primary perpetrators of K were various paramilitary elements of the Nazi Party, such as the SS, SA and Hitler youth, but many regular civilians joined in.
3. Mobs of people ransacked and smashed windows of synagogues, Jewish stores, schools, homes, and other buildings. The level of violence was astounding. Some people even used sledgehammers and other tools of destruction. Over 7,000 Jewish businesses were destroyed; some 30,000 Jews were arrested and imprisoned; and some 300 synagogues were destroyed. At the time it was estimated that 91 people died, but when one takes into account post-attack deaths such as prisoner maltreatment and murders, suicides and other causes it was actually much higher. The exact number of deaths is not known definitively.
4. Law enforcement just stood by and did not interfere. The violence was preplanned and organized, although it was made to look spontaneous. In the aftermath shards of glass littered the ground, hence the name K.
5. The pretext for the violence was the assassination of a minor German diplomat named Ernst vom Rath by a 17-year-old German-born Jew living in Paris.
6. K did not occur spontaneously. The seeds were in place for years. Some historians postulate that the Nazis had been looking for an appropriate provocation to justify cracking down on the Jews, and the vom Rath assassination provided it. I subscribe to that theory. In fact, after vom Rath died of his wounds propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels gave a speech in which he encouraged” demonstrations” but specified that they should appear to be spontaneous, not preplanned or organized, and if so, they would not be “hampered” by the police.
7. It is important to note that prior to the advent of the Nazi regime Jews had been living peacefully in Germany for some 500 years. They were fully integrated into all facets of German society. All that changed when the Nazis came into power in the early 1930s. At first, the changes were subtle, and most people were not alarmed. To be sure, hundreds of thousands of people emigrated to other countries, if they could get in, but many more stayed. The prevailing assumption was that the Nazi restrictive policies toward Jews would “blow over.” But, as we know, they did not. Regarding emigration, Chaim Weismann, noted statesman and Zionist leader, denoted that “the world seemed to be divided into two parts – those places where Jews could not live and those where they could not enter.”
8. The immediate aftermath did not go as the Nazis wanted. K was covered extensively by the foreign press, which was horrified by the level of sheer brutality and wanton violence. K had laid bare the repressive nature of Nazi policies for all the world to see. For example, The Times of London reported “No foreign propagandist bent upon blackening Germany before the world could outdo the tale of burnings and beatings, of blackguardly assaults on defenseless and innocent people, which disgraced that country yesterday.” Unfortunately, despite its outrage the world did nothing to curtail the Nazis.

CONCLUSION

Based on current events I am concerned that a replication of a K situation may be in the offing. The seeds are in place. You may think I’m being extreme, but I am of the opinion that history says I am not.

Antisemitic attitudes have always existed. Recently, they had been relatively suppressed or at least under control, but now they have become very prevalent. One only has to read or watch the news. It is omnipresent – in the press, the schools, among the general citizenry, even in Congress. Attitudes that used to remain covert have now become overt. The Israel-Hamas War has become the trigger. It has emboldened antisemites and provided them with the “cover” to express their attitudes and wreak violence against Jews and Israel. The level of bias and hate has been just astounding.

Tens of thousands of people have been demonstrating against Israel and Jews without the foggiest idea of the facts. They are just parroting antisemitic sayings that they heard somewhere. They dismiss the actual facts of Hamas’ wanton brutality as Jewish propaganda. These demonstrations are becoming increasingly violent. Many Jews are afraid to leave their homes or their college dormitories, or to wear anything that identifies them as Jews. Jews have been routinely assaulted and insulted. Some have even been killed. I believe we are a small step away from widespread violence against Jews, perhaps even another K. All that’s needed is a spark, a provocation.

The Biden Administration has to step up and condemn antisemitic bias and actions forcefully and unconditionally. To date, it has not. Like in every other situation, its reaction has been vague, soft and ambiguous. You may say “it can’t happen here, not in 21st century America,” but history tells us it very well could. I would love to be wrong about this, but I don’t believe I am. Remember, as I said, before the Nazis took control Jews had been living in Germany peacefully and harmoniously for some 500 years. To put that in perspective, that’s twice as long as Jews have been in America. They were citizens with full rights. They were part of the social fabric of the country, and it all came crashing down in a few years. Nothing is forever. Many times in their history Jews had been welcome in a country, until they were not.

Postscript: A massive rally of Israeli and Jewish supporters is expected today in Washington, DC. Upwards of 100,000 persons are expected. I am gratified by this strong show of support.

This year, Veterans Day will be celebrated on Saturday, November 11.  The holiday is always celebrated on the same date unless it falls on a Sunday, in which case it is celebrated on Monday, November 12.  Since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year celebrations will vary from the norm. Some businesses will celebrate it of Friday in lieu and/or in addition to Saturday. This is a day on which we celebrate our living veterans as opposed to Memorial Day, which is reserved for those who gave their lives for our country.

Most government entities, such as the DMV and local libraries are closed today, Friday, November 10. Some will be closed on Saturday, November 11 as well. The US Postal Service will be open on Friday but closed on Saturday. Banks will be open on Friday but closed on Saturday. Financial markets will be open. Most retailers and other businesses will be open both days. Schools are closed on Friday, Traditionally, many restaurants and golf courses offer discounts for veterans.

Many cities will hold parades. Who doesn’t love a parade? The largest parade will be in NYC (where else?), which will be returning for its 104th year. Some 20,000 participants and 400,000 spectators are expected.

Many of you have requested a quiz.  So, here it is, and in honor of Veterans Day it has a military theme. Good luck and no peeking at the internet. No consulting “Alexa” or “Siri.”

1. Who was the US president during the first war against the Barbary Pirates? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d James Monroe

2. The WWI battle that inspired the poem “In Flanders Field” took place in (a) Ardennes, (b) Charleroi, (c) Gallipoli, (d) Ypres

3. Each of the following presidents had been renowned generals, EXCEPT: a) Teddy Roosevelt, (b) Andrew Jackson, (c) Zachary Taylor, (d) Franklyn Pierce

4. “Pickett’s Charge” was the turning point of what Civil War battle? (a) Bull Run, (b) Manassas, (c) Gettysburg, (d) Fredericksburg

5. The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” refers to which Revolutionary War battle? (a) Boston, (b) Lexington, (c) Concord, (d) NY

6. Tripoli, the stronghold of the Barbary Pirates, was located in what present-day country? (a) Libya, (b) Algeria, (c) Tunisia, (d)Egypt

7. The Alamo is located in which city? (a) Houston, (b) San Antonio, (c) Austin, (d) Galveston

8. The US fought the Gulf War against (a) Iran, (b) Syria, (c) Kuwait, (d) Iraq

9. Who said “Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead.” (a) David Farragut, (b) John Paul Jones, (c) Ethan Allen, (d) Jonathan Eli

10. Which war resulted in the highest number of casualties? (a) WWI, (b) WWII, (c) Korean War, (d) Civil War

11. Fort Sumter is located in which state? (a) North Carolina, (b) South Carolina, (c) Georgia, (d) Alabama

12. Custer’s Last Stand took place in which modern-day state? (a) North Dakota, (b) South Dakota, (c) Montana, (d) Idaho

13. Each of the following was a WWII battle in the Pacific theatre, EXCEPT (a) El Alamein, (b) Guadalcanal, (c) Okinawa, (d) Midway

14. Who was the US President during WWI? (a) Teddy Roosevelt, (b) Woodrow Wilson, (c) William Howard Taft, (d) Warren Harding

15. When General Douglas MacArthur said “I shall return,” to which country was he referring? (a) Australia, (b) New Guinea, (c) Guam, (d) Philippines

16. The Korean War began in (1) 1949, (b) 1950, (c) 1951, (d) 1952

17. Who was president during the Spanish-American War? (a) Grover Cleveland, (b) James Garfield, (c) Rutherford B. Hayes, (d) William McKinley

18. Where is Mt. Suribachi? (a) Iwo Jima, (b) Okinawa, (c) Tarawa, (d) Japan

19. Where is Vicksburg? (a) Alabama, (b) Louisiana, (c) Missouri, (d) Mississippi

20. When was the Veterans Administration founded? (a) 1870, (b) 1930, (c) 1950, (d) 1972

21. Which of the following was NOT a landing site on D-Day? (a) Silver, (b) Omaha, (c) Juno, (d) Sword.

22. Which British general surrendered at Yorktown ending the Revolutionary War? (a) Howe, (b) Clinton, (c) Cornwallis, (d) Burgoyne.

23. Each of the following cities was the site of fighting in the Iraq War battle EXCEPT: (a) Mosul, (b) Fallujah, Baghdad, (d) Kamaleshwar.

24. Approximately, how many veterans are there living in the US? (a) 9.5 million, (b) 12.5 million, (c) 16.5 million, (d) 19.5 million?

25. Who was president during the War of 1812? (a) Thomas Jefferson, (b) John Adams, (c) James Monroe, (d) James Madison

ANSWERS: 1. c; 2. d; 3. a; 4. c; 5. c; 6. a; 7. b; 8. d; 9. a; 10. d; (more than all the other wars combined. 11. b; 12. c; 13. a; 14. b; 15. d; 16. b; 17. d. 18. a; 19. d; 20. b.; 21. a; 22. c; 23. d; 24. c; 25. d.

Well, there you have it. Tell me how you did, well or (as my grandson used to say) “not so good.”

The following is one Jew’s view of modern-day antisemitism. It is an articulate, heart-felt description of the antisemitism that has been manifesting the last several weeks, since Hamas’ horrific, brutal attack of Israeli civilians, including women, children, the elderly, and the infirmed. I believe he speaks for most Jews as well as many other fair-minded people. It was transmitted to me by a loyal reader. Out of respect for the author’s privacy I will keep his name anonymous.

“Those of you who know me recognize that my post three weeks ago about my experiences in Israel at the outbreak of the war was my first ever on any social media. As we are taught by Ecclesiastes 3:7, ‘there is a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.’ Now is a time to scream. The blood was not yet dry from the wholesale slaughter of 1,400 Israelis, and the chorus of condemnation of Israel, the victim, began from all corners of the globe. I suspect that this reflects the discomfort that Jews suddenly dare respond to the cold-blooded killing of our people. Through so much of history – the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Pogroms, the Holocaust – Jews were expected to just take it. Pack our bags, hang our heads, and move on to the next temporary home. But now, suddenly those same Jews are responding – we have a voice, and we have force. The brave soldiers of the IDF will deliver the military response. But each of us have to raise our voices in response to the rank anti-Semitism exposed by this war. Until now, cowards excused their hate by telling us that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, a macabre twist on the “Zionism is Racism” resolution from the moral midgets at the United Nations. That gig is up. You only have to look at the photographs of a Norwegian medical student and a New York City public school student proudly holding up a sign saying “Please Keep the World Clean” calling for the extermination of Jews or the crowds chanting “Gas the Jews” outside the Sydney Opera House to expose the lie. For those not familiar with the allusion in the title of this post, it refers to the famous open letter published in 1898 by Emile Zola on the front page of the newspaper L’Aurore in the wake of the Dreyfus affair. It was addressed to the French president, accusing his government and army of anti-Semitism for the conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a French army officer, on false charges of espionage. With all due respect to Zola, I borrow his catch-phrase and style to publicly challenge the moral bankruptcy of the full panoply of Hamas apologists: I ACCUSE the administrations of many of the nation’s leading academic institutions, including Harvard, Columbia, Penn, NYU, Cornell, Cooper Union, among many others, unwilling to condemn the massacre without equivocation or to loudly condemn the multitude of campus displays of anti-Semitism of pusillanimous cowardice, having surrendered their moral compass and carving a place for themselves in the pantheon of dishonorable academic leaders alongside those of the University of Heidelberg (circa 1930) and the University of Alabama (circa 1963). I ACCUSE those college personnel and government officials who tell frightened Jews to lock themselves in their homes or college libraries while standing by as pro-Hamas protesters violently riot and threaten the safety of those Jews of having a twisted notion of their obligations to protect free speech and exhibiting an immoral inability to distinguish between their duties to victims and to perpetrators. I ACCUSE those claiming that their free speech is being infringed when the odd university or employer actually seeks to limit anti-Semitic comments or chants to kill Jews of hypocrisy because they had no issue forcing universities to cancel, or otherwise violently disrupting, speakers who had the audacity to be a Republican or a capitalist. I ACCUSE those complaining about “cancel culture” coming for the likes of a professor “exhilarated” by the Hamas massacre of forgetting that they had no issue inventing the practice of cancelling academics for failing to pledge allegiance to their list of preferred orthodoxies. I ACCUSE those complaining about the doxing of students and employees celebrating the slaughter of 1,400 Israelis of forgetting that freedom of speech means only that – freedom to say what you want – but not freedom from the consequences of your speech. I ACCUSE those leaders, academic, business or otherwise, who refuse to condemn the Hamas massacre by claiming that it is not their place to comment on external affairs of forgetting their full-throated and justified condemnation of the George Floyd murder, anti-Asian violence and the invasion of Ukraine. I ACCUSE the now proliferating “both siders”, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, who insist that any condemnation of the Hamas slaughter has to be tempered by understanding the “context”, of making common cause with their archvillain Donald Trump and his seeing “very fine people on both sides” of the Charlottesville protest .I ACCUSE the world media, who could barely constrain their joy in publishing the blood libel of Israeli airstrikes killing 500+ civilians at the Gazan hospital only to be disproved by inconvenient facts, of malpractice of the highest order, relying for their “facts” on the Hamas Ministry of Health. I ACCUSE the “Squad” and other politicians calling for a cease-fire practically before the Hamas terrorists had finished spiriting their hostages into Gaza of actually being the simple anti-Semites they risibly claim not to be each time they tweet some anti-Semitic trope that they later attribute to their having misunderstood the canard (remember their tweets like “it’s all about the Benjamins baby”, “hypnotized the world”, etc., etc.). I ACCUSE those criticizing Israel because its response is not “proportionate” of failing to explain what would be proportionate to the rape of women, decapitation of babies in front of their parents, seizing of elderly and toddler hostages, burning alive of families, and parading naked victims through the streets of Gaza while throbbing crowds of civilians cheer and sexually assault the corpse. I ACCUSE all those screaming at Israel that it must immediately agree to a cease-fire who never once mention Hamas freeing over 200 hostages of having a deeply perverted sense of justice that aligns well with Abraham Lincoln’s definition of a hypocrite as the man who murders both parents and then pleads for mercy on the grounds that he is an orphan. I ACCUSE those charging Israel of war crimes for withholding fuel from Gaza and thereby causing its health system to collapse of failing to wonder where Hamas gets the fuel to still fire daily volleys of rockets onto Israeli cities. I ACCUSE those charging that Israel not supplying water to Gaza is a war crime of failing to watch the Hamas terrorists’ own propaganda videos trumpeting their ingenuity of sabotaging the Gazan water system by cannibalizing pipes to manufacture missiles. I ACCUSE those that justify Hamas’ massacre based on the displacement of Palestinians upon the creation of the State of Israel of eliding the subsequent culture of dependency and victimhood fostered by their Arab neighbors and the United Nations and of willfully ignoring the expulsion of roughly one million Jews from Arab countries in the aftermath of 1948. I ACCUSE the LGBTQ+ activists marching under the “Queers for Palestine” banner of a decided lack of self-interest and self-preservation – they side with Hamas who prescribe capital punishment for gays and oppose Israel, a mecca of gay tolerance. I ACCUSE the self-styled feminists siding with Hamas of being phonies – they support Hamas fighters seen on video selecting which Israeli female hostages should be set aside for rape as opposed to mere imprisonment or execution and a Gazan society where honor killings of daughters are rampant and oppose Israel where an all-female battalion helped repel the Hamas terrorists and where a woman served as Prime Minister more than 50 years ago. I ACCUSE the abortion supporters marching under the “Reproductive Justice for Gaza” banners of perhaps misunderstanding that the Hamas terrorist who cut a fetus out of a pregnant woman’s body and shot the fetus was not expressing his support for late-term abortion but was simply murdering another Jew, and forgetting that abortion is illegal in Gaza (and every other Muslim country) while being legal in Israel, even having recently been loosened in direct response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. I ACCUSE the BLM leaders publishing celebratory posters of Hamas paragliders of losing themselves in their own slogan and forgetting that Jewish lives matter too. I ACCUSE Greta Thunberg and her band of climate warriors holding signs supporting Hamas of being insufficiently understanding that Israel was forced to temporarily use non-recyclable plastic body bags for the dozens of babies murdered and decapitated by Hamas because not enough properly-sized coffins were available. I ACCUSE those gleefully chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as if it is a harmless protest rhyme of conveniently ignoring that it skips over the two-state solution and seeks to complete Hitler’s Final Solution as a hardly concealed code for eliminating Jews from Israel. While the scale of anti-Semitism and moral bankruptcy on display in the aftermath of the massacre has been breathtaking, I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight support and moral rectitude from various quarters. Not to exclude any others, we need to recognize and offer deep thanks for the unwavering support and leadership of President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, Defense Secretary Austin and many others in the Administration and Congress, Prime Minister Sunak, President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, Mayor Eric Adams, college leaders ranging from Ben Sasse (University of Florida) to Rochelle Ford (Dillard University, a Louisiana HBCU), and corporate leaders like Pfizer, Google and Hewlett Packard. To conclude, I will come back to the words of Ecclesiastes (and a Byrds song). King Solomon tells us that while there is a time for love and a time for peace, equally there is a time for hate and a time for war. The time now is to hate Hamas for their barbaric crimes and to wage war to eliminate them. And while we deeply mourn the unfathomable loss of life in Gaza, we lay blame where it belongs – in the immortal words of Golda Meir, “When peace comes, we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons. Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”  

CONCLUSION

Please feel free to pass this on to other fair-minded people.

Presently, the State of the Union is……………………… Please read on for my opinion as to the SOTU. Some of you will not like it. Parts of it may offend you. But it is the hard, unvarnished truth as I see it.

In accordance with Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the US Constitution the President “shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The Constitution does not offer any specifics, such as the date and manner of delivery.

President George Washington delivered the initial SOTU in person to a joint session of Congress on January 1, 1801. Thereafter, most presidents have chosen to deliver a written report. In 1913 President Woodrow Wilson broke with tradition and commenced the practice of delivering the SOTU in person. Later, with the advent of radio and then TV the SOTU began to be communicated live to a nationwide and worldwide audience. Traditionally, presidents have delivered the SOTU between January 1 and March 1.

Typically, presidents utilize the SOTU to give a positive account of their past accomplishments and prospective plans. Political sycophants in the audience frequently interrupt the speech with applause while political opponents often just sit stone-faced. Most viewers are aware that the SOTU is short on facts and long on politics and theatre. Fact checkers would have a field day. As the expression goes, “it is what it is.”

As I said, the purpose of this blog is for me to deliver my own “State of the Union.” You may agree or disagree as you wish. As always, comments are welcome.

In my view, the State of the Union is….. the worst that I can recall in my lifetime. You all know that I am not a fan of President Biden, aka “Feckless Joe,” but the situation speaks for itself. In the interest of time and space I have restricted my delineation to just the major points. Regular readers will note that I have discussed all of these points more comprehensively in previous blogs.

1. Feckless President – I know many of you will find it a disrespectful characterization, and I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but the empirical evidence is overwhelming. One can see it almost every day with one’s own eyes, i.e. the memory lapses, stumbling and bumbling, falling asleep in meetings, inability to answer questions coherently in a press conference or even to hold them at all. His handlers try to hide him and limit his exposure, but it doesn’t fool anyone. It is most embarrassing to both him and us. He is a cognitively-impaired, weak president who is easily manipulated by his advisors, and this is also obvious to both allies and enemies. This has nothing to do with his policies, which are another matter entirely.
2. Security – A majority of Americans are very concerned about their safety. They are afraid to travel or even leave their homes. They know our southern border is like a sieve. Every day, they see and read news reports of large groups of illegal migrants crossing over without being vetted, without any restrictions. We have no idea how many have crossed since Feckless Joe took office, where they came from, where they are now and what their intentions are. Many of them are likely terrorists, criminals, or other undesirables. It is not a question of if, but when, we will suffer through another “9/11.” Also, the cost to support them is enormous. Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, has refused even to admit there is a problem with the border, much less offer solutions. Recently, he testified before Congress, and he was unable or unwilling to state how many illegals had crossed since Feckless Joe took office. Estimates run as high as eight million. Mayorkas is in over his head and needs to be replaced or impeached.
3. Wars/Conflicts – Suddenly, it seems as though there are multiple wars and conflicts around the globe, any one of which could drag us into a wider war or even a world war. (You may recall that when Feckless Joe took office there were none.) For example, we are supporting Ukraine against its war with Russia. There is the omnipresent danger that that war could expand to entangle NATO allies, such as Poland, which we are committed to defend. Even just supporting Ukraine with material is costing us billions of dollars. China has long had designs on Taiwan. I don’t believe they are concerned with the US defending Taiwan. It seems likely it is just biding its time before annexing it. Hamas brutally and barbarically attacked Israel. We are obligated to defend our only reliable ally in the M. E. There is the real threat of a wider war encompassing Syria, Hezbollah, Iran, and others which are furious with us for supporting Israel. Feckless Joe is still advocating a cease fire and appears to favor a two-state solution as do many other people on the left. The Administration is continuing to pressure Israel in that direction. That is a non-starter. Neither side wants a cease fire right now nor a two-state solution. We are well past that. Hamas’ leadership has stated over and over again that they want to annihilate the Jews. They have boasted they will attack repeatedly until that goal has been achieved. We would be well advised to take them at their word. On the other hand, Israeli leadership has stated repeatedly it intends to retaliate in strength and destroy Hamas once and for all to eliminate the possibility of future massacres. That is a sound strategy, and we should support it. Hamas is still holding hundreds of hostages, including many Americans. With respect to Iran let’s not forget that Feckless Joe has allowed it to develop nuclear capability, and Russia and China are allies of Iran with their own nuclear arsenals. Even Turkey, a longtime ally, has been saber-rattling against us. A recent poll published in The Hill reported that 80% of Americans are concerned that the Hamas-Israeli War could spill over to a wider war and/or engender terrorist attacks in the US. 80%! When was the last time 80% of Americans agreed on anything? The other 20% must be either braindead, oblivious, or living in a cave.
4. Corruption – The corruption of the Biden Family, including, among others, Joe, Jim and Hunter, has been well-documented over the last several years, even before Joe became vice president. To me, the evidence of bribery and corruption is strong and compelling, but it has been suppressed effectively by a friendly media. His objectivity in dealing with other countries may very well have been compromised. Some of his actions might even have risen to the level of treason. Currently, the House is investigating. Many people feel that the FBI, the Justice Department, and other Federal agencies are biased against Republicans and those who criticize the Administration. They waste their time and resources investigating them instead of the terrorists in our midst.
5. Antisemitism – I covered this issue comprehensively in my last three blogs. The bottom line is that this has become the number one problem in America and the world. The current situation has become eerily similar to that of the 1930’s in Nazi Germany. America is “the land of the free.” We have the Bill of Rights, which is supposed to prevent this kind deprivation of human rights that is being visited upon the Jews people at the present time. The Administration has not been forceful in condemning the virulent antisemitism that is manifesting itself currently in the US and the world at large. Feckless Joe needs to condemn antisemitism in the strongest possible language and direct the Department of Justice and state and local law enforcement to identify and aggressively pursue and punish the perpetrators whether they be college administrators, college students, general agitators, or anyone else. His passivity is exacerbating the situation. He can start by calling out the politicians in his own party who have been openly antisemitic in words and deeds. Rashida Talib, for one, should be censured. Instead, he and his vice president are focusing on Islamophobia. Huh? Maybe I missed it, but I have not noticed any Islamophobia recently. I guess in the Administration’s bizarro world there has been.
6. Crime – Crime is, quite simply, out of control in many locales. Far left DAs will not prosecute most crimes. Due to no-bail policies criminals are normally released before the paperwork on their arrest is completed. People simply fear for their safety. The rights of the criminals have superseded the rights of the victims.

CONCLUSION

The foregoing were merely the most serious problems in my view. I could have included more, but there are time and space limitations. In any event, I think you all get the point.

According to the latest Gallup Poll Biden’s approval rating is down to 37% and sinking fast. However, incredibly, despite all of the foregoing all the polls denote that he and Donald Trump, the likely GOP nominee, are within a couple of points of each other. Go figure. It makes no sense to me, except that it appears that a large portion of the electorate is still being deceived by a biased media.

As has often been said, elections have consequences. I wonder how many Jews who voted for Biden and the Dems are now having second thoughts. I wonder how many of the people that are now afraid we are on the brink of WWIII, that are unhappy with the plethora if illegals pouring into our country, that are afraid to leave their homes, that are afraid of crime and/or terrorist attacks voted for Biden and the Dems. I wonder how many of them will repeat the same mistake in November.

In summary, the state of the union is the worst it has been in my lifetime. If not corrected, it could easily cause Feckless Joe the 2024 election and the Dems control of Congress. If only.

In my opinion, it exceeds WWII, the Cold War period and the Cuban Missile Crisis, which were all very serious in their own right. The difference is that the others were the result of external causes; the current state of affairs is being caused primarily by internal forces. In other words, the US is destroying itself from within. The current level of hate is literally far beyond anything else in our recent history. It is rapidly metastasizing out of control, and no one can predict where it will end.

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.