Submitted Comments RSS Feed Comments by Sheldon Dan
Posted in: TIMELINE: Is Christmas cheer kosher?
James, Christmas is not an "evolution." The holiday of Chanukah originated in 165 BCE (or to put it another way 165 years before the origin of the holiday of Christmas). Aside from the fact that the two holidays are celebrated in December, they have no relation to each other. It is true that Jesus was Jewish, but eventually his teaching became more and more in conflict with the Judaism that dated back for generations. A few centuries later, it was obvious that there was to be a split between those Jews and non-Jews who followed Jesus and those Jews who remained observant of the tradition. The theory you propose about the Christmas tree being a "northern adaptation" for some people and the similarity between the menorah with lights and the Christmas tree with lights does not make sense to me. Sorry... As to the last point about the two holidays being "two forms of pride clashing," I have to disagree. I respect your celebration of Christmas, but I cannot agree with some idea that Christmas was an adaptation of Chanukah. They are two separate holidays and we should not try to merge them together.
Posted in: Should Jews celebrate that other holiday?
Sorry, you are wrong. IT'S NOT OUR HOLIDAY. Just because it's all around us is no reason why we have to give in. If we are "lumped in with quite a few other people," such as atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, etc., good--we are NOT Christians and we shouldn't feel that we have to celebrate Christmas just because it is all around us. I might remind you that part of the history of Chanukah (165 years before the event that sparked Christmas) involved Jews who thought they could immerse themselves in Greek society. In other words, the Chanukah message involved the victory over the Greeks, the lighting of the menorah, and a warning about assimilation. I am sorry if that last line offended some people. Nevertheless, when Jews talk about buying a Christmas tree, it seems that the lesson still needs to be emphasized--it is not a good idea to give in the majority's practices. Rather, as many have pointed out, we should live our lives as Jews--not emphasizing Chanukah, which is a minor holiday, but emphasizing Shabbat, the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days), Pesach, Shavuot--and celebrating Purim and Chanukah uniquely. Ultimately, wanting what someone else has is not going to do us any good. Let's wish anyone else Happy Holidays and celebrate our own holiday.
Posted in: Lady Astor, facelifts, fedoras, baby elephants -- oh and Obama? I like the guy next year!
It's a shame that Mayor Koch can't hold on to his principles. The UN speech notwithstanding, Obama's policies on Israel are destructive and many of us will not forget all the negative baggage that came before this speech. Ultimately, it seems that Mayor Koch will revert to being a Democrat instead of the maverick we really need now.
Posted in: I want my plain bagel!
This is ridiculous...However, I think it is STARBUCKS that is ridiculous. What the hell difference does it matter whether customers order their coffee using their own designations rather than Starbucks'? If someone is patronizing Starbucks, their money gives them the right to order their coffee whatever way they please. If the employees (excuse me, BARISTAS) can't translate the order into "Starbuckese," it reflects more upon them than upon the professor. And why are these employees forcing customers to order "butter or cheese," as if no spread is not an option? Even for New York, this is outrageous... And I think Ken should avoid jumping to conclusions regarding whether the people in the two stories are mentally ill. He better have his facts straight before giving this kind of opinion.
Posted in: The mosque wars: Hamas, Bloomberg, fake Foxman, Sarna
I can understand being tolerant of others, but I think many people (especially Mayor Bloomberg) are taking it too far. This is political correctness run amok, and since there are mosques elsewhere in the area, it is obvious why the proponents are insistent on locating it there. As for whether two blocks is or is not sacred ground, it really doesn't matter--the intent is clearly to make a statement in the vicinity of Ground Zero. And we cannot allow that statement to be made.
Posted in: Chelsea's wedding wrap
This is very sad. But it is not surprising, since there are many Jews who are not that concerned about their Jewishness to avoid interdating and intermarriage. Please don't give me the excuse "You can't help who you fall in love with." If marrying Jewish is important enough to you, you will date accordingly. Also, don't say that opposition to intermarriage is "bigoted" or "racist"; I am sure every other religion prefers that their own marry within as well. This is what assimilation has wrought. You can spin it any way you want, but it is likely that the children will go the way of the non-Jewish spouse. In order to be Jewish this day and age, you must put in effort.
Posted in: What's a Diaspora Jew to do about Israel?
I live in the Diaspora, mainly by choice, although I would not rule out making aliyah someday. I would like to register a more civil comment with respect to Mr. Davis' article. I also disagree with Mr. Davis, as, although we in the Diaspora have an interest in what goes on in Israel, we do not have to live with the consequences of the implementation of policies that may not be in Israel's best interest. We all want peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but under the current Palestinian regime that is not likely for awhile. Therefore, Prime Minister Netanyahu is right to hang tough against the rest of the world (sadly, including the United States). I hope he continues to hang tough, and if necessary, take the heat for refusing to make concessions that have not worked up to now but could endanger Israeli security. Instead of joining the condemnation chorus and deliberately or inadvertently giving aid and comfort to anti-Semites, we should reserve the right to express our opinion regarding Israeli government policy but not to the extent that such opinions will be used against Israel and Jews everywhere. I think some of the rhetoric with the commenters should also be cooled down. Israeli Jews and Diaspora Jews need each other, and whether or not it is "comfortable" in the Diaspora, we should respect our current positions regarding residence and present a united front to the world.
Posted in: The U.S.-Israeli flap: discuss
This is unbelievable. Yochanan's vision hasn't a snowflake's chance in hell. With all due respect to his service in the IDF, I think he is dead wrong about his two-state solution with a shared capital in Jerusalem. Why should we share Jerusalem? It is OUR capital, not a joint capital with the Palestinians or anyone else; the Bible and historical evidence show that Jews were there before there even was an Islam. Unfortunately, too many people have swallowed the Palestinian propaganda, and that is why writers like Yochanan and Jason take the views they do. As for Jews living under the Palestinian flag, I think anyone can review history to see how well that went. Jews were expelled from Arab countries where they lived for centuries when Israel became a state. In other places, such as Hebron in 1929, Jews were massacred. I don't have the confidence that Yochanan has regarding how the Palestinians will treat the Jews should a Palestinian state be declared. On the other hand, LOYAL (emphasis mine) Israeli Arabs do live as citizens in Israel and have more rights than in Arab countries. I don't think Israel is "losing the few friends it has in the US." Somehow, I doubt that we can call Obama, Biden, Clinton, Emanuel, Axelrod, etc. friends of Israel. If anything, I would want a prime minister that will stand up to the world and advocate for Israel. Not doing so has gotten us in this fix; we make concessions for the Palestinians and have nothing to show for it. I feel that Netanyahu should, unequivocally, stand up to the world and say that Israel's interests should be just as important as the Arabs' or Palestinians' in any settlement. To quote from the novel Exodus, my feelings are "So let us be wrong before the whole damn world."
Posted in: Israel's marrying man
This is insane. The 50-year-old has some strange ideas about marriage and the women are foolish for induging him.
RSS Feed Breaking News
Updated 02/10/12 @ 02:44PM EST
- Cat Power canceled an Israeli show that was to have taken place Sunday, citing fans' concerns about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Three Jewish groups that favor insurance coverage of contraceptives praised President Obama's comrpromise allowing religious institutions to direct staff to alternative health care plans funding such services.
- An Obama administration official said the United States urged Israel not to free Palestinian terrorists in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal who killed Americans.
- Turkey will never endorse a military strike on Iran, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a Washington audience.
- Israel's test of a missile defense system was declared a "major milestone" in its efforts to establish viable barriers to a missile strike.
- Citing Palestinian conflict, rocker Cat Power cancels Tel Aviv show
- Reform, Hadassah, JWI praise Obama contraceptives compromise
- Holder: U.S. urged Israel not to release killers of Americans
- Turkish FM: We will never endorse striking Iran
- Israeli missile defense test a ‘milestone’
- Sarkozy: Iran solution should be non-military
- Marines’ SS photo condemned by Jewish groups
- Grandson of Auschwitz survivor takes the ice for Germany
Posted in: Romney, Paul, Sununu
01/12/12 03:11 PM
First, let me take on the fears of Ron Paul influence: Paul would be stupid to run a third-party candidacy, but even if he did, his positions are so extreme that, in my opinion, he may get a miniscule percentage of the vote--not really enough to throw the election to Obama. The more we know about Paul, the more people are going to be revolted by him. Second, about Sununu: Old news. Yes, we know about Sununu's positions now, although we didn't then. That does not mean that Romney will be influenced by him other than the fact that both Romney and Sununu are both former Republican governors of New England states. As for Bush 41's antipathy for Israel, that's old news too--it obviously didn't transfer to Bush 43. What Goldberg and all of us should be more concerned about is the current occupant of the White House. We know about all his baggage. If Goldberg want to bring up old news, let's start with Obama's old pastor. Then we can bring it up to the present with what we know about Obama's kowtowing to Israel's enemies and keeping Israel at arm's length. Whether or not there was old or potential baggage regarding Romney, Bush, and Sununu, I'm less afraid of that than the open baggage our present president has, and it is important to get rid of him and that baggage and worry about the rest later.