Cirque des Freaks

Cirque des Freaks

The Frenzy grows as the arena sport known as "American Election Day" approaches. One of the latest events connected to this which involves the Jewish world has to do with a group of so-called Jewish religious leaders who are out to prove, among other things, just how blind and ignorant many in the Jewish world can be. I consider their abuse and misuse of the term "rabbi" to border on the "spiritually criminal, but maybe that's just me. In any case, I do not find it surprising.

The initiative of these "rabbis" is called "Rabbis for Obama", and what makes it interesting is that you have some very anti-Israel figures in and around this group. Groups such as “Jewish Voice for Peace”, “14 Friends of Palestine”, and "the Council of American Islam Relations" are only a few of the anti-Israel organizations affiliated with this new "umbrella group". Many of these “rabbis” use these labels and names to hide their anti-Israel activity, and I would have to say, connecting a label like “Rabbis for Obama” to President Obama's campaign continues to add to the myth and illusion that the Obama administration actually cares for the security of Israel. The importance of this to Obama and his campaign is not the topic here, rather it is the fact that a group of supposed rabbis is attempting to dupe the naïve and misinformed Jewish world, once again, as to the intentions of this administration towards the state of Israel.

Appalling, you may say. Or you may not see it as appalling. Not yet. Please read on.

I say to you that the diaspora Jewish leadership, especially in the U.S. is deliberately misrepresenting the situation re: Israel's relations with it's Arab/Muslim neighbors, partially as a result of their own narrow political/personal interests and partially because of genuine, but misguided concern for the Jewish state.

Don’t believe me, ask you neighborhood JCC, Conservative or Reform synagogue to host a speaker who has "right wing" opinions regarding Israel- or heaven forbid a Republican!

I have been seeing a slow rise of independent thought among the Jewish communities stateside, but it remains much too slow to keep pace with events on the ground in Israel and the Arab/Muslim world. The truth regarding Israel and our neighbor’s intentions manages to slowly seep through the clenched fists of ignorance of the American mainstream Jewish leaders.  It is indeed uplifting when you see and meet someone who has broken free and opens his eyes to what is going on and not just what he is told. But it is still too rare.

Sure, we need to look at the globe, focusing on Israel with a close-up lens- but then we must pull back, allowing ourselves to take in a more complete and more accurate picture of quickly unfolding events in the mid-east and their possible repercussions for Israel and the "western" world..

Unfortunately, many members of this "bloc'" of "Rabbis" are not only funded but also very much active in anti-israel movements and activities, BDS for example, accusing Israel of Apartheid and so on. One of them even had a nice chit-chat with good ol’ Achmedinejad.  Their continued mission, as a whole, seems to be to keep the Jewish people disconnected from their land.

Also frustrating to me is the lack of interest in the funding of initiatives that would bring disconnected Jews, and especially young people out here, to our heartland, to meet people who can confront the lies of their self-proclaimed leaders, to meet the diverse and wonderful populace of the varied Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria personally. This would undeniably affect our people for the good, and would no doubt strengthen us in the face of our challenges, both now and in the future.

You see, if more of our “mainstream” brethren were able to visit our historic heartland, they would see a different, deeper, more nuanced picture and perhaps gain a better understanding regarding not only the history and current situation of our people and land, but also regarding those who are holding them prisoner, almost literally (their "leaders"), through the chains of deceit and ignorance.

We have to question those that keep our brothers and sisters in the diaspora in the dark from visiting: from seeing for themselves the other Jewish side of the story…what are they afraid of? Why wont their leaders and Rabbis visit and come experience their own history, and why aren’t we doing more to make that possible?

Why are most Conservative and Reform Rabbis afraid of bringing their “flocks” to see and experience what the unfolding history of their own people? Watch as the various Jewish diaspora “leaders” and others visit Ramallah, but will not tour Jewish Judea and Samaria! Forget the politics, just... To see!

Many who are familiar with my work know that I believe in being pro-active rather than reactive.  Because of my extensive experience in the area of security here in our historical heartland and points beyond, I prefer to work to stop terror rather than just respond to it.  The same applies to this challenge also, which is no less a threat to our people than the nefarious actions of our enemies.  In fact, keeping our people disconnected from our land is simply another means used to bring us down and destroy Israel and, as I have pointed out, many of our so-called "leaders" are, wittingly or unwittingly collaborating in this.

In confronting our enemies, we must utilize many strategies, abilities and resources.  We can’t afford to stand idly by as our people have their own past distorted and their future stolen, in many cases, such as that of the "613 "rabbis", by members of our own worldwide Jewish leadership.  We cannot afford to wait to react; we have to act first…and to coin a phrase: better late than never.

If you are concerned about the future of the 613 rabbis, don’t be, I am sure they will find 613 mullahs to commiserate with about the growing strength of Israel.

If this message touches your heart and you want to help the Jewish people overcome it's many challenges, including, and especially, ignorance among ourselves and the terrorism and misinformation of our many enemies, hi. My name is Marc, be in touch.

ReMarcs

ReMarcs

Yes, it has been a while…sitting back and observing the Cirque des Freaks of the never dull Middle East and how the world cannot seem to take their eyes off of us here in the Holy land.

Nothing new under the sun, a wise king said once, and indeed, nothing-new really, just different versions, and of course some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

We continue down this path where according to many in the world media, world “leadership”, the misdirected and misinformed rabble, and the oh so many open minded, caring individuals of the Human Rights movement who claim that Israel bars the path to World Peace and Shangri-La.

I agree with them, and I am sure that if we, who live in Israel, and we, who support Israel, act differently, we can get closer to a better reality.  I know… a loaded statement.  Before I go on, no I was not making any reference to the variety of religious observance, customs and opinions that are never 

lacking regarding Israel and our existence.  Not my place to comment on that.

Living in the “Heartland” of Israel, the Birthright of the Birthright of the Jewish people has its advantages.  Besides the obvious of seeing our history in front of my face everyday, it is not only beautiful, but also educational and strengthening.  No enemy of Israel can come to my family, my peers and me and say, you don’t belong here, or dictate to us their perverted and contorted version of world history.  Our connection here is quite solid, not just religiously, but historically, both from way back and recently.  They know this, which is why they target the less educated, the less connected, you know, if you want to break the chain, go after the weaker links.

Nothing that hasn’t been mentioned before.

“Self-Haters” is one of the buzz words used to describe many of Israel’s adversaries who come from within the fold. I don’t want to say, “who can blame them”, (but I do), but lets think for a second.  What picture are they being presented with?  Are they meeting anyone they can relate to?  Are they being shown any of the incredible beauty, physical, spiritual and social that exists at the flashpoint? No, most never get to see this.  Not only that, the mainstream Jewish leadership makes efforts at keeping this from them.  Makes you think, what are they afraid of?

Even more frustrating for me, is the lack of interest in the funding of such ventures that would bring them out here to our heartland, to meet the diverse and wonderful populous of the varied Jewish communities, that would undeniably affect our people for the good, and with no doubt strengthen us in the face of our challenges, both now and in the future.

You see if more of our “mainstream” brethren would come out to visit they would see a different picture and perhaps gain a deeper understanding regarding not only of our own people and land, but also regarding those who are holding them prisoner by using chains of deceit and ignorance.

We have to question those that keep them in the dark, from visiting; from experiencing the Jewish side of the story…what are they afraid of? Why won’t their leaders and Rabbis visit and come experience their own history, and why aren’t we doing more to make that possible?

Why are most Conservative and Reform Rabbis afraid of bringing their “flocks” to see and experience what is their history.  Watch as the “Conference of Presidents” visits Ramallah, but will not tour Jewish Judea and Samaria. Forget the politics, just to see.

Not to forget the “Gap Year” kids.  This is the group that comes to Israel for a year of Yeshiva learning before college.  Many of these Yeshivot also do not venture “out” besides the customary visit to Gush Etzion and Hevron.  Guess what, there is more to Judea and Samaria, besides those areas.  If the point is to strengthen these kid’s connection to Judaism and Israel, it is a no-brainer, take them out and show them where it all started and what’s happening today, it is also their future that is at stake.  For the amount of money that is being spent on their year in Israel, I am sure you can pressure the institutions to give you your moneys worth. Besides, if they spend a day touring Judea and Samaria, maybe they will be too tired to frequent the “nightlife” in downtown Jerusalem.

Yes, this article is directed towards all of us.

Many who are familiar with my work know that I am an avid fan of being pro-active rather than reactive.  In the security world, I prefer to work to stop terror rather than just respond to it.  The same applies to this challenge also, which is no less a threat to our people than the nefarious motives of our enemies.  In fact, keeping our people disconnected from our land is simply another means and strategy used to bring us down, weaken us and destroy Israel.

Soon many synagogues will read the Haftora on Rosh HaShannah, they will read how Hannah prayed for a son at Shilo, Imagine if they would show their congregations just where it actually happened, and where Shilo actually is.

In confronting our enemies, we must utilize many strategies, abilities and resources.  We can’t afford to stand idly by as they have their own past distorted and their future stolen.  We cannot afford to wait to react; we have to act first…and to coin a phrase, better late than never.

Like I said before, living out here has its advantages, we get to see the continuing growth of a nation, we get to see, taste and experience the greatest Israel most Jews from the outside of Israel have never seen. 

I admit, there will be a side effect, a visit to Judea and Samaria may leave a pleasant after taste in your mouth, you may leave stronger, prouder and wiser than before, you may no longer believe the constant anti-Israel rhetoric that floods world media, campuses and various Left wing movements, and last, but not least, you may find yourself standing up and defending Israel better than ever.