Chessed

Watching the social media feeds during and after 'Sandy' it was impossible to do not notice the wave of chessed that went far beyond Brooklyn: people ready to donate clothes and to host Shabbos meals, yeshivot mobilized to welcome people in need, children ready to help their parents to prepare more space for those without electricity or whose houses were destroyed overnight.

The generosity went beyond our 'tribe' as many offered their homes and food to anyone in need in the Brooklyn area and beyond. Very often I try to understand how we can be 'light into the nations', but such examples of human involvement are the proof that we can show to the world how to move forward in case of deep sadness and when a helping hand is needed.

This article from the New York Times can also show what we can do for those in need. 

The article is four years old, but the force of the example is still important. 

We need to have more articles in the mainstream media. With a pinch of chessed we can change the world.

Strange times

I didn't read too many news lately, but as usual, when it happens I am overwhelmed by various kind of information. This time there were bad and worrying news, but not surprising in many ways. And at the end, it may be an optimistic conclusion as well.

I started my journey reading about the hate crimes in Brooklyn. Brooklyn, one of my favorite place on earth, where I will ever think with affection. How it is possible to be the scenery of such unthinkable actions? Couple of month ago, when we welcomed my American friends from Brooklyn in Europe, I envied their easiness to wear a kippah in Europe, and reminded how natural is there to freely express your identity. But, it doesn't mean is risk-free...

Maybe we'd forgot - or never knew about - the anti-Semitism of the earlier 20th century America, when Jews were running the pogroms and the Nazis - and weren't allowed to enter the country - and the other outbursts of extreme behavior in the 60s - the red left never was Jewish-friendly, by the way (maybe you ask yourself what about Occupy WS movement? I fully recommend to get rid of any hopes). For many of my friends, Brooklyn is safe, welcoming and more Jewish than any other places in the world. You can buy kosher, go to shuls and speak in Yiddish or Hebrew. But, overall, it's nothing but another artificial paradise of the galut where we aren't protected at all against violence and anti-Semitic aggression.

I continued my media wondering reading a lot about Hungary and Central Europe and realizing how far the far right went in one of the countries whose intellectuals I will always appreciate. Europe never been a safe and welcoming place for Jews and the latest official welcome of far right parties into the European Parliament and the daily political life of Europe didn't surprise me (Italy included). As an observation, many of those far-right parties are extremely worried about the fate of poor Palestinians, as their friends from Occupy WS.

9 November 2011 was the day celebrating the 73rd anniversary of Kristallnacht and the German media dedicated several media coverage, including a report regarding the anti-Semitic support within the population. But shortly after, more worrisome were the news that neo-Nazi cells operated and murdered for years across the country, including with the support of some representatives of the police. There were some arrests and some "calls" for creating a database on extremists, but it's never enough for considering the danger is gone.

And, if you listen to me, the danger was never gone. Anywhere. But since 1948, we have our place to go and live!

Book Review: Creators and Disturbers. Reminiscences by Jewish Intellectuals of New York

At the beginning of the 80s, when this book was published, Jewish intellectuals continued to be an interesting topic. Nowadays, I would rather say that they might be interesting from the point of view of their specialization: writers, scientists, artists in various domains. Or not interesting at all.

The interest at the time was understandable: after long decades of fight with a system not so friendly with the Jews, the new Jewish elites were taken into consideration by the establishment.

New York was and continues to be an important hot potato for the main intellectual mainstream, hence the focus of the articles. The authors are covering many perspectives, geographical areas - Bronx, Harlem, Brooklyn - and denominations. Their origins - Russian, German - are diverse as well. Some are writing about their literary adventures (I.B.Singer) or about their stages of the assumed assimilation (Hans Morgenthau), about their connection with the other minorities (Dan Morgenstern, on the Jewish-Black connection) or the return to Jewish values after facing the precarious situation of the Soviet Jewry (Ted Solotaroff).

Overall, it was an extremely interesting intellectual trip.

Book Review: Tough Jews

As it is not for the first time I hear about the "Jewish gangsters" I was not excited at all by the topic of Rich Cohen's book: Tough Jews. Father, sons and gangsters. Originary from a family with connections with this world, I was expecting a detailed account of the mechanisms and motivations of the individual members of the group.

Although using academic research, the book includes many personal accounts and memories of his father, Herb Cohen, - whose best friend was Larry King, and this could be considered the weak point of the book as they lived in Chicago for a long time and the heart of the gangsters was New York. Also, I didn't like at all the writing style - too abrupt and not captivating at all.

But, at the end of the more than 200 pages, there are some good memories to keep in mind - and explore through other books. One of the most important is the idea of the Jews with guns and wealthy - not the sad and depressive accounts of the immigrants coming to America and fighting to survive. "Jews were bullied in America, but in America Jews could fight back" (p.42), in comparison with the Jews from Europe and far Russia victims of sheer anti-Semitism.

This is an explanation suggested by the author too, that I would like to believe, but for which I didn't find too many convincing, academic explanations in the book.

The fate of the gangsters was sealed and they didn't survive the Second World War. Names as Louis Lepke, Abe Riles, Mendy Weiss, Greenie Greenberg or Buggsy Goldstein remains sources of inspiration for movies or thriller books. And in a way it's good like this. The world Jewry was having other important things to do.

On Net, Virtual Mayors Stake Claim to Famed Jewish Spots – Forward.com

On Net, Virtual Mayors Stake Claim to Famed Jewish Spots – Forward.com

Reconnecting with the recent past

NYT: A Ukrainian immigrant reconnects with its roots, a life story.

Another kind of Brooklyn

1. why they should not be as the rest of the American citizens?

2. at least there are more chances to speak openly about the abuses and the perpetrators. but, again, it is not an excuse for the current situation.

The Organs Donations Issues

I tried to figure out myself a bit what it is the whole issue about the latest scandal about the organs donations.

Here, a couple of links:

Forward - How Kidneys are Bought and Sold on Black Market
one simple conclusion: there are people in desperate need for a transplant. The provisions in Israel are very strict and the offer is seriously limited in comparison with the demand.

See: Halachic Organ Donor Society

Also: the Syrian-Jewish Enclave in NYC
The insider spy
The almost Hollywood screenplay

and the letter of the Sephardic Community Alliance - a possible power conflict between the Sephardims and Askenazi could also offer an explanation ?

Hamodia found an explanation: We are Very Much in Galus

How much is your body worth - or part of it?
the UK disscussion
the ethics context
value or market value?

Recently, in Romania, several Israeli fertily doctors were arrested and are under investigation for egg trafficking. The "ova commerce" discussion is almost ten years old in Israel.