The book about Madoff

Since the very beginning of the scandal, I was passionate about the "Madoff case": how it was possible to dump so many (important) people for years? What I found in this book is very simple: overexploitation of trust and of the power of networks. Not a genius, rather a very simple mind in many respects - the description of his obsession about order disclosing his ridiculous side of life - but a very abile networker. Having at its disposal an impressive pool of people keen to trust him, without reserve. Don't blame capitalism, but the human nature! As simple as that.

Kissinger bringing more matzah into the Soviet Union

A recently published document from 1976 is revealing a small part of the intense diplomatic activity during the Cold War for rescueing the Jews from the other part of the Iron Curtain. When disclosed, in the coming decades, it will offer, I am sure, an impressive amount of information about successes and changing shifts, about the diplomacy of the times and its changing benchmarks as well as about betrayals and failures.

Full booked

I wanted to write about the Ariel boycott, or about the chances of a peace after the last night deadly attack or about social media in the Middle East, or maybe about Rosh HaShanah, but, as I didn't write for a long long time, I will take it very easy and will focus on books and movies. Meanwhile, maybe we'll get more about Ariel and the peace, perhaps after Rosh HaShanah.

Question?

Following the conclusive question from the beginning of a performance of an amazing dance company from Israel: "we, here, in the Middle East, we cannot talk about flowers, birds etc. We have other problems to face. Hence, the presence of the social and/or political messages in our works". Period.

Re-staaaart!

Restoration

I've read recently several articles about the restoration of the synagogue from Beirut. With various lectures in the Arab blogosphere relating this "event" with the debate regarding the mosque/cultural center from the Ground Zero: "yes, we can, look at us how generous we are with them".

Exactly those arguments gave me the benefit of a huge doubt about jumping high of happiness after reading what it is happening in Lebanon. Because, no, I don't think so that the building of the mosque/cultural center from the Ground Zero is a welcomed decision: at least at the symbolical level, it is not about time to embrace wholeheartedly such an initiative. As for the Beirut case, there are synagogues built for a community decreasing from a year to another. And, yes, in Iran, the Jewish community is represented into the legislative body. Just saying...

The Conversion law

The debate is not recent. It is maybe the final point of various kind of approaches and discussions regading this issue, taking into account the experiences from the last decenies, including the massive Alyah from Central and Eastern Europe.

Here are several opinions expressed in this respect:

Ha'aretz - Conversion as a strategic goal

"The purpose of the Conversion Bill is to increase the number of Jews, and as such it must be supported on principle. It is a strategic goal, a matter of survival for our people, whose ranks are dwindling exponentially. Diaspora Jewry is in an accelerated process of extinction, out of choice, and every action that increases the worldwide Jewish population, whether legislative or educational, is welcome".

Diaspora - A threat!

On the other side, it is to be mentioned that Reform and Conservative movement do not enjoy equal rights and status in Israel - see here an example of the relations with the Orthodox mainstream, so claiming now the risk of division is rather a political move, than reflecting an action plan aimed to correct this situation.

The supporters

The Jerusalem Post - Troubles in the coalition

The Past Present

The American Jewish Congress is about to enter the pages of history, as a character of the past. Financial problems, as well as representativity problems. Situation available in the case of many other organizations, in North America, but not only. The debate is open, the question is how much a new leadership of young Jews is ready to take a certain lead. And, if yes, in what direction?