by Isi Leibler
April 23, 2013
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4584
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Visiting New York this week, I sought to assess the broader implications of the recent “International Peace Award” bestowed on former president Jimmy Carter by Yeshiva University’s Cardozo Law School. This unsavory display of groveling by a major Jewish institution to a committed foe of the Jewish people is not merely a stain on the entire Jewish community but highlights a dramatic erosion of Jewish values and Jewish dignity.
Many consider it a wake-up call and believe that alarm bells should be ringing in the conference rooms of major Jewish organizations.
Yeshiva University, created 127 years ago, is the crown jewel of America’s modern Orthodox establishment. Its Rabbinical Seminary was headed by the revered Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik. Its Cardozo Law School has evolved into the one of the most pre-eminent legal educational institutions. Although it caters for all Americans, Cardozo prides itself on being a Jewish institution, serves only kosher food and is closed on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Since his electoral defeat, Carter has emerged as one of the most vicious opponents of the Jewish state whose vile bias appears to stem from traditional Christian anti-Semitism. His theological approach even retains the odium of Jewish deicide and he is on record stating that Jews hate Christians because they are “unclean, uncircumcised” and view them as “dogs”.
He was one of the principal architects of the campaign to demonize Israel as an “apartheid state” which led to14 members of the Carter Center including his former close advisor, Kenneth Stein, resigning and unequivocally accusing him of maliciously lying about Israel. Carter meets and embraces Hamas leaders, urging the US to negotiate with them. He also opposes efforts to deny Iran nuclear weapons.
Alan Dershowitz said that he could not “imagine a worse person to honor for conflict resolution”. He accused Carter of being “significantly responsible for the second intifada… He just prefers terrorists to Israelis” and “encouraged terrorism and violence by Hamas and Hezbollah”. He accused him of having “more blood on his hands than practically any other president” and could not understand how such a person who “never met a terrorist he didn’t like” could become the recipient of such an award.
Yet the administrators of Yeshiva University refused to rescind or even condemn the award to Carter. Their principal concern was to display political correctness and avoid being accused of restricting “academic freedom” or infringing on the rights of their students.
Chancellor Richard Joel declined to endorse the decision and unlike the Dean of Cardozo, Professor Matthew Diller, Joel “courageously” announced that he would absent himself from the proceedings. But he stressed that “Yeshiva University both celebrates and takes seriously its obligation at the University to thrive as a free marketplace of ideas, while remaining committed to its unique mission as a proud Jewish University”.
Needless to say, it would have been highly unlikely for Yeshiva University authorities to have stood aside and mumbled clichés about academic freedom had one of their student affiliates sought to honor a racist or right wing extremist.
The event was announced only four days in advance because the organizers knew that honoring such an inveterate anti-Semite would enrage many members of the Jewish community.
There were major protests from Yeshiva University alumni and students. But the Jewish leadership establishment itself was incredibly restrained. Other than the Zionist Organization of America, no Jewish organization of substance called on the authorities at Yeshiva University to intervene or rescind the award.
ADL‘s Abe Foxman remarked that the award was wrong, it was inappropriate to honour Carter and that there was a need to “instill values” to ensure that “future mistakes like this will not be made”. But he stressed that “the University responded properly” by not intervening.
Even the outspoken Simon Wiesenthal Center, whilst blaming the students for failing to “exercise due diligence”, avoided calling on the University authorities to rescind the award.
In contrast, when a Jewish institution invites or honors controversial personalities on the radical political right or anyone out-of-favor with the liberal chic, there are invariably widespread protests and condemnations. This was exemplified by the recent histrionic pressures and threats employed which led to the cancellation of the invitation to Pamela Geller, the outspoken campaigner against Islamic fundamentalism, to address Jewish organizations. Had the students at Yeshiva University invited her, it is highly unlikely that the authorities would have been as accommodating as they were to Carter.
Regrettably, when it comes to those demonizing and delegitimizing Israel, the trend is for mainstream leaders to bury their heads in the sand, babble about freedom of expression and the need for dialogue and avoid confrontations. They rationalize this by insisting that the overriding objective must be to create a “big tent” encompassing the widest possible range of viewpoints, including those previously considered beyond the pale of the mainstream Jewish community.
During the Cold War, Jewish communists served as apologists for Stalinism and even applauded the execution of Jews on trumped up charges. But they were deemed rogue elements. In contrast, their successors who today engage in vicious anti-Israeli rhetoric, promote BDS and campaign to persuade the American administration to exert pressure on Israel, are becoming integrated as legitimate components of the mainstream Jewish community or simply regarded as just another facet of a “pluralistic” Jewish community.
Yeshiva University is one of the most committed bastions of the Jewish community. When its management declines to overrule the unconscionable decision of its students to honor an anti-Semite, it highlights the extent to which the rot has already advanced and penetrated organizations purportedly promoting Jewish values and Jewish interests.
Thus one should not be surprised to learn that Hillel branches on some campuses host disgusting groups demonizing Israel like “Breaking the Silence” and engage in kumbaya with Muslims hostile to the Jewish state.
Even a number of Federations have set aside funds for anti-Israeli institutions and initiatives. Increasingly, radical rabbis, synagogues and Jewish cultural organizations are hosting speakers who shamelessly defame Israel.
Most current Diaspora Jewish religious, political and cultural leaders were molded during an era when the Holocaust and the struggle to create a Jewish state still dominated public consciousness. Now, many of these are reaching the age of retirement. If they are loath to speak out when such degradation of Jewish values takes place on their watch, the situation may worsen dramatically when the next generation of leaders emerge whose background is likely to make them even less sensitive to these issues.
When Jewish leaders stand aside or remain silent as elements hostile to the Jewish people and Israel are hosted or honored within the Jewish community, this invariably impacts on their core values. It will also legitimize and embolden Israel’s adversaries to intensify efforts to impose BDS as exemplified last week when UC Berkeley student senators carried a resolution to that effect.
Jewish leaders committed to Jewish continuity who proclaim their love for Israel must agree upon certain codes of conduct. This has no bearing on freedom of expression. Nobody seeks to deny anyone the right to say what they please. But if a community fails to draw red lines for its constituents, it will face chaos and anarchy and undermine the shared values which enabled the Jewish people to survive throughout the ages.
The writer’s website can be viewed at www.wordfromjerusalem.com.
He may be contacted at ileibler@leibler.com
This column was originally published in the Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom
Honey Bee Said:
http://melungeons.com/articles/jan2006.htm
@ SHmuel HaLevi:
Sandia Mt. is one of the four scared mountains that mark the scared land of the Navaho. Sandia,San Franciso Peak Ariz,Mt Sophis,CO, and FT Garland,CO. Navaho are Souixian speackers who began mirating to NM about 900 yrs ago.
yamit82 Said
Maybe we Jews are from space,spce ships are always landing in NM.
The ROT is all over the LEFT. The ROT that goes around comes around.
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
World’s oldest surviving inscription of the Ten Commandments?
There is a fascinating old site some few miles west of a little town called Los Lunas in New Mexico. The site has been known as “Mystery Mountain” by the locals for many years. At the foot of this hill there is an ancient rock inscription. Many scholars now believe that it contains the Ten Commandments, including 3 instances of the Tetragrammaton, inscribed in old Hebrew letters
Ted, 9 hrs ago i posted a comment which was botted by spam filter. You have not released it yet????
@ SHmuel HaLevi:
This Navaho Prayer is like the Palsms [can’t spell] Of David. The Navaho are nomadic sheep hearder,I collect the rug,jewlery etc. My Fater though they are the “10 Lost Tribes of Israel”.
http://native-americans-of-the-southwest.info/navajoprayers.htm
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
Sand paintings are Navahoe[Dine}. The Indian are always “stealing” each others art ideas.
@ Honey Bee:
Trade Post, left hand side of Tramway going towards I-25, coming down from the Sandia range. managed by Black Feet. Extraterritorial? maybe. Still, I am looking at a sand pinting I bought there.
We have remote family, one of father’s great aunts, who married to a “Cacique” in South America.
Their kids were good friends with Dad and their kids of ours, One made Aliah to Israel many years ago. I was then in the US.
That is the sad truth. @ John Frost:
@ Laura:
Thank-you
@ SHmuel HaLevi:
Love NM, Blackfeet are in Montana. My Dad taught me to respect the Amer. Indiands and culture,because with out their generousity we would be oven foder.
@ Honey Bee:
Good point.
@ Honey Bee:
We lived in Albuquerque, NM and visited all the nearby pueblos starting with Bernalillo, Los Lunas, the Trade Post, (Black Feet), and Jicarillo way up North. Others in passing.
I can extend on details but my previous note was puffed into cyber cloud so I keep this short.
@ Honey Bee:
We lived in Albuquerque, NM and very close to the barbed wire fence limiting the Bernalillo pueblo grounds. Dowm Tramway Blvd. to I-25. We visited the Pueblo, the Trade Post and Casino many times. Also Los Lunas and once Jicarillo.
My work for Uncle Sam as a Senior-Fellow Engineer, Military Avinics Programs offered me opportunity to meet with many of the Old People.
One of my father’s great aunts married a Native American “Cacique” in South America and her/their kids were part of our extended family and close friends to Dad and their kids to us.
Talking at the Post one day I mentioned that. No reasons, just talking. I drove by the Post twice each day to and from work. Before I knew it we received a “family” call from Bernalillo and eventually became good friends. Yehudit visited the Casino many times… :)))
They are great folk but have been terribly treated by both the Spanish and Anglos.
Bernard Ross Said:
How can we stop the ROT, when the enemy is more commited to their cause,then we we are to our cause?
mom of alleged Boston bombers, became increasingly stricter in Islamic faith
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/tsarnaev-matriarch-stricter-islamic-faith-article-1.1325208#ixzz2ROXPP2rz
SHmuel HaLevi Said:
Which Nations were you invited to visit?
@ CuriousAmerican:
Shalom Curious…
I wonder why those highly universal Jews do not seem to have any interest to solve the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Native Americans within the USA? 480 plus “Indian Reservations” Curious.
I was invited to visit four of the pueblos and camps.
You tell us Curious.
Do you need the name of the Secretary for “Indian Affairs” in Washington? Secretary of the Interior.
@ Bernard Ross:
I have a fear of “sweet faced” old men, they always want to get to cozy.
@ Bernard Ross:
Bernie, Jimmy Carter is an anti-Semite, period.
If he isn’t then I am Mother Teresa.
(Sorry about that Mother Teresa, I have the highest respect for her and the likes, being educated by the IHM nuns, they were great.)
Honey Bee Said:
he is more than greedy. He spreads his lies for money and love(hate)
CuriousAmerican Said:
what idiot ignores this?
just google arab funding of jimmy carter. He does it for money AND for love. When he is dead I will give out sweets.
@ Bernard Ross:
Remeber Western movies ,there was always a sweet faced old man, who really was a scheeming lech. Or better Uriah Heap,one of Dicken’s famous characters.
CuriousAmerican Said:
Disingenuous again or just a poor example? Carter is an anti semtite for his use of double standards and lies about the Jews. Other than that he is an Elmer gantry, a fraud, a fake. a con artist, a schnorer.
CuriousAmerican Said:
He libels Israel and the Jews for money and love.
Those who are unable to see through his obviously transparent garb probably attend the same tailor.
CuriousAmerican Said:
not about free speech, its about lies, swindles and in carters case just plain corruption.
In my opinion carter is a paid whore, a sleazy salesman. He is paid to certify elections which are corrupt, I know first hand from experience. Everything about him, especially his fake smile, reeks of sewage.
CuriousAmerican Said:
Still obfuscating?
yamit82 Said:
Of course it does!!!!!!!!! CBs say go ahead do the deed,turn his head from “ass to grass”,it would simplify his life.
CuriousAmerican Said:
They are worse. Should be tried for treason, aiding and abetting the enemies of the Jewish people. Penalty for treason in Israel is Death or life in prison at hard labor.
NOT!!!
That’s because there is no daylight between you and Carter.
Since there was no outcry or any public opposition from Cardozo Students a vote would probably have the same results as any committee.
First of all it’s not true for most Jews as the intermarriage rate today in America exceeds 60%. What was the context of Carter’s statement? The context determines whether the comment is antisemitic or not. knowing carter it was probably antisemitic.
That’s believable.
Fiction and based on closed Jewish shtetels in the 19th century Russia.
Why did Carter and you bring up the subject and these examples in the first place? We know why. You and cater two Jew hating fundamentalist christian hate Jews and will use any opportunity to bait them.
What do you call a catholic whose church will not sanctify a marriage to a non Catholic? A Muslim who will not marry a non Muslim? A Mormon whose Church will not sanctify marriage to a non Mormon? Anti Free Speech? These are not legal or moral issues but religious issues.
Jews are forbidden by the Torah to marry non Jews. It’s a Major commandment in Judaism. A bible thumping christian like you and carter know it better than most Jews. So what’s your game here curious?
Deut. 7:3-4: “Do not intermarry with [him], do not give your daughter to his son or take his daughter for your son, for he will turn your son from Me”: A child born to your daughter (fathered by a non-Jew) is called “your son”, but a child born to your son (by a non-Jewish mother) is not called “your son”, but “her son”.
Funny that your book condemns in the most vile comments the whole group of Pharisees but never makes a specific charge or complaint against them.
A few yes most no. That said, they sit in the seat of Moses and must be respected and obeyed.
Deuteronomy 17:10] AND THOU SHALT DO ACCORDING TO THE SENTENCE, WHICH THEY OF THAT PLACE WHICH THE LORD SHALL CHOOSE SHALL SHEW THEE; AND THOU SHALT OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THEY INFORM THEE:
[Deuteronomy 17:11] ACCORDING TO THE SENTENCE OF THE LAW WHICH THEY SHALL TEACH THEE, AND ACCORDING TO THE JUDGMENT WHICH THEY SHALL TELL THEE, THOU SHALT DO: THOU SHALT NOT DECLINE FROM THE SENTENCE WHICH THEY SHALL SHEW THEE, TO THE RIGHT HAND, NOR TO THE LEFT.
Both carter and you are classic christian Jew haters and no I don’t support free speech for Jew haters maybe a shiv beteen the ribs if I knew I could get away with it.(thinking out-loud);)
@ CuriousAmerican:
That’s mighty white of you.
Put your money where your mouth is YU Dean Joel– next YU chanukah dinner invite, as guest speakers, Sarah Palin, Allen West and Pamella Geller to expose the liberal American & Jew haters (Joel alreaady invited Hillary Clinton as a guest speakerin the past.)
Sadly, YU will now receive less needed donations from all those who would otherwise support the school for the very reason of it’s non-compromising position in defending Israel over any first amendment bable about honoring Israeli/Jew slanderers like Carter. This goes for Cardozo Law School as well, where quality students will choose better law schools if Cardozo doesn’t distinguish itself for standing w/ Israel. Cardozo is now just like Rutgers, NYU & Columbia for hosting & honoring Jew haters.
How many Jews will have to die, either at the hands of terrorists that Carter loves; or as a result of some
unholy action that Carter undertakes; before these incompetent nitwits at Cardozo Law School understand
what’s at stake? Those responsible for this degrading spectacle should resign their positions; has nothing
whatever to do with freedom of speech. Lesson No. 1: You don’t give your ENEMIES an award! Lesson No. 1000:
You don’t give your ENEMIES an award! Understand, Yeshiva? Basic Human Relations 101. That noise you hear?
That’s Rabbi Meir Kahane rolling in his grave.
Breaking the Silence are usually IDF Veterans and should not be classed in the came category as President Carter, or Omar Barghouti.
You either allow free speech or not!
I do not see Carter as anti-Semitic. I can understand why many Jews feel he is.
The way to get around this while preserving free speech is to make all invitations, and monies spent, subject to a student vote – not merely a committee.
Is Carter an anti-Semite for saying this:
I PERSONALLY know 2 cases where that happened. Two Jewish guys. In one case, My Jewish friend’s brother married a Gentile girl. The family split with him. In another, a Jewish friend dumped his Christian wife, because he could not introduce his Gentile wife to his mother. He got a divorce and later married a Jewish woman. He told me, this was a mistake. The Gentile was nicer.
In Fiddler on the Roof Chava is disowned, treated as dead for marrying the Gentile Fyedka.
You cannot have it both ways. You cannot forbid marriage to Gentiles, and then call a Gentile anti-Semitic if he points it out.
Carter is NOT anti-Semitic. He expresses beliefs that Jews and Christians do not agree on.
For ex: Christians will necessarily look upon the ancient Pharisees as bad, for the most part.
Jews (especially Yamit) will look upon the Pharisees as Tzaddikum.
Carter’s views on Israel may be off, but he is NOT an anti-Semite.
There are going to be gray areas neither side will agree on.
Again, the way to do it, is to put all such fundings and events subject to a general student vote, not merely subject to a run away committee.
This way one preserves free speech.
Either that, or stop saying you support free speech.
@ yamit82:
We live in different worlds, fight different fights and concern ourselves with different issues. I respect your global outlook and the faith and intelligence that informs all of your words and deeds. I do not have that same faith and never will. I concentrate on smaller battles but that does not make them unimportant. I am always disappointed by what seems to be a lack of concern on the part of Israel for the smaller battles outside of Israel but I understand it because when you are defending your people and lives of your families, the smaller battles against the propaganda over here seem puny by comparison.
However, the war can only be won if each battle is fought intelligently, one at a time. Shaping and changing ignorant and foolish behavior to make us all more aware and supportive of Israel is important and I hope that Israel heeds that message very soon.
Honey Bee Said:
So size matters?
yamit82 Said:
WHY WOULD I DO THAT,I’D RUIN HIM. Anyhow I don’t have a frying pan big enough.
Honey Bee Said:
That’s no test. Try it on CB, then let us know. 😉
yamit82 Said:
I’ve calves bawl but never yell.
@ Dean:
I don’t think a handful of freaks should occupy our time and energy. There are always those few mutants. Can’t be helped. I would have them offed if it would serve a wider purpose than just personal pleasure.
@ Honey Bee:
How would you know it’s painless?
@ Bernard Ross:
This is the Jews you should support not those very small insignificant ones that will eventually die out as an anachonism. No matter how pious without the land they become a contradiction to the main precept of Judaism.
yamit82 Said:
Its painless,done with a rubber band. Or if you prefere cut, the Vaqueros alway bring a fying pan,onion,chiles, and stewed tomatoes.
Bernard Ross Said:
That’s not Judaism, that’s the corruption of Judaism as a result of 2000 years of being powerless and at the mercy of the gentiles. Those are the same Jews who railed against the Zionist and forbade their sects to stay put and not flee Hitler big on rituals but I doubt they really believe in G-d or even Halacha.
Halakhic Authority is Granted to Ensure the Performance of Precepts, not to Invalidate Them.
It must further be noted that the authority to issue halakhic rulings in accordance with human-reasoning was granted to human beings to ensure the fulfillment of Torah and the precise enactment of every Torah precept, and not to bring about their invalidation. This is the meaning of the Torah verse: For this Torah . . . is not in Heaven . . . for it is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart to perform it. And so, when a halakhic ruling is encountered, stemming not from the Sanhedrin, but rather from a single halakhic authority, and aimed at invalidating a Torah precept like Yishuv Eretz Yisrael
The Almighty did not authorize our prophets and sages to invalidate Torah precepts, but only to defend the Torah and to encourage the Jewish people to perform its precepts. As with any other case of delegated authority, the following rule is valid; “I appointed you to improve the situation, not to worsen it” (Bavli, Kiddushin 42b).
Laura Said:
Ouch. Just the thought…
Laura Said:
Trust me Laura, I married a cowboy, FIRST YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO CASTRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A friend informed me of an event the other day where a very fine and intelligent Jewish scholar, extremely knowledgeable about the history, religion and politics of the Middle East was officiously informed by someone in the audience (from a Jewish group) that his group supports a two-state solution and that his group believes that Palestinians are one people just like Jews and equally deserving of a country of their own The Jewish group’s rep objected to the scholar not classifying the Palestinians as a people in the same way he classified the Jewish people.
The official of the Jewish group was putting distance between his group, which was a partial sponsor of the lecture series, and the speaker – in front of an audience which included members of one of the only Muslim groups that speaks out against antisemitism.
Did the official have to come from a great distance to assert his group’s position in that way and, in the process, attempt to undermine a supportive pro-Israel scholar? No.
Does that group have to constantly push its left-wing views on others to the exclusion of other views? No.
Does that group speak for the entire Jewish community? No.
Does that group often preface their comments with a reminder that “they speak for the Jewish community” even though they are self-appointed and not elected by anyone? Yes.
It happens to be a group created by wealthy people who pushed out an equally left-wing but marginally democratic federation of groups.
Why does this matter? It shows clearly that we are our own worst enemies. It shows that those who pretend to be concerned about freedom of expression and free speech are really trying to get others to toe the party line in an attempt to politically shape the views of the politicians. It shows that Jewish people are mostly kept in the dark or have been apathetic to the point where they are being spoken for rather than learning about the issues and speaking up. Finally, it tells us that those who do speak up are being monitored, challenged or disgraced into silence or cowed to adopt views which benefit a certain rich socialist sector (or capitalists turned into socialists after their fortunes were made) within the Jewish community – people who are out of touch with Israel and working for the benefit of their power base and support.
@ Honey Bee:
They are castrated males.
@ Bernard Ross:
Look at the people holding signs,do they look capable of producing or raising children?
Bert Said:
Isn’t YU representative of “Jews of faith”, also satmar and naturei Karta? Frankly, Jews of faith do not appear to me to be more reliable regarding Israel.
The people holding the signs,are they men?
Jewish degeneracy has existed from the beginning and the Torah and the prophets also rail against this. The evil spirit also infects some Jews as well as Nazis,Communists and jihadists. I believe that the success of Israel is also stimulating the forces of evil, including Jewish renegades, to ever more extreme and desperate measures to destroy Judaism by trying to destroy Israel. The battle is ultimately spiritual rather than political with the battle lines becoming more clear between authentic Judaism and pure evil. One consolation: Jews of faith, in both the U.S. and Israel, are having more children than the secularists so the trend is on our side.
US Liberal Jews have adopted the policies of nazi Jimmy Carter?
Unbelievable!