FailedMessiah.com

Kashering Yitzhak Shamir

Stephen Spector, an academic who wrote a well-reviewed book on Operation Solomon, the 1991 airlift was supposed to rescue the last of Ethiopia's Jews, omits facts and shades the truth in order to make Israel – and Yitzhak Shamir, who died Saturday – look as if saving Ethiopian Jews was a high priority for them. But that is an absolute, demonstrable lie – and Spector must know it.

Video: The Woman Who Saved Syria's Jews Gets Israel's Presidential Medal Of Honor

Judy Feld Carr, the Canadian Jew who – literally and almost single-handedly – saved Syria's Jews is honored with Israel's Presidential Medal of Honor by President Shimon Peres.

End Run Around Justice

The Likud-led coalition wants to pass a law that will allow the Knesset to pass laws already ruled unconstitutional by the High Court.

Haredim Gloat Over Tzipi Livni's Downfall

Livni was a driving force in protesting haredi attempts to forcibly gender segregate public buses and sidewalks. She lost her position as head of the Kadima political party when former defense minister and army chief of staff Shaul Mofaz, who favors making deals with haredim, won the party’s leadership primary earlier this week. But it wasn’t her work on behalf of women’s rights that cost her the election – Livni wasn’t thought to be hawkish enough to deal with the nuclear threat from Iran and the destabilization of Egypt and other Arab states caused by the Arab Spring.

Board Member Sues To Have Non-Jew Exhumed And Removed From Jewish Cemetery

Juliet Steer was dying of lymphoma when she told her brother Paul she wanted to be buried just like Jesus, following Jewish customs. Even though she’s a black Christian, she chose a plot in the secluded interfaith section of this quiet town's Jewish Ahvath Achim Cemetery. “She felt like it was a nice and peaceful place,” Paul Steer said. Juliet liked the quiet. When she died, Paul had her buried in the plot, hopeful that she’d finally rest in peace. And she did – until a board member sued to have her exhumed and moved to another cemetery.

Jewish Federations Won't Intervene In Anti-Ethiopian Discrimination

“The relationship between American Jewry and Israel is very delicate. Our role is not to lobby the Israeli government but to create and support initiatives that indicate a commitment to a particular issue. The difference may be subtle and nuanced, but we are cautious about getting involved in internal issues such as these, just as we would not want the Israeli government to get involved in the internal issues of the organized Jewish community in America.”

Fighting Haredi Fundamentalism

"Those of us who support Israel financially, either individually, through federations or through other organizations, should insist that none of our support be used to support Haredi institutions. Of course, doing so is practically impossible, since those institutions are supported at every level of the Israeli government and Israeli civic organizations, which are in turn supported by American philanthropic and governmental aid. But isn’t this why we have large umbrella groups such as federations and federations of federations? To act in a unified way and exert meaningful pressure? Individual donors and family foundations should target their giving away from Haredim, and large conglomerations should demand changes to the way Israeli society subsidizes radical fundamentalism."

Former Israeli President Goes To Prison For Rape

Still protesting his conviction, Moshe Katsav entered the special Orthodox wing of Ma'asiyahu Prison at 10 am today to begin a 7 year sentence for two counts of rape and other related sexual offenses. Katsav will initially be on suicide watch. After that, his cellmate will be former Shas MK Rabbi Shlomo Benizri, who was convicted of public corruption. Israel's Supreme Court rejected Katsav's appeal on November 7th.

Gemach's Aren't Just For Orthodox Jews Anymore

Jewish free loan funds often run by haredim now serve an expanded clientele that includes people not usually considered part of their communities. But the economic downturn has hit many Jews hard, and as I've reported many times, the Jewish Federations have for the most part failed to respond to the crisis – or even to acknowledge the crisis exists.

Jewish Org Fires Employee For Saying Kaddish

A 65-year-old employee who worked for a major Jewish women’s group says his supervisor harassed him for leaving work to pray when his mom died — and fired him when he complained to her boss.

Zionist Organization of America Honors Glenn Beck

The Zionist Organization of America, a hard right organization that has far more in common with Rabbi Meir Kahane than it does with Theodore Herzl or David Ben Gurion, is honoring disgraced discredited talk show host Glenn Beck. Beck was fired from Fox News after organizations as varied as the Anti Defamation League (ADL) and Media Matters, along with hundreds of rabbis  and tens of thousands of Fox viewers, complained about Beck's lies, his insane rants, and his false claim that as a 14 year old boy, left wing financier George Soros was a Nazi collaborator.

Questions The Jewish Federations Won't Answer

15 days ago I sent a series of questions to Andy Neusner, who runs the Jewish Heroes project for the Federations. Neusner didn't answer. What were the questions? Take a look…

Jewish Heroes?

The Federations' Jewish Hero Awards quietly disqualified a left wing nominee from Jewish Voice for Peace. But its top vote getter so far is Leah Rubashkin, convicted felon Sholom Rubashkin's wife and the sister-in-law and aunt of convicted felons Moshe Rubashkin and his son Sholom (jr.). Leah is the daughter-in-law of Aaron Rubashkin, who stole union dues from his immigrant employees. And Leah Rubashkin has never repudiated any of these crimes. Also on the short list is another Chabad follower, Rabbi Manis Friedman, who called for the slaughter of Arab civilians – even babies – and who then walked back that statement by saying he only meant this should be done during a time of war.

Orthodox Rabbi Of Conservative Synagogue Filmed With Prostitutes

Yeshiva University ordained Rabbi Avraham Rabinowich -- who leads the wealthy, Conservative Bellmore Jewish Center and is vice president of the Long Island Board of Rabbis -- allegedly made appointments with prostitutes on the Sabbath shortly after services.

Vast Majority Of Birthright Applicants And Participants Volunteer, But Only 22% Do So Jewishly

Young Jews volunteer in high numbers. A new study shows that 70% did so at least once during the past year. But their volunteerism is not connected to Judaism and the Jewish community – and that is because the Jewish community is perceived to be parochial and inward looking, concerned about itself but not others. The 22% who volunteer with or through Jewish organizations are disproportionately Orthodox and volunteer for disproportionately Jewish organizations. The study includes a large number of people who applied for a free Birthright trip to Israel – including those who received a trip.

An Ultra-Orthodox Foray Into Genetics

In the seemingly never-ending battle over who can and who can not perform conversions to Judaism the State of Israel will recognize, an Sefardic ultra-Orthodox government minister ventures to genetics to explain why ultra-Orthodox Jewish law must determine conversion issues.

New RCA President A Moderate

New Rabbinical Council of America president Rabbi Shmuel Goldin doesn't want to mix into Israel's politics, especially the peace process. He supports diversity in conversions, and he'd like to find a way to admit liberal Modern Orthodox rabbis into the RCA.

President Of B'nai B'rith International Indicted For Tax Fraud

Dennis Glick, who abruptly resigned as president of B'nai B'rith International, has been indicted on federal charges of tax fraud, JTA has learned.

Shame: Jewish Elderly Org Fires Cancer-Stricken CEO

The Association of Jewish Aging Services fires a talented employee in the midst of a life-threatening health crisis.

Sex, Human Trafficking, Underage Girls, Donald Trump's Partner, And A Jewish Billionaire

Alexander Mashkevich, one of Jewish world's biggest philanthropists and a supporter of haredi charities, is suspected of organizing sex party on luxurious yacht seized by Turkish police. His lawyer denies the allegations, but newly revealed facts seem to be against him. ""I have been flying with [Mashkevich] to the Rabbi Nachman of Uman's grave for two years now, the haredi head of ZAKA said. If you see him there, you wouldn't believe how he can pray."

Kick Them When They're Down

The OU proves again that it is an amoral (if not immoral) organization.

Why Shoot The Messenger?

A response from the head of the Metropolitain Council on Jewish Poverty to my recent post on Jewish homelessness.

The Jewish Community’s Continuing Blind Spot: Not Listening To Jewish Students

The American Jewish community spends a good deal of time and money worrying about campus life these days, particularly regarding how Israel is criticized, attacked and delegitimized by professors, students and outside agitators. But our community makes little sustained effort to hear from Jewish students themselves – about what they are thinking, how they choose to identify (or not) as Jews, and their views on Israel.

Jewish Groups Clash Over Response To Glenn Beck

The ADL attacks Jewish Funds For Justice over a newspaper ad attacking Glenn Beck, Roger Ailes and Fox News for Beck's Holocaust smear of George Soros, and his repeated misuse of the Holocaust.

A Long Time Coming: Foundations Unite To Help Disabled Jews

13 charitable foundations unite for new initiative aimed at improving the treatment of people with disabilities in the Jewish community.

Why Organizations Dedicated To Jewish "Continuity" Fail, And Why Funders Keep Giving Them Money Anyway

A prime example of wasted community resources looks very hip. But beneath that filament-thin veneer lies the vapid self-absorption of a drag queen.

Hanukkah, Fundraising, And The Jewish Federations' Failure To Deal With Jewish Poverty And Homelessness

The Jewish Federations of North America use a portrayal of a homeless man sleeping on a sidewalk to demonstrate the Federations' value and the work they claim to do. The problem? The Federations do little, if anything, to help such homeless people.

What's Shmarya Reading And Why Is He Reading It?

45 years ago, a small group of Jews, primarily university students and day school students, changed the face of world Jewry by setting in motion a process that would eventually lead to the liberation of the Jews of the Soviet Union. This is their story.

European Jewish Umbrella Organization Gets "Soviet-Style" Takeover From Oligarch Close To Chabad

Two Jewish billionaires who came to Berlin from Ukraine last week for a conference on European Jewish life skipped out on the gathering during a session on the global financial crisis. Instead they were downing vodka shots with Israel’s chief rabbi in the basement of Berlin’s gleaming Chabad center.

Canadian Jewish Leader Jailed For Child Porn

Former B'nai Brith director Bill Surkis found in possession of 21 pornographic videos featuring prepubescent girls.

Sex Scandal Involving Billionaire Jewish Leader Deepens

Billionaire's involvement in orgy scandal involving women trafficked for prostitution believed deeper than originally thought. New information suggests he was arrested during raid and then released on bail. Some in World Jewish Congress, where he is a laeder, say he should be fired if allegations prove true.     

Updated: Vote For Shmarya

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Sex Scandal: Head Of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Implicated In Wild Sex Scandal Involving Orgies And Underage Girls Trafficked Into Prostitution

Turkish authorities say a sex trade network was using the yacht, which was leased by the government five years ago to a local businessman. The authorities say participants in the orgies paid between $3,000 and $10,000 for a night on the decks of the yacht.

How Not To Plan The Synagogue's Future

Synagogue 3000, also known as S3K, inadvertently shows why non-Orthodox attempts at building "Jewish continuity" will probably fail.

Rabbis Ban Concert By Top Haredi Singers, Many Haredim Violate Ban

"We have the photos in our possession. Here and there are haredim in lovely pictures, with a woman to their right and one on their left. And then they will come and ask why their children are not accepted into particular schools. We must place stop signs in front of the public in a big way. We aren't here to jail anyone. We aren't putting policemen on every corner. The public understands the educational issue, and if they don't they'll get into trouble."

Interview With Hechsher Tzedek Founder Rabbi Morris Allen

Rabbi Allen was part of a five-person crew that went to Postville in August of 2006 and then went back to Agriprocessors in September 2006 with 3 recommendations: 1) the Iowa Department of Labor be invited to do an audit of the plant which would have given Agriprocessors 18 months to respond to any of the findings; 2) all training be done in the vernacular – which for most workers was Spanish – and that all training materials be available in Spanish; 3) meetings be organized between senior management and the workforce, with a letter signed by the Rubashkins stating that there would be no intimidation or recriminations against workers for whatever they said at those meetings. The Rubashkins refused.

Letter from Mississippi: Toward Creating An Ethiopian Jewish Peace Corps

As an activist on behalf of Israel and Ethiopian Jews since 1974, I propose that Israel build a sizable cadre of Ethiopian Jewish Israelis and train them for Peace Corps-type service in poverty-stricken African nations to help them develop schools, farms, irrigation systems, and paramedical and communication facilities.

Can 400,000 of Israel’s Russians Be Absorbed Into Israeli Society Without Alienating Non-Orthodox Jews?

“If you write in the law [as currently proposed] that the Chief Rabbinate has the ultimate authority over conversions, 30 years of legal decisions [by Israel’s High Court of Justice] are thrown out,” Reform leader Rabbi Eric Yoffie continued. “For us, that is the most significant issue; everything else should be negotiated.”

Afraid Of Atheist, Jewish School Cancels Film Shoot

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and a Jewish primary school have pulled out of a film about faith schools by controversial atheist Richard Dawkins, after parents protested.

Chabad Rabbi Leads List Of 50 Most Influential Rabbis In America

Yehuda Krinsky is ranked number one. But the Newsweek list has a far bigger surprise than that.

Conversion Bill Won't Cause Rift With Diaspora, Netanyahu Says

"Any legislative agreements on conversion will ensure the Jewish people's unity," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, in a message to Jewish leaders in Israel and the Diaspora.

Kadima Seeks To Bridge Israel's Secular-Religious Divide

"The traditional religious public has become haredi, the Sephardim have become more like the Ashkenazim in terms of their religious level, and the secular public, which was once traditional, is no longer. Each one moves in his own direction, and it is crucial that we create a situation in which we live Jewish and democratic values together."

Birthright Israel Flourishes As Funders Cut Off The Competition

"The people who fund Birthright get plenty of photo ops and get to sip cocktails with the prime minister - what does Momo offer? Maybe Momo's program is cheaper and the kids are enjoying themselves more, but there's no honor involved in helping him."

Reform And Conservative Rabbis: Proposed Conversion Law Endangers Israel's Security

US Jewish leaders say Obama-Netanyahu crisis is small potatoes in comparison with growing schism with Reform, Conservative Judaism in US. "If you lose the support of the young generation, Israel's security is at risk," they warn.

Peres Visits Haredim, Shows Religious Side

Israel's President said yesterday that if it were up to him, all Jews would observe the Sabbath and work only six days a week–"as the Torah commands."

Distribution Of Income By Religions In The US

How does Judaism rate?

3 Fired In Holocaust Claims Conference Fraud Scheme

Stolen money went primarily to Russians in Brooklyn.

Israel's Tourism Minister Allegedly Skips Meetings With Foreign Dignitaries To Drink And Party

On one morning when Misezhnikov had canceled his meetings, he was seen returning from the beach.

Letter from Long Island: Free Rubashkin, For Now

Prosecutors have said that the Agriprocessors VP is likely to flee to Israel. The next step in that calculation seems obvious: any observant Jew with ties to Israel would be deemed a flight risk and denied bail.

Golda Meir Wanted To Bar Sick, Handicapped Holocaust Survivors From Immigrating To Israel

"A proposal was raised in the coordination committee to inform the Polish government that we want to institute selection in aliyah, because we cannot continue accepting sick and handicapped people."