Month: July 2014

Putin Expresses His Support of Israel in the War Against the Gazan Jihadists

Posted on by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

Russian President Vladimir Putin

 

President Vladimir Putin is a tough but very effective leader. He is never afraid to take a stand and fight for the interests of his people. True, his methods can be heavy handed at times—if not downright ruthless.

His support for Assad in his civil war against ISIS showed a real skillful understanding of what Jihadist Islam stands for the threat that it poses for the civilized world. In contrast, the United States actually supported ISIS and the Rebel faction, known as the Daoud brigade fighters have evacuated their stronghold in Sarmeen in Idlib to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Raqa province as ISIS declared an Islamic caliphate, days ago.[1]

Putin is much more perceptive than people realize. He understands what ISIS better than our President, who chose to support the Daud brigade fighters and even requested 500 million dollars to support them against Assad. Our President also supported the Muslim Brotherhood and their vision of transforming Egypt into a theocratic Muslim state governed solely by Sharia Law. We also supported Al Qaeda in its war against Mo’amar Kadafi of Libya.

A word to the wise: The United State should not be supporting theocratic Jihadist states that are associated with Al Qaeda and ISIS. Why? Because we should never forget what these Jihadist Muslims did on September 11, 2001.

ISIS’s rapid takeover of Iraq and Syria demonstrated the short-sightedness of this dubious proposition.

This past week, Putin met with the Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, and rabbis of the Rabbinical Center of Europe (RCE) and expressed his moral support for Israel’s campaign to stop HAMAS from bombing Israel. President Putin said openly to his rabbinical delegation:

  • I support the struggle of Israel as it attempts to protect its citizens. I also heard about the shocking murder of the three youths. It is an act that cannot be allowed, and I ask you to transmit my condolences to the families,” added the Russian president, in referring to the abduction and murder of three teens in June by Hamas terrorists.

Putin asked Rabbi Yosef to send his regards to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and say that he is a true friend of Israel and of Netanyahu. Netanyahu called Putin on Thursday, and in their conversation, Putin called for an end to the conflict in Gaza.

Symbolic gestures are very important in such dangerous times.

The warm meeting between the rabbis and the Russian president comes at a time when Israel is strengthening its relations with several major countries.

Would it be asking too much for President Obama to personally express the same kind of words to Israel for the world to hear?

Israel is the United States’ only democratic ally in the Middle East. Shouldn’t offering support for Israel at this time be something that he should personally do and not delegate this matter to a lowly White House official?[2]


[1] https://www.zamanalwsl.net/en/news/5719.html.

[2] The White House spokesperson Josh Earnest declared, “No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians and we support Israel’s right to defend itself against these vicious attacks.”

As the Middle East Explodes, Someone Is Asleep at the Wheel

Posted on by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

The world is in a state of crisis.

As Americans, we do not have to look very far. Our own border situation with the influx of nearly 300,000 people entering into our country since April of this year reveals a moral and human problem of epic proportions. Our “allies” south of the border are actively exploiting the lives of so many people coming  into the Southern part of our country.

While he was in Texas meeting with Gov. Perry, one would think that the President would have gone to some of these centers to see exactly what chaos is ensuing without any specific game plan for the near future. Symbolic gestures are psychologically and morally important for people working to protect our borders. It is even good for the President to show his solidarity with the children, assuming he wants to appear as someone who is “concerned” and “involved” in solving this crisis.

As if this crisis wasn’t enough, we have the conflict that is taking place in Israel. The Jihadist consortium of ISIS and HAMAS are trying to target the Israeli nuclear reactor in Dimona.

Consider the following scenario.  The Jihadist consortium succeeds in blowing up the reactor; nuclear radiation spreads throughout the Middle East. Ironically, the radiation not only affects the Jews living in Israel, but also the Muslims living in Israel and the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, not to mention every country within the entire Middle East, e.g., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and so on. Let’s not forget the European countries of Greece, Turkey—in fact, the entire European continent.

Stupidity, like hatred, knows no bounds.

Where is our President while all of this is happening? You might be surprised to know that he is planning his next vacation in August at Martha’s Vineyard.

By now, any logical person ought to be scratching his/her head.  How can anyone go on yet another vacation while the world is going to hell in a hand basket?  Note this is not the first time the President has gone on vacation during an international crisis.So far this year, the Obamas have spent 44 million dollars on their vacations.

Just imagine how many soup kitchens and people 44 million dollars could feed. . .  I can almost hear the ghost of Mel Brooks say, “It’s good to be king, oops! I meant to say, ‘It’s good to be the President!'”

June 14th, 2014, the President goes golfing while the Russians invade the Ukraine and the Crimea; in the interim, Iraq is falling apart at the seams as ISIS begins its conquest of Syria and Iraq, with a goal of expanding the Caliphate.

What is wrong with this picture? When Hurricane Katrina brought great devastation to the Southern part of the country, the media blamed President Bush and his administration for not doing enough to help the victims of Katrina.

Are we witnessing President Obama’s “Katrina moment”?

If our country did not tolerate President Bush’s display of apathy, why should we tolerate it with President Obama?

Isn’t time for us as a nation to demand a more attentive reaction to the tragedies occurring in the world?

The last thing the civilized world needs is a President who is asleep at the Presidential wheel.

Waking Up to the Dangers of Jihadist Fascism

Posted on by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

The ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Husayni al-Qurashi al-Baghdadi is rapidly becoming a rock star in the Jihadist Islamic world.  The ghost of Adolf Hitler must be green with envy that he never had such religious fanaticism in his secular Nazi ranks. Within days after announcing the formation of an Islamic caliphate in Syria-Iraq, he announced that Rome must be conquered along with Spain.

The man has ambition.

President Obama’s senior adviser to the DHS named Mohamed Elibary, a longtime admirer Ayatollah Khomeini and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, is excited that the Arab world is going to have its first caliphate in nearly a hundred years. I would add that Elibary has often praised the late Muslim Brotherhood ideologue Sayyid Qutb, whose ideas have define the modern jihadist movement – especially his call for violent jihad and for the purification of Islam from the forces of unbelief.[1]

If you’re wondering what is a proud Jihadist sympathizer  doing in DHS? That’s for another discussion. Suffice it to say that the fox is in control of the hen house, or in this case, the White House.

According to  The Telegraph:

Rome will be conquered next, says the leader of Islamic State Muslim, who has  called his flock to join the Islamic State to gather for a battle against non-believers throughout the world

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed leader of the Islamic State stretching across Iraq and Syria, has vowed to lead the conquest of Rome as he called on Muslims to  immigrate to his new land to fight under its banner around the globe. Baghdadi,  holds a PhD in Islamic studies, said Muslims were being targetted and killed from China to Indonesia. Speaking as the first Caliph, or commander of the Islamic faithful since the dissolution of the Ottoman empire in 1920, he called upon Muslims to rally to his pan-Islamic state.

  •  “Rush O Muslims to your state. It is your state. Syria is not for Syrians and Iraq is not for Iraqis. The land is for the Muslims, all Muslims. “This is my advice to you. If you hold to it, you will conquer Rome and own the world, if Allah wills it.” Having claimed the title of “caliph”, Baghdadi appealed to “judges and those who have military and managerial and service skills, and doctors and engineers in all fields.” He also called on jihadi fighters to escalate fighting in the holy month of Ramadan, which began on Sunday. “In this virtuous month or in any other month,there is no deed better than jihad in the path of Allah, so take advantage of this opportunity and walk the path of you righteous predecessors,” he said. “So to arms, to arms, soldiers of the Islamic nation, fight, fight.”

The “religion of peace” is really a religion of submission to Islamic fascism. The free world had better wake up from their  sleep and stop this menace once and for all.


[1] – See more at: http://pamelageller.com/2014/06/obamas-dhs-senior-dhs-adviser-mohamed-elibiary-inevitable-caliphate-returns.html/#sthash.BpIKSvx4.dpuf

 

 

Jihadist Islam: The New Nazism of Our Time

Posted on by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

 

Never underestimate the power and religious fervor of Jihadist Islam, the new and improved version of Nazism of our time.

In his 2012 speech shortly after the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, the President mentioned some thirty-two times that “al Qaeda was on the path to defeat,” “decimated.” Such rhetoric makes Neville Chamberlain look like General Patton in comparison. Cheney is not one of my favorite politicians, but I must give him credit for saying the obvious,  “Rarely has a U.S. President been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many,” writes Cheney. “Too many times to count, Mr. Obama has told us he is ‘ending’ the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — as though wishing made it so.” In other words, the Obama Middle East policy has no clothes.

Ditto.

Dear Mr. President,

I hate to tell you this,  although Osama bin Laden is dead, Al Qaeda is very much alive. In fact, thanks to our rapid departure from Iraq, this terrorist organization controls more territory than at any time of its history. Their lands extend from the ancient city of Allepo, Syria to Fallujah in central Iraq. That’s over 400 miles of territory. In fact, the ISIS and Al-Qaeda even produces yearly reports for their Arab investors. Their leadership has threatened to reconquer Spain, and let’s not forget, Rome! By all accounts,  Al Qaeda has swept to power with the aim of imposing a strict Islamist ideology on Syrians across the large swathes of Syria’s rebel-held north. Al-Qaeda now has re-instituted a Caliphate, an idea that has been endorsed by certain Muslim Brotherhood leaders working in the White House as advisers to the President.

Arab heads are rolling by the thousands, while Christians are crucified in their areas of control.

Is the world a safer place, Mr. Obama?

I don’t think so.

In light of this, I would strongly recommend that you and your administration do not even think of criticizing Israel from doing what she must do to ensure her survival. Israel’s survival is at stake, but so is the rest of the Western world.

Europe is next.

 

Send Gaza back to the Stone Age, and Cut their Electricity and Gas Too!

Posted on by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

 

One of the most famous attacks in WWII was when the Allies bombed Dresden. British historians love debating whether the wholesale destruction of this once beautiful city and symbol of humanism and baroque culture was really, “necessary.” Dresden is one of the tragic images that best depicts the style of warfare seen in the 20th century and it is a visible symbol of destruction. U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall claimed the attack was necessary because it served to give a crippling and demoralizing blow to the German ability to reinforce counterattacks upon the Allies. In addition, it was also used as a munitions center. This attack eventually led to the aerial bombardment of other German cities. The attack served to also to disrupt communications and destroy industrial production.

Sometimes extreme measures must be taken in times of war. The modern concepts of war where one side at bests gains a slight advantage has proven time and time again  only exacerbates tensions over time. If the Allies would have fought the Nazis and the Japanese Imperial armies in WWII like the way we now fight these wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, “with one hand tied behind our backs,” we would have lost the Second world war.

If the Palestinians wish to attack Israel, like the allies did in Dresden, then I think we ought to return the favor in Gaza, I say that it is time for us to start winning wars like we did in WWII and let  political correctness be damned.

Had we worried about civilian casualties, many more lives would have been lost. Had we worried about not killing “innocents, ”America and its Allies would have lost because the fascists would have certainly exploited their  “human shields” as a military tactic. In war, hard choices must be made; innocent lives are frequently lost. The loss of human lives serves to remind the vanquished nation why they should never embark upon their genocidal plans in to destroy civilization in the future.

As I witness the thousands of missiles launched against Israel, I believe the time has come for Israel to borrow a page from American and European history and learn from the lessons of Dresden. If the Palestinians can attack the Dimona Nuclear Reactor and every Israeli city, then I say that the rules of war  demand a reciprocal response from the Israelis. If bombing civilian centers is permissive, then it ought to be permissive for both sides and not just one side. Asymmetrical warfare perpetuates a double standard that is not just. Nobody is telling the Gaza Nazis to attack Israeli cities, but if they do, the law of reciprocity demands Israel do the same. The Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank do not seem to worry about the nuclear radiation harming every country in the Middle East.

As we speak, the Deputy Defense Minister Danny Dannon (Likud) demanded that the Security Cabinet  cut Gaza from receiving their stipend of Israeli gas and electricity. “Supplying electricity and fuel to Gaza Strip must be halted”, Dannon, “It’s inconceivable that while we  fight Hamas, we continue to supply them electricity and fuel used for firing rockets at us. . .”  Ironically, the Palestinians are watching the World Cup, courtesy of Israel!

Is that how we expect to win wars? Did the Brits provide Nazis with electricity and gas?

If the Palestinians have to spend more money on their utility bills, believe it or not, this might make the people less willing to start up with Israel. Israel is under no moral or legal obligation to provide the Palestinian Nazis with utilities. If they wish to live in the Stone Age, then let them. They won’t be able to power many of their weapons without electricity.

If the Palestinian Nazis had the ability, they would not stop at destroying the “Zionist entity,” they would execute every single Jew, for every Zionist is a Jew.

Unlike Dresden, Gaza is a moral cesspool whose only export is Jihadism to the world. If Western civilization does not give Israel the green light to do what it takes, then each European and civilized Arab government will face a similar fate. And yes, so will we living in the United States.

If history has taught us anything, the enemies of the Jewish people never stop at just killing Jews. They will set their goals higher and expand their warfare against all peace-loving peoples. If Israel is unwilling to do it, then it must (as one writer from Israelhayom.com put it) “send in the Israeli military to completely dismantle Gaza’s internal production of weaponry, to build up stockpiles of rockets. This has created a ‘balance of terror’ between Israel, with its large and sophisticated army and air force, and Hamas, armed with several thousand rockets. Israeli deterrence has been eroded by Hamas’ ability to strike the central Gush Dan area.”

It is time to dismantle the infrastructure of terror once and for all.

Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi — A Rebbe to Remember

Posted on by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

Reb Zalman 2005.jpg

Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (1924-2014) died on July 3rd this past week. The world has lost of one its greatest and most imaginative modern Rebbes of modern times. In the early sixties, he and Shlomo Carlbach were among the earliest followers of Rabbi Schneersohn and their success set the standard for generations of Chabad shiluchim (emissaries).

My experience with Reb Zalman goes back almost four decades to when I was about nineteen years old.  Reb Zalman often used to travel to the Bay Area where he would do a variety of workshops.

In the summer of 1973,  I vividly remember him wearing a rainbow colored Tallit on Shabbat. When I asked him about the significance of his tallit, I remember him explaining to me how each color corresponded to a color of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.

I knew right away that Reb Zalman thought outside the box! Reb Zalman gave me a glimpse of what life might look like outside of Lubavitch.

After returning from vacation, I asked my teachers about him. Chabadniks often describe him as brilliant but somewhat wayward, a maverick of sorts. According to one narrative, young Zalman Schachter asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe if he could succeed him as the next Rebbe of Lubavitch. The Rebbe smiled and politely declined his offer, and said, “I hope that the Moshiach (Messiah) will replace me.”

Over the decades, Reb Zalman outgrew Lubavitch, and he subsequently became his own kind of Rebbe. As a modern Jewish visionary, he was one of the early exponents of interfaith dialogue that went far beyond the stodgy world of Jewish-Christian dialogue. Reb Zalman created bridges of mutual understanding with the Buddhist, Sufi, Hindu, and other religious traditions. He incorporated many of their techniques (e.g., Dervish-dancing) and meditation into Judaism.

He was also the first American Rabbi to be invited by the Dali Lama, who wanted to understand the mystery and lessons of Jewish survival for his own Tibetan community.  Reb Zalman was a pioneer and a visionary who sought to create a new kind of Jewish spirituality that would attract many young Jews who became disillusioned by the vapid and rote forms of Judaism that remain endemic of modern Jewish life.  He often had workshops designed to teach rabbis about the importance of silence—not an easy task indeed!

In my lifetime, I have known some outstanding spiritual teachers. I will remember Reb Zalman and R. Akiba Greenberg as two great giants of spirit who left a lasting influence on me. They were both in many ways, kindred spirits who also personally knew each other.

In retrospect, I would have to say that Reb Zalman had a much greater impact on me than Rabbi Schneersohn. Reb Zalman’s smile was contagious; he was always approachable.  Reb Zalman always took a sincere and personal concern all of his students and followers spirituality. He often recommended interesting meditative exercises to open my spirit to new possibilities. At times, he could be at times painfully honest—but always in a gentle sort of way. Often times, he offered advice to me that I did not solicit. Every year, I would always call him and see how he was doing and his memory was always sharp even to the end. A few months ago, he gave me a lovely recommendation on the cover of my new book, A Shepherd’s Song: The Shepherd Metaphor in Psalm 23 and in Jewish Thought.

As we grew older, Reb Zalman always used to say that we must go “from aging to saging,” a theme that later became of his most important books. For baby-boomers, this is wonder advice for all of us to remember.

Another one of the most important lessons he bequeathed unto a new generation of Jewish spiritual teachers is the importance of learning how to find their own spiritual voice. He also understood the power of the synagogue as a spiritual crucible for renewal and new possibilities.

His love for Jews of all backgrounds made him one of our most endeared rabbinical figures of modern times.

A great man has passed away and all who knew him will miss him.