ALERT

We have received the following message from the Chabad in the Aspen Valley, where this blog is based. We recall with gratitude the warm and sturdy support extended to the founders of ALERT by Rabbi Mintz when we were confronting anti-Semitic attitudes, and we send to Rabbi Mendel and Lieba Mintz our deepest sympathies as they mourn their fellow Chabad emissaries in Mumbai.

AlertToday

In shock, we join the 3200 Chabad Centers & World Jewry in mourning the tragic and senseless loss of our fellow Chabad emissaries in Mumbai, India Rabbi Gavriel & Mrs. Rivkah Holtzberg who together with other Jewish hostages were killed by terrorist in the Mumbai Chabad Center.

The Holtzberg’s son Moshe, whose 2nd birthday is tomorrow, was saved by his courageous nanny.

I encourage all of us to do a special mitzvah this Shabbat. Light Shabbat Candles (at 4:28pm in the Valley) this week in place of the hand of Rivkah Holtzberg. Attend Shabbat services this week and study some Torah in the memory of Rabbi Holtzburg or give Tzedakah in the memory of all those slaughtered these last few days.

May we have only good news to share with each other and may the Almighty comfort their families - including their extended family of Chabad emissaries, the Jewish people, and humanity as a whole - among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, with a world of peace and life, once and for always.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Mendel & Lieba Mintz

Background: Islamic Terrorism Helped Bring Israel, India Together

“The Islamic extremist terrorism behind the carnage in Mumbai has, ironically, been one of the engines behind Indian-Israeli ties, which have increased at a dizzying pace since the countries established diplomatic ties in 1992Combating that terrorism
has been one of the anchors of the relationship, as manifest in intense defense, intelligence and counter-terrorist cooperation at the highest levels, as well as an annual counter-terror dialogue.Nevertheless, Indian diplomats traditionally downplay the role of anti-terrorism in bringing the two countries closer together. Highly dependent on Arab oil and with a Muslim minority of an estimated 150 million out of the country’s more than 1 billion people, Indian officials are traditionally reticent about emphasizing anything other than the country’s economic and cultural ties with Israel.” Read more

India Declines Israeli Offer of Aid Delegation to Mumbai “Israel sent a number of intelligence officers to India Thursday to assist in analyzing the major terrorist attack on Mumbai. Defense Minister Ehud Barak Thursday offered India security, intelligence and humanitarian aid in dealing with the situation.

It appears the Indian government is not interested in high profile security assistance from Israel. Throughout the day, the Homefront Command prepared to send an aid delegation to India, but efforts were halted when it became clear that Mumbai was not enthusiastic about the prospect.” Read more

Analysis: Israel Cannot Defend Against Certain Attacks

“Since last February, the defense establishment has been involved in a worldwide effort to protect Israeli citizens and Jewish centers from attack by Hezbollah as revenge for the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh. Serious attacks have been thwarted during that time. But the terror attack in Mumbai, in which the local Chabad House was a secondary target, indicates that Israel will never quite cover local Islamic terror in developing nations.

It is possible, with tremendous effort and close cooperation with foreign intelligence services, to stop Hezbollah cells when they plot attacks on Israeli embassies. Unofficial delegates can be briefed to be alert and cautious. But it is all but impossible to protect the Israeli tourist or delegate caught in such a ferocious and coordinated attack as the one in India this week.” Read more

Sweeping Guilty Verdicts in Retrial of U.S. vs Terror-Financing Charity

“DALLAS - It took 15 years and two trials, but the government has won a terrorism conviction against what had been the nation’s largest Muslim charity and five of its leaders for funneling millions of dollars to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.”

“Holy Land became the government’s signature victory in the tough-to-convict pursuit of terrorism financing cases. Lengthy prison sentences may await Holy Land’s five convicted leaders, and some could be locked away for life.” Read more

Scowcroft’s Possible Influence on Obama Administration

“WASHINGTON — Many of the Republicans emerging as potential members of the Obama administration have professional and ideological ties to Brent Scowcroft, a former national-security adviser turned public critic of the Bush White House.

Mr. Scowcroft spoke by phone with President-elect Barack Obama last week, the latest in a months-long series of conversations between the two men about defense and foreign-policy issues, according to people familiar with the discussions.”

“Mr. Scowcroft said his biggest piece of advice for the new administration was that it should make a renewed push to help broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. He also endorsed Mr. Obama’s call for diplomatic engagement with Iran.”

“Mr. Scowcroft, who stayed neutral in this year’s presidential campaign, is a prominent advocate of a realist approach to foreign policy that favors deal-making over the ideological commitments the second Bush administration was known for.” Read more

Olmert Asks Bush to Explain to Obama Israel’s Relationship with U.S. on Strategic Deterrence

“WASHINGTON - Israel is asking U.S. President George W. Bush to describe to his successor, Barack Obama, the American commitment to ensure that its strategic deterrence is not compromised. The subject was the focus of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s farewell meeting in the White House on Monday with Bush and top administration officials.” Read more

Obama’s Mideast Peace Platform Is Coming into Focus

“Eight weeks before Barack Obama is sworn into office, signs have emerged over the weekend that point to what is turning out to be the new administration’s plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is the conclusion that one reaches when considering the upcoming appointment of Hillary Clinton to the position of secretary of state; the reports that Obama could name retired general James Jones to the position of national security adviser; and the president-elect’s reliance on the advice of Brent Scowcroft, who served as national security adviser in the administrations of Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush. Obama and Scowcroft are said to have spoken at least twice since the election.” Read more

Kristof: Literacy Campaign Is Hopeful Project in Grim Pakistan

“Barack Obama’s most difficult international test in the next year will very likely be here in Pakistan. A country with 170 million people and up to 60 nuclear weapons may be collapsing.”

“The United States has squandered more than $10 billion on Pakistan since 9/11, and Pakistani intelligence agencies seem to have rerouted some of that to Taliban extremists. American forces periodically strike militants in the tribal areas, but people from those areas overwhelmingly tell me that these strikes just antagonize tribal leaders and make them more supportive of the Taliban.”

“One happy note: I visited a school run by a California-based aid group, Developments in Literacy, which represents a successful American effort to fight extremism. DIL is financed largely by Pakistani-Americans trying to “give back,” and it runs 150 schools in rural Pakistan, teaching girls in particular.” Read more

Emanuel’s Record on Israel More Dovish than Headlines Suggest

“The appointment of Rahm Emanuel as president-elect Barack Obama’s new chief of staff drew a wave of jubilation in Israel at the prospect of the son of an Irgun fighter running the White House, and a wave of condemnation in the Arab world for much the same reason. The Israeli press embraced him as “Obama’s Israeli,” while the Arab press derided him as an agent for the Mossad.

“A close examination of Emanuel’s voting record during three terms as a Congressman from Illinois, and his involvement with Middle East issues during the Clinton administration, paints a more complex picture of the next president’s gatekeeper. Though known for close ties with the Israelis, Emanuel had never given them a free pass and has consistently supported a dovish policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” Read more

NY Times Editorial Opposes Talks with Taliban

“Afghanistan’s swift unraveling has created new - and in some quarters unrealistic - enthusiasm for talks with the Taliban. . .

“…we are deeply skeptical that there is any deal to be cut with Taliban leaders who gave sanctuary to Al Qaeda before 9/11 and would undoubtedly insist on re-imposing their repressive, medieval ways, including denying education and medical care to women.

“We fear that some NATO members may be so eager to withdraw their troops that they would be willing to trade away the Afghans’ future.” Read more

MDA, Red Crescent Both Win Red Cross Prize

“WASHINGTON (JTA) - The Palestinian and Israeli first responder groups are the joint recipients of the first American Red Cross Humanitarian Prize.

“The winners announced in an American Red Cross release on Thursday are Younis Al Khatib, the president of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and Dr. Noam Yifrach, the chairman of Magen David Adom’s executive committee.

“Mr. Al Khatib and Dr. Yifrach are being honored for the historic work they have accomplished in establishing a formal, ongoing collaboration between their two organizations which has directly led to improved humanitarian conditions for Palestinians and Israelis,” the release said.

“The prize is jointly administered by The Atlantic, a magazine; no prize amount was listed in the release.” Read more

U.S. Jews, Muslims launch drive against anti-Semitism, xenophobia

“Dozens of synagogues and mosques across the United States and Canada are to take part in a first-of-its-kind three-day joint public relations campaign against anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim xenophobia beginning on Friday.

“The initiative, which was given the code-name “Twinning,” calls for close cooperation between rabbis and imams based in some of the largest cities in North America, including Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Palm Beach, St. Louis, and Washington DC. . .

“. . .The event is the brainchild of Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, an organization devoted to improving ties between the Jewish and Muslim communities in the United States.

“Schneier told Haaretz the venture was launched with the acknowledgement that the fight against extremism and radical Islam needs to be waged within Islam, thus requiring others to strengthen the moderate elements within Islam.” Read more

Iran Said to Have Fuel for One Nuclear Weapon

“Iran has now produced roughly enough nuclear material to make, with added purification, a single atom bomb, according to nuclear experts analyzing the latest report from global atomic inspectors.” Read more

Anti-Semitic You Tube Channel Investigated

“ROME (JTA )—Italian authorities are investigating a YouTube channel that posted songs setting anti-Semitic lyrics to Italian hit tunes.

The songs, whose lyrics urge death to Jews and make fun of the Holocaust, appeared last week ona a YouTube channel that apparently originates in Italy. They have already been taken offline by the unknown persons who posted them.

Investigators said whoever posted the songs to YouTube seems to be in Italy. The channel profile for “99fosse” opened April 19, 2008, remains active but no videos are posted. It identifies the owner as 24 and Italian.” Read more

Record Number of Jews Slated for Next U.S. Congress

“When the new Congress debuts in January 2009, a record 45 Jews will take the oath of office: 32 in the House of Representatives and - regardless of the outcome in the still-contested Minnesota election - 13 Jews in the Senate.

Among the three newcomers to the House are a young, gay, multimillionaire entrepreneur; a seasoned veteran of New Jersey’s rough-and-tumble politics, and a wealthy attorney who poured $2 million of his own money into a raucous campaign that now gives him the right to say he represents Mickey Mouse.” Read more

Will J-Street Money Translate into Influence?

“WASHINGTON (JTA) — Can fund-raising success translate into Capitol Hill clout?

That’s the question facing J Street after the new liberal pro-Israel political action committee raised nearly $570,000 for 41 U.S. House and Senate candidates—a total far surpassing most other pro-Israel PACs.” Read more

Haaretz Welcomes “a New Jewish Voice”

“Barack Obama’s election as president of the United States justifiably generates new hope not only for a change in policy but primarily for the implementation of a different point of view. All signs indicate that Israel would do well to understand that while the new U.S. administration is as committed to its security as its predecessors, it may not be able to accept Jerusalem’s policy of foot dragging.” Read more

Jihad Rehab Program

“Jilani and his colleagues are not just fighting a war of ideas. Though the Saudi government tends to explain its rehabilitation program in purely Islamic terms, as an effort to correct theological misunderstandings, the new program also addresses the psychological needs and emotional weaknesses that have led many young men to jihad in the first place. . .these young men seem to have become the subjects of a continuing experiment in counterterrorism as a kind of social work.” Read more

Minority Settlers Views

“While the vast majority of settlers vow never to abandon the heart of the historic Jewish homeland - these ancient and starkly beautiful hills whose biblical names are Judea and Samaria - thousands of other settlers say they want to move back to within the pre-1967 borders of Israel.” Read more

New ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace’ lobby J Street hopes for Obama-era growth

“Will the Obama effect that enabled Democratic candidates to ride the party’s presidential candidate into Congress also contribute toward changing the map of Jewish influence on Capitol Hill? J Street, the pro-Israel, pro-peace lobbying group and Political Action Committee (PAC) formed just last April and seen as the left’s answer to the veteran American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is counting on it.

Lobbyists on the right imply that the new group is a passing trend that merely hitched a ride on the year of the Democrats. It has been accused of splitting the Jewish vote, thereby damaging the message of unity and the effectiveness of pro-Israel lobbying.” Read more

Chicago Jews Have Strong Ties with Obama

“They raised contributions for him, provided him with contacts, and also enjoyed hosting him and believed in his glorious future in politics. During most of the campaign, when rumors were spreading among American Jews that Obama was a closet Muslim who was more supportive of the Palestinians and was interested in granting the president of Iran legitimacy, his support among American Jews did not even come close to that enjoyed by Bill Clinton. But at the moment of truth, according to the exit polls, it turns out that 78 percent of Jews voted for Obama.

Members of the Chicago Jewish community are not surprised. They claim that the Jews simply discovered what they have known for years.” Read more

Why Barack Obama’s win is ‘good’ for the Jews

“The enlightenment idea that all humans are equal is far from being implemented throughout the world. As Jews we should be committed to this idea, which was what started the Jews on their long voyage toward a life of dignity.

Hence we should not only ask whether Obama is good for Israel, although I believe that in the long run he will be. . .But we should primarily ask ourselves what this historic event can do for the cause of tikkun olam. . .

Anti-Semites have always been afraid of Jews because we were accused of being cosmopolitan; because we did not fit into a simple category. Obama’s identity is truly global; he is an embodiment of the idea of world citizenship, and it is a sign of hope that the U.S. could elect a man of such complex identity.” Read more