Mr Bagel: 4 February 2007

Saturday, 10 February 2007

Happy Birthday to the World's most Successful Olympic competitor: A Jew

He was born on this day Febuary 10 1950 in Modesto California to happy Jewish Parents. When he was two years old his family moved to Hawaii, where he learn't how to swim. At 6 years old his family returned to California this time to Sacromento where he competed at his local swimming pool.

At nine he was training with Sherm Chavoor who trained 7 Olympic medalists, his abilty was recognized early. At age 10 he was the holder of 17 national age group records and 1 world record. At 14 his family moved to Santa Clara so he could train with George Haines of the Santa Clara swim club.

At 16 he won his first of 24 National AAU titles, his first was in the 100 metres butterfly. A year later in 1967 he won five gold meadls at the Pan American games in Winnipeg. Holding world records already, he brashly stated he would win six golds at the 1968 Mexico Summer Olympics.
[Click Read More...]

In the Mexico 1968 summer olympics he won 2 Golds a silver and a bronze. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich (West Germany), was back to maintain his bid for the six gold medals.

He did even more, winning seven Olympic gold medals, a feat as of 2007 unequalled by any other Olympic athlete. Whats is even more astounding he set a new world record in each of the seven events (the 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 x 100 m freestyle, 4 x 200 m freestyle and the 4 x 100 m medley).

His accomplishments at Munich were marred by the infamous Palestinian terrorism attack, known as the Munich Massacre, that claimed the lives of 11 Israeli athletes (He had previously spent time in Israel competing in the Maccabiah Games in 1965 and 1969). In the immediate aftermath, security personnel whisked him away from Munich.

At the remarkably young age of 22, He retired from swimming after the Munich Games. His management tried to get him into show business while his name was still hot. In 1973 and 1974, He appeared on such TV series as The Tonight Show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and Emergency! as paramedic Pete Barlow. He was never comnfortable in the lime light behind the cameras and his foray into Hollywood ended.

At age 41, he was offered a million dollars if he succeeded in Qualifying for the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics by film maker Bud Greenspan . Filmed by Greenspan's cameras, He failed to beat the qualifying limit, despite the fact his times were nearly as good (and in some cases better) than his medal-winning turns more than a decade earlier.
In 2005, He was chosen to be the flag bearer for the US Delegation to the 17th Maccabiah Games.

Happy Birthday Mark Spitz

Footnote:
In a modern day comparison, there bears a strong resemblance to the premature ending of Mark Spitz's career and Australia's Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe's recent premature retirement at 24.

After winning a host of gold medals and in 2001 becoming the only person to have won six gold medals in one World Championships, in total, Ian Thorpe after winning eleven World Championship golds, the highest number of any swimmer has recently decided to retire.

It is strongly rumoured that Ian Thorpe may pursue a career in front of the Movie Camera.

References:
Wikipedia:1968 summer olympics
Wikipedia:1972 Summer Olympics
Wikipedia: Munich Massacre
Wikipedia: Maccabiah Games
Wikipedia: Mark Spitz
Wikipedia: Ian Thorpe's
Thefreedictionary.com: Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz News
US Olympic team: Mark Spitz
Jewish Sports net : MARK SPITZ

Bagelblogger Always Fresh!
: * Munich olympic games * Olympic games * Mark Spitz * Best Olympic competitor * Mark Spitz and Jewish * Jewish Sports stars * Olympics and terrorism Olympics and Israel * Famous Jews *Jewish sports people * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger *

100 Deadly Reasons not to go To School One Hundred Qassams fired since the Ceasefire declared

Oh! They're only 'home made' rockets tooled in metal workshops in Gaza and the Westbank. They aren't able to be accurately targeted. They have just as much chance of plowing into a school classroom as they do any perceived military target.

'They don't hurt as much when they kill you.'

Palestinian Terrorists have fired 103 Qassams
as per Saturday 9pm. 10th Febuary 2007 Israel time

During the so called 'CeaseFire'

The Palestinians, who only desire peace. Since the commencement of the 'Ceasefire' they have managed to fire over 103 Qassams. They must have gone of accidentally. To put it in context can you imagine citizens in your town getting away with firing 103 Qassams and not being able to be caught? Yes you and me know it's balderdash, they are fired with little chance the terrorists will be arrested, imprisoned, charged or persecuted.
[Click Read More...]

Masked gunmen hold homemade rockets during an
Islamic Jihad press conference. Nov. 23, 2006

The very same Authority that pleads that it needs money from the UN for food, wages, but still manages to smuggle in thousands of rounds of ammunition through Egypt is incapable of arresting the very terrorist it supports.

The leaders of Fatah and Hamas are War criminals plain and simple.

Imagine

If your lucky enough to live in an area that isn't at the moment at risk of Qassam fire, say you nicely laid out dinner table in your house in Britain, The US, Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, New Zealand... Basically most places in the civilized world except parts of Israel, well think about this.

You're sitting at your dinner table, the children, Nana and Pa, some close friends are having a nice relaxing time, free from the worries of the day and suddenly, a split second later you hear the roar of the sirens.

All your guests, and your sleep deprived children could be dead in the next 15 seconds unless you manage to reach your strong room.

If you don't have a strong room, well you can put you hands over you face and prey your children don't die.

Welcome to the Ceasefire.

As a resident of Sderot conveyed to me,

the policy of "we cease they fire"

Don't worry though, desert looks nice.

Bagelblogger Always Fresh!
: * Ceasefire * Ceasefire+Qassams *Breaking Ceasefire * JPix 1 *Sderot and Qassams * Palestinian+War+Crimes * Abbas inaction * Western Negev * Targeting Civilians * Israel and Qassams * Palestinians * Ceasefire * Iran *Gaza * Israeli and Palestinian Ceasefire * Israel * Khaled Mashaal * Bush * Hamas * Abbas * Palestinian Duplicity BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogge

Friday, 9 February 2007

Last 2 day s for submissions to JPix carnival No 2

Ramon Crater - leaping upon the mountains

Photo courtesy of Josh from Josh's Photos

JPix 2

If you didn't check out the photos of JPix 1 the Jewish Photo Carnival
then your really did miss out on something.

Last call for submissions to JPix 2

Don't forget to get in your submissions for the next JPix 2 carnival
which will be hosted by Bagelblogger.

Last Submissions by 24th of Feburary, Carnival opening on the 26th

If you have any questions you can email:

JpixcarnivalATgmailDOTcom

________________________

JPix 3 is still looking for a host so step up and help this carnival
(and get a significant boost to both your traffic and links)

JPix 4 will be hosted by Chaim from Life of Rubin

JPix 5 is available as well

_______________________

Here's a little badge to put on your side menu. Point it to go to:

http://blogcarnival.com/bc/latest_987.html

If you would like to have the submit buttons and
archive buttons there on the side bar of Bagelblogger.

Dont forget the only criteria to entering your photos is:

What is JPix
JPix is a carnival for Jews and their pictures, it doesn't necessarily have to be that 'joyous expression of art' which photography can capture, it doesn't have to be just about photos of Eretz Israel, though they are most welcome, its not even about communicating some deep spiritual meaning in a long photo essay, although that's alright too, its about two things.

You're Jewish and you have photos you want to share, wether they be family, historical, artful, funny, quirky its about sharing, so get your submissions in for the next JPix.

Thank you to all those that submitted their wonderful photos to JPix 1

I look forward to seeing some great photos in the next carnival JPix 2

If you have any questions you can email JpixcarnivalATgmailDOTcom

Bagelblogger Get those entries into JPix2..!
* Jpix2 * Jpix 1* Jpix * Jewish Photography * Jewish Photography Carnival * JPix Carnival J Pix Carnival * Jewish Art * Jewish Photos and Blogs * Jewish Photo Blogs Jewish Photo Essays * Israel and Photos * Jewish Creativity * Jewish * Israel * Jewish BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger * *

It seems one Muslim refuses to be Jimmified

Above: A Parody of President Jimmy Carter's New book cover

It's so refreshing to hear discourse from a Muslim that is both studied and critical. I don't necessarily agree with everything this author writes, but in a climate of intimidation and intolerance for dissenting opinions within the Islamic world, Ms Manji is a breath of fresh air.

In this piece which appears in the

Australian
the author of

'The Trouble with Islam Today
, sees through the fallacy of Jimmy Carter's arguments in his book 'Palestine Peace not Apartheid'.

[Click Read More..]
_______________________________________

Irshad Manji: Modern Israel is a far cry from old South Africa

It's absurd to apply the term apartheid to one of the most progressive states in the world, maintains Irshad Manji

IN the past year, a stream of thinkers across the West - from Australian writer Antony Loewenstein to US academics John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt - has punctured the usual parameters of debate about Israel. I, for one, welcome any effort to prevent ideas from calcifying into ideologies. As a Muslim refusenik, that's what I do by defying the conventional prejudices of my fellow Muslims. Why would I resent refuseniks of a different kind?

It's precisely because I embrace intellectual pluralism that I respectfully challenge Jimmy Carter's recent critique of Israel as an apartheid state. To be sure, I've long admired the former US president. In my book The Trouble with Islam Today I cite him as an example of how religion can be invoked to tap the best of humanity. In no small measure, it was Carter's appreciation of spiritual values that brought together Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, compelling these former foes to clasp hands over a peace deal.

Which is why Carter's new book disappoints so many of us who champion co-existence. Entitled Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, the book argues that Israel's conduct towards Palestinians mimics South Africa's long-time demonisation of blacks. Of course, certain Israeli politicians have spewed venom at Palestinians, as have some Arab leaders towards Jews, but Israel is far more complex - and diverse - than slogans about the occupation would suggest. In a state practising apartheid, would Arab Muslim legislators wield veto power over anything? At only 20per cent of the population, would Arabs even be eligible for election if they squirmed under the thumb of apartheid? Would an apartheid state extend voting rights to women and thepoor in local elections, which Israel didfor the first time in the history of Palestinian Arabs?

Would the vast majority of Arab Israeli citizens turn out to vote in national elections, as they've usually done? Would an apartheid state have several Arab political parties, as Israel does? In recent Israeli elections, two Arab parties found themselves disqualified for expressly supporting terrorism against the Jewish state. However, Israel's Supreme Court, exercising its independence, overturned both disqualifications. Under any system of apartheid, would the judiciary be free of political interference?

Would an apartheid state award its top literary prize to an Arab? Israel honoured Emile Habibi in 1986, before the intifada might have made such a choice politically shrewd. Would an apartheid state encourage Hebrew-speaking schoolchildren to learn Arabic? Would road signs throughout the land appear in both languages? Even my country, the proudly bilingual Canada, doesn't meet that standard.

Would an apartheid state be home to universities where Arabs and Jews mingle at will, or apartment blocks where they live side by side? Would an apartheid state bestow benefits and legal protections on Palestinians who live outside of Israel but work inside its borders? Would human rights organisations operate openly in an apartheid state? They do in Israel.

For that matter, military officials go public with their criticisms of government policies. In October 2003, the Israel Defence Forces' chief of staff told the press that road closures in the West Bank and Gaza were feeding Palestinian anger. Two weeks later, four former heads of the Shin Bet security service blasted the occupation and called on Ariel Sharon to withdraw troops unilaterally, which later happened in Gaza. Would an apartheid state stomach so much dissent from those mandated to protect the state?

Above all, would media debate the most basic building blocks of the nation? Would a Hebrew newspaper in an apartheid state run an article by an Arab Israeli about why the Zionist adventure has been a total failure? Would it run that article on Israel's independence day? Would an apartheid state ensure conditions for the freest Arabic press in the Middle East, a press so free that it can demonstrably abuse its liberties and keep on rolling? To this day, the East Jerusalem daily Al-Quds hasn't retracted an anti-Israel letter supposedly penned by Nelson Mandela but proven to have been written by an Arab living in The Netherlands.

Even the eminence grise of Palestinian nationalism, the late Edward Said, stated flat out that "Israel is not South Africa". How could it be when an Israeli publisher translated Said's seminal work, Orientalism, into Hebrew? I'll cap this point with a question that Said himself asked of Arabs: "Why don't we fight harder for freedom of opinions in our own societies, a freedom, no one needs to be told, that scarcely exists?"

I disagree: some people still need to be told that Arab "freedoms" don't compare to those of Israel. The people who need reminding are those who now push the South Africa analogy a step further by equating Israel with Nazi Germany. To them, Zionists are committing hate crimes under the totalitarian nightmare that they dub "Zio-Nazism" (like neo-Nazism).

When it comes to granting citizenship, Israel discriminates in the same way as an affirmative action policy, giving the edge to a specific minority that has faced genocidal injustice. Does this amount to Nazism? Spare me. As a Muslim, I could become a citizen of Israel without having to convert. After all, Israel was one of the few countries anywhere to grant shelter, then citizenship, to the Vietnamese boatpeople who sought political asylum in the late 1970s. I don't have to wonder how Syria compares on that score.

Now for the ultimate proof of Israel's flimsy credentials as a bunker of Hitlerian hate: It's the only country in the Middle East to which Arab Christians are voluntarily migrating. And they are also thriving there, notching much higher university attendance rates than the Arab Muslim citizens of Israel, and enjoying better overall health than Jews.

The Holy Land is gut-wrenching and complicated. As much as I applaud Israel's efforts to foster pluralism, I condemn its illegal Jewish settlements and less visible crimes such as the diversion of water away from Palestinian towns. These contradictions of the Israeli state should be exposed, discussed, even pilloried. And they are: openly as well as often. So there's little point in deciding whose camp is the paragon of vice or virtue. The better question might be: who's willing to hear what they don't want to hear? That's the test of whether a country is more than black or white.
Quite refreshing indeed...

References:
The Australian: Irshad Manji: Modern Israel is a far cry from old South Africa
Muslim Refusenik: The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith
Parody of Carter Book, a Bagelblogger Original

Elder of Ziyon Thanks for the pointer!

: * Peace not Apartheid * Carters Legacy * President Carter * Israel and Apartheid * Jimmy Carter * Loewenstein * Muslim critique * Peace not Apartheid
Middle East * Irshad Manji * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger

Thursday, 8 February 2007

Reporting or Anti Semitism? The Telegraph dips to new lows Jewish Blood Libel

The UK Telegraph carries a story this morning, which in essence appears to support Jewish Blood Libel. They quote a Jewish Academics claims in his book.

Professor outrages Jews with book claim

Jewish Professor Ariel Toaff is claimed to have written

"In the book, Prof Toaff describes the multilation [sic] and crucification of a two-year-old boy to recreate Christ's execution at Pesach, the Jewish Easter. The festival marks the fleeing of the Jews from Egypt and Prof Toaff says Christian blood was used for "magic and therapeutic practices."

In some cases the blood was mixed with dough to make the azzimo, unleavened bread, eaten at Pesach.

He says the acts took place in northern Italy, around the city of Trento in German-speaking areas that border modern-day Austria.

Prof Toaff bases his book on confessions he says came from Jews captured and put on trial for the practice, which took place from 1100 and 1500."

Apparently it takes the UK Telegraph 25 lines of text to convey that this 'new evidence' is based on evidence provided through medieval torture.

Jewish Leaders in Rome replied

"There has never existed in the Jewish tradition any ritual involving human blood. It is improper to use the declarations extracted under torture hundreds of years ago to construct theories as original as they are aberrant."

Is this pathetic pandering to elements of a racist readership?

Historically there is a case of accusation of Jewish Blood Libel that occured in Trentino, Italy 1475.

Wikipedia states;

"Simon of Trent, aged two, disappeared, and his father alleged that he had been kidnapped and murdered by the local Jewish community. Fifteen local Jews were sentenced to death and burned. Simon was regarded as a saint, and was canonized by Pope Sixtus V in 1588. His status as a saint was removed in 1965 by Pope Paul VI, though his murder is still promoted as a fact by a handful of extremists."

It surprises me the Telegraph didn't use this detail, it rounds of a rather tasty story for those growing number of Brits which are so fond of Anti Semitism, why even 15 Jews died, thats got to be worth an increase in circulation and an extra dollop of cream.

References:

Telegraph:Professor outrages Jews with book claim

Wikipedia: Jewish Blood Libel

Bagelblogger Always Fresh!

: * Blood Libel * Jewish Blood Libel * Professor Ariel Toaff * Telegraph and anti Semitism * Trentino * Media Bias * Britain and anti semitism * Iran Hostage crisis * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger

Wednesday, 7 February 2007

JPix No 1 :The inaugural Jewish Photo Carnival

Photographs

If a picture tells a thousands words, what does a photograph capture?

Is it a fleeting moment of time? An impression, emotion, memory, sensibility?

Is it a 'piece' of ourselves? Our time, space, consciousness? Or is it all of these and more?

Photography has a relatively short but intensive history, no doubt one of the turning points was the issue of the Kodak of 1888, it was sold on the premise any one could use it and came loaded with an impressive 100 shots ready to shoot. Since the time that photography became more and more accessable to the common person, innovation after innovation has kept our interests in photography.

I'm old enough to remember the amazement I felt when I saw my first instamatic Polaroid land camera, it developed pictures, right there in front of you.

I have been told by a reliable source that Jack from Jacks Shack was actually alive when they were using the very basic and inexpensive Student Camera, which doesn't suprise me, Jack's quite an antique...

Speaking of Students and Cameras, in my student days, the price of photography meant there was little room for experimentation, you shot each shot hoping not to waste your money, now days with advancements in digital photography, you can afford to be adventurous, any poor shot is easily editable on your camera, you simply collect the good ones and dump the bad ones with the enormous increase in size of memory modules, it seems the sky is almost the limit to the number of pictures you can take with a digital camera.

There is a long history between Photography and Jews, including one of my favorite Photographers Alfred Stieglitz, but this is far beyond the scope of this humble 'Picture Carnival' , but importantly I'd like to mention what JPix is all about.

What is JPix
Simply put JPix is a carnival for Jews and their pictures, it doesn't necessarily have to be that 'joyous expression of art' which photography can capture, it doesn't have to be just about photos of Eretz Israel, though they are most welcome, its not even about communicating some deep spiritual meaning in a long photo essay, although that's alright too, its about two things.

You're Jewish and you have photos you want to share, wether they be family, historical, artful, funny, quirky its about sharing, so with out further ado, we now begin to look at what is in essence a virtual 'part of us'.

Warts and all welcome to the very first
JPix Carnival of Pictures.

Eretz Israel

I love viewing photos of Israel, and some one I've followed before they even made aliyah was Evan from Planet Israel, Evan's tours of Israel just exude the genuine excitement he has for Israel, he has a personal approach and well its the next best thing to being there. In his photo essay The Road To Beit El we are shown first hand parts of Israel, those of us in the Diaspora never get to see. His visit to Beit El is a indepth series of essays both beautiful and informative, check them out.1. The Road To Beit El 2. The Orange Revolution 3. The Beit El Animal Corner 4. Building in Beit El 5. Back to Beit El for the Aliyah Shabbaton 6. Beit El in History: The Patriarchs and 7. Beit El in History: The Tanachic Period , quite a collection, I know but as always with Evan worth the viewing/reading.

Cosmic X in Jerusalem takes a photo of the mundane that expresses just a little more than first glance S ST STU STUP STUPI STUPID , on a different note he shows the slowly developing change in the western entrance to Jerusalem with Building Bridges In Jerusalem, not quite what you expect from the title, or well its just another day. You've all heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, well Cosmic X thinks he might have found Israel's answer in Scraping It in Tel Aviv.

Jameel from The Muqata has also noted the prevalence of street Graffati and like Cosmic X he ponders its source, his Photo essay is a must see, in this latest bout of Graffitit appearing all over Israel. Check it out Who are the Mysterious Graffiti Wizards of OZ? some how I think Jameel's suspicions on its source might be ri rig right.

Jameel takes us on blast from the past with this midnight adventure, this was a highlight for me and its good to see it get some light again.Amazing Midnight Visit to Kever Yehoshua bin Nun.

For another blast thats very Fresh from The Muqata, Jameel shows us a series of Photos from up in the Golan and Tzefat, yes it's cold and there's Snow pix from Northern Israel today.

With the Western Negev in the News lately, its a good time to pop over to David's blog My LIfe under the Iron Rain and check out this beautiful Postcard from Meflsim. David featured a series of photos showing the expense and trouble locals have to go to to try to endure the raining of rockets. Its a must see, its was from earlier this year but check it out, Changes in the view,changes in the calendar. Even with never ending cahnce of rockets David has captured the beauty of a Winter Casuality.

Dave Bender from Israel at Level Ground goes all arty on us with his rendetion of Jerusalem of Gold and Blue, he gets his more serious self with Israel - Syria cut secret peace deal, I'm not sure of the veracity of the story but the photos of the Golan Heights are beautiful.

Muse from Me-ander has been slowly watching a neighbouring house getting built which is almost finishing the roof , things are getting cold and chilly but there's still beauty in the Winter Mornings. On the erev of Tu B'Shvat Muse takes some strange Erev Tu B'Shvat sights in. Make a note of the origin of the Beautiful Iris which appears in the comments.

As a final gesture of the Eretz Israel section I'd like to feature this Blog which I came across, simply named Photos of Israel the blog Israel4321 has some simply stunning photos, such as this series:
Bar’am National Park, an ancient synagogue and a Maronite church

Sights, Out and About

It seems Treppenwitz was Trippin The Light Fantastic a while back with his journeys to the Edge. His sent us some Postcards from the Edge which truly have to be seen to be believed.

Mottel from Letters of Thought shows us a photo from last year of a well known landmark, 770 as he contemplates what it means to him to be close to his Rebbe for Yud Shvat. He has a wonderful photo essay titled A Story of Five Nights -a Yud Shvat Photo Essay which is definitely worth a look.

The Jetsetting Sara with No H celebrates the Sunshine a while back, from her new state of Residence, Cali as she likes to call it. Just before her departure from San Francisco after visiting a friend she shows us her Last San Francisco Pics, which are definitely showing some California creativity. Sara shares her new home with us, Back Home around the House luckily her house isnt the last house amongst the redwoods.

A Simple Jew posts an amazingly apt photo for a Serious discussion on feelings of being remote and removed from the everyday, titled Guest Posting From Chabakuk Elisha - Isolation, its not quite a photo essay but the photo conveys the essay's theme so well. [Photo taken in Uman Ukraine by a friend of Chabakuk Elisha]

Sarah from Sarah's View has been snapping away again, Sarah has caught the warm glow of a nice day basking a collection of Green Leaves, whilst out walking Down the Street she grabs a few images, some of the every day mundane others from a more abstract angle

Family and Friends

What has to be one of the high lights of family photos is this splendid example from Psychotoddler of why we don't time travel, Like Father like Son, A photo than Just makes you go awww from Dot Co Dot Il is Holding your Head High, just when you think the Photos can't get any cuter theres a Splish Splash.

PsychoToddler answers back with his rendering of things Beautiful in Shutterbug, which is nicely contrasted with a rather rough looking character in the last Photo. Sara with No H shows us the thousand emotions of being a teenager with The Face of a Teenager and then she takes a roll down to Vegas, Baby!.

In complete contrast Stacey from Stagey's Shmata shows us her girls playing in Dallas on a Snow Day

Life as Orieyenta conveys a beautiful story and picture of Her Daughter's Lo, wish for her Teddy to be Jewish, Winston's Conversion, and then just when you think things have settled down Here comes the Kosher Police.

Baleboosteh has a series of Photos of her Three mischief makers, Her daughter Jade celebrates her birthday, everyones ready for a piece of Jade's 7th Birthday cake, it seems the youngest Ruby was busy helping mum make Chocalate Cake by giving A Helping Hand and Amber who has recovered very well from Heart Surgery goes of to school for her first day.

Ok, if a dog is a man's best friend then I suppose its only fair Rahel from Elms in the Yard gets to show of a few of her friends, heres one On Duty and two rather formally dressed friends, Tuxedos, followed by a Downtown Tortie Friend, followed by some action Adventure in Jurassic park.

Occasions

A Simple Jew gets Ready for Shabbos Shira and Muse is Celebrating 29 years Back in Shiloh, she reminisces about the hardships and sacrifices women of Israel have made that helped make the modern settlement of Eretz Israel possible, this contrasts nicely with her photo of a rather sumptuous serving of fresh fruits.

Moving on Up... conveys what must be the most surprising Bank Transaction they've seen in a while, there's a ring on the door bell and .. Tu B'shevat Sameach!

Art fot Arts sake

One of My favorite bloggers A Simple Jew has been doing a series in Black and White, his last major series of Photos of his Shtetl were a must look each week, this week he has gone a step further, what intially looks like the Petals of a Flower which have become almost metalic in appearance,aren't quite what they seem. Check it out; Black & White Picture Of The Week - Week 3 , he follows this up with Picture of the Week - Week4.

While not quite falling under the category of photos, JPix will occassionally delve beyond the realm of the Photo, hence the term J Pix , some of the fractuals featured on the blog Not Quite Perfect are definitely out of this world.
Check out this rendition of Tu B'Shvat 5767 and if that doesn't grab your bizarre taste buds try this Window World if you like fractuals and computer rendered imagery then definitely check out Dzeni's exhaustive displays on his blog site,Not Quite Perfect .

The blog EinHodvisit seems to take the division between what is a Photo and an illustrationand totally strech the boundaries. There's some very wild computer manipulated imagery, a few of my favorites are Reflection of Knobs in Color posted by Reify and Using Batya's Wall Shot, the 'photo' Roofproof crosses that thin line between what is real and what is not real.

Thank you and don't forget to get in your submissions for the next JPix carnival which will be hosted by the first volunteer to contact Bagelblogger. Submissions by 22nd of Feburary, Carnival opening on the 26th

_______________________
Essay References:
About: Polaroid Land Cameras
Masters of Photography
Wikipedia: Alfred Stieglitz
BoxCameras.com: Patent for 1888 Kodak

If you like old cameras like me, check out:
Antique Wood Cameras
Old Camera Ads:19th Centry Camera Ads
History of Photography

If you have any questions you can email JpixcarnivalATgmailDOTcom

Bagelblogger Get those entries into JPix..!
* Jpix 1 * Jpix * Jewish Photography * Jewish Photography Carnival * JPix Carnival J Pix Carnival * Jewish Art * Jewish Photos and Blogs * Jewish Photo Blogs Jewish Photo Essays * Israel and Photos * Jewish Creativity * Jewish * Israel * Jewish BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger * * *

Tuesday, 6 February 2007

Two Jews, Three opinions and a couple of bald faced deceptions.The Guardian beats its drum of support for 'Independent Jewish Voices'

I think its common knowledge that there are a multitude of positions held by Jews on almost every topic.

When the Guardian announces that
Prominent Jews call for open debate on Israel
, I read the headline it with a certain measure of cynicism, when the author just happens to be Julian Berger then it is time to take out the smelling salts.

Not because anything contained within the article will be a shock to ones sense of reality, more to do with the dreary dream like quality this author seems to affect anything he writes about.

[Click Read More...]

It seems that a few Jews have decided that they would like the opportunity to express their own opinions via their own chosen vehicle. Well blow me down, gee whiz Julian Berger, you've got quite a scoop there, don't tell me in the Diaspora world consisting of millions of Jews there might be more than one opinion.

Rather than see this as a celebration of democracy and free thinking Julian sees it as a confirmation that supporters of Israel really are misled and wrong.

Well, with my box of smelling salts in hand and a relatively alert disposition for this time of night I thought I might actually bother to look closer to both what our esteemed writer (or is that dribbler?) of the 'I told you so left' and 'those Jews that dare to have an opinion differing from the elders' was harping about.

Apparently the big kerfuffle is over a blog some leftist leaning Jews have starting contributing to. In the so prophetically named 'Independent Jewish Voices' blog Mr Berger lets us come to the realisation that

"this group of prominent British Jews will today declare independence from the country's Jewish establishment, arguing that it puts support for Israel above the human rights of Palestinians."

You'll have to excuse me quoting Mr Berger who expresses his interpretation of the open letter printed in the Guardian's 'comment is free' section.

To examine Mr Berger's authorship and his premise it requires us to visit the new blog Independent Jewish Voices.

I find the home pages introduction to be most telling.

"Independent Jewish Voices' (
IJV) is a network of individuals who wish to have a platform for critical debate on major political questions, the situation in the Middle East in particular. The initiative was born out of a frustration with the widespread misconception that the Jews of this country speak with one voice - and that this voice supports the Israeli government’s policies."

Immediately I posit where exactly does this ' widespread misconception that the Jews of this country speak with one voice' exist?

It's a sham to claim that in Britain there is a conception that Jews speak with one voice. It's a sham on account few people would subscribe that Jews do actually speak with one voice, unless they're card carrying National Front members with multiple copies of the Elders of Zion in their limited sized bookcases, most Britons are educated enough to know there are differing views amongst the Jewish Community.

Its an appeal to the 'borg mentality' to even speculate that Jews 'all stick together' and only express one voice.

(This isn't a denial that there isn't a serious problem of Anti Semitic behaviour prevalent in some sections of British society hiding under the guise of 'anti Israeli' positioning. Anti Semitism of course is not the same as Anti Zionism, but clearly there is evidence that Anti Semitism is being expressed and hiden under the political guise of 'Anti Zionism'.)

Its just not within the Jewish community that Jews are known to 'differ in their opinions' on a widely differing base.

Even Tony Lerman in his 'comment is free' piece Reflecting the reality of Jewish diversity

who has been strongly criticised for his anti Israel stance acknowledges;

"Although the Board of Deputies of British Jews is recognised by government as the Jewish community's representative body, over the last 20 to 30 years the number of other organisations pursuing their concerns with government and local authorities or simply expressing an independent voice has grown enormously."

Next paragraph on the Home page of

IJV
we read,

"In the year that sees the 40^th anniversary of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, our project is to create a climate and a space in which Jews of different affiliations and persuasions can express their opinions about the actions of the Israeli government without being accused of disloyalty or being dismissed as self-hating. The need for such debate becomes even more urgent as the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate."

This paragraph places me slightly on the back foot. The 40th anniversary of the occupation of..what?

Don't you mean the 40th anniversary of when 3 Arabic countries tried to drive the fledgling state of Israel into the sea? Usually called the 6 Day War?

I'm thinking can this paragraph actually have been written by a Jew? Certainly not an Israeli Jew who faced the ominous real risk of absolute genocide had the 3 Arab countries won.

It's here so quickly and early into the
IJV's
introduction that our opinions start to divert at supersonic speeds.

The home page introduction continues;

"From a wide range of backgrounds and with a wide range of views, we all share the belief that the interests of an occupying power should not count for more than the human rights of an occupied people, together with

1. a commitment to human rights

2. the conviction that Palestinians and Israelis have a right to peace and security

3. a condemnation of racism in all its forms, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia "

A rather broad enough definition to be more inclusive rather than exclusive. Of course it's interesting to note that the Human rights of 'an Occupied People' don't quite make it past the borders of Israel to other middle Eastern Nations.

I do wonder if this rather large omission in the concern of Human rights in Arabic countries does not signify a rather unbalanced and disproportionate view?

What about the rights of Christians in the Palestinian territories? The anti Christian bigotry of Hamas in Bethlehem comes to mind? They're not necessarily victims of the 'Occupying Power' does this mean because they are victimized by Hamas they're Human rights aren't quite as important?

Yes the Boundaries of relevance have been set, the roles of Oppressor and Oppressed firmly established, now all that is needed is one last action.

This group from, and I quote ' a Wide range of backgrounds and with a wide range of views', who uncannily feature a disproportionate number of Professors and Doctors from British Academia as
signatories
even for Jewish demographics, do deserve our qualified support, I move we sponsor them all to have extended study sabbaticals in one of those amazingly liberal, free thinking institutions such as Birzeit University in the West Bank.

Why the
Oxford University Student Union
is already in the throes of establishing affiliation to Birzeit University.

Interestingly participants on
IJV's signatory list
will have a lot of common concerns with the the 51 representatives on the student council at Birzeit University, 23 of which belong to Hamas, 5 to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and 2 to Islamic Jihad.

A little reality therapy never did any academic, harm did it?

_____________________

BTW: Looking forward to that large supplement in next weeks Guardian of Muslims speaking out against Jihad.

Because we all know the
Guardian isn't Anti Semitic

References:
Guardian: Prominent Jews call for open debate on Israel
Independent Jewish Voices Blog
IJV declartation
Guardian 'comment is free':
A time to Speak out
Dry Bones cartoon used with appreciation from
Drybones.com