A GREAT JOY-AND A GREAT SADNESS

There is an old Talmudic axiom in relation to evaluating your life's accomplishments. "Look  not at your children, but at your grandchildren".
This past Sunday, Sheila and I attended a beautiful and moving event in N Woodmere. L I. Our youngest grandchild Dov, joined 44 of his 2nd  grade male classmates at HALB (Hebrew Academy of Long Beach)who  received their first Chumash ( Bible). The girls portion of the class will have a similar ceremony this coming week. The children are part of a 900-1000 student population in the lower school. There are 2 nearby buildings for a boys and girls high school.
The children sang in Hebrew from the first chapter of the portion of Breshit .
As I looked around the filled auditorium of the 25 million dollar renovated former public school building, I remised as to how orthodox life has changed ( for the better) in the 70+ years since I was in the  second grade.
All of the parents were  orthodox sabbath observers .Unlike in my time, where many if not a majority sent their kids to yeshiva, so that they would not be dismissed at 3pm while they were still at work.  A large portion did not send their children to yeshiva high schools upon graduation, unlike today where the number is probably 100%.
HALB is but one of many such institutions in the 5 Towns area.( covering all religious hashkafot)
This past Shabbat my Rav , Rabbi Zev Goldberg in a sermon on Jewish unity, and the greatness of America , the home of opportunity and pluralism for Jews. noted that his daughter attends a similar school in Teaneck where 1000 students attend. This too is but one of many such institutions in Bergen County NJ.
Examining the local Anglo-Jewish newspapers this week, I noted 9 or 10 open Houses for Yeshiva High Schools in our County for prospective students..There were 80+ minyanim and 30-40 daf yomis listed, in addition to classes for all ages and sexes.
The sad part:
The majority of Jews in this area (and in my building ) are not affiliated.There are no ads for conservative or reform outreach or education. It is a spiritual desert.
One does not have to be a professional demographer to realize that based on intermarriage and assimilation statistics, if you look 30-50- years down the road there is no possibility that a vibrant non-orthodox  community can survive and pass on their  religion to the next generations.
This should not be a source of gloating but of sadness.
YES WE ARE ALL JEWS-an attack on a Pittsburgh Conservative Temple is an attack on all of us.
The suggestions of a "reverse birthright" or teaching American Jews the Hebrew language, are mere slogans and platitudes
Only Jewish education at all but especially the elementary-high school years is the only solution.

Voter suppression?

A brief simple question
I went to visit friends and family a number of times in various hospitals. I went not as a physician but
 as a normal regular citizen.

The procedure varied  but the end point was the same
A photo-idea  or a drivers license. one even took a photo of each visitor.
I saw individuals of every race and color, of every economic status stand in line as I and my wife did.
NO ONE YELLED "RACISM"!

WHY SHOULD THE SAME SAFEGUARDS AT THE BALLOT BOX BE DIFFERENT?

TRY GETTING ON A PLANE WITHOUT IDENTIFICATION !

The voter suppression screaming is mainly  a sham!

UNDERSTANDING INCIVILITY AND THE CAUSE OF MOB RULE

NOW I UNDERSTAND!
Thank you NY Times. CNN , MSNBC and the Washington Post for making it all clear to me.
LET'S SEE IF I HAVE IT RIGHT
This whole incivility and violence emanates from election night 2016 . Had Trump not won, ( and lost ) the way he was supposed to, there would be no need for incivility. For this victory. the progressive world can never forgive him!
LET US EXAMINE 2016 TO THE PRESENT.

Violence at Berkeley  should they ever invite a pro-conservative speaker. "One should never allow those kind to spread alternate thoughts." Trump might be praised and conservative ideas discussed!
Antifa mobs roam Portland-why stop them- just stop calling them a mob- think of cowboys with masks but no horses. We'll teach Trump a lesson for thinking he is our President.
Cong Scalise is shot by a Sanders supporter. If there had been no Trump, the shooter would not have been agitated.
HILLARY REAFFIRMS NO CIVILITY UNTIL WE REGAIN POWER
Holder- "kick them'
Waters- get them in the face
            question-if the restaurant patron who confronted the Majority Leader in the restaurant had a gun and used it-would it look bad that he fired and killed a Trump supporter because the shooter  was agitated over the Pres? I guess his plea would be "TRUMP MADE ME DO IT!
The cries from Dem leaders that Trump is a traitor- Isn't it time they formalized those charges?
The NYT publishing a end to Trump by assassination
Kathy Griffin holding a decapitated Trump head-I GUESS IT WAS A SILLY AD FOR A BEAUTY SALON!
Trump inspired illegal SA caravan-silly man !
KHOSSEGGI IS KILLED- not sure if Trump pulled the trigger.Why is he trying to deal with Saudi Prince  to stabilize the Middle East?  He's not really the Pres!
A crazy  who likes Trump sends pipe bombs- see this is proof!
A crazy who hates Trump  kill 11 at a synagogue- Trump must have been sending him sub rosa signals - Trump made everybody CRAZY
Sen Booker-"your silence is complicity"- DOES HE PLAN TO REMAIN SILENT ONTHE ANONYMOUS complaints against him-or will he turn it over to the FBI?
I think we can sum it up -everything bad in the world is Trump's fault-anything good such as the economy is a result of Obama's leadership.
Before I conclude -may I interest you in a beautiful bridge  I have for sale in Brooklyn.?

YARMULKES AT YESHIVA COLLEGE

If there is one consistency in my weltaanschung these past 60 years  ( since I graduated YC ) it is my devotion to TORAH UMADDAH  as a guiding force.
Thus in Sept 2005 , when the YU administration tried to change the  school emblem by deleting Torah Umadda  and  replacing it with a generic candelabra , I successfully led the battle to prevent that from happening.
My YC history now comprises many generations of graduates and students. Brothers, my wife (SC-'62)  3 children and grandchildren. My father z"l even graduated TA on the lower East side  before there was a YC  .
Thus it came as a shock to me this past week while visiting the campus to have dinner with 3 grandchildren ( 1-SC, 1-YC and 1-a smicha student) to read the excellent editorial by Benjamin Koslowe . He noted that a large number of students enrolled in campus programs  DO NOT WEAR YARMULKES  IN CLASS OR ON THE CAMPUS ENVIRONS.
To me it is not a simple question of a " dress code".YC , part of YU is an orthodox institution. The yarmulke announces publicly who you are , while showing a sign of respect for our traditions and your fellow students. Those who for cultural reasons, cannot conform should feel free to switch to Columbia or Fordham etc. The statement a kippah makes is simple-" I am an orthodox student, studying in an orthodox college and I believe in a Torah education".
In my surgical practice I wore a yarmulke.
As President ( starting in 1982- for 21 years) of then the largest pro-Israel Political Action Committee, and an AIPAC leader, I wore my kippah whether in the White House, Congress or with meetings with world leaders around the world.
"KASE ROSHCHA VEYEHE MORAH SHAMAYIM ALECHA"
Cover your head to acknowledge that there is a g-d above you.
I recall a gentile patient who looked up from the examining  table and proclaimed "I am so happy that my physician is a  G-d fearing individual"
To Sephardic or secular students we care not how you conduct yourself in the privacy of your home.In Yeshiva we should have rules-obey or leave==period
Many years ago I served on the RIETS Board and was active in the alumni Assoc.This is a perfect issue to have these groups and the student body become involved in with a petition drive.to correct this problem
There could be a transition time for new students to follow the new rules.\
Last year, my grandson Jack announced the YC basketball games. I often watched on internet. How proud I was to see clean cut young men wearing their kippot on the court.
There should never be a time when the public or alumni doubt our full commitment to our values--TORAH UMADDAH

respectfully submitted
Mendy Ganchrow M.D. (BTA-'54-YC-'58)
Dr Ganchrow was President of the OU from 1994-2000

MA NISHTANA ? SAUDI ARABIA SHOWS ITS COLORS

The apparent murder of a Saudi "columnist" in the Turkish embassy building of SA has  the  world in turmoil.
There is no question of the horrific nature of the alleged torture, assassination  and butchering. Khashoggi was lured into the embassy  to correct a personal problem.
Much of the verbal attacks on SA involve  a world that views such behavior as outside the realm of HUMAN.
Some of the verbal attacks are simply anti-Trump , by those who wish to undermine his Middle East foreign policy.
Absent in this discussion is the role of dictators, tyrants, despots and mass murderers world wide
.
Three critics of Putin have been killed in England.The KGB , perhaps with a new name is alive well. How many more critics have met a similar fate in the motherland?
China where perhaps millions over the decades have been imprisoned or disappeared is now holding hundreds of thousands of Muslims in "re-education camps " against their will. What happens to dissenters?
N. Korea sent killers to Europe to kill relatives of Kim. They famously kidnapped Japanese women.
Look at the "Palestinian" culture where terrorists are not only honored , but mothers are proud that their children became martyrs killing Jews..
Venezuela and Cuba  partners  in violence to subdue opponents.
Iran has devoted itself to mayhem and terrorism. Whatever billions Obama shipped to them have been put to "good" use in support of anti-Sunni , anti-Israel and  anti-American causes.
Syria has used poison gas on their own citizens ,
AND SO SADLY IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD

The problem with SA, is they got caught!
Why would they need a 15 man squad to simply sedate or tranquilize their subject, and take him back to SA.
What a terrible outcome
The hit squad should either  be publicly eliminated and  accused of being renegades or they should be sent  back to take further "hit-squad" lessons from MS-13 or some old Mafia pro.

How to deal with SA now?
If we were consistent, we would break off all relations with the above mentioned dictatorships, until they  come around to our  standards.
Of course we would lose mega jobs and bite our own faces. We don't wat SA to purchase military equipment from Russia, nor do we wish to allow Iran to  benefit from this situation.
Colleges, museums mosques and other such group should now reject Saudi funding. It is proper to avoid  participation in Saudi economic conferences at this time. We can delay military sales and keep demanding the Saudis come to face with the role of critics in a free society. We can curtail tourism to SA and avoid industry making economic commitments to them at this time.

We live in an evil world-populated by those whose standards of civil rights are nil.
When Democrats resort to mob rule and incivility -a-la Hillary, they weaken our ability to stand out united against the "MOBS of the WORLD"

SPIRITUALITY

It was the first day Rosh Hashonah some 4 weeks ago. I was given the honor of opening the huge Torah Ark  ( with a 2nd individual)  for The Nesane Tokef prayer..
As I stood facing the 30 or so Torah scrolls , I turned to examine the mass of individuals who had come to join the Jerusalem  Great Synagogue service. All of the 850 mens seats and the 550 womens pews were occupied. In addition about 100 men and a similar number of women stood against the back walls of their respective sections
All were focused on the magnificent Cantor Zvi Weiss and the  30 plus members of the choir.. led by maestro Elli Sacks  .
Not a word could be heard from the congregants as the prayer with all its traditional "NUSACH" was slowly and methodically dissected so that the true meaning of the prayers could be absorbed into ones soul.
The chief Rabbi stood in the corner by his pew, adding dignity and grace to the tfilot
For me, this represented a hi-point of spirituality. Through my career I have been part of moving events in Russia, Ukraine ,Israel and of course the US.
I can recall presenting a Torah scroll to the Navy at Ashdod from my Talmud shiur, or the wedding of 2 Yachad individuals, and conducting services in Vietnam for  Jewish GI's among dozens of spititual events,
Within my  neshama ( soul ) nothing could match  that moment in Jerusalem.
It spoke to me as a symbol that Jewish unity and renaissance is not beyond a possibility.
The growth of the Orthodox community in the US and Israel ,speaks to a future that   despite the current and future loss of  assimilated Jews, Jewish  history will repeat itself  with the growth of a Torah community that will be vibrant, learned and committed.

SENATOR COLLINS TELLS IT THE WAY IT IS

There is no reason for me to analyze the eloquent and thoughtful speech of Senator Collins on the Senate floor Friday. It speaks for itself!
She took the sails out of the disgraceful attacks on Judge Cavanaugh, and specifically Feinstein and Murkowski

I only feel that there was one great omission
The Law students at Yale and Harvard, as well as the left wing law professors who left class to proclaim "Guilty until prove innocent"  ( my quote) should be ashamed of themselves-is this the best that these  legal minds could come up with in analyzing  a critical moment in American history?

I would love to have the high school  college and graduate school antics of these students, professors  and the Schumers of the Congress undergo such a public examination of their personal lives..
By their standards probably most would have to drop out (alcohol,drugs, shoplifting, sexual "aggression", telling off- color or racist jokes and so on)

One last thought-as a Vietnam veteran I don"t know how the Senator from Connecticut can stand up and criticize  any other human being? or Pocahantas who refuses to take a DNA  test , but used her "HERITAGE" to the full extent of the law.

THE NYT WITH A NEW ANTI-TRUMP HIT JOB

Yesterday, in a  page one (1/2 page) ,followed by 8 full pages of "suspect"charges , the NYT attempted to do what it does best=attack Trump.
The theme was he is NOT a self-made billionaire but inherited 413 million dollars from his father.
How?
"Suspect  schemes" used to avoid taxes which Donald was part of.
I know very little about the finances of billionaires , but they and their families were tough in business, and hired the best legal and accounting minds to interpret the tax laws to their advantages.

Did the Times ever run such an expose on Rockefeller ?  Romney ? Kennedy?
By the way, Sheila and I were in Cape Cod a few weeks ago and visited the Kennedy Museum beautiful pictures of a "Camelot" family.
Oh YES! did not see any pictures of Marilyn Monroe.= wonder why? the WH pool parties -?
 OF COURSE =THE MEDIA DOES NOT EMBARRESS  THEIR FAVORITES

I  did not vote for Trump because he was a squeaky clean businessman- but as the only alternative to Hillary and the left-Progressives who seek to change America.
Despite what NYT op-ed writers claim, I am not anti-female, or anti-immigrant.etc
I love America , the land of opportunity- based on your talents and hard work- -

Trump the businessman -self-made or not has changed the tax laws, moved the US Embassy, kicked out the PA, opened the door to N Korea, renegotiated NAFTA, pulled out of the Iran deal, putting the screws on Russia and China and so on.

If at the end of his 2 terms, the government says he owes back taxes -let him defend himself and if needed pay up.
For the present-TWEETS and all-he still makes the DEMS look like monkeys.

JUDGE BRETT KAVANAUGH

Much has been written  and spoken regarding the disgusting attacks on Judge Kavanaugh"s reputation.
In my opinion this battle has nothing to do with him. He is but a pawn!
there are two underlying deeply divisive forces  at work, and his nomination intersects the controversies.
1-ABORTION
2-DEMOCRATIC HATRED FOR PRES. TRUMP

Had Kavanaugh favored abortion, one could question if Sen. Feinstein would have released the Ford letter, or if even such an "anonymous " letter would have  either been written, or without witnesses, come into play.
The battle of Roe v Wade has divided this nation. As an orthodox Jewish physician, I totally reject abortion as a method of birth control. In Israel in 2015, there were 178,000 live births and 18.240 abortions.Taken over the years, how many Jewish lives could have been produced to help replace the 6 million Kedoshim  who perished in the Holocaust.( of course there were some Arab abortions included in the statistics)
I support abortion to save a mothers life, rape-incest etc.
What percentage of abortions does that constitute ?--A real minority!
The left, progressives, LGBT community and Democrats supported by the generous cash contributions of non-orthodox Jewish contributors, have made abortion a "life-celebration" a REAL TIKKUN OLAM .  Every woman should consider it !
Most individuals do not realize that overturning Roe would simply move the decision back to the States.-where it belongs.
Where in the constitution is there a guarantee for abortion on demand?

The 2nd battle is the refusal of the Democratic party and base to acknowledge that Hillary lost the election-Trump is our President ! They are stooping from day 1 to total rejection, obstruction, stalling and disgusting attacks on our President. The sole purpose is to defeat his party in 2018 and him in 2020.
Obama passed Obamacare without a single Rep vote. Is this representative democracy?  party over principle  hate over our countries interests!
Under Jewish law, a complaint 30 years old, without witnesses. ,without being able to recall all of the facts that the Bais Din ( court) would ask) is worthless.  If you cannot remember who paid   for the lie detector test a few weeks ago, what does that say for "perfect memory"?
To claim "I am not lying" is without validity  in a court of law. Proof and witnesses are the basis of solid legal procedure-NOT HE/SHE IS A CREDITABLE WITNESS-
 If a professional actress-speech coach =psychologist - a person trained to cry on call-if these types came forward having practiced their CREDITABLE presentation-does that make it any more worthy than the stutterer?
Judge Kavanaugh with decades of spotless  public service, multiple female interns without a single complaint of a sexual nature, the current procedures are a disgraceful ruination of his reputation.
Just as the Dems rue the day that Sen Harry Reid changed the filibuster rules for judges, they will in time be paid back in kind when they will be subject to cruel character assassination.

SENATOR jOHN McCAIN - A VIETNAM "BUDDY"

Much has been written about the life of john McCain. Listening to Sen Schumer and the NY Times you would believe they were always in awe of his talents, leadership and heroic history. We have a saying in the Torah "Acharei Mos-Kedoshim" after death the detractors from life become those who praise the dead. In 1980 John was called everything from racist, aggressive and unstable. This political ploy to name the Sensate office building is just that -a cute trick to divide the Republican party. I was friendly with John from the days of his service in the Congress .We were both Vietnam veterans and I was on the Board of AIPAC. He was always a dedicated friend and supporter of Israel. When he ran for the Senate in 1986 , my PAC ( HUVPAC) supported him. In 1986 , I brought him to Monsey as a guest for our Pac Chanukah party. Whenever I brought groups to Washington, first from our Pac and then from the OU, he always joined our luncheons, and made time to meet in his office with a small group to discuss substantive issues. He and Senator Larry Pressler of S.D , always called me their "Vietnam buddy". It signified a sense of comradery for a fellow vet.Beneath that friendly nickname was a common sense of patriotism and dedication to the exceptionalism of America. Part of that pact was a commitment to strengthen the US- Israel relationship For me he was a true "patriot" who never felt the need to stand up for what he believed in, even if he disagreed with you. America will miss his type of leadership in the Senate.

THE GREY LADY HAS CROSSED THE RED LINE

Asa young man and student , the N Y TIMES was a daily necessity. With maturity and political sophistication combined with age, I realized that the anti-Israel policies of the paper coupled with its left wing philosophy forced me to give up on them and turn to the WSJ as MY paper of record. Occasionally in our apartment complex, someone will throw out the Times in the garbage room, and we will take into the apartment to skim their editorials etc. When I was OU President, I led a delegation to meet with the editorial board of the Times regarding their anti-Israel policies. We documented their bias, and for a month or 2 we noticed a change. Long ago I gave up hope for a balanced approach to the Middle East. When Bret Stephens joined the paper, while I was disappointed I hoped he would bring a breath of freshness to the Times. As editor of the Jerusalem Post, I enjoyed his lived presentations both in Israel and the US. While I did not always agree with his point of view, I found his analyses to be based on a solid intellectual approach. The latest flap concerning the hiring of an out and out anti-white racist Sarah Jeong to the editorial board is a disgusting move. How Stephens can in any manner support this woman is beyond belief. Unlike Roseanne Barr who apologized for her single outburst ,Miss Jeong has a long history of such hate filled messages. Stephens attacked Barr but supported his new colleague. For me it is a double sadness- the depravity of the Times, and the turnaround of Stephens

THE CONSTANT PRESSURE AND HATE TOWARD THE JEWISH STATE

The Middle East has a myriad countries inhabited primarily by Moslems .The Jewish people have but one TINY sliver of land that has been the homeland FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. Despite multiple wars, international pressure, UN resolutions and isolation from the world community , Israel has become the number ONE bastion of democracy in the region. Her military and economic strength built on democratic standards for all citizens is an example to be proud of by Jews world-wide. The ancient language of Hebrew has been resurrected. Despite being surrounded by enemies, and her standard of living and citizen satisfaction are among the highest in the world. The official proclamation by the Knesset a week ago of the Nation-State has brought out the haters and even the self -haters. To proclaim that Israel is the Jewish homeland, with Hebrew as the official language together with proclaiming the Jewish calendar as the official calendar should be a no-brainer. European funded NGO's are working overtime to discredit Israel. Thousands march in Tel Aviv to protest, on the very same avenues that the homosexual community marched. They are good partners .Many PLO flags were flying , as they joined the self-hating Jews who have an antipathy to a JEWISH NATION_STATE . They are sad that Israel allows Torah to prosper. They are upset that Israelis do not join the Women of the Wall in their monthly attempt to destroy a few thousand years of halacha and tradition. In short they would prefer a community where the Arabs would become the majority, and everyone would live happily- ever after. Forget terrorism - forget the pogroms - forget the destruction of the Gush as an example. As the PM pointed out, these demonstrations solidify the need for a NATION_STATE legislation as a "constitutional " part of the legal basis of Israel. As traditional Jews we should not become disappointed by those who have tried for 250 years to destroy Judaism .In the end our Torah way of life will be successful, as the self- haters assimilate, and we get stronger.

VIVA LA FRANCE

I AM USUALLY NOT A FAN OF FRENCH GOVERNMENTAL ACTS However, the new law promulgated this week prohibiting cell phones in elementary schools is a wise move . that should be emulated in other countries. The cellphone has changed the atmosphere of society-in the street- in the home and even in the synagogue We all see individuals crossing the street without picking up their heads to evaluate traffic-or the driver who takes their eyes off the road while conversing on the phone. How about the children sitting at the dining room table unable to partake in conversation because they are frozen on that little machine. In our synagogue, the Rabbi announces a plea to silence your phones. What he doesn't see are those who periodically ( especially while waiting for the Rabbi to complete the shmoneh esreh) open their phones to scan their e-mails etc. More and more doctors are pointing out the health hazards of this ADDICTION both mental and physical.Yesterday it was the dangers of the blue light on your retina.. We have forgotten how to write personal notes, or call a friend to invite them for a simcha etc--It is all so mechanical and impersonal.

MY APPOINTMENT WITH G-D- BUT I MAY BE TARDY!

All my life I was trained to be on time-school- interviews- hospital rounds- surgery my office etc' That carried over into my social life-. Attending a show or concert meant that if you arrived late, you might have to wait to be seated until some intermission. This seems reasonably simple and is only proper etiquette in regard to those who are expecting you to arrive on time. Question? Why do so many orthodox synagogue ATTENDEES come into shul Shabbat morning when services are 25-to even 80% over? Is the service and associated prayers of such little significance that being on time and praying with real meaning and intent is of secondary import? Is the real goal-"SEE AND BE SEEN:? PERHAPS ENJOY THE SOCIAL AND CULINARY DELIGHTS OF THE KIDDUSH? This IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM-YET I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANY RABBI SPEAK TO THE ISSUE FROM THE PULPIT. IN MY OPINION IT REQUUIRES ONE ON ONE DISCUSSION BETWEEN RABBI AND MEMBER!-SPEAKING FROM THE PULPIT ALLOWS THE LATE-COMER TO SAY TO THEMSELVES "HE DOESN'T REALLY MEAN ME" THAT DISCUSSION SHOULD INCLUDE THE IMPORTANCE OF DAILY MINYANIM-especially in synagogues with a majority of retired individuals, there is no reason why each person cannot commit themselves to 2-3 minyanim in the morning and evening PER WEEK . while we are at it, what about the standard of dress daily and Shabbat SHOULDN'T THE PEOPLE WHO LEAD THE SERVICES OR READ THE TORAH WEAR A JACKET ON SHABBAT? HOW ABOUT ANNOUNCING NO SHORT PANTS DURING DOVENING ? OR THE REQUIREMENT TO WEAR SOCKS AS MANDATED BY HALACHA ? I believe the synagogue doors should be closed during the rabbis sermon, and as the Torah reader is actively reading from the Torah. In between aliyas the doors can be reopened IT IS NOT THAT I AM AN OLD FUDDY-DUDDY NOT LIVING IN THE MODERN AGE- WHAT I SUPPORT IS KAVOD FOR THE BET KNESSET AND THE TORAH . IF YOUB WOULD NOT WALK INTO A JOB INTERVIEW,A MONEY-MAKING APPOINTMENT OR A CIVIL COURT PROCEEDING 45 MINUTES LATE ( IN A NON-EMERGENCY ) WHY SHOULD YOUR APPOINTMENT NEXT SHABBAT TO CONVERSE CWITH THE ALMIGHTY BE ANY DIFFERENT?.

NATAN SHARANSKY HAS IT WRONG

Outgoing Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky is quoted as saying that many Israelis including non-orthodox view the American reform movement  as a" hostile sect".
I believe it is much worse than that. It has become a totally different religion, whose future in the not too distant future will bear even less resemblance to classic Judaism than today.
What are the basic elements that have kept us alive as a people  despite exile and persecution . It has been our Torah handed down in both the written and oral forms that we have attempted successfully with great difficulty to pass from generation to generation.
The  concept of a JUDIASM based solely on Tikun Olam   devoid of our traditional 613 mitzvoth is unheard in our long history.  In the works of our sages such as Maimonides and Nachmanides,  Tikkun Olam as a stand alone ideology ( social action )   does not merit the  role that has been assigned to it by the reform.
Let us look at their way of life
there is no Shabbat observance
there is no kashrut observance
there is no mikveh-family purity
there is no serious Jewish education for the next generation
There is intermarriage-above 50% and in some regions much-much higher
a "clergy"  who often come from intermarried families
But the proof is not in mere statistics , for we already know the 20 plus year studies that show when  you take 100 secular or reform Jews  and follow them for 3 or 4 generations, you are left with but a handful of Jews.
Studies also show that the progeny of intermarried couple , despite much effort to bring them back into the community-marry outside the faith
Were it not for the Haredim and the modern orthodox communities, there would be no future for Jews in America. I predict that in the next  survey , orthodox Jews will now count for 15% of the community and each year it will continue to rise.
I  will save my thoughts about Conservative Jews and the Women of the Wall  for another blog.

I write these words with sadness not with smugness- I have written and been involved in the pluralism controversy throughout my leadership days at the Union and the Sochnut ( Jewish Agency)
I see only a worsening of the problem.

One final thought for  the leaders of reform etc who decry their role ( and treatment)  in Israel.
A- even to the secular Israeli, the practices ( or lack of them) of the reform bear little relationship to traditional Judaism'
B- There is no Reform constituency in Israel-no reform political party-absent massive reform aliya the situation will not change. The secular-traditional non-orthodox Israeli who belong to no synagogue, desires his child to have a kosher circumcision, a bar mitzvah in a kosher shul, a wedding by a synagogue rabbi, and a burial in a traditonal Jewish manner.
.

Beware of the LEFT/PROGRESSIVES =true enemies of Israel

There was a time not long ago when support for Israel was bipartisan. During my 21 years as President of the Hudson Valley PAC (Huvpac) we contributed funds to candidates from both parties, so long as they supported the US-Israel  relationship.  At our annual dinners, we always had 2 US Senators as guest speakers - 1 from each party.
Today, that has changed. With the influence of Bernie Sanders and the Socialists we now have a new and dangerous situation. Sen. Warren has added to that problem, which is now compounded by 4 Democratic candidates  in Minn., Virginia , N Y  and  Penn. who are openly pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel.
This months Commentary magazine has an article by Melanie Philips on anti-Semitism in Europe.She points out the fact that the left in Europe has been infected with hatred of the Jew, and is now part of the DNA of the progressive world. I see that approach encroaching on the Democratic party leadership in this country.
It is not surprising   that Sen Joe Lieberman writes an op-ed in todays WSJ urging  individuals in the Congressional race that saw Joe Crowley defeated  by a young anti-Israel Socialist to return to the polls and not allow this progressive to win. Crowley is still on the ballot by a small 3rd party.
The  same attack on middle of the road  Democrats was evident in California where Sen Feinstein lost her parties designation for re-election.
I do not see how any pro-Israel voter can now support Democratic candidates-when not a single one showed up for the Embassy opening in Jerusalem-or when they all followed the Obama  nuclear sell-out.
Yes our parents were Democrats BUT THIS IN NOT THE SAME PARTY OF TRUMAN  SCOOP JACKSON, H HUMPHREY AND MOYNIHAN
+

Ireland should be taught an economic lesson

During the" Zionism is Racism" debate years ago, Mexico voted to support that anti-Semitic resolution. American Jews and friends of Israel responded by cancelling their winter vacations in Acapulco and other Mexican resorts. They abstained from purchasing Mexican products, until the government cried "uncle". and they changed their vote.
Yesterday the Irish Senate voted 25-20 to advance a bill that would criminalize any Irish trade with any part of Israel beyond the 1967 border.
This would include East Jerusalem.
No other area of the world including the escapades of Russia into neighboring countries, have elicited a similar response
The prime negative beneficiaries of this move will be the Palestinian workers who toil in the industrial zones. However the long term results would be a strengthening of the BDS  movement.

As supporters of Israel and opponents of BDS we have 2 economic possibilities
1- DO NOT VISIT OR CANCEL YOUR SCHEDULED TRIPS TO IRELAND
2-IF YOU ARE ALREADY BOOKED FOR A CRUISE OR VISIT-WALK INTO A STORE AND TELL THE PROPRIETER THAT "HAD IRELAND NOT BOYCOTTED ISRAELI PRODUCTS, YOU WOULD HAVE PURCHASED SAID ITEM."
We cannot sit still and remain silent.  We should urge Jewish organizations to speak up

MARCHING AGAINST TRUMP

I am truly impressed that even before the President announced his SC  decision the marchers were out with their signs -simple leaving space to add the name of the nominee.
Similarly on certain days the marchers are at the border with  Mexico.
My question is =who pays these people? who arranges their transportation-food etc?
Are they all retired and living on a pension- OR is there a group of READY_TO MARCH  AND DEMONSTRATE FOR OR AGAINST ANY ENEMY OF THE LEFT ?
I have been involved most of my life with public policy issues primarily to protect the safety of Israel. In all of my adult life, no person or group  never asked me to join a public demonstration-except once in Yeshiva College. the students  went to the pier in Bayonne N J , where they were loading US tanks to be shipped to Jordan , then at war with Israel.
The students charted a bus, and  we made a "statement"  worthy of 2-3 lines in the next days newspaper.
I truly support the right of people to express their opinions in a public manner. I do not support paying for demonstrators to clog the streets ,or to fill up a chamber of a legislature and prevent the orderly passage of legislation.
Certainly, I abhor interfering with the ability of political office holders from going about their normal daily routines either alone or with their families.
Threatening Republicans for wearing a Trump hat should be objectionable to every Democrat no matter what their political views are.

PART 2==HATE A POOR SUBSTITUTE....

Thus whatever the issue, even if the Dems supported it in previous votes, or even if the facts show that the majority of citizens will benefit ( the tax bill)  (border security)- if it come from Trump= attack it.
An example of Dem hypocrisy is the demand that if an agreement is reached with N Korea (a big ? )  it should be referred to the Senate for approval. Funny, I  do not recall a similar demand on the Obama cash give-away with Iran.
The decision a few months ago to close the government to protect illegals was a foolish gesture to embarrass Trump on the anniversary of  his  inaugural.
Aside from character assassination, where is an honest discussion from the left on the issues.All we hear is scare tactics on abortion, LGBT's etc
Examine the faces and expressions of CNN and MSNBC commentators-their smirks and insults permeate the screen-I feel that they believe anyone who supports Trump cannot be educated or informed and is a neo-racist..
The Rasmussen poll  shows American do not blame the President for family separations at the border.Mothers and women who bring in children that may not be their own-for bribe money are to blame.What do illegals expect  when they violate the laws of any country that has warned them about the path they are undertaking. A country without laws or borders is NOT a country
 Of course our immigration policy is archaic. What are we doing to deport the millions  who have overstayed their visas or those who do not show up for immigration hearings?

The Democrats do not have a single leader to unite them or the country. Are they socialists  or capitalists? Are they for unlimited immigration-NO BORDERS-NO ICE-NO COUNTRY?
THEY SHOULD NOT BE FOOLED BY POLLS THAT PREDICT A BLUE WAVE A LA 2016
Enough hate-mature political discourse is what is needed on both sides.

Finally those who compare Trump to Hitler, or the separation of children at the border to the Holocaust, bring great shame on themselves. As they trivialize the  Holocaust , they admit their ignorance and lack of sensitivity for that horrendous period. If they are serious they should visit the Holocaust museum in Washington or Yad Veshem in Jerusalem and publicly apologize for their gross ignorance. Such ad-hominem attacks only energize the Republican and conservative base.

HATE IS A POOR SUBSTITUTE FOR DIALOGUE AND PUBLIC POLICY PART ONE

I had taken my auto into a local garage or an oil change. What should have been a routine event, turned into an eye opener. A middle aged woman was sitting on a couch  and reading a book, as she awaited the completion of her cars service. The TV in front of the room was blaring, and I politely inquired whether she was watching. " No" she retorted . " Do you mind  I change the channel? was my next query. " No " was her answer again.
The moment I turned from CNN to Fox, she started screaming " No, ! Not Fox! "
"But you are not watching " I gently asked .
"I cannot have that hate  in the back of my head" was her final answer before I switched back to CNN.
My wife and I have seen this reaction but to a minor degree in our apartment house in Fort Lee,where luckily one  of the 2 sets can " spew hate while the other can watch that intellectual program 'The View".
Donald Trump was not my first choice for the Republican nomination. However as the process edged toward election day, it was clear ( TO ME) that anyone would be better than Hillary.
Trump as we know is not a conventional politician. His lack of political experience, temperament and questionable conservative bonafides were drawbacks .He was brought up in NYC
under his fathers tutelage, and mastered dealing with unions, the political bureaucracy, the banks and the business intrigue that permeates the building trades in this great metropolis. A TV personality, and celebrity with a huge ego reinforced his tough and often thin-skinned persona. He will not allow anyone to insult him without a tough often crude response.
In my mind, had he apologized to Senator McCain for his ill-advised attack on his war record, it is possible McCain would have supported him on the Obamacare  repeal vote .
Trump with his tweets and change of positions can easily erode our sensitivities to leadership. Americans of all ages have been accustomed to a President who speaks and acts in a classical cinematic manner. A lot of double talk and beating around the bush ( no pun intended) Trump for the most part has tried to keep his campaign pledges- On immigration , trade, Israel  taxes and Iran.
The problem for the left-HE WON! AND THEY==THE LEFT, DEMOCRATS,PROGRESSIVES,  SOCIALISTS, THE UNIONS AND THE MAIN STREET MEDIA still don't believe it or accept it. From day ONE-the goal of the above groups has been to attack and ridicule his mentation and stability without rhyme or reason. The  more he succeeds=the more vicious and desperate the attacks.No matter how worthy the issue =DO NOT DARE SUPPORT IT= ie-the tax cuts (CRUMBS)  the Jerusalem embassy ( WE ARE TOO BUSY TO ATTEND) -N KOREA AND IRAN (GIVE ME BACK THE GOOD OLD  OBAMA/ KERRY/ CLINTON FOREIGN POLICY  "LEADERSHIP")

FEAR OF RELIGION PART 3

Despite being constructed in 22 Jersey communities local groups keep up their effort to prevent the construction of an ERUV. Two federal courts ruled the eruv is not unconstitutional.and does not violate the separation of church and state. Yet the anti-eruv groups file more law suits. On the surface the matter would appear minor, yet the groups seek to prevent orthodox Jews from moving into their neighborhoods, and are willing to spend mega-dollars  for lawyers, as the law firms on the other side perform pro-bono.
Jewish law prevents carrying objects or wheeling carriages on the sabbath in public areas. By using telephone lines and poles they change the property via a Talmudic ruling to one whereby these actions are permissible. As the court stated in the Hampton case-the strips do not endorse religion.
Who are the loudest voices against the eruv?  YOU GUESSED IT!
The Ayatollah in Iran recently urged Israelis to return to the USA and Europe.
After the recent federal court decision one irate resident is quoted as saying " This is America-! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU BELONG -YOU DO NOT BELONG IN THE HAMPTONS!"

MY QUESTION IS WHERE DO I BELONG?
A second generation America, a combat veteran- have I not earned the right to live and carry out my religious beliefs anywhere in this great country?
Yes I wear a skullcap-do not drive on the Sabbath-send my kids to religious school-does this make me any less a proud loyal citizen?
Are they prepared to utilize my surgical skills, but not accept me as a neighbor?
A recent local Jewish newspaper headline read
"State of NJ sues town of Mahwah for discrimination against orthodox Jews"
Religion can be a source of passion in molding personalities without inserting religious doctrine in our decisions.
God is inscribed on our coins. The chaplains of Congress  pray daily for our country's welfare. The pledge of Allegiance  refers to "one nation under G-d".
Our pluralistic society allows us to believe or reject religion
This is our heritage and are rights we should honor=However, BIGOTRY  IS BIGOTRY no matter how you finesse it.

FEAR OF RELIGION PART 2

A request by orthodox tenants to construct a sukkah  ( small portable booth) for  the 7 day Succoth holiday- at their own expense is a causes for apoplexy. Despite the building having a Jewish majority,the mantra goes something like " we don't want to be known as a Jewish building", or we don't allow religious symbols in our building. This despite a 14 foot Christmas tree in the lobby near a 12 INCH  Chanukah menorah. Oh yes! -All-Saints Day ( Halloween ) is a publicized event, where tenants can sign up to have children visit them to receive sweets etc.
Where is that tiny spark of Judaism ( Pintele Yid )  among the non-orthodox to speak up for their neighbors religious desires, IF they do not suffer any harm thereby?
Only last year Senator Dianne Feinstein (d-Calif) objected to the nomination of Law Professor Amy Comey Barrett of Notre Dame ( now under consideration for the Kennedy S C seat)  for a seat on the 7th circuit court of appeals. The problem was her Catholic religion. since the Senator described  "the dogma lives loudly within her". The fact that she is the mother of 7, indicated to Feinstein  and Senator Durbin that Roe  v Wade was in trouble. This despite  the Professors statement that it is not appropriate for a judge  to apply personal feelings to a decision whether " it derives from faith or personal conviction".
A similar event occurred in 2000 when the ADL attacked orthodox Senator Joe Lieberman , then a  VP  nominee for mixing religion and faith with politics. In  the addendum of my autobiography I have an op-ed that I published in the Associated Press on that issue (.JOURNEY THROUGH  THE MINEFIELDS , from Vietnam to Washington, an orthodox surgeons odyssey)
Earlier this month the Supreme Court of Canada denied accreditation to a Christian Law School .since their traditional view on marriage would send the wrong message to the populace.
Luckily Yeshiva University and Touro law and medical schools are not located in Canada.

Part 3 to be concluded in next blog

FEAR OF RELIGION

As a student in Crown Heights Yeshiva in the late 40's ( in Brooklyn) I recall an episode ( that was repeated on a few occasions ) which now seems relevant.
As I exited the school bus, my mother who was waiting for me, was confronted by a small group of Jewish neighbors. They were upset with my parents for their decision to send me to an all-Jewish religious school." How can your son be a success in American society?  they asked. They suggested I was being isolated from the "American Experience".
These individuals represented a generation of Jews who were not only afraid of being different but resented their coreligionists who " wanted to cling to the old ways of Europe" . Assimilation, whose results we witness today, was alive and well during and after WWII.
Freedom of religion is a double edge sword-it meant both the ability safely practice ones religion, or the ability to throw  the prayer book and tefillin into the Hudson River as one approached Ellis Island.
Yet American post -Holocaust  for the most part respected and were proud of the ability of those who sought to  practice the tenets of their faith as full citizens of this great democracy.
I remember a meeting I had with a Catholic Chaplain in Vietnam after Passover 1968.I served as a volunteer Jewish Chaplain ( though I was a surgeon) and the Jewish Welfare Board had supplied us with more than ample wine matzos etc for the 2000 Jewish servicemen in combat. He had run out of wine for his needs. Without blinking an eye, I sent him kosher wine. We were comrades -in- arms, and an enemy rocket could not distinguish Christian from Jew.

SADLY SUCH AN EASY GOING  RELATIONSHIP IS NOT ALAYS PALPABLE IN AMERICA IN 2018
Jews living in hi-rise buildings for example cannot live on high numbered floor if they are sabbath observers  or infirmed --unless there is a " SHABBAT ELEVATOR" INSTALLED. This automatic pre-set elevator stops on every floor ( or alternate floors), thereby avoiding the need for riders to either press buttons (prohibited on the sabbath) or break invisible beams. Usually one elevator ( out of a bank of many lifts)in such a building is thus dedicated.
The problem==the protests of tenants =Usually assimilated Jews
"WE DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE ORTHODOX JEWS TO MOVE IN"  IS THE UNDERTONE OF THEIR COMPLAINTS
Never mind that the prospective tenants are upright citizens who can not only afford the rent, but add to the quality of the tenant mix  Respect for people of faith-NOT IN MY BUILDING!.
PART 1   --TO BE CONTINUED

Giving consideration to resume blogging

Now that my 5th book, The Five Day War  (my  first novel) has been published, and I have  some time available, I am considering a return to blogging.
The novel took about 3 1/2 years to write, and I am pleased with the response to date. The critics have been positive, and I await a review in Jewish Action.
I thought I would start with some simple thoughts on the Supreme Court nomination.
The vetting has been going on for a long time. The potential candidates were chosen by the Federalist Society ( I am a member) and all are brilliant and conservative-as well as young.
I am positive that not one of them has uttered a written  or spoken word on Roe v Wade .
When the nominee is chosen , he /she will undergo many days of practice hearings to anticipate every  possible attempt to make them look bad ( by the Dems). Since the hearings  for Justice Ginsberg, and after the Bork   fiasco  no attempt to pin down a nominee on how they would vote has been successful .Yes Judicial approach- the role of precedent  and personality will be on display-however, NO SMOKING GUNS!
The left and the Schumers of the world will object-perhaps 2 or 3 RINOS  WILL VOTE NO-however, the few Dems up for re-election in solid Trump states, will with the vote of the VP  to assure that we have a new conservative on the Court.
One final thought for today, the talk to abolish ICE, to attack GOP office holders and the viciousness of the late-night comedians  will surely lead to an energizing of the country against this left wing socialist  mayhem.