COLUMBIA AND ENTEBBE /OBAMA AND THE JEWISH LEGISLATORS

kudos to the armed forces of Columbia that staged the dramatic rescue of the 15 hotages without a shot being fired.It is reminiscent of the Israeli raid on Entebbe ,when Israeli planes landed ,and a command car with a fake Idi Amin made its way to the site of the plane hostages.Bibi Netanyahu's brother, the mission leader, was killed in the raid,but as a well planned ruse, the world took notice of that July 4 raid,as they do with yesterdays successful mission.
The daily travails of terrorism and threats of war against Israel often appear to have sapped the energy from the Israeli leadership, but their enemies should take heed,not to mistake their often times apparent confusion for the inability to defend and be victorious against their enemies.

===============================================================

There is a story that Obama gathered over 100 Jewish lawmakers to a meeting hoping to solidify the Jewish vote.Most of these are very liberal legislators,who have toiled arduously for the US-Israel relationship.
There is however another point of view that I urge you to read.In the July 1 issue of the Jerusalem Post,Jennifer Rubin writes an article entitled "Why more Jews won't be voting Democratic this year".
At stake she points out is the question of do we take him at his word?
Would he stand up for Israel in time of crisis ,like Nixon in 1973, ( who recieved little credit for the massive airlift that saved Israel) or will he be passive.?
He did not stand up to Khalidi, his Palestinian activist friend when he honored him at a dinner ,where he claimed Israel was an apartheid state.
He did not stand up to Rev. Wright for 22 years,as he, Michelle and the two girls listened to black nationalistic preachings.
He did not stand up to the Farrakhan "million man march" despite being asked to by Jewish groups.
He did not stand up for the Kyl-Lieberman amendment that labelled the Iranian Guard a terrorist org.He sided with MoveOn.Org and voted against it even though his colleagues Durbin and leader Reid voted for it.He was a lone figure in the leadership when he indirectly voted againsty Israel's use of cluster bombs.
Now, he tells AIPAC he supports a non-divided Jerusalem, but then backtracks on its signicance.Now he tells AIPAC he is in favor of classifying the Iranian Guard as terrorists.
He is prepared to negotiate without pre-conditions with Ahmedaminajan, only later does he modify those remarks.
Does he feel ISRAEL IN HIS KISHKES?
WORDS IN A CAMPAIGN MEAN LITTLE!
Where is the beef? The record? the consistent philosophical support? the proper advisers?
IT AIN'T THERE!

The growing Haredi influence.

Much has been written about the demographics of the haredi population growth.The truth is that long after secular and Reform/Conservative Jews have seen the assimilation of their second,third and subequent generations,the Haredi world will continue,despite poverty to make up for the population losses of the former community.
That is why the exclusion of Haredi and Yeshivish leaders in recent hi-powered conclaves on the future of the Jewish people is a great error.
In truth there can be no future for our people without a Torah way of life.
Having said that,does not mean that we have to kowtow to Haredi demands in two specific areas.
1. Today, 10% of the Israeli population is "ultra-orthodox/Haredi".Yet,as more students leave the State sponsored religious schools,23% of first grade Israeli pupils attend Haredi schools.Parents,are interested in the security of the schools,the Hashkafah-or philosophy that rejects the MTV culture sweeping Israel and so on.Yet since these schools receive State funding, there is no reason in the world,why these schools cannot be forced to teach the basics of a secular curriculum ,including computer technology and its use.
Absent these courses,they should be prohibited from State funding.

I recall a number of years ago,when my friend Prof. Yaakov Neeman was Finance Minister.He made a presentation to a small group at the Jewish Agency ,with slides,graphs and charts.The bottom line,was the economic drain on a small State(Israel) by a growing cadre of uneducated, and unemployable young men on welfare
because they lacked proper training.The bubble of rich parents supporting children,then grandchildren who marry and have many children on their own ,and so on,will surely burst.
2.This brings me to my second point.One quarter of 18 year olds in Israel do not volunteer for the Army.One half of those are Haredi.This drain on manpower is not only dangerous, but brings the Torah Community to ridicule.
Not all these Yeshiva students, are worthy of deferment.Those in the calibre of Daayanim(Judges) educators and so on should be deferred.
The State should designate x number of deferments.A national exam would be given in addition to considering the learning level of the applicant.Those top students will be deferred with State stipends.The rest have a choice of military service,or community service/learn a trade for 3 years.There is no reason they cannot sit in a Bais Medrash at nite and continue their learning,as they serve their fellow citizens.