We’ve been reminded over the past few weeks of how nothing in our age comes close to the moral depravity of Hamas. Except for the moral depravity of Putin.
Please consider that Netanyahu’s role in the security lapses/simplistic response to the tragic Hamas terrorist attack and now Israel support of US, Russia, N Korea resolution undermine an argument of Israeli moral superiority. (See your comment re: Putin). Netanyahu, Putin and Trump are very similar. In addition to everything else not sure how you could view the Truth Social video and want to have anything to do with him.
Thanks for your comment, Bob. I'm extremely troubled by things Netanyahu and Trump have done (and keep reading my stuff or just read this piece again and you'll see that). Nor do I ever think Israel should see itself - or be seen by others - as morally superior. The UN vote was shameful, and their treatment of Zelensky and Ukraine even worse. When I can agree with something Trump of Bibi do - rare but not unprecedented - I won't shy from that either. And Hamas leadership needs to be sent away from Gaza, as the PLO and Arafat were exiled from Lebanon in the 1980's. I appreciate your reading and commenting!
Thank you for your reply Rabbi. I did read the complete article and concur with the themes of the horrific murders of the Bibas family and associated events and the need to remove the corrupt terrorist Hamas movement. Navigating and communicating on Social Media is challenging. I will elaborate a bit more on my thoughts.
1)The Bibas family and especially innocent children caught in crossfire. - yesterday I picked up my 4 y o granddaughter from pre-school and my 6 y o granddaughter from elementary school. Anyone harming them for any reason would create in me an enemy for life. I frankly don’t care if terrorists were hiding in the basement of the elementary school or church where they go to pre-school. You bomb it with knowledge they are in there you are evil. Especially when you understand the enemies tactics. I totally disagree with the reflexive of how to do it acknowledging the extreme complexity of the situation.
I would also refer you to General Stanly McChrystal’s work Team of Teams regarding his work as commander of Special Forces. He initially accompanied his teams on some missions to observe their tactics. He observed a 7 y o boy watching his father being searched on the ground ( found to be innocent ) and realized humiliating the father probably created a terrorist and that tactics needed to change. There is much more to it, but my point is that the short term elimination of Hamas has created a dispersed network of terrorists and will only make the long term solution more difficult. The security failure (USA/Trump probably headed same direction). falls directly at Netanyahu’s feet as well as the absence of a more surgical strategy to deal with Hamas. Hopefully the investigation of his actions will shed further light on his leadership failure. Trump’s Gaza video likely just made the situation worse. Again the personality characteristics of Trump, Netanyahu and Putin have many similarities.
2)I was bornJewish, events overtime have evolved me to a “Joseph Campbell”, religion without God perspective.
3)During my training I came into contact with residents for years from the American University in Beirut from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Palestine. Great folks, family oriented and much more. The mid East problem is so complex.
4)Stephen Hawking when asked if he thought there was intelligent life in other places in the universe replied - I am not certain intelligent life is compatible with long term existence.
Thanks for the opportunity to exchange perspectives.
As a bit of a Joseph Campbellist myself, I see where you are coming from - and I love Hawking's quote. In many respects, I think we can agree to agree.
So many beautiful, so many painful, so many moments of utter truth.
Thank you, Rabbi Hammerman
I am a podcast-junkie, and listen to often very young commentators who understand so little about German politics. They equate the conservative CDU and Merz with the American conservatives. No, they are very different. The CDU (its sister party CSU is the Bavarian version) is the party of Angela Merkel, who in 2015 invited the refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Kurdish-Irak, giving them a home here in Germany (hundreds of Munich citizens appeared at the train station with food and clothing to receive them). Her slogan back then was "WE CAN DO IT!" They are still here, many not yet integrated into society due to a really stifling bureaucracy that would make Elon´s (transplanted) hair stand on end! Merz (I certainly didn´t find any of the candidates appealing, none are Hollywood material...;) ) has shown moral clarity so far, but he´s only been on the stage a short time. The CDU under Merkel´s leadership in 2005 (to 2021), gave Germany economic and social stability. I think this is what voters everywhere crave. The majority of voters for AfD were in the so-called "new states" of East Germany, which is its home. I wrote before why. So I may be an optimistic fool, but I have a good feeling about Merz and Macron, the leaders of the Baltic and northern EU states, and much of the EU leadership in general (with the exception of Hungary´s and Italy´s) to recap and push ahead. Sorry if I rant on about things you didn´t mention in your newest post - thank you for giving a voice to the pain and suffering the hostage families continue to experience. And thank you for your tremendous wisdom, as always.
Thanks, Kim. I've never before been such a Europe fan. I love how Macron handled things in DC. I think it's time to let Ukraine into the EU and bring in some troops to show Putin that they'll be minding the store until sanity returns to Washington. Meanwhile, the cavelry is on the way in '26, if the Dems can get it together. And we can on;y hope the funding for Ukraine doesn't dry up by then.
“Compassion toward the wicked,” he said, “is cruelty toward all beings.” This. Thank you.
It's a great quote.
Please consider that Netanyahu’s role in the security lapses/simplistic response to the tragic Hamas terrorist attack and now Israel support of US, Russia, N Korea resolution undermine an argument of Israeli moral superiority. (See your comment re: Putin). Netanyahu, Putin and Trump are very similar. In addition to everything else not sure how you could view the Truth Social video and want to have anything to do with him.
Thanks for your comment, Bob. I'm extremely troubled by things Netanyahu and Trump have done (and keep reading my stuff or just read this piece again and you'll see that). Nor do I ever think Israel should see itself - or be seen by others - as morally superior. The UN vote was shameful, and their treatment of Zelensky and Ukraine even worse. When I can agree with something Trump of Bibi do - rare but not unprecedented - I won't shy from that either. And Hamas leadership needs to be sent away from Gaza, as the PLO and Arafat were exiled from Lebanon in the 1980's. I appreciate your reading and commenting!
My sentiment is same
Thank you for your reply Rabbi. I did read the complete article and concur with the themes of the horrific murders of the Bibas family and associated events and the need to remove the corrupt terrorist Hamas movement. Navigating and communicating on Social Media is challenging. I will elaborate a bit more on my thoughts.
1)The Bibas family and especially innocent children caught in crossfire. - yesterday I picked up my 4 y o granddaughter from pre-school and my 6 y o granddaughter from elementary school. Anyone harming them for any reason would create in me an enemy for life. I frankly don’t care if terrorists were hiding in the basement of the elementary school or church where they go to pre-school. You bomb it with knowledge they are in there you are evil. Especially when you understand the enemies tactics. I totally disagree with the reflexive of how to do it acknowledging the extreme complexity of the situation.
I would also refer you to General Stanly McChrystal’s work Team of Teams regarding his work as commander of Special Forces. He initially accompanied his teams on some missions to observe their tactics. He observed a 7 y o boy watching his father being searched on the ground ( found to be innocent ) and realized humiliating the father probably created a terrorist and that tactics needed to change. There is much more to it, but my point is that the short term elimination of Hamas has created a dispersed network of terrorists and will only make the long term solution more difficult. The security failure (USA/Trump probably headed same direction). falls directly at Netanyahu’s feet as well as the absence of a more surgical strategy to deal with Hamas. Hopefully the investigation of his actions will shed further light on his leadership failure. Trump’s Gaza video likely just made the situation worse. Again the personality characteristics of Trump, Netanyahu and Putin have many similarities.
2)I was bornJewish, events overtime have evolved me to a “Joseph Campbell”, religion without God perspective.
3)During my training I came into contact with residents for years from the American University in Beirut from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Palestine. Great folks, family oriented and much more. The mid East problem is so complex.
4)Stephen Hawking when asked if he thought there was intelligent life in other places in the universe replied - I am not certain intelligent life is compatible with long term existence.
Thanks for the opportunity to exchange perspectives.
As a bit of a Joseph Campbellist myself, I see where you are coming from - and I love Hawking's quote. In many respects, I think we can agree to agree.
So many beautiful, so many painful, so many moments of utter truth.
Thank you, Rabbi Hammerman
I am a podcast-junkie, and listen to often very young commentators who understand so little about German politics. They equate the conservative CDU and Merz with the American conservatives. No, they are very different. The CDU (its sister party CSU is the Bavarian version) is the party of Angela Merkel, who in 2015 invited the refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Kurdish-Irak, giving them a home here in Germany (hundreds of Munich citizens appeared at the train station with food and clothing to receive them). Her slogan back then was "WE CAN DO IT!" They are still here, many not yet integrated into society due to a really stifling bureaucracy that would make Elon´s (transplanted) hair stand on end! Merz (I certainly didn´t find any of the candidates appealing, none are Hollywood material...;) ) has shown moral clarity so far, but he´s only been on the stage a short time. The CDU under Merkel´s leadership in 2005 (to 2021), gave Germany economic and social stability. I think this is what voters everywhere crave. The majority of voters for AfD were in the so-called "new states" of East Germany, which is its home. I wrote before why. So I may be an optimistic fool, but I have a good feeling about Merz and Macron, the leaders of the Baltic and northern EU states, and much of the EU leadership in general (with the exception of Hungary´s and Italy´s) to recap and push ahead. Sorry if I rant on about things you didn´t mention in your newest post - thank you for giving a voice to the pain and suffering the hostage families continue to experience. And thank you for your tremendous wisdom, as always.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim!
Kim in Munich
Thanks, Kim. I've never before been such a Europe fan. I love how Macron handled things in DC. I think it's time to let Ukraine into the EU and bring in some troops to show Putin that they'll be minding the store until sanity returns to Washington. Meanwhile, the cavelry is on the way in '26, if the Dems can get it together. And we can on;y hope the funding for Ukraine doesn't dry up by then.