UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) just cancelled an upcoming Jewish exhibit at the last minute, after caving under the intense pressure from the Arab League. The exhibit–co sponsored by the Los Angeles based Simon Wiesenthal Center and UNESCO–on the theme of the land of Israel 3500-year connection to the Jewish people, was set to open in Paris on January 20th. This rather unusual “last minute” cancellation raises several concerns about UNESCO cannot be ignored.
I find it most peculiar for UNESCO to co-labor with the Simon Wiesenthal Center on such an exhibit to the point of having the whole thing set-up and invitations sent-out, and then make an about face just days before the opening. I find it peculiar not because UNESCO should go with such an exhibit but exactly for the opposite reason. In light of the stance UNESCO has taken on the Middle East in the last couple of years, they should have never even considered getting involved in such a project.
It was in October 2011 that UNESCO surprised the world by including the Palestinian authority to its roaster of member nations. This of course was all done in the name of cultural diversity and tolerance, to also prove to the world that the image of the Palestinian Authority and some Palestinians are grossly exaggerated. This was why the Palestinian Youth magazine know as Zayzafouna featured an article in which a ten-year-old Palestinian girl said that Hitler told her in a dream: “I killed them [the Jews] so you would all know that they are a nation who spreads destruction all over the world.” The magazine, we were told, promoted democracy and tolerance. Why is it then, that a young girl could write about Hitler being her role model?
Then in 2012, UNESCO declared that the Jewish site of Rachel’s tomb was also a Christian AND Muslim site and that to say otherwise would be a hindrance to the peace process. Palestinians decided that the site was holy to them and was part of their heritage, even though Islam was only founded 1500 years ago. The site goes back way further than 1500 years and is mentioned in Genesis 35:19 as the place where the Jewish matriarch was buried. It has zero Palestinian connection!
To add insult to injury, UNESCO decided in 2013 that Israel and the United States–while retaining their membership–will lose their voting power because they had both stopped paying their dues after the 2011 inclusion of Palestine. I guess they [UNESCO] got a bit upset when the US contribution equal to 22% of their total budget stopped. I commend the United States and Israel for taking a stand in an age of cowardice and hypocrisy.
Maybe this move has something to do with the fact that UNESCO has chosen 2014 to be the “International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People”. General Assembly President John Ashe declared that: “Now is the time for vision, compromise and deepening of respect. Let us make this year – 2014 – the decisive year for achieving peace between Israel and Palestine,….I implore all those who have a stake in this outcome – Governments, international organizations, and people everywhere – to do their part.” What is next, “Terrorist Appreciation Day”?
Really Mr. Ashe, how honest is such a statement when the last move by UNESCO appeared to be such a biased decision? What seems to be the problem with such an exhibit as this new one entitled “People, Book, Land – The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People and the Land of Israel”?
UNESCO has a clear agenda hinging around the promotion and acceptance of Palestine as a bona fide state with voting power at the United Nations and frankly, they are almost there. By inviting Palestine to be recognized at the UNESCO level, they opened a door–maybe not the front door, but a door nonetheless–to an inclusion of Palestine at the United Nations. It is only a matter of time now. It is no longer if but only when!
I think that UNESCO cancelled the exhibit for two main reasons: Fear of the Arab League and fear of the truth.
There is a common denominator between many government agencies and organizations around the world. They seem to all flex to the demands of Islam without ever questioning the motives, along with allowing statements and actions that promote hatred, xenophobia and even killings. These moves are mostly motivated by fear, a fear that is the result of intimidation. That fear continues to lead us to submission to an ideology that belongs to the dawn of the middle Ages.
But consider also the fear of the truth. What could possibly be brought to the public in an exhibit on the Jewish people, the land of Israel and the Bible? This exhibit was organized by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and UNESCO, under the leadership of Hebrew University professor and anti-Semitism expert Robert Wistrich. Mr. Wistrich is a first class scholar with a superb reputation. One of his many works: ” A Lethal Obsession: Anti-Semitism from Antiquity to the Global Jihad” demonstrates the quality of his research and the unbiased approach to the age-old issue of Anti-Semitism. He has no axe to grind and simply wants to make the truth available to more people.
I believe that the very truth about Israel being a piece of land granted to the Jewish people by God Himself through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob scares UNESCO. They do not want to face the truth about the Jewish people’s legitimacy, history and archeology in Eretz Yisrael. If they were to face the truth, they would then have to make a decision to support Palestine based on a series of lies. But hey, they wouldn’t be the first ones to move from ignorance to hypocrisy to cowardice and even malice in regards to Israel’s right to exist.
I don’t think that UNESCO is even using double standards when it comes to Israel. They have chosen to side with the enemies of Israel in the name of peace. What peace?
Prime minister Netanyahu was spot on about UNESCO’s decision when he said: “The one-sided approach toward Israel does not advance peace – it pushes peace further away. It strengthens the refusal of the PA to make actual progress in the negotiations.”
UNESCO’s latest move is an outrage that has nothing to do with education, science or culture and everything to do with politics and political correctness. Last time I checked, God never wanted us to be politically correct but simply biblically correct. He even gave us a manual for it!
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
The Trendy Return of the Nazi Salute!
Everybody wants to be hip and trendy. This is why many are always on a quest for the latest gadget, statement, gesture or piece of clothing. We want to display it, proclaim it or even experience it before everybody else. We want to be part of the “in-crowd”.
Fads and trends come and go. Some are as ephemeral as the day they were introduced while others linger for much longer. I remember when a few years ago, young people around the world were wearing the keffyah (middle Eastern scarf popularized by former PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and symbol of the Palestinian struggle against Israel). Stores all over the USA and other parts of the world were carrying cheap copies of the scarves in all colors, and kids all over started to wear them. Very few of the youths wearing the trendy versions of the keffyah knew anything about its origins and the stigma attached to it. They just knew that it was cool and they “had to have one”.
A new fad is spreading across the world like wildfire. It originated in France in 2005, from the twisted xenophobic mind of stage comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala. It is known as “La Quenelle” (French word for a fish dumpling) and consists of extending one arm like in the Nazi salute, but keeping it down along the body as you touch your shoulder with your other arm (see photo below). Dieudonné called it la quenelle and while he claims that it is an anti-establishment and anti-Zionist gesture, he also swears that it is not anti-Semitic. Dieudonné is so attached to this new gesture that he has threatened to sue those who oppose it.
Dieudonné M’bala M’bala has a long history of racist jokes in his stage monologues. He started to target the Jewish people as early in his career as 2000. He has been repeatedly prosecuted and banned for his xenophobic diatribes. He was recently fined the equivalent of $100,000 for his repeated offenses.
In 2012, his movie “l’anti-Semite” (a very subtle title obviously!) was banned from the Cannes Movie festival. Cannes has been known for presenting movies that were less than politically correct and bordered on bad taste. But Mr. M’bala M’bala’s movie making a joke of the Holocaust and the Auschwitz liberation as well has blatantly loathing Israel and the Jewish people went too far. In it, he is seen saying “long live Hitler” and many other anti-Semitic statements such as the need for gas chambers. The movie has been banned everywhere and is even hard to find on uTube (one copy is available in French with Russian dubbing). The movie was partly funded by Iran.
He also ran in the French local elections also in 2012, under the banner the anti-Zionist Party.
So when asked about la quenelle, Dieudonné M’bala M’bala immediately states that the gesture is mostly anti-establishment and not anti-Semitic, but in the same libelous breath he will also admit that “the Jews run and control everything”. So Mr. M’bala M’bala, what part of the establishment ends up not being Jewish then? The lines have become blurred but the message remains crystal clear.
La quenelle still carries some ambiguity and cannot be simply categorized as an anti-Semitic salute, yet it is mostly used as a postmodern “F*** you” to Israel and the Jewish people and as such, it has become a real problem for the French government. Interior minister Manuel Valls is determined to do all he can to stop Dieudonné’s spread of hatred through his stage shows by banning the performances all over France. So far, many major French cities have chosen to cancel the shows.
I applaud the French government for taking a stand against such a display of hatred against the Jewish people. But there is another problem associated with La quenelle.
The new gesture is catching on and has been spotted during TV shows, on the Internet, in the printed press and many other places. This outrageous gesture is being duplicated by youths all over, who are mostly clueless about the message they are conveying. Additionally, famous athletes have used it during sports events. It has also been spotted in the military and in front of synagogues or Holocaust monuments.
La quenelle is a dangerous sign of the times. At best, it is a misunderstood gesture of disrespect and hatred for the establishment, vastly used by younger people who just think that they are cool. But at worst, it is a rebirth of the Nazi salute.
Frankly, I believe that La quenelle is both. Of course, the irony is that many of the younger anti-Semites have never met a Jewish person, but it is still their duty to hate them. It shouldn’t surprise us that Hitler’s Mein Kampf was one of the most popular books in digital form in 2013.
Classic Anti-Semitism became taboo after the Holocaust, to the extent that it had to re-invent itself and give itself a postmodern face-lift to be re-introduced as the “New Anti-Semitism” but under the politically correct name of anti-Zionism.
Today, La quenelle is making anti-Semitism trendy in France, so much so that it continues to embolden Jew haters all over the hexagon and other parts of the world. I am not sure of the exact reaction of those using the quenelle after being told what it stands for, but it is our duty to expose such a despicable gesture.
Anti-Semitism has recently become acceptable again, God forbid it becomes trendy!
“Shadows of Shoah” delivers Truth with Dignity!
I met professional photographer Perry Trotter a few years ago in California and we instantly became friends. I was very impressed with his creative talent, but what affected me the most, was Perry’s genuine love for Israel and the Jewish people. Perry is not Jewish and in a constantly growing anti-Semitic world, a real friend of the Jews is a rare find.
That is why when Perry first talked to me about project Shadows of Shoah, I was very curious at first, but quickly my curiosity turned into a deep respect for such a project. The more I got involved with Shadows of Shoah, the more touched I became by Perry and Sheree Trotter’s work on the Holocaust. They present truth, light and hope, and they do it with dignity, as each story is one of a unique individual and not another sad statistic. They help us to remember the 6,000,000 as real people; something that much of the Holocaust work to date hasn’t always been very successful at.
Shadows of Shoah is a beacon of truth. In a world where the Jewish people are a constant target, it is so encouraging to see and hear the truth about the Holocaust. The lie being sold to the world is that the Holocaust was grossly exaggerated and in some cases completely invented. In all cases, the number 6,000,000 is never agreed upon. Holocaust deniers and historical revisionists alike would love to see the “Jewish Catastrophe” disappear from history books all together, and they could succeed if postmodern tolerance and political correctness win the battle. This is why projects like Shadows of Shoah are so critical.
Shadows of Shoah presents the truth about the Holocaust. It is neither dramatized nor romanticized. The stories come from first-person interviews with survivors of the Shoah across the world. Considering the fact that fewer and fewer survivors are still alive today, there is a sense of urgency in the Trotters’ work. As first-hand witnesses continue to disappear, the “Catastrophe” runs a greater risk of falling into oblivion.
As you view the many testimonies filmed by Perry and scripted by Sheree (Perry’s wife) from personal interviews with the survivors, the simplicity of the presentation brings out the profound reality of the Shoah. Each survivor has his/her own ordeal to recall and relive in front of the camera and they do it with difficulty but with dignity.
It gives the audience a sense of hope based on mankind’s resilience. These people who came out of the Shoah as survivors are still with us, telling their story and letting us know that after they survived the horrors of the camps, they chose to live and to share. Perry and Sheree have become catalysts for such a cause. They bring truth, light and hope into a world that too often lacks all three.
On January 27, 2014, the United Nations will commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This date is different from the Jewish commemoration of Yom HaShoah that takes place each spring. It is an event sponsored by the United Nations. I am grateful that the UN would take on such a task on a yearly basis. Over the years, I have lost faith in the ability or even the willingness of the UN to deal with Israel fairly. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s statement about this event says: “Denying historical facts, especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust, is just not acceptable. Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of any State or people. I would like to see this fundamental principle respected both in rhetoric and in practice by all the members of the international community”. I couldn’t agree more, yet I often feel that a double standard is applied to Israel and such a statement–I am afraid–might just be a string of words empty of any real meaning.
Nevertheless, the Trotters have started a campaign to familiarize people with Shadows of Shoah so they are posting a different 3-minute testimony every other day of January until the 27th. Each story is short but impactful, succinct but life-changing. It is my prayer that many people, starting with my readers, would take the time every other day of January to view these powerful testimonies and share them with many of their friends through emails and social media.
The post-Holocaust Jewish motto of NEVER AGAIN can only be achieved if people like us take the time to show the world that we care. Shadows of Shoah does exactly that, and it accomplishes the task with simplicity, dignity and depth. Perry and Sheree Trotter who identify themselves as Evangelical Christians are post-Holocausts righteous gentiles and I thank God for them.
NEW ANTISEMITISM 2013: A YEAR IN REVIEW!
To most of us, it is hard to believe that it was exactly a year ago that according to the Mayans, the world was coming to an end. While the world is still turning, it is not difficult to admit that we –as a global interconnected community–are in deep trouble. We continue on the slippery slope of postmodernism, tolerance and multiculturalism one foot in the grave, one foot over the cliff and our head deep in the sand (how’s that for a most uncomfortable and very dangerous posture?)
The temperature of our sick world can be measured from many different perspectives, depending of one’s area of interest or expertise. The proverbial frog of Western civilization in the slowly boiling pot of tolerance and universalism continues to sustain more heat. Enough heat could very soon be generated to cripple the frog inside the pot, to a point of no return.
I am definitely not talking about Global Warming but would like to give us all a Global Warning in the area of the New Anti-Semitism. While I never encourage dwelling on negative or tragic issues, it is necessary to remember and learn from the past to help shape the future, so allow me to review some of the key events of 2013. You can also read the full article for each month by clicking on each title throughout this post.
JANUARY:Stop Insulting Our Intelligence!
On January 27, the day that is recognized as “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, based on when Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated in 1945, many of us were shocked at a cartoon published by Famous British Sunday Times cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, depicting Benyamin Netanyahu building the security fence with bricks interspersed with Palestinian bodies and using Palestinian blood as mortar.
Of course, the fact that the cartoon was published on “International Holocaust Remembrance Day” was a pure coincidence or maybe a busy newsroom oversight, right? Well, I wish I could say that it is true but I am afraid that the day was purposely picked to hurt the Jewish people even more. The link between the cartoon’s accusations and medieval blood libels further used by Nazi Germany shouldn’t be missed.
But before I am accused of going on an anti-liberal-right-winged-bigoted witch-hunt, let me make a statement about Mr. MacFarlane. While I clearly believe that this was inappropriate, I cannot confirm that he is anti-Semitic. Yet, this was reminiscent of some caustic writings by Martin Luther about the Jews. We know from history how Luther’s writings were used to decimate my people, as the Nazis were proud to simply be “finishing up what Luther started”. Tread carefully Mr. MacFarlane, if you do not wish to be responsible for somebody “finishing up what you started”.
The 2013 Israeli Presidential Conference on the theme of “Facing Tomorrow 2013: The Human Factor in Shaping Tomorrow” should have included British theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Stephen Hawking as one of the keynote speakers. Globally recognized as a genius, Hawking has also become the poster child for science over the last few decades. But in a move that has garnered him both some applause and some criticism, he chose to boycott the 2013 Israeli conference following the advice of Palestinian academics. This will undoubtedly help to vindicate the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) in their fight against “Apartheid Israel”. On the English version of the Middle East media site El Arabiya, while some claimed that his health was what made him change his mind, Hawking’s statement was made crystal clear:
OCTOBER: The Many Faces of Anti-Israelism are Just a Mask for Anti-Semitism!
On October 21, 2013, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) published a new report titled: The Top Ten anti-Israel Groups in the US, in which it identified the most virulent of antisemitic organizations in America. While I do not always endorse the ADL’s methods and/or tone in their reporting, or even some of their conclusions, I do find their research always very useful. The list includes:
UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) was born in 1946 out of a need for furthering world peace and security. As indicated in its name, the main goals of UNESCO are achieved through educational, scientific and cultural awareness. Their current motto is building peace in the hearts of men and women.
Christmas in Romania: Deck the Halls and Burn the Jews!
All around the world at this time of the year, people are preparing for the Christmas holiday. While the holiday is not celebrated by all people groups, it is still one of the most recognized by many. Even if the holiday has become somewhat of an excuse for out-of-control commercial madness, few are those who do not know that Christmas is linked to the birth of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth.
One common denominator at the Christmas season is cheer and good will amongst men. People take a break from the stress of their daily routine and gather with family and friends over good food and gifts. Another tradition that transcends borders is the singing of Christmas carols, usually about one aspect or another regarding the Birth of Yeshua.
That is of course the normal tradition unless you live in Romania in 2013, where national TV channel TVR3 Verde just broadcasted a different kind of Christmas carol. The words of the song literally sent chills down my spine as I read the translation for the first time and I apologize in advance for the harsh language:
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