Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A different take on the rainbow from Rabbi E. Zwickler




Rabbi Zwicker of Congregation AABJ&D in West Orange addresses the colors of the rainbow.  Are they distinct and why are they so?

Well, that's what I have to say. Stephen M. Flatow

Monday, October 3, 2011

Joe Biden, Jonathan Pollard and the Jews

One has to hand Vice president Joe Biden some credit. For a guy with no filter between his mouth and brain he has risen very high in national government. Not only is he vice president under Obama, in many ways he's the Obama Administration's point man with the Jewish community.

I don't have access to the latest polls, so I don't know the answer to this question: Do American Jews favor the release from prison of Jonathan Pollard? Pollard pleaded guilty to an espionage charge that resulted in a life sentence. Many people think that was a harsh sentence for someone who admitted to spying for an ally, in this case Israel, and a sentence that was the same for men convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. In the latter case, American agents died.

Comes today Dry Bones commenting on the Biden remarks:

And now the artists's comments-
Biden: Pollard pardon over my dead body "The NYT reported Saturday that in a recent meeting between Biden and 15 rabbis in Florida – meant to bolster the Jewish community's support of the presidential campaign – the vice president was asked about the Obama administration's reluctance to release Pollard, who was imprisoned in 1986, after he was convicted of spying for Israel. “President Obama was considering clemency, but I told him, 'Over my dead body are we going to let him out before his time,'" Biden reportedly told the group. “If it were up to me, he would stay in jail for life.” (Ynet)
 And more details here:
Biden prevented Pollard clemency, NYT reports October 2, 2011 (JTA) -- "President Obama was considering clemency for convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard until Vice President Joseph Biden prevented it, the New York Times reported. “President Obama was considering clemency, but I told him, ‘Over my dead body are we going to let him out before his time,’ ” Biden said during a meeting with rabbis in Boca Raton, Fla., according to the newspaper. “If it were up to me, he would stay in jail for life,” he reportedly added. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for spying for Israel. He is scheduled for mandatory parole in November 2015. In recent months, Obama has received a flood of appeals from Congress members and former government officials to grant Pollard clemency. Pollard recently successfully underwent kidney-related surgery. Obama is relying on Biden for help in his reelection campaign with American-Jewish voters, the New York Times article said."
I met Joe Biden once at an intimate fundraiser that had a similar sound, he was critical of then Israeli prime minister Sharon.  I guess I'm waiting to see if there's any financial price to pay for Biden's remarks.  I suppose there won't be much among my co-religionists.  After all, we like being dumped-on as long as we get the photo-op.

Well, that's what I have to say.

Stephen M. Flatow

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