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Anne Frank and the Dangers of Holocaust Appropriation
By Rolene Marks
Eternal Message. Anne Frank’s diary of two years of hiding is one of the world’s most famous books.
While mega-millions have read Anne Frank’s diary and shared in her daily frustrations, today readers share fresh frustrations brought on not by Nazis but the appropriators of history who abuse her character and her experiences to fulfill their own political agendas on social media.
SA Unmasked. Judge David Unterhalter was grilled about his support of Jewish welfare organization.
Two top lawyers – one a judge – appearing to fill vacant judicial positions in South Africa’s national courts, were questioned on their religious identity, opinions on Middle East peace and their associations with a communal organisation. Why? Because they are Jewish! Is this the proud new South Africa envisioned by Mandela?
The tweet of the ‘Grim Reaper’ is for Jews a Grim Reminder
By David E. Kaplan
Grim and Grotesque. Tweet from Chinese Embassy depicting Israel and the USA as merchants of death
Why would China that is so commercially engaged with Israel and looking to expand, have its embassy in Japan upload onto is official website, such an antisemitic cartoon reminiscent of the worst days of Nazi propaganda against the Jews?
“Facts” that Provide Positive Results – rather than “Maybe’s”
Eating is a Necessity so get the most Benefit with Small and Maximum Chewing
By Lionel H. Phillips D.O
Chew on This! Smoother digestive journey to a healthier life when food is well chewed.
Our most accomplished and cherished asset is our hard-working human body. Requiring the minimum of care and knowledge in order to allow it to function efficiently, one of the most important pieces of advice from the writer is less on what to eat but more how to eat.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO)
The Israel Brief – 03 May 2021 –Meron tragedy update. 2 Terror attacks yesterday. Positive stats re Covid
The Israel Brief – 04 May 2021 – Did Police warn of potential disaster at Meron? Netanyahu close to ending of the mandate to form a government. Lebanon and Israel in maritime border negotiations.
The Israel Brief – 05 May 2021 – Can Lapid form a government? Germany bans group for funding terror. Israeli aid lands in India.
The Israel Brief – 05 May 2021 – 19 year old Yehuda Guetta dies of wounds from a terror attack. EU opens up to Israeli tourists. FM Ashkenazi hosts Iftar.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
A famous celebrity once remarked that social media is “the toilet of the internet”. Okay, so that person was Lady Gaga but whether or not you are a fan of pop culture or spend some time traversing the nonsense posted on various social media platforms, you have to admit there is great truth in her words.
Some weeks are worse than others and this past week really took the cake. For some reason #AnneFrank was trending and this piqued my curiosity. I almost wish it hadn’t because what I found was nothing short of nauseating.
Anne Frank, age twelve, at her school desk. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 1941. (Anne Frank Stichting)
During this past year as the world has endured a pandemic that has caused immense pain and loss, the disturbing trend of Holocaust appropriation, which is the re-purposing of imagery, narratives experiences from the Shoah to push another agenda or explain other historical crimes and occurrences has found oxygen.
We are familiar with the images of anti-vaxxers or those fed up with lockdowns marching in cities across the world, wearing the yellow stars that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust, saying that their “human rights” are being eroded. Spoiler alert: sitting on your couch watching copious amounts of Netflix while shopping on Amazon or having the right to choose whether or not you wanted to have a potentially life-saving vaccine is not nearly the same experience as being rounded up, forced into a ghetto, beaten, tortured, starved, worked to death, marched to death, gassed and burned because you are Jewish. THAT is what the yellow star signified.
One of the enduring symbols of the Holocaust is Anne Frank. The story of the Jewish teenager has been immortalized in her diary and has been used as an educational tool and translated into many languages for millions around the world. Anne Frank has both captivated and broken hearts the world over, and through her words and experiences, we have come to better understand what life under Nazi occupation was like for her and her family, as they went into hiding with several others, in a tiny space, hidden for years by righteous gentiles who risked their lives knowing what the penalty for those they hid, as well as themselves.
History Abused. Dreams of a young girl surviving through the Holocaust are ‘re-purposed’ for the agendas of political activists today. (Photograph from UPI / Corbis-Bettmann)
It was certain death!
The millions of us who have read her story have shared in her daily frustrations, the precocious personality of a typical teenager experiencing the changes and her heartbreaks as well as the very real fear and hurt of being targeted for death for the crime of being a Jew. Anne Frank put a name and a face to the 1 500 000 children murdered in the Nazi genocide of the Jewish people. For many people, Anne Frank put a human face to a catastrophe many viewed in the abstract.
Anne and her sister Margot were sent to Bergen Belsen after their secret annex was discovered. They died of typhus and their bodies thrown into a mass grave. Their father Otto Frank, survived them.
So why was she trending on Twitter?
I have seen many appalling things posted to Twitter but a post from Black Hammer (see below) takes the cake. To date, me and many others have reported it. I am still waiting for it to be removed from Twitter for violating community standards.
Black Hammer describe themselves on Twitter as follows “We are an anticolonial organization dedicated to getting our land back! Join us in making a city with no rent, kkkops, rona or colonizers at http://blackhammer.”
Their litany of tweets features appalling spelling and grammar that is almost as offensive as their ribald antisemitism and flagrant racism; but we cannot dismiss the fact that they opened up a discussion and debate. In the context of having important discussions about race and intolerance, this would have been important but we CANNOT fight racism by promoting antisemitism. The above stated tweet (where do I even begin with all the things that are offensive!) just trotted out every vile, racist tropes that is guaranteed to inflame the masses. And inflame them they did. J-Twitter (that’s Jewish Twitter) responded in numbers expressing outrage and trying as much as possible to debunk the accusations and were joined by others saying it was offensive BUT is also gave a tailwind to the haters and the conversation spiraled downwards to the point where Anne herself was accused of being a “colonizer” and proceeds from the sale of her book going towards “the funding of the genocide of the Palestinian people.” There was so much discussion that it resulted in the topic being one of the top trending hashtags for the week – for the wrong reasons.
The gross exploitation and appropriation of the image of Anne Frank to promote a political agenda.
In the oppression Olympics there are no winners. There is a very real danger in ignoring, debasing or appropriating the narrative of another to push an agenda which in this case, feeds into people’s distaste for colonization. For Black Hammer, the facts don’t seem to matter – the only thing that matters is demonizing the one so that they can promote the agenda of the other, often with dangerous and deadly consequences.
The dangers are not restricted to social media and the opinions of the haters. As time marches on, we lose more and more of the witnesses to the Holocaust and so we have to be their voice. At a time when the global conscience on racism is acutely aware of its effects, so we have to ensure that all conversations about hatred include the oldest – antisemitism. Holocaust appropriation cannot be allowed to get a free pass. It is an imperative that we fight it wherever it appears. Failure to do so means that not only is our narrative taken from us but that victims of hatred are once again silenced.
Anne Frank once said, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart”. If only the hope expressed through this remarkable young woman – whose story resonates through the generations in the hope that it would educate people and remind them that we were not just numbers but had names, lives and experiences – would be realized. We have to do better by Anne.
We have to be the voice of people who are really good at heart.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
The tweet of the ‘Grim Reaper’ is a for Jews a Grim Reminder
By David E. Kaplan
China and the USA are in major strategic competition and constantly maneuvering for one-upmanship. Fair enough, but why bring Israel and the Jews into this quarrel? After all, Chinese investment in Israel has grown significantly in recent years, especially in the fields of software, IT services, and electronics. According to 2018 data from the World Bank, Israel imports the most goods from China ($10.4 billion), with the U.S. a close second ($10.2 billion), and China is the second biggest destination – following the U.S. – for Israeli exports ($4.8 billion). And despite sound concern and strong opposition from the USA, has Israel not agreed for a Chinese company – Shanghai International Port Group – to run the new Haifa port for the next 25 years?
So while China ranks relatively low on the Anti-Defamation League’s rankings of anti-Semitic countries, it thus came as a surprise that the Chinese Embassy in Japan tweeted – albeit later deleted – an anti-US meme with strong antisemitic and anti-Israel imagery.
Grim and Grotesque. The offensive cartoon tweeted from the Chinese Embassy in Japan depicting the partnership of the US and Israel in bringing death and destruction to Muslim counties – beware!
The tweet featured a cartoon image of a Grim Reaper draped around in an American flag and inflicting death with his scythe emblazoned with the Israeli flag of the Star of David. For those less acquainted, the Grim Reaper is a common enduring image over many centuries of a skeletal figure, usually shrouded in a dark, hooded robe and carrying a scythe to “reap” human souls. It’s eerie, disturbing and frightening!
In the offending tweet, the reaper appears knocking on a door labeled ‘Egypt’ having left a trail of Muslim blood behind after having ‘visited’ through the other doors in the image – Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Libya, and Syria. Now if China is so heavily invested in the Middle East including Israel, why sow discord?
While China – through its embassy tweet – may feel it is justifiably retaliating against the U.S. in its competition for world leadership by warning of the dangers of American democracy, but why bring Jews and Israel into this ‘picture’ by emblazoning on the reaper’s scythe the Jewish Star of David?
It only gets worse. The tip of the scythe is dripping in Muslim blood and the caption in Japanese reads:
“If the United States brought ‘democracy,’ it would be like this.”
In other words, it’s a warning from the Chinese embassy:
Beware of the allure the USA because beneath the veneer, you Muslim countries will receive death and destruction at the murderous hand of Israel.
This was reminiscent of a Nazi German cartoon circa 1938 depicting the Jews as an octopus encircling the globe.
As reported in the New York based Jewish newspaper, The Algemeiner, the cartoon was featured on several extremist websites and proved popular with white supremacists and Holocaust deniers. The damage was done!
Role Model for China. Nazi propaganda which often portrayed Jews as engaged in a conspiracy to provoke war, depicts here a stereotyped Jew conspiring behind the scenes to control the Allied powers, represented by the British, American, and Soviet flags. The caption reads, “Behind the enemy powers: the Jew”. (Circa 1942. US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Helmut Eschwege)
When Israel’s Ambassador to Japan, Yaffa Ben-Ari called her Chinese counterpart, Cheng Yonghua, last Friday saying that “the cartoon demonized Israel”, Yonghua responded that he had not noticed that Israel was part of the image. It is true, the Star of David appears small in relation to the size of the US flag but the horrific and bloody image draws the viewer closer, and while the U.S. is depicted as the agent of death, Israel and Jews by appearing on the scythe are seen as the instrument of death. Together, “Big Satan” and “Little Satan” are graphically portrayed as cunning, conniving mass murderers of the innocent and vulnerable.
Sounding the Alarm. Israel’s ambassador to Japan, Yaffa Ben-Ari, Ambassador who called her Chinese counterpart in Japan about its Embassy’s antisemitic tweet.
This is something Israelis have become accustomed to seeing in official Iranian social media and on banners at pro-regime mass rallies in Teheran – not from China!
Despite Cheng Yonghua’s ‘failure to notice’ the detail of the Israel-Jewish connection to the cartoon from his embassy’s website, an hour after the call, the tweet was deleted. It may also have resulted
From Israel’s Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Pacific Gilad Cohen contacting the Chinese Embassy in Israel to inform it about the tweet.
However, despite having deleted the grotesquely offending tweet, the Chinese embassy did not tweet an apology!
The incident comes at a time of high diplomatic frictions between China and both Japan andthe United States over a broad range of issues, including China’s regional territorial ambitions.
Hence many Japanese Twitter users responded angrily to the tweet, some including the famous June 5, 1989 photo of a man standing in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square. What they failed to respond to – whether they did not seem to notice or take issue – was the antisemitic element!
Is This What China wants to be Associated With? German antisemitic cartoon from 1938, using Octopus symbolism of Jewish tentacles stretching over the entire globe.
Jews need little reminder of the existential danger of cartoons as part of Nazi propaganda to win the support of millions of Germans in a democracy and later in a dictatorship to facilitate persecution and ultimately genocide.
We need to be vigilant and respond. Its not acceptable to say “We did not notice” like the Chinese ambassador, because to do nothing is to wait until it’s too late!
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO)
Eating is a Necessity so get the most Benefit with Small mouthfuls and Maximum Chewing
By Lionel H. Phillips D.O.
The Human Body leaves nothing in its wake as being the most sophisticated miraculous consistent persistent accurate hard-working machine ever known to mankind. All this while continuing to function 24/7 for 100 and more years, in many cases while not being treated or serviced as is required. We marvel at all the high-tech innovations and invest billions to improve speed and accuracy and imaging, yet none of which holds a candle to the human body – our greatest asset without a sliver of doubt.
On Track. For the long road, the human body beats the car hands down.
It is a fact that the body has the ability for healing itself if given the chance. Think of how quickly and efficiently our bodies deal with damage, from a small cut to a cracked or broken bone. Similarly with an infection or a mild bout of food poisoning. Our entire system acts as a unit to protect, repair and heal itself. Each tiny part of the body and, in turn, each of its systems, is intimately connected to every other part and every other system. When the function of any part is less than 100 %, the rest of the systems are affected in some negative way or another.
The human body requires the minimum of care and knowledge in order to allow it to function efficiently. One would never dream of lowering the service requirements of any of our man-made assets, no matter how simple or complicated they may be. The result of not providing the body with its basic simple logical needs, is extremely costly. Examples are –
THE EVER-INCREASING HEALTH-CARE CRISIS. Sickness, disease and general poor health is rising amongst all age groups as never before, with mounting costs to citizens and governments alike;
Medical and health care services and waiting times for appointments are over-whelmed and stretched, as is the over-burdened pressure on the diligent medical personnel, albeit that they are short-staffed. The waiting times for many imaging units has become longer.
Poorer and less fortunate citizens are hardest hit, with many not having access to drinking water, food or medical services at all, particularly in African countries.
Is there even one man-made object, no matter size or expense, that can compare to the human body?
An Interesting Fact about One Part of a System of the Human Body
Although the following is extremely complicated and technical, I believe it will provide some indication as to the wonders of the workings of our body.
If all arteries, veins, and capillaries of the human circulatory system were laid end to end, the total length would be 60,000 miles, or 100,000 km. That’s nearly two and a half times around the Earth! Even though its thickness averages just 2mm, your skin gets an eighth of all your blood supply.
Let’s observe just one of the many functions, that of the Abdominal Arteries –
Celiac Trunk – Branching off from the abdominal aorta, the celiac trunk divides into smaller arteries that supply organs such as the stomach, liver and spleen.
Inferior mesenteric. Like the superior mesenteric artery, this artery also branches off of the abdominal aorta and supplies blood to the last portion of the large intestine, which includes the rectum.
Inferior phrenic. These are paired arteries that supply blood to the diaphragm.
Adrenal. The adrenal arteries are paired arteries that send blood to the adrenal glands.
Renal. These paired arteries deliver blood to the kidneys.
Lumbar. These paired arteries send blood to the vertebrae and spinal cord.
Gonadal. The gonadal arteries are paired arteries that send blood to the testes in males and the ovaries in females.
Common iliac. This branch of the abdominal aorta divides into the internal and external iliac arteries.
Internal iliac. Derived from the common iliac artery, this artery supplies blood to the bladder, pelvis, and external portion of the genitals. It also supplies the uterus and vagina in females.
External iliac. Also arising from the common iliac artery, this artery eventually becomes the femoral artery. All perfect in design and function.
The World Over. If all arteries and veins of the human circulatory system were laid end to end, the total length would be nearly two and a half times around the earth.
A QUICK BREAKDOWN OF WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF – Number of Bones – 206 Number of Ribs – 24 Number of Bones in your Face – 22 Number of Bones in your Skull – 22 Number of Bones in your Neck – 7 Number of Bones in your Vertebral column – 33 Number of Bones in one Hand – 30 Normal Heart beats – 70 to 72 times per minute Normal Blood Pressure – 120 / 80 mm of Hg. Number of Cranial Nerves – 12 pairs Number of Spinal Nerves – 31 pairs Life Span of R.B.C.’S – Red Blood Cells – 120 days Life Span of W.B.C.’S – White Blood Cells – 10 – 15 days Life Span of Platelets – 5 – 9 days Amount of Blood in the Body – 5 – 6 Liters.
Q: How complicated and difficult and invasive is it to provide my body with its NEEDS?
A: Not invasive in any way at all. Extremely simple to follow, if you give YOURSELF and YOUR BODY the chance to prove the benefits to be gained.
First and foremost, focus on the suggestions and do your utmost to avoid being influenced by any ingrained habits leading you astray. No dieting – no excessive exercise – no pills.
Something to ‘Chew On’. What looks good will taste better with small mouthfuls that are well-CHEWED.
Let us concentrate on How to Eat and Chew your food – any food:
Your Digestive System –
The digestive system involves the extremely complex process of absorbing the maximum nutrients from the food you eat, which the body uses for energy, growth and cell repair, in order to survive. The digestion process also involves eliminating the waste created by the whole process.
The digestive tract (or gastrointestinal tract) is a long twisting tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. It is made up of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food and other cells that produce enzymes and hormones to aid in the breakdown of food. Along the way there are other vital ‘accessory’ organs that are needed for digestion, among which are the esophagus, stomach, intestines – small and large, gallbladder, liver, and the pancreas.
The digestive system is truly a remarkable mechanism. During a person’s lifetime, it may process between 60,000 and 100,000 pounds (35,000 and 58,300 kgs.) of food.
‘Taste’ of a Healthier Tomorrow
Digestion actually starts before you even take the first bite of a meal. The look and smell of food triggers the salivary glands in your mouth to secrete saliva, causing your mouth to water. When you actually taste the food and begin chewing, your tongue takes charge and moves the food to the appropriate teeth for grinding, mashing and cutting, as well as spreading it so as to become softer and warmer. The enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food. After chewing, the tongue directs the food (now called a bolus) to the back of the mouth to be swallowed. It enters the esophagus and via peristalsis, continues on to the stomach, where the next stage of digestion occurs. The primary peristaltic wave forces the bolus down the esophagus and into the stomach which takes about 8–9 seconds. The esophagus is 23-37 cm long and only 1-2 cm. in diameter.
It helps to chew (masticate) your food to a maximum, in order for this process to be effective. SMALL MOUTHFULS AND MAXIMUM CHEWING is required. This helps with your digestion process and the absorption of the maximum Nutrients. And that’s it! Large mouthfuls cannot be chewed sufficiently, leaving a large amount in a state that will create all sorts of problems along the route.
Give it a full chance for a month and make a note of any changes that may have taken place – satisfaction, eating less, no feeling of over-eating or reflux and even fat loss. By the way, if small servings don’t suffice, you can always have a second.
However, the smaller helping should have been tastier and more satisfying.
About the writer:
Lionel Phillips is a Doctor of Osteopathy (1975), an International Fitness & Health Instructor, Consultant and Lecturer. He has researched and designed ‘The Needs & Functions of the Human Body’ as an educational subject for inclusion in all School Curriculums World-Wide. A past Federation Member and Israel Liaison Representative of IHRSA (International, Health & Racquet Sports club Association) and member of their worldwide “Panel of Experts”, Phillips is a recipient of the “Prime Ministers Award of Merit” (PM Menachem Begin).
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO)
Two South African Jewish lawyers recently offered their candidacy to fill vacant judicial positions in two of South African national courts. The Judicial Services Commission is responsible for judicial appointments in South Africa. The application process includes a hearing with the members of the Commission.
South Africa’s Constitutional Court. Judicial enquiry of Jewish applicant most ‘unconstitutional!
The Jewish candidates were subjected to intrusive questioning regarding their levels of religious observance, their opinions on the proposed two-state solution to resolve the Middle East conflict and their connections to the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) – the representative body of South Africa’s Jewish community. According to press reports, it was made abundantly clear to the Jewish candidates that traditional observance of the Jewish Sabbath was problematic.
South Africa Exposed. South African judicial applicant Judge David Unterhalter was quizzed about his Jewish identity and subjected to lengthy questioning about observance and support for Jewish bodies.
None of the other candidates were asked questions regarding their levels of religious observance. None of the other candidates were asked for their opinions on the Middle East conflict. None of the other candidates were interrogated regarding their connections with different communal organizations.
The above poses of several serious questions:
(1) Since when is the level of a candidate’s religious observance relevant to the judicial position he is applying for? And if it is relevant, then why is it relevant only to Jews? Why isn’t it relevant to Christians, Muslims or Hindus?
(2) Since when do South African courts of law have jurisdiction on matters relating to the two-state solution in the Middle East?
(3) Since when have the members of South Africa’s Judicial Services Commission acquired the expertise to fully understand and appreciate the multitude of nuances relating to the two-state solution?
(4) Why is it that the SAJBD is singled out by members of the Judicial Services Commission as a pariah communal organization? What about all the other communal organizations who represent the Rainbow Nation’s different religious and ethnic groups?
(5) Surely a judge with an ideologically driven opinion on any issue is expected to recuse himself from adjudicating a case if he encounters a conflict of interests. This is a fundamental requirement for ALL judges regardless of their religion. Apparently, members of the Judicial Services Commission believe that ONLY Jewish judges can’t be relied upon to exercise their judgement.
(6) Where are the judges who serve on South Africa’s judicial system? Their silence is deafening!
Sinister Signs. The late Adv Isie Maisels, who led the defence team in the famous Treason Trial of 1956 to 1961 in which all the accused, including Nelson Mandela, were acquitted and seen here being carried triumphantly from the court, served as president of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
Why is it always necessary for Jews to prove their loyalty to the countries they choose to serve? Why are different standards always applied to Jews?
In 1961 Adv. Israel Maisels successfully defended Nelson Mandela and 90 other people of all races in the “Treason Trial”. The same Israel Maisels was, for his entire life, involved in Jewish and Zionist causes. He was an observant Jew and served as the president of the United Hebrew Congregation, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the South African Zionist Federation and the Israel United Appeal.
The questions posed by the Judicial Services Commission suggest that Adv. Maisels would not have been considered to be eligible for a judicial position in South Africa.
Does South Africa – the Rainbow Nation – encapsulate the ideals propagated by Nelson Mandela? Is this what Madiba’s vision was all about? No. It most certainly is not. The Judicial Services Commission is guilty of religious and racial discrimination in its ugliest form.
My late father served in the South African Armed Forces in World War II. He was seriously wounded. He lost most of his fingers. His sight and hearing were badly impaired. He underwent 19 operations in 11 months. He bore the scars of his loyalty to his country of birth until the day he died. Some Jews paid a higher price. Other Jews paid the ultimate price.
What gives the 23 members of South Africa’s Judicial Services Commission the right to question the loyalty of Jews to South Africa? Not only isn’t it constitutional. It’s unethical. It’s immoral. It’s racist.
South African Justice Unmasked. Peel off the veneer of enlightenment and what is revealed in the writer’s view appears “unconstitutional”, “unethical”, “immoral” and yes – ”RACIST”.
In an official statement, the SAJBD claims the process conducted by the Judicial Services Commission was “overtly prejudicial” and “unconstitutional”. I can’t disagree with that but I believe the situation is far more serious. The actions of the Judicial Services Commission are discriminating and reek of anti-Semitism. Unfortunately, anti-Semitism has become politically correct.
I urge my Jewish friends in South Africa and around the world not to engage in the age-old battle of striving to prove your loyalty to the country in which you reside. Generations of Jews tried doing just that. They assimilated. They compromised their identities. They did their utmost to conceal their Jewish roots. They all failed. Dismally so. This is a war that can’t be won.
The statement of the SAJBD is important. It expresses the outrage of the Jewish community but the ball remains in the hands of the applicants for whom I have the following message.
Guys, I recognize your professional ambitions. I appreciate your desire to serve your country and its judicial system. However, if I were in your situation, I would withdraw my candidacy. I’d tell the hacks serving on the Judicial Services Commission to take a hike. I certainly wouldn’t compromise my identity or my heritage.
Your action on this issue is far more important than resolving any case you might be called upon to adjudicate.
About the writer:
Harris Zvi Green, born in Cape Town / South-Africa. Graduated from the University of Cape Town with a B. Com. degree and immigrated to Israel 51 years ago. He served as the Chief Financial Officer at a number of Israeli hi-tech companies. He is now retired. Married with three married children and is the proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO)
Lay of the Land is heartbroken at the tragic events that happened at Meron during Lag B’Omer. Our hearts are with all who have lost loved one and we pray for recovery for all the injured and those affected in anyway by this tremendous tragedy. Our gratitude to all who are assisting with rescue, recovery, emergency services, medical care and many who have opened hearts and homes to donate blood and look after evacuees. May the souls of all who have been lost rest in peace.
What’s happening in Israel today? See this week’s daily ‘The Israel Brief’ broadcasts on LOTL YouTubeby seasoned TV & radio broadcaster, every Monday to Thursday and on our Facebook page. Rolene Marks familiar to Chai FM listeners in South Africa and millions of American listeners to the News/Talk/Sports radio station WINA broadcasting out of Charlottesville, Virginia. You can subscribe to LOTL news from Israel and enjoy at a time of your convenience.
The Stef Wertheimer formulae for the Middle East regional stability where “the battlefield today should only be the market place”
By David E. Kaplan
Man on a Mission. His hand on destiny, a young Stef Wertheimer in his backyard workshop in Nahariya in the early 1950s.
With the latest Forbes magazine ranking Stef Wertheimer as Israel’s wealthiest citizen in its annual ranking of the world’s wealthiest billionaires, the writer revisits his earlier interview with the industrialist best known for his founding of Israel’s successful ‘Industrial Parks’, when he revealed his ‘Marshall Plan’ for regional peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
The Face Haunting France. Dr. Sarah Halimi was beaten, tortured & murdered. Where is French justice today for its Jews?
With an antisemitic murderer escaping justice, it is the French legal system that is now on trial. With good reason for Jews to distrust the French authorities, where once there was the sole voice of an influential writer proclaiming “J’Accuse!”, today that voice is the Jewish world bellowing – “We accuse!”
Sarah Halimi Murdered but no Trial for the Murderer – Why?
A French Jew’s insights of the events surrounding her killer’s “escape from justice”
By Dr. Gad Amar, retired French surgeon and writer
Paris is Burning. A mass of protesters in Paris horrified at the message of French justice – ‘Snort cannabis to kill a Jew!’
On his Facebook account, the 2017 killer of a retired Jewish doctor and head of a Paris kindergarten Sarah Halimi, brazenly took the surname of his ‘role-model’ – an earlier 2006 Islamic torturer and murderer of a Jew – ‘proudly’ revealing to the world his antisemitism and his motive for killing. French justice turned a blind eye!
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO)
