Stop bringing in Tanach and Maimonides and start studying psychology 101. These "Sarahs" are only interested in having their non-Jewish colleagues accept them. In their liberal academic circles, Jews, despised for their disproportionate intellectual accomplishments, are required to kneel down and betray their people as a punishment. Delusional fools like Sarah masochistically denounce their people in the futile hopes of being "accepted" by their Far-Left Jew/Israel hating "friends" on campus. Meanwhile these Far-Left Jew/Israel haters have no respect for Sarah as she spews self-loathing proclamations and denounces and betrays her people. Yet they sadistically encourage her self-hatred with smiles and gestures of agreement while laughing to themselves at what a fool she really is. For all her trouble she makes them sick just the same seeing her on her masochistic knees begging for their approval. So Brickman you can’t bring logical or rational arguments before someone writhing on the ground trying to appease and worship the god of “peer” acceptance. They're stuck in a loop constantly trying to make a deal with the devil. And we already know he NEVER delivers on his implied promises. Just look how Far-Left Jews flocked to Arafat's throne to worship at his feet. One can only imagine the sadistic euphoria he must have felt. And despite all the horror he wrought on Israel and the Palestinian’s, the Sarahs of the world still believe in him and his false promise of the “peace of the brave”.

with your idiotic critic of what this writer says. Save YO breath on telling us that u actually agree with him but want to appear to be smarter then him.

I do agree with Sarah Roy in that central to the Jewish faith is a system of ethical and moral code. Unfortunately, Mrs. Roy gets lost when trying to pursue a simplistic view where the world is divided into good and bad, and where a people who is good and has high moral standards cannot take arms to defend itself, because fighting is bad and unsophisticated. What strikes me most in all the anti-Israel commentaries made by Mrs. Roy and other Jewish intellectuals is that they are not capable of sympathizing with their own fellow Jews who suffer from Arab terror in Israel. This lack of sympathy apparently is a result of two facts: first, they are born, live their Judaism, and write from the confort of their homes in democratic countries such as the US; second, these intellectuals have an appalling inability to grasp abstract Historical lessons, such as those we get from learning about expulsions, expropriations, pogroms and the Shoa. But this doesn't surprise me. During World War II, intellectuals of the type of Mrs. Roy, living life in the comfort of their homes, didn't move a finger to help save the Jews that were being massacred in Europe. Of course, those intellectuals were more interested in defending their image as an ethical people, with high moral standards, who doesn't fight.

Mrs. Sarah Roy says :” God was present but not central “. IF God is not central (in ones home) -- it means that God is a sidetrack. To put God on a sidetrack means that God is of little or NO importance. In that case “system of ethics” takes the centre stage in one’s life. A question for Mrs. Sarah Roy : you might be a kind-hearted person. But if a violent person (i.e. Hamas et al) fires INDISCRIMINATEDLY 3,000+ Kassam rockets and mortars at you (i.e. UNARMED civilians of Sderot, other places in Israel since the beginning of 2008 till December 26th) -- will you remain kind-hearted towards Hamas et al ?? I don’t think so. IF you remain kind-hearted towards the violent person (i.e. Hamas et al) -- that means you are NOT appreciating your own life. HOW so ? Because the intention of the violent person (i.e. Hamas et al) is to kill you, to destroy you. Sarah, NO sane person will willingly subject himself/herself to self-destruction.

in the name of god == it is not religouse nor humanity

Why must all critics of Israeli policy be immediately discredited as anti-semitic? I could care less about a persons religion and yet I still think the current bombardment of Gaza is self-defeating for Israel. The purpose is to stop the rocket attacks and yet they persist. The fundamental cause of the conflict is not religion but land, water and economy. Solve those issues and the violence will fade.

"There are two types of Westerners who have been critical of Israel’s defensive actions in Gaza this week: Anti-Semites and some in the so-called Jewish intellectual elite" There are most definitely critics of Isreal's actions in Gaza this week that are not anti-semitic or jewish. A rabbi wrote this ?

Stop bringing in Tanach and Maimonides and start studying psychology 101. These "Sarahs" are only interested in having their non-Jewish colleagues accept them. In their liberal academic circles, Jews, despised for their disproportionate intellectual accomplishments, are required to kneel down and betray their people as a punishment. Delusional fools like Sarah masochistically denounce their people in the futile hopes of being "accepted" by their Far-Left Jew/Israel hating "friends" on campus. Meanwhile these Far-Left Jew/Israel haters have no respect for Sarah as she spews self-loathing proclamations and denounces and betrays her people. Yet they sadistically encourage her self-hatred with smiles and gestures of agreement while laughing to themselves at what a fool she really is. For all her trouble she makes them sick just the same seeing her on her masochistic knees begging for their approval. This exact scenario is duplicated in Hollywood, MSM broadcasting and the entire entertainment industry. Hence the nauseating self-loathings of Streisand & Spielberg and now the disgusting self-hatred musings Rosanne on her blog. So Brickman you can’t bring logical or rational arguments before someone writhing on the ground trying to appease and worship the god of “peer” acceptance. They're stuck in a loop constantly trying to make a deal with the devil. And we already know he NEVER delivers on his implied promises. Just look how Far-Left Jews flocked to Arafat's throne to worship at his feet. One can only imagine the sadistic euphoria he must have felt. And despite all the horror he wrought on Israel and the Palestinian’s, the Sarahs of the world still believe in him and his false promise of the “peace of the brave”. So please Brackman, stop wasting your breath on Talmudical arguments and learn what’s really cooking in the sick minds of these poor delusional Jews.

As an Israeli I feel we had no other choice, and my conscience is eased a little by the article of the father whose son was killed in a suicide bombing and he remembered all the citizens in Gaza who passed candy around and cheered. I also know that when strength is called for that is what one must use But, it still bothers me that so many women and children have died whose only sin is that they were born on the wrong side. Most of us are embarrased to use God or the Biblical prophecy that Jews would return to Zion, and so we use cold, hard logic that will appeal to the Western World, forgetting that ours is not just any nation. Any nation would have behaved worse than us under the circumstances, but we aren't "any nation", we are "eretz yisroel".

She exemplifies a very common misconception among secular, assimilated Jews: identifying Jewish ethics with the marxist struggle for social justice. The problem is that the political correctness that derived from that marxist struggle does not admit the existence of evil. At the root of the left's moral relativism is the belief that no-one is 'bad', that there are only people made bad by circumstances, by their parents, by poverty, by their government, by anything that prevented them from growing into the naturally 'good' person that every human would be if treated decently. This is of course nothing more than moral narcissism. It is their wish to pontificate and moralize, to feel 'better' than others (especially when in front of their mirror). Pacifists have never understood that this vanity CAUSES wars, because it makes them refuse to confront the EVIL that is actually a very real part of human nature (as our sages have always told us). The fact that they think their materialist search for egalitarian justice coincides with the 'Tzedeq tzedeq tirdof' of Jewish tradition is only a symptom of their profound ignorance of real Jewish values.

settle the land of Palestine, and expell its own people instead. Is this what Judaism became all about. I feel really sorry for those Jews who still think that Zionism and Judaism are the same. Even me as a muslim, I see too many differences between them. Do you know why I am able to see this? Because Islam has much of its practices instantiated by Abraham, and the Israelites are always exemplified in the Quran as an example of how the early "submittters" or Muslims faced in justice and atrocities by the Pharoes, etc... Reading your article, I see that associating Zionism with Judaism to be an injustice done to Judaism itself.

The sword comes into the world due to justice delayed and justice denied. Right? "Terror" is a convenient intellectual construct whereby all the supposedly moral justifications for brutal actions accrue to your own side, and none to the other side. Where do you get your impervious certainty from? God? I'd like the phone number...

the land of palestine no such term exist. and yes Judaism which far ancient than the criminal cult of muhammad. indeed support settling the land. I feel more sorry for these who cannot perceive between cults and religions. people who are blindly follow an evil cult name islam. Islam is a criminal cult, that founded buy a criminal person who committed pedophilia and mass murder. a charlatan who succeeded to deceive mass of people. and you are one of these victims. wake up islamists! your Koran cannot explain correctly Judaism. that should have gave you the cue to apostate. but you keep fooling yourself. 9:30 "and jews say ezra son of allah..." what???

into Sarah Joy's house.......and screamed, "get off my American Indian land.".....she would feel just as much compassion and come running out to give me a hug. Israeli land was stolen centuries ago by the Arab hoards. The Arabs have birthed themselves into a little sand box in Gaza. They did it to themselves. You'll notice no one else wants them. Because they are trouble makers and terrorists. Only Iran.....who has ambitions of some empire......uses these clowns, by financing their cause of terrorism. You don't see Iran offering them a place to stay. Just bombs to kill Jews and Americans. Sarah Joy has a lot of nerve talking about the jews defending themselves for their land......and siding with terrorists.....when she is sitting on land in the United States taken from my ancestors by force. I guess if no one complains about the land you are squatting on. You can talk crap about the Jewish culture that just wants theirs back....without missiles fired at them every day. The Palestinians are just as screwed up too. As well as the Iranians. Your whole culture is living in the United States on my cultures land. I'm not bombing your shops.....I'm not forcing the Arabs out of Dearborn Michigan. It's funny that everyone can come on my land and squat........band then come up with asinine reasons to terrorize their Jewish neighbors, like the Arabs and Persians do every day of the week. But htey will be happy to invade Europe....the United States....and any other country they can set foot in. But don't let a Jew get near Israel. They already stole that land.....they aren't giving it back. I'm glad not all people follow the Arab and Persian cultures flawed ways. You can blame it on Allah all you want......but in the end......in the mirror.....it's their dopey mug staring back at themselves. They did it.......they just blamed Allah for the crime. The Muslim's are really good at that these days. Allah made me do it!

I just can not take the ideology: Shut up and follow, many crimes against humanity were commited in history. What Israel is doing in gaza will have long lasting consequences for Israel and jews world wide.

This article is so biased and baseless that it begs for a reply. As a Jew, I beg to differ with the small universe of Jews who find the Israeli onslaught disturbing and immoral.At the heart of the matter is a tragedy of missed opportunities and a fanaticism that has infected both sides from the very beginning of this conflict. Certainly, the duplicity of the Israeli government in conducting an occupation of over 40 years cannot be dismissed as a factor in perpetuating war, death, destruction, misery and hopelessness; even today it addsto settlements on the West Bank, where---one would think---Israel's partner in peace would have been given more than merely the promise of a rump Bantustan that passes for a West Bank homeland. Do not the Palestinians have the right to throw off the yoke of oppressive occupation? Lastly, I wonder what it is that allows us to question the motives of our own governments while imbuing the motives of the Israeli government---with all the armaments and public relations guile at its disposal---as pure and just.

Hey Diego, I would really like to know what you think about this: Israel pulled out of Gaza over three years ago. Immediately after, Hamas killed lots of Muslim Fatah Palestinians, took over the control of Gaza, and has been ever since driving Christian Palestinians away from Gaza, throwing rockets on Israeli towns, and building tunnels along the border with Egypt to bring all types of weapons into Gaza with the express purpose of attacking Israel. If Israeli attack of Gaza is a crime, as you say, what exactly would you, from the comfort of your home in Belgium, recommend Israel do?

From my home to yr conmfortable home somewhere in Israel: 1/ Israel pulled out unilaterally from Gaza, not wanting to negotiate with Abbas, considered a chicken by Sharon 2/Gaza is still under israely occupation, it just changed the method, Gaza is already locked by land, sea and air since 2005, Gaza became the bigges jail worldwide, 3/ Hamas took over Gaza as a result that Dahlan together with the inteligence service of Israel tried to topple a democratic elected goverment in 2006, as usual the coup did not work out 4/Israel continued the blokade of Gaza, threw the keys away once settlers left Gaza, 5/its normal that they built tunnels, they resist, nobody would accept to be starved like that 6/i am a pacifist, i am against war, should sound quite special in Israel, no??? 7/ Conclusion: as you ask me, it was the 2 state solution, but i am afraid its to late.......... Israel really never wanted to speak to palestinians as equals, they were always talking abt peace and at the same time extending settlements, palestinians understood, dont take the for fools. I am afraid that Israel if they go on with the same policy will commit suicide, solowly they contribute with their daly policies.

You say :”.. Israel … will commit suicide,..”. More than 3,000 Kassam rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza Strip by Hamas et al at UNARMED civilians of Sderot, other places in Israel since the beginning of 2008 till December 26th. SO Diego, it is the DUTY of the IDF to protect the citizens of Israel -- first and FOREMOST.

since we embarass yourself so much. Please leave Judaism formally, and dont let the door slam on the way out

And that includes all people....I do not distinguish between Jews, Christians, etc. How dare you even speak about morals? Being a Rabbi does not necessarily make you a person of God. In your instance, you just have the title absent morality, ethics and any principles.

I once watched this show- it was fictional of course, but the rabbi in that show said, "Vengeance is not Jewish." The fictional rabbi... versus a true rabbi, saying that opposition to an offensive which has already killed 500 people, obviously including innocents obliterated by indiscriminate firing from state of the art weaponry (courtesy of the US taxpayer), is not Jewish. Who are the true Jews?

You have answered the question of my last post. May there be more like you.

Rabbi Brackman; There are thousands of bochurim walking the streets of the Diaspora. Would'nt it be a good idea if Chabad leadership would send them to Israel to join their too few friends and help comfort the Jewish soldiers in Gaza and elsewhere. Surely this kiruv is far more vital than anything they might be doing in foreign Lands. (like putting on tefilin on a Jew in some shopping mall in the Diaspora.). Let the Rebbe's "army" be a real army in their own Land.

I'm an American Reconstructionist Jew who also is highly critical of Israel in its misguided war on the Palestinian people. I have nothing but disdain for the actions of Hamas, but what Israel is doing constitutes collective punishment. There is NOTHING Jewish about killing others in a collective fashion. Did we not learn anything from our own history? You call yourself a rabbi, sir, but I have no more respect for you than I would an imam who calls for death and destruction via suicide bombing.

The Israelis are defensively seeking to eliminate genocidal terrorist rockets from raining down on children. Your construing self-defense as "collective punishment" exposes you as a blind, self-hating leftist Jew. It's easy to talk when rockets are not daily raining down on your town.

You haven't been listening to the news of them putting this into practice- another four children and their mother killed today in their car- which altogether destroys the pretense of this being a defensive move- this is an offensive (offensives are not defensive!) Second, that you should call rockets "genocidal" after they have killed a whopping 14 civilians demonstrates hysteria. You can argue how many of them have been fired or the other effects (shock, trauma), but it doesn't erase the even greater damage done by this offensive or the siege.