Jewish Scene
ADL sees 'pandemic of anti-Semitism'
Reuters
Published: 07.02.09, 08:27
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31. two little nagging details
i ,   jerusalem   (02.07.09)
1) regarding Jews, and "the Jewish Problem", there is no civilized world 2) Abe Foxman is a useless waste of money and attention.
32. To #15 and #24
Mohammad ,   Jordan   (02.07.09)
to #15: you claimed that "my incursion into Judaism is purely false" but you have not explained how, or why. What i said is that "Jewish" is not a race, nor a religion, and i provided my reasons for my claim, while you have not!! Anyway, thanks for the recommending the book, i usually check the reviews about the book and the author before i buy any book, and if i find it a good and "unbiased" book i will definitly read it. To #24: I am not sure whether you read the article and my talkback! The topic we are discussing here is "Anti semitism" and whether its real or exaggerated, so what all of this have to do with arabs and land. By the way, if you really love your people and you country, you better look at arabs and learn from their mistakes instead of repeating it. Remember, two wrongs never make it right.
33. # 23 Conflation
Debra ,   UK   (02.07.09)
The confusion is only in your mind for you are trying to define what you are not. Judaism is represented by Israel, symbolized by Zion (Zionism). The three are one and the same. No wonder Samuel Beckett had to leave Ireland in search for an intellectual discussion and returned specially to defend a Jew.
34. The idiocy of Foxman and supporters
Mikesailor ,   Miami, FL   (02.07.09)
If you conflate Judaism and Zionism to the point where any criticism of Israeli policy is 'antisemitic', then you wind yp with this mess. The fault is not in your stars but in yourselves. With Foxman worrying publicly abour George Mitchell being 'too enehanded' in dealing with the Israeli=Palestinian mess, is it any wonder these actions occur? Id a Jew supports Israel merely because it is a Jewish state, without more, can he be considered a racist or bigot?
35. #26: HOPE OBAMA HUSSEIN DOESNT DESTROY THE CONSTITUTION!
ISLAM IS COMING 4U   (02.07.09)
36. Don't do bad things
Truthseeker ,   USA   (02.07.09)
If we don't want to be called bad names, if we don't want bad things to happen to us, we shouldn't do bad things such as bombing a civilian population and continuing a 41 year occupation. As a Jew I abhor anti-Semitism but Israel has made certain that is the price that Jews will have to pay for Israel's extraordinary hubris.
37. 28 anton germany hamburg
hans ,   stuttgart germany   (02.07.09)
hamas use the mosqe as a weapen stronghold not as a place for prayers . anton you should not red just the antizionist media like the spiegel in hamburg
38. Has Gaza war something to do with it?
(02.07.09)
It wasn't that intense prior to Gaza war, so maybe Israeli government's policies has something to do with it? I don't think civilized world would agree with anti-Semitism but civilized world would also not agree with over 1,000 death including hundreds of civilians and 300 children. There are ways to conduct wars and Israel's recent actions in Gaza proved that there is something fundamentally wrong in the way Israel conducts war.
39. #33 Zionism, 'Israeliness' & Judaism ARE different
Eamonn ,   Ireland   (02.07.09)
Zionism, 'Israeliness' & Judaism are different identities. Some people belong to only one, others to too, and others to all three. For example, there are many more Christian Zionists than Jewish Zionists. However Christian Zionists (motivated by a religious myth of a 'second coming') are mostly American, not Israeli, although they provide much financial and political support to Israel. Similarly, while most Jews do support Israel and thus can be considered Zionists, many do not. \for example, increasing numbers of secular American Jews feel no more connection to Israel than to Peru. At a more extreme level there are the 'Anti-Zionists' - religiously motivated Jews opposed to the existance of the Israeli state. And, of course, the identity of 'Israeli' is not synonomous with 'Jew'. 20% of Israelis are Muslim, for example, while others are Christian, Druze and other religions. Just beause somebody is Israeli does not mean that they are Jewish, and just because somebody is Jewis does not mean that they support Israeli policies or even its existance. Zionism, Judasm and 'Israeli' are different, albeit overlapping identities. And the people who benifet from confusing these identities are anti-semites and Zionists. The anti-semites want you to think that all Jews are responsible for Israeli crimes, while the Zionists want to silence criticism of their crimes with the charge of anti-semitism. In other words, anti-semites and Zionists are united in confusing reality for their own gains.
40. #32 come come don't be shy, when you wrote occupation you
#24   (02.07.09)
must have had the jewish occupation in mind & not the arab occupation of the jewish cities built by jews in biblical times, where arabs didn't allow jewish communities to thrive but were killing jews from time to time for centuries. when you wrote agression, i am not sure which agression you meant, because there surely is a lot form the arabs, who kept attacking israel from the day it was declared a country, not to mention the attacks on the jews during the british mandate. and it has everything to do with the land so stop pretending it is not you who is talking about the land, especially when you adress the israeli elite & not the jewish elite, for your humanitarian plight.
41. #32 i made a mistake, my remark was for mohamad in jordan
#25   (02.07.09)
stop pretending you can step into someone elses shoes. if you were less then 1% of world's population (thanks to other races by the way) it would be important to you to preserve your uniquness. jew is also a way of life, and it needs space and a congregation to exist.
42. Foxman is BLIND and PREJUDICED
USA USA USA   (02.07.09)
all this man sees in the jews point of view. he doesnt have the BRAINS to see the injustices ISRAEL has DONE and is doing- that the WHOLD EWORLD SEES. and not because they are jews. they just happen to be jews.. he should be fired, he is too blindsided for this job. he is too in love with being 'jew' to think straight.
43. Mikesailor
Gábor Fränkl ,   Bp, Hungary   (02.07.09)
Please spend a few more minutes reviewing your tendencious malevolence, not to say outright idiocy. 1. Of course, it's crystal-clear that Israel's enemies like you for example want to create the myth that Judaism and Zionism have nothing to do with each other. Transparently false and ridiculous. Only those with severe pro-Arab bias and/or anti-Semites can be convinced with this transparent nonsense. But I have one more observation. If you are an, let's suppose an Irishman, or a Serb, or a descendent of one and we can decipher that you actually like Ireland or Serbia more than any other country in the world because of some kind of your roots are there, we can equally surmise that you are a bigot and racist aren't you"Mikesailor"?! And I suppse tere are a couple of tens of milions of such people now in the U.S in general, and in Florida in particular...
44. #4 Gibberish. Jews are a race. Originally from Judea 2 tribe
EgyptJewRefugee ,   Geneva, Switzerland   (02.07.09)
#4 You talk gibberish. Jews are from one race originally. From 2 "tribes." The other 10 were lost. Was there intermarriage? Yes of course.
45. "JEWISH" anti semitism
James ,   USA   (02.07.09)
Some of the anti-semitism comes from jew haters like Richard Silverstein of Tikkun Olam. Silverstein aka Jihad Kapostein on the blogs, never condemn death of Israeli civilians. He spreads lies about Israel and supports terror groups like Hamas.
46. hatred, attacks against Jews 'from Austria to Zimbabwe.'
Ken Jurist   (02.07.09)
Most of the top Nazis from Austrians. I could care less about them. Zimbabwe is the most backwards nation on this planet.
47. It is antizionism not antisemitism-Arabs are also semitic!
Tayfun_Turkey ,   Istanbul   (02.07.09)
Nobody hates arabs, but zionist israel is hated. A recent BBC research showed Israel is among most hated 3 nations of the world, possibly most hated. you work hard to deserve hate of the world. You are killing children, massacres.. WHAT IS WORST YOU HAVE RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY ZIONISM JUSTIFYING MASSACRES, ISRAEL IS A KAHANEE STATE You cannot survive forever with such a hate, and relying only on USA and some zionist controlled state of Europe.
48. #39 Judaism,Israel Zionism
Debra ,   UK   (02.07.09)
You are mistaken ,the three are shared by all, the division is INTERNAL. It seems you refer purely to religion ignoring the universal perspective within Judaism.There is always a spectrum of opinion relating to concepts a nation shares and consequently level of identity with the concepts, as well as misinterpretations. However, these are internal affairs that are being exploited by outsiders to claim a valid criticism,whilst the root cause is being masked.American Christians use the word zionism to identify with the Jews. In a similar manner Samuel Beckett wore the yellow badge in France to identify with the Jews, during the Nazi period. Israel is a Jewish state and ethnic minorities do not change the characteristics of the nation. "Israeliness"??? there is no such word. Israel has enough problems with words being misunderstood.
49. #44
Mohammad ,   Jordan   (02.08.09)
So you chose to go back 6000 years as a start point? On what basis? Maybe if you go back a littel bit more you will find that we all came from Adam & Eve according to your Torah, or to simple molecules assembled into more complex molecules that then began to self-replicate according to science. Consequently, both theories lead us to the same result that we all share the same origins! On the other hand, The most widely used human racial categories are based on visible traits. Looking at Jews, its very obvious that they dont share one common ancestry or biological distinction. Some Jews are while, others are black or brown. In addition, there are some Jews "especailly the ones who immigrated from Africa" complained about racial discimination against them. I am not criticising Israel here, i am just proving my piont that if what you said is true, we would not see such complaints on the news. I also mentioned that anyone can become a jew if he/she undergo the process of conversion regadless od his/her race. So, who is talking gibberish here???!!! There is no such a thing as a race except in your mind. We are all humans and we are very similar. I believe that the truth has been twisted, i think people who believe in "anti simitism" as a fact are either Ignorants, naives, or racist themselvs. It has been used as a psychological tool to avoid guilt and self criticism. Nowadays, many people in the world discriminate against Arabs and muslims because of terrorism and what people see on TV. I understand that humans have a tendency to generalize and that more than a billion people has been affected regardless of their believes, but i dont go and blame the world and deny that we have a real problem that we have to face. In other words, Anti semitism, or Anti Islam or Anti arab, are different forms of conspiracy theory, and it do more harm to its believers that good.
50. Differene between anti-Semites and anti-zionists...
James ,   New York, usa   (02.08.09)
Your right being an anti-Semite and being anti-Zionist are different. Anti-Semites hate Jews while anti-zionists simply feel that Jews have no right to national self- determination and autonomy and should forever be a dispersed and exiled people with no homeland and at the mercy of non-Jews who historically haven't been too merciful. It's like the difference between hating Irish people and simply thinking they don't have a right to their own country.
51. But we don't shoe sympathy for people asking our help.
David ,   Jerusalem   (02.08.09)
African refugees are asking us our help to save them, how we can defend our selves from the world criticizem for treating these helples in such in human way. It doesn't look like about fighting terorism...... hard to argue for us as the citizen of this country.
52. Ireland loathes Jews, #27?
Cameron ,   USA   (02.08.09)
Man, I had no idea. I grew up in an Irish family and have spent time in Ireland, and I recall no obsession with, or running theme of hatred, toward Jews & Judaism. You have me a bit puzzled over that one, mate.
53. Jewish Nation
J.K. ,   Brooklyn USA   (02.08.09)
Mohamed # 4 !Tel me please,to what race and religion belonged the people,against whom Germany legislated the Nurenberg laws ? and to what race and religion belonged the people,that Germany exterminated in Europe between 1933-1945 ?. Greek Jews look different from Hungarian Jews,still the Gemans murdered them all at Auchwitz,Tunisian Jews looked different from Polish Jews, spoke a diffrent language ,so why did Germany persecute them ? Is it possible that it has to do with the Jewish race and Jewish religion ? You say, if only Israel will stop the occupation,everything will be fine,Israel was out of Gaza,so why did Hamas attack Israel ? very simple,Hamas wishes to destroy Israel,The Muslim world and the international community are ganging up against Israel for defending itself against mad dogs.while ignoring the killing by Russia of a million muslims in Chechneya,or the murder of black muslims and others by brown Muslims,in the Sudan.No demonstrations,why is that ?does it have to do with the size of the accused ?The smaller you are,the more people will gang up against you,human nature is not different from the animals,exept animals,do it to survive, while humans persecute others for sadistic reasons.
54. Shem
J.K. ,   Brooklyn USA   (02.08.09)
# 20 Aboali !Who told you that you are a semite ? did you see it in the Jewish bible ? The Jewish bible precedes the Koran by 2000 years.The problem with Muslims is,that the Muslims just came to the scene,and they claim that they invented the wheel,Monotoism existed long before Mohamed,the Arabs claim that they are the decendents of Ishmael the son of Abraham,this is a myth,because Ishmael lived with his father Abraham in the land of Kanan,he spoke hebrew with his hebrew father,and egyptian with his egyptian mother,Hebrew the language of Abraham is a sacred language for the Jews,for thosands of years,if the Arabs are decendents of Ishmael,their language should have been,hebrew,or Egyptian,not Arabic !so why do arabs speak arabic ? very simple ,the Arabs are not decendents of Ishmael,who lived about 17 centuries B.C.A,At that time the Arab penninsula was already inhabited with Arabic speaking people.So how can a nation predate it's founding father ? It is just a myth,that has no basis.
55. #42
James ,   USA   (02.08.09)
Did you mother had any kids that lived? You must be reading AlJazeera...
56. #23
James ,   USA   (02.08.09)
It is amazing to me, that there is so much confusion over who the terrorists are. Hamas is a terrorist organization that condones and facilitates suicide bombings and will kill every Jew on the planet if they have the chance. #23 you are wrong. Israel is Zion. read the bible.
57. to #47 from Turkey.
James ,   USA   (02.08.09)
Very funny to read a Turkish national talk about massacres. What do you call what Turkey did to the Armenians?
58.  Anti-Semitism
James ,   USA   (02.08.09)
Funny to read the Germans talking about bombing mosque....and war crimes. The Germans burned temples with the people in it. What IDF did in Gaza is self defence.
59. Part of the process...
Alkalai ,   USA   (02.08.09)
What is happening now was written thousands of years ago- read the Midrash, Gemorah, and the Zohar- and the Holy Niviim. There are many who told of these times: Joel 3 & 4, Isiah 29, Ezekiel, 36-39, Obidiah 1, Micah 2, 4, 5,6 & 7, Amos 9, and others. Read them, and you'll see exactly what is going on. The prophecies of our ancestors are indeed occurring, exactly as written, and like clockwork. There is no denying it. There is no question, what so ever, that HaShem is by our side. Just read these works, and you'll see it immediately. HaShem is indeed keeping HIS promise to us. All of the tribes are meant to return back to Israel from the diaspora. What we are experiencing now is part of that process. Don't expect others to understand. They are too blinded by their hatred and ignorance. Here are a few excerpts: Zohar I, Va'era 32a: ...In the future the children of Yishmael will stir great wars in the world. And the children of Edom [the West] will gather against them, and make war with them, one on the sea, and one on the land, and one by Jerusalem; and each one will prevail over the other but the Holy land will not fall to the hands of Edom. At the same time, a nation from the end of the world will be awakened against wicked Rome. (Rome here is said to refer to the spiritual center of western civilization) and it will make war against her for three months, and many nations will gather there, and they will fall by her hand, until all the children of Edom will gather against her from all corners of the earth. And then G-d will awaken Himself against them, as it says, "a sacrificial slaughter for the Lord in Batzra", and it says, "to shake the corners of the Land". And after this, the children of Yishmael will be finished from the world. And all the supernal powers of the nations will be broken, and no power will remain above except for the power of Israel alone. Genesis 12: 2-3 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse… Joel 4: For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 4:2 
I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land. 4:3 
And they have cast lots for My people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, and have drunk. 4:4 
And also what are ye to Me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the regions of Philistia? will ye render retribution on My behalf? and if ye render retribution on My behalf, swiftly, speedily will I return your retribution upon your own head. 4:5 
Forasmuch as ye have taken My silver and My gold, and have carried into your temples My goodly treasures; 4:6 
the children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the sons of Jevanim, that ye might remove them far from their border; 4:7 
behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your retribution upon your own head; Obadiah 1 1:11 
In the day that thou didst stand aloof, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. 1:15 
For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations; as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. Ezekiel 36 36:2 
Thus saith the L-rd GOD: Because the enemy hath said against you: Aha! even the ancient high places are ours in possession;
60. It's anti-semitism. ANTI-SEMITISM. ANTI-SEMITISM.
Korem ,   New York, USA   (02.08.09)
And ANYONE who denies it is as racist, backward, and twisted as a person who supports the murder of all Muslims for the actions of Osama Bin Laden (which isn't even a good comparison, because Israeli policy and Al-Queda-esque terrorism are totally separate). First of all burning synagogues, praising Hitler, and wishing "the Jews could all be gassed" are among the slogans and actions of people protesting Israel all over the world, and by expressing themselves in that way they become ANTI-SEMITES and by denying this, many of you anti-Israel talkbackers are never going to be taken seriously by an Israeli and are hypocrites of the highest order. Second, the moment shooting down Israelis in Denmark becomes legitimate "anti-Zionist" action, because the Israeli in question is synonomous with Zionism, every criticism of Israel's action in Gaza by you is forfeit. Moreover, the generalization made of Zionism is ridiculous. Having a shred of respect for Israel, or being Israeli, is considered "Zionist?" Then all anti-Zionists can go straight to h***. Third, the reason Israelis don't take any of the protestors (OR you talkbackers) seriously is this: why are you not protesting the fact that hamas stole dozens of UNRWA food trucks in aid from their own people? Why don't you protest how they just took over hospitals to be used as detention and torture centers (claimed by the PALESTINIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH, not the IDF)? Anti-Zionists of all shapes and sizes make me sick. Your stunning ignorance and arrogance makes me (and most Israelis) ever more supportive of Israel, and ever more powerful.
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