Year End Reflections, Part VI (And A Look Back, Part B)

When talking about Jews fighting back, it is impossible to ignore the upcoming Jewish holiday of Chanukah (or Hanukkah), which begins this Sunday at sundown.  The celebration of Chanukah is based on events of some 2100+ years ago.  As occurred throughout much of history, various entities ruled over the Middle East and what is now modern day Israel.  Going back to the second century BCE (aka BC) the Seleucid Greeks ruled the area, led by Antiochus.  Antiochus forbade the teaching of the Torah.  He expected everyone to conform to the Greek Hellenic culture and religion.  But the Jews would not have it.

Led by Mattathias, and then his son Judah Maccabee, they revolted against the powerful Greek army.  Again outnumbered, the Jews succeeded in recapturing Jerusalem and the Second Temple.  The Temple had been desecrated with false idols/Greek gods, and the oil had been made impure.  In order to light the menorah in the Temple, the Jews found just enough pure oil to last for one night.  Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight nights.  To this day, Jews light the menorah for eight nights - celebrating our victory from persecution and oppression.  

On Sunday night Jews will light one candle, on Monday two candles, and so on until eight candles are lit on the last night of Chanukah.  But every night we first light the shamash, a candle that is used to light the other candles.  And every night there is a new shamash to light that night's candles.  The nightly candles reflect the holiness of the holiday, while the shamash performs the work of lighting the other candles.

While lighting the candles, we say three prayers on the first night.  On the other nights just two.  The first night has an extra prayer unrelated to Chanukah.  It is a prayer said at all the holidays, thanking G-d for bringing us to this season.  After the candles are lit, many sing Mo-Oz Tsur - Rock of Ages, thanking G-d for the many times he has protected his people Israel. 

As with all of the Jewish holidays, we celebrate Chanukah with certain foods.  Most people know about the latkes - potato pancakes.  Fried in oil, of course, to help us remember the miracle of the oil.  I love eating the latkes with apple sauce, although some prefer sour cream.  Unfortunately, as I have gotten older, fried foods do not agree with me so much.  So, it's usually just one or two latkes for me.  The other food associated with Chanukah is sufganiyot - jelly doughnuts.  Fried in oil, of course.  I'm lucky to make it through one entire doughnut.  

So, we Jews are fighters.  As everyone knows, Jews had to fight again most recently on October 7, 2023, and ever since.  While much of the world criticizes the Jews for fighting back, I do not.  I support Israel and the Jewish people.  Whether it's Antiochus, Hitler, Hamas, or the many others, we understand that there are always those who want to kill us.  Sadly, we even see it now throughout the Western world, including in the United States.  But the Jewish people live.  The people of Israel live.  Am Yisrael Chai! 

Year End Reflections, Part V (And A Look Back, Part A)

We Jews are fighters.  And I don't just mean with each other.  In the 1930's, the German American Bund was growing in numbers.  The Bund supported Hitler - they were Nazis here in America.  A Jewish New York Judge, Nathan Perlman, was not happy about the Bund's growing influence in New York.  He contacted Meyer Lansky, a well known Jewish mobster, to see if he might be able to help out.  (This was discussed in a recent article in the New York Post, with much of the information likely coming from a book by Michael Benson called "Gangsters vs Nazis, How Jewish Mobsters Battled Nazis In Wartime America.")

As the story goes, Judge Perlman asked Lansky:  "You got some boys who might want to punch a Nazi?"  Lansky's reply:  "I do, Judge.  Respectfully, you understand we can do better than punch.  I know just the crew - in Brownsville.  The boys in the press call them Murder, Inc."  (Murder, Inc. was started by two Jewish mobsters - Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, with Italian mobsters later joining in.  While Lucky Luciano organized the five crime families in New York, Lansky is said to have been a key figure in aligning them with Jewish and Irish mobsters.)

Back to the story.  Judge Perlman made it clear that he did not want anyone killed, just roughed up.  At one of the Bund rallies, 3000 of these Nazis were in attendance.  Lansky intended to break it up.  He rounded up 14 other Jewish mobsters.  His friend, Lucky Luciano, is said to have offered a helping hand with Italian mobsters.  Lansky:  "It's a job for the Jews."  Now, you might think that 15 vs 3000 was not a fair fight.  It wasn't.  These were 15 mobsters, beating and killing on a regular (daily?) basis.  The Nazis (who should rot in hell) did not have a chance.

No surprise that at subsequent Bund rallies, far fewer Nazis showed up.  Judge Perlman saw the success, and extended his efforts to other cities - Chicago and Los Angeles, among others.  At one of these Bund rallies in Buffalo, one of the Jewish mobsters beat one of the Nazis bloody, and then said:  "Next time we ain't gonna be so nice."    

(A personal note is needed here.  Having grown up in NJ, and reading about the Mob in the newspaper on a regular basis, and seeing the evil that they did, I hated them.  I started to hate all bad guys.  I love the cop shows on TV, because the good guys always get the bad guys.  So, my point is not to in any way idolize these mobsters.  My point is to show that Jews are fighters.  And, I should add, as between the Nazis and the Mob, I'll take the Mob every day.)

Looking back at the World War II era, not everyone knows the story of the Jews of the Warsaw ghetto.  The Germans had occupied Poland, and were rounding up the Jews before sending them off to concentration/extermination camps.  But the Jews of the Warsaw ghetto decided to fight back.  It was a total mismatch, as the Jews were poorly armed, mostly with handguns only.  They understood that they would not likely survive in a fight against the German SS troops.  But one of the fighters wrote:  "We will continue to fight and to resist as long as we hold weapons in our hands."

It is estimated that as many as 20,000 Jews may have been killed in what came to be known as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.  With another 36,000 shipped off to the camps.  But, as with many Jews throughout our history, they refused to go down without a fight.

Year End Reflections, Part IV (A Look Ahead)

With only one year into Trump's second term, people are already talking about 2028.  Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, seems to be the early frontrunner for the Democrats.  The issue of the day is "affordability."  That being the case, how can Newsom, the Governor of the least affordable state, be the frontrunner?  Well, as one friend said, he does have a nice head of hair.

Keep in mind that Newsom has been Governor since January, 2017.  The Democrats have had super-majorities in both houses of the state legislature since 2012.  How have they done?  Housing?  California's housing costs average double that of the rest of the nation.  It's not just AI that says that.  The California Legislative Analyst's Office says so.  AI has the difference of $800,000-$900,000 in California compared to $370,000-$400,000 in the rest of the country.  No, it's not just demand.  It's building codes and development fees.

Gas?  Every time I talk with one of my friends back east they laugh at how high our prices are in California.  Average $4.50 a gallon versus $3.00 a gallon in the rest of the country.  But with so much farmland in California, surely our grocery costs are lower.  Right?  Nope.  We spend an average of $298 a week compared to $270 a week elsewhere.  

Taxes?  If you like paying high taxes then you cannot do better than living in California.  Highest state income tax.  Highest sales tax.  Highest gas tax.  But, notwithstanding all these negatives, Newsom has done a great job in keeping businesses in California, right?  Nope.  McKesson Corp. moved their headquarters in 2019 to...wait for it...Texas.  Chevron moved in 2024 to...Texas.  Tesla moved in 2021 to...Texas.  Oracle moved in 2020 to Texas, but then moved again to Tennessee.  CBRE (Coldwell Banker Real Estate) moved in 2020 to...yep, Texas.  

Charles Schwab moved in 2019 to Texas.  Schwab, stating the obvious, said:  "The costs of doing business here (in California) are so much higher than some other places."  Hewlett Packard moved in 2020 to Texas, while maintaining a San Jose location.  Software company Palantir moved in 2020 to Colorado.  SpaceX moved their headquarters in 2024 Texas, although they still have their Hawthorne facility.  Musk expressed his disappointment over the "woke" laws in California.  And Neutrogena moved in 2024 to New Jersey.  California's high unemployment rate?  Pshhh - strictly coincidental.  Nothing to do with businesses leaving and the high minimum wage.  

What happened to our oil industry?  Too many regulations.  A switch to renewable energy.  Without  a regular supply of oil to power our military establishment, California's policies create a risk to our national security.  Phillips 66 and Valero will both be closing their refineries.  What about our forestry/timber industry?  Again, we've had less logging and more environmental regulations.  Some claim that the result is greater density in our forest areas, resulting in fires of greater intensity.  

It's fairly well known that Florida and Texas have been gaining population, while California is losing population.  The question is, are high earners taking that income with them and moving elsewhere?  Yes they are.  With millions on Medi-Cal (the states version of Medicaid) and millions, generally low earners, who have come in illegally, is it any surprise that we have the third highest debt.  Notwithstanding the highest taxes on almost everything.  Where is all that tax money going?  That is a subject for another post.

Year End Reflections, Part III (Do We Now Celebrate Murder?)

Following the murder of Charlie Kirk, a local teacher wrote on her personal social media this post:  "Sorry, not sorry.  Karma is a bitch.  Real Christians, real people of faith, would never support this fake Christian who was so un-Christ-like and full of hatred for people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and women."  The school district then suspended her; but after two months she was reinstated.  The local paper then published an editorial supporting the teacher's right to expression with this headline:  "Free speech for all:  even the voices we dislike."  

It did not appear that the teacher thought much of Charlie Kirk's right to free speech.  Nor was she accurate in her assertions that Kirk hated so many people.  I wrote a letter to the editor, which they did not publish.  Most of the letters they did publish were simply supportive of the teacher.  One letter writer, however, agreed with me.  First, my take, in pertinent part:

"All three of our children attended school in (the district where Mrs. McKagan teaches).  As such, we came to know Mr. (also a teacher) and Mrs. McKagan.  You argued that Rachel McKagan 'criticized a public figure's political behavior and moral character,' when criticizing Charlie Kirk.  As an attorney, and a defender of the First Amendment, I am not disputing your point.

However, I believe the editorial misses a much larger societal point.  When McKagan says about Kirk's murder:  'Sorry, not sorry.  Karma is a bitch,' then she has lost her moral compass.  Disagreeing is one thing.  Celebrating a murder is quite another.  Was there not a time in our country when it was universally understood that murder was bad.  Murder was evil.  Murder was a violation of law and the 10 Commandments.  Was there also not a time when we understood that we have the right to disagree with one another?  That's what America was all about.  

It was not very long ago that Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare, was shot dead in the back in New York City.  Yet the accused now has somewhat of a following, because who hasn't had a problem with insurance companies.

But is this what we want?  If I disagree with you, and you get murdered, I should celebrate?  Juries should no longer convict murderers if they agree with the perpetrator's political philosophy?  Is that how we are to now understand 'justice?'  Because the alternative seems to be that we are headed for anarchy."

While my letter was not published, a letter by a clinical psychologist with a similar take was published.  That writer took exception to the editorial concluding that McKagan's words did not qualify as "hate speech."  Then he made this point:  "This kind of violent rhetoric effectively shuts down the open exchange of ideas.  Students with opposing views may be afraid to speak up, ask questions, or participate fully in class discussions for fear of judgment or retaliation.  Such inflammatory language destroys the teacher's ability to be viewed as a neutral and fair educator, especially on controversial subjects.  Again, if your teacher effectively wants you dead, this might be a tad intimidating."  

I would ask Mrs. McKagan this question:  "You referred to Charlie Kirk as a 'fake' Christian.  I am not a Christian.  But do you believe 'real Christians, real people of faith,' should be celebrating a cold-blooded murder?"

Year End Reflections, Part II (This Is A Deal?)

I cannot understand the proposed Russia-Ukraine peace proposal put forth by Trump and the Russians.  My initial reactions - if this is not a joke, then it's insane.  Some background.  Ukraine had possessed some nuclear weapons as part of the Soviet Union.  Following the breakup of the USSR, these now independent countries, such as Ukraine, agreed to give up the nukes that were held on their soil.  

So, in 1994, Ukraine signed onto the Budapest Memorandum, agreeing to give up its nukes and agreeing to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.  In exchange, Ukraine was given "security guarantees" by the US, the UK and Russia.  Of course, we know that "agreements" made by dictators are nothing more than worthless promises.  As such, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and seized the Crimea.  Who provided the security guarantee to Ukraine at that time?  No one.  Not the USA.  Not the UK.  

Now, we are told that after 4 years of fighting, during which the "mighty" Russian army has been unable to defeat Ukraine, the Ukrainians must give up much of their territory.  Forego the Crimea.  Forego even parts of the Donbas that Russia has yet to conquer.  Give up other territories as well.  Ukraine must reduce the size of its army by one half.  And Ukraine must agree, and NATO must agree, that Ukraine shall never be a member of NATO.  What does Ukraine get?

Ukraine gets "reliable security guarantees."  Right.  Just like before.  Anybody believe that when Russia attacks again (not if but when) the US will send soldiers to Ukraine to fight the Russians?  Not a chance.  And the Europeans?  This is in their backyard.  Pretty much consistently worthless.  As the conservative New York Post opined:  "Kyiv could demand the ouster of Putin's regime and it would still be less one-sided than this nonsense."  

An Op-Ed by one writer really resonated with me.  "In Munich in 1938, the UK and France likewise pressured Czechoslovakia into giving up the mountainous region of Sudetenland, together with its advanced system of fortifications, which had made a previous invasion by Nazi Germany impracticable.  Less than seven months later, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist."

Putin has repeatedly and openly said that the end of the Soviet Union was the biggest tragedy of the 20th century.  He has repeatedly said that he seeks a return to the old Soviet Union.  If Ukraine falls, who's next?  If next up are NATO members on the Baltic Sea, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who will come to their defense?  Whatever treaty commitments there are as a member of NATO (an attack on one shall be treated as an attack on all), I do not see any NATO countries coming to their defense.  Definitely not the US.

What's the alternative?  Let the fighting continue?  Trump says he wants to end the killing.  But Russia started this war.  Russia has no problem targeting civilians and even children.  So that's where the pressure should be - all on Russia.  (The fact that the Ukrainian government has issues regarding corruption is irrelevant to this fight, and to the right of the Ukrainian people to self-determination.)  Greater sanctions on Russia are needed.  Provide more offensive weapons to Ukraine.  Or, be like Neville Chamberlain, and believe that appeasement results in "peace for our time."  Because it doesn't.  Peace through strength is the only sure path to peace.  Like George Washington said.  Like Ronald Reagan said.  Like I thought Trump believed.

Teddy Roosevelt had it right:  "Peace is generally good in itself, but it is never the highest good unless it comes as the handmaid of righteousness; and it becomes a very evil thing if it serves merely as a mask for cowardice and sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy."   

Year End Reflections, Part I (What's In The News)

(I know.  I usually start these Year End Reflections in December.  But it's been 3 weeks since my last posts - busy trying to retire and being sick - and there is so much to cover, that I thought I'd cover a lot this way.)

It was rather shocking to see six members of Congress (two Senators and four House members) in an ad telling our military and intelligence community that they need to disobey illegal orders.  In the ad they say:  "stand up for our laws," and "refuse unlawful orders."  They finish with "you can refuse illegal orders," and "you must refuse illegal orders."  While it's true about not following illegal orders, it's also clear that this ad was intended to undermine any orders given by the current Commander in Chief.  

As Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo) said:  "At the end of the day, they're mad the American people chose Trump and now they're calling on the Military and Intelligence Community to intervene.  Sounds a little subversive to democracy-ish."  Sounds a lot subversive to me.  Participating in the ad were the following two Senators:  Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).  The four House members were:  Chris DeGuzio (D-Pa), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa) and Jason Crow (D-CO).  

There was an interesting news item reported by ABC.  The average cost of a McDonald's menu item jumped 40% from 2019 to 2024.  A friend and I have both noticed this, as we occassionally go to McDonald's.  It is fairly easy to spend 10 dollars or more there.  I suspect some of the price increase was a result of the pandemic.  But whatever the cause, it is clearly just one example of the affordability issue now being discussed by both sides of the political spectrum.  And anyone who dines out has undoubtedly noticed the jump in prices (except at In 'N Out).  Jackie Mason used to joke about how you could order a fancy coffee at Starbucks, and then be told it was 9 bucks!  We're not that far away.   

A lot of news items surprise me, although I suppose nothing should surprise me anymore.  The Palestinian flag was recently raised outside the Toronto City Hall.  Apparently, the idea was to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, which occurred on November 15, 1988.  You know what else was happening at that time in Israel?  The first intifada, when Palestinians were killing and injuring Israelis.  As usual, the Palestinians did not hesitate in attacking civilians.  Sad to say that other cities in Canada also raised the Palestinian flag.  Calgary.  Winnipeg.  Brampton.  I guess it should not be surprising as Canadian PM Mark Carney recently joined the UK and France and others in recognizing a Palestinian state.  As previously discussed in this blog, the West has lost its way.

Meanwhile, Fox reported that in 2025 to date, over 7000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria,  That number soars to 125,000 killed since 2009.  Where is the world outcry over the murders of these black Christians?  Where indeed.  As a Jew I know, as many Jews know, "no Jews, no news."  These Nigerian Christians are being slaughtered by radical Muslim terrorist groups.  Muslims killing Christians.  No Jews involved.  So no news.  Fox also reported that over 19,000 churches in Nigeria have been burned down since 2009.

I saw a post by someone on LinkedIn that said Lebanon used to be a Christian country, Pakistan was Hindu and Afghanistan was Buddhist.  Now they are all Islamic.  Then the post referred to the "Path of Islam":  1.  Establish a mosque, 2.  Create an enclave, 3.  Grow the population, 4.  Claim victimhood, 5.  Resist host authorities and customs, 6.  Exploit lawfare, 7.  Institute Shariah law, 8.  Secede, 9.  Take control.  LET ME CLEAR ONCE AGAIN - I do not believe that every Muslim agrees with the above.  I do not believe that every Muslim in America is disloyal to America.  That should be obvious to everyone.  But I do believe that Islam today has a problem with a substantial radical, terrorist element.  And I also believe what Dennis Prager (quoting Viktor Frankl) has frequently said:  there are only two groups of people in the world, the decent and the indecent.   

I saw a disturbing story in the Jerusalem Post about about a group called "The Punishment for Justice Movement."  Apparently, they have a website that targets Israeli academics.  The "rewards" are as follows:  $1000 for posting notices on the targets' homes, $5000 for information on the targets, $20,000 for committing arson on the targets' homes or vehicles, $50,000 for the murder of a target, and $100,000 for the murder of a "special" target.  

According to JPost, "The group lists the alleged home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media accounts, and even identification numbers of hundreds of academics from Ben Gurion University of the Negev, the Technion, Weizmann Institute, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Harvard University, Oxford University, and the European Organization for Nuclear Research."  These academics are to be targeted anywhere in the world, even when living in the USA.    

Dissension on the Right, Conclusion

There were other conservatives who criticized Fuentes and Carlson and Roberts.  I am not going to repeat all their comments here.  Rather, I want to end this three part post with a few personal words.  I start my day with saying the "Modeh Ani" prayer.  It is a prayer that I say in Hebrew, although I do then repeat it in English.  Here is the prayer:  "I gratefully thank You, O living and eternal King, for You have returned my soul within me with compassion - abundant is your faithfulness."  Amen.    

I then say what is considered to be the most important prayer in Judaism, the "She'ma."  I say it twice a day, in the morning after the Modeh Ani, and at bedtime.  Here it is:  "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is one (or the only one)."  The second verse is as follows:  "Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity."  Amen.  Yes, I say the She'ma in Hebrew, and then I repeat it in English.  Just my habit.  

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove is the Rabbi at the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City.  In terms of religious affiliation, it is considered to be a conservative shul (synagogue).  While there are some Jews supporting NYC mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani (honestly, I can't believe it), Rabbi Cosgrove eloquently stated where he stands:  "I believe Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community."

He continued:  "Mamdani's refusal to condemn inciteful slogans like 'globalize the intifada,' his denial of Israel's legitimacy as a Jewish state, his call to arrest Israel's Prime Minister should he enter New York, and his thrice-repeated accusation of genocide in Thursday's debate - for these and so many other statements, past, present, and unrepentent - he is a danger to the Jewish body politic of New York."

And, hopefully this next paragraph of the Rabbi's clarifies things for my non-Jewish friends and readers:  "Zionism, Israel, Jewish self-determination - these are not political preferences or partisan talking points,  They are constituent building blocks and inseparable strands of my Jewish identity.  To accept me as a Jew, but to ask me to check my concern for the people and State of Israel at the door is as nonsensical a proposition as it is offensive - no different than asking me to reject G-d, Torah, mitzvot, or any other pillar of my faith."

My dear readers, our country is at a crossroads.  All of us individually are at a crossroads.  For us conservatives, do we stand against the likes of Carlson, Owens, Bannon and now, unfortunately, even the head of the Heritage Foundation, Roberts?  Roberts, who refused to criticize Carlson for not standing up to the hateful and antisemitic comments of Fuentes.  Or, do we let these individuals tear the conservative movement apart?  

For my fellow Jews, I want to give you a quote from one of my Chabad Rabbis, Rabbi Moshe Bryski:  "Never again is now.  Never again is not an easy oath to make.  It's not going to be simple - you're (not just) going to register your protest and sign a petition.  It would mean sacrifice.  It would mean courage.  It would mean standing up to the world.  It would mean not being intimidated by the world."  Are you up to the challenge?  

For conservative Jews, it means refusing to tolerate antisemitism and Jew hatred just because it comes from "our side."  It means being willing to condemn the likes of Fuentes, Carlson and the rest.  It means refusing to support them just because they are pro-Trump.  For liberal Jews, it is past time for you to condemn the likes of Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders - and not support them just because they are anti-Trump.

How we react, what we do and say, may well determine the future of this great country.