DENK-SCHRIFT

Thought Pieces on American Jewish – German Relations

Web: www.dubowdigest.typepad.com
E-mail: dubowdigest@optonline.net

This is a copy of the March 16, 2009 DuBow Digest Newsletter (German
Edition)

PURIM
I’m starting off this edition of DuBow Digest with a little lesson in Jewish history
and religion. I feel that part of my mission is to keep you advised about important
events in American Jewish life. Most of what you will find usually has some
relevance to Germany. However, I think you will better understand it all if you
have enhanced background about non-German events that have great meaning
to the Jewish people. The holiday of Purim is such a happening. So, I’m starting
off with a brief explanation.

By the time you receive this edition of DuBow Digest the Jewish holiday of Purim
will just have passed (Sorry!). It is a happy holiday because the outcome of what
it celebrates was positive. The joyousness emanates from the fact that in biblical
times the Jewish population of Persia (now Iran) was saved from extermination
by a heroic act. That they were in danger of such a fate should not be forgotten -
which it frequently is. The fact that it almost happened again many centuries later
with more dire results, in my opinion, removes some of the joy from the
celebration. Add to it that, the fact that the current president of Iran has called for
destruction of the world’s only Jewish State also takes a little shine off a holiday
that Jewish children around the world love. Maybe I’m too serious. So, on with
the explanation of what the holiday is all about. What follows is from the Jewish
Virtual library.

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It
commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from
extermination.

The story of Purim is told in the Biblical Book of Esther. The heroes of the story
are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin
Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the
house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem, and he loved
her more than his other women and made her queen. But the king did not know
that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her nationality.
The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king.
Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, so
Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. In a speech that is all too familiar to
Jews, Haman told the king, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and
dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws
are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king's laws;
therefore it does not profit the king to suffer them.” Esther 3:8. The king gave the
fate of the Jewish people to Haman, to do as he pleased to them. Haman
planned to exterminate all of the Jews.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people.
This was a dangerous thing for Esther to do, because anyone who came into the
king's presence without being summoned could be put to death, and she had not
been summoned. Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, then went into
the king. He welcomed her. Later, she told him of Haman's plot against her
people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman was hanged on the gallows
that had been prepared for Mordecai.

The book of Esther is unusual in that it is the only book of the bible that does not
contain the name of G-d. In fact, it includes virtually no reference to G-d.
Mordecai makes a vague reference to the fact that the Jews will be saved by
someone else, if not by Esther, but that it the closest the book comes to
mentioning G-d. Thus, one important message that can be gained from the story
is that G-d often works in ways that are not apparent, in ways that appear to be
chance, coincidence or ordinary good luck.

The word “Purim” means “lots” and refers to the lottery that Haman used to
choose the date for the massacre. The primary commandment related to Purim is
to hear the reading of the book of Esther. The book of Esther is commonly known
as the Megillah, which means scroll. Although there are five books of Jewish
scripture that are properly referred to as Megillahs (Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes,
Song of Songs, and Lamentations), this is the one people usually mean when the
speak of The Megillah. It is customary to boo, hiss, stamp feet and rattle gragers
(noisemakers; see illustration) whenever the name of Haman is mentioned in the
service. The purpose of this custom is to “blot out the name of Haman.”

Jews are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. According to the Talmud, a
person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between “cursed be
Haman” and “blessed be Mordecai,” though opinions differ as to exactly how
drunk that is.

In addition, we are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to

make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as
shalach manos (lit. sending out portions). Among Ashkenazic Jews, a
common treat at this time of year is hamentaschen (lit. Haman's pockets).
These triangular fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman's
three-cornered hat. It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on
Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests.

Again, sorry about not getting this to you ealier. You'll be able to enjoy it
next year.

VENEZUELA
You will recall that last month I wrote about the upsurge of anti-Semitism in
Venezuela. I wrote, “The AP reported earlier this month that the Venezuelan
Jewish community fears more anti-Semitic attacks as the president, Hugo
Chavez, strengthens his campaign against Israel. Since the campaign started
some Venezuelans have taken to threatening Jews in the streets and vandalizing
the Caracas synagogue, where they also stole a private database of names and
addresses.

It became the considered judgment of the American Jewish Committee that a

national delegation of AJC leaders should visit the country to impress upon
President Chavez that what was going on there was not, in any way, under the
radar of the American Jewish community. So, an AJC leadership delegation
completed a two-day solidarity mission to Caracas a little more than a week ago.

In a press release, AJC said, “The visit expressed support for the Venezuelan
Jewish community, following recent attacks on two synagogues. These attacks
on Jewish houses of worship came amid rising anti-Semitism in the Venezuelan
media, and a growing climate of intimidation fostered by the Chavez government.

“Venezuela’s Jewish community has firm roots with a rich history,” said Dina
Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Latino and Latin American Institute. “The current
climate of insecurity is untenable, and we will continue to seek an end to this
outrageous campaign of hostility against the Jewish population.”

The Confederación de Asociaciones Israelitas de Venezuela (CAIV), the Jewish

community’s umbrella organization, hosted the AJC visit, which included a dinner
with 100 leaders of the Jewish community. While in Caracas, the AJC delegation
met privately with the ambassadors of Brazil, France, the Czech Republic, which
holds the EU Presidency, and Canada, which represents Israeli interests since
the Chavez government broke relations with Israel. The delegation also visited
with officials at the U.S. Embassy.

“We are confident that countries around the world with representatives in
Caracas understand the dangerous game the Chavez government has been
playing by intimidating the Jewish community,” said Siegel Vann. “AJC, founded
in 1906 to assure the security of Jews worldwide, will not tolerate the harassment
of Venezuela’s Jews.”

During their visit, the AJC delegation learned that a government subsidized
orchestra which was to play at a production of Fiddler on the Roof decided to
back out because of the Jewish content of the play. “From vandalism of the
synagogue to Fiddler on the Roof, we are witnessing a climate of hostility and
intolerance in a country that used to be a model of inclusion and mutual respect,”
said Siegel Vann.

A very troubling situation!

NEW ISRAELI GOVERNMENT

American Jews do not have a “say” in elections in Israel. Obviously, we’re not
Israelis and we do not get a vote. However, again obviously, there are many of us
who are deeply interested. When an incoming government is “narrow” and further
to the right than its predecessor – and has to deal with an American government
that is further to the left – we have a lot of questions and lots of anxieties. When
the incoming Foreign Minister, as Gary Rosenblatt, the editor and publisher of the
normally conservative Jewish Week has written, “With the expected designation
of Avigdor Lieberman as Israel’s next foreign minister in a narrow, right-wing
coalition led by Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, the stage seems set for a political
collision course between Jerusalem and the rest of the world, including the U.S.

Indeed, giving Israel’s most important diplomatic post to a man reviled in much of
the world as a racist for his calls for a loyalty oath from Israeli Arabs, who he
views as a fifth column, seems like a willful move toward confrontation. And it
couldn’t come at a worse time, when reports suggest that Iran could develop a
nuclear bomb by the end of this year and Israel’s window to take military action
against Tehran has passed, placing more reliance than ever on working with
Washington to avoid an unspeakable disaster.

Mr. Rosenblatt concludes his piece saying, “There are no easy answers, but in
the meantime, the clock is ticking, and the incoming Netanyahu government will
need to find ways to work with Washington, not give the administration an
excuse to keep its distance from an increasingly marginalized Jerusalem.

I want to encourage you all to read the full article. It is replete with very
interesting and thoughtful information – and supositions. It will give you some
insights into where the Israel – U.S. and Israel – rest of the world relations might
be heading. You can read it by clicking:
http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c52_a15172/Editorial__Opinion/Gary_
Rosenblatt.html

Another facet of the Middle East problem relates to the discussions now going on
in Cairo between Hamas & Fatah. There are, as the Jewish Week reports,
“Hamas-Fatah talks now underway in Cairo (which) could set the stage for a
Palestinian unity government — and trigger confrontations with both a U.S.
administration that has refused to talk to Hamas until it changes its character and
with an incoming Israeli prime minister who has vowed to destroy it.
A late report indicates that that the meeting has fallen apart because Hamas has
refused to honor all the past agreements that Fatah has made with Israel. Who
knows if the Palestinians will ever get their act together? So far they haven't. I
think it's easy to see that if there is no unity there can not be any agreements.
Read the story:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1236764183436&pagenam
e=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

I can rarely remember a time when so much was so fluid and so filled with so
many possibilities. It is really impossible to see where it will all come out. One
can only hope that no element or government will be pushed to seek extreme
measures. I am a great believer that problems always provide opportunities for
creative solutions. Let’s hope the leaders feel the same way.

O MOON OF ALABAMA
How many of you remember the Kurt Weill song Oh Moon of Alabama sung so
beautifully by Lotte Lenya? It goes on after the introductory phrase to say, "We
now must say goodbye". Well, the Jewish community of Dothan, Alabama wants
to turn that around and say “hello” - to Jews who wish to move there. In fact, the
first people have moved under a program offering Jewish families as much as
$50,000 to relocate and get involved with the city's only synagogue.

A family that's been part of the congregation for decades funded the $1 million
resettlement program and launched it last year, fearing the reform congregation
of the Temple Emanu-El synagogue would dwindle and die without an infusion of
new blood. About 400 families have since applied for the relocation project, and
60 of those were qualified after initial screening. Finalists go through a vetting
process that includes written references - including one from their rabbi - home
visits, checks for criminal and financial problems, and interviews.

Small Jewish communities all over the U.S. have trouble maintaining themselves.
Luckily, Dothan has a good hearted donor who wants to see his Jewish
community grow rather than die. I congratulate the donor and the community. If
you have a problem – do something about it!

Interestingly (at least to me), when Lotte Lenya and Kurt Weill (picture left) lived
in the U.S. it was in the hamlet (very small community) of New City, NY. In
Rockland County – where I now live. Ms. Lenya is buried in Haverstraw, NY not
10 minutes from South Nyack. I actually once saw her in concert. She was quite
old at the time but that didn’t make any difference. She had great presence and
filled the hall which, if I remember correctly, was Carnegie Hall.

HOLOCAUST DENIER WILLIAMSON

The whole sordid mess about the Pope's welcoming back into the fold Bishop
Richard Williamson, a known Holocaust denier, has caused a dramatic upheaval
in the Vatican. How about the infallible Pope making a mistake and openly
admitting it? It happened!

Der Spiegel reports that "Benedict XVI has shattered this principle with a letter
dated March 10, addressed to his "dear brethren in the Episcopal ministry." He
mentions a "mishap which I sincerely regret." And he mentions the
consequences -- a reorganization of decision-making bodies that will end the
career of a powerful cardinal." Obviously, the whole mess was embarrassing to
the Pope and a head or two had to roll.

However, Williamson has not recanted his Holocaust denials and he is still back
in the Church - if not in its good graces. I would have liked to see him re-
excommunicated; however, I understand that you can't win 'em all!

Read the whole story: Click or paste:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,612860,00.html

JEWS, THE BUDGET & TAX DEDUCTIBILITY

American Jewish organizations and all other non-profit agencies
throughout the United States rely on the deductibility provisions of
the U.S. Tax Code to encourage the citizenry to contribute
generously to their support. The Forward reports that “In the short
time that Barack Obama has served as America’s president, the
organized Jewish community has been one of the young
administration’s most solid bases of support for its liberal political agenda. But
now, many of the major Jewish organizations are taking issue with a proposal
that they fear will strike at their very lifeblood — charitable donations.

The proposal, which would go into effect in 2011, is expected to generate an

additional $317 billion in revenue over 10 years, and is a key part of the
administration’s plan to set aside $634 billion to cover health care costs. The
plan has left many Jewish groups walking a fine line between supporting the
administration’s overall budget proposal and attempting to push back on the
charity provision.

“We’re very concerned by this proposal,” said Richard Foltin, legislative affairs
director of the American Jewish Committee. “We recognize the worthy effort that
this change would be intended to finance; addressing reforms in this country’s
health care system, but the impact on nonprofits could be nothing short of
devastating in these very uncertain times.”
The Obama administration’s proposal is to let the Bush administration’s upper
income tax credits expire in 2011, which would raise the top two tax brackets,
now 33% and 35%, to their Bill Clinton-era levels of 36% and 39.6%. At the same
time, taxpayers in those two brackets would be allowed to deduct donations (and
to make other deductions) at the rate of 28%. Currently, donors can deduct their
donations at the full tax rate of 33% or 35%, depending on their income.

There is widespread (though not universal) agreement in the not-for-profit world

that the combination of higher taxes and a lower deduction rate will reduce the
number of dollars going to charities.

No one thinks that this matter will break out into an open conflict. There are quiet
negotiations going on presently and, I’m sure, more will follow. And, besides, the
Congress also will have major input into the final outcome and the entire non-
profit industry has a lot of “muscle” in our country. I have the feeling that this is
one we’ll win.

By the way, if you’re interested, back in 2006 (the latest statistics I could find)
charitable giving by individuals, corporations, in bequests and by Foundations
came close to $300 billion dollars. It was probably up in 2007 and perhaps down
in 2008. No matter what, non-profits are very important in the U.S. scheme of
things.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

It's not of great importance but you might have noticed that the masthead of
DuBow Digest is less colorful than it was. I was unhappy with the
previous "masthead of many colors". DD is not trying to sell anything (except
maybe a few thoughts) and much of what appears is serious stuff. So we've
toned it down a little which I think is in keeping with what I'm trying to convey.
Like I said, it's not terribly important but if you noticed it, that's the reason for the
change.

I was interested to read that a CDU member of the Bundestag, Kristina Koehler
called for Germany to boycott the Dafur II conference. Let's see what sort of
support her position will get (I hope a lot).

At the last minute I came across a very interesting article in the Forward written
by its editor J.J. Goldberg. It deals with the dramatic major shifts in American
foreign policy so far taken vis a vis the Middle East under Pres. Obama. David
Harris’ analysis, an important part of the article is very interesting and you will do
yourself a genuine favor by clicking on the article and reading it carefully.
http://forward.com/articles/103849/