ON GUARD Rally – by Jamie Glazov
Frontpage Interview's guest today is Tom Trento, Director of the Florida Security Council.
FP: Tom Trento, welcome to Frontpage Interview. I want to talk to you today about the rally your group is coordinating for Dec 30.
But first, let me ask you this. Last year, on Dec 30, 2008, you videotaped a pro-Hamas demonstration in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In days, the You Tube video, went "viral," around the world. What happened?
Trento: My video camera, not unlike a microscope in a laboratory, discovered a "virus" of such lethality, on the streets of Fort Lauderdale, that it makes the bubonic plague look like a runny nose.
The frightening problem is that we have no cure, for the infectious growth of the Arab Street here on the streets of America. Here is what happened:
On December 30, 2008, a protest was planned by HAMAS and Hezbollah supporters against the United States and Israel, because Israel was prosecuting the Gaza War, in an effort to stop the daily rocket attacks by the Palestinians. A counter demonstration, by Jews, Christians and secular Americans took place directly across from the HAMAS demonstration.
I decided to go across to the Palestinian side and videotape the Muslims, up close and personal. Boy, what a decision that turned out to be for the counter-jihad movement. I was in the middle of 300 of the most hateful, angry, venomous people I have ever been around, as they yelled insult after curse, after unimaginable comment at the Jews in particular.
When a Muslim women in full hajib, yelled with a distorted, somewhat demonic voice, "Jews go back in the oven," I knew I had the making of a powerful story. Right after a call to prayer by the Imam, the hate-filled crowd got up and started marching, in a threatening manner toward 25 Jewish and Christian counter protestors, most of whom were elderly or young. But not for the brave Fort Lauderdale police, the Muslim crowd would have hurt many innocent people. Once I got home and saw all of this on my tape, I knew I had to get this unbelievable message out to America.
FP: How exactly did this short video change your life?
Trento: I finished the editing of the video around midnight and put it up on You Tube. Early next morning, over seven thousand people had watched the 10 minute revelation of the angry, Arab Street. Then, for many days, over 30,000 people a day people watched the video and the emails and phone calls starting coming in to my office. I received over 5000 personal comments and scores of calls from news agencies all over the world, who wanted to play various parts of the video. It has even been used in several documentaries about anti-Semitism, terrorism and the decline of America. Literally, millions of people worldwide have experienced, through the video, the emotions of being right there in the middle of this very dangerous gathering.
Less than one week after the Fort Lauderdale demonstration, I was at a similar rally in Miami and when I walked over to the Palestinian side – immediately, an angry group of six Muslim men came up to me in a threatening manner and started yelling at me, telling me that I made Muslims look bad in my video and that I better put my camera down. My response was simple, direct and forceful. I said get back, don't start trouble, you are in America now and I'm going to take more pictures of whatever you do and say so get out of my way. Then I told them that I didn't make them look bad, all I did was hold a camera and capture what they truly are, hateful Muslim men who want to destroy Israel, it's really that simple.
Unlike in Fort Lauderdale, where the police held back the violence, over a dozen Muslims and one Jewish man were arrested as fight after fight broke out in Miami. The Arab Street lives. My video has underscored the valuable role that advocacy video can play in the education of America about the clash of the civilized West against the barbaric mentality of the venomous Arab Street. I am dedicated to producing more videos that take the fight to the bad guys.
FP: Tell us a bit more about the Arab Street and how active it is in America.
Trento: A simple definition for the concept, Arab Street, is "an out of control Arab gang intent on change through force, terror, destruction and…even death, when necessary."
Basically, it is how many Middle East countries operate on a daily basis. Due to this cultural conditioning, when Muslim Arabs men come to America and run into the freedoms we enjoy, like videotaping people yelling for Jews to go back into the ovens, these Muslims believe that their collective power, as a gang, will intimidate their opponents, causing such fear that the Muslims will get their way, thus exerting their Islamic supremacy.
Sadly, this sociological tactic has become an effective methodology for terrorizing more and more Americas, just like the Arab Street is doing in places like, Paris and London.
Sadly, the Obama Administration's concerted effort to appease the "Muslim World," has only provided political fuel for igniting this Muslim hatred in American streets, as we approach some very deadly and dangerous days ahead.
FP: So why are you and others gathering in the same place, on the same date, one year later?
Trento: Recently I was approached by several organizations who wanted to "commemorate" the video that I shot, so that America will not ignore the Muslim hatred that is boiling just under our cultural surface. I thought it was important and agreed to participate and help promote the ON GUARD Rally. Our message is simple – We stand ON GUARD for America, for Israel, for Freedom…come stand with us.
The Rally is on December 30, from 3 – 7pm, at the exact location in Fort Lauderdale where I filmed it last year.
FP: Who should attend and why?
Trento: All patriotic Americans who want to GUARD America, Israel and Freedom should join with us and let your voices be heard.
This Rally, unlike last year, is being organized with the full cooperation and assistance of the Fort Lauderdale Police department and several joint anti-terrorism law enforcement organizations.
Participants will have no reason to fear the Arab Street, in fact it is freedom loving Americans who strike fear in the hearts of sharia loving hate-filled Muslims.
Join with us! We have a excellent group of speakers including; Joe Kaufman, Bob Knust, Charles Jacobs, May Long, Alan Bergstein, Joyce Kaufman and I may even say a word or two (or three)!
FP: Your thoughts on what will happen in 2010?
Trento: Regrettably, I do not have very good thoughts for 2010. When Israel attacks and destroys Iran's nuclear facilities, which it must do for the sake of the free world, the Arab Street will erupt, globally. As my video demonstrated, angry Muslim men will not be able to control themselves, when Islamic leaders – calling for jihad against all Jews, Christians, Americans and Europeans – incite these ticking time bombs to strike back, hard.
In various parts of America, the Arab Street will explode with violence, destruction and death. At that point many Americans will have had enough of this "Muslim craziness" and they too will fight back to stop this out of control situation. Then the whole world will be looking to President Obama, to see if he stands with Israel, or condemns Israel, as the rest of the world will do.
If he stands with Israel, the Islamic world will feel betrayed by the one they consider their own and even more death and destruction will follow. If President Obama stands with the Islamic world against Israel, that will be read by Islamic scholars (who are quite good at political manipulation) as the will of Allah, blessing their call for a worldwide jihad, which will further fuel the destructive desire of those angry men, who found themselves in the lens of my camera, one short year ago.
America and Israel are at a crossroads in 2010. Happy New Year everyone. I hope I'm wrong, but you know I'm right.
FP: Tom Trento, thank you for joining us.
For rally details, click here.
To see the Hamas video, click here.
http://frontpagemag.com/2009/12/28/on-guard-rally-by-jamie-glazov/
Friday, December 30, 2011
Pro Palestinian Mob shouts “JEWS – BACK IN THE OVENS!” Three Year Anniversary – “Explosive Video”
(this is the video you heard about and now MUST see!)
THREE YEARS AGO…
(December 30, 2008 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
“NUKE…NUKE…ISRAEL”
“JEWS…back in the OVENS!”
TOM TRENTO
I WAS THERE….
I WAS THERE….Three years ago today, December 30, 2008, I attended a Pro-Israel Rally along with Allen West (before he was a Congressman) and about 30 other Christians and Jews, most of whom were in their 70′s or older.
Directly across the street was a Pro-HAMAS Rally with 300 Jew-hating,
Christian-hating shariah-compliant Muslims, with an average age of about 25.
I decided to walk over to the Muslim side – CLOSE UP – and video-tape some of the most vile, angry, horrific, hateful displays of humanity I have ever seen…coming from those who proclaim to be a “religion of peace.”
This explosive video story has made its way around the world and on news outlets in many countries as it exposed the “Arab Jihad,” in the tony resort town of Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Sadly and to a large part due to this current Administration’s disdain toward Israel, Jewish people are worse off today, worldwide, then they were three years ago when I shot this video.
≈ ≈ ≈
WATCH THIS VIDEO AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK
Are Jews more likely to be “thrown back in the ovens” or “nuked” today?
Commentary below by Alan Kornman
The psychology of mob behavior lowers the inhibitions of the participants as the emotional frenzy escalates into a crescendo of whatever lies in the heart of the mob. Three years ago Tom Trento entered a Pro Hamas Anti Israel mob, at great personal risk, to document what lies in the heart of the Pro Palestinian movement for the world to see, feel, and become a witness.
As the late afternoon became dark and the Muslims finished evening prayers, the emotional frenzy of the Palestinian supporters became increasingly agitated and violent towards the supporters of Israel who were both Christians and Jews.
Law enforcement was their to hold back the Pro Palestinian mob as they tried to rush the Pro Israel supporters and inflict bodily harm. Contemplate the evil epithets, caught on film, towards the supporters of Israel. More importantly, contemplate the silence from Islamic advocacy groups like the Islamic Society of North America and the Council on American Islamic relations. In the codified Islamic text of Bukhari Muhammad is quoted as saying “Silence Is Consent”. In this vile display of human behavior towards a peaceful Pro Israel crowd groups like CAIR, ISNA, and The Muslim Brotherhood groups were silent before, during, and after a Pro Palestinian woman called for the Jews to go back to the ovens, in moment of honesty. Their silence is consent!
Let these thoughts weigh on you as you watch this powerful footage again and again. Which side of human nature do you exhibit when you think no one is watching?
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Holiday Cheer from Presbyterian Peacemakers on Christmas Eve
The Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA is an organization created by the PC(USA)'s 2004 General Assembly to educate Presbyterians about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Under the cover of this mission, the IPMN traffics in anti-Zionist and in some instances, anti-Semitic, propaganda which it broadcasts not only to members of the PC(USA), but to the general public.
This propaganda can be regularly seen on IPMN's Facebook page. One example of this type of propaganda can be seen in the cartoon posted above. The cartoon, posted on IPMN's Facebook page on Christmas Eve, shows two Israeli soldiers harassing Santa Claus. One soldier rummages through Santa's bag of gifts, another searches Santa for weapons. Santa himself has his hands up against a concrete section of the security barrier. A church steeple can be seen off in the distance. [And as one commenter below observes, the soldier rummaging through Santa's toys has a hooked nose, giving the image an obviously anti-Semitic touch.]
The image itself was posted by an administrator from the Israel Palestine Mission Network, for which the Presbyterian Church (USA) provides fundraising assistance. Whoever posted the cartoon opined "At first, this cartoon seems a bit much, then it sinks in that unfortunately, it's spot on!"
The failure of the PC(USA) to hold the IPMN accountable for images like this has been an ongoing problem.
Legal Group Tweets Twitter: Stop Aiding Terrorists, or Get Sued
The Israel Law Center (Shurat Hadin) has a “social media” message for Twitter: Stop providing communication facilities for terror groups like Hizbullah, or face a lawsuit on behalf of American citizens and others who have been victims of terrorism.
In a letter to Twitter executives, Israel Law Center head Nitsana Darshan-Leitner warned the social media messaging service that allowing terror groups to maintain accounts on the system is illegal.”Please be advised that providing social media and other associated services to terrorist groups is illegal and will expose Twitter, Inc. and its officers to both criminal prosecution and civil liability to American citizens and others victimized by terrorism,” the letter said, naming specifically three groups - Hizbullah, Al-Shaba'ab, and Al-Manar TV. All three are officially classified as terror groups. Al-Shaba'ab has 6,720 Twitter followers, and Al-Manar has 7,000.
All three of these entities – as well as individuals associated with them - have Twitter accounts, and Darshan-Leitner suggested in the letter than Twitter cancel the accounts, or face the wrath of the law.
Darshan-Leitner stressed in her letter that the issue was not censorship, but compliance with security laws, which Twitter, as a U.S.-based entity, was obligated to undertake. Referring to a recent case brought by the government against an organization that was accused of materially helping two organizations classified as terror groups (the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Turkey and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “providing any assistance or support to terrorists is unlawful.
“Your provision of social media and associated services to Hizbullah and other FTOs (foreign terrorist organizations) would constitute the type of seemingly innocuous material support that would render your company and you personally criminally and civilly liable. This includes liability for future terrorist attacks carried out by Hizbullah, Al-Shaba'ab or other FTOs,” Darshan-Leitner told Twitter. In fact, she adds, a New York businessman, Javed Iqbal, was in 2009 sentenced to five and a half years in prison for providing satellite broadcast servers to Al-Manar, Hizbullah's media outlet.
Besides violating U.S. anti-terrorism laws, Twitter will also find itself a target of multi-million dollar lawsuits if it does not cancel the accounts, Darshan-Leitner says. “Many U.S. entities and individuals who have provided material support to terrorists have been sued by the terror victims and their families for aiding and abetting international terrorism,” she writes. “Many of these defendants now find themselves defending against multi-million dollar civil actions in federal courts around the United States. In addition, American corporations that provided material support to militant organizations in the Middle East are currently defendants in multi-million dollar civil actions in U.S. federal courts brought by the victims of these groups, and officers and principals of such corporations have also become defendants,” Darshan-Leitner adds, citing numerous cases.
The Israel Law Center is no stranger to such lawsuits, having brought – and won – numerous decisions against organizations in the U.S. and abroad that have either consciously – or inadvertently – aided and abetted terrorism. In a recent incident, Darshan-Leitner warned about 150 heads of American universities that they had better do something to stop the anti-Semitic incidents that have been growing at their schools in recent years, or face lawsuits.
“In light of the above,” Darshan-Leitner concludes in her letter to Twitter, “we request that you immediately provide us written confirmation that Twitter, Inc. has permanently discontinued the provision of social media and associated services to Hizbullah, Al-Manar TV, Al-Shabaab and any other FTOs.
“Absent such confirmation,” she concludes, “we will seek all available relief and remedies against Twitter, Inc. in all relevant jurisdictions.”
Israel 2012!
This year, 2012, will be the most important year in Israel's history.
The world will never be the same again. With revolutions erupting
across the Middle East, elections in the United States of America and
the European economy in turmoil, NOW IS THE TIME to stand with Israel.
Make a resolution to support The Land of Israel.com and join us in
spreading the truth and beauty of Israel with the world. The world
needs to know the truth now more than ever before.
"The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning
of the year, until the year's end." Deuteronomy 11:12. The eyes of
the world are focused on Israel - as what will happen in Jerusalem, will
ultimately happen to the rest of the world.
Support our work at www.thelandofisrael.com
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Chai Lifeline Chanukah 2011 - Spread the Light - Fighting Illness with Love Around the World
Thousands of children and their families were granted a reprieve from the daily grind of illness this Chanukah when they gathered at parties around the world to celebrate the miracle of Chanukah as well as miracles of their own.
Participants in the US, Canada, England, Israel & Belgium were treated to performances by world renowned recording artists, performers, and clowns. There was music, singing and dancing, delicious food, & crafts. The highlight of each evening were the toys the children received thanks to the Honey Engel Toy Drive, the Ossie Schonfeld Toy Fund, our generous sponsors, schools, and synagogues. Many thanks to Lev Leytzan & Misameach for bringing holiday cheer.
Music made possible by The Ariella Horenstein Music in Our Lives Program
Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers for making it all possible!
Since 1987, Chai Lifeline and its affiliates' mission has been to restore the light of childhood to children whose innocence ended when life-threatening or lifelong illness was diagnosed.
Through programs that address the emotional, social, and financial needs of seriously ill children, their families, and communities, Chai Lifeline restores normalcy to family life, and better enables families to withstand the crises and challenges of serious pediatric illness.
Second Temple Purity Signet Discovered Under Kotel Area
After a recent string of fascinating archaeological discoveries dating to the Second Temple period, the digs at the City of David in the underground continue to produce amazing finds.
Yesterday a new amazing find was announced. This one is even very timely. The discovery was of a small signet, about the size of a button, upon which was engrave two words in Aramaic that mean "Pure to Him" - tahor lo - and in the original, "d'chee leih". The analysis is that this signet was used to authorize the purity of objects and food being brought into the Temple area - Har HaBayit.
The discovery, like the other before it, was from under Robinson's Arch along what was a Herodian street dated back to the 1st century BCE.
In addition to the signet, other discoveries include oil candles, ceramic pots, along with oil and spice holders and coins.
Considering the story of Hanukkah, where a small flask of oil was discovered with the priestly stamp of being pure, this signet is a very timely discovery and especially fascinating.
The discovery, like the other before it, was from under Robinson's Arch along what was a Herodian street dated back to the 1st century BCE.
Considering the story of Hanukkah, where a small flask of oil was discovered with the priestly stamp of being pure, this signet is a very timely discovery and especially fascinating.
Haniyeh: Our goal remains the destruction of Israel
'Moderate' 'Palestinian' PresidentMahmoud AbbasAbu Mazen is running around telling anyone who will listen that Hamas 'Prime Minister' Ismail Haniyeh is willing to make peace with Israel. But at a rally earlier this month marking the 24th anniversary of the founding of Hamas,Haniyeh told a much different story.
They're just so flexible, aren't they?
But even Fatah has not yet given up on its 'phased plan' to get rid of Israel. And it probably never will.
Let's go to the videotape.
Read the whole thing.
At a ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh said that Hamas may work for the "interim objective of liberation of Gaza, the West Bank, or Jerusalem," but that this "interim objective" and "reconciliation" with Fatah will not change Hamas' long-term "strategic" goal of eliminating all of Israel:Let's go to the videotape.
...
In his speech, Haniyeh also promised that Hamas will "lead Intifada after Intifada until we liberate Palestine - all of Palestine, Allah willing. Allah Akbar and praise Allah."
They're just so flexible, aren't they?
But even Fatah has not yet given up on its 'phased plan' to get rid of Israel. And it probably never will.
Let's go to the videotape.
Read the whole thing.
The Silent Majority No More: We Protest the Colossal Desecration of Yiddishkeit and Torah
I don’t have the answers. But no matter, the time has come for us, the bnei Torah and the larger frum world, to say, “Enough is enough.”
The time has come for us to rally around our true leaders and our concerned fellow Jews and issue loud calls of protest against those who misrepresent halacha and hashkafa- and do so thinking and proclaiming that they are correct.
Unfortunately, the extremists in Bet Shemesh or anywhere else who have invented their own versions of kannaus, modesty and numerous other aspects of our Torah life are labeled in the media as “chareidim,” lumping them together with those of us who are abhorred by their conduct as anyone else is. We can no longer allow their distortions to go without strong condemnation.
With those who hijacked the Neturei Karta name and engage in communication and behavior that clearly places them in the category of rodfim, there has long been dispute as to how much we, the true chareidim, should publically protest their shameful conduct. After all, some argue, why give those fools a platform and free exposure? Why help them spread their misguided messages?
At the same time, it has been realized that to sit by quietly is not the answer either. We can’t let people put on Ultra-Orthodox garb and conduct themselves in any way they desire, thus helping the international media paint all us Torah Jews as suicidal neanderthals who have no problem forming ties with the world’s nuclear madmen.
In regard to the latest shameful engagement by some so-called frum Jews in the name of modesty, whether on buses or on the streets of Israel’s cities, silence is no longer the answer. The Israeli secular media is clearly having a field day - and who can really blame them? They have been given the perfect excuse and most perfect story to report, “confirming” their long reported claims that the chareidim are close-minded chauvinistic misogynists. This campaign is helped by those in the frum media, especially online, who report every story of a religious-looking Jew allegedly acting in ways unsanctioned by the Torah. [Just this morning, a story was first reported regarding a chareidi Jew, and only later did it emerge that it was basically untrue.]
Unfortunately, it is “Jews” like those who have been desecrating Hashem’s Name who get the most exposure by national and international media outlets. A so-called chareidiJew spitting at a seven-year-old girl for not dressing according to his fabricated modesty standards is a fastball thrown down the plate for the anti-religious media to hit right out of the park, fueling the strong hatred already found across Israel toward Torah Jews.
I think of great Jews of the recent generations, including Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Rav Noach Weinberg, Rav Henach Leibowitz, and Rav Avrohom Pam. I think of our currentgedolim, including Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, Rav Gershon Edelstein and Rav Nissim Karelitz. I think of present-day American roshei yeshiva, including Rav Simcha Schustal, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rav Meir Hershkowitz, Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin and others. These were and are from the most dignified, princely people in the world. Oh how pained they would be and are by the disgusting - yes, disgusting - behavior of those who have hijacked our Torah and made a colossal chillul Hashem for the entire world to see. Those who have engaged in this reprehensible behavior - lesheim Shomayim, of course - have not one true Torah leader guiding or supporting their activities, and yet they will tell you with a straight face and all sincerity that this is what the Ribono Shel Olam wants.
And please don’t allow the media to call them “zealots.” They aren’t zealots. A zealot, by definition, is a supporter of a cause, especially a religious cause. What they have been busy with isn’t a cause, and surely not a religious cause. It is pure naarishkeit and even worse. It is unfounded extremism that has no basis whatsoever in the Torah, not halachically nor hashkafically.
Let the world know that true Torah Jews are shocked and dismayed by those who have acted disgracefully in the name of the Torah and Hashem. We call for immediate action to stop these hooligans from portraying our beliefs and standards falsely. We must do what we can to make the voices of the silent, peaceful, upstanding Torah-true majority heard loud and clear.
MidEastTruth.com Clown of the Year Award for 2011: Thomas L. Friedman
It was a very bad year for New York Times journalist Tomas Friedman.
The award is going to Friedman not only because of his repeated, outrageous anti-Israel op-eds, or because of his obvious personal hostility towards Israel PM, Benjamin Netanyahu . . .
The reason we chose Thomas Friedman to be the MidEastTruth.com Clown of the Year for 2011 is his pathetically naive optimism regarding the Egypt revolution. When every Mideast expert warned about the possibility of the Muslim Brotherhood taking power, Friedman was euphoric and said he truly believed that the secular, Facebook-using young generation is the "real Egypt".
"Last February, after visiting Tahrir Square, the rallying point of the Egyptian revolution, Friedman exulted that the "people" had achieved "freedom" and were heading toward democracy. He dismissed concerns that the Muslim Brotherhood would become a dominant party." - Isi Leibler, The Jerusalem Post, December 19, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
On the Money By David Suissa
What do you do when you run out of money? When you're about to be evicted from your home, or having trouble feeding your kids, or simply can't afford the basic necessities of life? What happens, also, when you can't afford certain things you consider crucial - like sending your children to a Jewish day school?
And what if you don't want to go through the formal hoops of organized charity to fill out a bunch of forms to see if you qualify for help?
Over the past few weeks, I've met some people who have taken on these issues in distinct and refreshing ways.
The first is Shlomo Rechnitz, a 40-year-old Orthodox businessman who lives in the La Brea/Fairfax area. For the past seven years, Rechnitz and his family have followed this simple model for helping those in need: You ask, they give.
No forms to fill out, no matching grants, no performance metrics. Just a check.
The scene unfolds every Saturday night, and you'd think you were in a Polish village in the 18th century. A line of people extends outside the Rechnitz house and leads right to a dining room where Shlomo Rechnitz, dressed in a white shirt, sits at the head of a long table, waiting for people to come.
Each person in need sits next to him for a few minutes of conversation, receives a check, says thank you and then goes home. Some might bring "evidence" of their despondency - like an eviction letter from a landlord - but they hardly need it. Everyone walks out with a check.
He sees about 100 people on an average Saturday night, and they are diverse: religious, secular, old, young, Sephardic, Chassidic, mothers, fathers, businessmen down on their luck, young people out of work, etc.
Rechnitz allowed me to play observer one recent Saturday night, because he wants to encourage other wealthy people to pitch in. He feels there is too much suffering in our community, and too much money out there that is not being used to help those in need.
I know what you're thinking: This is not the best way to give charity. Rechnitz should be helping people "learn how to fish" rather than just handing out the fish; he should be checking their qualifications to make sure they really need the money; and he should be monitoring where his money is going.
Yes, he should be doing all those things, but then he wouldn't be Shlomo Rechnitz. Many of these people have nowhere else to go, and they need immediate relief. That's why he makes it so simple.
Rechnitz gives to many causes, including the school where he serves as president (Toras Emes Academy), but it's the Saturday night ritual that makes him stand out. Obviously, he doesn't expect every wealthy Jew to give this way, but, especially in this rough economy, he'd love to see them give more than they're currently giving.
A week after witnessing the old-school approach of Rechnitz, I met three Jews who are fighting another community problem - the soaring costs of Jewish education - in a whole other way. Instead of offering financial aid, they have started a new school, Yeshiva High School, which reduces tuition costs dramatically through an innovative "blended learning" model of education.
The model combines online learning with traditional learning in a classroom setting, with a teacher/facilitator addressing the individual needs and pace of each student. It is a fully accredited college-prep program with national standards and a daily flow of data to monitor individual progress.
But here's the upshot: Because the model is so cost-effective, instead of paying an annual tuition of $20,000 to $30,000, parents will pay $8,000 a year when the school opens next September.
The founders of the school, Rabbi Gabriel Elias and Rabbi Moises Benzaquen, and its director, longtime local educator Rebecca Coen, speak about the blended model as a "new paradigm" that will give them a sustainable model of Jewish education for years to come. Rabbi Benzaquen will lead the Jewish studies program, which will follow Orthodox tradition with an emphasis on Jewish values and interactive learning.
The new school has already created a buzz. I went to its open house last week - the school will be located at Congregation Mogen David on West Pico Boulevard - and the place was packed.
Will the school succeed? No one can say until we see results, but I can tell you this: There's something very Jewish - and very brave - about trying all kinds of approaches in order to tackle chronic problems.
For those who need immediate relief, there is the refreshing hands-on approach of Rechnitz, who meets people face-to-face in his own dining room, feels their pain and never says no.
And for those desperate for a more affordable Jewish education, there is now an alternative school that uses new technology in a way our grandparents would never have dreamed possible.
Either way, this is what it means to be Jewish. We are restless, we feel others' pain, we try to improve things any way we can, and we all want our kids to become the first Jewish Doctor-Mensch-President of the United States.
Whether we have money or not.
And what if you don't want to go through the formal hoops of organized charity to fill out a bunch of forms to see if you qualify for help?
Over the past few weeks, I've met some people who have taken on these issues in distinct and refreshing ways.
The first is Shlomo Rechnitz, a 40-year-old Orthodox businessman who lives in the La Brea/Fairfax area. For the past seven years, Rechnitz and his family have followed this simple model for helping those in need: You ask, they give.
No forms to fill out, no matching grants, no performance metrics. Just a check.
The scene unfolds every Saturday night, and you'd think you were in a Polish village in the 18th century. A line of people extends outside the Rechnitz house and leads right to a dining room where Shlomo Rechnitz, dressed in a white shirt, sits at the head of a long table, waiting for people to come.
Each person in need sits next to him for a few minutes of conversation, receives a check, says thank you and then goes home. Some might bring "evidence" of their despondency - like an eviction letter from a landlord - but they hardly need it. Everyone walks out with a check.
He sees about 100 people on an average Saturday night, and they are diverse: religious, secular, old, young, Sephardic, Chassidic, mothers, fathers, businessmen down on their luck, young people out of work, etc.
Rechnitz allowed me to play observer one recent Saturday night, because he wants to encourage other wealthy people to pitch in. He feels there is too much suffering in our community, and too much money out there that is not being used to help those in need.
I know what you're thinking: This is not the best way to give charity. Rechnitz should be helping people "learn how to fish" rather than just handing out the fish; he should be checking their qualifications to make sure they really need the money; and he should be monitoring where his money is going.
Yes, he should be doing all those things, but then he wouldn't be Shlomo Rechnitz. Many of these people have nowhere else to go, and they need immediate relief. That's why he makes it so simple.
Rechnitz gives to many causes, including the school where he serves as president (Toras Emes Academy), but it's the Saturday night ritual that makes him stand out. Obviously, he doesn't expect every wealthy Jew to give this way, but, especially in this rough economy, he'd love to see them give more than they're currently giving.
A week after witnessing the old-school approach of Rechnitz, I met three Jews who are fighting another community problem - the soaring costs of Jewish education - in a whole other way. Instead of offering financial aid, they have started a new school, Yeshiva High School, which reduces tuition costs dramatically through an innovative "blended learning" model of education.
The model combines online learning with traditional learning in a classroom setting, with a teacher/facilitator addressing the individual needs and pace of each student. It is a fully accredited college-prep program with national standards and a daily flow of data to monitor individual progress.
But here's the upshot: Because the model is so cost-effective, instead of paying an annual tuition of $20,000 to $30,000, parents will pay $8,000 a year when the school opens next September.
The founders of the school, Rabbi Gabriel Elias and Rabbi Moises Benzaquen, and its director, longtime local educator Rebecca Coen, speak about the blended model as a "new paradigm" that will give them a sustainable model of Jewish education for years to come. Rabbi Benzaquen will lead the Jewish studies program, which will follow Orthodox tradition with an emphasis on Jewish values and interactive learning.
The new school has already created a buzz. I went to its open house last week - the school will be located at Congregation Mogen David on West Pico Boulevard - and the place was packed.
Will the school succeed? No one can say until we see results, but I can tell you this: There's something very Jewish - and very brave - about trying all kinds of approaches in order to tackle chronic problems.
For those who need immediate relief, there is the refreshing hands-on approach of Rechnitz, who meets people face-to-face in his own dining room, feels their pain and never says no.
And for those desperate for a more affordable Jewish education, there is now an alternative school that uses new technology in a way our grandparents would never have dreamed possible.
Either way, this is what it means to be Jewish. We are restless, we feel others' pain, we try to improve things any way we can, and we all want our kids to become the first Jewish Doctor-Mensch-President of the United States.
Whether we have money or not.
David Suissa is President of Tribe Media Corp and Jewish Journal. He can be reached at davids@jewishjournal.com.
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