JustASC

The Jerusalem Post editorial page has advice for those playing up the “chasm” between Obama and Netanyahu: Cool it.

Obama is reportedly planning a major Washington policy address next month detailing his approach to Arab-Israel peacemaking. Those who want to manipulate the environment to Israel’s detriment will continue to foster an ambiance of crisis. But those who want what’s best for Israel should be working in the opposite direction.

Our government can create a better atmosphere by permanently dismantling unauthorized outposts; reiterating Israel’s “no new settlements” policy, and rethinking the wisdom of refusing to endorse previous Israeli governments’ policy on the two-state solution.

Can we ask Obama to honor understandings about settlement blocs reached by Israel with his predecessor when we are not honoring agreements his predecessor reached with us? 

This week’s column: More thoughts on Ruth Messinger’s commencement address at JTS:

So how’s this for guts: Invited to give the commencement address before a class of graduating rabbis, cantors, educators, and other future Jewish leaders, you tell them, “You have a choice: You can luxuriate in the parochial exercise of ministering to a comfortable, affluent ethnic group and addressing its so-called ‘challenges,’ or you can help feed, clothe, and save the lives of people who are really suffering. Your call.”

Okay, that’s not exactly what Ruth Messinger said in her address to graduates of the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Conservative movement’s flagship. But it’s awfully close.

This article turns out to be less interesting than I thought it would be:

Julia Roberts to lead Jewish Federation’s
Young Adult Division

The U.K.’s Jewish Chronicle asked me to write a short essay on the Riverdale bomb plot. You can read it here.