The Bay Stands With Israel

 From Dr. Mike, of San Francisco Voice for Israel:

 The Bay Area Jewish community is coming together in a way we have not seen for years, to stand together with Israel.  All of our major pro-Israel organizations, and many synagogues and other community groups, are joining together this Sunday.  

We want to see a sea of blue and white filling Civic Center Plaza and marching down Market Street. We want to, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once famously said, "pray with our feet" as well as with our voices. We want to show the Bay Area that the pro-Israel community is here and that we are strong. We want to hear voices ringing out calling for peace, while understanding that Hamas is the enemy of peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.  We want to show the TV cameras and the newspaper photographers that Civic Center Plaza looks much better supporting a democratic country with civil rights and freedoms, than it does when our opponents use hate speech to support the Hamas regime that oppresses women and minorities and uses its own children as slave labor and human shields.  

And we can't see that happening as powerfully as possible without YOU. This is the most important thing you can do this Sunday. 

Be there. Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco. Noon to 2 PM. Stand with your friends. Stand with your community. Stand for Israel.

 *************

This is what solidarity looks like.

Join  the Bay area Jewish community and their allies in San Francisco's Civic Center Sunday Aug 3 12- 2, as we join together in prayer, in peace and in solidarity with Israel

Thanks to all the supporting organizations:
* ICC@JCC
* Stand With US
* Israeli Executives and Founders Forum
* Israeli American Council
* Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
* Jewish Community Federation
* BBYO - Jewish Teen Leaders
* Congregation Beth Am
* Jewish Federation of the East Bay
* National Council of Jewish Women San Francisco
* Mishelanu
* Friends of Israel Scouts, Inc. Tzofim
* JCC of Silicon Valley
* South Peninsula Hebrew Day
* Hillel of Silicon Valley
* Kehila Hewish High
* Bank Leumi USA
* Jewish High Tech Community
* Congregation Emeth
* Congregation Beth David
* Zionist Organization of America
* American Jewish Committee San Francisco
* Congregation Kol Emeth
* Jewish National Fund
* Congregation Sinai
* Jewish Family Services
* Temple Emanu-El
* Yavneh Day School
* Hadassah - Women's Zionist Organization of America
* Congregation Emek Beracha
* Bay Area Friendship Circle
* Chabad Israeli community
* Russian American Newspaper "Kstati"
* Congregation Shir Hadash
* American Associates Ben-Gurion University
* American Friends of Tel Aviv University
* California Israel Chamber of Commerce
* A Wider Bridge
* Stanford Israel Alliance
* Israeli Students Organization @Stanford
* Temple Beth Abraham
* American Friends of Magen David Adom

Block the Boat Interruptus: Blockade of Zim Ship at Oakland Docks Postponed

If anything, the enemies of Israel excel at self-promoting.  A proposed plan by Islamists and anarchists  to  march on the Oakland port to prevent a Zim ship  from off-loading was widely publicized,  with the San Jose  Mercury news and other media outlets picking up the story.    Zim is one of the leading carriers in the global container shipping industry, and was targeted because of its close ties with  Israel.  The Zim fleet’s illustrious history began by transporting refugees from war-torn Europe back home to the land of Israel.

This tactic was tried before in 2010, with mixed results.   The Father’s Day action in 2010 ultimately claimed to have prevented a Zim liner from off-loading, though the claim of  ‘victory” was issued well before the ship had actually docked.   Again, the mainstream media was complicit in the spread of misinformation, printing verbatim press releases issued by activists.

This years’ march on the docks, coordinated by an extremist anti-Israel group, the Arab Resource and Organizing Center ( AROC ), in conjunction with local anarchist groups and the pitiful remnants of the Occupy Oakland contingent was to take place on Saturday, Aug 2.  After an initial wave of self-congratulatory press releases, there are now wide-spread reports of cancellation. 

The coalition had failed to make inroads with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ( ILWU)  , who were justifiably skeptical  about having their names linked  with these extremist groups.

Some anarchists groups itching for a fight  have expressed their desire to march on the docks nonetheless. Nothing like some random chaos and destruction and good old fashioned breaking and smashing in the name of peace, after all.

UPDATE:
"Block the Boat" is now scheduled for August 16, with or without union support

Labor for Palestine barely scrapes together 200 signatures on anti-Israel petition

Approximately 11.3 percent of all  American workers are members of labor unions. In 2013 there were 14.5 million wage and salary workers who belonged to unions. Of those 14.5 million workers, less than 200 signed on to a repulsively biased and one sided anti-Israel labor petition calling for an end to all aid to Israel, for dock workers to refuse to handle cargo destined for Israel  and for labor bodies to divest from Israel Bonds, and cut ties with the Histadrut, Israel’s labor federation.

That’s 200 out of 14,500,000.  Even the addition of international union members, retired union members and  members of professional associations could not push the number of signators on this travesty to even 1/2 of 1 percent.

The names of the few minority extremists follow: Many are dyed in the wool Israel haters first, and union members second. They aren't actually speaking on behalf of their unions in this petition- rather they are attempting to co-opt the good name of their unions to promote their own narrow and biased personal political agenda.

*Suzanne Adely U.S.-MENA Global Labor Solidarity Network; Former Staff, Global Organizing Institute, UAW

*Monadel Herzallah, former member, Arab American Union Members Council, San Francisco, CA

*Michael Letwin, former President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW L. 2325; co-founder, Jews for Palestinian Right of Return, NYC Labor Against the War; US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel

Prof. Rabab Abdulhadi California Faculty Association SFSU

Judith Ackerman 1199SEIU, AFT, UFT, AFTRA, SAG, New York NY

Larry Adamsformer President, NPMHU L. 300; co-founder, NYC Labor Against the War; People’s Organization for Progress

Joseph Agonitoformer President, L. 1845-NYSUT, AFT

Bina AhmadALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Sameerah Ahmad Executive Director, Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center; former member, GEO/UAW L. 2322

Faiz Ahmed Chairperson/président Canadian Union of Public Employees L. 3903

Tanya Akel, IBT L. 2010, AFT L. 1521

Noha Arafa ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Anthony Arnove National Writers Union/UAW L. 1981, Brooklyn NY

B. Ross Ashley SEIU L. 204 (retired), Toronto ON

John Bail National Director, Pacific Region Canadian Union of Postal Workers

Harry Baker Former Executive Board member, SEIU L. 1021, N. CA

Sarah Barker, Organiser, New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Julia BarnettSteward, CUPS, L. 79

Thomas F. BartonL. 768, DC 37, AFSCME

Bill Bateman Laborers L. 271; Coordinator, RI Unemployed Council, RI Campaign for Work & Wages

Richard Berg Past President, IBT L. 743

Michael Billeaux Co-President, Teaching Assistants’ Association/AFT L. 3220, Madison WI

Walter Birdwell Retired Steward, National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 283

Richard Blake IBT L. 512, Jacksonville FL

Dana Blanchard Berkeley Federation of Teachers, AFT L. 1078

Dave Bleakney  National Union Representative, CUPW, Ottowa ON

Rebecca Bor Chicago Teachers Union, AFT L. 1

Alexandra Bradbury co-editor, Labor Notes

Larry Bradshaw VP SEIU L. 1021, San Francisco

Gloria Brandman UFT/NYC-MORE Caucus

Deena Brazy Steward/VP, AFSCME L. 60, Madison WI

Tibby Brooks National Writers Union/UAW L. 1981

Gene Bruskin Founder, US Labor Against the War

Gabriel Camacho  UNITE HERE L. 66L Cambridge MA

Chris Carlsson Co-Director, Shaping San Francisco; SEIU L. 1021; adjunct faculty, San Francisco Art Institute

Nora Carroll ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

David Chavez UAW L. 2865, UC Riverside

Edward Childs Chief Steward, Unite-Here L. 26

Jan Clausen Goddard College faculty; UAW L. 2322 Liaison to U.S. Labor Against the War, NYC Chapter

Mary Clinton Organizer, CWA District 1

L. Antonia Codling  Alt. VP & Former Rep., Attorneys of Color of Legal Aid, ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Len Cooper, Victorian Secretary, Communication Workers Union, Australia

Krista L. Cortes Unit Chair, UAW L. 2865, UC Berkeley

Heather Cottin Professional Staff Congress, NYC

Mike Cushman  Membership Secretary, London School of Economics, University and College Union branch (UCU)

Denise D’Anne  SEIU L. 1021

Joe Davies Organizer, Southern Local Government Officers Union, Christchurch NZ

Warren Davis Exec. VP (Retired), AFGE L. 2006, Philadelphia

Richard Deaton  Ph.D., LL.B., Asst. Director of Research, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)(retired)

Francisco Martin del Campo Head Steward, UAW L. 2685, UC Berkeley Unit

Jacob Denz GSOC/UAW L. 2110; NYU; Brooklyn, NY

Roger Dittmann PhD, Former Secretary, United Professors of California

Monique Dols UFT, NYC

Greg Dropkin Unison; Liverpool Friends of Palestine, UK

Tim Dubnau Organizing Coordinator, CWA District One

Arla S. Ertz SEIU L. 1021 San Francisco

Shelley Ettinger AFT L. 3882, NYC

Mark Evard National Director, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Ottawa ON

Mikos Fabersunne Professional Engineers in California Government (retired)

Jessica Feldman UAW L. 2110, NYC

Chris Ferlazzo Portland Jobs with Justice

Prof. Mary E. Finn Ph. D., United University Professionals, State University of New York at Buffalo

Prof. Patrick J. Finn  Ph. D., United University Professionals, State University of New York at Buffalo

Gord Fischer National Director, CUPW Prairie Region, Winnipeg MB

Jon Flanders Past President, IAM 1145

Prof. Manzar Foroohar former Chapter President, California Faculty Association-Cal Poly

Sheena Foster Global Labour University Alumni

Andre Francois Recording Secretary, USW L. 8751

Carol Gay President, NJ State Industrial Union Council

Maxine Gay Retail Finance& Commerce Secretary, FIRST Union New Zealand

Carl Gentile National Representative, American Federation of Government Employees

Christine Geovanis National Writers Union/UAW L. 1981

Alborz Ghandehari Recording Secretary, San Diego Unit, UAW L. 2865 (UC Student-Worker Union)

Hadi Gharabaghi  GSOC-UAW L. 2110; Cinema Studies, NYU

Steve Gillis  VP USW L. 8751 (Boston School Bus Drivers’ Union)

Mike Gimbel Chairperson, Labor/Community Unity Committee, L. 375, AFSCME

Greg Giorgio  Delegate, Upstate NY Regional Branch, Industrial Workers of the World

Nathan Goldbaum Member Communications Coordinator, Chicago Teachers Union, AFT L. 1

Marty Goodman  former Executive Board member, Transport Workers Union L. 100

Erik Green  UAW L. 2865, Financial Secretary, Santa Cruz CA

Ira Grupper Delegate (retired), Greater Louisville (KY) Central Labor Council, BCTGM L. 16T

Maria Guillen SEIU L. 1021

Gabriel Haaland CWA L. 9404

Jesse Hagopian  Seattle Education Association/NEA

Denise Hammond Unifor 591 G

David Heap University of Western Ontario Faculty Association

Jenny Heinz 1199SEIU

Stanley Heller 40-year AFT member, West Haven, CT, now AFT 933 (retired)

Lucy Herschel  Delegate, 1199SEIU, NYC

Fred Hirsch VP, Plumbers and Fitters L. 393, San Jose CA

Michael Hirsch  National Writers Union/UAW L. 1981

Bridgett Holloman, 1199SEIU, Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn NY

Alexandra Holmstrom-Smith Chair, UCLA Unit, UAW L. 2865 (UC Student-Worker Union)

Jim Holstun  UUP Buffalo Center Chapter, NYSUT, AFT

Evert Hoogers  National Union Rep., CUPW (retired)

Cherrene Horazuk  President, AFSCME L. 3800

Jonathan House  President (1979-1981), Executive Director (1982-1989), Committee of Interns and Residents, SEIU

Sean Howard  Shop Steward, IBT L. 559, Hartford CT

Janet Hudgins  CUPE (retired)

Ren-yo Hwang S. VP, UAW 2865, Los Angeles

Joe Iosbaker  Executive Board, SEIU L. 73

Malathi Iyenga  San Diego Unit Chair, UAW L. 2865

Joe Jamison TWU L. 100 (retired)

James Jordan  National Co-Coordinator, Alliance for Global Justice

Michael P. Kaehler  President, APWU L. 647, Saint Cloud MN Area

Marianne Kaletzky  Head Steward, UAW L. 2865 Berkeley CA

Dan Kaplan  Executive Secretary, AFT L. 1493, San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers

Jim Kaplan  former member, Somerville Teachers Association, MA

Wendy Kaufmyn  Executive Board, AFT L. 2121 (faculty union of City College of San Francisco)

Brian Kelly  UCU Belfast (formerly Carpenters L. 33 Boston and IUMSWA L. 25 East Boston)

Sue Kelly OPEIU L. 334 (retired)

Russell Kilday-Hicks  VP, California State Employees Association

Ed Kinchley  San Francisco Committee on Political Education; Co-chair, SEIU L. 1021, San Francisco

John Kirkland   Carpenters L. 1462, Bucks County PA

Steve Kirschbaum  Grievance Committee Chair, USW L. 8751

David Klein  California Faculty Association

Jeff Klein   Retired President, NAGE/SEIU L. R1-168

Cindy Klumb  OPEIU L. 153

Richard Koritz  Former President, NALC Branch 630, Greensboro NC

Dennis Kortheuer   California Faculty Association

Bud Korotzer  Shop Steward, AFSCME District Council 37, L. 371 (retired)

Daniella Korotzer  Former VP & Health & Safety Rep., ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Francine Korotzer  Shop Steward, AFSCME District Council 37, L. 2054 (retired)

Dennis Kosuth   Shop Steward, Convention Delegate, National Nurses Organizing Committee, National Nurses United

Rebecca Kurti 1199SEIU

Elizabeth Lalasz  Steward  Bargaining Team Rep., National Convention Delegate, District 13, National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses Unites (NNOC/NNU)

Zoe Lawlor Unite Teacher, University of Limerick, Ireland

Howard Lenow American Jews For A Just Peace, trade union lawyer

Kristin Lew 1199SEIU

Stephen Lewis  SEIU L. 509

Joe Lombardo   CSEA L. 999, Troy Area Labor Council

Marsha Love  UALE, Chicago

Michael Lyon  AFT L. 2121 (retiree)

John McColgan   SENA 9158, United Steelworkers of America

Maureen McDermott  UFT, NYC

Henry Maar  Trustee, UAW L. 2865

Amir M. Maasoumi  former member, Federation des travailleurs du Quebec (FTQ)

Shafeah M’Balia  National Assn. of Letter Carriers, Greenville, NC Branch 1729; Black Workers For Justice

Cindy McCallum Miller  President, Castlegar Local Canadian Union of Postal Workers, BC

Edward Miller  Strategic Adviser, FIRST Union, Auckland NZ

Gail Miller  UFT, NYC

Nathaniel Miller  Industrial Workers of the World

Susan Olivia Morris   Alternate VP, ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Irene Morrison  Recording Secretary, UAW 2865, UC Riverside

Hlokoza Motau  National Union of Metalworkers’ Union (Numsa), Johannesburg, South Africa

Kenneth Myers United Federation of Teachers, NYC

Ken Nash  AFSCME L. 1930, DC 37

Lisa North AFT L. 2, Brooklyn NY

Raquel Pacheco  UAW L. 2865, San Diego CA

Meredith Palmer  Head Steward, UAW L. 2865, UC Berkeley

Jackson Pitts  Head Steward, UAW L. 2865, UC Riverside

Maria Pizarro   AFSCME L. 2081

Marion Pollack  retiree, Vancouver BC

Jay Poppa   VP, Bridgeport Education Association, Bridgeport, CT

Dr. Anna Potempska   PhD, PEF (retired), NY

Andre’ Powell  AFSCME Delegate, Baltimore Central Labor Council

Peter Rachleff  Labor Educator; UALE

Natasha Raheja   Bargaining Committee, GSOC-UAW L. 2110, NYC

Melissa Rakestraw  Executive Board and Shop Steward, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 825, Oakbrook IL

Croft Randle  Retired Local Officer and Provincial Representative, Telecommunications Workers Union, BC Canada

Ben Ratliffe  Steward, AFSCME L. 60, WI

Dominic Renda  Chief Shop Steward, CWA L. 1105

Eric Robson  Steward and Trustee, AFSCME L. 171, Madison WI

Marco Antonio Rosales  Unit Chair, UAW L. 2865, UC Davis

Mimi Rosenberg  ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Keith Rosenthal, AFSCME L. 3650, Somerville MA

Prof. Emerita Marguerite G. Rosenthal  Massachusetts State College Association/Mass. Education Assn./NEA

Andrew Ross   AAUP, NYU

Janice Rothstein  AFSCME L. 3299, San Francisco

Christina Rousseau  CUPE 3903, Toronto ON

David Russitano  Executive Board, United Educators of San Francisco, AFT/CFT L. 61

Gillian Russom   Board of Directors, United Teachers Los Angeles, AFT L. 1021

Carl Sack   AFT L. 3220, UW-Madison Teaching Assistants’ Association

Keith Sadler  UAW L. 2, Toledo OH

Lauren Schaeffer   Head Steward, UAW L. 2865, Los Angeles CA

Charity Schmidt   Former Co-President, University of Wisconsin-Madison Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA)

Robert M. Schwartz  National Writers Union/UAW L. 1981, Boston MA

Helen Scott  United Academics AAUP/AFT L. 4996, Burlington VT

Mary Scully  IUE-CWA L. 201 (retired)

Snehal Shingavi  Texas State Employees Union/CWA L. 6186, Austin TX

Tyler Shipley   CUPE L. 3903; Toronto ON

Ahmad Shirazi   Former Board Member, IATSE L. 700, NYC

Sid Shniad  Former Research Director, Telecommunications Workers Union, Vancouver BC

Jerry Silberman  Senior Staff Rep., Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals

Lorrie Beth Slonsky  SEIU L. 1021; Paramedic (retired)

Larry Smallwood  former Telecommunications Workers Union of Canada; Volunteer President L. 7; human rights officer; union activist for equity rights

Nancy Snyder  Recording Secretary Emeritus, SEIU L. 1021

David Sole Past President, UAW L. 2334, Detroit

Peter Spitzform  AFT/AAUP, University of Vermont

Brenda Stokely  former President, AFSCME DC 1707; co-founder, NYC Labor Against the War; Co-Chair, Million Worker March Movement

Alan Stolzer  Bakers L. 3 (retired)

Susan Stout  Unifor 2002, Canada (retired)

Dante Strobino  UE L. 150, North Carolina Public Service Workers Union, Durham

Brian J. Sullivan  LSSA/UAW L. 2320, NYC

Rick Sullivan  BC Retired Teachers’ Association, Parksville BC

Lee Sustar  NWU/UAW L. 1981; Chicago IL

Alice Sturm Sutter  NYSNA (retired), NYC

Team Solidarity– the Voice of United School Bus Workers

Steve Terry  ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Clarence Thomas Co-Chair, Million Worker March; Executive Board, ILWU L. 10

Elizabeth Thornton  Head Steward, UCLA Unit, UAW L. 2865 (UC Student-Workers Union)

Joanne Tien  Head Steward, UAW L. 2865, Oakland CA.

Azalia Torres  Former Executive Board Member, ALAA/UAW L. 2325, NYC Legal Aid Society

Mike Treen  National Director, Unite Union NZ

Corey Uhl  IBT L. 79, Tampa FL

Jaime Veve, Transport Workers Union L. 100, NYC (retired)

Nantina Vgontzas  GSOC/UAW L. 2110, NYU

Sabina Virgo  Founding and Past President, AFSCME L. 2620

Kay L. Walker SEIU L. 1021, San Francisco (retired)

Peter Waterman  Researcher/writer on labour internationalisms; ABVA-KABO, The Hague, Netherlands

Dave Welsh  Delegate, San Francisco Labor Council

Nancy Welch, Delegate, UVM United Academics AFT/AAUP

Bruce Wolf  Social Justice Committee, OPEIU L. 2

Sherry Wolf  CWA L. 1032

Cynthia Wright CUPE 3903

Garrett Wright  National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW L. 2320, NYC

Eddie Yood  CWA L. 1180 Liaison to US Labor Against the War

Carol F. Yost Organization of Staff Analysts, NYC (retired)

Steve Zeltzer CWA L. 39521; Pacific Media Workers; KPFA WorkWeek Radio

Hamas responsible for childrens death at Shati and Shifa

Confirmed by an Italian journalist Gabriele Barbati: A misfired rocket from Hamas is responsible for the deaths of nine children at Shati and Shifa yesterday.

Out of #Gaza far from #Hamas retaliation: misfired rocket killed children yday in Shati. Witness: militants rushed and cleared debris
— gabrielebarbati (@gabrielebarbati) July 29, 2014

From Algemeiner:

The Israeli army said it was not operating in the vicinity of Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza on Monday, where an explosion reportedly killed and wounded dozens of Palestinians.

“A short while ago Al-Shifa Hospital and Al-Shati Refugee Camp were struck by failed rocket attacks launched by Gaza terrorists,” the army said in a statement sent to reporters.

The failed attempt to fire the projectile apparently hit a car near the center, according to Israel’s Channel 2 News, causing the casualties.

The station said that a “Hamas Fajr-5 rocket aimed at central Israel, which was fired from a playground outside the Shifa hospital and exploded on the site causing casualties, had at least a 100 kg (220 lbs) warhead,” according to The Times of Israel.

This information was confirmed through IDF calculations

Since Operation Protective Edge has begun, Over 200 Hamas  rockets launched  have fallen short of their target and have terrorized the Palestinian people within Gaza

Noad Lahat: a fighter returns home to fight for his people

Noad Lahat  is heading home. The 30 year old Israeli mixed martial arts competitor has an impressive overall record of 8 wins and only 1 loss, but he is putting his career on hold to return to Israel to support his family and his country

From Yahoo News:

Lahat speaks bluntly but matter-of-factly. It's a part of a Jew's life to fight and defend the homeland, he said.

"I hear it a lot, especially when I'm here in California, because people don't understand how we have to live," he said. "Life here is very good, you know? It's a good life. What do you worry about? Do you worry about paying your mortgage or making the payment on your car? That's not real life. People here in the States, they don't understand real life. Americans are fortunate. In the rest of the world, real life is totally different.

"You don't have to worry about driving in a certain [area] because that population there is hostile. We live knowing we are never safe. You live your life and go about your business every day, but we know [an attack] could come at any point. Everyone has someone or knows someone they've lost [to war]. Everyone. When something happens to one of our soldiers, the whole country feels it."

His parents are both generals. His older brother has been in the military service, as has his sister. His younger brother is preparing to serve.

He understands that by leaving the U.S. and returning home on Sunday, he's putting himself into grave danger. But he never gave a second's consideration to staying in California and waiting out the conflict before returning home.

"The only way we are a safer, stronger country is for us all to be united and fight together to protect our country, and so that's what I'm going to do," Lahat said.

Following Lahat’s victory in San Jose, the fighter explained to Joe Rogan why he was returning home.

 ....If me and my friends, my brothers-in-arms, won't go to defend my country, we'll have nowhere to go. It's something I really don't want to do. I want to stay here and have fun and enjoy the rest of the week after two really tough months, but man, I'm going to have to go, otherwise I'm not going to have a home."

My mom and dad have 15 seconds to run to get shelter when missiles are falling on them and I'm here in sunny California. I love California, but I need to go and defend my home. As a combat soldier, there's nothing I want more in the world than peace. I don't want to see my younger brother go in the army....

Wishing Noad Lahat, and all his people- all our people- a time when there will be no need for fighting. Until then, wishing them strength, and blessings.

You got to be taught to hate: the littlest jihadi in San Francisco

Why would parents do this to  their child?

What kind of society would sanction this?

 Or this?

Its child abuse, plain and simple.

But these photos are from the Palestinian territories, thousands of miles away.  Some people have tried to excuse  and rationalize them away using  "cultural differences" as a smokescreen .

Not any more.

From an anti-Israel rally in San Francisco, July 26, held at Justin Herman plaza.  A young child desecrates an Israeli flag that had been stolen earlier from a pro-Israel rally

The Littlest Jihadi. San Francisco-style.

More shocking is the 20 second video clip of an adult egging this child on.

From  the Elder of Ziyon  who has captioned this "Peace, love, flowers, progressiveness, child abuse and unbridled hate."



From the musical South Pacific

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

UPDATE:
 To the adult shamelessly exploiting this child while saying "Stop taking pictures of an underage child" , I present to you, courtesy of the ACLU 

Know Your Rights: Photographers 

When in public spaces where you are lawfully present you have the right to photograph anything that is in plain view. 

Max Blumenthal has an emperor's new clothes moment

Its San Francisco, so you  learn to expect the unexpected.

From Max Blumenthal via twitter. An emperor's new clothes moment

These Israel flags?

Hundreds of peace activists gathered  today in San Francisco's Justin Herman Plaza, to support Israel in her struggle against terror.

Sorry, Max. It was impossible to ignore that magnificent sea of blue and white, try as you might.

Stand For Israel in San Francisco

 From our friends at San Francisco Voice for Israel

Stand up for Israel's right to exist as a Jewish State within secure borders and free from attacks.

Where: Downtown San Francisco, Justin Herman Plaza
When: Saturday July, 26 12:30 to 1:30pm

Israel is still under siege. In just over two weeks, over 2200 rockets have been fired on the people of Israel, an average of one every ten minutes. Hamas stores its rockets and weaponry in mosques, schools and hospitals. Reporters on the ground have documented Hamas militants using children as combatants. Ben Gurion international airport has been the target of terrorist rockets, and several airlines have canceled their flights. Yet in spite of this, humanitarian aid continues to flow through Israel into Gaza.

This Saturday, extremist anti-Israel groups are again rallying to demand an end to Israel’s right to safeguard its citizens .These groups remain blind to the suffering of the Israeli people, and willfully ignore the role of Hamas in perpetuating the misery of the people of Gaza. From their past demonstrations it is clear these groups object not only to Israel’s defensive actions to protect her citizens, but to the very existence of Israel itself. Last weeks anti-Israel rally featured classic anti-semitism, signs supporting Hamas, and the glorification of terrorists dedicated to the destruction of Israel.

Please add your voice to those gathering in solidarity with our friends and family in Israel. Our messages will be that Israel has the right to defend its citizens, that Hamas rocket fire must stop, and that the enemies of peace are those who promote ongoing war in pursuit of a "river to the sea" Arab state.

We will NOT allow any signs calling for violence against Arabs or Muslims in general; just because the other side engages in vicious hate speech does not mean that we will lower ourselves to their level. Anyone bringing such signs will be identified to the San Francisco Police as a provocateur from the other side and removed. A selection of very useful signs can be found at http://www.standwithus.com/signs/.
Please note that these rallies often attract hard-core anti-Semites who have been known to engage in violence. We advise that those leaving the scene should not walk alone and should not engage verbally with any of the anti-Israel crowd. We also expect those on our side to follow any instructions from the San Francisco Police that might be issued for our safety.

Please come to help counter the lies of these anti-Israel groups, none of whom even accept Israel's right to exist, let alone defend itself!

Berkeley Rabbi Menachem Creditor subject to anti-Semitic attacks

Berkeley's beloved Menachem  Creditor  is now being stalked, harrassed and threatened via social media.

After his article in Huffington post  I'm Done Apologizing for Israel went viral, with over 10,000 shares the progressive rabbi who describes himself as "a progressive American rabbi who leans left pretty hard. I've been engaged, as a US faith leader, in work to reform gun laws, extend LGBT rights around the world, grant refuge to illegal immigrants, protect women's reproductive choice, and more."  finds himself  the subject of a vile smear campaign on social media.

From what I suspect is a fake identity chosen  specifically because it sounded Jewish, the anti-semitic attack rages:

"His name is really menachem creditor? really? jews named moneymaker or bankman or richman. creditor name shows his evil way"

Just another example of the repulsive phenomenon of antisemitism hiding behind the acceptable fig leaf of anti-zionism

Medea Benjamin at her finest

Gotta love this photo of Zach Hanover and Medea Benjamin, taken as Medea attempted to crash a pro Israel rally in Washington D.C.

From Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals:

"Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage."

Medea Benjamin, the  millionaire populist 1% er and leader of the BDS movement while investing in BDS stock is certainly ripe for ridicule. 

Thanks for the laugh, Zach.

Community Gathering in Support of Israel

Please Join the Community Gathering in Support of Israel  Tuesday, July 22, 2014 7:30 pm Congregation Beth David  19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga

 

Speakers include:

• Deputy Consul General Eyal Naor
 
• Rabbis
• Cantors
• Community Members

In conjunction with:
- The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
- Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley, Levy Family Campus
- Hillel of Silicon Valley
- Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
- South Peninsula Hebrew Day School
- Yavneh Day School
- Chai House
- Congregation Emeth
- Congregation Shir Hadash
- Congregation Sinai
- Temple Emanu-El
- Kehilla Jewish High School

More Photos and Video from the Solidarity with Israel rally

By popular demand,  we'll be posting more photos and videos from Sundays solidarity march for Israel (Thanks to everyone who sent them in)

Rabbi Menachem Creditor: Standing strong with Israel

Several months ago, Berkeley's beloved Rabbi Menachem Creditor of Congregation Netivot Shalom had a run-in with  "Jewish" anti-Israel protesters. Rather than give in to bitter hatred, it simply strengthened  his resolve to continue the fight for our land and our people.

Please read this powerful piece by Rabbi Creditor:

From the Huffington Post

To those who suggest that Prime Minister Netanyahu is over-reacting to the missiles, I offer this response which I have now shared regularly at campus and communal conversations:

Israel is treating wounded Palestinians during this conflict, risking Israeli lives in surgical strikes to destroy weapons-smuggling tunnels created with building materials Israel allowed into Gaza for infrastructure projects to benefit Palestinian society. Just for a moment, consider the deaths that would result from Israel wishing harm on Palestinian civilians. In just the last 48 hours, Israel has allowed over 10 tons of goods into Gaza. During the past weeks, Israel has agreed to two humanitarian cease-fires. In the first hours of those ceasefires, Hamas rained down over 70 missiles onto Israel civilians.

Rabbi Creditor concludes:

My response has changed these last few weeks, in which three Jewish teens were murdered by Arab terrorists and Palestinians celebrated by distributing sweets to children and an Arab teen was murdered by Jewish terrorists and the Jewish world condemned the hatred. I am done trying to apologetically explain Jewish morality. I am done apologizing for my own Jewish existence.

Some will call this needless hyperbole. But, having watched in this last week anti-Semitic "die-ins" in Boston, violent assaults against Jews in Los Angeles and Antwerp, and an almost pogrom at a synagogue in Paris, I'm done mincing my own words.

We will do what we must to protect our people. We have that right. We are not less deserving of life and quiet than anyone else.

No more apologies.

 Read it all here

San Francisco: The Ugly Face of anti-Israel Protests

On Sunday, July 20, while the Jewish community gathered in solemn prayer, in unity and in peace an anti-Israel rally was also held in San Francisco, featuring (no surprises here) wannabe jihadis openly expressing their support for the Hamas terror group.

Hamas supporter in San Francisco

All the usual anti-Israel themes played out on Sunday.  Whats an anti-Israel event in San Francisco without faux-Jews?  Prof. Andrew Gutierrez of UC Berkeley played the role with his usual panache. He now joins the ranks of such other notable faux-Jews as Hassan Fouda and  Gabriel Matthew Schivone

 And again,  whats a San Francisco hate-fest without gratuitous flag-burning?

As the Jewish community gathered in strength and in unity, mourning our dead and praying for peace, members of the fringe group, Jewish voice for Peace  became dismayed by their own irrelevance and invisibility  and plotted their revenge.

From an anonymous commenter:

 "They strategically positioned themselves in different parts of the large sanctuary and disrupted the speeches and prayers six times, screaming unintelligibly and spitting out ugly accusations at more or less equal intervals, one person at a time, which appeared well orchestrated. They did it, despite the repeated reminders about the sacred nature of the environment, until each one was escorted outside. It was extremely upsetting and some children in the audience looked scared and visibly shaken."

Any group that would interrupt a community at prayer, any group that would deliberately frighten children, and destroy the sanctity of a sacred space deserves ostracism from the mainstream. It is tactics such as these that have made the humorless, self-indulgent activists of JVP an object of scorn and ridicule from coast to coast

This isn't the first time anti-Israel provocateurs disrupted a Jewish community event.  Just a few years ago,  Brian Malovany, Ralp Cohen, Harris Kornstein, Daniel Bassichis,  Lacey Johnson, Deborah Schneider, Micah Bazant, Sara Kershnar, Micheline Levy, Margot Goldstein,  Perry Bellow-Handelman, Barbara Lubin, Amy Schoenwald, Meredith fenton, Stephen leeds, Amy Fornari, Marriana Vitturro, Jaron browne, Deborah Agre and Ruth Coltharb were all arrested for disrupting a Jewish communal celebration. at the San Francisco JCC. For her role in terrifying children,  and interrupting communal study, Amy Fornari (now going by Ari Lev Fornari) was granted a place on JVP "Rabbinical"  Council.

San Francisco anti-Israel activity.   Still ugly after all these years.

San Francisco Solidarity with Israel march

On July 20, San Francisco joined with dozens of other cities around the world, gathering in prayer and in solidarity with our friends, our family in Israel.

Meeting at the San Francisco Jewish community center, a march was held to Temple Emanu-El, where a prayer gathering was scheduled

A beautiful, enthusiastic multi-generational group participated.

A small group of protesters from Jewish Voice for Peace gathered off to the side, completely irrelevant to the masses both inside and outside the temple.

(tThank you Greg, for the photos)

Hamas fighters dressing in women's garb

Canadian Journalist Janis Mackey Frayer  reporting from Gaza shares her observation of cowardly Hamas fighters, dressed in women's clothing

UPDATE (via Elder of Ziyon)

This happens to be a war crime.

The 1977 Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 , article 37, defines "perfidy" as "(c) the feigning of civilian, non-combatant status."

When will the war end? When Hamas runs out of rockets.

From the J Post:

The IDF said on Saturday Gaza-based militants had used up or lost about half of their rockets in 12 days of fighting - though the Islamist fighters say they have been replenishing their arsenal.

The Israeli military said Palestinian fighters had fired at least 1,705 rockets out of an estimated stockpile of about 10,000, a depletion of about 17 percent.

"I think that we have hit and destroyed 30 to 40 percent of the rockets," chief military spokesman Brigadier-General Moti Almoz said, referring to an Israeli offensive on Gaza that escalated on Thursday.

San Francisco Emergency Solidarity Gathering

Sunday, July 20, 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Congregation Emanu-El
2 Lake Street, San Francisco, CA

Organized for the community by the Jewish Community Relations Council, The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and the Board of Rabbis of Northern California.

As Israel continues to face incessant rocket fire from Gaza and Hamas rejects Israel's offers of a ceasefire, we call on our community to come together for a mass gathering to stand with the people of Israel during this difficult time.

The event will include remarks from Israeli Consul General Dr. Andy David, elected officials and community leaders, as well as a moving musical performance.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel.

UPDATE (from San Francisco Voice for Israel): 

We've just been notified that a group of young Israelis from the Peninsula (the Israeli Cultural Connection at the Oshman Family Palo Alto JCC) are organizing a march in San Francisco prior to tomorrow's community solidarity rally at Congregation Emanu-El which begins at 4 PM.  StandWithUs/SF Voice for Israel is delighted to join them in this event.

We are asking people to meet at 2:30 at the parking lot of 3333 California Street, directly across the street from the San Francisco JCC. Parking will be available in this lot or in the SFJCC garage.  

We will be bringing some Israeli and American flags, and pro-Israel signs. Please feel free to bring your own as well. Our messages will be that Israel has the right to defend its citizens, that Hamas rocket fire must stop, and that the enemies of peace are those who promote ongoing war in pursuit of a "river to the sea" Arab state.

We will NOT allow any signs calling for violence against Arabs or Muslims in general; just because the other side engages in vicious hate speech does not mean that we will lower ourselves to their level. Anyone bringing such signs will be identified to the San Francisco Police as a provocateur from the other side and removed. A selection of very useful signs can be found at http://www.standwithus.com/signs/.

We will then march to Emanu-El which is 8/10 of a mile away, and attend the solidarity event.  

Looking forward to seeing many of you there!

The Best Headline. Ever

From the Jewish Telegraph July 19, 2014, via David Ha'ivri

"Their God changes the path of our Rockets in mid-air"

Yep. We know. (Though I suspect our engineers at the Technion  may also have something to do with it)

A Song of Ascents.

 I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come?
My help will come from Hashem, Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot falter;
Your Guardian does not slumber.
Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
Hashem is your guardian;
Hashem is your protective shadow at your right hand.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
Hashem will guard you from all evil;
He will guard your soul.
Hashem will guard your departure and your arrival from now and for all time

Full text of the article can be found here

UPDATE:
A full copy of the paper, to dispel all doubt that this was photo-shopped

The conflict continues: Three Israelis Killed

Waking up to sad news today.  The violence from Gaza and the attacks on Israel  continue to escalate. Three Israelis have been killed today.

Two IDF soldiers Major Amotz Greenberg, 45, and Sgt. Adar Barsano, 20 were killed after a Hamas terror cell infiltrated Israel through a tunnel.  One gunman was killed while others escaped back to Gaza.  The ground incursion in to Gaza is designed specifically to find and destroy these tunnels, to prevent further attacks on the Israeli people. 34 tunnels shafts have been discovered in Gaza, with 5 reaching directly into Israel.

Ouda Lafi al-Waj, 32  was also  killed Saturday and a 3-month-old girl was seriously injured after their  compound near Dimona was hit by a rocket fired by Gaza terrorists  Three other family members were also injured in the attack.

In spite of the hostilities, Israel is doing everything to ensure that humanitarian aid  is sent to the people of Gaza.  Today Israel  facilitated the transfer of 5 trucks carrying 100 tons of medicine & supplies via the Erez crossing  to hospitals in Gaza.

Praying for a speedy end to this conflict

Hamas Interior Ministry To Social Media Activists: Always Call The Dead 'Innocent Civilians'; Don't Post Photos Of Rockets Being Fired From Civilian Population Centers

In their war against Israel, Hamas is utilizing social media activists to propagandize and spread their narrative.  Memri has helpfully translated the guidelines

Via MEMRI:
In light of the recent round of fighting in Gaza, the Hamas interior ministry has issued guidelines to Gaza Strip social media users for reporting events and discussing them with outsiders.

The ministry's guidelines, which it is calling the "Be Aware – Social Media Activist Awareness Campaign," were issued via an instructional video posted on its official website and via posters published on its Twitter and Facebook pages. Both the video and the posters were also posted on the ministry's social media accounts and forums.

The guidelines are aimed at ensuring preservation of the line of Hamas and other Palestinian organizations; preventing the leaking of information that would be of military value to Israel; bolstering Hamas's propaganda efforts outside the Gaza Strip, in both the Arab world and the West; and preventing damage to Hamas's image. Hamas particularly seeks to cement the perceptions that its actions are a response to Israeli aggression and that all Gaza casualties are "innocent civilians," and to ensure that there is no evidence of rockets being fired from Gaza population centers.

The Hamas interior ministry website included the following text along with its instructional video: "The Information Department of the Ministry of the Interior and National Security has instructed activists on social media websites, particularly Facebook, to correct some of the commonly used terms as they cover the aggression taking place in the Gaza Strip. The following Information Department video calls on all activists to use the proper terminology, in order to play their part in strengthening the home front and in properly conveying information worldwide.

Following are excerpts from the  Hamas guidelines:

"Anyone killed or martyred is to be called a civilian from Gaza or Palestine, before we talk about his status in jihad or his military rank. Don't forget to always add 'innocent civilian' or 'innocent citizen' in your description of those killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza.

"Begin [your reports of] news of resistance actions with the phrase 'In response to the cruel Israeli attack,' and conclude with the phrase 'This many people have been martyred since Israel launched its aggression against Gaza.' Be sure to always perpetuate the principle of 'the role of the occupation is attack, and we in Palestine are fulfilling [the role of] the reaction.'

"Avoid publishing pictures of rockets fired into Israel from [Gaza] city centers. This [would] provide a pretext for attacking residential areas in the Gaza Strip. Do not publish or share photos or video clips showing rocket launching sites or the movement of resistance [forces] in Gaza.

"To the administrators of news pages on Facebook: Do not publish close-ups of masked men with heavy weapons, so that your page will not be shut down [by Facebook] on the claim that you are inciting violence. In your coverage, be sure that you say: 'The locally manufactured shells fired by the resistance are a natural response to the Israeli occupation that deliberately fires rockets against civilians in the West Bank and Gaza'..."

Read it all here