Daniel Lubetzky

For those that can read Spanish, below is an excerpt from an article by Leo Zuckerman, an excellent Mexican columnist (who happens to be married to the smart cousin in the family .

For those that can’t read Spanish, just a quick synopsis: The Iranian regime is not content with suppressing their own people, or blowing up embassies and community centers in Argentina or trying to procure nuclear weapons, or trying to be a spoiler to efforts by the Palestinian and Israeli Heads of State to achieve a peace agreement. 

Now they are also trying to impose their censure on artists exhibiting art in Mexican Museums.  They began bullying an artist and museum threatening to issue fatwas against them if they do not bring down a display.  The art at stake by a Moroccan artist is a homage to French painter Gustave Coubert and is based on photographs of human vaginas covered by a contour that resembles a temple.  The Iranian Ambassador was incensed at this and began threatening everyone he could. 

At issue is not whether you or I like the art at sake – I have never seen it.  But whether a retrograde regime that imposes censure on its own people, persecuting homosexuals and lashing out against women who don’t wear a hijab or banning all sorts of open behavior or jailing people that disagree with their views – should have the gull to seek to impose their views on the citizens of Mexico also!!!

I think there is great validity to the view that artists should exercise their judgment and be sensitive to certain core tenets of religions.  The Danish cartoons that infringed on the Islamic ban of portraying the Great Prophet Muhammad (let alone doing so in an offensive fashion) in my opinion were exceedingly insensitive to a noble religion and it is very regrettable that such bad judgment was displayed by those who organized a "contest" about this. 

But the answer is not to use or threaten violence, and it is also certainly not to censure all forms of expression that may offend precisely because artists some times need to be able to express themselves against the injustice or inhumanity of a status quo condition, government or religion and, while it is very sad when people feel they need to offend others, it is far more harmful to prevent all forms of expression that offend those in power.

Now to add insult to injury the Iranian Ambassador seeks to impose his censure in a peace-loving and modest country thousands of miles away from his.

Excélsior / Juegos de Poder
Aquí no, señor embajador

Leo Zuckermann / Martes 27 de noviembre del 2007

Gracias a una oportuna y completa nota de Juan Pablo Proal en Proceso me enteré de que el embajador de Irán en México está exigiendo el retiro de una exposición artística en Puebla. La historia es la siguiente. En la capital poblana se está exhibiendo la obra El origen del mundo del artista marroquí Fouad Bellamine. En ella hay una serie de fotografías de vaginas humanas cubiertas por un contorno que asemeja una mezquita. De acuerdo al autor, la obra es un homenaje al pintor francés Gustave Coubert que en el siglo XIX mostró una vagina desnuda que fue censurada: “Con ese antecedente, el marroquí intentó también hacer una deferencia estética a la vagina por ser una fuente de vida, explica la curadora”.

El embajador Mohammad Hassan Chadiri Abyahen fue invitado a la inauguración del Festival Internacional de Puebla y visitó la exhibición. En cuanto la vio, se indignó, consideró las obras como “superpornográficas” y exigió que fueran inmediatamente retiradas. El artista le explicó que el símbolo de la mezquita al frente de las vaginas “era meramente espiritual y podría interpretarse como una Iglesia católica o judía”. Pero el iraní se enojó más y le reclamó que no tenía derecho a ofender a ninguna religión. Al parecer, la Secretaría de Cultura de Puebla, con la anuencia del artista, decidió desmontar la exhibición de inmediato, lo cual, por fortuna, no ocurrió. Fue entonces que el embajador iraní mandó una carta que vale la pena citar:

“Mientras el mundo musulmán está lleno de auténticos artistas representantes de su propia cultura, invitar a un maniático, vulgar e ignorante y a pesar de todo llamarlo artista a presentar la cultura y arte del mundo musulmán, resulta muy extraño.

“Usar este tipo de fotografías pornográficas, no tiene nada que ver con la cultura y el arte del mundo islámico, fotografías que pueden representar una parte vulgar de algunos ambientes, muy corruptos de algún país del mundo occidental. Una exposición que no es posible exhibirlo en ningún país islámico.

“El autor debería explicar al Mundo del Islam la razón de su acto ofensivo. Es natural que el mundo islámico no existe tolerancia, acerca de insultar a los asuntos Sagrados, por esto es mejor que no se repita esta situación, y es lógico y humano respetar el credo religioso de otros”.

La misiva, además de mal redactada, amenazó con “boletinar” a Bellamine como “enemigo del Islam”. Y ya se sabe qué significa esto como lo ha atestiguado el escritor Salman Rushdie quien ha tenido que vivir prácticamente en la clandestinidad.

La embajada iraní sigue presionando para que se retire la exhibición. Dice estar dispuesta a una crisis diplomática con México. Sería un grave error que el gobierno de Mario Marín e incluso el federal de Felipe Calderón accedieran a las demandas de Chadiri Abyahen. México es un país occidental donde constitucionalmente está protegido el derecho a la libertad de expresión. Si a los religiosos les disgusta este tipo de exhibiciones, pues que no vayan a verla.

Eso es muy diferente a ordenar la censura como efectivamente sucede en los países islámicos. En este sentido, el embajador iraní es un buen representante de su nación donde se piensa que el Estado, dominado por los ayatolás, debe ser intolerante con los “asuntos Sagrados” y decidir qué sí y qué no puede ver la gente. Pero aquí, señor embajador, las cosas son diferentes. En México los artistas tienen el derecho de exhibir sus obras, aunque sean una basura, lo cual lo decide cada quien de acuerdo a su criterio personal.

Irán es un país fundamentalista que, como este caso demuestra, pretende exportar sus creencias. Qué peligroso que estos religiosos intolerantes estén a punto de tener armas nucleares.

Not sure of the source of this b/c I got it in an email from a friend, but it helped me keep things in perspective…

Sheikh Abdallah Nimr Darwish, founder of the Israel’s Islamic movement told Israeli President Shimon Peres that the Arab world is ready to make peace once and for all if the "Israeli occupation" of Judea and Samaria comes to an end. "The Israeli flag will fly in the capitals of 57 Arab (and Muslim) states – something that the fathers of Zionism did not dare dream of," Darwish said on Tuesday at the close of Ramadan Iftar feast hosted by Peres. Darwish also said that the 57 Muslim countries have consented to the Saudi peace plan and that the Arab world wants to sovereignly acknowledge the State of Israel. Darwish also said he would agree to small land swaps between Israel and the Palestinians to give both states territory and that normalization was possible and referred to Israel’s political relationship with Egypt and Jordan. Darwish said, "If they have established diplomatic relations, there’s no reason for other Arab nations not to do likewise." He expressed hope of potential peace and insisted that the window of opportunity not be missed.

Yizkor happens five times a year, during holy days of Judaism.  During Yizkor prayer services, people who lost their loved ones repeat the Kaddish prayers that they conducted on a daily basis during the first year of their family member’s passing.

For me Yizkor is a time when I go back to the memories of my Dad, and I focus on reminiscing about him.

It terrifies me and depresses me when I feel like the memories of my Dad are becoming more faint and distant.

So I try hard to remember the smallest of details, the most random experiences.

Like when he taught me how to build model rockets that we would then shoot up in the sky. 

Or when he taught me how to melt lead to make tin soldiers, or how to turn on a steam machine. 

Or when he gave me advice about dating my first girlfriend.

Or when he spoke to me about what it was like to be in Dachau and how his father helped him through to survive. 

Or when I last saw him smile, with proud eyes, when I visited him and my Mom on my way out to the airport when visiting in Puerto Vallarta.

Or how he liked to hug his children with unconditional love, and how we fought to lay by his side and hug him even as we got older. 

How he treated everyone with warmth and respect, whether it was the President of the bank or the bank’s janitor. 

How he managed to make everyone whose path he’d cross just a little bit happier. 

How he would organize an "orchestra" with his four children each playing a different kitchen utensil.

here is a link to a poem I wrote about my Dad on the second year anniversary of his passing.  Gentle Tree.

When my Dad passed away, I struggled a lot at the beginning with the concept of doing Kaddish.  Kaddish is a Jewish prayer where one exhalts, praises and blesses G’d.  It is a blessing recited by people who have lost a close relative (parent, child, sibling, or spouse).  The first year after the passing of the family member, it has to be recited on a daily basis, three times a day, at temple.

It was a significant time commitment, but that did not trouble me.

What most bothered me about Kaddish was the seemingly arrogant conceit that G’d would even care about our blessing him.  Why is this even necessary? Why would the all-powerful, omnipresent, life force care about our singing him praises? Who do we think we are?  Why does this matter?

Rabbi Scheinberg from San Antonio, Texas asked me to give this a shot, for one month.  And if I didn’t find meaning in it by then, we’d find something else for me to do to honor my Dad’s memory.  (He also asked me to read Pirkei Abott, which if anyone – Jewish or not Jewish – has not done, I strongly recommend).  My Dad was not religious, but he had done Kaddish for his Father and I felt it was important I do the same.  So I tried.

I found over the course of that month and year, which coincided with the year when OneVoice and PeaceWorks both started growing very fast, that the daily prayers helped me gain strength and focus.  They enabled me to channel my pain at those moments of the day, and then get through the rest of the day.  They also helped me stay grounded and keep things in context.

There is an intellectually interesting Rabbinical theory about the concept of how G’d needs to contract its force and presence in order to let us gain our freedom of choice, and how our prayers – our mental exercises and meditation – help in turn expand the influence of G’d force.  Ying Yang.

The helpful but repetitive book Kaddish by Leon Wieseltier details the political history of Kaddish services, and how they helped communities keep Judaism alive.

Certainly affirming God’s righteousness at a time when you are most vulnerable and upset by the pain of losing those you love the most is a powerful and difficult exercise.

But what is most compelling about Kaddish and all other rites of Judaism related to mourning is how much these are designed to help one cope with the loss, by providing clear moments for introspection but by also requiring us to live our lives, by providing different phases for mourning that help us graduate slowly back into daily life, from the first week (when you sit Shiva at home with your family, cocooned inside under the mantle of your loved one’s still present energy), to the first month (where you cannot cut your beard or hair and still are raw with the pain of loss and the hovering presence of your loved one), to the first eleven months, where you have to avoid "Simcha" or Joys as, it is told, the soul of your loved one rises up to the Shchina, or eternal light…  …throughout all these phases, Judaism is there to help you cope.

I wrote before about Yom Kippur and fasting.  But like all things Jews do, we manage to eat a lot, so the pre-fast meal and post-fast dinner more than make up for the lack of food during the fast.

This is the first year since my Dad passed away that all of our family was able to be together for Yom Kippur.  Since my Dad’s passing I think it has been subconsciously harder on all of us to be all together, because it only highlights my Dad’s absence.  Still, I think this weekend we were able to enjoy each other and remember my Dad by doing so.

My nieces and nephews – the reason why we want this to be a better world (and hopefully soon when I have my own children):

Being in Los Angeles is very different from cramped NYC.  Just to give you an example, I think this salad bowl is bigger than my apartment in NYC:

How does a secular Jew relate to prayer? What is the meaning of Judaism, particularly in the modern world? 

What I love about Judaism has always been its overarching emphasis on striving to become better human beings.  The golden rule stems from Judaism: Do onto others…

I particularly admire the concept of “Tikun Olam”, that we are here in this world to make it better, to heal it.  I was raised in my Mexican Jewish school reading stories from Isaac Bashevis Singer and other Yiddish writers about that humble Rabbi’s unassuming good deeds in the shtetl (the little village in the farmlands of Eastern Europe).

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people.  It is not a day for celebration, though, as much as for introspection accompanied by a fast (so, instead of telling a Jewish person “Happy Yom Kippur”, you may want to say “Have an Easy Fast” or “Gmar Hatima Tova”, which means, may you be inscribed in the heavenly book).

When Yom Kippur comes, I try to use prayer as a way to meditate on how I can improve as a human being.  These are some of the reflections and areas I thought about – and will work on – improving:

Try to be more patient.  Try to be more patient with my Mom.  Try to be more patient with my team.

Try to be more empathetic and understanding.

Strive to be a better son.

Strive to be a better partner to Michelle.

Strive to be a better brother.

Strive to be a better friend.

Strive to be a better team member, mentor, CEO, colleague.

Be on time.  Be on time.  Be on time!

Fight all instincts at arrogance, conceit, self-importance, superiority, and haughtiness.

Treat every human being with respect and as an equal.

Be a better coach, be more supportive of my team, empower my team more, be better at guiding, trusting, strengthening.

Expect nothing from anyone, fight any sense of entitlement, never feel any support is not enough or not acceptable, be genuinely grateful for any support any person gives to the OneVoice Movement.

Never speak bad of others, never criticize people behind their back.

Give more time to my team at the company, and be thankful to them for their understanding for the time I have judged I need to give to OneVoice.

Strengthen and support my team for their professional and personal growth.

Be tolerant of errors, and guide team to excellence in a positive way.

Strive for justice, equality, peace, progress, light, prosperity, respect, humanity.

Fight terrorism, fight fundamentalism, fight to extinguish all forms of violent extremism.

Reject, uproot and actively fight any form of crime, abuse, mistreatment, cruelty, or injustice.

While prayer some times contains allegorical words designed to take you to a place where you can ponder and reflect on your role in the big scheme of things and on the importance of keeping in perspective what we each are in the grand design of life, some Yom Kippur prayers are actually quite poignant in teaching all of us to recognize we are far more imperfect than we would like to acknowledge.

Here is an example of prayers about sins we seek absolution from, from the seemingly mundane to the truly wicked, which I would not have thought about in my singular reflection but which all congregants probably realize we need to work on:

For the sin of the mocking voice,

For the sin of the clenched fist,

For the sin of the deceitful smile,

For the sin of spoken falsehood,

For the sin of enjoying violence

For the sin of causeless hatred….we seek forgiveness.

Somehow the way these are written, it makes you come to terms with your imperfections and failings.  "For the sin of spoken falsehood" – yes, nicer way to put it but I guess I’ve lied at some point in the course of last year, and I regret that…

And also the following:

We have sinned against you by polluting your earth

We have sinned against you through evil thoughts

We have sinned against you through false pride

We have sinned against you through wanton glances

We have sinned against you by envy

We have sinned against you by committing iniquity

We have sinned against you by hardening our hearts

We have sinned against you by being stubborn

We have sinned against you by perverting justice.

The above are NOT verbatim or in order, just to the best of my recollection, and from cryptic little notes I took…against the edict of not writing during Yom Kippur…

One of the greatest strengths of the OneVoice Movement is that it is made up of mainstream nationalists from each side. 

The Chief Palestinian Islamic Justice, Sheikh Taysir al Tamimi, a fervent Palestinian patriot, is the equivalent in Palestine to what in Israel would be a merger between the Chief Rabbi AND the Head of the Israeli Supreme Court.  He has been on our Board for several years now, serving on the same international board as Jewish and Israeli religious heavyweights such as Dr. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Chief Rabbi David Rosen, President of the IJRCC, and Rabbi Nissim Dahan from Shas.

When a militant extremist tries to undermine the credibility or legitimacy of the OneVoice Movement, staunch nationalists and religious authorities on our Board lend important backing to our efforts.

That is why it is particularly significant that Sheikh Tamimi has agreed to provide a blessing at the OneVoice Summit in Jericho on October 18th.

Earlier in the week he met Dr. Fathi Darwish with other Palestinian supporters of the OneVoice Movement, including Dr. Mahmoud Labadi, former Director General of the Palestinian Legislative Council, who also serves on the international Board, and local Advisory members Mr. Hatem Abbas, and Dr. Rateb Kisrawi,

Avraham Infeld, the Chairman Emeritus of Hillel, is known as
a giant in Jewish circles. My friend, mentor and hero Rabbi Brian Lurie
(I’ll tell you about him another time) introduced me to Avraham earlier this summer. I was struck by his passion for Israel, and corollary passion for a Two-State-Solution, with the passion emanating from his enlightened recognition that this is the only way Jews will be able to have a peaceful homeland with Jewish values, and the only way Palestinians and Israelis will be able to achieve peace.

He pointed out that as a South African Jew, he fears for Israel and for the region.

He worries at the dying necessary intersection for the only possible solution to this conflict: a two-state solution:
Currently the majority of Palestinians want a two-state solution, but that majority is decreasing every day we see no progress towards it, even though there is no other alternative that will bring peace to the region.
Israeli Jews increasingly support the imperative of a two-state solution, but will they do so and act on it fast enough before it is too late and we are all doomed to eternal fighting?

This last Friday, Gazans organized a protest against Hamas. They
called on people to pray outside the mosques.

The background to this is that Hamas has seized total control of the
mosques, banning any Imam who does not follow the party line, and
using the pulpit for their political and ideological propaganda.

Needless to say, the people are fed up about Hamas’s abuses. What is
remarkable is that this protest came from the people and from civil
society groups, not from political parties.

This is thus a potential milestone, when the fight is not just between
Fatah and Hamas, but now also between Hamas oppression and popular
disgust.

Hamas reacted with harshness, beating up people praying on the
streets, which will only further alienate the public.

Reporters were injured in an effort to intimidate the media from
sharing the news.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
.

Just saw the provocative and extraordinary documentary, Deliver Us From Evil. 

It documents the pathological institutionalization and cover-up of sexual abuse and rape of children by priests in the California Diocese of the Catholic Church.

What is most infuriating is the well-documented cover up of these crimes, motivated by the desire of higher-ups to safeguard their careers, and resulting in an exponentially greater number of victims.  

It is shocking that Cardinal Roger Mahoney may still be serving as a high level official of the Church when it is so clear he is directly responsible for covering up abuses he knew about.  And “Father” Oliver O’Grady, alone responsible for destroying scores of lives and families, is roaming free in Ireland because of machinations by the Church in spite of overwhelming proof that he raped vicitims as young as 9 months old and continued this pattern unobstructed for three decades with the knowledge of his superiors, who would just transfer him from parish to parish – to hide the problem.

Clergy abuse is so rampant that over 100,000 victims have risen up in the US alone in recent years.  The numbers are staggering when bearing in mind that statistics indicate 80% of children who are raped and abused never report the crimes to the authorities.

The documentary also persuasively explains how this problem is institutionalized into the structure of the Catholic Church since celibacy was imposed on the priesthood for financial reasons (to prevent children from inheriting their priest parents’ possessions, and instead ensure that this property remained in the hands of the Catholic Church).

Of course not all Priests are pedophiles, and the vast majority of figures connected to the Church are remarkable spiritual leaders.  Pope John Paul II was such a holy and deeply benevolent soul and example to our world and to ALL religions, as well as to the secular.

It is all-the-more tragic that one of the world’s great religions has not come to terms with this. 

It is ironic that the Catholic Church will condemn so many victimless actions as abominable and unnatural sins, but doesn’t address the abominations within, and the unnatural structures that lead to them.   

The assumption that one person or group is above the law (of earth and of heaven) can only lead to bad results.