Now this is a controversial story. Adolek Kohn, a Holocaust survivor has decided to dance at the sites of the Nazi's worst atrocities, such as Auschwitz, instead of mourn, and it's causing an outcry. But before you judge, hear what Kohn has to say. AP has the story

Here's a little bit of good news, According to a Gallup Poll, support for Israel is at a near-record high among Americans, flotillas notwithstanding. Read all about it in the JTA item.

Tablet has a very introspective look at Jack Tytell, a West Bank settler, and accused terrorist. Tytell, according to the story, has already confessed to two murders and is reportedly linked to many other crimes. What drove him to it? Read on.

That's all for this week. Until next.

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released this statement Thursday equested a meeting with Cuba's ambassador to the United Nations, Pedro Nunez Mosquera, to discuss the plight of Alan P. Gross, an American Jew who has been held in a Cuban jail since Dec. 3, 2009:

“It is outrageous that Mr. Gross, who was clearly not engaged in espionage or inappropriate activities would be imprisoned for more than seven months with no charge. He was in Cuba as a US Agency for International Development subcontractor working on a U.S. government program to help the local Jewish community stay in contact with each other and with similar groups abroad. We have been approaching intermediaries to urge Mr. Gross’ immediate release. We hope Ambassador Nunez Mosquera will meet with us and convey our concerns about Mr. Gross’ improper imprisonment and his failing health to the Cuban government,” said Conference of Presidents Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has repeatedly called upon Cuba to release Gross, stating that his continued detention is harming U.S.-Cuba relations. Solow and Hoenlein voiced appreciation for the work of the Administration and the State Department to secure Mr. Gross’ release and expressed hope that Cuba will recognize that “Mr. Gross is not a man who is motivated by politics, nor by any agenda other than providing humanitarian support to people in need.”

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter will vote to confirm Elena Kagan as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court.

In a detailed statement posted to his Web site Thursday, Specter expressed disappointment, sometimes outright frustration, with noncommittal answers Kagan gave during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiiciary Committee.

"On balance, Kagan did little to move the nomination hearings from the stylized "farce" (her own word) they have become into a discussion of substantive issues that reveal something of the nominee's judicial philosophy and predilections," Specter says in this prepared statement. "It may be understandable that she said little after White House coaching and the continuing success of stonewalling nominees. But it is regrettable. Some indication of her judicial philosophy may be gleaned by her self-classification as a "progressive" and her acknowledged admiration for Justice Thurgood Marshall. That suggests she would uphold congressional fact-finding resulting in remedial legislation and protect individual rights in the congressional-executive battles."

Even so, "The best protection of those values may come from the public's understanding through television of the court's tremendous power in deciding the nation's critical questions. In addition to her intellect, academic and professional qualifications, Kagan did just enough to win my vote by her answers that television would be good for the country and the court, and by identifying Justice Marshall as her role model."

Think the kibbutzim, which were so central to development of Israel, are passing into history? Check out what is happening on Kibbutz Ketura. The collective settlements of Israeli lure can still be on the cutting edge of Green technology, which is part and parcel to the future of the Jewish state (has to be when you're one of the few places in the Middle East without any oil). The eco-news  site Green Prophet, which reports on environmental news from the Middle East, has the story.  

Palestinian Authority President President Mahmoud Abbas just did something he should have been doing all along: He spoke directly to the Israeli people.

In an interview he granted to six Israeli correspondents Wednesday, Abbas warned that progress in peace negotiations with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving too slowly. "I too have a fragile coalition and a million more internal problems than Netanyahu," he said. Whether you like or hate Abbas, this is a story worth reading.

Something else that's worth reading is an open letter actor Jon Voight recently sent to President Obama in which he harshly criticizes the president for what Voight perceives as his lack of support for Israel. He also takes him to task for his position on Arizona's controversial illegal immigrant statute, which is about to take effect.

Remember the story about Mosab Yousef, the son of a high-ranking Hamas official, who recently revealed he spied for Israel. Well, it appears Yousef is getting closer to winning asylum in the United States. The Los Angeles Jewish Journal has the story — more good reading by a very good newspaper.

Finally, if you're an anti-Semite (we'll, you're probably not if you're reading this blog), but on the slight chance that you are, it would be a big mistake to terrorize Jews in Amsterdam.

The AP just reported that officials in the Dutch capital are considering using decoy Jews to catch anti-Semites in the act of harassing its Jewish residents. The decoys would be undercover Amsterdam police officers, wearing skullcaps, who would proceed to arrest the astonished terrorizers, adding an interesting new wrinkle to the fight against racism.

City officials have yet to approve the idea, but the plan already has the support of the acting mayor of Amsterdam as well as a prominent politician of Moroccan descent who reportedly said, "I'll act as a decoy Jew myself if necessary."

Happy Fourth of July to everyone. Like all countries, ours isn't perfect, but for 234 years, it has been an inspiring experiment in what mankind can achieve. And Jews have known freedom here, the likes of which we have rarely experienced anywhere else. There's something to be thankful for this Shabbat.

The Israel Project, one of the leading pro-Israel sources in the media today, recently posted this piece on Arab intellectuals who choose to reach out to Israel instead of isolate her. We think it's an important piece to read in light of today's polarizing climate in the Middle East. We post it here with all its corresponding footnotes — well-researched story.

—————————————————————

Arab Intelligentsia Strive for Better Relations with Israel despite Threats

Arab actors, journalists and other intellectuals are defying their countries’ unofficial bans on working with Israelis and Jews – even amid threats – as they strive toward “normalized” relations with their counterparts. The efforts have divided Arabs into two camps: those who defend reconciling relations with Israelis and others who favor boycotts or violence to further political goals.[1]

In the meantime, Israelis have pushed ahead with their longtime attempts to strengthen cultural ties with Arabs as part of their goal of mutual acceptance and recognition.[2]

In recent months, Egyptian actor Khalid Al-Nabawy became an unwitting lightning rod in this struggle after participating in the American film “Fair Game” with Israeli actress Liraz Charhi. Although the actor said he didn’t participate in the movie for political reasons, he ultimately "realized he would pay the price" for acting alongside Charhi.[3]

In other cases, however, Arab actors, authors and others are knowingly taking on roles that bridge cultural and political gaps with their Israeli and Jewish colleagues.[4] For example:

Film star Omar Al-Shareef withstood threats for his participation in a Hollywood film with actress Barbara Streisand; for a time he was banned from Egypt because Streisand is Jewish. Al-Shareef also challenged the unofficial boycott by introducing Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, who gave a concert at the Cairo opera house in 2009.[5]

In April 2010, Egyptian film directors and stars withdrew from an annual French-sponsored festival in Cairo because it included a film by a Jewish director. Egyptian writer Sameer Farid criticized the pressure on France and defended Egyptians’ rights to see the film. "Every Egyptian is free to consider whether this is a matter of normalization or not. He or she is even free to accept or reject normalization … This is freedom. Anyone who sells freedom at any price would lose freedom and lose everything." Farid emphasized the festival’s importance to help achieve peace, saying, "People everywhere are open to inter-cultural dialogue and the importance of coexistence between ethnicities."[6]

Speaking about the French-sponsored festival, Egyptian playwright Ali Salem, author of "School of Troublemakers" (Madrasat AlMoshaghebeen), said: "The reason behind the withdrawal of several directors and stars from the French Cultural Council is that they were under strong pressure, to the extent that they were threatened of being accused of normalization. This charge has long been used as a frightening tool against intellectuals." Salim, who drove his car to Israel in 1994 to write the book "A Journey to Israel," commented: "What benefits have been achieved so far as a result of the cultural boycott against Israel?"[7]

Habib Bolus, an Israeli Arab academician, praised Sasson Somekh, an Israeli professor of Arabic literature at Tel Aviv University, for teaching Israelis about Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz's legacy as well as Somekh's research and translations of Arab texts of poetry and prose. "This type of study would be enough to guide the eyes of the West towards our contemporary literature, particularly the fictional aspect, and make the world aware of Naguib Mahfouz, the leader of this genre," said Bolus, adding that Somekh’s role in introducing the world to Mahfouz helped Mahfouz become a Noble Laureate in 1988.[8]

Somekh, who immigrated to Israel from Iraq in 1951, is preparing a study on Iraqi contemporary literature, including three stories written by Iraqi writers Ali Badr, Najm Wali and Jassim Al-Mutair, who chose Jewish characters as protagonists in their narratives.[9] In July 2009, Somekh supervised the editing of a special series of the Hebrew-language "Eton 77" journal on Arab literature, in which he compiled Arabic and Hebrew poems for Mahmoud Darwish, Suad Al-Sabbah, Adonis, Mohammed Al-Maghout, Abdul Wahab Al-Bayati, Iman Mersal, Suzan Elewan, Rita Odeh and Taha Mohammed Ali.[10]

The first translation of an Israeli novel was curtailed following distribution in Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. Al-Jamal publishing house owner Khalid Al-Maali, who translated "A Tale of Love and Darkness" by novelist Amos Oz, said "The demand was unbelievable. I only made a limited number of printed editions of the novel in case it didn’t attract the Arab reader, but the interest … was great." The 750-page novel earned significant attention from Arab critics. Ahmad Zein Eddin defended the translation of Hebrew literature, saying the availability of the Internet and easy access to information have rendered boycotts useless.[11] Debate over the translation of Oz’s novel continues on "Facebook," where the Web page "Translating Hebrew literature … freedom or normalization?" now has more than 300 members.

Numerous Egyptian, Palestinian and Iraqi authors are openly advocating the need for complete cultural normalization with Israel. They include Ali Salem, Anis Mansour, Jamal Al-Ghitani, Najm Wali, Ahmad Matar. Iraqi-German novelist Wali Najm, who publicly visited Israel, stressed normalization as a historical need for Arabs. After visiting Israel, Najm wrote "A Report on A Non-Political Journey" detailing the harsh attacks against Arab intellectuals who have visited Israel. "The dilemma of the Arab intellectual is that he or she is part of the official institution,"[12] he said. Normalization, Mansour has said, serves the interest of a future Palestinian state. He also expressed regret over Arabs' "lack of readiness" for peace. "We still fear and mistrust each other,” he said.[13]

In some cases, Arabs have been penalized for their efforts to work with Israelis and Jews. Among them are Hala Mustafa, editor-in-chief of the Democracy review issued by Al-Ahram, who hosted the Israeli ambassador in her office last year. Hussein Sarraj, editor-in-chief of October magazine, was banned from practicing his profession for three months after admitting to visiting Israel 25 times. Hala defended her right to meet the Israeli ambassador per the freedom granted by the constitution, while Sarraj said he will not stop writing and will appeal the decision against him.[14]

Footnotes:  

[1] Alaa Al-Saadany: "History Won't Turn Itself Back," Al Ahram, June 14, 2010,
http://www.ahram.org.eg/197/2010/06/14/45/24146.aspx

[2] Mohammed Abboud: "Israeli magazine: Unilateral Normalization," Al Masry Al-Youm, July 2, 2009, 
http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article2.aspx?ArticleID=217358

[3] Roee Nahmias: "Egyptian actor accused of 'normalization with Israel," Yediot Aharanot, June 16, 2010,
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3905814,00.html

[4] Mohammed Abboud: "Israeli magazine: Unilateral Normalization," Al Masry Al-Youm, July 2, 2009, 
http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article2.aspx?ArticleID=217358

[5] "Israeli newspapers," Youm 7, April 17, 2009,
http://www.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=90048&SecID=228&IssueID=84

[6] Samir Fareed: "Absent Freedom Talk in Meet the Image Festival in Cairo," Youm 7, April 12, 2010,
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/print/25865

[7] Ali Salem: "Ibraheem Is Turning Around Normalization," Roz Al-Yousef, April 23, 2010
http://www.rosaonline.net/Daily/News.asp?id=58670

[8] Habib Bolus: "Sasson Somekh, A Bride of Israel's Prize in the Field of Midwestern Studies for the Year 2005," Al-Jabha, April 11, 2005
http://www.aljabha.org/print.asp?i=10926

[9] The Israel Project e-mail conversation with Prof. Sasson Somekh, June 20, 2010

[10] Mohammed Abboud: "Israeli magazine: Unilateral Normalization," Al Masry Al-Youm, July 2, 2009
http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article2.aspx?ArticleID=217358

[11] "A Novel by Amos Oz Translated into Arabic," Reuters, April 8, 2010,
http://ara.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idARACAE6370YN20100408?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

[12] Ahmad Zein: "There Are Pirate Arab Publishers … My Visit to Israel Affected My Books," Ahewar, April 24, 2010,
http://www.ahewar.org/news/s.news.asp?ns=no&t=&nid=503603

[13] "Anis Mansour: Normalization With Israel Supports Palestine," Al-Moheet , Sept. 23, 2009,
http://www.moheet.com/show_news.aspx?nid=299163&pg=8

[14] Ibraheem AL-Tayeb and Islam Abdul Kareem: "Journalists' Union Warns Mustafa … and Deprives Hussein of Career Practice for 3 Months," Al-Dostoor, Feb. 3, 2010, 
http://dostor.org/politics/egypt/10/february/3/5067

Here are the statements by two Jewish Pennsylvania lawmakers — Dan Frankel of Squirrel Hill, Josh Shapiro of Montgomery County — regarding Wednesday's passage on the  state's budgets for fiscal year 2011: 

Dan Frankel explains reluctant vote for budget

"I voted for this budget reluctantly because of some of the compromises we made with the Republican-majority Senate to accomplish an on-time budget. I'm glad that we could meet the request of the many nonprofits and agencies serving the public, who asked that above all else, they must receive an on-time budget this year. Ultimately, the importance of providing a stable basis for these organizations and the people they serve required action.

"However, the good news of an on-time budget is tempered with disappointment at the omission of closing the loopholes that keep Pennsylvania nearly alone in still exempting smokeless tobacco and cigars from taxes. That revenue could have averted cuts in things like libraries, breast and cervical cancer screening, arts, state parks and environmental protection -- $70 million would have gone a long way to mitigating some of those cuts and there is broad public support for closing those tax loopholes. As we continue to cope with the nationwide recession that began in 2007, those commonsense taxes were low-hanging fruit in a tough budget year."

Statement from Josh Shapiro on the Pennsylvania state budget

 "The House passed a balanced state budget on time and sent it to the governor for his signature, which is expected. I voted for the budget.

"The $28 billion budget -- roughly the same spending level as last year — was passed in the face of a $1.5 billion deficit and required us to make significant cuts to programs and investments that I think are important. But, I also think it's important — indeed, critical — that government live within its means and not pass on any additional burden to the taxpayers in these difficult economic times. This budget does not raise taxes, it reduces the cost of government operations and still manages to makecritical investments that will help grow our economy and improve education.

"A budget is the sum of many, many parts. To be sure, there are parts I like and parts I don't. But on the whole, it does more good than harm. For example, it makes a $250 million increase in K-12 public education, which will result in more state money going to both the Abington and Upper Dublin school districts. This investment will benefit our children and grandchildren, while at the same time it protects our homeowners and seniors against school property tax hikes. Additionally, notwithstanding the devastating deficits, we managed to make critical investments in economic development to create jobs and grow our economy.

"But there is pain, too. In key public health programs, libraries and environmental protection, we sustained cuts. Make no mistake, I am not happy about those cuts and fought hard to bolster those programs during budget negotiations. In the end, we compromised, we lived within our means and we did not raise taxes."

The following is the complete text of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter opening statement Monday during the confirmation hearing of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States:

Solicitor General Kagan, I join my colleagues in welcoming you here this morning.

With the passing of Senator Byrd earlier today, I was reminded of our hearings for Judge Bork and Senator Byrd's participation in those hearings, and a candid shot of him taken one Saturday when we had an hour -- a Saturday morning session with Judge Bork, and his picture appeared on the front page of the Sunday New York Times, and he will be with us in these hearings and in much of our thinking on the interpretation of the Constitution.

This hearing presents a unique opportunity, perhaps, to have questions answered which have not been answered in the past. The article which you authored for the Chicago Law Review back in 1995 is openly and specifically critical of Justice Ginsburg, Justice Breyer, who, as you characterize it, stonewalled. You criticized the Judiciary Committee, and I think properly so, as lacking seriousness and substance in our approach to the hearings. And you use the phrase that the confirmation process "takes on an air of vacuity and farce."

You quote Senator Biden, then chairman, and myself expressing concerns that one day the committee would, quote, "rear up on its hind legs" and reject a nominee who refused to answer questions for that reason alone. So this is a unique hearing in that respect.

The court, regrettably, I think, has become an ideological battleground. And the activism is on both sides. As a prosecutor in the 1960s, I watched the Constitution change virtually daily: search and seizure, Mapp, 1961; right to counsel, Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963; Miranda, 1966, activism.

We have the Supreme Court now having adopted a test of determining constitutionality, since 1996, on congruence and proportionality, an impossible standard, except, as Justice Scalia described it as a "flabby test" which enables "judicial legislation."

We've had nominations who sat where you sit, not too long ago, who said they would not jolt the system; modesty; and then (inaudible) jolts (ph) to the system; assured this panel that the legislative finding of facts is not a judicial function, and then turned that on its head in Citizens United on a record that is 100,000 pages long, and finding that there's no basis for a 100-year-old precedent, which was overturned, certainly a jolt to the system.

When Senator Biden was considering the nomination of Chief Justice Roberts, he said that he was qualified but would vote against him because, as then Senator Obama said, quote, "overarching political philosophy," close quote.

Well, the presidents make their selections based on ideology. I think that's a blunt fact of life, and the deference that I had considered in earlier -- my earlier days in the Senate, I have come to the conclusion the senators have the same standing to make a determination on -- on ideology.

It has become accepted that there should not be transgression into the area of judicial independence on how a case would be decided.

There's an interesting case captioned "Minnesota v. White," a Justice Scalia opinion in 2002, which struck down a requirement of the Minnesota Bar Association, which prohibited judges from saying how they would decide cases. The Supreme Court said that was an infringement on first amendment rights of freedom of speech.

Now, that doesn't say that a judge should answer the question, but it does say that a bar association rule prohibiting answering the question is invalid, which leaves the judge, at least so far as that standard is concerned, with a latitude to answer the question, so that even on the ultimate question of how a case will be decided -- and in your law review article, you come very close to that when you talk about answering substantive legal issues, really right on the line of how you would decide a case.

But if we are precluded from asking how decisions would be -- what decision would be made on grounds of judicial independence and the precedent on that, I do think it is fair for us to ask whether the Supreme Court would -- would take a case.

The Congress has the authority to direct the Supreme Court on cases which must be heard, flag burning case, McCain-Feingold and many, many others, so that the court's discretion is limited there if there is a congressional direction.

I think it is fair, from that proposition, to ask a nominees whether they would -- would take cases. I spoke at length on the floor about what I consider the inappropriate decline of a number of cases considered.

One hundred years ago, or a little more, in 1886, the Supreme Court decided 146 cases, 146 opinions; a little more than 20 years ago, in 1987, 146 opinions; last year, last term, 78 arguments, 75 opinions. A lot of circuit splits, important cases are not taken up by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court declined to hear the conflict which arguably is the most serious clash between Congress's Article I powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which sets the exclusive means for getting a warrant, listening to a wiretap, probable cause, and the president's warrantless wiretap program justified under Article II.

A Detroit federal judge said it was unconstitutional. The Sixth Circuit ducked it with a standing decision, 2-1, with admittedly the dissenting opinion much stronger; application for cert denied. And this was something I discussed with you in our meeting, which I thank you.

I sent you a series of letters on issues which I intend to ask you about, and that was one of them. I was concerned about your decisions as solicitor general on the case involving the Holocaust victims suing an Italian insurance company, and the Second Circuit bows to the executive position, saying, well, that ought to be decided between Italy and the United States on how that's to be handled. I think that's wrong. But at least the Supreme Court ought to decide it.

I'm not going to ask you how you would decide the case, but would you consider it? A case involving the survivors of victims of 9/11 has not been heard, petitioned for cert from the Second Circuit. The Second Circuit said, well, the sovereign immunities case doesn't apply because Saudi Arabia hadn't been declared a terrorist state. That's really got nothing to do with the act, congressional intent; torts are not governed by sovereign immunity.

You disagreed with the Second Circuit that said the acts occurred outside of the country, a distinction that I don't understand. If the consequences of the trade towers and 3,000 Americans are killed, certainly the Sovereign Immunities Act ought to make Saudi Arabia subject to sue. But I wouldn't ask you how you'll decide the case, but -- but if you would take it up.

Another issue which won't be resolved today and perhaps never is how to see to it that the nominees who make statements here on congressional power and on stare decisis follow up on it.

And maybe the closest approach is the idea of televising. In our meeting, you said you favor televising the court. Not exactly the same, but Brandeis talked about sunlight and publicity being the best disinfectant. Well, it is not a disinfectant we are looking for here, but to hold nominees who answer questions here to follow through when they are on the court.

Thank you.

We just learned that  Tree of Life and Or L'Simcha voted Thursday night to merge into one congregation. We have an interview set for Monday with the leaders of the new congregation and will bring you more news as it comes available.

Despite all the hostility that currently exists between Israel and Turkey, would it surprise you to read about a Turkish official who still calls Israel a friend? The Los Angeles Jewish Journal has an interview with the Turkish consul general in L.A., R. Hakan Tekin (pictured below), and that's precisely what he says, though he tempers the sentiment as well. It's an eye opener. Along the same vein. JTA has reported that Turkish military officers are currently training in Israel. And Joel Rubin, whose political columns appear in The Chronicle, will have some interesting thoughts on Israel's (and America's) relationship with Turkey in next week's issue, so be sure to read it. 

Turning to the Gulf oil spill, NPR just reported that many people in the United Kingdom are upset with what they perceive as undo American bashing of BP. They say the oil giant is being scapegoated, that American firms were just as culpable for the disaster and that the U.S. governmental agency responsible for the oversight didn't do its job. Maybe, but at least one British lawmaker disagrees. Former Conservative Party leader Michael Howard — who is Jewish — noted that the Brits would be just as upset were an American oil company at the center of a major oil spill in the North Sea. We thought you'd like to see the story, so here it is.

Earlier this week, we blogged about a "flotilla" of 50 Israeli kayakers who made their way from Ashdod to Gazan waters to draw international attention to the plight of Gilad Shalit (pictured below) — in other words, a real humanitarian flotilla. Well, it seems Hamas was unmoved, because it has again rejected a request from the International Red Cross to see Shalit. Here's the JTA report on the latest.

By the way, for all you closeted Howard Stern fans, Heeb also has the latest on whether Howard Stern will resign with Sirius 

Until next week.

The Los Angeles Jewish Journal has reported on a flotilla of 50 kayaks bound from Ashdod, Israel, to Nitzanim, near the Gaza border, to publicize the plight of IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Since his kidnapping, you'll recall, on June 25, 2006, Palestinian authorities — be they Hamas, Islamic Jihad or some other terrorist group — have refused to allow the Red Cross, or any international third party, to visit Shalit and confirm that he is well and humanely treated. This story is worth a read. 

It's always sad when a global news organization is found to have done something damaging to its credibility; that is just what happened with regard to Reuters. The British-based news agency recently admitted to cropping a photo in such that removes evidence of the violent Turkish attack aboard the Mavi Maramara. In the original photo an Israeli commandos is seen lying on the deck obviously hurt, a Turkish extremist standing over him holding a knife. In the cropped photo, the knife is missing. Foxnews and Andrew Breitbart's Big Journalism blog had the story. The blog has some especially interesting revelations. Reuters denies there was any political motive; you decide for yourself.

Remember how the American Jewish community once supported Turkey in its efforts to defeat a proposed House Resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide of 1915, which Turkey claims wasn't a genocide at all. Well, that Jewish support has vanished (not surprisingly). Read this report by The Washington Times .

And while the rift between Jews and Turkey gets wider, what do Israeli immigrants from Turkey think of the whole situation? The Forward decided to find out. Check out their story here. 

BBC has an interesting column by its Israeli correspondent Tim Franks, who tries to answer this difficult question: How does a Jewish journalist cover the region impartially? Some of his observations will be disturbing, but they too are part of the issue we all face.

It's a sad, and disturbing commentary on American life, but since Rabbi David Nesenoff posted his now-famous video Helen Thomas telling Jews to "get the hell out of Palestine, he and his family have been bombarded with death threats and other anti-Semitic comments. What disturbs  Nesenoff most is how many there are. He says they are a barometer of how deep-seeded hatred really is in America. Nesenoff has posted some of the more odious comments to his Web site, RabbiLIVE.com. You can also see the Helen Thomas video there.