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August 7, 2008

Rabbi David Gutterman: A Continuing Story With a Sustaining Goal

Rabbi Berel Wein: Mourning and morning

JWisdom: Yes, we are still in exile by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

August 6, 2008

David Ashenfelter: Government made military engineer's life a living hell because of his faith, Defense Department report documents

Jonathan Tobin: Speak the Truth; Defeat the Lies

JWisdom: Jewish Spirituality: Fusion or Confusion? by Rabbi David Aaron

August 5, 2008

Chris Leppek: Church/state wall beginning to crumble?

Paul Greenberg: Exit Olmert (no encore, please)

JWisdom: Serenity: Make the commitment by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin (Read by Gavriel Sanders)

August 4, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Am I taking advantage of another's psychological quirk?

Andrew Silow-Carroll: A black and a Jew walk into the White House…

JWisdom: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: Edward R. Morrow visits the ‘living dead’ by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

August 1, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: We have the power to alter another's destiny — use it well

Caroline B. Glick: Why Olmert — finally — did it

JWisdom: Life By The (Book of) Numbers by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 31, 2008

This Week in Biblical History by Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Ezra the Scribe returns from exile

Joan Verdon: Demure is in demand: More brides seek 'modest' gowns

JWisdom: You don't have to be ‘compatible’ to have a stable, happy relationship by Malka Shulman

July 30, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Does Israel need 'tough love'?

The Kosher Gourmet by Gail Borelli: Pickling captures the fleeting tastes of summer's fruits and vegetables

JWisdom: Serenity: It's Really Up to YOU! by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin (Read by Gavriel Sanders)

July 29, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Good things happen

Dick Morris: How Israel's race could shift ours

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Equal but Not Jewish or Jewish but Not Human?

July 28, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: How and when to lie

Steven Emerson: More Perils of Interfaith Dialogue

JWisdom:: A TripTik for Your Spiritual Journey by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 24, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: On the road again --- and again and again

Richard Z. Chesnoff: Mideast Refugees --- Failure vs. Success

JWisdom:: Word power is about more than vocabulary by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 23, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: The Mufti of Jerusalem's Nazi ideology lives on among contemporary Islamists

The Kosher Gourmet by Joe Gray: Smoked paprika turkey meatballs simmered in red wine and tomato sauce

JWisdom:: 'Routine' doesn't need to mean ‘rote’ By Rabbi David Aaron

July 22, 2008

Yossi Klein Halevi: Dear Barack Obama

Elliot B. Gertel: Eli Stone: Self-indulgent, arrogant corporate attorney as modern-day prophet

JWisdom:: Three Weeks - Nine Days - One Purpose by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

July 21, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Spending your kids' money

Mitch Albom: A grim exchange illustrates a key difference

JWisdom:: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: Hammered on the Anvil --- Severed by the Sickle by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

July 18, 2008

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The Sanctification and Importance of Time

Caroline B. Glick: US wants it absolutely clear it has no intention of attacking Iran's nuclear installations

Mona Charen: What can you say about a people who welcome a child murderer as a hero?

JWisdom:: Living a dog's life, dawg? by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 17, 2008

Steven Emerson: Deals with devils

Libby Lazewnik: One Step at a Time

JWisdom:: Leader the follower? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 16, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Poaching humans

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Meaty pasta salad with summer berries perfect for warm evenings

JWisdom:: Keeping A Secret by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

July 15, 2008

Dennis Prager: False Equation: Opposing Same-Sex Marriage and Opposing Interracial Marriage

Joel Greenberg: Researchers look to Israeli circumcision program to help combat AIDS 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part V: Why Judaism ISN'T Spiritual by Rabbi David Aaron

July 14, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: A warning from Canada to those who value life

Jonathan Tobin: 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism, Part II

July 11, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: It's hard to be humble when you're great

Caroline B. Glick: A tale of two hostages

JWisdom:: Profane for Prophet by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 8, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Duty to save gullible from themselves?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Islamists have the West just where they want us

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review March 18, 2008 / 11 Adar II 5768

Out the johns and bring on the shame

By Ed Koch


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Eliot Spitzer's downfall this week proved the unique power of shame. It was enough to force a governor to step down -- and, without a doubt, it is enough to deter other men from soliciting prostitutes in the near future.


The deterrent effect will diminish with time, but there's a way to keep it up — and that's by shaming convicted johns all across New York City.


That is exactly what I tried to do when I was mayor.


Maybe you remember "The John Hour."


It was 1979. Street prostitution was then destroying communities. After private media outlets — newspapers, TV, radio — rejected my proposal and refused to publish the names of convicted johns, I ordered WNYC, then a city-owned radio station, to read the names.


Controversy ensued. A New York Times editorial of October 26, 1979, commenting on what the editorial board referred to as "The 'John' Minute," noted the following, "This week's premiere of Mayor Koch's 'John Hour,' which broadcast the names of nine convicted customers of prostitutes, was a shabby show, in no way redeemed by its brevity. It took only about a minute for city-employed announcers to read the names over city-owned radio and television stations. But it was a mighty misuse of government power."


Really?


They were wrong, and I was right. The "John Hour" aired only once — but it should have become a regular fixture of life in the city.


And we ought to bring it back.


For Spitzer, this was a week-long "John Hour." Those calling for federal prosecutors to throw the book at him so that he winds up behind bars for paying for sex, are misguided. Shame was the right weapon to use against the governor and, if it were replicated in miniature across our city, it would be a powerful deterrent.


I am a friend of Spitzer. I did not relish his fall. I supported him in his last two successful elections for attorney general, and again in his election for governor.


He won the latter race with 69% of the vote, a blowout victory.


As governor, Eliot sought to get his way with his Albany peers, Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, using what some have described as threatening and vile language.


In the case of Bruno, it is alleged Spitzer used state troopers to investigate the senator. He also allegedly threatened individual legislators, referring to himself as a "steamroller" and using the f-word to convey his willingness to stop at nothing to get his way.


It was at that point that I began to think Eliot had a screw loose.


The latest revelations regarding Spitzer's use of prostitutes reaffirm my layman's assessment of his mental state. Why a person who appears to have a loving wife, beautiful and talented in her own right, and three beautiful daughters would resort to prostitutes is a mystery.


Spitzer had no recourse but to resign. Otherwise he surely would have been impeached. He had alienated every potential ally who might have come to his defense in the Assembly or the Senate.


On top of that, Spitzer's statement announcing his indiscretions produced no sympathy, nor did his announcement of resignation. His tone and demeanor displayed no real contrition toward the public.


But he was shamed — thoroughly and completely. Let's be satisfied with that.


I believe the punishment of leaving government — resigning under these circumstances — is sufficient. I hope there is no criminal punishment to follow. Yes, it's always possible that other crimes could be brought to light; but as far as prostitution goes, the man has endured enough.


Slave rings that transport people against their will and force them into the sex trade are abhorrent criminal operations that must be dismantled with the full force of the law.


Consensual prostitution violates the law — but should be treated differently. It demands a different kind of government response.


Punishing the women or the men who solicit them with jail time is not warranted.


Understand and harness the power of shame.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Edward I. Koch, the former mayor of New York, can be heard on Bloomberg Radio (WBBR 1130 AM) every Sunday from 9-10 am . Comment by clicking here.

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© 2008, Ed Koch

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