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May 1, 2008 David Zwiebel: Faith communities can learn from Orthodox Jews in stimulating private philanthropy for religious education George Friedman and Peter Zeihan of Stratfor: The Shift Toward an Israeli-Syrian Agreement JWisdom: It's time to wake up by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis April 30, 2008 Jonathan Tobin: Pennsylvania's Democratic slugfest may leave some Jewish votes up for grabs The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Fresh herbs, sauteed veal and tiny creamer potatoes makes a light spring dinner JWisdom: How to Build a Mentch by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 29, 2008 Daniel Pipes: Barack Obama's Muslim Childhood Joel Brinkley: On human rights, the U.N. once again strikes out JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: When The Truth is Unbelievable April 28, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: I'm often stuck in the doctor's waiting room for hours! Doesn't he owe me something for my wasted time? Steven Emerson: New U.S. government policy advises agencies to avoid using some of the very same words that make up terror groups' names JWisdom: Why You & I Never Die: A Jewish View of Immortality, Part I by Rabbi David Aaron April 25, 2008 Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg: Schadenfreude isn't kosher for Passover --- or at any other time Rabbi Berel Wein: The secret of how the data bank of memory is transferred from one generation to the next JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen, Part III April 24, 2008 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The successful failure Fred Burton and Scott Stewart of Stratfor: Placing the terrorist threat to the food supply in perspective JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen, Part II April 23, 2008 Connie Ogle: An intricate game of a novel Jonathan Tobin: Making Sense of the 'J Street' Jive JWisdom: Stepping Up to A Higher Spiritual Life by Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen April 22, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: Why Israel's 'Leaven law' matters Caroline B. 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Recently someone asked me to translate some financial documents that are clearly forged. Should I agree? Jonathan Rosenblum : Israel is unwittingly helping to fuel the international campaign of delegitimization against it JWisdom: Matzah and leaven as a life philosophy by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. April 4, 2008 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The Mystery of Suffering Caroline B. Glick: Fear of democracy JWisdom: Dirty Jews by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky April 3, 2008 Rabbi Y. Y. Rubinstein: Parents --- and the children who would be them The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Manweiler: Tempted by restaurant dressings? Don't be. Here are recipes that can be made at home, healthier! JWisdom: The importance of retaining a 'slave mentality' by Rabbi Mordechai Becher April 2, 2008 Mitch Albom: Child abuse, disguised as faith Jonathan Tobin: Unreasonable Accommodations JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith with Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Eliminating Jewish Influence over Germans 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 June 8, 2004 / 19 Sivan, 5764 Taliban come to L.A. By Dennis Prager http://www.jewishworldreview.com | As a graduate student at Columbia University's Russian Institute, my field of study was totalitarianism. I learned that a major characteristic of Soviet and other totalitarian regimes was their frequent rewriting of history. As a famous Soviet dissident joke put it: "In the Soviet Union, the future is known; it's the past which is always changing." Given the relationship between changing the past and totalitarianism, there is reason to be amply frightened by the current decision of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to change the seal of Los Angeles County. Solely because of a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union threatening a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, the Board voted three to two to remove a tiny cross from the seal. To some people, this is not an important issue. These people do not understand what is at stake. But the ACLU knows what is at stake — the removal of religion, specifically Christianity, from American history; and the replacing of Judeo-Christian values with leftist ones. That is why it threatened a lawsuit and gave the Board of Supervisors almost no time to deliberate. Those with radical aims do not like exposure and public debate. To understand the gravity of this issue and the intent of the ACLU and the three county supervisors, it is necessary to understand what the seal of Los Angeles County depicts. There are six small panels, three going up and down each side of the central figure of the seal, which takes up the entire length of the seal. The top left panel depicts engineering instruments; the panel below that a Spanish galleon; and the bottom left panel contains a tuna representing the fishing industry. On the right side, the top panel contains oil derricks; the next panel depicts the Hollywood bowl, along with two stars representing the movie industry and a small cross depicting, in the official words of the county, "the influence of the church and the missions of California." The lowest right side panel contains a prize cow. By far the largest object is the Goddess Pomona, the Roman goddess of gardens and fruit trees, who is depicted from top to bottom in the middle of the seal. The cross, as this description makes clear, is the smallest object in the seal. Actually seeing the seal makes its smallness even clearer. When I first looked at the seal, I didn't even see it. The cross represents the Christian history of Los Angeles County. It no more advocates Christianity than the Goddess Pomona advocates Roman paganism or the cow promotes Hinduism. It is therefore a lie to argue Los Angeles County is pushing Christianity on its citizens. As for the argument put forth by the ACLU's Ramona Ripston that the tiny cross makes non-Christians feel "unwelcome," as a Jew I find the comment equally absurd and paranoid. I have spoken to Los Angeles County rabbis of every denomination, and not one felt the cross should be removed, let alone felt "unwelcome." By the same logic, vegetarians should feel particularly unwelcome in Los Angeles County, given that two panels depict animals as food. The third dishonest argument is that of the three supervisors: They don't want to spend county money on a legal defense that will probably lose. First, the ACLU's argument is so specious that it will lose in courts where judges are not fellow leftists. Second, plenty of law firms and individual lawyers have volunteered to take the case pro bono. Third, one fights a good fight. Giving in to the ACLU's threat is an act of cowardice — unless, of course, Supervisors Gloria Molina, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and Zev Yaroslavsky agree with the ACLU aim of expunging Los Angeles County's Christian past. What we have here is an American version of the Taliban. The ACLU and the supervisors are leftist versions of the Taliban — attempting to erase the Christian history of America just as the Muslim Taliban tried to erase the Buddhist history of Afghanistan when they blew up ancient Buddhist sculptures in their country. Los Angeles County is the largest county in America. If it allows its past to be expunged by a vote of three to two, America's past is sure to follow. If you want to know what happens after that, ask any student of the Soviet Union. Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. JWR contributor Dennis Prager hosts a national daily radio show based in Los Angeles. He the author of, most recently, "Happiness is a Serious Problem". Click here to comment on this column. © 2004, Creators Syndicate