1.The Question

I was stopped on the street last night by a woman who asked if I was speaking Hebrew. (I was walking from dinner with another Hebrew speaker.) "Yes," we both replied. "Is this the worst it’s ever been?" she asked next. "Yes, it is," we said.

On Sunday, it was confirmed that the IDF recovered the bodies of 6 Israeli hostages, including U.S. citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. "The bodies were found underground in Gaza. The IDF stated that the hostages were not killed during recent military operations, as no force was used near the site where the bodies were discovered."

At the funeral, Israeli President Isaac Herzog asked for forgiveness from the Goldberg-Polin family for failing to protect and save their son Hersh. "He spoke first in Hebrew and then in English, in a nod to the many English speakers among the mourners, and the broad international interest in the funeral of a young man who had become a symbol of Israel’s hostage crisis thanks to the advocacy of his family."

“Now – the State of Israel has an urgent and immediate task,” he said. “Decision-makers must do everything possible, with determination and courage, to save those who can still be saved, and to bring back all our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters.” He added, “This is not a political goal, and it must not become a political dispute. It is a supreme moral, Jewish, and human duty of the State of Israel to its citizens."

2.The Answer

And then the woman from item 1 (in a very British accent, to add to the scene) asked, "Is it ever going to get better?" "Yes," I said, "the long road to recovery, however, starts the moment Bibi is out - even if it seems he never will be."

Journalist Eetta Prince-Gibson (who joined us for a Federation program a couple of years ago) explains further in her "Opinion: Bibi's Cold Calculation" in Moment Magazine. "By refusing a deal and a cease-fire, Netanyahu also placates the extremists in his government and ensures that his coalition will hold. . . . And Netanyahu needs the government to survive in order to delay his trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust and stay out of jail. And he needs the war to continue as to avoid a national commission of inquiry that is likely to point to his failures leading up to and on October 7. As long as the fighting persists, there will not be new elections, which he wants to avoid at all cost. And so even if the hostages, their families and the entire nation must pay the price for his continued rule, he will keep the war going as long as he can."

The New York Times’ Tom Friedman also added in his column yesterday, "Bibi has made sure for years that Palestinians remain divided and unable to have a unified position. He ensured that Hamas remained a viable governing entity in Gaza by, among other things, arranging for Qatar to send Hamas more than $1 billion for humanitarian aid, fuel and government salaries from 2012 to 2018. At the same time, Netanyahu did everything he could to discredit and humiliate the Palestinian Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, who has recognized Israel, embraced the Oslo peace process and partnered with Israel’s security services to try to keep the peace in the West Bank for nearly three decades. Netanyahu’s survival doctrine became even more important after he was indicted in 2019 on charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Now he must stay in power to stay out of prison, if convicted." 

3.Terrorism and Punishment

In a very timely and encouraging move, "The Justice Department charged six leaders of Hamas with the Oct. 7 attack on Israel for charges including conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, conspiracy to support a terrorist organization and conspiracy to use bombs and weapons of mass destruction.

"The six defendants named in charges unsealed Tuesday include: chief leader and Oct. 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar, Khaled Meshaal and Ali Baraka; and Ismail Haniyeh, Mohammad Al-Masri, Marwan Issa, all three of whom who have been declared or reported dead."

Last month an Israeli drone eliminated one of the FBI’s most wanted in an attack in Lebanon. Whether the Justice Department gets to the remaining three before Israel does - or if it is the other way around - it is a joint effort and I wish both great success. Read more in this article.

4.Second Gentleman's Campaign

In Doug Emhoff, the Harris campaign sees a skilled surrogate with wide appeal. "Expect to hear much more from Emhoff in the coming weeks. The Harris-Walz campaign has pegged him as an effective campaigner — and not just to lure Jewish voters, who represent a tiny sliver of the electorate (about 2%). 

"He identified more emotionally and personally with the American Jewish community Tuesday night than he perhaps ever had. At a memorial service at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C., for Hersh Goldberg-Polin and the other hostages killed by Hamas days before, he spoke of his grief, pausing at one point to retain his composure."

“This is hard. This is raw. I’m gutted,” he told the thousands watching in the synagogue and online. “I stand before you, yes, as the second gentleman of the United States and the first Jewish principal ever in the White House. But in this moment, I’m here as a fellow congregant, a fellow mourner, and as a Jew who feels connected to all of you.”

5.That Thing He Does

"Oz Pearlman, known as Oz the Mentalist, amazed viewers when he successfully appeared on America's Got Talent, winning third place in Season 10; made waves on social media for baffling audiences with the trick he performed on Aaron Rogers on the HBO documentary Hard Knocks featuring the New York Jets; and has astounded audiences all across America as he reads people’s minds during his action-packed performances. He has performed for countless corporations, celebrities and even several U.S. presidents." He provides some insight into how he prepares to amaze audiences in "A Conversation With Mentalist Oz Pearlman."

Below is just one example of his amazing work (or is it magic?). Watch closely and you might see a familiar face.

6.Are You Ready for Some?

Football, that is. The NFL season begins today with the NFL Kickoff game between the Ravens and Chiefs. It is a rematch of last year's AFC championship game, won by the Chiefs.

The short list of Jewish NFL players has been cut with AJ Dillon suffering a season-ending injury, leaving Greg Joseph (Vikings), Jake Curhan (Seahawks) and Michael Dunn (Browns) as the only starters I can name. With such a shortage of players, I thought it would be only fitting to share some game day recipes because there is no limit on those. Here’s Food Network's "The 68 Best Recipes to Add to Your Tailgate Menu."

7.Congratulations

Cantor Nathaniel Schudrich has agreed to become Tifereth Israel's full-time sole clergy. Nathaniel will continue to provide TI with traditional cantorial services and will also assume additional roles to support TI to ensure it remains a strong and vibrant Jewish community. Mazel tov.

For Your Calendar

Bristol Community College Holocaust & Genocide Center

Schedule of Events, Fall 2024:

Thursday, September 26 12:00 PM

Location TBA

Rachel Koppelman presents "The Holocaust in France: The Story of Rachel's Grandmother, Sylvia Saunders"

Thursday, October 31 12:00 PM

Location TBA

Dr Alex Kor presents "My Holocaust Legacy: A Blessing, Not a Burden" based on the book of the same name. It's the story of Dr. Kor's parents', Eva and Micky Kor, survival of Auschwitz and their lives moving forward, including their influence on their son.

Tuesday, November 5 12:00

UMass Dartmouth Library

Faris Cassell presents "Inseparable: The Hess Twins' Holocaust Journey Through Bergen Belsen to America." Based on the award-winning book about the incredible survival of the last-living twin Holocaust survivors. (In collaboration with the Judaic Studies and History Department, UMD.)

Tuesday, December 10 12:00

Location TBA

"Israel/Palestine: A Fishbowl Workshop" led by Leonard Mirra of Braver Angels, a nationwide group whose purpose is to bring together people on all sides of controversial issues to "work towards creating points of agreement (POAs) that can be shared by all participants."