Jewish Russian Telegraph

Mass. Dems Don't Like Elizabeth Warren

The New Republic:

Boston Common

Elizabeth Warren’s uninspiring campaign.

• Alec MacGillis

 

THERE WAS ONCE A TIME, not so very long ago, that, whenever Elizabeth Warren sat down with a liberal interviewer, a lovefest was practically guaranteed. “I know your husband’s backstage. I still wanna make out with you,” Jon Stewart purred in early 2010 to the then-60-year-old Harvard professor whose rimless glasses perpetually slip down her nose. But when Warren appeared recently at Boston’s Kennedy Library to discuss her bid for the U.S. Senate with local public-radio fixture Christopher Lydon, the conversation wasn’t so effusive. Lydon is a uniquely Bostonian creature, a combination of highbrow liberalism and voice-of-the-common-man affect, with a ruddy face and a trim white beard. After Warren gave her standard speech to fulsome applause, he posed the question that is very much on the minds of Massachusetts Democrats these days—namely, “Why is your race close?” [Read more]

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Dems Say Israelis Love Obama; Sderot Residents Disagree

PJ Media:

(Editor’s Note: David Farer is a resident of Sderot — the Israeli town on the border of the Gaza Strip that has suffered relentless missile attacks since Israel pulled all military and Jewish residents from the Gaza Strip in August 2005.

On August 15 of last month, the National Jewish Democratic Council released a video and accompanying press release titled “What Do Israelis Think of President Obama?” The press release included this quote from NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris:

President Barack Obama’s strong support for Israel has been recognized by Israeli leaders such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, as well as many pro-Israel leaders here in the United States. … Today, we’re hearing what Israelis living on the front lines think.

Farer recognized his friends and neighbors in the video.

He believed their comments were misleadingly edited or dishonestly encouraged. Farer re-interviewed the subjects and found his suspicions were correct. Some highlights:

– One participant, Sasson Sara, was emphatic: “I do not support [Obama].” Sara claims the video omitted several words he spoke, thus giving his statement the appearance of conveying the exact opposite message Sara had intended.

The video shows Sara saying in Hebrew: “Sderot is important to him. The Jewish people are important to him. The state of Israel is important to him.”

Sasson claims he actually spoke the following in Hebrew: “If Sderot is important to him, the Jewish people are important to him, the state of Israel is important to him, then Obama should do more about Iran.” [Read more]

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Charles Jacobs Calls Northeastern to Investigate Radical Islamic Activities; Video

JRT news:

 

Boston, MA,September 5, 2012 -- Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT) today released a video (www.nuextremism.com) showing Northeastern University's Muslim Chaplain, Imam Abdullah Faaruuq to be a supporter of convicted Islamist terrorists, and a religious leader who is inciting Boston Muslims against the U.S government.

"Our video shows that there is a culture of extremism at the Islamic Society of Northeastern University (ISNU) - the Muslim student group on campus under the leadership of its spiritual advisor, Imam Faaruuq," said human rights activist Dr. Charles Jacobs, APT President.

Just days after a description of the findings documented in  the video were published in the Boston Jewish Advocate, and the video's imminent public release was announced, Imam Faaruuk's page on the Northeastern website was removed.

Charles Jacobs, President of APT said, "His relationship with Northeastern University has been terminated." We commend Northeastern's President Joseph Aoun for this, but more needs to be done. We need to understand how this was allowed to persist for years, and we need to be sure there are processes in place to monitor and correct any teachings of hate at the University.

APT's video, "Islamic Extremism @ Northeastern University," (www.nuextremism.com) describes Imam Faaruuq's history of extremism. In the early 1990s, Faaruuq developed an association with Aafia Siddiqui, Pakistani born, young MIT student and one of the most active members of an Al Qaeda cell of activists who were followers of the Egyptian Blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, the convicted mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Aafia attended  Faaruuq's Boston mosque and worked with Faaruuq to distribute Jihadist literature to Massachussetts prisons, where he had also served as a Muslim chaplain.
In 2004, FBI Director Robert Mueller described Aafia Siddiqui as one of the seven most wanted Al Qaeda terrorists. In 2008 Siddiqui was arrested in Afghanistan and charged with attempted murder of FBI agents. In her possession were plans for a chemical attack on New York City and a large amount of cyanide. In 2010, she was convicted and sentenced to 86 years in jail.

In lectures around Boston, Faaruuq has called on Boston Muslims to defend Siddiqui because "after they're finished with Aafia, they're gonna come to your door." He told worshippers to not be afraid to "grab onto the gun and the sword, go out into this world and do your job."

Since Siddiqui's arrest, Northeastern Chaplain Abdullah Faaruuq has been speaking out on her behalf and inciting Boston Muslims against the U.S. Government. In 2009, he began supporting another local extremist, Tarek Mehanna, who was arrested and convicted in April 2012 on terror charges. Faaruuq participated with Northeastern students in demonstrations in support of Mehanna.

Mehanna's co-conspirator  was Ahmad Abusamra,  a Northeastern University graduate who fled to Syria. Abusamra's father was a leader and associate of Imam Faaruuq at  the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC).  

"It's very hard to understand why Northeastern administration has for so long tolerated the troubling and extremist influence of Chaplain Faaruuk on Northeastern's Muslim student organization  ," Jacobs said. "Until we began exposing Faaruuq in 2010, the ISNU website openly promoted to Northeastern Muslim students radical books and extremist leaders who call for jihad, the genocide of Jews, and death for homosexuals.   
"We are concerned," Jacobs said, that extremist influence on Muslim students at Northeastern might be a factor in  inciting terrorism. Recently another Northeastern graduate, Rezwan Ferdaus, pleaded guilty to plotting an attack on the Pentagon and Capitol buildings in Washington."

Northeastern's President Aoun, was recently appointed to an academic advisory board that reports to the Department of Homeland Security on how universities can contribute to antiterrorism efforts. Aoun told the Boston Globe that "we need more research and training related to security." Perhaps Aoun felt that his own Northeastern campus was an appropriate place to start," Jacobs said.

"The apparent dismissal of Chaplain Faaruuq by President Aoun is commendable,Jacobs said, "It demonstrates the kind of leadership that is required on many college campuses which harbor hate promoting extremists."

"Leaving Faaruuq in place would have meant a continual betrayal of of Muslim parents who may not be aware that their children are being radicalized on its campus," he added.

Jacobs called on Northeastern University to take additional steps in dealing with Islamist extremism on campus, and reduce the threat of further radicalization of Northeastern's Muslim students.

"President Aoun needs to investigate The Islamic Society of Northeastern's, activities, funding sources and any radical influences, as well as - and perhaps especially -- any radical faculty members who promote hate on campus," he said.

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Scott Brown: Dems Dropping God and Jerusalem Is Troubling

Liberals seem to be confused. Does G-d exist after all?

Masslive.com:

Sen. Scott Brown calls it troubling that Democrats omitted mention of Jerusalem from platform

Published: Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 4:45 PM     Updated: Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 5:44 PM

 By Shira Schoenberg, Political Correspondent 

Associated Press file | Charles DharapakRepublican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney places a prayer note as he visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem July 29.

Update at 5:45 p.m.: Democrats just voted on the convention floor to amend their platform to include a reference to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The new language reads: "Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown on Wednesday called it “confusing and a little bit troubling” that the Democratic National Committee omitted language from the Democratic Party platform affirming Jerusalem as the capital ofIsrael.

The Weekly Standard first reported Tuesday that the platform made no mention of Jerusalem. Democrats had removed the language written in their 2008 platform, stating: “Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.” [Read more]

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After Horrible Anti-Semitic Incident Berliners Put On Kippas in Solidarity

Ynetnews:

Berliners wear kippot in show of solidarity  Germany's capital is taking to the streets following vicious attack on rabbi and his daughter, with one newspaper featuring politicians in yarmulkes, Jews and non-Jews holding 'kippah flashmob' Gili Gurel Published:  09.02.12, 09:34 / Israel News   The German capital is reacting to last week's attack on a rabbi with a show of solidarity with the local Jewish community.  Under the headline 'Berlin is wearing a kippah' the Berliner Zeitung, one of the capital's most popular newspapers published a front page story featuring some of Berlin's most prominent resident's wearing yarmulkes on their heads.  Another newspaper, 'Welt Online' reported on the flashmob event that took place in the city in which participants marched with yarmulkes on their heads.     Berliner Zeitung's front page  Politicians, artists and businessmen had their pictures taken with skullcaps on their heads, explaining that through the act of wearing a kippah they were expressing their opposition to anti-Semitism. Rabbi Daniel Alter, 53, was approached by several young men as he walked down the road with his 6-year-old daughter. They asked him whether he was Jewish and when he said yes, they beat him viciously and threatened to kill his child. The attackers presumably identified the victim as Jewish from the traditional kippah he was wearing. Alter, who later underwent surgery for a cheekbone fracture, described his attackers as Arab-looking. They have not yet been found.  "Berliners show their solidarity and wear a kippah, the report stated. The newspaper explained that the head of Berlin's Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf districts, where many immigrants live, came to the newspaper offices and suggested the act of solidarity. "It's a good idea; it's a strong symbol of solidarity. In Judaism the kippah symbolizes devoutness and humbleness before God," explained Stan Schultz a parliament member from Berlin's Spandau district. [Read more]

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David Storobin: Russian Jews Support One of Their Own

The Brooklyn Ink:

Storobin Campaign Relies on a Russian Connection

Fri, Aug 31, 2012

By Laurent Y. Peter Last March, with little political experience, and running as a Republican in a traditionally Democratic section of Brooklyn, David Storobin narrowly won a special election to replace the disgraced State Senator Carl Kruger in District 27. Now, barely six months later, he is already running for re-election, in the restructured District 17, dubbed by the media as the “Super Jewish” District.

In both of his campaigns, Storobin has relied on the same backbone: his fellow Russian Jews. He has counted on them for votes and campaign contributions, and he has used advertising and strategic partnerships with Russian-language media to reach them.

Senator Storobin greets a passerby in front of his Brooklyn District Office on Avenue U. ( Laurent Y.Peter/TheBrooklynInk)

The majority of Russians in District 27 are Jewish, like Storobin. Russians, and other immigrants from the Eastern Bloc, easily relate to his background; in 1991, he moved with his mother from Russia to Brooklyn with little to their name and he made his way into the middle class by becoming a successful criminal defense, bankruptcy and divorce lawyer.

“It was tremendous poverty growing up, couldn’t afford to take the bus,” Storobin recalled. “I would walk everywhere in Brooklyn if I needed to go to Brooklyn Heights from Borough Park, I would walk.”

Storobin appealed to the broader Orthodox Jewish community by bringing conservative values to the campaign trail with promises to repeal the gay marriage law that passed in 2011, and to seek publicly funded vouchers for religious schools. At the same time, Russian Jews also saw value in Storobin’s support of small business owners. Speaking Russian in television and radio commercials, he often reminded them where he came from and where he is today.

The New York State Board of Elections Campaign Financial Disclosure website reveals that there was a high percentage of persons with last names from Russia – or other parts of the former Soviet Union countries from the beginning of Storobin’s special election campaign up to the most recent July and 32 Day Pre-Primary disclosures. The combined contributions reveal that Storobin has raised  $174,244 while his opponent Felder has raised $230,099. Russian first and/or last names contributed $42,850 of Storobin’s contributions this summer, so far.

Senator Storobin in front of his 27th District Office. (Laurent Y. Peter/The Brooklyn Ink.)

One of the first contributors, in late December 2011, was Storobin’s mother, Anna Storobinsky, who gave the maximum contribution allowed, $10,300. Ilya Galak, general manager of citizensmagazine.com, a Russian-American magazine distributed with the Staten Island Standard, and founder of the first Jewish Tea Party, contributed $1,000. Galak also received a $2,000 consulting fee from Storobin to produce articles. Michael Kaplinsky — also Russian and chief executive officer of Arecont Vision LLC, a surveillance-video company that gained wide media attention for capturing the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona –provided the largest out-of-state donation with $10,000 in July.Vyacheslav Ripa, a Brooklyn based dentist, also donated $10,000 in July. Gregory Solovey, who moved to Brooklyn in 1989, donated $10,000. Maria Kovalyov, president of Russian-American Foundation gave a small contribution of $150. Other Russian contributions ranged from $100 to $1000.

“He is from the community, he can help us,” Solovey said, “he speaks our language.” [Read more]

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Romney vs. Russia

The Jewish Policy Center:

Russia, Unfortunately, Being Russia

by Shoshana Bryen
American Thinker
September 1, 2012

Before the pundits start telling you the Romney campaign stepped into a time-warp on the subject of Russia, it's worth considering what adviser Rich Williamson said and what it means.  "They're trampling civil rights," and "they're our foe," and "they've chosen a path of confrontations, not cooperation."  Pierre-Richard Prosper, another campaign adviser, added that "rule of law" has evaporated.

They might also have noted that Russia has staked its position as the guardian and defender of Syria.  And that Putin has announced an upgrade in Russia's nuclear arsenal that caused Poland to consider its own missile defense system.  (President Obama canceled plans for interceptors in Poland as part of his early "reset" of relations with Putin.)

Russia is asserting its interests the way large, dictatorial, and resource-rich countries do.  The problem for President Obama -- which the Romney people can reasonably point out -- is that Putin's definition of Russia's interests doesn't correspond with the administration's desire for "reset."  Jailing rock singers for "hooliganism" and businessmen for "corruption," stealing elections, murdering journalists and dissidents, eviscerating reliable civil and contract law, and protecting murderous dictators makes it hard for President Obama to claim that the only thing wrong with U.S.-Russian relations was the previous U.S. president.

The Obama administration, unfortunately -- like its predecessor -- has an ahistorical and rose-colored view of Russia. [Read more]

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Berezovsky vs. Abramovich, The Saga Continues

TimesofIsrael:

LONDON (AP) — Self-exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky lost his multibillion-dollar legal battle against fellow Russian mogul Roman Abramovich on Friday after a British judge ruled that he didn’t tell the truth in the clash over vast oil wealth.

The case in London’s High Court sparked broad interest because of its focus on the two Russian Jewish oligarchs’ personal and business relationship in the chaotic days of post-Soviet Russia. The months of testimony included juicy details about their rise to riches, their jet-set lifestyles on yachts and in luxury hotels, and allegations of “gangster” behavior.

The 64-year-old Berezovsky, a former Kremlin power broker who fell out with Russian President Vladimir Putin, alleged that Abramovich had betrayed and intimidated him into selling his oil stakes vastly beneath their true value, and sold his gas shares without his consent. Berezovsky had sought more than $5.6 billion in damages.

Abramovich had denied all the charges.

On Friday, Judge Elizabeth Gloster scathingly dismissed Berezovsky’s case, calling him “an unimpressive, and inherently unreliable, witness, who regarded truth as a transitory, flexible concept, which could be molded to suit his current purposes.”

This Monday, Oct. 31, 2011 file photo shows Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky as he arrives at the high court in London. (photo credit: AP)

“I regret to say that the bottom line of my analysis of Mr. Berezovsky’s credibility is that he would have said almost anything to support his case,” Gloster said in a 38-page summary of her judgment.

In contrast, she found the 45-year-old Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea football club, to be “a truthful, and on the whole reliable, witness.”

Berezovsky, who had alleged blackmail and breach of contract, shook his head in court Friday as his defeat became clear. Abramovich did not attend.

Outside the court, Berezovsky accused Gloster of rewriting Russian history.

“I am absolutely amazed by what happened today,” he told reporters. “Sometimes I have the impression that Putin himself wrote this judgment." [Read more]

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