‘All Jews’ on trial over Madoff
Phyllis Chessler says Jews need to realize that the Madoff backlash is coming:
Few saw the Madoff scandal as necessarily a 'Jewish' problem. They were mainly progressives, thinkers, sophisticated. They did not behave in such ways and they viewed themselves as the true Princes of Israel. If anyone was worried or ashamed, it didn’t show. I doubt that anyone at this Bar Mitzva had invested or lost money with Madoff. It was not that kind of crowd. But, it was Shabbos, we were at a simcha, and obliged to make merry. People were not supposed to be on worry-duty. And yet, a degree of slow-motion complacency, even denial, characterized the affect of those with whom I’d raised the subject. They did not seem to understand that we’ll all be on trial with Madoff, the innocent as well as the guilty, those who are poor, and those who are rich and greedy for more, those Jews who fight for justice for Palestinians and those Jews who fight for justice for religious settlers.
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Jews should not be held accountable for Madoff’s greed, the
fact that he is a jew and was well respected and trusted by
other jews, and the bulk of money invested was loss by jews is a travesty in of itself, this dose not condemn the majority of
jews who never heard of Madoff until this happened.
I am of t opinion that Madoff will be perceived by our detractors, like the Fascists both here and abroad, as a Jew, and by the Banning industry and the law as an evil, stupid and greedy individual criminal.
It’s the Einstein conundrum in reverse. Einstein once stated that “. . . if his theories are correct, he would be claimed as a citizen of the USA, Israel and Germany. If his theories are wrong, he will be disavowed by the USA, Israel and Germany.
Ari Blum
True, no group is pure, but one can’t help but notice the Jewish names that persistently pop up in these kinds of scandals. If you try to deny that you lose all credibility. It’s a matter of culture and morals. Jews do not share the values of the majority in their host nations and THAT’S what causes the perennial conflict.
Jews will do things for a shekel that I would never dream of. For example, if I got into producing porn my Mother would disown me--Semore Butts’ mother keeps his books.
Rabbi Shmuley Boiteach says that “Rancid materialism is corrupting our community”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728209076&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
I couldn’t agree with him more.
I like Jews...no I love Jews. You have many good qualities: smarts, drive, ambition. But I don’t think that you are above criticism! As a friend I urge you to look in the mirror and reflect on why you have been driven out of so many countries throughout history. Ant-Semitism doesn’t spring from nothing--actions have consequences.
Goy business types, like myself, have all been stung by Bernie Madoff type, albeit on a much smaller scale. While we can’t talk about it publicly for fear of being labeled an “anti-Semite” believe me, we talk about it in hushed tones amongst ourselves (the ADL is probably trying to figure out how to ban “hushed tones” as I write!)
I think Jews’ problem with money is like that of an alcoholic--their craving for it ultimately destroys them and those around them. Its ironic that the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, set up to fight the stereotype that Jews are shysters gets brought down by a Jewish shyster.
Think about it: one of your own has done more damage to Jews than David Duke could have done in a thousand lifetimes.
This is meant to be constructive criticism.
If we object to being “tried” with Madoff, let’s remember not to paint the members of other groups with a broad brush!
Let’s also remember that Madoff grew up in the Jewish community, and we, as a community, have some soul-searching to do. Somehow, his “issues” were overlooked, dismissed, or enabled by the Jewish community.
Boston Review has just posted an article on this subject:
http://blogs.jta.org/philanthropy/article/2008/12/23/1001770/all-jews-on-trial-over-madoff
Check it out, it may surprise you.
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Sheldon Green
12/23/08 01:53 PM
Jews are not on trial over or with Madoff. Madoff is on trial and his industry is on trial as long as it doesn’t clean itself up. If anyone wants or needs to accept any of Madoff’s blame or guilt it is there own problem--and it’s very sad. There are Jewish crooks, Gentile crooks, Muslim crooks, etc. No one group is “pure”.