Good God: Steinhardt no longer an atheist? http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/michael-steinhardt-believes-in-god-and-has-some-critiques-of-the-jewish-community/ Michael Steinhardt used a recent talk at the 92 St Y to reiterate his long list of complaints about the Jewish community. But he said something new to say about believing (or not believing) in God.  en-us jberkman@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-10-28T;22:43:00-05:00 Comment by Boaz Blaustein Boaz@Inbox.com I have always suspected that the leadership of Israel and the Jews is comprised of a coalition of Godless Atheist Oligarchs and religious nutcases. The Atheist Oligarchs provide the financing and the political clout and religious nutcases provide the justification or legitimacy. You have done nothing to dispel the notion. I have always suspected that the leadership of Israel and the Jews is comprised of a coalition of Godless Atheist Oligarchs and religious nutcases. The Atheist Oligarchs provide the financing and the political clout and religious nutcases provide the justification or legitimacy. You have done nothing to dispel the notion.

]]> 2011-02-25T;01:28:00-05:00 Comment by Egbert Sned4@aol.com I am sure we could find a figure. But, I am not sure how significant it would be. Included in the figure are non Jews, students that have been to Israel on a group trip already and do not qualify, and Israeli citizens. To prove your point of alienation one would have to find students who qualified, sincerely wanted to go, and who were hurt by the rejection. Except for Oranim, which was always oversubscribed, the non acceptance rate just got big this year. The students I know that did not get on are not bitter. They will apply again in the future. I am sure we could find a figure. But, I am not sure how significant it would be. Included in the figure are non Jews, students that have been to Israel on a group trip already and do not qualify, and Israeli citizens. To prove your point of alienation one would have to find students who qualified, sincerely wanted to go, and who were hurt by the rejection.

Except for Oranim, which was always oversubscribed, the non acceptance rate just got big this year. The students I know that did not get on are not bitter. They will apply again in the future.

]]> 2011-02-25T;01:28:00-05:00 Comment by Evan Zuesse tzur@optusnet.com.au “steve ariza” repeats practically verbatim here the utterly and even perversely untruthful comments he gave on “Michael Steinhardt Joins Board of JDC-Taub Center,” comments which I refuted there but which he repeats unabashedly here.  It is simply not the case that due to the Birthright Program “over 100,000 american jews have become alienated from judaism” [sic: lack of capitalization].  The reality is diametrically opposite to this.  So I too will repeat the entirely true points I wrote there: Taglit-Birthright Israel has helped to provide nearly 225,000 American Jewish youth educational tours of Israel.  So says a recent study that also shows that “rates of marriage outside the faith were sharply curbed among young Jews who have taken ‘birthright’ trips to Israel, a development that could hearten Jewish leaders worried about assimilation,” quoting from an article from the Wall Street Journal by Jennifer Levitz, “Jewish marriage Tied to Israel Trip,” on Oct. 26.  See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125652745959507567.html It is now fully established that a high quality educational program like this can be a major turning point in people’s lives: it has really made a major difference for Jewish young people.  More power to it and to Michael Steinhardt!  Of course, since this program depends on charitable donations, it cannot accommodate all American Jewish teenagers at once.  But over 200,000 is a highly impressive figure for subsidized trips and stays half-way around the world.  That already comprises a very significant percentage of Jewish youth in the U.S., and it is still going on so others too will be included. As for “steve ariza“‘s very strange, kooky and highly negative criticisms of what has to be seen as one of the most successful Jewish renewal programs ever, I suggest readers check out his other posts.  They are repetitiously hateful and vile about all positive developments in Jewish life, especially those relating to Israel.  Note even here his sweeping nasty comments about American Jewish leaders too.  His comments cannot be taken seriously. “steve ariza” repeats practically verbatim here the utterly and even perversely untruthful comments he gave on “Michael Steinhardt Joins Board of JDC-Taub Center,” comments which I refuted there but which he repeats unabashedly here.  It is simply not the case that due to the Birthright Program “over 100,000 american jews have become alienated from judaism” [sic: lack of capitalization].  The reality is diametrically opposite to this.  So I too will repeat the entirely true points I wrote there: Taglit-Birthright Israel has helped to provide nearly 225,000 American Jewish youth educational tours of Israel.  So says a recent study that also shows that “rates of marriage outside the faith were sharply curbed among young Jews who have taken ‘birthright’ trips to Israel, a development that could hearten Jewish leaders worried about assimilation,” quoting from an article from the Wall Street Journal by Jennifer Levitz, “Jewish marriage Tied to Israel Trip,” on Oct. 26.  See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125652745959507567.html

It is now fully established that a high quality educational program like this can be a major turning point in people’s lives: it has really made a major difference for Jewish young people.  More power to it and to Michael Steinhardt! 

Of course, since this program depends on charitable donations, it cannot accommodate all American Jewish teenagers at once.  But over 200,000 is a highly impressive figure for subsidized trips and stays half-way around the world.  That already comprises a very significant percentage of Jewish youth in the U.S., and it is still going on so others too will be included.

As for “steve ariza“‘s very strange, kooky and highly negative criticisms of what has to be seen as one of the most successful Jewish renewal programs ever, I suggest readers check out his other posts.  They are repetitiously hateful and vile about all positive developments in Jewish life, especially those relating to Israel.  Note even here his sweeping nasty comments about American Jewish leaders too.  His comments cannot be taken seriously.

]]> 2011-02-25T;01:28:00-05:00 Comment by Egbert Sned4@aol.com That is not really fair. As someone that has run many Birthright trips, this is the first year where the competition was so high for places. A person can always reapply. Applicants who are waitlisted are given first priority on subsequent trips. That is not really fair. As someone that has run many Birthright trips, this is the first year where the competition was so high for places. A person can always reapply. Applicants who are waitlisted are given first priority on subsequent trips.

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