A Jewish home that is not a Jewish state

Peter Beinart, an associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York, is a 49-year-old American Jew, who regularly writes for the New-York Times, Haaretz, the Atlantic and the New York Review of Books.

Beinart, who keeps the Jewish dietary laws and attends an Orthodox synagogue, considers himself to be a "liberal Zionist". Several days ago, he published an article in the New York Times, in which he wrote: “It’s time to imagine a Jewish home that is not a Jewish state.“

He explains “I knew Israel was wrong to deny Palestinians in the West Bank citizenship, due process, free movement and the right to vote in the country in which they lived. But the dream of a two-state solution that would give Palestinians a country of their own let me hope that I could remain a liberal and a supporter of Jewish statehood at the same time.”

Beinart concludes that “Events have now extinguished that hope.” And, that “It’s time to abandon the traditional two-state solution and embrace the goal of equal rights for Jews and Palestinians.”

This was not an easy trip for Peter Beinart, nor for many others who share his despair. Beinart writes “I believed in Israel as a Jewish state because I grew up in a family that had hopscotched from continent to continent as diaspora Jewish communities crumbled. I saw Israel’s impact on my grandfather and father, who were never as happy or secure as when enveloped in a society of Jews. And I knew that Israel was a source of comfort and pride to millions of other Jews, some of whose families had experienced traumas greater than my own.”

Many Jews outside Israel will take this to the next step, as they reconsider their relationship with the State of Israel.

England, poor old England – I

Has Boris Johnson, who must have understood that Brexit will produce great hardship for the population, decided to kill off the frail and the poor?

Johnson’s administration has produced 44,500 Corona dead. Five times as many as Germany (the per capita figure is even higher at 6.2) and they still haven’t gotten their act together. 

Yesterday, in the supermarket, I was amazed to be the only person wearing a mask. The UK made wearing masks compulsory in public transport as late as 15 June and it still is not compulsory to wear masks in shops. A couple of hours ago, Downing Street has announced that it is “considering mandatory face masks in shops in England”. What morons. 

And if you are unwell in England – tough luck. Seeing one’s GP is almost impossible. Unlike Germany, where you can, if necessary, walk-in to see a GP (with masks and keeping distance etc.) – here you must ring the GP practice, convince the receptionist that you need to talk to a doctor. A few hours later a doctor will ring you back, discuss the matter with you, ask you to send a photo of the problem, upon which you are told what ointment you might take.

Sad. 

England – impoverished II

Warwick University has calculated that leaving the EU without a deal would increase the weekly shopping bill of an average four-people-household by over £50. The British retail consortium has calculated that a no-deal-Brexit would result in an increase of beef prices by 48% and even Cheddar, much of which is imported from Ireland, by 57%.

Those who voted for Brexit have rightfully earned the misery, which Brexit will bring. Shame about the others.

(Ober)Bürgermeister Feldmann

The mayor of Frankfurt has found enough money in the city’s kitty to fill the town with posters bearing his photo, announcing cheap public transport.

This is unashamed electioneering paid for by the public purse – it should be prohibited.