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Assisting in protecting the Jewish people from annihilation is not a religiously based relationship, it might be based on guilt at worse. Helping the defenseles

Assisting in protecting the Jewish people from annihilation is not a religiously based relationship, it might be based on guilt at worse. Helping the defenseless Jews in WW2 was much more costly than helping israel now.

scott_s 15y ago
There are about as many Jews in the US as there are in Israel.
- tkahn6 15y ago
  And?
  - scott_s 15y ago
    Israel is not "the Jewish people."
    - tkahn6 15y ago
      That's correct, although it does possess the only armed force in the world interested in protecting the Jewish people. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe for why this is important.
      - scott_s 15y ago
        According to the Wikipedia page, they were separate by nationality - which happened to separate them by Jews and non-Jews. So I think that's an instance of Israel protecting their own citizens. For the record, I am Jewish by heritage, and I have zero expectation of being protected by Israel - there's even a good chance I would not be officially recognized as Jewish.
        tkahn6 15y ago
        > they were separate by nationality - which happened to separate them by Jews and non-Jews I'm not sure where you see this. There were French and American Jews who were among the hostages. In fact, the Israeli forces accidentally killed a French Jew. > there's even a good chance I would not be officially recognized as Jewish. If one of your grandparents is Jewish, by Israeli law, you are entitled to citizenship as a Jew.
        scott_s 15y ago
        From the article, "The hijackers deliberately sorted the hostages into two groups—Israeli nationals and others, or Jews and Gentiles." The Frenchman you mentioned lied to the hijackers, again, according to Wikipedia: "A 19-year-old Frenchman named Jean-Jacques Maimoni—who chose to identify himself as an Israeli Jew to the hijackers even though he had a French passport." My mother converted to Judaism before I was born. I do not know if the Israeli courts would recognize that conversion. My case is weaker than some of the people profiled in this NY Times piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.ht...
        tkahn6 15y ago
        Ah didn't see that about the French guy. The article isn't very explicit about this point, though if you look at the totals by nationality, there are 105 hostages (all Jews) and of them 92 are Israeli. Also, if your mother converted to Judaism before you were born, you're 100% Jewish. The only potential sticking point would be if she was converted under Orthodox law. I am not familiar with the Rabbinate's position on that, but 99% of the Jewish world recognizes you as a Jew. Your case is quite strong as a matter of fact.
        scott_s 15y ago
        Yes, for most reasonable Jews. My point there was that the process is not reasonable, as evidenced by the people who get caught up in it.
themoah 15y ago
man , are you serious ?!?!? How did US helped Jews in WW2 ? I'm Israeli , i know history of my nation very good. USSR really won the war, and release freedom for Jews , also giving 3 voices on UN call for raising a country. Oh , sure we fire lots of M-16 rifles. But don't forget about real Americas interests on Middle east

scott_s 15y ago

There are about as many Jews in the US as there are in Israel.

tkahn6 15y ago
And?
- scott_s 15y ago
  Israel is not "the Jewish people."
  - tkahn6 15y ago
    That's correct, although it does possess the only armed force in the world interested in protecting the Jewish people. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe for why this is important.
    - scott_s 15y ago
      According to the Wikipedia page, they were separate by nationality - which happened to separate them by Jews and non-Jews. So I think that's an instance of Israel protecting their own citizens. For the record, I am Jewish by heritage, and I have zero expectation of being protected by Israel - there's even a good chance I would not be officially recognized as Jewish.
      - tkahn6 15y ago
        > they were separate by nationality - which happened to separate them by Jews and non-Jews I'm not sure where you see this. There were French and American Jews who were among the hostages. In fact, the Israeli forces accidentally killed a French Jew. > there's even a good chance I would not be officially recognized as Jewish. If one of your grandparents is Jewish, by Israeli law, you are entitled to citizenship as a Jew.
        scott_s 15y ago
        From the article, "The hijackers deliberately sorted the hostages into two groups—Israeli nationals and others, or Jews and Gentiles." The Frenchman you mentioned lied to the hijackers, again, according to Wikipedia: "A 19-year-old Frenchman named Jean-Jacques Maimoni—who chose to identify himself as an Israeli Jew to the hijackers even though he had a French passport." My mother converted to Judaism before I was born. I do not know if the Israeli courts would recognize that conversion. My case is weaker than some of the people profiled in this NY Times piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/magazine/02jewishness-t.ht...
        tkahn6 15y ago
        Ah didn't see that about the French guy. The article isn't very explicit about this point, though if you look at the totals by nationality, there are 105 hostages (all Jews) and of them 92 are Israeli. Also, if your mother converted to Judaism before you were born, you're 100% Jewish. The only potential sticking point would be if she was converted under Orthodox law. I am not familiar with the Rabbinate's position on that, but 99% of the Jewish world recognizes you as a Jew. Your case is quite strong as a matter of fact.
        scott_s 15y ago
        Yes, for most reasonable Jews. My point there was that the process is not reasonable, as evidenced by the people who get caught up in it.

themoah 15y ago

man , are you serious ?!?!? How did US helped Jews in WW2 ? I'm Israeli , i know history of my nation very good. USSR really won the war, and release freedom for Jews , also giving 3 voices on UN call for raising a country. Oh , sure we fire lots of M-16 rifles. But don't forget about real Americas interests on Middle east