BEFORE GEORGE WASHINGTON; New Amsterdam's Refusal of Jewish Refugees

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                  

The Pilgrims' boat, the Mayflower,  took a turn in the Atlantic Ocean in 1620  and these people from England via living in Holland for years wound up in the New World on a Rock called Plymouth Rock, what would later be part of Massachusetts.  They wanted a new start in the world but weren't about to let the Jews have the same opportunity.

Beginning in the sixteenth century, the Netherlands became home to numerous Portugese merchants, as the region, and particularly the city of Amsterdam, became a center of world trade and shipping. Among these merchants were many Marranos (called Anusim today), who had been forced out of Spain by the Inquisition in 1492. They kept their Jewish identities a secret, but, by the end of the century, had formed a community in Amsterdam, a city that did not recognize religions other than Protestantism. The community was discovered, and its leaders arrested, in 1603. 

As a result, some of the newly-acknowledged Jews moved to the towns of Alkmaar, Rotterdam, and Haarlem, which extended them protective charters. The majority, however, remained in Amsterdam, and even founded a second community there in 1608.

Founded in 1602, the 1621 charter of the West India Company in Amsterdam''s  intended purpose  was to eliminate competition, particularly Spanish or Portuguese, between the various trading posts established by the merchants. The company became instrumental in the Dutch colonization of the Americas.."The New Netherland area, which included New Amsterdam, covered parts of present-day New York, Connecticut,Delaware, and New Jersey."
                                                                       

In September 1654 the  boat, the Dutch St. Catrina,  with 23 Jews in it landed among these northern  colonies of New Amsterdam (Dutch: Nieuw-Amsterdam) which  was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, which served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland .and at first were turned away because they were Jews.  Jews were hated by these English settlers.   The Jews were made up of  4 couples;  2 widows and 13 children:  (10 adults and
13 children) .  They had come from Recife, Brazil.  "These Brazilian Jews were the descendants of perhaps 5,000 Jews who had been living in Recife, most of them secretly, since the mid-1500s. The Dutch captured portions of Brazil from the Portuguese in 1624, and some neo-Christians openly returned to the practice of their Jewish faith. When Portugal recaptured Brazil in 1654, these Jews feared the introduction of the Inquisition and fled. They were probably on their way back to Amsterdam after a stop in Jamaica when their ship was attacked by a Spanish privateer who stripped them of their valuables. A return to Europe was now out of the question. The refugees then made a deal with the ship's captain, Jacques de la Mothe, to take them to New Amsterdam, which they thought would be a hospitable destination."

"From 1630 onward, the Dutch Republic came to control almost half of Brazil's area at the time, with their capital in Recife. The Dutch West India Company (WIC) set up their headquarters in Recife. The governor, Johan Maurits, invited artists and scientists to the colony to help promote Brazil and increase immigration. The Portuguese won a significant victory at the Second Battle of Guararapes in 1649. On 26 January 1654, the Dutch surrendered and signed the capitulation, but only as a provisory pact. By May 1654, the Dutch demanded that the Dutch Republic was to be given New Holland back. On 6 August 1661, New Holland was formally ceded to Portugal through the Treaty of The Hague."

The Portuguese had conquered Dutch Brazil in 1654, and this group had to emigrate because of this.  Not only were they told to leave, but they themselves feared the Spanish Catholic Inquisition from 1492, for it had never stopped seeking out Jews to punish on their racks or to burn them at the stake. These people had originally docked in Jamaica and Cuba, but the Spanish didn't allow them to stay there.  Their ship went on to New Amsterdam, which was later named New York.  .
                                                                           

b: 1612 in The Netherlands, governor from 1647-1664 of
New Amersterdam, a Dutch Colony-
working for the West India Company since about 1635. 

Peter Stuyvesant was the appointed director-general in 1646 of the West India Company. He was also the Colonial governor at that time and tried to have them expelled, also, and went so far as to write a letter to the directors of the Dutch West India Company dated September 22, 1654:

"The Jews who have arrived would nearly all like to remain here, but learning that they (with their customary usury and deceitful trading with the Christians) were very repugnant to the inferior magistrates, as also to the people having the most affection for you;  the Deaconry also fearing that owing to their present indigence they might become a charge in the coming winter, we have, for the benefit of this weak and newly developing place and the land in general, deemed it useful to require them in a friendly way to depart, praying also most seriously in this connection, for ourselves as also for the general community of your worships, that the deceitful race---such hateful enemies and blasphemers of the name of Christ---be not allowed to further infect and trouble this new colony to the detraction of your worships and the dissatisfaction of your worships' most affectionate subjects."  

Evidently these 23 did not have passports!  There were already 3 in New Amsterdam with passports that they couldn't get rid of.  These 23 were from Dutch Brazil, too.  

Pilgrims-people who had lived in Holland 

Their anti-Semitism was dripping from this letter.  To think that they themselves came from Holland, a far more broad-minded country than England ever was, and reacted like this was most disappointing to the 23 Jews after sailing for so long. England had expulsed Jews who were living there way back in 1290 and only allowed Jews to immigrate back in 1655, a year AFTER these Jews tried to land in the New World's New Amsterdam.  

Much to Peter Stuyvesant's surprise, among the directors of the Dutch West India Company were several influential Jews, who interceded on the refugees' behalf.  Company officials scolded Stuyvesant and ordered him in a letter dated April 26, 1655, to let the Jews remain in New Amsterdam, "provided that the poor among them shall not become a burden to the company or to the community, but be supported by their own nation."  

Isn't it amazing?  They were refugees and were not to get any help at all from the people of New Amsterdam.  What if they all were without funds and were starving? Among those 4 men had to have been enough money to keep 23 people alive until they could get on their feet and exist like the rest of the colony were.  They were traders. Evidently they had a rough go of it.  

" He had referred to Jews as a "repugnant race" and "usurers", and was concerned that "Jewish settlers should not be granted the same liberties enjoyed by Jews in Holland, lest members of other persecuted minority groups, such as Roman Catholics, be attracted to the colony."

Sometimes  it turns out that how you treat others comes back to you in kind.  "In 1664, King Charles II of England ceded to his brother, the Duke of York, later King James II, a large tract of land that included New Netherland. Four English ships bearing 450 men, commanded by Richard Nicolls, seized the Dutch colony. On 30 August 1664, George Cartwright sent the governor a letter demanding surrender. He promised "life, estate, and liberty to all who would submit to the king's authority." Stuyvesant signed a treaty at his Bouwerij house on 9 September 1664. Nicolls was declared governor, and the city was renamed New York. Stuyvesant obtained civil rights and freedom of religion in the Articles of Capitulation. The Dutch settlers mainly belonged to the Dutch Reformed church, a Calvinist denomination, holding to the Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dordt). The English were Anglicans, holding to the 39 Articles, a Protestant confession, with Bishops.

No other people have ever had to live through 1654 years of persecution and hatred and death for a false accusation of killing another's God.  That's where all this anti-Semitism comes from. For people who brought  justice to the world in the 10 commandments, they find they are excluded from such by others.   

Resource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Colonial_America
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam
The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Brazil
http://nychistory.blogspot.com/2010/08/return-to-establishment-of-shearith.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_West_India_Company
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_West_India_Company
Plymouth Colony, its history & people 1620-1691

USA Presidents and Their Treatment of Jews and Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                            

                                  

  
How has the USA handled Jews that came to live in this land of the free and home of the brave?  A President usually leads his constituents in his attitudes.    How did their Party handle this change of being a Christian nation only?  Dennis Ross, former Ambassador of USA to Israel, just wrote a book called THIRTEEN US PRESIDENTS, 67 BUMPY YEARS.    That induced me to look at all the presidents. 

1. George Washington-Federalist 1789-1797 :  Washington was a Deist, like Franklin and Jefferson, and never mentioned Christ in any of his writings. in Maxims of George Washington by A. A. Appleton & Co. 

This prophecy, by Benjamin Franklin, was made in a "CHIT CHAT AROUND THE TABLE DURING INTERMISSION," at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention of 1787. This statement was recorded in the diary of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a delegate from South Carolina. ""They [the Jews] work more effectively against us, than the enemy's armies. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties and the great cause we are engaged in... It is much to be lamented that each state, long ago, has not hunted them down as pest to society and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of America." �George Washington

2. John Adams-Federalist 1797-1891; "I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation." (Letter to Thomas Jefferson)

     3. Thomas Jefferson-Democratic-Republican 1801-1809; Thomas Jefferson is deservedly a hero to American Jewry. His was one of the few voices in the early republic fervently championing equal political rights for Jews. Jefferson’s Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia is a classic American statement of religious toleration. Significantly, while Jefferson championed the rights of Jews and other religious minorities, he did not do so out of respect for Judaism but because he respected the right of every individual to hold whichever faith they wished.

4. James Madison-Democratic-Republican 1809-1817; I have ever regarded the freedom of religious opinions and worship as equally belonging to every sect.
-- James Madison, letter to Mordecai Noah, May 15, 1818, from Albert J Menendez and Edd Doerr, The Great Quotations on Religious Freedom, and "That diabolical, hell-conceived principle of persecution rages among some, and to their eternal infamy the clergy can furnish their quota of imps for such a business.  Look what they were considering doing in the Congress, "Congress should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any Manner contrary to their conscience.  With him Sharia law of the Muslims would never get established anywhere in the USA.  letter to William Bradford, January 24, 774 from same source-Menendez and Doerr. 

5. James Monroe-Democratic-Republican 1817-1825; To discuss the religion of Monroe and the Founding Fathers means to discuss religion in the United States of their time.
Up to now the Presidents were: the Church, the Church of England, the Established Church, or the Church of Virginia. The independence of the 13 colonies prompted the American members of the Church of England to rename their church and to discard the word “England.” In its place, they adopted in the 1780s the term Episcopal (essentially meaning “we have bishops”) and renamed their denomination, The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Less is known about his thoughts on religion than other previous presidents. 

6. John Quincy Adams-Democratic-Republican 1825-1829:I believe in the rebuilding of Judea as an independent nation.  Letter to Major Mordecai Manuel Noah

     7. Andrew Jackson-Democrat 1829-1837; The United States that came out of the American Revolution retained some of the traits of European feudalism—a concentration of wealth and might in the hands of tiny aristocratic elites; a lingering political power for the Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches; a habit of deference on the part of everyone else, the humble masses. By the 1820s the aristocratic features, instead of fading into the past, seemed to be taking on new features with the rise of industrial capitalism, which created spectacular new fortunes for the privileged handful. And the new system, through its banks (and their paper money), imposed monopolies and inhibited competition, which, at least in some people’s view, made it still harder for the ordinary masses to go into business on their own or even to maintain traditional living standards. There are tons of websites quoting him saying vile things about Jews.  He was a man against paper money and banks, and he got his picture on the $20 dollar bill.  Jackson created the Democrat Party. Jackson and his ally Martin Van Buren and their fellow politicos and journalists succeeded in drawing together those many movements and impulses into an electoral coalition, which became the first solidly footed mass national political party anywhere in the world. This was the Democratic Party—a party with roots reaching back to Thomas Jefferson and his anti-Hamiltonians but that took on a modern shape and its modern name only under Jackson and Van Buren. And, in 1828, Jackson’s Democrats won the national election—won on the basis of a larger electorate and larger turnout and many more humble people than in any previous election in all of history.

8. Martin Van Buren-Democrat 1837-1841,  "While there are no other indications of President Van Buren having important interactions with the Jewish community, his actions in 1840 with the Damascus Affair in Syria will always be appreciated by the Jewish community.

9. William Henry Harrison-Whig 1841-1841 one month, of 30 days, 12 hours and 30 min died in office. 
10. John Tyler-Whig 1841-1845,

11. James Knox Polk-Democrat 1845-This 11th President of the United  States in 1832  had fifteen slaves who he treated most cruel.  Many of his slaves would runaway to escape the harsh treatment of his  hard disciplinary ways toward them.  It is clear by his own words that James Polk saw himself as the superior, and the Jews as Israelite slaves who were supservient heaven sent servants.  1849. 

12. Zachary Taylor-Whig 1849-1850
13. Millard Fillmore-Whig 1850-1853
14. Franklin Pierce-Democrat 1853-1857
15. James Buchanan-Democrat 1857-1861
16. Abraham Lincoln-Republican 1861-1865;  Felt it was noble to want Jews restored to their native home in Palestine.  "The President said his chiropodist was a Jew who “has so many times ‘put me upon my feet’ that I would have no objection to giving his countrymen ‘a leg up.’”

17. Andrew Johnson-Democratic Union 1865-1869
18. Ulysses Simpson Grant-Republican 1869-1877
19. Rutherford Birchard Hayes-Republican 1877-1881
20. James Abram Garfield-Republican 1881-1881
21. Chester Alan Arthur-Republican 1881-1885
22. Stephen Grover Cleveland-Democrat 1885-1889
23. Benjamin Harrison-Republican 1889-1893
24. Stephen Grover Cleveland-Democrat 1893-1897
25. William McKinley-Republican 1897-1901

26. Theodore Roosevelt-Republican 1901-1909 : In the 1890s, Eastern European Jewish immigrants poured into the tenements of New York’s Lower East Side, Chicago’s Maxwell Street, Boston’s North End and other urban neighborhoods. Living and working together, cut off from the broader society, recent Jewish immigrants and their children who could vote were usually willing to support the Democratic Party, which was known for its greater sympathy to the working classes. The Republican Party sought ways, and recruited candidates, who might persuade these Jewish Democrats to abandon their ethno-political solidarity and become “real Americans” -- that is, to vote Republican.Roosevelt was an unlikely hero for Yiddish-speaking tenement dwellers. Descended from patrician, colonial Dutch Calvinist stock, Roosevelt was a wealthy, Harvard-educated outdoorsman and former police commissioner of New York City -- one with little sympathy for the tumultuous social order of the Lower East Side. Nonetheless, American politics has a way of bringing together interesting bedfellows. When Roosevelt campaigned for governor, the Republicans invoked the ghost of the Spanish Inquisition to mobilize Jewish support for his candidacy.

27. William Howard Taft-Republican 1909-1913:

28. Thomas Woodrow Wilson-Democrat 1913-1921: The allied nations with the fullest concurrence of our government and people are agreed that in Palestine shall be laid the foundations of a Jewish Commonwealth.To think that I, the son of the manse, should be able to help restore the Holy Land to its people. (Reaction to the Balfour Declaration). 
   

29. Warren Gamaliel Harding-Republican 1921-1923; It is impossible for one who has studied at all the services of the Hebrew people to avoid the faith that they will one day be restored to their historic national home and there enter on a new and yet greater phase of their contribution to the advance of humanity.

30. John Calvin Coolidge-Republican 1923-1929; Coolidge expressed his “sympathy with the deep and intense longing which finds such fine expression in the Jewish National Homeland in Palestine.”

The Jews themselves, of whom a considerable number were already scattered throughout the colonies, were true to the teachings of their prophets. The Jewish faith is predominantly the faith of liberty.

31. Herbert Clark Hoover-Republican 1929-1933; I know the whole world acknowledges the fine spirit shown by the British Government in accepting the mandate of the Palestine in order that there might under this protection be established a homeland so long desired by the Jews. Great progress has been made in this inspiring enterprise over these last ten years, and to this progress the American Jews have made enormous contribution. They have demonstrated not only the fine sentiment and ideals which inspire their activities but its political possibilities. I am confident out of these tragic events will come greater security and greater safeguards for the future, under which the steady rehabilitation of the Palestine as a true homeland will be even more assured.

32. Franklin Delano Roosevelt-Democrat 1933-1945; juggled and equivocated; told King of Saudi Arabia one thing and World Jewish Congress the opposite, promised each what he told them was his real position.  "I have on numerous occasions, as you know, expressed my sympathy in the establishment of a National Home for the Jews in Palestine and, despite the set-backs caused by the disorders there during the last few years, I have been heartened by the progress which has been made and by the remarkable accomplishments of the Jewish settlers in that country. (Letter Oct. 19, 1938 to Senator Tydings)"
                                                                               

May 14, 1948

     33. Harry S. Truman-Democrat-1945-1953; voted for Israel though advisers were against it; but refused to sell weapons and demanded a pull back from 1949 armistice lines to the 1947 boundaries.  Disapproved of Israel's handling of refugee problem.," "I had carefully read the Balfour Declaration. I had familiarized myself with the history of the question of a Jewish homeland and the position of the British and the Arabs. I was skeptical, as I read over the whole record up to date, about some of the views and attitudes assumed by the 'striped-pants boys' in the State Department.",  "I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now."                                                                       

34. Dwight David Eisenhower-Republican 1953-1961; Little tolerance, thought Israel was too aggressive, demanded repatriation of Arab refugees, expected Israel to sacrifice Negev for territory between Gaza and Judea-Samaria.  Demanded withdrawal of IDF from Gaza thought it was Arab aggression as cause of attacks. ""The people of Israel, like those of the United States, are imbued with a religious faith and a sense of moral values"  (Radio Address on situation in the Middle East, February 20, 1957. 

35. John Fitzgerald Kennedy-Democrat 1961-1963; Sec of State opposed 1947 partition plan.  Agreed to give defensive anti-aircraft missiles to Israel, against IDF retaliatory raids, tried to block Israel's nuclear program. "“Let us make it clear that we will never turn our backs on our steadfast friends in Israel, whose adherence to the democratic way must be admired by all friends of freedom.” (Speech at Eastern Oregon College of Education, November 9, 1959

36. Lyndon Baines Johnson-Democrat 1963-1969; Sympathizer with Israel, but in 1967-warned IDF not to strike 1st.  Resolution 242-land for peace paradigm, 1st to sell Israel offensive weapons;"When Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin asked Johnson why the United States supports Israel when there are 80 million Arabs and only three million Israelis, the President replied simply: “Because it is right.”

37. Richard Milhous Nixon-Republican 1969-1974-didn't like Israel relationship as it interfered with one with Arabs, wanted Israel to pull back to 1949 armistice line-starting of 1967 War, wanted Israel to grant Arab refugees and descendants a return to Israel, sold arms to Israel but was distressed about it.-labored to stop a strong victory in 1973 Yom Kippur War, saw time to get land for peace-only resupplied Israel with arms when they were completely out.  Peace process introduced with unrealistic comprehensive solution."Americans admire a people who can scratch a desert and produce a garden. The Israelis have shown qualities that Americans identify with: guts, patriotism, idealism, a passion for freedom. I have seen it. I know. I believe that.""

38. Gerald Rudolph Ford-Republican 1974-1977- Expected a Sinai pullback causing Jerusalem to balk-so he reassessed and put in an arms embargo forcing Israel to comply, so promised USA wouldn't talk in secret to PLO, thought settlements were illegal.; The United States ... has been proud of its association with the State of Israel. We shall continue to stand with Israel. We are committed to Israel's survival and security. The United States for a quarter of a century has had an excellent relationship with the State of Israel. We have cooperated in many, many fields -- in your security, in the well-being of the Middle East, and in leading what we all hope is a lasting peace throughout the world." (Remarks Welcoming PM Rabin to USA, September 10, 1974). 

      39. James Earl Carter, Jr.-Democrat 1977-1981;  Felt animus towards Israel, obsessed with Palestinian cause and so did his security advisor, Brzezinsi.  Wanted to impose a solution; disliked Rabin, so distanced USA from Sadat in 1977 with Begin's peace offer; "appeared more pro-Arab than Sadat himself."; continued along this vein with anti-Israel books he wrote. But to the Press Conference at the Illinois State Legislature on May 26, 1978, he said, "The special relationship between the United States and Israel still stands. Our total committments to Israel's security and our hope for peace is still preeminent among all the other considerations that our Nation has in the Middle East ... But there need be no concern among the Israeli people nor among Jews in this country that our Nation has changed or turned away from Israel."

40. Ronald Wilson Reagan-Republican 1981-1989; had advisor Al Haig who was against Israel; urged by Weinberger to sell AWACS to Saudi Arabia-I had my class in Israel write to White House and tell why it was a bad idea, penalized Israel for bombing Iraq's nuclear facility; 1982 was critical for "disproportionate" bombing in Lebanon War accusation, helped get Arafat a safe exit from Beirut, Peace plan called for Israeli pullback to 1949 lines again, a bad idea-led to gaining nothing with Arabs for anyone., Then there's Reagan's speech on the US S Policy for Peace in the Middle East on September 1, 1982  ""Israel exists; it has a right to exist in peace behind secure and defensible borders; and it has a right to demand of its neighbors that they recognize those facts. I have personally followed and supported Israel's heroic struggle for survival, ever since the founding of the State of Israel 34 years ago. In the pre-1967 borders Israel was barely 10 miles wide at its narrowest point. The bulk of Israel's population lived within artillery range of hostile Arab armies. I am not about to ask Israel to live that way again."

41. George Herbert Walker Bush-Republican 1989-1993; no sentiment for Israel, thought Reagan was too pro-Israel, disagreed over settlements with Shamir, Baker was Sec. of State-anti-Semite; His address to the UN on September 23, 1991 was great, however: ""The friendship, the alliance between the United States and Israel is strong and solid, built upon a foundation of shared democratic values, of shared history and heritage, that sustains the life of our two countries. The emotional bond of our people transcends politics. Our strategic cooperation—and I renew today our determination that that go forward—is a source of mutual security. And the United States’ commitment to the security of Israel remains unshakeable. We may differ over some policies from time to time, individual policies, but never over the principle ... For more than 40 years, the United States and Israel have enjoyed a friendship built on mutual respect and commitment to democratic principles. Our continuing search for peace in the Middle East begins with a recognition that the ties uniting our two countries can never be broken ... Zionism is the idea that led to the creation of a home for the Jewish people....And to equate Zionism with the intolerable sin of racism is to twist history and forget the terrible plight of Jews in World War II and indeed throughout history."

42. William Jefferson Clinton-Democrat 1993-2001;  Israel's PM going along with land-for-peace formula of Rabin. Atypically harmonious with Israel.  Wanted Peres to be next PM but Netanyahu won, instead, thought this PM was grudging about peace; Barak pushed for a 2000 Camp David Summit with Arafat-to cut a deal but he refused to go to an end of conflict deal.  Arafat saw that  resistance got Hezbollah everything.  Words said to Israeli Ambassador Shoval on September 10, 1998 were, ""America and Israel share a special bond. Our relations are unique among all nations. Like America, Israel is a strong democracy, as a symbol of freedom, and an oasis of liberty, a home to the oppressed and persecuted ... The relationship between our two countries is built on shared understandings and values. Our peoples continue to enjoy the fruits of our excellent economic and cultural cooperation as we prepare to enter the twenty-first century."

43. George Walker Bush-Republican 2001-2009; Enmity towards PM, 2nd intifada going on, and Mitchell report didn't see difference between  terrorism from Arabs and Jews settling in land formerly theirs, even land designated for their settlement.  Declared that Arabs had right to self-determination and to live peacefully in their own state (though they had no state and did not behave peaceful to Israel.) Al-Qaida attacked 9/11/2001, changing the USA but, still thought Arabs would reject radicalism if given the chance-offered roadmap to Arafat.  Sharon disengaged from Gaza, for 1967 plus formula for land, had stroke in 2006; Now Condoleeza Rice Secretary, pressed for Palestinian elections-Hamas was elected-last election held.  Bush liked Olmert.At a press Conference on February 17, 2005, he made it short and sweet. "[Israel] is our ally and in that we've made a very strong commitment to support Israel, we will support Israel if her security is threatened."

44. Barack Hussein Obama II- Democrat 2009-2017-visited Israel in 2008-implied would break with 1967 plus pledge, 2009 went to Cairo, told Arabs he understood their grievances against Israel, remained distant to Israelis, pressed for settlement freeze, distance policy apparent, one of his close staff said that Netanyahu was A CHICKENSHIT.  Has never allowed self if Palestinians want peace. Didn't invite him and staff to dinner when at White House, Had him enter from back door, Wouldn't back  Land concessions by Israel with security measures in arbitration.  Allowed Iran to have nuclear power along with huge monetary payment when they have threatened to wipe out Israel with A Bomb.  Where words count, he said to the UN's General Assembly on September 21, 2011, ""America's commitment to Israel's security is unshakeable, and our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring. And so we believe that any lasting peace must acknowledge the very real security concerns that Israel faces every single day ... The Jewish people have forged a successful state in their historic homeland. Israel deserves recognition. It deserves normal relations with its neighbors. And friends of the Palestinians do them no favors by ignoring this truth,just as friends of Israel must recognize the need to pursue a two state solution with a secure Israel next to an independent Palestine."   Here he got his lecture in and was pushing for the 2-state solution, something we today as a plan gone nowhere since it takes 2 to want peace and the Arabs continue to be terroristic towards Israel"              

g

In an interview by an Israeli TV station, former Obama adviser David Axelrod recalled the president venting in a moment of contemplation about criticisms that he doesn’t support Israel strongly enough.

“You know, I think I am the closest thing to a Jew that has ever sat in this office,” the president told Mr. Axelrod. “For people to say that I am anti-Israel, or, even worse, anti-Semitic, it hurts.” 

Guess he doesn't understand how we view his negative actions and his obvious favoritism of Muslims as well as the church he sat in for 22 years listening to the blasting of Jews by his minister.   That should have been hard for any man so close to being a Jew.  

Update:  At one time, seen on TV, he forgot his mike was on and was talking to Putin as they were walking, saying something about wait, when he could he would be happy without Netanyahu or some such thing.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/26/the-roots-of-why-obama-and-netanyahu-dislike-each-other-so-much/?utm_term=.3fb9d7772197

Update:  On Obama's last day in office, he went against Israel by not backing her in the UN on one important agenda for that period.  To me that showed his true feelings.  https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/23/world/middleeast/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-barack-obama.html

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/inside-barack-obama-benjamin-netanyahus-strained-relationship/story?id=44414492
http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-obama-israel-20160921-snap-story.html

Resource; NuVenture Creations, USA, Fairfield, CT
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/repute.htm
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/presquote.html
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/jeffjews.html
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/191836/democracy-and-its-tens-and-twenties
http://www.jewishtreats.org/2012/02/presidents-day-jews-and-martin-van.html
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/TeddyRoosevelt.html

Had problems with lines on Jewish Bubba so posted article here.  

Evangelical Christians, Jews and Israel Conference-January 18th

Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

David Suissa of Los Angeles's Jewish Journal
an advertising executive, is a weekly columnist for the Jewish Journal, founder of OLAM magazine and Meals4Israel.com.

              Exciting January 18 conference on Israel in LA

November 19, 2015 from Gerald McDermott

Top scholars will gather in Los Angeles on January 18 to discuss the growing threat to Israel and how Christians can respond.

The conference title is “Evangelical Christians, Jews and Israel: Looming Threats To An Historic Friendship.”

It features leading scholars from Israel: 

1,2, (Malcolm Lowe and Reverend Petra Heldt-Pastor, husband and wife );  

3. Leader of the Aramaic community in Israel (Shadi Khalloul, of the Aramaic Maronite Church); 

4. (Brad H. Young- Professor of Biblical Literature in Judeao Christian Studies at the Graduate Department of Oral Roberts University.   He is also founder and President of the Gospel Research Foundation, Inc);    the author of Jesus the Jewish Theologian 

5.  Expert on anti-Judaism in the Church (Tricia Miller), 

6.  (David Suissa) writer in Jewish Journal, the President of Tribe Media Corp. which provides excellent journalism for people who want to strengthen their communities and their world  and the Jewish Journal, which is part of it -"TRIBE magazine" is part of Tribe Media Corp., publishers of America’s largest Jewish news Web site, jewishjournal.com, and the award-winning weekly, The Jewish Journal. "We are not affiliated with any organization or spiritual movement; our only agenda is to bring you meaningful content with a purpose and speakers" 

7. Gerald R. McDermott, author, "Evangelicals Divided", Anglican Chair of Divinity, History and Doctrine
Link:  cameraca.eventbrite.com   Read more about the conference and register for it  if interested.

First, don't people realize that "Palestinians didn't come into being until sometime after 1948  and that in the preceding years between 1880-1948,  they called themselves Syrian Arabs or Syrian Palestinians?

The term Palestine wasn't used until 135  after the Romans had fought  since 132 against the Jewish General Bar Kokhba and his soldiers to regain Israel?  They were so mad about it that they used this term since it connected to the Jewish enemy of long standing-the Phoenecians. 

Islam didn't come about till the time of Mohammad who was born in 570 and died in 632. 

Jesus of the Christian narrative would have been a Jew of the tribe of Judah, not an Arab nor a Palestinian Arab.  We've got to keep the historic facts out there in the face of  the public and not allow these fairy tales to keep on going. 

I hope everyone has read Joan Peters book, From Time Immemorial-the origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine.  Joan is a Christian reporter who started to write in favor of the Palestinian Arabs, but after getting into her research, realized she had been wrong, and started to delve deeply into original papers for information. She has made anti-Israeli writers like Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein jealous with envy at her findings since she contradicts theirs.  

Update: 12/15/15/, 1:54pm 
Resource:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/northamptonseminar/2015/11/19/exciting-january-18-conference-on-israel-in-la/
http://www.jewishjournal.com/about/author/508
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/author/Malcolm+Lowe
http://honestreporting.com/mission-rev-petra-heldt/-teaches Judaism and Christianity in Israel
http://www.idealist.org/view/org/DcBH8zCD7jjd/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_McDermott

BDS Equals Anti-Semitism

Nadene Goldfoot                                      

Religion is behind the motivation of bringing on BDS against Israel by a handful of people in Portland, Oregon as well as the rest of the world.  It seems we're always facing some form or other.  It's an old story.

"In 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a call for a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights. A truly global movement against Israeli Apartheid is rapidly emerging in response to this call. " They call for ending Apartheid.  That's something that went on in Africa.  It's not the story of Israel at all.  The truth is it's the opposite of apartheid.  This accusation comes from the Palestinians'  warped view of reality and narrow mindedness.  They have found others gladly buy into such a ridiculous claim and it's working so they use it.  Facts go by the wayside.  

Coming right down to it, people working on BDS, such as Portlanders in our own City Council, feel they must cause Israel to bend to their wishes, which are nothing but wishes stemming from anti-Semitism.  There is no basis, no legitimate reasons for wanting to do the only Democratic country in the Middle East, harm.

They are people who are weak in their knowledge of what's going on on in the world.  The history of the Jews, why they returned to Israel, and the struggles they have had has gone over their heads.  All that motivates them is hearsay-gossip, innuendos, and anti-Semitism.

A people without a country of their own for 2,000 years is being shafted by a nomadic people of recent years who belong to a group that already has 49 countries of their own religion.  Israel is the only Jewish state in the world.  The original state of Judah was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.  Surrounded by enemies from the Muslim world, Portland has added their barbs and missiles of BDS to the already suffering state.
                                                                     

Professor Kontorovich  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub2x5UvjUs4  Speaking from the perspective of International Law

Top drawer international lawyers such as Prof. Kontorovich,  Eugene Rostow, a former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and  Stephen Schwebel, formerly President of the International Court of Justice,   have proved that BDS philosophy is wrong and an unjust persecution of the new state of Israel.  This is just a few of the international lawyers who defend Israel's right to exist and defend their actions to continue existing.  "Prof. Kontorovich has also written and lectured extensively about the legal aspects of the Israel-Arab conflict."  That's something that people backing BDS should take time to study.  
                                                                      

Nimoy actually showing the sign of the Cohens, seen on gravestones of Jews

For what they are trying to do to Israel backs no merit.  "It doesn't compute", as Leonard Nimoy used to say on Star Trek as Captain Kirk's side kick, Mr. Spock, the half Vulcan half human  .  Both Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk,  happen to be Jewish in real life.  "President Obama, who said he loved Spock, similarly described Nimoy's character as "cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek's optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity's future."  ""His legacy as that character is key to the enjoyment of Star Trek. The way that Spock was used as a device for the writers to examine humanity and examine what it meant to be human, that's really what Star Trek was all about. And in finding Leonard Nimoy, they found the perfect person to portray that."  One problem of being human is that we don't use the logic and intelligence enough that we have, which the Vulcans had more of.  
                                                                    

William Shatner's Star Trek Captain Kirk, felt he had to keep quiet in his early years of his career about being Jewish.  Now, at 71, he's speaking out.  He had discovered that the word "G-d" is an anathema to Hollywood, where they fear people will "feel slighted if it is not their God.  One way or another, everyone is searching for G-d, whether God is money, philosophy, family or a variety of ways humans search for something beyond themselves,"  

William Shatner is also Jewish from Toronto, Canada.  "He wanted to start therapudic riding programs in Israel for all children.  "I had ambitions of taking children from Jordan, Egypt, even Gaza, and busing them to riding centers that would take young children who hadn't yet been inculcated into hate, and they would see the commonality of all humanity," says Shatner.  I think he would have a hard time finding such children today, sadly.  

Here, religion more often than not has erased logic, especially in the case of BDS which is religiously motivated.  Starting off with Africa's  religious leader, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who seems to have a grudge against Israel, this esteemed man, most human and not godly at all, sided with the Palestinians.  Perhaps he "sees" his own people in them by comparison, taken over by the ruling whites, which is not the same situation at all in Israel as what has happened in South Africa.  

Through his efforts, the Sabeel movement took off, and that includes BDS against Israel, another form of harm for the tiny state just like a missile attack.  
                                                             

BDS Caterpillar Tractor Co- from doing business in Israel

"Disinvestment from Israel is a campaign conducted by religious and political entities which aims to use disinvestment to pressure the government of Israel to put "an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories captured during the 1967 military campaign." The disinvestment campaign is related to other economic and political boycotts of Israel."  The Presbyterians and now Methodists are involved in backing the movement.  When you look at these 2 Protestant religions, they have already gone to the point of the "Replacement Theory" whereby Jews are replaced by them in being G-d's favorite.  So it must be easy for them to kick Israel in the shins and not back this tiny state in it's fantastic efforts to stay afloat and exist.  I sense a streak of jealousy here.  You know, it was Tevye, the milkman (Fiddler on the Roof) , who said, "Why us, G-d?  Couldn't you pick on somebody else?  We have a hard row to hoe.  We didn't ask for the position.  It's not something that makes us special, but a huge responsibility to have accepted.  One thing for sure, we have had the stiff neck to not go back on our promise.  We've lasted throughout the centuries from the time of Moses  who asked this of us in about 1300 BCE to today;  about 3,315 years.                                                                                  

Amin Husseini asking
Hitler to rid them of Jews in
1941

         

Ayatollah Khamenei from Iran (ancient Persia) 

                                                                             

Forcing conversions, 1492

Slaughtering Jews
in Crusades

Then, as if this isn't enough, we have the Catholics who have had a history of persecution against Judaism from the days of the Crusaders during the 1,000s  and then the Spanish Inquisition in 1492 and onwards.  Christianity has only let up with their slings and arrows in about the 1960s, actually, considering all the anti-Semitic goings on.  Now it's coming back big-time, showing some acts similar to what happened in Germany in the 20s and 30s against Jews. It doesn't stop there.  Now we have Iran's religious leader, the Ayatollah, saying Israel will be destroyed by them.   This is an updated version being we have had our own state of Israel for the past 67 years.  
                                                                                                       

Druze  Israeli

Ethiopian Israeli

                                                                          

Benjamin Netanyahu

 Trying to destroy Israel by cutting off it's economic life-blood for existence is what they are doing.  At the same time, though they are too hot-blooded to think about it, Israel is made up of inside it's borders, 1.7 million Arabs, some of them Christians.  In Judea and Samaria, so close that they are simply like a neighborhood of Israel, are Arabs who were depending on some of the industries for jobs.  Boycotting, the B in BDS of Boycotting, Divesting and Sanctions, is their way of trying to stop Israel in the financial areas.  And why are they attacking Israel?  It has been the Palestinian Arabs who have been attacking Israel physically!  However, the religious groups in South Africa and those few religious in the rest of the world have taken the old steps of being against the Jewish people.  Why?  For their refusal of accepting their religion.  So you see, it isn't enough that Jews are getting the same raw deal from the Muslims of not accepting their form of worship.  Jews are the meat in the sandwich, getting crushed from both sides.

How can intelligent people think for a minute that Jews would cause harm, harm that they have suffered from for the past 2,000 years, on people they share their land with?  It's not a part of our religion to do such things.  We live by the Golden Rule; Don't do to others what you would not want done to you.  This is why it's so asinine.  Only minds wanting to believe such filth can do it.  

It's not enough that Israel is one of the leading countries in being a start-up nation in business, and for a country made up of only 6 million Jews and 1.7 million Arabs, that is remarkable in that they are being compared with all countries of much larger sizes, 

 "The Council on Foreign Relations states in its publisher's blurb for the book that Start-up Nation addresses the question: "How is it that Israel—a country of 7.1 million people, only sixty years old, surrounded by enemies, in a constant state of war since its founding, with no natural resources—produces more start-up companies than large, peaceful, and stable nations like Japan, China, India, Korea, Canada, and the United Kingdom?

All the attacks on Israel have not prevented their innate talents to produce and to live.  Other countries would find it very hard to do so.  Israelis have creative minds and continue to create.  Any group deciding foolishly to use BDS to harm Israel will not be an intelligent group, that is for sure, only a hateful one, and they never last.  Israel continues to produce, especially in the medical field which they share with the world.  All people can or are benefitting from achievements by Israel and by the Jewish people.  It sounds like I'm bragging, but I am proud of the achievements they have made.  
                                                                                    
By the same token, the religion of Judaism was first to establish humane rules for living among others.  Our history is that it was designed by G-d as G-d spoke to Moses, so let it be.  Jews are only trying to be fair with the Palestinians as much as they are not being fair with the Jewish people.  Israel has designed plans and have tried to carry them out that benefit the Palestinians, only their Arab leaders have managed to curtail many of  the good acts and persuade Arabs to attack the Jews anyway!  A good example is that after 67 years, Arabs have been rioting in Jerusalem, trying to take the capital being their motivation.   

I watched CNN's program last night with Anthony Bourdain, the chef, who happens to have Jewish roots, travel the world to Turkey, what remains of the Ottoman Empire.  He interviewed several people, the last being a businessman who said money was what made the world go around.  It was money that was important to him; not the freedom of speech, not any democratic values that Israel and the USA share.  Just money.  It didn't matter to him that he lacked these things that we have.  He's happy in a beautiful home being able to show it to Bourdain.  What's happening to Turkey is that President Erdogan has been their leader for some time, first as PM and since 2014 as President, and has become very religious, imposing his Islamic ideas on all.  But, this man didn't mind at all.  As long as he's not affected, he doesn't care what is happening.  Of course this religious bent is causing him to be difficult with Israel.  
I'm afraid many people share his lack of having values in his life.  The heck with what is going on, but isn't it fun to get on the band wagon and persecute someone?  And that someone is Israel.   Just don't confuse these people with the facts.  

Resource:  http://www.law.northwestern.edu/faculty/profiles/eugenekontorovich/
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-sabeel-movement-is-harming-israel.html
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2012/01/attacks-on-israel-with-and-without.html
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2012/07/presbyterian-friendship-with-israel.html
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2012/02/kairos-palestine-against-israels.html
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2013/12/mandelas-view-of-israel.html
http://www.biography.com/people/desmond-tutu-9512516
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/south-african-church-leaders-endorse-israeli-apartheid-week
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disinvestment_from_Israel
http://www.bdsmovement.net/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-up_Nation
http://www.cnn.com/shows/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/06/endorses-divestment-unconscionable
http://www.bdsmovement.net/tag/desmond-tutu
Jewish Life magazine November 2015, pgs 15-19 on William Shatner